May 23, 2013
Vol. 2 Issue 30
THE DIRECTORS Story and Photos by MCSA Aiyana Pashcal
O
ut on the flight deck, everyone plays a vital role in the launching and recovering of aircraft. It’s fast paced, there are extreme temperatures, and overall, it’s loud. That’s where aviation boatswain’s mates (handling) (ABH) come in. “My role on the flight deck is aircraft director,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class James Sutton. “I direct the launch and recovery aircraft all day.” When working on the flight deck with aircraft
being constantly launched and recovered you have to be quick. “It’s a fast paced job,” said Sutton. “There are a lot of game time decisions you have to make. There’s always something different, always something new happening. It’s nice to get out of the norm.” Sutton describes a typical day for flight directors. “We wake up in the morning, come to work, walk our flys, and check for loose gear about the deck,” said Sutton. “Then we do a yellow shirt brief and when the flights begin we hit the flight deck.” Even with always having to be on your feet while making sure you’re executing the right procedures with every maneuver, perhaps the toughest part of Continued on page 3
OF SAILOR THE
SH3 Jeffrey C. Spacek Story and Photos by MC3 Linda S. Swearingen
S
hip’s Serviceman 3rd Class Jeffrey C. Spacek, a native of Spokane, Wash., now a Sailor on board the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) was named Sailor of the Day, May 22. “It feels good to be named Sailor of the Day,” said Spacek. “I feel good about my job, being in the Navy and what I’m doing.” Spacek’s duties as a Damage Control and 3M Maintenance Person, and his work in S-3 Retail Operations Division and Supply Department led to his being named Nimitz Sailor of the Day. According to Spacek, he joined the Navy in February 2009 so he could serve his country. Petty Officer Spacek has proven to be a team player and displayed exceptional initiative in his department by taking the lead in tracking and Commanding Officer CAPT Jeff S. Ruth Executive Officer CAPT Buzz Donnelly Command Master Chief CMDCM Teri McIntyre Public Affairs Officer LCDR Karin Burzynski
DAY
correcting over 100 zone inspection discrepancies. He has trained and been directly responsible for four Supply Department Sailors in their qualifications and supervising maintenance personnel in the completion of essential damage control maintenance. As one of the select few departmental eSOMS qualified Sailors in his department, Spacek provided valuable assistance to multiple divisions within the department by assisting with over 150 maintenance tag-outs. In his spare time, Spacek says he enjoys reading books and watching movies. “My favorite types of movies are action and comedy movies,” said Spacek. “Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is my favorite author, but I enjoy reading the classics as well as science fiction novels.” For those Sailors who are looking to be nominated by their chain of command as a future Sailor of the Day, Spacek has some advice. “Try to be your best every day, have a positive attitude and a clean uniform,” said Spacek.
Editor MC2 (SW) Jason Behnke Lead Designer MC3 George J. Penney III
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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.
Continued from page 1 the job is the long hours. “The flight schedule is very demanding,” said Sutton. “We have to support what missions the air wing has. We have long days and short nights.” What gets Sutton through the day, is something not every Sailor always gets underway. “The best part about being an ABH is I get to be on the flight deck,” said Sutton. “I get to see sunsets and breathe fresh air every day. It’s nice not to be below decks all the time.” Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Kierra Perkins joined the Navy four years ago with hopes of being a hospital corpsman (HM). “I chose to be an ABH because I didn’t want to wait a year for HM to open up again,” said Perkins. Perkins is currently under instruction on the flight deck training to be a yellow shirt. A typical night for her involves spotting the flight deck for the next day’s flight operation. For the past four years, Perkins was a blue shirt before she begin training to be a yellow shirt.
ABH2 Laquentin Longmire helps direct an E-2C Hawkeye.
“It is an honor to actually wear the shirt,” said Perkins. “When I was a blue shirt, I would always stand on the flight deck during flight ops and practice directing. It’s a lot of fun being on the flight deck, and there are times that it can be very stressful. I just take every day as a learning experience.”
