Volume 4, April 2012
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1–2 3 4 5–6 7
“It is the function of the Navy to carry the war to
From the Captain’s Cabin; Chaplain’s Corner
the enemy so that it will not be fought on US
CMC Teri McIntyre
soil.”
Useful Information; FRG; Contact Information; USS Nimitz Mailing Address “Get the Word Out”; Pertussis Advisory; Military Kids Connect, MetLife Reminder, Old Medication Collection Deployment Readiness; Your Ombudsman Team
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
From the Captain’s Cabin A Message from the CO
Captain Jeffrey Ruth Commanding Officer, USS Nimitz
Hello, Nimitz Families: First, let me tell you how extremely proud I am to have been given the opportunity to command this ship and her outstanding crew. From everything I heard during the course of my training track, to the enthusiasm and professionalism I have experienced since arriving,
Captain Jeffrey Ruth Commanding Officer
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Chaplain’s Corner
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CDR Emile Moured
I’m confident NIMITZ' future is bright. The success this ship achieved during the 15 month shipyard availability has set the bar high. The challenges faced and overcome were difficult and many but have positioned this ship well for what lies ahead. I would like to thank CAPT Monger for his hard work and leadership during those trying times. Ladies and gentlemen, NIMITZ is ready for operations at sea; she again is a cornerstone of the fleet and an instrument of National Power. For most of my career the U.S. Navy has dominated all foes and taken the fight to our enemies. However, in doing so we sailed the world's oceans with virtual impunity and flown in airspace rarely contested. That paradigm is shifting, the world is changing, and the threat is growing. This country needs brave men and women to step up and face the new threat, to sacrifice, to serve. The men and women of this crew have answered that call. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to serve our country from the decks of this ship while standing next to the fine sailors that bring her to life. And no matter where that service takes us, or what challenges lie before us, NIMITZ will be ready to Steam, Fly, Flight and Win. I appreciate the support of all our NIMITZ families, without whom none of this would be possible. I know you will face challenges while the ship is deployed, and I understand the sacrifices that our families make. Both the ship and the Navy have tremendous resources available, so don't struggle alone. Our Ombudsmen and our Family Readiness Group are there when you need them; the FRG will provide support and social activities for the entire family, while the Ombudsmen can point you towards any resources you need and have direct access to the command should you require it. Seek help when you need it, take care of each other and yourselves make friends and support your sailor. I look forward to meeting you at ship events; in the meantime, please accept my personal thanks for all you do.
Families and friends, I reported on board in February and have just recently relieved Chaplain (CDR) Brent Johnson as the new Command Chaplain. My wife, Rhonda, and I are excited to be here with our Sailors and families of the USS NIMITZ. We have just come from serving the Marines and Sailors stationed in 29 Palms, CA, and we are enjoying the change from the hot, dry desert. We consider it a humbling privilege to now serve aboard a ship where teamwork and excellence are honored traditions. This next year will prove to be exciting and challenging times for each of us in different ways. Let me strongly encourage you to intentionally use your time and energy to build your relationships with God, family, and friends. As we prepare for the upcoming underway periods and the eventual deployment, please ensure you communicate with your friends and family – especially your spouse. Since this is something we can all use help with, please feel free to contact our Religious Ministries Department or the base Chaplain for resources to develop communication between spouses and among family members. One such resource, CREDO Northwest, provides chaplain-led Marriage Enrichment Retreats (MERs) free of charge to military couples (more info below). Surround yourself with encouraging people and uplifting conversation; and may we each strive to build each other up at all times. Let’s practice the words of wisdom from Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” May God use each one of us to do so. Blessings, ChapMo Command Chaplain USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) emile.moured@cvn68.navy.mil
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CREDO Northwest
At CREDO Marriage Enrichment Retreats, discover ways to: Handle inevitable conflicts. Better understand your spouse. Improve intimacy & communication. Explore your vision for the future.
2012 MER Schedule* 13-15 Apr 4-6 May 8-10 Jun 13-15 Jul 27-29 Jul 3-5 Aug 14-16 Sep *Retreats at the Inn at Gig Harbor.
For more information or for reservations, call: 360-476-3793
FROM THE COMMAND MASTER CHIEF CMDCM Teri McIntyre
Good day families. As we continue our series emphasizing family readiness, I would like to highlight a great resource - Military One Source. Military Life and Deployments – access information for preparing for deployments, relocation assistance and military benefits Family and Recreation – access information on parenting/child care, home/household, and shopping Health and Relationship – access information on mental health/addictions, adult/children health, and emotional well-being Career and Education – access information on spouse education, career opportunities, Pre-K to 12, and special needs in education Financial and Legal – access information on legal assistance and money management This is only a short list of the services they provide. Visit www.militaryonesource.com for more. To access the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK To access the Safe Helpline for Sexual Assault assistance – 1-877-995-5247 Additionally, April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month Wednesday, April 4, 2012 On April 2, 2012 President Obama named April National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up with the promise and protection of a loving family. This month, recommit to that vision and to providing care, stability, and a brighter future for every child.
