Nimitz News 21 Aug 17 by USS NIMITZ (CVN 68)

CONTENTS Vol. 9 | Issue 01

NIMITZ NEWS

4 An Opportunity of a Lifetime

Story by MC1 (SW) Marcus Stanley

If there is one thing running through Brooklyn, New York native Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Oronde Vassell’s mind, it’s his chance to get back what he lost in 2015. One thing is for certain, whether it’s in his boots or his spikes, he’s honored to

represent the USA.

14 Meet the fit boss

Story by MCSN (SW/AW) Deccio

8 Building On The Boat

Come check out a Q&A style interview with the Sailor assigned to Nimitz who is now the ship’s fit boss. MCSN Deccio follows the fit boss around for a day full of exercise, questions and sweat.

Capt. Kevin Lenox Commanding Officer Cmdr. J.W. David Kurtz Executive Officer CMDCM Jimmy Hailey Command Master Chief

MEDIA DEPARTMENT

Lt. Cmdr. Theresa Donnelly PAO Ens. Meagan Morrison DIVO MCCS Ahron Arendes Media DLCPO MCC Grant Probst Media LCPO MCC (SEL) Porter Anderson Media CPO (SEL) MC1 Jose Hernandez Media LPO MC2 Holly Herline Creative Lead MC3 Weston Mohr Phojo WCS MC1 Marcus Stanley MC2 Jessica Gray MC2 Austin Haist MC2 Erickson Magno MC2 Elesia Patten MC2 Ian Zagrocki MC3 Chad Anderson MC3 Kenneth Blair MC3 Colby Comery MC3 Marc Cuenca MC3 Deanna Gonzales MC3 Ian Kinkead MC3 Liana Nichols MC3 Cole Schroeder MC3 Leon Wong MC3 Bethany Woolsey MCSN David Claypool MCSN Cody Deccio MCSN Emily Johnston MCSN Kennishah Maddux MCSN Jose Madrigal

Story by MC3 (SW) Cole Schroeder

An inside look into the lives of Sailors actively pursuing bodybuilding aboard Nimitz.

rapidly retracting view of South Korea stared back at Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Oronde Vassell as he peered through the window from his seat aboard the commercial plane. Overcome by a feeling of dissatisfaction, he pressed his head against the window and walked his eyes across the haziness below. As the land disappeared underneath an airy sheet of clouds, he repositioned himself in his seat and tried to settle in for the long flight back to the United States, but assured that he’d left something down there, back in Mungyeong, South Korea, settling in would be easier said than done. Two weeks earlier, Vassel arrived in Mungyeong, soaring on a bright cloud of optimism, hoping to seize what he considered “an opportunity of a lifetime.”

combines all the branches, you just need to see if its available to you and apply,’” said Vassell, remembering the words of his coach. Vassell went back to researching, hoping to find a way to compete. What he found this time around was exactly what he was looking for– the Military World Games, organized by the International Military Sports Council (CISM). Akin to the Olympics, the Military World Games is held every four years, bringing the top military athletes from around the world to an international stage to compete in various sporting events. The games, falling on an oddnumbered year, specifically the year prior to the Summer

“The day I left for South Korea in 2015, it was a surreal feeling,” said Vassell. “All the training and hard work that I put in, all the days when I wasn’t sure what my why was, it all started to sink in. I could feel my purpose.” Vassell, an accomplished track and field star in high school in the state of New york and at Liberty University Christian College in Virgina, wanted nothing more than to continue competing in the sport he loved. After joining the Navy in 2012, he felt his chances of ever competing in track field again begin to slowly dwindle. “After graduating from college, I still had a chip on my shoulder; I still had that edge,” said Vassell. “I joined the Navy in the best shape of my life. I was in El Centro, California, my first duty station, when I received a call from my former coach. He asked what I was doing now, and I replied, serving my country.” His former coach, aware of the All-Navy sports program, and even more aware of the immense amount of talent Vassell possessed, insisted that Vassel look into trying to compete while serving in the Navy. It was a shot in the dark, but armed with that tidbit of information about the All-Navy team, Vassell began doing his research. “I learned they discontinued the All-Navy track and field team in ‘96,” said Vassel. “All they have now is the All-Navy Cross-Country Team, and I’m a sprinter and jumper.” The dismemberment of the All-Navy Track and Field team came as a disappointment to Vassell, yet his former coach wasn’t letting him bow out that easily. His former coach pressed him, urging that there had to be a way for Vassell to compete in track and field in the military. “‘There has to be an armed forces track team which

