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CONTENTS Vol. 9 | Issue 10 4 MWR Takes Nimitz Sailors Out to the Ball Game Story by MC3 Greg Hall
NIMITZ NEWS
CAPT. Kevin Lenox Commanding Officer CAPT. J.W. David Kurtz Executive Officer CMDCM Richard Mengel Command Master Chief
MEDIA DEPARTMENT
LT. CMDR. Clint Phillips PAO LT. J.G. Meagan Morrison DIVO MCC Grant Probst Media DLCPO MCC Porter Anderson Media CPO MC1 Kevin Johnson Media LPO MC2 Don White Production LPO
Check out how Nimitz Sailors were able to enjoy a much
deserved day off from all of the hardwork they have been putting in at PSNS.
8 Naval Service: A Family Affair Aboard Nimitz Story by MC3 Michael Prusiecki
Learn why the word shipmate goes much farther for two Nimitz Sailors than anyone else aboard the ship.
12 A Ticket Back to Service
Story by MC3 Michael Prusiecki
Get the facts on the Navy’s brand new golden ticket re-entry program, and how it can benefit you!
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MC3 Emily Johnston Lead Designer MC2 Ian Kinkead Phojo Team Lead MC2 Austin Haist MC2 Marc Cuenca MC2 Erickson Magno MC2 Ian Zagrocki MC3 Chad Anderson MC3 Kenneth Blair MC3 David Claypool MC3 Colby Comery MC3 Cody Deccio MC3 Greg Hall MC3 James Hunt MC3 Chris Jahnke MC3 Kennishah Maddux MC3 Jose Madrigal MC3 Weston Mohr MC3 Liana Nichols MC3 Michael Prusiecki MC3 Cole Schroeder MC3 Frank Speciale MC3 Jessica Tukes MC3 Leon Wong MC3 Bethany Woolsey MCSN Anthony Collier
MR1 BUTTERFIELD AT1 KRIEGER CS1 LEBLANC RP1 PRALL ABE1 RAYFORD CS1 RUCKER ABH1 SORTLAND ABH1 VALENCIA PS1 VELAZQUEZ MA2 ANDERSON YN2 ARGUETA SH2 BROWN EM2 CALHOUN AO2 CASTRILLO CS2 CECIL IC2 CRUZ ET2 DEPAULO SH2 FEAGIN ABE2 FLORES CS2 GARCIA ABH2 GARY QM2 GORTAREZ EM2 HALL LS2 HARP PS2 HOWELLS HM2 HOYOS CS2 JOHNSON QM2 JONES MC2 KINKEAD CS2 LE PS2 LOWE ABF2 LOZITO CS2 MALIG MM2 MARTINEZ YN2 MARTING HM2 MOGOLLON EM2 OTT SH2 PANGBORN EM2 PENUEL ET2 RAGADIO AZ2 ROTHWELL
CS2 STEVERSON CS3 AFEMATA AM3 ALLEN PS3 BARNES CS3 BELVEALESCAMILLA ABH3 BETHEA IC3 BRAZZALE ABH3 BURGESS LS3 CAUDLE YN3 CORONADO AO3 DELEON CS3 DUNHAM CS3 ESTRADA PS3 FERRELL MA3 FINAU AO3 HAMILTON ABH3 HEINKE CS3 JOHNSON CS3 JOHNSON CS3 LINDSAY CS3 LOPEZ PS3 LUIS MA3 MADDY CS3 MCFARLAND CS3 MOODY AO3 OBRIEN ABH3 QUICK AO3 RADFORD CS3 REED LS3 ROBINSON AM3 SCHREPPLER SH3 SISTRUNK HM3 SLAVIN HM3 THOMAS AZ3 UCHENDU AO3 URCINO ABF3 VALDESRAMIREZ PS3 VALDEZREFF AT3 VANASSCHE CS3 WILHITE
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Capt. Kevin P. Lenox, commding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), throws the first pitch at a Tacoma Rainiers game, June 27, 2018. Photo and story by MC3 Greg Hall
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MWR TAKES NIMITZ SAILORS
OUT TO THE BALL GAME 5
Hungry patrons wait in line for hot dogs sizzling on a grill. The smell of popcorn permeates the air on a cool summer day. Crowds cheer at the crack of a bat that sends a player running to first base. This was the scene that Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) found themselves in as they attended a Tacoma Rainiers game at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Washington, June 27, 2018. “With all the hard work that everyone has been putting in on the ship every day, it was fantastic to have so many Nimitz Sailors out here to enjoy a day together at the ball park,” said Capt. Kevin P. Lenox, commanding officer Nimitz. The command-wide outing was the result of months of planning and work done by the Nimitz Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) division. “MWR started planning the event two or three months ago and wanted to host an event for Nimitz Sailors and their families,” said Ship’s Serviceman 1st Class Christina Ray, from Dunkirk, New York. “One month before the game we really started advertising and getting the word out.” Ray said that the tickets were offered at a discounted rate of $10 and children under 12 were free. Admission to the game also included free food and drinks. “Nimitz ended up with 1,400 people at the game and we feel like it was a huge success,” said Ray. “I have spoken with people and received a lot of positive feedback. It seemed like everyone had a great time.” Ray said that a goal of Nimitz MWR is to get Sailors out of their comfort zone to explore other parts of Washington. She said that they try to help these Sailors by organizing a variety of activities like camping, concerts and trips to sporting events. “A lot of Sailors think we are only available during deployment,” said Ray. “MWR is available after deployment though. We are available 365 days a year, and provide tickets and access to events to anyone who comes into our office.” MWR is planning a trip to a Seattle Mariners game and another trip to a Tacoma Rainiers game. For information about these events and more, contact Nimitz MWR. Nimitz is conducting a docking planned incremental availability at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility where the ship is receiving scheduled maintenance and upgrades. 6
