September 18, 2014 | Vol. 40| Issue 31
REMEMBERING TRAGEDY, SAFEGUARDING OUR FUTURE PAGE 4
#YouCanTalkToMe PAGE 6
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NIMITZ
Sailor of the Day
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Put your best effort into everything you do. Always keep in communication with your superiors. GM3 Robert Womble Weapons Department G-2
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September 16, 2014
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With support of people in my shop, I was able to learn my rate and achieve a higher standard of work.
September 17, 2014
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ATAN Aaron Schultz
AIMD IM-3
Executive Executive Officer Officer Capt. Capt.J.J. J.J. Cummings Cummings
Commanding Officer Command Master Chief Commanding Officer Command Master Chief Capt. Jeff Ruth Capt. John Ring
CMDCM Renick CMDCM Greg Greg Renick
Media DIVO
Public PublicAffairs Affairs Officer Officer Lt.Lt.Cmdr. Karin Burzynski Cmdr. Clinton Phillips
Media Media LCPO LCPO MCC MCCGregory Gregory Roberts Roberts
Media Media LPO LPO MC1 Michael Childs Cole MC2 Jacquelyn
Editor Editor MC2 MC3Phillip NathanLadouceur McDonald
Lead Lead Designer Designer MC3 MC3 George J. Penney Andrew Price III
Media DIVO Ensign MikeMike Ensign JohnJohn “Media”
MediaDepartment Department Media
MC2Childs Ryan|Mayes | MC2Wray Sam|Souvannason | MC2 MC2 |Phil Ladouceur | MC3 Shayne Johnson MC2 Jacquelyn MC2 Devin MC2 Ryan Mayes | Jess MC2 Lewis Jacob |Milner MC2 Jess Lewis | MC3 Shayne Johnson | MC3 Linda S. Swearingen | MC3 David Vanessa DavidW.| J.MC3 W. J. |Cousins | MC3McDonald Joshua Haiar | MC3 Andrew | MC3 EricHaskett Butler | LindaMC3 S. Swearingen | MC3 Vanessa | MC3 Cousins MC3 Nathan | MC3 Joshua HaiarPrice | MC3 Kaitlyn MC3Eric Siobhana | MC3 George III | MC3 Aiyana Paschal | MC3 Victoria Ochoa |MC3Andrew Kelly Agee| MCSN Eli Buguey MC3 Butler |McEwen MC3 Siobhana McEwenJ.|Penney MC3 Samuel Souvanason| MCSN Aiyana Paschal | MCSN W. Price | MCSN Kelly MCSN LaurenVictoria Jennings | MCSN Derek Herline | MCSN Shauna Sowersby Agee | MCSN Ochoa | MCSN EliVolland Buguey||MCSN MCSNHolly Lauren Jennings | MCSN Derek Volland||MCSA MCSAKole KoleCarpenter Carpenter
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Nimitz News accepts submissions in writing. All Nimitz News accepts submissions in writing. All submissions are subject to review and editing. submissions are subject to review and editing. “Nimitz News” is an authorized publication for the “Nimitz News” is an authorized publication for the membersofofthe the military andand theirtheir families. Its members militaryservices services families. content does not necessarily reflect the official views of Its content does not necessarily reflect the official the U.S. the Department of Defense, theof views of Government, the U.S. Government, the Department Department the Navy, or the Marine Corps andMarine does Defense, theofDepartment of the Navy, or the imply thereby. thereby. Corps andnot does notendorsement imply endorsement
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REMEMBERING TRAGEDY, SAFEGUARDING OUR FUTURE STORY BY MCSN ELI K. BUGUEY
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he intercom in the room had been disabled to limit the distractions for the Sailors and Marines participating in the Navy’s alcohol and drug treatment therapy. Split up in small groups of four, the room was a buzz with discussion about how alcohol affects the body in various ways, but the repetition of the announcement eventually murmured through the walls. Group by group the room came to enough of a hush that the participants could all decipher the message. The medical facility had been put on lockdown and an active shooter situation was occurring at the Washington Navy Yard. One year will have passed since the Sept. 16, 2013, Navy Yard shooting. Remembering our tragedies, learning from them, and honoring all that were involved can prove to be the way we prevent tragedies from happening in the future. Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Corey Hill, a substance abuse counselor on board USS Nimitz (CVN 68), was assigned to the base clinic at the Navy Yard on the day of the shooting. “It started out normal, everything seemed normal, but some people said they felt eerie that morning before everything started happening but I can’t recall felling that way myself,” said Hill. “I actually got word of the shooting before they made that announcement because my secretary’s brother was in the building adjacent to the building where the shooting happened,” said Hill. “She received a call from her brother, and I was just doing administrative stuff so I walked around the clinic asking the chain of command if they knew what was going on. At that time they were starting to get wind of it as well.” At approximately 8:20 a.m., Aaron Alexis began open-
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Washington Navy Yard memorial service, Sept. 16, 2014.
