VOL. 6 | ISSUE 9 April 16, 2017
RUNNING TOWARD
THE FLAMES NIMITZNEWS.WORDPRESS.COM
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in this issue:
NIMITZ NEWS Capt. Kevin Lenox Commanding Officer Capt. Todd Marzano Executive Officer CMDCM Jimmy Hailey Command Master Chief
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Lt. Cmdr. Theresa Donnelly PAO Ens. Meagan Morrison DIVO MCC Ahron Arendes Media LCPO MC1 Porter Anderson Media LPO MC2 Jimmy Cellini Production LPO MC2 Holly Herline Phojo WCS MC3 Marc Cuenca Lead Designer
Pre-deployment Guide to Money: With less than two months before deployment, Sailors are preparing themselves and loved ones for their inevitable departure. For those Sailors who have never been deployed, this on-going article segment covers one of those big worries: Money!
MC2 Jessica Gray MC2 Jose Hernandez MC2 Siobhana McEwen MC2 Ian Zagrocki MC3 Chad Anderson MC3 Kenneth Blair MC3 Colby Comery MC3 Deanna Gonzales MC3 Austin Haist MC3 Erickson Magno MC3 Weston Mohr MC3 Liana Nichols MC3 Bethany Woolsey MCSN David Claypool MCSN Cody Deccio MCSN Emily Johnston MCSN Ian Kinkead MCSN Cole Schroeder MCSN Leon Wong
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Running Toward the Flames: Who do you call when the ship is flooding? Damage Controlmen. Who do you call when the ship is on fire? Damage Controlmen. Who are the first responders that will attack a casualty? Damage Controlmen. And who trains the Sailors aboard on damage control? That’s right, Damage Controlmen. Turn to page 8 to learn more about the duties and responsiblities these Sailors carry out to save the ship.
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MCSN IAN KINKEAD
MC3 MARC CUENCA
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PREPARING FOR DEPLOYMENT HOW SAILORS CAN SAVE MONEY AND REDUCE STRESS FOR THEIR LOVED ONES WHILE AWAY AT SEA.
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s every new day approaches, the word deployment begins to strike a deeper chord within Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). As a deployment approaches in 2017, it becomes clear that Sailors are on the last leg of getting their affairs in order. Deployment can be a time for Sailors to save money by turning off bills and not having as many opportunities to spend. Various things involving money need to be taken care of before the ship leaves its homeport of
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Bremerton, for its last time this year. It’s easy for Sailors to succumb to stress while thinking about money and deployment but with the correct planning it can be a time for them to bring balance and prosperity to their bank account. Quite a few necessities in a person’s life involve money, ranging from phone bills to car insurance, but the majority of these payments can be minimized or even in some cases absolved for Sailors during deployment. As there is no real use for cell phone service while underway, a deployed Sailor can usually get their contract put on hold during their time at sea. This
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provides additional revenue that can be added into savings each month. “Cell phone companies used to be a lot cooler about it back in the day, but now they usually require a deployment letter that you can obtain with the help of legal department and personnel,” said Yeoman 1st Class Joshua Kunkel, a native of Seattle who has been on four deployments. “It’s similar to a statement of service that will say you are deployed from this time to this time, and it will either get you a really low fee or sometimes none at all.” Another bill that can be diminished or lost all together while underway is car insurance. This is because Sailors can’t use their cars while they are deployed, but it is also important for Sailors to communicate with their insurer and get all of the facts because gapped coverage could raise rates. “Car insurance basically runs the same as a phone bill. The only time it might not happen is if you are still financing a newly purchased car,” said Kunkel. “For it to work, you normally have to put your car in permanent legal storage. It can’t just be in your backyard. Also if you put it up on blocks, you can submit a form that will track your odometer, and that will most likely get you free car insurance while on deployment.” Sailors can terminate their leases before Nimitz gets underway if they want, but it is important that they start taking the steps to do so as soon as possible. Kunkel said just about every local place will have a military clause in their lease, because it is a Washington state law. He also recommended that Sailors stay with professional companies and away from under the table deals, because it may be harder to get out of a lease. Sailors should acquire a deployment letter to break their lease and move out, but they can’t use it to keep their place rent free. Kunkel made it clear his biggest advice for Sailors is to form a budget and always plan ahead. It is important that spending is planned before deployment happens, because at times it may be hard to access bank accounts and track money. Automatic payment of bills is also another key factor going into a long-term period of being out to sea. According to Kunkel, it’s definitely beneficial to have automatic payments set up because most companies or banks will make it easy. One option for Sailors is to have an allotment come straight from their paycheck, which can be set up through mypay.dfas.mil. Another option is to go through a
