Sept. 7, 2013
Vol. 2 Issue 97
DAILY DIGEST
A VISIT WITH THE Story and Photo by MCSA Andrew W. Price
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hen squadrons need repairs made to their equipment and aircraft, there is one shop that is up to the task. When someone on the ship needs a suggestion box built to hang outside of his or her office, whom do they go to? Airframes. Making up one-third of Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department’s (AIMD) IM-2, Airframes is composed of tire and wheel, composite repair (plastics, carbon fiber), non-destructive inspection (x-ray, eddy, ultrasonic, magnetic particle, visual), airframes (structure, metal, welding), hydraulics, and hose and tube. Aviation structural mechanics, which
used to be divided into AM (hydraulics) and AM (structure), have just eight weeks of “A” school to learn the foundation of aviation maintenance such as metal bending, hydraulics and troubleshooting. “To be a good airframer, you have to be willing to learn a lot of different parts of the job,” said Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Hunter McLane. “You learn most of airframing on the job.” Requests to manufacture and alter aircraft and other parts come from AIMD production control, where squadrons and work centers set up a maintenance action form (MAF). Continued on page 3
Sailor of the Day
Story and photo by MC3 Chris Bartlett
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ospitalman Christopher Roberts, from Denver, was named Sailor of the Day Sept. 6. As assistant dental technician and medical response team member for his department, he assisted five dental officers in all facets of the dentistry including expanding functions, central sterilization, radiology, and prophylaxis. “It feels fantastic,” Roberts said. “It feels pretty good knowing your chain of command recognizes the things you do.” He personally provided treatment to 267 patients and assisted in the accurate and efficient review of more than 4,000 dental records. His efforts directly Commanding Officer Capt. Jeff Ruth
contributed to the overall monthly operational dental readiness above 98 percent, well above the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) requirement. Additionally, while assigned to Repair Locker 2, he provided more than 20 hours of training to six locker personnel on basic life support, eight battle wound management, and stretcher bearer techniques. “I enjoy my job very much so it’s easy doing my daily duties,” said Roberts. Roberts has some words of encouragement for those who strive to get the Sailor of the Day. “Be virtuous with your work and just do what you are told,” said Roberts.
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 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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Continued from page 1 “There is no normal day,” said Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Justin Badwound. “We’ll have a component come in that hasn’t come in for years, and we have to know if we have the tools, technical data and physical experience to do it.” Along with parts for aircraft, airframers are called on to fabricate even the most unusual objects. “At the beginning of deployment the flag galley requested a cookie cutter in the shape of an F/A18,” said Badwound. “Everyone on the boat wants something and we are happy to oblige when we can.”
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Badwound has a positive outlook not only for the Sailors he serves, but also for his team of airframers. “What makes a person good at their job, in any rate, is that they want to be there,” said Badwound. “They want to learn more, they want to go outside their work center and they want to go above and beyond and do more.” From cookie cutters to composite repairs, airframers are breaking the mold of every day maintenance.
VAW-117 SAILORS EARN VOLUNTEER
SERVICE MEDALS
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viation Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Rudy Reyes and Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Milandro Salgado, both assigned to the “Wallbangers” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 117, recently earned the distinguished Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal for their outstanding community service. Their dedication to duty and great capacity to routinely make personal sacrifices in order to help the underprivileged in the community is a shining example of what a successful Sailor can accomplish. “It felt pretty cool to get recognition for what I did for community service,” said Reyes. “I’ve always done community service and the fact that they give an award to recognize the hard work that we are doing, because really community service is volunteer time. You don’t get paid to do it, no one is forcing you, it’s something you are doing on your own and you have to have a giving heart to do it.” Salgado said receiving the medal felt good because he knew he was helping those in need. “If you have the extra time to go out and help others, you get a good feeling that you can give to those that need the help,” said Reyes. Reyes believes that the Navy should be ambassadors to the community through outreach programs. “Community outreach programs are huge and I think that’s the thing that people miss because of their work schedules,” said Reyes. “By giving ourselves to the community we build a good relationship between the Navy and our community, which helps solidify the Navy as ambassadors. Salgado’s first start at volunteering was when
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STORY AND PHOTO BY MC3 CHRIS BARTLETT
his wife asked him to come along to help with a Navy Marine Corp Relief Society (NMCRS) program. “She asked me one day to go with her to volunteer,” said Salgado. “I enjoyed it, so every time I had downtime I would go volunteer.” Salgado’s volunteering includes the NMCRS, performing preservation on the USS Midway in San Diego, and delivering food baskets to more than 10,000 homeless citizens for the Ventura County Food Drive. When asked which program he enjoyed the most, he is unable to choose just one. “They only have one purpose and that is to help out our community,” said Salgado. Reyes volunteered for career days at a local high school, participated as a science fair judge for a local middle school, coached a t-ball team, helped support the Single Sailor Program, helped build homes while deployed to San Salvador and was involved with the YMCA, where he helped set up mobile church services and community outreach programs for Toys for Tots and Food Bank. “AD2 Salgado is actually the one that pointed it out to me that you can get it with three years of continuous service,” said Reyes. “Well, I had six to seven years of community service already, so I was eligible for this medal. I followed his lead because he was the one that told me about it. So, as it happens, I did qualify and my chain of command did the write up. We got awarded the same day.” Sailors and Marines are encouraged to volunteer and should talk to their chain of command to see if you qualify they the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.
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If you have the extra time to go out and help others, you get a good feeling that you can give to those that need the help. - REYES
AD2 MILANDRO SALGADO, LEFT, AND AD1 RUDY REYES
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THROUGHTHELEN
AN Hannah Kohl cleans the windows outside the primary flight control tower.
AD2 Jessica Gonzalez takes apart a spindle for a rotor head on an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter in the hangar bay.
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By MCSN Siobhana McEwen
By MC2 (SW) Devin Wray
AM2 Kyle Christy performs maintenance on the propeller of an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter in the hangar bay.
By MCSN Derek A. Harkins
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ON THE COVER: AM3 Hunter McLane, left, AM3 Esmundo Gamez Villa cut metal in the airframes shop.