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Story by MCSN Derek Harkinss
W
hen a Navy vessel crosses the equator, it is a tradition that the ship conducts a crossing the line (CTL) ceremony. During this ceremony, Sailors and Marines who have never crossed the equator before (“pollywogs” or “wogs”) may participate in a series of activities. The completion of this milestone earns the service member the title of “shellback.” Over the years, concerns have been raised over what many service members considered hazing during the ceremony. These concerns have led the Navy and its individual commands to work toward bringing CTL in line with the Navy’s anti-hazing initiatives. These actions will continue to influence conduct aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) during the ship’s upcoming CTL. “When I had my sit down with the XO on the plans for crossing the line, his major concern was safety for the Sailors and Marines,” said Master Chief Aviation Maintenance Administrationman Dee Bougard, the coordinator for Nimitz’ upcoming CTL ceremony. Bougard has seen a shift in how these ceremonies are held in the modern Navy. “I became a shellback in 2000 and I saw the Page 4
change then,” said Bougard. According to Bougard, the alterations made in CTL guidelines have led some behavior previously displayed by shellbacks during the proceedings to be banned. “We do not [make wogs] eat food items anymore and we are not allowed to touch anyone,” said Bougard. Bougard noted that Sailors and Marines will not experience other questionable rituals previously associated with the event. The “tunnel of stinch,” which involves climbing through garbage, has been eliminated. Shellbacks conducting activities are also forbidden from throwing or smearing food on the wogs, such as putting peanut butter in their hair. Some of these activities may have had their place in the Navy of the past, but these activities are not compatible with the anti-hazing policies of the modern US military. Nimitz Sailors and Marines who have safety concerns about the ceremony may reference CTL 5050, which is available on the internet and the ship’s intranet. This document details the command message and safety guidelines the ceremony will follow. “It’s about being safe and having fun,” said Bougard. Today, the crossing the line ceremony is optional for all hands. Sailors and Marines sign forms stating whether they choose to participate in the event or not. Nimitz service members who consent to participation in the CTL ceremony will experience an event informed by years of naval history and culture. “I hope the CTL will be fun for all, keeping with tradition and [also have Sailors and Marines] learning some history,” said Bougard. According to Bougard, combating the inappropriate hazing that was previously involved in CTL has improved the overall experience for those making their transition from wog to shellback. “We are in a new era,” said Bougard. “Hazing and harassment has no place in the Navy or on the Nimitz.”
AROUND THE
DECK PLATES
Photos By MC3 Raul Moreno Jr. (Top Left) MC3 (SW) Devin Wray (Right) MCSN Nathan McDonald (Bottom Left)
BMSN Stephen Martinez signals to the Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7) while conducting a replenishment at sea.
CSSN Kendra Bellinger loads boxes onto a conveyor belt.
Sailors move boxes in a working party during a replenishment at sea (RAS). Page 5
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Channel 5 Channel 6 Channel 7 Channel 29 Channel 30 0800 / 2000 Bad Teacher
A League of Their Own
Troy
Fun Size
Identity Thief
1000 / 2200 How do You Know
The King’s Speech
I AM Number Four
1200 / 0000 Big Momma’s House 3
Remember the Titans
I Robot
The Green Hornet
Die Another Day
1400 / 0200 Caddyshack
1600 / 0400 Beastly
Walk the Line
Fright Night
Looper
War of The Worlds
02 - AFN News 03 - AFN Xtra In the Dr. Seuss’ Line of Fire The Lor ax 04 - AFN Sports 05 - 8MM Movies 06 - 8MM Movies 07 - 8MM Movies Book Young of Eli Fr ankenstein 08 - ROLLER 09 - NTV 10 - FLIGHT DECK 11 - CNN Happy Journey 29 - DVD MOVIES Gilmore to the 30 - DVD MOVIES Center of the Earth
1800 / 0600
Due Date
Fantastic Four
The Roomate
TV
The Guilt Trip
Alex Cross