bank and have an account set up to make reoccurring payments. The only drawback to this is if a Sailor has a paycheck issue, but if they manage their money well and are getting regular paychecks, it’s the safest bet. “You definitely don’t want to rely on paper checks or sending anything through the mail,” said Kunkel. “Also being able to rely on the internet is risky at best. I’ve been out to sea without internet for weeks at a time.” Since most bills can be reduced and spending will be limited while at sea, it could be smart to set up an automatic deposit into a savings account during deployment. “A lot of people don’t realize that when you go on deployment you actually save a lot of money,” said Kunkel. “You don’t have much going on, you aren’t driving so there is no gas bill, you aren’t going out to party and you are saving money on utilities. It really can add up quickly.” Kunkel also recommends that people stash some money away to buy things in foreign ports that are unique to that area, because it might be their only opportunity to do that. One of his favorite things looking back on deployments was being able to have gifts and souvenirs to come home with. Many Sailors are leaving their families behind. To help alleviate stressing over the possibility of their families running into money issues, they can set their family up to be able to utilize the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) in a time of need. Chief Air Traffic Controller Megan Donnell, a native of Alma, Mich., said a Sailor can fill out a preauthorization form at the Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor NMCRS office for access to help. They can also fill it out with her, Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fueling) Brian Faulkinbury or Senior Chief Personnel Specialist John Valentin and take it to the NMCRS office afterwards. “The best bet in preparing for deployment, in my opinion, would be to complete the pre-authorization form prior to leaving,” said Donnell. “I have completed a handful of them since we have been out, but it has caused a delay for the spouse in getting funds.” Donnell said family members can obtain up to 3,000 dollars in aid a year from the NMCRS while their Sailor is away. Once preparations are made and the boxes are checked, the burden of deployment can feel lighter than most Sailors imagine. Every step taken to prepare for what comes next is a step taken to reduce stress.
NEXT ISSUE: FOCUSING ON FAMILY
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MC3 ERICKSON MAGNO Edited by MCSN COLE SCHROEDER
RUNNING
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TOWARD
A THE FLAMES
smoke-filled space houses a fire that has grown out of control. All personnel in the space have evacuated and a call for help has been made. Down a passageway of the ship, a group of Sailors quickly dress out into their firefighting ensembles. Without hesitation, these individuals rush into danger ready to fight the casualty. Aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), these Sailors are known as damage controlmen, and they lead the charge in their primary mission of providing emergency damage control (DC) to save the ship and its Sailors. A damage controlman, at any pay grade, must be able to take on a leadership role when fighting casualties, in addition to teaching Sailors the basics of damage control. They are the first line of defense aboard a ship when it comes to fighting a casualty. Along with that, their job is to maintain the ship’s firefighting equipment and make sure Nimitz’ repair lockers are squared away. “A damage controlman is a protector and a trainer,” said Damage Controlman 3rd Class Tami A. Washington. “We are the first responders of the ship. When I first heard about my job, I was thinking of someone who repairs things and not so much as a person who saves lives.” A fireman’s duties start shortly after checking aboard. They have to learn their rating and get their damage control qualifications that determine what positions they are capable of standing in a repair locker or what equipment they can operate during a continued on page 12
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“Being a leader is looking out for everybody else before you look out for yourself. It’s about understanding what comes with that leadership position and showing your Sailors that you care.” -DC3 Tami A. Washington.
