Sept. 25, 2013
Vol. 2 Issue 109
DAILY DIGEST
LINE SHACK: PLANE CAPTAINS KEEP AIRCRAFT FUNCTIONING
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viators often find themselves flying over foreign lands performing life or death maneuvers in defense of our nation. The thousands of hours of training prepared them for almost any scenario that could come their way. The last thing they need is for the plane they rely on to carry out the mission to fail them. Luckily, the Sailors and Marines who work in the line shack ensure that won’t happen. Sailors, like Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd
Story and photo by MCSA Kelly Agee
Class Forrest Sledge, who work in the line shack ensure the aircraft they’re responsible for get the proper checks performed to keep the pilots and aircraft safe. The line shack consists of a group of plane captains and plane captain trainees that facilitate in the launch, recovery and inspection of an aircraft in order to maintain the safety of flight operations, as well as the cleanliness of the aircraft. “Without us the aircraft wouldn’t necessarily be safe or inspected as easily,” said Sledge. “BeCONTINUED ON PG 3
Sailors of the Day
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tructural Mechanic 3rd Class John D. Alden, a native of South Easton, Mass., assigned to the “Argonauts” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, was named Sailor of the Day Sept. 24. “It feels great to be recognized.” As plane captain Alden completed 62 daily turnaround inspections, 32 special inspections and directed the launch and recovery of 220 aircraft sorties. Alden’s efforts directly enabled VFA-147 to achieve a sortie completion rate of 100 percent in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Alden trained four plane captains, eight break riders, six duct divers and four hydraulic Stories and photos by MCSA Kelly M. Agee contamination qualified technicians. Additionally as HAZMAT program petty achinist’s Mate 2nd Class Ryan Goffena, officer, he received zero discrepancies on the most a native of Celina, Ohio, was named recent quality assurance audit. Sailor of the Day Sept. 23. “It’s surprising, I never thought I would get to be Sailor of the Day.” As the lower level starboard watch stander in one machinery room, Goffena was responsible for one distilling unit, one main engine and the forward potable water system, ensuring all were fully operational and ready to support Nimitz’ mission. Goffena’s diligent efforts restored vital water production capability to 100 percent. Additionally, he managed the Lube Oil Quality Management program for twenty components in the main machinery rooms and shaft alleys. Under his charge the program received zero discrepancies during the most recent Mobile Training Team visit.
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Commanding Officer Capt. Jeff Ruth
Executive Officer Capt. John Cummings
Editor MC2 (SW) Jason Behnke
Command Master Chief CMDCM Teri McIntyre
Public Affairs Officer Lt. Cmdr. Karin Burzynski
Lead Designer MCSA (SW) Andrew Price
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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cause our primary focus is finding something broken and that needs to be fixed.” The plane captains have to follow maintenance requirement cards (MRC) during their inspections of the aircraft. “There are sets of publications that we use, maintenance requirement cards,” said Sledge. “We typically use the MRC-100s for the turnaround inspection and we use an MRC-200 for a daily inspection.” The cards entail many different tasks the plane captains have to perform. “It entails the walk around and diving of ducts and ensuring the canopy is clean so that the pilots can have a good visual reference to the ship,” said Sledge. “Walking around making sure the digital display indicators are clean, the lights of the cockpit work, it’s a lot of stuff to cover.” According to Sledge, checks are performed constantly. “During flight ops it’s a non-stop operation,” said Sledge. “As soon as the jets hit the deck and the yellow shirts pass us control of the aircraft, we make sure they are safe and ready to go up again.” Sledge believes the aviators have their lives in good hands. “All the plane captains that we have, have a very deep knowledge base of the aircraft, and they also have a very high dedication to thoroughness and attention to detail,” said Sledge. To keep the plane captains pumped during the day, Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Scott Keatina, of Chino, Calif., their leading petty officer acts as a motivator.
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“I make sure my guys are motivated. It’s a hard job,” said Keatina. “I make sure they have a smile on their face whether it be 190 degrees or 30 degrees outside. I see they get motivated.” According to Sledge, his job also requires flexibility and readiness whenever it’s called for. “If an aviator walks up to a plane and they are in a hurry, say for example we have one jet that went down and they have to send another out, we have to make sure the aviator can walk up to a jet and ask if it’s ready to go,” said Sledge. “And if the plane captain says it’s ready to go they are going to trust everything they say and pop up into that jet and go into the country for a six-hour flight.” The plane captains work from 5 a.m. to whenever they are relieved at night. Any one of them perform an average of three to four turnaround inspections a day. “It’s a grueling, demanding job, but in the end it is extremely rewarding,” said Sledge. “Seeing a pilot come back safely is one of the biggest rewards you can get as a plane captain.” Keatina says he enjoys his job on the flight deck. “I love my job,” said Keatina. “I love working with everybody from age 18 all the way up to 40. They are the first people that see the pilots when they take off and the first when they come back.” Being a part of the line shack is not an easy job, but for Sailors like Keatina and Sledge, it’s just another day at the office.
