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CONTENTS Vol. 8 | Issue 03
4 Flight Deck Choreographers By MC3 (SW/AW) Ian Kinkead
NIMITZ NEWS
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 Porter Anderson Media CPO MC1 Jose Hernandez Media LPO MC2 Holly Herline Creative Lead MC3 Weston Mohr Phojo WCS
Get the inside perspective of life as an aviation boatswain’s mate (handling) working on the flight deck of Nimitz out here in the Arabian Gulf. 8 Chasin’ Dreams: An International Story By MC3 (SW/AW) Ian Kinkead
A tell-all story of one Sailor;s journey from Nairobi, Kenya to the United States while chasing the dream of being a medical professional.
12 The Snoopie Team
Story By MC3 (SW) Leon Wong
An informative story on the purpose of the Sailors who run up to the 010 almost daily when the TAO calls, “away the SNOOPIE team away.” 2
MC1 Marcus Stanley 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
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Story and Photos by MC3 Ian Kinkead
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light deck operations on an aircraft carrier have been compared to a ballet. Anyone who is afforded the opportunity to observe flight deck operations on an aircraft carrier will instantly notice the assortment of colors worn by the personnel to specify their job. After watching how the flight deck operates for a while, it is clear, one jersey color is in charge of the big dance; yellow. Aviation boatswain’s mates (handling), commonly known as yellow shirts, that work on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) are directly responsible for the handling and maneuvering of aircraft as well as the safety of all personnel during flight operations. Any mistake or lack of better judgement can cause damage to equipment or even worse, injury to personnel on the flight deck.
“At first being a yellow shirt was scary, but now that I have some confidence I would say there is a sense of pride,” -ABH3 Melanie Cluck “At first being a yellow shirt was scary, but now that I have some confidence I would say there is a sense of pride,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Melanie Cluck, from Palm Springs, California. “On the flight deck we are not only responsible for directing aircraft but also for directing people. Normally anyone who needs guidance on the flight deck looks for a yellow shirt. Safety of all the personnel on deck is a big part of our job as well. So we don’t only need to know our job, but everyone else’s as well.” Before donning the soughtafter yellow jersey, ABHs wear blue jerseys to indicate that they are currently in a more junior status. These Sailors are normally newer airmen 6
who have yet to acquire all of the necessary qualifications. Their main responsibilities during flight operations include chocking and chaining, running elevators and tractor operation. “Being a blue shirt is hard work, but it makes you tough,” said Airman Michael Lothrop, from Atlanta. “It’s hot up there right now, and we work long days, but you have to be on alert at all times and ready to get the job done whenever you are needed.” Blue shirts are normally covered in grease and always carrying something heavy, whether it be a chain, tractor bar or chock. They play a big part in the maneuvering of aircraft on the flight deck because they do most of the
hands on work. During their time wearing blue, they learn the ins and outs of properly directing aircraft, which helps build the foundation of a high performance yellow shirt. Since the job requires demanding attention to detail and an extreme amount of knowledge to be performed well. The training and amount of hours a Sailor needs to put in to become a yellow shirt is impressive. “There are two main qualifications you get as a blue shirt, but from there it’s all about if your chain of command sees you have the initiative to take on being a yellow shirt,” said Cluck. The qualifications required are flight deck observer and directing and handling in
addition to all the qualifications Sailors are required to obtain when they report to Nimitz. The qualification requirements take roughly 12 weeks to complete. After the completion of required qualifications, Sailors take a written and oral test administered by the flight deck leading petty officer (LPO), assistant LPO and any other yellow shirt qualified chief petty officers or first class petty officers who decide to attend. Once a Sailor earns the right to wear the color yellow on the flight deck, they will enter a status of under inspection (UI). This means they need an experienced yellow shirt to help them along the way of becoming an expert at their new job on the flight deck. “It’s a case by case basis on how long the UI process takes,” said Cluck. “The process is just there to make sure you fully understand what you are doing on the flight deck. It’s extensive work to say the least, but it helps you build character. The goal of the process is just to build you up to be the great yellow shirt you are supposed to be.”