Olympics, first began in Rome in 1995 and featured 82 nations and 20 sporting events. Growing every year since its creation, the last games held in Mungyeong, in October 2015, saw 105 countries and 24 sporting events. “After learning about the Military World Games, I applied to represent our country and I was selected for the team in August 2015,” said Vassell. “I was really shocked that I was the only Navy athlete selected. They take world class military athletes, put you in a pool, and they select you based on your performances. You have to run Olympic

times and you’re held to Olympic standards. I’ve always kept my body in tip-top shape, but once I found out I was on the team, I started training, training, training.”

competed in the Olympics in Beijing. When you’re going against talent and skill like that, your body must be clicking on all cylinders.”

Finally, back on the road to competing, Vassell’s training opportunities wouldn’t last long. Just over a month after finding out that he made the team, he was packing his bag and boarding a plane headed for Mungyeong.

In South Korea, Vassell’s body failed him and left him dissatisfied. He felt deep down he’d lost the opportunity of a lifetime.

“I flew to South Korea September 28, 2015,” said Vassell. “When I placed my luggage at the TSA checkpoint at the airport, and next to me were the teams from Brazil, Chile and Honduras, I knew then I’d made it to a world class elite level of competition. And it all was happening so fast because two days after arriving, I was in the blocks.” The commencement of the 6th Military World Games was the first time track and field had taken Vassell to an international stage, and according to him, he was ready. “What really kind of set the tone for me was walking into Athletes’ Village,” said Vassell. “Seeing my name and the names of the other USA athletes gave me a lot of pride. We all felt the comradery. We all said we were doing it for our country. We all wanted to do our best. That was our driving force.” The two-week event didn’t offer much time for additional training. The track and field team representing the USA in the Military World Games was built by servicemembers from across the armed forces, most of whom had never met each other before arriving in South Korea. Therefore, Vassell and his newfound teamates felt an urgency to get on the track to get their timing down for the 4x100 meter relay and also just to develop some chemistry.Vassell, however, would end up feeling it in a different way. “We didn’t have a lot time,” said Vassell. “While training for the relay race, I was coming off the curve and I felt a slight strain in my groin. I knew at that moment I could keep going, which I did, but I knew I wasn’t going to be 100 percent moving forward.” Vassell went on to compete, but the strain ultimately hampered his abilities. He finished eighth in the long jump, and missed marks he knew he could reach in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and the 4x100 meter relay due to his injury. “I can’t lie, it was disappointing,” said Vassell. “For me, competing in the Military World Games was the biggest stage I’d ever been on and I just wanted to give it my all. Some of the guys I was competing against actually competed in the Olympics in London, and one guy I met

Thus, while flying aboard the airplane, headed back to United States to continue his career as a master-at-arms in the Navy, Vassell did something he’d never did before, he questioned himself, doubting if his body could hold up against the stiff competition of the Military World Games. He wondered if he was getting too old to continue competing at such a high level. Then Vassell remembered what it felt like when he arrived in South Korea, and he imagined what it would be like to have that same feeling again. “I couldn’t let go of what it felt like when I was riding through South Korea on my way to the stadium,” said Vassell. “I remember how it felt when I walked into Athelete’s Village. It was all far from anything I ever imagined. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to experience that again.” All of sudden, while remembering how it felt to be in South Korea, in the company of the other elite athletes, Vassell’s dissatisfaction started to subside. He made up his mind, he was going back to recover what he’d left in Mungyeong. There was, however, one problem. What Vassell was looking for was no longer in South Korea, but in China. “In 2019, the games will be in China,” said Vassell. “I’m already on the team and I’ve got a chip on my shoulder. When I get in those blocks, all I’ll be thinking about is crossing that finish line, looking for the gold.” Vassell is set to compete in the same events in 2019 in the 7th Military World Games in Wuhan, China, that he competed in 2015, in South Korea. Currently deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Vassell faces some training challenges while at sea. Yet, he believes it’s all a mind game. “Out here on the ship, there is no track for me to train on, and that does make it tough,” said Vassell. “But out here, it’s all mental. I have to stay focused. I have to be my biggest competitor out here. It’s all a game of discipline. I know what’s ahead of me and what’s behind me. However, I’m not looking back; I’m just moving forward. I know I won’t always be this fast or be able to jump this high, that’s why I have to take advantage of this opportunity I have in front of me. Come 2019, I’ll be ready. My motivation is that gold medal.