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NAVAL SERVICE: A FAMILY 8
STORY AND PHOTOS BY MC3 MICHAEL PRUSIECKI
Y AFFAIR ABOARD NIMITZ 9
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From a young age, children develop role models and emulate those who inspire them. Often, the figure of emulation is a parent; someone who raises them and is responsible for their growth and development into independent, functioning members of society. Many children want to follow in the footsteps of their parents and adopt the career that their mother or father had during their lifetime, and military service is one such career path frequently followed. The solid foundations and experiences born from military service have inspired numerous generations to follow in their elder families footsteps and continue to answer the call to arms. One such example is Eric Alexander and Erica Alexander-Quow, a father-daughter duo onboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Lt. Cmdr. Eric Alexander, a native of Stuttgart, Arkansas, enlisted in the Navy in 1996 as an aviation boatswain’s mate (fuel). He served at various commands and eventually reached the rank of chief petty officer before being commissioned through the limited duty officer program in 2007. Since February 2018, he has been serving as the aircraft handling officer onboard Nimitz. Erica Alexander-Quow enlisted in the Navy in June 2017 as an intelligence specialist, and has been serving onboard Nimitz since January 2018. Their respective journeys in the Navy have led them to Nimitz where they serve together. “It’s a unique situation, however I enjoy it. We commute together and I get to mentor her a lot. I train her on shipboard safety and being a better Sailor. Her safety is my biggest concern,” said Alexander. “It’s pretty cool. We have a great relationship and it’s interesting to be able to work in the same place, even though we are in completely separate departments with different chains of command,” said Alexander-Quow. “It’s nice to have a watchful eye in the sky, someone who is always looking out for me, even though I try not to involve him much because I don’t want to be seen as having an advantage. I try to keep it separate.” Alexander-Quow said she joined the military due to the lessons learned from her father’s long and successful career in the Navy.
“Seeing his experience and the benefits from it, and also moving around to so many places was a big inspiration to follow in his footsteps and serve,” she said. “I want to eventually outrank him and I would love to do Seaman-to-Admiral and get commissioned one day, but right now I’m taking it day by day so we will see how my career plays out.” The Alexanders are well aware of the importance of separating family from work, and make sure to keep their dynamic as professional as possible. “At work, it’s all business. She see me and she says “Sir”, I see her and I say “IS3”. I expect her to be on point with her uniform and be respectful at all times, and military bearing is especially important,” said Alexander. “I want her to have her own experience and I do my best to stay out of her bubble, and she has a fantastic chain of command who are able to help her with any problems she comes across, but she knows I’m here if she needs me.” “We’re good at maintaining that father-daughter relationship at home away from work. Our everyday commute gives us time to unwind and diffuse any problems so we don’t have to bring any negativity home,” said Alexander-Quow. Along with being a positive influence career wise, Alexander recognizes the vast importance of being a positive factor in life, in general. “All parents want their children to have a better life than they had. It’s important to me to be a major factor in my kids’ lives because that’s something I didn’t have,” he said. “I challenge them to find a goal every day and reach that goal so they can achieve and maximize their full potential.” Although it will not always be easy, this father and daughter are committed to excellence and are more than ready to contribute to the Navy’s mission. Given their situation and the opportunity to serve together at the same command, the Alexanders are continuing their tradition and legacy of naval service in their family. Nimitz is conducting a docking planned incremental availability at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility where the ship is receiving scheduled maintenance and upgrades.