ing fire inside the headquarters of the Naval Sea System Command (NAVSEA). Over the next hour, the perpetrator carried out the second deadliest mass murder on a U.S. military base, behind only the Fort Hood shooting in November 2009. “Active shooters are so dangerous because it’s one person, they haven’t told anyone else, and you don’t find out that it’s happening until they decide to take action, and that is our biggest fear,” said Master-At-Arms 1st Class Scott Grettum. “It’s not ISIS [The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria] coming to our entry checkpoint. ISIS is a thought, North Korea is a thought, but our biggest fear is the Sailor that is in security that becomes the lone wolf and wants to start shooting people.” The idea that a shipmate could be the cause of an onbase mass casualty can be hard to accept, but it is a real possibility. “I’ll explain the active shooter with the sheep, the sheep dog, and the wolf, ” said Grettum. “95 percent of our population is sheep. They do their job, they are happy. Now the wolf is possibly 4 percent of the community, people that are out there waiting to take that opportunity to get the sheep, to do something bad. Now add that 1 percent, the sheepdog. The sheepdog thinks like the wolf, and he likes to eat meat, but he wants to protect the sheep. That sheepdog is your Master-at-Arms.” Before day’s end, 12 civilians would eventually perish on that day in September. Although there were no military casualties, we now memorialize those who lost their lives tragically while performing jobs that support the U.S. Navy. “I think the best thing you can do to honor them is to remember,” said Cmdr. John M. Hakanson, Chaplain on board
Nimitz. “When we commemorate these events, we remember them. We pass on their importance to reflect on them so we make sure that we guard against them ever happening again. Tragedies, if we remember them, we are more likely to understand.” An active shooter situation is difficult to prevent because of the element of surprise and isolated planning of those who would commit a mass shooting. “Active shooters are the same, from Columbine until now,” said Grettum. “The instruction is almost written vague because an active shooter situation is an asymmetrical environment that can’t be predicted. An active shooter is a person. You can’t stop it until it is too late for them.” We will never be able to uncover what went through the perpetrator’s mind that day. But much like putting the pieces of a puzzle together, using what we have learned from the Navy Yard shooting and other mass casualties, we can set a course in hopes of preventing active shooter situations from happening in the future. Taking the initiative to be aware of the mental state of individuals in your department can be the best defense against a mass casualty. “Those things that lead up to an active shooter can be stopped,” said Grettum. “Not by security but by you, by the people in your workspace. That’s how that stuff is stopped, because somebody says something is not right or they feel something is not right and they fail to act on it.” The consequences for ignoring the warning signs could be dire. “If you see something that’s not right and you don’t re-
port it, are you willing to live the rest of your life knowing that you could have stopped a mass shooting? Or you could have stopped one person from being murdered,” said Grettum. A watchful eye and a willingness to engage with your shipmates can be the preventative tool that keeps people safe. “The way these things are stopped is just by loving your shipmate,” said Grettum. “Putting them before yourself, loving your friend, and love thy neighbor. If you do that, that ray of light can light up the darkest of hearts. I have seen a lot of people in the depths of darkness and thinking of ending their life or ending the lives of others and it has been stopped because of a kind word or a kind act.” The impact from the devastating events of last September has created a moment in Navy history that requires us to remember that the Navy is not just a group of Sailors, but a family in combination with civilians devoted to protecting our nation. “I think it is more important that we as people learn from this incident more so than as a military force learning something because a military is comprised of people,” said Hill. If the Navy places an importance on learning from our tragedies as we honor those who have fallen, the chances of having another tragedy will greatly decrease. Stepping up and vocalizing when something seems off in the workplace can be the best step to take in preventing another incident like the Navy Yard shooting from ever happening again. Most of all, it’s important to remember that people matter.