Until next month…V/R CMC Teri McIntyre
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USS Nimitz Family Readiness Group (FRG)
USEFUL INFORMATION NAVAL BASE KITSAP FLEET AND FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER (NBK FFSC): 1.866.854.0638
Being an active part of your FRG is a great way to make friends, support our sailors and their families, and have Fun!
NAVY AND MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY (NMCRS): www.nmcrs.org
The FRG is all about CONNECTING - connecting with other Nimitz families and discovering that while our Sailors are ON the same boat, we are all IN the same boat! Some family members love to volunteer, others like to attend; some like to craft, others to read; some have children, others don’t or they are all grown up; some attend school, others have advance degrees; some stay at home (choose domestic pursuits), others have outside careers - although we are all different, we all have one thing in common: WE ARE THE FAMILIES OF THE USS NIMITZ!
NAVY LEGAL SERVICE (NLSO): www.jag.navy.mil MILITARY ONE SOURCE: www.militaryonesource.com AMERICAN RED CROSS – NATIONAL: (877)272-7337 AMERICAN RED CROSS – BREMERTON :( 360)377-3761 SAFE RIDE TAXI - BDCC BREMERTON :( 360)782-2378 SAFE RIDE TAXI - YELLOW CAB: (206)622-6500
Have Children? That’s what “Family” is all about! Bring them along; many times the children make “life-long” friends as well! Don’t have children? That’s great, too! Please come help encourage “grown-up” discussions for those who have been limited to conversations with the “under 5” crowd.
Important Contact Information Naval Hospital Bremerton Tricare Regional Appointment Center: 1-800-404-4506 Hospital Information Desk: 360-4754000 Pharmacy Refills: 360-475-4217
If child attendance is discouraged during any formal event or meeting, The FRG Executive board makes the effort to locate group childcare. WANT TO KNOW MORE? To subscribe to their Monthly Newsletter please email: teamnimitz@yahoo.com Or request to join the official Nimitz Family Readiness Group Page on Facebook: USS NIMITZ FAMILY CONNECTIONS GROUP
Primary Care Clinics: Family Medicine: 360-475-4379 Internal Medicine: 360-475-4206 Pediatrics: 360-475-4216 Link to Website or Visit NHB's Official Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Na val-HospitalBremerton/163929576969000
Look for the “LADIES IN PINK” at Command activities to find out how YOU can be part of the action!
Hearing rumors? Call the Rumor Busters (Nimitz Ombudsmen) at 360-340-7040!
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SPOUSES & FAMILIES: PLEASE HELP US “GET THE WORD OUT!” IF YOU KNOW A NIMITZ FAMILY MEMBER WHO IS NOT RECEIVING THE NIMITZ FIVE STAR REPORT MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS COPY WITH THEM. PLEASE REMIND THEM TO CONTACT US VIA EMAIL AT USSNIMITZOMBUDSMAN@YAHOO.COM AND ASK TO BE ADDED TO OUR DISTRIBUTION LIST! THIS EMAIL TREE IS ALSO HOW WE IMMEDIATELY DISTRIBUTE IMPORTANT UPDATES FROM THE CO TO OUR NIMITZ FAMILIES. PLEASE REMEMBER TO INCLUDE THE SAILOR’S NAME & RATE SO WE CAN VERIFY ELIGIBILITY.
