Vol. 2 Issue 15
April 27, 2013
PACIFIC FLEET ARRIVES Adm. Cecil Haney, commander, U.S.Pacific Fleet, arrives on a C-2A Greyhound.
Adm. Cecil Haney, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, is welcomed with honors.
Rear Adm. Michael White, commander, Carrier Strike Group 11, greets Adm. Cecil Haney, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet
SAILOR DAY OF THE
Story and Photos by MC3 Linda S. Swearingen
A
Libby, MO., native, now a Sailor on board the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) was named Sailor of the Day, April 26. Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class (AW) Raymond Blalack, a member of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, is Nimitz’ Sailor of the Day. “It feels good to know that people around me appreciate what I do,” said Blalack. Blalack joined the Navy in June 2008 after plans to enlist in the army fell through. “I wanted to take part in the Iraq War,” said Blalack. “Unfortunately I wasn’t a good fit for the Army, but the Navy was a better opportunity for me as I could still take part in the [Iraq] war. The squadron I’m attached to allowed me to still be able to support the war.” As an EA-6B Avionics Collateral Duty Inspector and Trouble Shooter, he is an essential part of maintaining mission-critical Navigation, MIDS and ALQ-99 Electronic Jamming Systems on four EA-6B ICAP-III Aircraft.
His actions directly resulted in 121 flight hours, a 99 percent sortie completion rate and the carrier qualification of seven pilots while deployed abroad. Blalack displayed unrelenting dedication to duty and to the command by mentoring five Gray Wolves in the completion of their Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist designations, Prowler Avionics Quality proficient apprentice qualifications and multiple Support Equipment licenses, increasing this work center’s qualification and efficiency by more than 50 percent since February 2013. In his spare time, Blalack enjoys playing chess with his friends when he is on liberty at home in Montana. For other Sailors who are looking to be a Sailor of the Day in the future, Blalack offers some advice. “Keep striving hard and do your job,” said Blalack. “Keep optimistic and when something needs to get done take the initiative to get it done.”
Page 2
DIFFERENT
STAY FIT WAY TO
Story and photo by MCSA Andrew Price
W
hen underway, finding a way to remain fit while juggling work and sleep is a task within itself. Many Sailors resort to running on treadmills, doing pull-ups in their respective shops, or even running laps around the hangar bay to get their fix. Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Lucas Ferguson, a Lampasas, Texas, native and member of Fleet Readiness Center Northwest in support of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, currently assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), has a different
way of staying fit while out at sea. “If I do a gymnastics routine once a week, it makes me more sore than lifting weights every day,” said Ferguson. Ferguson, who joined the Navy in 2009, has been doing gymnastics for the last two years, after beginning on a whim, and with a suggestion from a fellow gym member. He soon found the extent to which gymnastics could strengthen his body. Gymnastics can strengthen muscles outside of the normal range of motion, and can provide a cardio workout that is critical to a healthy lifestyle. “I use muscles I never would have otherwise,” said Ferguson. He is no stranger to different methods of physical fitness, having done power lifting throughout middle school and high school, he said. He can be seen most days around 2 p.m. going through his routine in the hangar bay. “I take a wrestling mat out to hangar bay three and spend about two hours doing gymnastics,” said Ferguson. “I use the rope climbing machine as a warm-up, stretch out for a while, then move to practicing back tucks or hand stand walking.” For now, Ferguson works out alone but he said he would enjoy teaching and learning gymnastic moves from others on board. “It has kept me fit thus far, and I don’t have to wait in a line to do it,” said Ferguson. “I’ll keep practicing until someone comes and tells me not to.”
Page 3
A FOUR STAR
PINNING A
Story by MCSN Nathan McDonald
dm. Cecil D. Haney, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, was on board the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Friday, participating in an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) pinning ceremony for Sailors. Warfare qualifications are a rite of passage, affirming that a Sailor has a well-rounded knowledge of not only their rate, but all major areas of war-fighting capabilities and mission effectiveness. “Getting to where you are today takes a lot of hard work and dedication,” said Haney. “It gets to that war-fighting readiness that the CNO (Chief of Naval Operations) has made a priority, and I have made a priority as well.” Earning an ESWS pin is a landmark event in any Sailor’s career, and many feel a great deal of satisfaction in their accomplishment. “I feel very proud that I earned this pin, and that the Admiral was the one that got to pin all of us,” said Aviation Support Equipment Technician 3rd Class Juan Garcia. “It took a lot of work, but it was all worth it.” The pinning ceremony is the culmination of many months of hard work and studying, and the beginning steps of a learning process that will span the recipients’ naval careers.
“Never, ever stop learning,” said Haney. “It’s my opinion that this war-fighting business takes all of your brain cells. This war fighting business is always changing, as well, so I ask each of you to never stop learning.” The ceremony made an indelible impression on those who participated in it. “This was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) 3rd Class Jessica Listort. “I had to make more than 300 flash cards and stayed up for almost 48 hours studying, but being pinned by a four star Admiral makes it all worth it.” Nimitz is currently on deployment. For more information on USS Nimitz, visit www.nimitz.navy.mil.
Adm. Cecil Haney, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, conducts a warfare pinning ceremony in the forecastle. Photos by MC2 Robert Winn and MC2 Jason Behnke.
Page 4
Page 5
AROUND THE
DECKPLATES Photos By: MC3 Kole Carpenter (Top) MC3 Vanessa Y. David (Bottom Left) MC3 Chris Bartlett (Bottom Right) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Rico Rabina, from Austin, Texas, shouts a command to the hose team during a firefighting drill.
Damage Controlman Fireman Coy Perkins, from Yonkers, N.Y., conducts maintenance on an emergency breathing air compressor.
Page 6
An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the Blue Diamonds of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 146, prepares its launch.
Channel 5 Channel 6 Channel 29 Channel 30 0800 / 2000 Outlander She’s Out of My The League Apparition
Gone
1000 / 2200 The Open Road
Shutter Island
The Bounty R atatouille
1200 / 0000 Van Helsing
The Bounty Cirque Du Hunter Soleil: Worlds Away
Das Boot
1400 / 0200 Bend it Like Beckham
Death at a Funer al
Finding Nemo
Cloud Atlas
1600 / 0400 Just Wright
Halls of A Montezuma Thousand Words
Madea’s Family Reunion
The Ghost Cinderella Writer Man
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
1800 / 0600
Million Dollar Baby
TV 02 - AFN News 03 - AFN Extra 04 - AFN Sports 05 - 8MM Movies 06 - 8MM Movies 08 - ROLLER 09 - NTV 10 - FLIGHT DECK 11 - CNN 29 - DVD MOVIES 30 - DVD MOVIES