5 aug web

AUG. 6, 2013

Story and photo by MCSA Aiyana Paschal

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ells ring over the 1MC, and a casualty is called away. The flying squad is called to respond at a moments notice. Whether it’s 3 a.m. or the middle of the day when passageways are filled with personnel, the flying squad aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) must be ready.

Vol. 2 Issue 75

“I love being on the flying squad,” said Machinery Repairman 2nd Class Kirsten Bishop. “It’s something I know I’m doing for the ship. When a casualty is called, I know it will be taken care of. It’s also fun when I get to run down the p-ways and everyone gets out of your way.”

Anyone can be a member of the flying squad, but Chief Damage Controlman Jeromy Hartley, the Damage Control Division leading chief petty officer and CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Sailor of the Day

Story and photo by MCSA Kelly M. Agee

Logistics Specialist 3rd Nicholas D. Smith, a native of Bonney Lake,Wash., was named USS Nimitz’ (CVN 68) Sailor of the Day Aug. 5.

“It feels fantastic,” said Smith. “It’s a good chance to give the new guys something to look forward to.”

Smith was directly responsible for training and mentoring three junior clerks in screening, researching and packaging retrograde components, while resolving more than $12 million of Surface and Confidential Depot Level Repairable carcass charges from May 2013 to present.

Smith assisted more than 15 repair parts petty Commanding Officer CAPT Jeff Ruth

officers in researching, correcting and expediting more than $3 million worth of casualty report and anticipated not-operational ready supply requirements in support of 32 shipboard work centers.

Additionally, as stretcher bearer for medical department, he and his team took first place with the fastest response during DC Olympics medical emergency drill.

When asked if he had any advice for others who would like to seek similar recognition Smith said, “Don’t get discouraged with your department and think that they’ll never choose you for Sailor of the Day.”

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.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

flying squad damage control training team lead, says there are specific qualities he looks for in people trying to become part of the flying squad.

“Only the best, fully qualified, and motivated Sailors,” said Hartley. “Being on the flying squad is a watch; it is something that you have to commit to. Fires don’t wait until everyone is up before they start. You have to think on your feet in a split second sometimes.”

Bishop joined the flying squad when it was put out at quarters that they were looking for new members. There are different positions on the flying squad, such as hose team member, dewatering team and pipe patching team. Her position on the team is phone talker.

“I like being a phone talker because I can know constantly what’s happening during a casualty,” said Bishop.

The flying squad responds to various casualties around the ship such as toxic gas, fires and flooding.

Plenty of training is conducted in order to prepare for these casualties that can happen at any moment.

“We train by conducting at least one drill a week,” said Hartley. “Right now we are training to help support Reactor Department prepare for their upcoming inspection.”

Since there is no night check for the flying squad,

members must be up for any casualty or drill called away at any time of the night.

Since deployment started, Hartley said there has been at least one casualty each week. The scariest casualty Bishop has encountered was a fire in Reactor Department.

“I think for a lot of people it was the first big fire they saw,” said Bishop. “It was what we had been training for, for so long, so we were prepared when it happened.”

If a Sailor doesn’t wish to be a part of the flying squad, there are other measures they can take to help the flying squad out.

“Do not take short cuts when conducting evolutions, planned maintenance system (PMS) or corrective maintenance,” said Hartley. “We have had flooding called away because someone cut the wrong pipe or it wasn’t depressurized properly.”

With lots of training and casualties to attend to, one might wonder what keeps these guys going.

Hartley said, other than energy drinks, it’s what he gets out of it.

“I take the most pride in knowing that we have saved the ship or someone’s life,” said Hartley. “We have less than 50 Sailors on the team and seeing them pass an inspection, or coming together when the real deal happens makes it worth it.”

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Story by USS Nimitz Public Affairs

he aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) announced 60 new chief petty officer (CPO) selects Aug. 1.

The newly named chief petty officer selects from Nimitz, and embarked Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11 and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 will begin a multi-week induction process before they don the khaki uniform and are pinned with their anchors.

“It’s good to see so many familiar names on the selection list,” said Senior Chief Intelligence Specialist James Williams, CPO 365 coordinator.

“The future success of our mess lies with them.”

CPO 365 is the program all petty officer first classes undergo to prepare them for the responsibilities, and arm them with the leadership skills they will need to become a chief petty officer.

“There’s not too much we can really say about the process, but it’s different and you realize everyone has been talking about it for the past 16 years; why it’s so special and what we have to do to kind of earn our way,” said Chief (Select) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) Robert Peebles, from Queens, N.Y. “I just know it’s a whole new effort for us.”

For the newly named chief petty officer selects, this achievement marks a new chapter in their lives and naval careers.

“It’s a very proud moment,” said Chief (Select) Machinist’s Mate Christopher Serbu, from Las Vegas. “It feels really good. It’s been a long time wanting and striving. It has been a lot of hard work.”

