Nimitz News Daily Digest - Aug. 21, 2013

Aug. 21, 2013

Vol. 2 Issue 84

SE R RE VIC VIE ES W

DAILY DIGEST

Story by MCSN Derek Harkins Photo by MC3 Raul Moreno Jr.

S

ailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) participated in a service review board in the ship’s aft mess decks Aug. 15.

The participants were invited to give feedback to commissioned and non-commissioned officers representing various services aboard the ship.

“It provides people the opportunity to provide us candid feedback in a form that allows people to make changes,” said Lt. Cmdr. Brian Madden, the principal assistant for services aboard Nimitz.

Madden assists all of the service divisions aboard Nimitz, including Morale, Welfare and Recreation, ship’s laundry, and food services.

“We’re finding out what they like, what they dislike [and] whether they’re not getting something they want,” said Master Chief Culinary Specialist Coasa Brannon, the leading chief petty officer of Food Continued on pg. 3

Sailor of the Day

Story and photo by MC3 Derek W. Volland

For his outstanding performance as 2nd Division repair parts petty officer (RPPO) and underway replenishment (UNREP) signalman, Seaman Apprentice Ryan L. Johnson, a native of the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, was selected as the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Sailor of the Day, Aug. 20.

“It actually feels embarrassing to be getting this much attention,” said Johnson. “But it feels great to be recognized.”

Johnson performed his demanding duties in an exemplary and highly professional manner. As the RPPO, he was personally responsible for ensuring that all necessary divisional repair parts and supCommanding Officer CAPT Jeff Ruth

plies were on board prior to the command’s recent 3M inspection, contributing to the division’s final score of 90.6 percent.

“I only enlisted about a year ago,” said Johnson, when asked about his future plans. “I’m definitely planning to reenlist though once I get a rate.

I want to go into medical or dental.”

He also led three Sailors in the daily upkeep and preservation of five departmental spaces, four of which recently received a grade of outstanding during the most recent command zone inspection.

Additionally, cross-training in medical, he has dedicated numerous off-duty hours assisting the crew during sick call hours.

Executive Officer CDR John Cummings

Editor MC2 (SW) Jason Behnke

Command Master Chief CMDCM Teri McIntyre

Public Affairs Officer LCDR Karin Burzynski

Lead Designer MC3 (SW) George J. Penney III

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.

Photo by MCSA Kelly M. Agee

Continued from pg. 1

AOAN Sahneya Fryer washes clothes.

Services Division aboard Nimitz. “It always helps us to do better.”

Service review boards are open to all hands, and any person aboard Nimitz is invited to participate in the open discussion.

While service review boards are required to be conducted by Nimitz quarterly, the command can execute them as frequently as desired to better meet the needs of Sailors and Marines aboard the ship.

“The thing that we take pride and comfort in is that we are making you happy,” said Brannon.

The supervisors spoke to the personnel in attendance about the current and future states of the services they provide, while openly encouraging their input. Each question or remark made by the customers

was clearly acknowledged by the supervisors, providing information on plans to be implemented or those that are already being put into place.

According to Madden, the commissioned and non-commissioned officers in charge of the ship’s services seriously consider the feedback given by customers during the boards. While these services may not be able to immediately react to every criticism the participants raise, leadership works to improve the quality of each service based on the feedback they receive.

“The leaders aren’t always down on the deck plates all the time,” said Brannon. “One of the things I’ve been telling my Sailors is, ‘Hey, if there’s something wrong, let somebody know.’ As long as you let us know, we’ll take care of it.”

The event concluded with closing remarks from Cmdr. John Cummings, Nimitz’ executive officer.

Cummings noted the importance of the service review boards in aiding the ship’s service divisions to excel.

“It’s communicating with your customers, and that’s part of good customer service,” said Brannon.

Service review boards are one of many avenues provided in the modern Navy that allow service members to voice their opinions. Through the boards, they can help leadership to improve the quality of their division’s work, which in turn improves the services the Sailors receive. “[It’s coming] straight from the customer [to] the highest level, and it can truly make a difference at the deck plate level,” said Madden.