StorybyMC3(SW)ColeSchroeder Photos by MC3 (SW) Ian Kinkead

ABOVE&BEYOND THE CALL TO FITNESS

“ Y

ou step on stage and you’re calm, cool and collected,” said Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Keithan Sinkler, a native of Lamar, South Carolina, and a Sailor aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). “You haven’t had a carb in three days, and you haven’t had a sip of water in 12 hours, but you’ve got to

have confidence while you’re up there. You’ve got to feel like the ‘baddest’ man out there. We’re all friends until we step on that stage. When I’m up there, it’s me against everybody.” Bodybuilding is a sport that requires countless months of rigorous training and strict dieting. The sport demands dedication and commitment from individuals who partake, 11

“BEINGINTHENAVYISONETHING,BUTLIVING ONTHESHIPANDPURSUINGBODYBUILDINGIS SOMETHINGDIFFERENTALLTOGETHER,”SAID SINKLER.

“A lot of people think the weight room is

where all the magic happens, but it’s not. It is 60 percent diet and 40 percent weight training.” He also talked about how the food we eat on the ship affects our bodies compared to the food of their civilian counterparts. Due to the nature of being on a ship at sea, food options are limited compared to civilians ashore.

In the civilian sector of bodybuilding, salt is a known enemy. Athletes tend to stay away from sodium because of its tendencies to be stored in the fat cells. They prefer fresh, low preservative foods that are cleaner and more lean. Even though salt and starch proves effective in terms of giving sailors lasting energy throughout the day, it’s a bodybuilding-Sailors biggest opponent. “Some foods on the ship are processed,” said Sinkler. “If it comes frozen and in a bag, the sodium content is high. We all understand why we can’t always have the

healthiest and freshest of options, so it’s just something that everyone has to work a little bit harder at to keep a fit physique.” Engineman 1st Class Garrett Rochon, a Sailor aboard Nimitz knows just as well as Sinkler about the difficulties of finding healthier alternatives while underway.

“INSTEADOFBEINGHOMEEVERYDAY,YOU’RE OUTTOSEAWHEREYOU’RENOTABLETOPREP YOURMEALSEVERYDAYANDHAVEACCESSTO ALLTHEFOODYOUNEED.YOUHAVETOPUTJUST ASMUCHEFFORTINTOYOURDIETANDYOUR DAILYINTAKEASYOUDOYOURTIMEINTHEGYM, ANDTHAT’SNOTALWAYSEASYWHENYOU’RE UNDERWAY,” SAID ROCHON. Rochon met Sinkler during a tour in Afghanistan in 2011. Although they weren’t involved in shows yet, a bond was formed and the interest for bodybuilding began. “He was already into it and me and him hit it off,” said Rochon. “He’s the one that actually inspired me to look into bodybuilding and get started. He’s the one that finally put all the pieces of the puzzle together and finally got me to step on stage.” Just like Rochon and Sinkler, many other Nimitz Sailors got into bodybuilding before they arrived aboard. Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Terrell L. Conley, a Sailor aboard Nimitz, and a native of Bainbridge, Georgia, was introduced to the world of bodybuilding through a senior chief petty officer at a previous command. “I always looked down on bodybuilding,” said Conley. “It’s not a sport, it’s an ego thing. It wasn’t until my body started to change and develop and people started to comment on my body that I knew I was doing something right.” Together, the three train and share information and struggles within the sport. “We all just did a show just weeks before deployment,” said Rochon. “We had just gotten back from a six week underway and you can ask all of them; It was extremely rough. We were in the middle of our prep so we spent our money on our food. Things like tuna, rice cakes, and a rice cooker to try and eat as healthy as we could on the ship, but it was extremely hard.”