Like many others, when Serbu first joined the military he planned on only serving one enlistment, but encouragement and support from his wife is what has helped him get this far in his career.

“I think if it wasn’t for my wife, I might not have been in the Navy this long,” said Serbu. “I might have just done my initial six years and got out.”

Peebles offered some advice for those petty officer first classes who may not have been selected this cycle.

“I’ve been in their shoes four times in a row and I know the feeling,” said Peebles. “The only thing that makes it better is sticking to it and taking care of our Sailors. The rest will fall into place when you least expect it.”

LEADERS WEIGH IN ON

SEXUAL ASSUALT Story by Amaani Lyle American Forces Press Service

In remarks kicking off a panel discussion featuring service leaders July 31, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff addressed efforts to eliminate sexual assault in the military.

Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr. spoke at a Navy Heritage Center Military Women Series event.

Though he faces many policy and investment challenges inherent to his job, the vice chairman said, his greatest people concern is the insider threat of sexual assault within the military’s ranks. The fallout, according to a recent RAND Corporation report, costs taxpayers some $3.6 billion in victims’ medical, legal and mental health services, as it shatters lives and erodes morale.

“We’re all dedicated to conquering this challenge,” Winnefeld said, reaffirming his confidence that the Defense Department will prevail. “We’re capable of looking inward and candidly, addressing where we have come up short, whether it’s in a training exercise or ... in addressing a cultural problem.”

But getting the facts right is critical to that success, he said, noting that media reports asserting that a survey of service members indicate that 26,000 sexual assaults take place each year in the U.S. military.

“Spoken that way, I think, ‘26,000 rapes,’” Winnefeld said. “What we’re really saying is that we calculate that there may have been 26,000 instances of, or attempts, at unwanted sexual contact.”

But the admiral added that though reports cross a broad spectrum -- from rape to some form of groping and other transgressions against men and women -- none of that behavior is acceptable in the military.

“Of sexual assault reports last year that completed law enforcement investigation, 24

percent were referred to a military court-martial,” Winnefeld said. “That compares to only 14 to 18 percent of the sexual assault cases ... prosecuted in civilian jurisdictions, according to the only study we could find on ... those statistics.”

Winnefeld said while initiatives to expedite investigations and make reporting easier for victims are yielding results, another enduring myth is that sexual assault victims can report an incident only through their chains of command.

“There are numerous resources available, first and foremost to provide help ... to a victim, and 10 different avenues for a victim to make a report confidentially or openly, both inside or outside the chain of command,” the admiral said. If the victim agrees, he added, the case will be forwarded to military criminal investigators outside the chain of command.

Defense Department policy requires commanders in all services at all levels to forward all unrestricted sexual assault allegations to military criminal investigators, the vice chairman noted.

“In the last two years, Army commanders exercised jurisdiction in 49 sexual assault cases that independent local civilian authorities had declined to prosecute,” the admiral said, adding that there are 44 similar cases in the other services.

“You find a very high military conviction rate, most often with confinement and also punitive discharge,” he said.

Winnefeld said he believes the principal way to combat sexual assault is through deterrence and the message that perpetrators will be caught.

“Had these commanders not acted when an independent authority chose not to,” he said, “there would be nearly 100 victims out there who would not have had a chance for justice to be served.”

For more information, visit Navy.mil.

By MC3 Derek W. Volland

THROUGHTHE LE NS

By MCSA Aiyana Paschal

HTFN Jordan Hoglund builds a shoe rack in the weld shop.

Cpl. John Hermanski cleans beneath an aircraft.

AM2 Marlon Grimaldo conducts maintenance on an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter.

By MCSA Kelly M. Agee

By MC3 Derek W. Volland

HT3 Adrian Aquino marks a section of angle iron in an office.

TV

30 nel 29 Ch annel 6 Channel 7 Chan Channel 5 Channel 0800 / 2000 Big Mir acle

1000 / 2200

He ’s Just Not Th at Into You 1200 / 0000 Tim e Tr aveler’s Wife 1400 / 0200 Yea r One

Ext rem ely Lou d and Incredibly Close Good Morning Vietna m For rest Gump

The Gr ey

Tyler Per ry Presen ts Peeples

12 Rounds

Push

The Sunshine ern ation al Cle aning Int

The Gr eat Gatsby

Jack Reacher

Ha mbu rger Hill

The Guilt Trip

Life of Pi

In The Line Of Fir e

Doom

Pre mium Rush

1600 / 0400 Fighting

Du plicity

Per fec t Getaway

A-T eam

1800 / 0600 Da nce Flick

The Soloist

Lym elife

Moonrise Kingdom

The Per ks of Being a Wa llflow er

ON THE COVER: Damage Controlmen simulate hose handling in the hangar bay.

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