AM1 Corey Hill poses in front of his workcenter. Photo by MCSN Eli K. Buguey
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STORY AND PHOTOS BY MC3(SW/AW) AIYANA PASCHAL
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ccording to the World Health Organization, about one million people commit suicide each year. For the Navy, September is suicide prevention month, which aims to raise awareness that suicide is preventable, improve education about suicide and decrease the stigma around getting help. Around the world, our country, our Navy and even USS Nimitz (CVN 68), suicide is an issue that shouldn’t be shrouded in silence. You can know what suicide is, even know the signs, but to know if someone is thinking about suicide, you have to really know that person. That is why the Navy has launched a new initiative: every Sailor, every day. Its purpose is to encourage Sailors and family members to strengthen connections and bonds with those around them. YN1 CINDY COULTER
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eoman 1st Class Cindy Coulter, from Hotchkiss, Colo., is a Sailor who took the initiative and went the extra step to help others struggling with thoughts of suicide. She ultimately helped one of her Sailors and a close family member of her’s overcome the hold of suicidal ideations. For Coulter, the decision to help others was easy. “I cared about them,” said Coulter. “I cared about the decisions they were making. I cared about their tomorrow.” Even though the decision to help was an easy one, going about the actual process proved to be more difficult. “People sometimes don’t want to talk about it,” she said. “Especially when they’re depressed or contemplating suicide.” Approaching someone she was already close to was easier for Coulter than approaching a shipmate she didn’t know as well. “I approached it a little different,” she said. “The other one worked for me in the military. I figured out ways I could talk to her one on one.”
Forming bonds and showing someone you care is one way you can help someone dealing with suicide. Knowing the signs is another way to help prevent suicides. “At first I asked if they were okay,” said Coulter. “Of course both times with both individuals they said yes, they were okay, but I knew different because their gestures and body language said differently. They were a different person, had different characters. Things that they said were concerning.” Some of the signs Coulter witnessed from her shipmate were: isolating herself, being late to work and acting out of character. The process for Coulter was not a quick one. She spent days talking and trying to understand the individuals. She was met with resistance at first when she asked questions like, “How do you think other people would feel?” or “How do you think this would be without you?” “I would just pose the questions back to them that they were feeling,” said Coulter. “There was a lot of silence and there was a lot of pause. A lot at first of, ‘well I don’t know’ or ‘I don’t care’ or ‘they wouldn’t care anyway.’ And then slowly but surely we were able to think of ways to turn things around, get them some help and refer them over to people that they trusted. I really wanted the outcome to be positive for them and feel good about their decision.” Although Coulter’s loved one still deals with depression on occasion, her family combats this by keeping an eye on them and offering support. The Sailor that Coulter helped through depression and thoughts of suicide is doing much better now. “I get letters from the service member all the time thanking me for that moment,” she said “She was in a dark place and didn’t think anyone cared and didn’t think she wanted to live this life anymore. We remained close. She knows now that if she ever feels a certain way that it’s important to talk things out.” Depression is commonly a factor in suicide. “They coincide tremendously,” said Coulter. “Usually it starts out with depression, and a lot of people spiral so much so that they don’t know how to get out. And now, it’s the only way that they know. Recognizing you have depression is the first step to getting help.” The number one thing Coulter stresses, for both those suffering from suicidal ideations or not, is communication. “It’s important to talk to somebody,” she said. “Whether it’s a friend or a shipmate or a family member. It’s important to talk it out. Don’t be afraid to talk to somebody about it. We’re all human. Then turn around and try to help others.”
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RP3 CASEY NIEDORF
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ailors lead a life that requires them to be away from land and loved ones for long periods of time. Last year Nimitz spent eight-and-a-half months out at sea for a Western Pacific deployment. Although deployment is over, Nimitz still has missions, standards and qualifications to keep up, which is why Nimitz has departed from Naval Station Everett, Wash. on three separate occasions for underways lasting roughly three weeks each. Being away from family not only puts a toll on service members, but their families as well. Because a lot of Sailors don’t have much control over where they are stationed and live, military couples often end up in long distance relationships at some point in their military career. This is the case for Religious Programs Specialist 3rd Class Casey Niedorf, from North Pole, Alaska. Nimitz was in Pearl Harbor nearing the end of its 2013 deployment when Niedorf’s girlfriend, Brianna, confided in her about thoughts of suicide. “There were lots of signs before hand,” said Niedorf. “I think that the feeling was there, but the actual intent wasn’t quite there. She had been dealing with depression.” Luckily, Niedorf was able to contact Brianna’s mother, who was able to help. “A lot of it is depression,” said Niedorf. “It gives you those feelings like numbness and sadness, and when you’re constantly feeling like that, there’s a lot of guilt. So the thought process of people with suicidal ideations is ‘Would it really matter if I was alive anymore?’” Up to that point, Niedorf had known her girlfriend dealt with depression, and even took a small dose of mood stabilizer for it, but it wasn’t until that day when Niedorf realized she needed to get her some help. “I can only do so much,” said Niedorf. “Especially being in the Navy and a long distance relationship. I really pushed for her to go get help. She was a little stubborn at first, but she did come out and do it, and she got a very positive outcome from it.” A main reason Brianna didn’t want to seek help initially was because of the stigma associated with
