Vol. 2 Issue 143
Nov. 19, 2013
DAILY DIGEST
SECRET
SPY
Story and photo by MC3 (SW/AW) Jess Lewis
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ust below Nimitz’ flight deck, in the middle of the ship is a passageway designated for flag staff personnel. Walking through the blue curtains that separate this area from the rest of the ship, there’s another passageway that runs across the width of the ship. Along this passageway, there are four rooms all named warcell with a number attached to differentiate each cell. Enter warcell number four. The room is dimly lit by blue lights and
the temperature is kept cool in order for the vital computer systems to run smoothly and not be overheated. Seated just to the left of the door is Cryptologic Technician (Technical) Seaman Rachel Wallace. Wallace is a native of Wyatt, Mo., and comes from a military family. She decided to join the Navy on a whim. “I’m horrible with pushups so I didn’t think they would take me,” said Wallace. “But they did and I’m very happy
about it. I love my job.” Wallace picked her job as a CTT based on her recruiter’s recommendation. “My recruiter told me based on my personality, ASVAB score and my educational background that this would be the perfect job for me,” added Wallace. Wallace is attached to Nimitz’ strike group and embarks with Nimitz and the rest of the airwing when going out to sea. Continued on page 3
SAILOR OF THE DAY
Stories and photos by MCSA (SW) Kelly Agee
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maintenance checks on four emergency diesel engines, ensuring backup cooling to two A4W nuclear reactors and emergency power to vital equipment throughout the ship. Lowe assisted with the emergent repairs of number two emergency diesel generator’s governor assembly, guaranteeing 100 percent equipment and mission readiness. “Work hard and do what you’re suppose to do because then you’ll get recognized,” said Lowe.
ngineman Fireman Apprentice Christopher Lowe, a native of St. Louis, was named Sailor of the Day Nov. 18. “It’s exciting,” said Lowe. “I didn’t expect that I would get it so early in my career.” Having only been on board since August 2013, Lowe has qualified in emergency diesel rover, advanced damage control and team leader. Lowe has assisted with more than 30 Commanding Officer
Executive Officer
Command Master Chief
Public Affairs Officer
Capt. Jeff Ruth
Capt. J.J. Cummings
CMDCM Teri McIntyre
Lt. Cmdr. Karin Burzynski
Editor MC3 (SW) George J. Penney III
Lead Designer MC3 (SW) Raul Moreno Jr.
Nimitz News accepts submissions in writing. All submissions are subject to review and screening. “Nimitz News” is an authorized publication for the members of the military services and their families. Its content does not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or the Marine Corps and does not imply endorsement thereby.
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Continued from page 1
“When I came on board last year, I worked in electronic warfare (EW),” said Wallace. “Electronic warfare analyzes the ship’s emitters. We’re also in charge of controlling the ship’s emissions control (EMCON).” EW takes in radars from surrounding ships’ radar signals and it’s up to the CTs to identify them to different platforms such as merchant ships, warships, etc., based on the frequencies sent out by each ship. “Along with identifying surrounding ships, we also take in air radars,” added Wallace. “Just like with the ships, we can identify the different types of aircrafts based off the frequency sent out.” EMCON for the ship is controlled in the EW module and EMCON for the strike group is controlled by the information warfare commander (IWC). “EMCON is set based on certain conditions to protect the high value unit against adversaries,” said Wallace. Wallace begins her day at 5:00 pm, gets in line for dinner then makes her way up to warcell four to get the plan for the day. After she has an idea of what to expect for the day, she
checks message traffic for any casualty reports (CASREPS). “I manage all the CASREPS for all of the equipment dealing with EW for all the strike group ships,” added Wallace. “After I get the CASREPS, I update the collaborated at-sea (CAS) page with the CASREPS, messages and other information for the ICW.” After she updates the CASREPS, Wallace also updates the daily intentions messages. These are messages put out daily to the strike group with each warfare commander’s daily intentions for the various events taking place that particular day. “After I’m done updating the CASREPS and daily intentions messages, I stand a four-hour watch in SUPPLOT [supplemental plot] which is when I work with NOA [national opelient analyst],” said Wallace. “When I’m done with my watch in SUPPLOT, I head back to warcell four to assist the IWC by making [situational reports] on the hour and I answer to the battle watch commander.” Warcell four also controls all EW assets along with river city conditions and tactical situations for all the ships within the strike group. 3
“Tactical situations are where we set certain postures or security measures to protect the strike group,” added Wallace. Aside from her work day in SUPPLOT and warcell four, Wallace is also the strike group’s Blue Jacket of the Quarter 4th quarter Sailor, enlisted surface warfare specialist (ESWS) qualified, the strike group’s IWC CAS site administrator, CCSG-11’s N3 Ombusman letter writer, has operationally tracked 470 vessels of interest and 30 foreign combatant ships and is the strike group’s Junior Enlisted Association (JEA) secretary. “We just started a JEA for the strike group,” said Wallace. “Every other Saturday night we host a movie night usually in one of the warcells for the members of the strike group’s JEA. It gives us a chance to relax and bond with each other after a long work week.” Wallace isn’t sure if she’s going to make the Navy a career or not but plans to stay in for shore duty. “If I do plan to stay in after I do shore duty I’d like to work toward becoming an intelligence officer for the cryptological side,” added Wallace.