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casualty. Learning the job and how the ship works is essential in any DC division. “The hardest part about starting out as a fireman is that you have nothing,” said Washington. “...That’s when you get that push to get your qualifications and become something more. It’s about learning your job and getting better at your rate.” Once a damage controlman earns their qualifications to perform the job, it is time for them to step up and learn to lead Sailors. “In DC division, anyone at any pay grade can be a leader,” said Damage Controlman 2nd Class Emily Souza. “If you’re good at what you do, it doesn’t matter what rank you are.” Knowing your job and doing it well is an important aspect of being a leader, but being an example to others is important as well. “As a leader, you should be a role model,” said Washington. “I try to tell new Sailors that come in after me to not be like me, but to be better than me. It’s the only way they’re going to get better. We’re here to constantly gain and grow.” One of the responsibilities DC division has on the ship is to train the crew and understand the consequences other Sailors may face if they have to put that teaching to the test in a real life scenario. “We train to fight,” said Washington. “I tell everyone that nine times out of 10, I’m teaching them because in a real situation, I’m already dead. Damage controlmen are the first responders, and it’s challenging explaining that to people. People don’t think about how I won’t be there by their side.” On Nimitz and across the fleet, damage control is everyone’s responsibility. The training that damage controlmen provide isn’t only for the junior enlisted Sailors but for every Sailor on board. “One time I was asked by a first class petty officer, ‘how does it feel being a fireman taking charge of a first class petty officer?’” said Damage Controlman Fireman Nicholas Zamora. “I said, ‘natural,’ because if it’s not natural for a fireman to take charge in times of danger, it’s a scary thought.” When training Sailors, damage controlmen encounter different ranks and pay grades. Being put in charge of people who are higher ranking is a test of their level of knowledge and professionalism.
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For some, taking charge of people who are higher ranking can be a factor that motivates others to rise up in the ranks. The ships damage controlmen spend countless hours each week training Sailors, and the pride they take in it shows. “As a leader, knowing that a Sailor I trained passed a test makes me feel like we both passed, and I didn’t fail you as a trainer,” said Washington. “When somebody fails, it’s not that person who failed, it’s us who failed as a whole. That means there’s something I didn’t stress enough to you to make you accomplish what we we’re supposed to together.” Being a good leader with a good sense of direction and unselfishness can be a challenge, but it can also garner respect from the people under your guidance. “Washington is firm but fair,” said Personnel Specialist Seaman Phisean Phan, a native of Pensacola, Fla., and a Sailor who serves under Washington’s guidance in repair locker 1B aboard Nimitz. “She knows everything about everything when it comes to DC, and I wouldn’t want anyone else leading my repair locker.” When leading people into a fire or a casualty, the mission isn’t just to resolve the casualty, but keeping your team safe. “Being a leader is looking out for everybody else before you look out for yourself,” said Washington. “It’s about understanding what comes with that leadership position and showing your Sailors that you care.” That sense of caring may be the key ingredient for damage controlmen when saving lives, or rushing to dress out and don a fire hose and extinguish that out of control fire. As the last flame dies and the smoke clears, the embers are left smoldering, and a once persistent flow of water has been hushed, leaving a dull ringing in everyone’s ears. The reflash watch is set, and the casualty is resolved. As everyone cleans up, the team leader inspects his team to see if everyone is ok and able to respond to another casualty at a moment’s notice. The experience and leadership of every individual within the repair locker has kept everyone safe, and given them the opportunity to fight another day.
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crossword Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
weekly throwback Aviation ordnancemen assigned to G-1 division aboard Nimitz prepare to move ammunition on the flight deck for a vertical replenishment on deployment in 2005.
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through | the | lens
U.S. Navy Ship’s Serviceman 3rd Class Iria Swanson, left, a native of Chicago, cuts the hair of U.S. Navy Airman Thomas Hope, a native of Plackshear, Ga., aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. Photo by MCSN Ian Kinkead. Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Nora Tyson speaks to Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. Photo by MCSN Leon Wong. U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz load 20mm target practice ammunition in a magazine on the ship, April 10, 2017, in the Pacific Ocean. Photo by MC3(SW) Weston A. Mohr.
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