FLASHPOINT Story by MC2 (SW) Devin Wray Photo Illustration by MCSN Derek Harkins

Over the past few weeks, you may have noticed members of the hangar bay crew sitting in one of the bays of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) with a hose faked out. One might think that these Sailors are getting ready for a drill or perhaps standing by as aircrew members weld a part onto their aircraft. With no sign of hot work to be found and no scheduled drills, you might wonder why someone would be forced to sit there with a hose for hours a day.

Operating out of a different part of the world, nearby land bases run on different standards than an aircraft carrier. One of those differences is the type of fuel that is sometimes used.

A jet operating from Nimitz may find itself low on fuel and unable to make it back to the ship in time to refuel, so it will end up refueling as soon as it can.

That can mean the aircraft comes back to the ship with a different fuel type, which can cause problems when it sits in the hangar bay for repairs.

“We have to stand this [watch] because sometimes our jets get refueled by Air Force tankers or at a base that uses JP-8 which has a lower flash point,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Kyle Gott, a hangar bay aircraft director.

Nimitz uses JP-5, which Gott says has a flash point of 140 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas JP-8 has a

flash point of 100 degrees.

It’s important to keep aircraft on board filled with high flash point fuel to decrease the chances of a fire. A fire in the hangar bay would spread quickly, and land is miles away from the would-be stranded crew.

“Any time there’s a low flash point you have to have someone there,” said Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Bruce Kelly, currently assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 146. “In case there’s a fire, we’re there to call it out.”

Fuel with a lower flashpoint can ignite quicker because the temperature doesn’t need to be as high to cause the fuel to emit fumes, which are more flammable than the fuel itself.

Gott said it is possible for someone to drop a match into JP-5 in low temperatures and it could possibly extinguish the match due to its high flash point, but if the JP-5 was emitting fumes, which is more common with the JP-8 currently being used on some aircraft, the fuel would be more likely to ignite.

“If JP-8 was spilled across all three hangars and ignited, all the hangars would be on fire in under a minute,” said Gott.

For these reasons, the watches stand ready to keep the aircraft safe in time to be launched for their next mission.

ADAR David Boehmer stands watch in the hangar bay.

AS2 Jose Trevino performs maintenance on a tail servo of an MH-60R Seahawk Helicopter.

ABHAN Max Christy, right, and AN Sadie Sutton wait for the call to move an E/A-6B Prowler.

By MCSN Kole Carpenter

By MCSA Kelly Agee

Cpl. Clermon Candio, left, Sgt. John Cummings and Cpl. Joshua Duso sing karaoke on the mess decks.

By MC3 Derek W. Volland

HT2 Neil Hopkins, right, and HT3 Kobi Thurman fabricate an arresting gear cover.

By MCSN Kole Carpenter

L THROUGHTHE ENS

TV

30 nel 29 Ch annel 6 Channel 7 Chan Channel 5 Channel 0800 / 2000 When in Rome 1000 / 2200

The Inv ention of Lying

Moulin Rouge

Won’t Back The Per ks Down of Being A Wa llflow er

The Fou rth M ast er Kind & Comm ander

1200 / 0000 Old Dogs

1400 / 0200 Shr ek 2

1600 / 0400 Did You He ar About The Morga ns?

1800 / 0600 You th in Revolt

Da redevil

The Last of the Mohic ans

The Stepfather

Car rier s

The Tr ansporter

2012 (Pa rt 1)

Aliens Vs. Predator

2012 (Pa rt 2)

The Box

Flight

Wr eck it R alph

Killing Them Sof tly

Sta r Trek II: Wr ath of Kh an

Hope Spr ings

Act of Valor

The R aven

Think Lik e A Ma n

Quant um Seeking A of Friend for Sol ace the End of the World

ON THE COVER: CS3 Kendra Bellinger serves roast beef to YNSN Cesar Deguzman in the mess decks.

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