CSS Supports DoD Families, Kicks off Caring and Sharing By MCC (AW/SW) Shawn D. Graham, Center for Service Support Public Affairs
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enter for Service Support (CSS) and Naval Station Newport (NWPT) commands kicked off voluntary food and monetary donations Nov. 14 for the Caring and Sharing Program (CSP) that assists Department of Defense (DoD) employees and their families that may need assistance this holiday season, Nov. 14. CSP was launched in the early 1990s. Sailors assigned to commands attached to NWPT are providing voluntary support for this program which will be conducted through Dec. 18. Command representatives and volunteers will collect donations. The items collected around NWPT will be placed into gift boxes and presented to Sailors and civilian families who have requested assistance. Senior Chief Logistics Specialist
Military families sometimes need a helping hand.
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- CMC ROSADO
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(AW/SW) Chaddrake Lavallais, logistics specialist training manager said that with the support from the local military community, and others, CSP is not just a possibility, but a viable resource to Sailors, Marine, Soldiers, Airmen and civilian employees seeking assistance. “The food boxes will contain all of the products for a complete meal including a turkey,” said Lavallais. “This program will help our Sailors celebrate the holidays with their families by alleviating some of the financial stress.” “It’s important for leaders to get the word out to every command,” said Lavallais. “We are fighting this fight together. We should support one another every day and not just through the holidays. There are a lot of programs that give back to the community, but this is our way of giving back to our own. Leaders should canvas their commands and nominate Sailors or staff members who need support. Sailors should not feel ashamed to receive assistance. We
are all in this together and this is the time to give back.” Command Master Chief (SW/SCW/AW) Ray Rosado said that CSP is a great tool to promote team mates helping team mates. “Military families sometimes need a helping hand,” said Rosado. “Some families cannot afford a traditional holiday meal. This program offers a helping hand to those who would like their families to enjoy the holiday season. This program draws on our spirit of giving and I am extremely proud of those who support and donate to the program as well as those who request the help. Every DoD family should have a memorable experience and meal for their family.” “We also encourage Sailors with dependents to explore the
Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA) Program,” said Rosado. FSSA was designed to bring eligible service member’s gross household income to 130 percent of the federal poverty line as established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program is available for Sailors stationed in the United States and overseas. Members may be eligible for up to $1,100 per month. “It’s an important program for our Sailors who have families,” said Rosado. “No one who serves their country should have to choose between feeding their families and keeping utilities on. Leaders throughout the fleet should tout this program and ask their Sailors the correct questions. It’s our duty to inform them about these pro-
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grams. The women and men who serve our military are our most important resource.” CSS and its learning sites provide Sailors with the knowledge and skills needed to support the fleet’s warfighting mission. More than 300 staff and faculty work hand-in-hand with the fleet and are dedicated to ensure training is current and well executed on behalf of 10,000 Sailors who graduate from CSS courses annually in the administration, logistics and media communities. To learn more about FSSA, read NAVADMIN 292/12 and visit https://www.dmdc.osd. mil/fssa/ to determine eligibility and review application procedures. For more news from Center for Service Support, visit www.navy.mil/local/css/.
By MCSN (SW) Derek Harkins
An F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to VFA-154, lands on the flight deck. By MCSN (SW) Aiyana Paschal
By MCSN (SW) Aiyana Paschal
AM3 Algeron Gross and AMAN Vanessa Okiakpe perform maintenance on a hydraulic test stand.
“Not everybody trusts paintings but people believe photographs.� -Ansel Adams
AM3 Emilie Hayes performs maintenance on an MH60S Seahawk helicopter assigned to HSC-6.
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CHANNEL 5
CHANNEL 6
CHANNEL 7
CHANNEL 29
CHANNEL 30
JONAH HEX
THE LAST AIRBENDER
CYRUS
SCARY MOVIE 5
CHERNOBYL DIARIES
KILLERS
THE PEACEMAKER
DESPICABLE ME
MRS. DOUBTFIRE
PREDATORS
TOY STORY 2
TWILIGHT: ECLIPSE
HOPE SPRINGS
STAND UP GUYS
DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL
HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS
GROWN UPS 2
EAT PRAY LOVE
SPIDERMAN 3
FINDING NEMO
1600/0400
SMALL SOLDIERS
CATS & DOGS: REVENGE OF KITTY GALORE
FACE OFF
1800/0600
THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW
CHARLIE ST. CLOUD
K2
ARGO
FRANKENWEENIE
TV
02 - AFN News 03 - AFN Xtra 04 - AFN Sports 05 - 8MM Movies 06 - 8MM Movies 07 - 8MM Movies 08 - Roller 09 - NTV Smallville 10 - Flight Deck 11 - CNN 29 - DVD Movies 30 - DVD Movies
ACT OF VALOR
CABIN IN THE WOODS
ON THE COVER: CTTSN Rachel Wallace performs her duties in warcell four.