DON’TLETYOUSTOPYO

-Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Terrell L. Conley

IT’SNOTASPORT,IT’SANEGOTHING. 12

but this proves even more true for those who choose to put their bodies to the test when they live a military life. U.S. Navy Sailors spend months at a time away from the normal amenities that civilian bodybuilders have access to. For Sinkler, bodybuilding wasn’t always such a big part of his life. “I was a football guy,” said Sinkler. “Once I joined the Navy, and age started to catch up to me, I knew football was going to be out of the question at some point.” Sinkler has been strength-training since he joined the Navy in 2005, but only recently started bodybuilding about three years ago. “A friend of mine told me I had a great physique and a great frame, so I figured I’d give bodybuilding a try,” said Sinkler. Over those three years, Sinkler has learned a lot about what it takes to be a service member with a passion for bodybuilding.

The prep for all three men differs slightly, but the main aspects stay the same. Approximately 12 weeks of hard work in the gym and a rigorous diet that changes week to week. “I eat about a pound of food at every meal; anywhere from seven to eight times a day,” said Sinkler. “That goes on all the way till about week six. Then I start cutting carbs. Then I start cutting fats. After that I do another carb cut at four weeks, and then another carb cut at two weeks. The last week, I cut carbs completely.”

“IWAKEUPEVERYMORNINGANDWORKOUTFROM3:00A.M.TO4:15 A.M.,”SAIDCONLEY.“THAT’SMYLOWINTENSITYWORKOUT.FROM 11:00A.M.TO12:00P.M.,THAT’SMYCARDIO,ANDTHENIGOONE LASTTIMEFROM4:00P.M.TO5:30P.M.ALONGWITHTHAT,I’LLEAT BETWEEN 6 TO 8 MEALS A DAY.” “Time commitment is huge,” said Rochon. “Prepping for a show is extremely hard, especially being in the Navy, and being out to sea.” Between themselves, the three have competed in a total of 10 competitions and none of them see themselves stopping anytime soon. Although bodybuilding can present itself as a daunting sport, with payoff more than years down the road, the individuals who make the sacrifice find victory in knowing they’re pushing their body to the limit and exceeding at it.

“WECANSAYASNAVYSAILORSTHATWEAREPARTOFTHE ONE-PERCENTCLUB,ASFARASBEINGPARTOFAMILITARY ORGANIZATION,BUTLOOKATHOWMANYPEOPLEACTUALLYGO TOTHEGYMORPURSUEBODYBUILDING;ICANSAYI’MPARTOF TWO ONE-PERCENT CLUBS,” SAID ROCHON. Chief (Sel.) Engineman Garrett Rochon

Q& A Meet the Fit Boss A Q&A with Chief (Sel.) Electrician’s Mate William McSwiggan NN: Where are you from originally? FB: Philadelphia. NN: How much longer are you aboard? FB: November of next year. NN: The fit boss is usually contracted out to a civilian, so could you just tell me briefly how you became the fit boss considering you are part of the crew? FB: Well I was involved with the fitness coordinators aboard, and they just really needed someone to fill that billet so I stepped up for them. NN: What made you decide to become the fit boss? FB: Chief Carter, he called me and said I need you to be the fit boss and that’s how that went to down. He was right. I did need to be the fit boss. NN: Being the new fit boss on Nimitz, how do you feel about the fit program?

FB: I feel like we have a lot of room to add some more to it. We have people who spend their time just sitting around, so I think working on qualifications or working out would be the best way to go with this deployment. NN: Currently you are the LPO of E division here on the ship, so coming from being an LPO to being the fit boss of the entire ship how does that affect your role of leadership onboard? FB: It doesn’t too much, as fit boss im just taking accountability of something people need. I am still the LPO of E division too, so I have my real job and then I’ve got this as well. I kind of have to manage both. I like doing the fit boss side because I feel an obligation to help people with this and make sure the ship is good to go. NN: What kind of problems are presented by having to manage both of them at the same time? FB: Less sleep. NN: How is being a member of the crew rather than being a civilian differ as the fit boss?

FB: I actually workout on the ship. I have to adhere to the rules the ship has, I have to use the equipment the ship has and I workout with everyone on the ship, so I believe I generally have a better idea of what everyone wants and needs and the rules they should be following. NN: How are you tailoring this fitness program to the crew? FB: I want to give everyone enough options and make sure there is something out there for everyone to get the job done when it comes to fitness. NN: Are there any new programs you are trying to bring to this ship? FB: We opened up more warrior workout, we have more hours for bootcamp fitness because it is very popular. We are trying to see about getting an intro to brazillian jiu jitsu class and a boxing class as well. NN: Now that you are the fit boss aboard, do you feel like you will give Sailors more of a voice in the fitness around the ship? FB: I will try my best but I understand the mission comes first. If there is work to be done in the hangar bay, or if something is going on and shuts the gyms down there is nothing I can do about that. We are going to try our best to always make it happen though.