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A TICKET BACK TO SERVICE Story by MC3 Michael Prusiecki
The transition from military to civilian life can be a stressful and uncertain period. For Sailors who have spent their formative years in the structured and disciplined environment of the military, it’s sometimes difficult to make that conversion to a more conventional environment in the civilian world. At times, some separated military members have decided they prefer the military life and come back to active-duty service. With the implementation of the Targeted Re-Entry Program, Sailors now have a simplified and incentivized opportunity to do so. Officially implemented on April 1, 2018, this program, which falls under the Naval Administration Remark 047/18, offers a 24-month grace period for Sailors, paygrades E-4 to E-6 to return to active duty after separation. For the first 12 months, Sailors have the opportunity to come back into the Navy in the same rate and paygrade that they left. This is referred to as the “Golden Ticket”. The following 12 months, Sailors can come back into the Navy, but they will fall under what is known as “needs of the Navy” and cannot be guaranteed the same rate or paygrade. This is referred to as the “Silver Ticket.” The Navy implemented this NAVADMIN as a way for Sailors to keep their options open and have more opportunities for them to grow and develop in their professional careers. For Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), this program provides an extra safety net during the time following separation from the Navy. “Some Sailors think they have everything set and ready to go for when they get out, but it doesn’t always go as planned,” said Navy Counselor 1st Class Amber McCrackin, from Arlington, Texas. “With this program, you have the option to come back in and start back up where you left off. Look at it as another backup plan.” One Nimitz Sailor looking into this program is Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Benjamin Herrera, from Monterrey, California. “I have a very solid plan set up for when I get out in terms of school and jobs, but I think this is definitely something that could be worth taking advantage of because life can be so unpredictable,” said Herrera. 12
“Having the security and peace of mind that I’d be able to come back and earn income and take care of my family regardless of the circumstances is important.” Another aspect worth highlighting is this NAVADMIN does not necessarily pertain to any and all Sailors. “Sailors need their commanding officer’s recommendation, and that decision could get delegated to the department head and their respective chain of command,” said McCrackin. “Therefore, not every Sailor who requests it is going to be approved.” McCrackin also emphasized the importance of Sailors
taking charge and being responsible for their careers. “Nobody is going to seek you out to apply for this program, or make any decisions for you. It’s extremely important to be involved and take charge of your major career decisions.” With the implementation of this NAVADMIN, Sailors will be able to have a better peace of mind and an extra option for their long term goals. This is just one more tool a Sailor can use to ensure the achievement of their goals and financial stability for them and their families.
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Navy Councelor 1st Class Amber McCrackin does paperwork on board the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Photo by MC3 Emily Johnston For more information regarding the Targeted Re-Entry Program, visit: www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc and navigate to NAVADMIN 047/18.
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crossword
SUDOKU
trivia Where is the world’s largest supply of fresh water?
find chester Admiral Chester Nimitz’s face is hidden somewhere in every Nimitz News. Can you find him?
weekly throwback All hands on the flight deck jump to action to rig the emergency barricade while the ship is in the waters of the Northern Arabian in support of Operation Southern Watch.
Brazil is the country estimated to have the largest supply of fresh water in the world, followed by Canada and Russia. Nimitz News accepts submissions in writing. All submissions are subject to review and editing. “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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2 1. AN Matthew Martin stands a full bore watch in the Strait3of Hormuz. Photo by MC3 Leon Wong
2. ABHAN Derek Slater picks up his firefighting boots after a crash-and-salvage watch. Photo by MC3 (SW) Weston Mohr 3. An F/A-18E Super Hornet, from VFA-146, launches from the flight deck. Photo by MC3 (SW) Ian Kinkead 4. Sailors on the rigging team work and cool off during a replenishment-at-sea. Photo by MC3 (SW) Ian Kinkead 5. Sailors conduct honor guard practice aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Photo by MC3 Leon Wong 6. Sailors move ordnance aboard the flight deck off USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Photo By MC3 (SW) Ian Kinkead 7. Sailors play football on the flight deck of USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Photo By MC2 (SW/AW/IW) Holly Herline 8. An MH-60S Sea Hawk from HSC-8 patrols above Nimitz. Photo by MCSN (SW/AW) Cody Deccio 9. Sailors recieve supplies aboard Nimitz during an UNREP. Photo By MC3 (SW) Weston A. Mohr
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1| ABFAN Ballerud practices proper CPR technique in the hangar bay. |MC3 Prusiecki 2| Active-duty service members and families pose for a photo at a CREDO family enrichment retreat. |MC3 Hall 3| Capt. Kurtz, XO, speaks during an all-hands call aboard. |MC3 Johnston 4| AN Wilson gets sprayed with OC spray while participating in the “Between the Lines� Security Course. |MCSN Collier 5| Cmdr. Vohrer listens to direction from GM3 Frost during a dry fire at a firing range. |MC3 Hall 6| Capt. Lenox, CO, congratulates Sailors who were meritoriously advanced during an all hands call . |MC3 Hall
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