JUNE 28, 2013
Vol. 2 Issue 53
A TWO STAR
BLESSING
CHIEF OF NAVY CHAPLAINS VISITS NIMITZ Story by MCSN Derek Harkins
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Cover photo by MC3 Chris Bartlett
EAR ADM. MARK L. TIDD, Chief of Navy Chaplains, arrived aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) June 26. Tidd visited the Nimitz Strike Group to conduct training with chaplains while also visiting Sailors and leaders. “I appreciate the opportunity to be aboard Nimitz and to spend a little bit of time with you,” Tidd said, addressing the Sailors aboard Nimitz. “Anytime I get a chance to get out of Washington, and to be able to be with the fleet, is a great opportunity for me.” Tidd commented on the
role of the Nimitz Strike Group in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR). “This continues to be a very important theater of operations, and what Nimitz, with the embarked air wing and all of its surface combatants and others are doing, [is] critical to our national interests and strategy in this part of the world,” said Tidd. According to Tidd, the attitude of Nimitz’ crew impressed him. “What I see is folks working hard in a tough [and] challenging environment to accomplish a
mission,” said Tidd. “The Nimitz team is doing a great job at it.” Tidd’s training and conversations with Nimitz’ chaplains and leaders included sexual assault prevention and awareness guidance. According to Tidd, a chaplain’s confidential counseling can play a crucial part in the lives of sexual assault victims. “A chaplain can help the person determine how to proceed [and decide] whether to make a restricted report or an unrestricted report that can lead - Continued on page 3 -
Sailor of the Day
Story and Photo by MC3 Linda S. Swearingen
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viation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Justin Kersey, a native of Lebanon, Ind., was named Sailor of the Day, June 27 on board the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). “It feels fancy to be named Sailor of the Day,” said Kersey. “I didn’t expect it.” According to Kersey, he joined the Navy in October 2009 to get out of the small town he lived in. Kersey helped Sailors in his department get their enlisted surface warfare specialist (ESWS) and enlisted air warfare specialist (EAWS) pins, which led to his being named Sailor of the Day. “I also designed an air flow directional system to help maintain mission capabilities,” said Kersey. Commanding Officer CAPT Jeff Ruth
His efforts eliminated overheating issues and prevented the catastrophic loss of mission supportability to Inertial Navigation Units, Joint Tactical Information Data Systems, InterrogatorTransponders and the APX-111 Beam-Forming Network. Additionally, he expertly trouble shot 11 Weapons Replaceable Assemblies accounting for 57 man-hours, avoiding more than $100,000 in depot level repair costs. In his spare time, Kersey said he enjoys playing card games and video games. For those Sailors who are looking to be named a Sailor of the Day in the future, Kersey has some advice. “Pass what you know onto others,” said Kersey.
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.
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to an opportunity to bring people to justice,” said Tidd. Tidd also conducted the ship’s evening prayer over the sound system. This prayer is one of many services provided by chaplains aboard Nimitz every night. “This is a tough AOR, and because of that, chaplains [and] religious program specialists are critical to the life of the crew,” said Tidd. Navy chaplains, under the leadership of Tidd, support the war fighting efforts of Nimitz Strike Group and the United States Navy. “I’d like to say thanks to everyone aboard Nimitz [and] throughout the Nimitz team,” said Tidd. “Summer is not the most pleasant time of the year in the Gulf of Oman or the Arabian Gulf, and yet it’s critical that we’re here with the capabilities that you bring and that you all are focused on the mission at hand.”
Congratulations to our newest Senior Chiefs
Sailors render salutes to Rear Adm. Mark L. Tidd - Photo by MC3 Raul Moreno Jr.
Nimitz Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions for Operation Enduring Freedom.
FCCS
Bret Levinton
ABECS Joseph Abbey
MACS
Marc Lucas
AOCS
Kenneth Bernardin
EMCS
Kellie Matzen
MMCS
Ranzanee Candare
EMCS
Joshua Moore
ABECS Ryan Dedeker
ETCS
Roger Phillip
ASCS
Robert Glover
MMCS
Dennis Ragasa
EMCS
Eric Lavery
HMCS
Marvin Ramos
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QUESTION: QUESTION: Define Thrust ANSWER: ANSWER: The force developed by the aircraft’s engine. It acts in the forward direction.