PERTUSSIS (WHOOPING COUGH) ADVISORY Washington State Secretary of Health Mary Selecky announced that whooping cough disease has reached epidemic levels in Washington. So far in 2012, 640 cases have been reported in 23 counties as of March 31. This compares to 94 cases during this same time period last year, putting Washington on-pace to have the highest number of reported cases in decades. Attached is a link from EMS World magazine concerning Whooping cough and the current posting from the DOH web site. If you believe you or a family member has whooping cough contact your family physician concerning reporting to work. Whooping cough vaccines are recommended for all children and adults. The shots children get wear off over time. Everyone age 11 and older should get a whooping cough booster, called Tdap. It's especially important for anyone who has close contact with babies younger than 12 months to get a dose of Tdap to help protect the baby from whooping cough. This includes parents, siblings, grandparents, health care providers, and child care providers. Whooping cough (www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/Immunize/diseases/pertussis), also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory illness spread by coughing and sneezing. It affects people of all ages - but is most serious in infants, especially those too young to get vaccinated or who aren't fully protected. It causes cold-like symptoms followed by a long, severe cough (www.pkids.org/diseases/pertussis.html) that can last for weeks. Adolescents and adults often get a much milder case of whooping cough, but they can still spread it. http://www.emsworld.com/news/10688182/whooping-cough-reachingepidemic-levels-inwashstate?cmpid=email_CPS120329004&utm_source=EMS+Weekly+Newslette r&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS120329004 5
MilitaryKidsConnect Kids deploy, too. MilitaryKidsConnect (MKC) offers children a safe, fun, interactive place where they can build resilience and learn coping skills to help deal with the challenges of having a deployed family member. Through participation in MKC’s monitored online forums, children (ages 6-17) can share their experiences with other military children, letting them know they are not alone. The site hosts a message board, games, activities and videos. The My Stuff area allows kids to personalize their space with a picture or avatar and earn different and stamps for their “passports” as they travel through the site. In the Deployment Daily, users have the chance to read what other kids are thinking about various deployment topics and learn some helpful coping tips. Parents, educators have an area, too. MKC provides information to help them understand what it takes to support military children in home and school settings. For additional resources for children, please visit the CNIC Deployment Readiness Website.
REMEMBER, Dental coverage will change to MetLife next month. Ensure that your current provider accepts the new insurance plan.
DO YOU HAVE UNUSED MEDICATIONS YOU WANT TO GET RID OF? The 3rd Annual Take-Back Medication Day is being sponsored by the US DEA on Saturday, April 28th from 1000 am – 2:00 pm. This is a nationwide event and the list of collection sites can be found in this link: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/. The two areas currently identified in Kitsap County are: Kitsap County Sheriff's Substation at the Silverdale Mall and the Port Orchard Police Department - City Hall Lobby. At this point in time there are no collection sites in Everett. However, please check the link regularly as sites are added daily.
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Deployment Readiness Part Three: The Emotional “Spiral” of Deployment—Stage 3 In our February edition of the Nimitz Five Star Report, we started a series discussing the Emotional Spiral of Deployment with a focus on Stage One, Anticipation of Departure. This month we will be looking at Stage Three, Emotional Disorganization. From the OBT Manual: Stage 3: Emotional Disorganization
Time Frame: This stage can vary in length from the actual time of deployment and up to six weeks after departure. Emotion/behaviors: The non-deploying partner may feel an initial sense of relief followed by guilt. Many feel disorganized, depressed, or restless. Old routines have been disrupted and new ones not yet established. They often feel overwhelmed as they face total responsibility for family affairs. A few are stuck in this stage, which can cause problems throughout the remainder of the deployment and beyond. Through this stage it is helpful to be actively involved with various activities, such as joining the Family Readiness Group, sports, or enrolling in college classes. If you are having a particularly difficult time through this stage, Fleet and Family Support Center and Military OneSource can provide counseling. As always, you can contact your ombudsman team with any questions.
Your Nimitz Ombudsman Team With the ship’s schedule this year being anything but certain, your ombudsman is an important resource to have. But who are these people and what exactly do they do? Currently, the Nimitz has a team of three ombudsmen; Jeanine Neiman, Amy Cleghon and Lindsay Baldwin. We have been appointed by the Commanding Officer and are volunteer spouses of active duty sailors of the USS Nimitz. We are part of the chain of command and have the job of supporting the command mission by taking care of its families so the service members can focus on their jobs. Our actions are guided by Navy Instruction (OPNAVINST 1750.1G) and a strict Code of Ethics. We are the information link between the Command and its families. A large part of our job is to disseminate official Department of the Navy and Command information up and down the chain of command. We are continually training to stay abreast of current issues affecting our families and resources we can use to help. The ombudsman team has a close relationship with Fleet and Family Support Center and other Navy and local community agencies in order to provide families with information and appropriate resource referrals. The referrals we provide are in an effort to empower families to resolve issues on their own before they require command intervention. We cannot provide counseling, child care, transportation or money, but we refer to those who can. To contact us, you may call 360-340-7040, email us at ussnimitzombudsman@yahoo.com, or find us on Facebook at USS Nimitz Ombudsmen. Our business hours are from 0900 to 2100, but we are available 24 hours for emergencies. When you contact us, you will be treated courteously and professionally and your call will remain confidential (unless you are reporting domestic violence, child abuse, a homicide or suicide). We do our best to answer calls as they come in, but, if we are unable to answer your call and you would like a return call, you must leave a voicemail. We will return your call as soon as possible. As always, it is our please to serve the Nimitz families! 7