NN: So at the end of the day, what is your primary concern as the fit boss? FB: As fit boss of the ship I would like to think that when it’s 120 degrees someone can put on an SCBA and get the job done. I hope that when the moment comes everyone can perform. NN: Anything you think that overall would be really good for the fitness of the crew? FB: More running on the flight deck during no fly days, I think it is psychologically good to be in the sun, as much as we are not. NN: What is the future for Nimitz fitness? FB: Definitely more classes and more and better equipment with a better flow in the gym. NN: So with bodybuilding and powerlifts you are going to get a different thing from each. What are your views on that? FB: Well you know what, the thing is, with every facet of fitness there is something good you can take from it. You can always say well that’s dumb and that’s dumb but there is something good you can pull from everywhere.

Nimitz Fitness Schedule

Boot Camp Fitness with IC3 Craig:

Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and Saturday at 2000 Wednesdays at 0500

Warrior Workout with LS2 Saya: Wednesdays at 1745

Ask the Fitness Coordinators: Mondays at 1700

Spin Classes:

Sundays at 2030 Mondays at 1100 and 2030 Tuesdays at 0500 and 1100 Wednesdays at 1100 and 2300 Thursdays at 0500 and 1100 Fridays at 1100 and 2300 Saturdays at 845 and 1100

Weight training with MM1 Sinkler: Sundays and Wednesdays at 2000

Yoga Night with EOD1 Mumford: Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2000

Brought to you by Sailors gettingfitallaroundtheship 16

crossword

channel list

CH. 02- TRAINING CH. 03- MOVIE CHANNEL CH. 04- DOWN FOR MAINTENANCE CH. 05- MOVIE CHANNEL CH. 06- AFN CH. 07- AFN CH. 08- AFN CH. 09- MOVIE CHANNEL CH. 10- ILARTS CH. 11- MOVIE CHANNEL CH. 12- SCROLLER CH. 13- TRAINING

SUDOKU

Matthew Martin stands a full bore watch in the Strait of Hormuz. Photo by MC3 Leon Wong 21.2. AN 3 ABHAN Derek Slater picks up his firefighting boots after a crash-and-salvage watch. Photo by MC3 (SW)

Weston Mohr 3. An F/A-18E Super Hornet, from VFA-146, launches from the flight deck. Photo by MC3 (SW) Ian Kinkead 4. Sailors on the rigging team work and cool off during a replenishment-at-sea. Photo by MC3 (SW) Ian Kinkead 5. Sailors conduct honor guard practice aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Photo by MC3 Leon Wong 6. Sailors move ordnance aboard the flight deck off USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Photo By MC3 (SW) Ian Kinkead 7. Sailors play football on the flight deck of USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Photo By MC2 (SW/AW/IW) Holly Herline 8. An MH-60S Sea Hawk from HSC-8 patrols above Nimitz. Photo by MCSN (SW/AW) Cody Deccio 9. Sailors recieve supplies aboard Nimitz during an UNREP. Photo By MC3 (SW) Weston A. Mohr

find chester Admiral Chester Nimitz’s face is hidden somewhere in every Nimitz News. Can you find him?

trivia weekly throwback

What are the five key dimensions of fitness?

A Sailor assigned to Nimitz works on a piece of signaling equipment while on deployment in 1997

1|AnMH-60SSeaHawkhelicopter,fromthe“Eightballers”ofHelicopterSeaCombatSquadron(HSC)8,preparestotakeofftheflight

Amswer: Speed, Agility, Flexibility, Strength and Endurance

deck.|MC3 Wong 2|SailorsloadordnanceintoanF/A-18ESuperHornet,fromthe“BlueDiamonds”ofStrikeFighterSquadron(VFA)146.|MC3Mohr 3| Sailors hold a line during a replenishment-at-sea.|MC3 Kinkead 4|AE1ChristopherHendrickfromWeatherford,Texas,testsequipmentfromanMH-60RSeaHawkhelicopter,fromthe“WolfPack”of

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