depression and suicide. “There’s the outlook like you might feel you’re weak or you’re crazy,” said Niedorf. “I know Brianna said that a lot. ‘I don’t need help. I’m not crazy.’ That makes it really hard especially with guys. Because guys think, ‘Oh you’re supposed to be strong, you’re not supposed to cry.’ There’s a macho masculinity atmosphere around them. So now they need help, but guys don’t really ask for help. That’s just how guys are. That’s why males are more likely to succeed in killing themselves.” Brianna is now doing a lot better since she became open about her depression and got help. “A lot of it is sometimes people just really need to vent,” said Niedorf. “A lot of time when people talk about things, they can talk themselves out of suicide. I think that’s really important - when someone has that realization of, “Hold on, maybe I can handle this in a different way.’ A lot of times someone just really needs someone else to listen to him or her. Just sit down and let them talk. You don’t have to say anything. Usually it’s a pretty good outcome.” Being a religious programs specialist, Niedorf knows how useful the chaplains’ open door policy can be. “One thing about the chaplains is it’s completely confidential,” said Niedorf. “You don’t have to tell your chain of command. They won’t tell your chain of command. When you make an attempt though, that’s when it goes out to medical. If you just need the chaplain to talk to and you express ‘I’ve been thinking about committing suicide - of killing myself’ that stays confidential. They can help someone figure out their feelings. My first recommendation would be to talk to a chaplain.” Even though Nimitz is home to thousands of Sailors, communicating and forming bonds with those around you is still important for suicide awareness and prevention. “Just asking someone how their day is can be a huge thing,” said Niedorf. “This is a big deal. Hopefully there is soon to be change on the outlooks and judgment on suicide.” For more information on the resources aboard Nimitz, visit nimitznews.wordpress.com
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AROUND THE FLEET
USS Ingraham Intercepts 680 Kilograms of Cocaine in Eastern Pacific By Ensign Sarah Lovelace, USS Ingraham Public Affairs
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SS Ingraham (FFG 61) with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 49 Detachment 2 and U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) personnel intercepted 680 kilograms of cocaine illegally trafficked in the 4th Fleet Area of Responsibility Aug. 21. Ingraham, based in Everett, Washington, successfully tracked and intercepted a go-fast vessel in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The panga was fitted with two outboard motors, capable of speeds of more than 30 knots. Upon detection of one of Ingraham’s SH-60B Seahawks, the crew of the vessel threw a significant amount of narcotics overboard. The panga was compelled to stop after warning shots were fired by a Coast Guard marksman aboard Ingraham’s helicopter. “I am very proud of my crew, the air department, and the Coast Guard law enforcement detachment for their quick and effective response to a very
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elusive and evasive threat,” said Ingraham’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Dan Straub. “Simultaneously launching and recovering the helicopter and the ship’s small boat while chasing a go-fast vessel laden with contraband is challenging work. The professional and efficient manner in which our teams operate is impressive on many levels.” The jettisoned bales were netted together, allowing Ingraham’s rigid-hulled inflatable boat to recover all of the discarded contraband. The seizure totaled approximately 680 kilograms of cocaine. The U.S. Coast Guard LEDET embarked the go-fast vessel and apprehended three illegal drug traffickers. Ingraham has disrupted a total of approximately 7,188 kilograms of cocaine during her deployment. This is her fifth successful interdiction since arriving in 4th Fleet in support of Operation Martillo. Ingraham seized a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) in May, a fishing vessel in June,
and several other go-fast vessels. Operation Martillo (Hammer) includes the participation of 14 nations that are working together to counter trans-national organized crime and illicit trafficking in coastal waters along the Central American isthmus. Joint Interagency Task Force South, a National Task Force under U.S. Southern Command, oversees the detection and monitoring of illicit traffickers and assists U.S. and multinational law enforcement agencies with the interdiction of these illicit traffickers. U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations in order to maintain access, enhance interoperability and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.
On The Cover An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to VFA- 122 lands on the flight deck. Photo by MCSN Eli K. Buguey
SCRUB A’ DUB DUB
Sailors and Marines scrub the flight deck. Photo by MC3(SW/AW) Aiyana S. Paschal
SPRAY N’ PRAY
Sailors use a fire main to spray off the flight deck. Photo by MC3(SW) Kelly Agee
CHIEF KNOWS BEST
BMC Justin Alfonso places the pelican hook of a RHIB onto a boat winch. Photo by MC3 (SW/AW) Siobhana McEwen
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