In Focus
NAVY LEADS
MEMPHIS NATIVE
IN RIGHT DIRECTION Story and Photo by MCSA Kelly M. Agee Every Sailor in the Navy has a back-story. Everyone comes from a different background. Everyone is raised differently. Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) Airman Recruit Lamain Boone, a native of Memphis, Tenn., grew up around people and situations that used to get him into trouble. Boone joined the Navy in 2012 because college wasn’t working out for him, and also because he found himself in bad situations due to the people he surrounded himself with. “I’ve always been a good kid, but for some reason I always ended up in bad situations,” said Boone. One night after leaving a party, Boone got into his car and heard gun shots from a distance. Before he knew it, there were bullets flying through the windows of his car, and both of his windows had been shot out due to a drive by. On another occasion, Boone and his girlfriend drove to her house to retrieve her wallet. When she went inside the house he remained in the car. While Boone was waiting, a man forced himself into the car and held a gun to his head. He took Boone’s phone, but when the thief tried to take his shoes there was a struggle. In the end, the thief only got one of his Jordans. Later, Boone found out his girlfriend set the whole thing up because of an argument they had. Prior to joining the Navy, Boone never had a diverse group of friends in his life. “I was never around different types of people,”
ABEAR Lamain Boone stands watch at the aft mess deck chow line.
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said Boone. “Now I have friends of all different kinds of backgrounds.” The Navy hasn’t just changed Boone’s outlook on life, but it has helped him to improve himself. “When I visited home on leave for the first time, my mom told me that I seemed more disciplined,” said Boone. “She said I was more cool and collected.” According to Boone, if he wasn’t in the Navy he would have ended up getting in trouble due to the people he was hanging out with. “I think that if I wasn’t in the Navy, I would just be helping people I knew, who were always getting in trouble, try to stay out of trouble,” said Boone. Boone said the Navy has opened doors for him. “Now that I’m in the Navy I have more opportunities for school, I’m more disciplined, I have the opportunity to travel and have been able to meet different types of people,” said Boone. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what happened before you joined the Navy. The Navy is a clean slate to start fresh and prove that you can be part of something greater than yourself.
From the Top
HAGEL: DoD WELCOMES SUPREME COURT DECISION
Story From American Forces Press Service Defense Department officials will move forward in making benefits available to all military spouses, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a statement issued after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act. The law had prevented federal agencies from offering all of the same benefits to spouses in same-sex marriages that they provide to other spouses. Here is the secretary’s statement: The Department of Defense welcomes the Supreme Court’s decision today on the Defense of Marriage Act. The Department will immediately begin the process of implementing the Supreme Court’s decision in consultation with the Department of Justice and other executive branch agencies. The Department of Defense intends to make the same benefits available to all military spouses -- regardless of sexual orientation -- as soon as possible. That is now the law, and it is the right thing to do. Every person who serves our nation in uniform stepped forward with courage and commitment. All that matters is their patriotism, their willingness to serve their country and their qualifications to do so. Today’s ruling helps ensure that all men and women who serve this country can be treated fairly and equally, with the full dignity and respect they so richly deserve. Later, a Defense Department spokesman issued a statement detailing some of the steps the department is taking: 5
-- The Department will immediately begin to update the identification card issuance infrastructure and update the applicable implementing guidance. We estimate that this process will take about 6-12 weeks. For civilian employees, the Department will look to OPM for guidance. For civilian employees who are eligible for ID card-related benefits, the Department intends that ID cards will be made available to samesex spouses of civilian employees at the same time as same-sex spouses of military members. -- The Supreme Court’s ruling means that the Defense Department will extend all benefits to samesex spouses of military personnel that are currently extended to opposite-sex spouses, including medical, dental, interment at Arlington National Cemetery, and with-dependent Basic Allowance for Housing. The Department will implement these benefit changes as soon as possible for same-sex spouses. -- The policies governing burial at Arlington National Cemetery will apply equally to same-sex and opposite-sex spouses. -- We are carefully reviewing command sponsorship for overseas tours, and all applicable Status of Forces agreements. -- We will assess costs as we move forward with implementation.
Through the Lens
Cpl. Jeremiah Clark performs maintenance on an F/A-18C Hornet in the hangar bay. - Photo by MCSN Derek Harkins
A Sailor observes flight operations. - Photo by MC3 Raul Moreno Jr.
AMAN Christopher Correll rolls up a hose on the flight deck.
Sailors participate in honor guard tryouts in the hangar bay.
- Photo by MC3 Chris Bartlett
- Photo by MC3 Linda S. Swearingen
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TV
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ROLLER NTV FLIGHT DECK CNN DVD MOVIES DVD MOVIES
Channel 5 Channel 6 Channel 7 Channel 29 Channel 30 0800 / 2000 What’s Your Number
Up in the Air
The Devil Inside
50/50
Sanctum
Par anormal Jack the Activity Giant Slayer 4
1000 / 2200
Cedar R apids
Admission
Oz the Great & Powerful
Snitch
Escape from Planet 29 Earth - DVD
Par anormal Activity
Trouble with the Curve
The Rookie
Twilight Par anormal Activity Saga: 2 New Moon
Abr aham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Silent House
The Cold Light of Day
Side Effects
1200 / 0000 Little Fockers
Charlie St. The Cloud Roommate
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Nine
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1600 / 0400 The Other Guys 1800 / 0600
Youth in Revolt
Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Par anormal Activity 3