NAVY RECOMMENDS SECURITY CHANGES IN WAKE OF NAVY YARD TRAGEDY
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Story by Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service. Photo by MC2 Stuart Phillips
he Navy has recommended three the time of the shootings, received a secret sechanges to security procedures follow- curity clearance. Three years prior to his enlisting the Washington Navy Yard shoot- ment, Alexis shot out the tires of a construction ing Sept. 16 in which a Navy contrac- worker’s vehicle in Seattle. No charges were filed. tor killed 12 people at the facility. Upon entering the Navy Reserve in 2007, Juan M. Garcia, the assistant secretary of the Navy for manpower and reserve affairs, OPM initiated an investigation. The check studied the service record of the shooter - Aaron turned up Alexis’ fingerprints in the FBI system Alexis - to see how his conduct “did or did not and investigators became aware of the incident meet the threshold for the sustainment of his se- in Seattle. OPM sent investigators to speak to Alexis at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, curity clearance and fitness for Naval duty.” Ill. There was no mention of One recommendation, the incident involving firewhich must go to Defense Secarms in the OPM report to retary Chuck Hagel for approvthe Navy. al, is that all Office of PersonThe OPM report to the nel Management investigative Department of the Navy Cenreports include any available tral Adjudication Facility depolice documents related to the termined Alexis was eligible subject being backgrounded. for a secret clearance with Navy Secretary Ray Mabus has already approved two SECNAV Ray Mabus speaks at a memorial one caveat - he had negative for the victims of the Washington credit information. other recommendations. The service Navy Yard shooting. During his Navy service, first will require command seAlexis received a non-judicial curity manager responsibilities be assigned to executive officers or other senior punishment for an unauthorized absence during members of commands. Currently, junior offi- service with VF-46 in Atlanta, Ga. His unauthorized absence coincided with a brief stay in cers hold those responsibilities. The second is to “require senior-level ac- jail after being arrested for disorderly conduct countability on all detachment of individual outside a nightclub. There were other incidents, but there were evaluations/fitness reports.” A senior Navy official discussed the time- no further Article 15s. In one, Alexis discharged line of Alexis’ service and what the Navy knew a firearm in his quarters. He stated he accidently about security problems during a Pentagon discharged the weapon while cleaning it. His commander initiated actions to adminbackground briefing. Alexis’ service went from istratively separate Alexis from the service, but 2007 to 2011. “Looking individually at the events, as we once the charges were dropped, that process knew them at the time, it’s very difficult to see a stopped. On December 2, 2010, Alexis requested glaring indicator that there is any kind of potential for the events that took place last week, the separation from the service in accordance with a reduction-in-force program. On Jan. 31, 2011, senior Navy official said. Many questions were raised about how he received an honorable discharge with a reenAlexis, a former sailor and Navy contractor at try code of RE-1 - the most favorable code. 4
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THROUGHTHELEN
AM3 Algeron Gross performs maintenance on a hydraulic test stand.
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By MCSN (SW) Derek A. Harkins
By MCSA Kelly M. Agee
Cpl. Darien Parris of VMFA-323 performs maintenance on an F/A-18C Hornet in the hangar bay.
By MCSN (SW) Derek A. Harkins
ADAN Billy Bryant installs a panel on an F/A-18E Super Hornet of VFA-147 in the hangar bay.
By MCSN Siobana McEwen
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TV
30 nel 29 Ch annel 6 Channel 7 Chan Channel 5 Channel 0800 / 2000 EN TER THE DR AG ON
THE PROFESSIONAL
1000 / 2200 ESC APE FROM ALC ATR AZ
SEA RCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER
COP OU T
SNATCH
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1200 / 0000 EXT R AOR DIN ARY ME ASU RES 1400 / 0200 THE GR EAT SAN TINI 1600 / 0400 HA LLS OF MONT EZUM A 1800 / 0600 INV ICT US
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THE ALICE EXPENDABLES IN WONDERLA ND
TOOT H FAIRY
WHEN IN ROME THE LOV ELY BONES
DE AR JOHN
SILEN T HOUSE
CINDER ELL A M AN
PROMETHEUS
MOONRISE DIA RY KINGDOM OF A WI MP Y KID THE BOOK OF ELI
A-T EAM
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
THE DA RK KNIGHT
BOUR NE ULT IM ATUM
IRON M AN 2
JUR ASSIC PAR K
ON THE COVER: ADCS Barry Hunt helps AD2 Forrest Sledge put on chains.
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