“You have to be able to really get control of your aircraft and understand the pilot,” said Cluck. “It’s a gut feeling that you develop during your training, if you feel you need to slow the aircraft down you can, and you start to learn when exactly to turn it. We have hundreds of hand signals we can use to take control of the aircraft on deck. The people in the pilot seats are officers so you have to be professional and every motion you make has to be crisp and precise to prevent accidents.” The working environment of a yellow shirt is unlike anywhere else on the ship. On the 04 level of Nimitz is where someone would find the yellow shirt locker. A tight-knit group of men and women who spend their time out of the scorching heat joking, laughing and preparing to launch multi-million-dollar aircraft into the sky. It is here where the instructors of the world’s most dangerous ballet reside. It is here, where the yellow shirts dwell, mentally preparing themselves to launch aircraft as their ship currently sits at the tip of the spear. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group’s deployment
A UI yellow shirt is always accompanied by a seasoned mentor who is observing every signal and decision they make to ensure that they are learning the process. Yellow shirts have to communicate with pilots and other personnel working on the flight deck with hand signals to move aircraft onto the catapults and off of the landing area safely.
to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations supports Operation Inherent Resolve and signals the continued commitment to defeat and destroy ISIS. In addition to antiISIS missions, the ship and strike group are conducting maritime security operations to reassure allies and partners, preserve freedom of navigation and maintain the free flow of commerce.
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Airman Michael Nyawir vividly remembers his days back in his homeland of Nairobi, Kenya. He recalls the rust-clad paddleboat that his mom would put him and his siblings in to take them out onto the lake at Uhuru Park. He reminisces on eating from a handwoven picnic basket at the park. He also remembers the zoo-like setting at Nairobi National Park, a place where he says the giraffes he would feed stood as tall as the trees. These are the lasting memories that he now holds close as he serves for freedom and peace around the world. In 2013, Nyawir, age 23 at the time, took his mom’s advice and left his home in Nairobi to move to the United Sates and live with his uncle in Oklahoma, hoping to further his education without causing financial strain to his parents. Hoping to earn his Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN), Nyawir found himself continuously having to adapt to the way of life in America. He soon found that there were some things he needed to do to make life in the U.S. more manageable.
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“Kenya is a lot different compared to how it is out here,” said Nyawir. “The food, people and culture are all different. For the most part we have all the amenities America does, but the bad thing is, for you to be able to get that good life you need a good job. That’s why my mom was so serious about me getting my education. I never had a job back in Kenya, because all she wanted me to do was focus on school, but I quickly realized I would need to work to put myself through school in the states.” Though eagerly set on making his way in America, Nyawir found that his finances were hindering him from reaching his ultimate goal even though he was working double shifts. Hoping to get the ball rolling faster, he began to seek other career options. “I was already a licensed practical nurse (LPN),” said Nyawir. “The main reason I decided to join the Navy was to get help and advance my career with the tuition assistance. I was also looking for a job where I would be able to give back to the community. The Navy was the best place to do that as they respond to all disasters, help the poor, fight to defend the defenseless and open up sea routes.” Entering the Navy as a commissioned officer was first on Nyawir’s list, however, he was not yet a U.S. citizen, so he chose to enlist as an undesignated airman. He left for Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois in 2016.
“Boot camp was easy for me,” said Nyawir. “I went to a boarding school. My mom wanted us to experience life from a different perspective than the city, so it was out in the country for four years. We had uniform inspections all the time. We had to get our water at a pump far away from the school, and if you made mistakes you got whooped. It basically makes life on a ship feel like a five-star hotel.” Nyawir stated the only thing he struggled with in boot camp was the swimming portion as he had never swam in his life. That led to him being set back for 2.5 weeks until he could get comfortable in the water. After successfully completing boot camp, Nyawir attended his citizenship ceremony during “A” school, and not too long after that, he arrived at his current command Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, where he works as a plane captain for the “Argonauts”.
“As a plane captain you are basically the eyes on the ground in regards to the F/A-18E Super Hornet,” said Nyawir. “The amount of qualifications required to be a plane captain is pretty insane. In the most basic way of saying it, it’s your job to make sure the jet is safe for flight. Anything bad that happens to the aircraft in regards to maintenance basically all falls on you, so it’s a really big deal.” Nyawir has to always be
professional, vigilant and use caution. The pilot depends on him to be able to complete their job. His maintenance checks assure the plane will be safe in flight, and during flight preparations, he is on the flight deck signaling to the pilot to make sure everything they are doing is safe. Now that Nyawir has been with the “Argonauts” for a little more than half a year, he plans to put in a package for the Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program at the beginning of 2018. The traits that Nyawir uses to get the job done as a plane captain do not differ far from what he will need to be a successful medical professional. The pilot’s ability to complete the mission, which directly involves their life, relies heavily upon him. Hopefully someday when he is given the opportunity to save a life, he can use the traits he has learned in addition to his education to succeed. “My end goal with the Navy is to get back to college at some point and finish my degree,” said Nyawir. “Right now I have 66 hours of college, and I would like to get my BSN completed as soon as possible, after that, the list of possibilities is endless. I have always wanted to be a nurse on one of the big Navy hospital ships, like the USNS Mercy, because I want to do what I love and be able to do the disaster relieftype work that those ships do.” So far Nyawir has had a difficult time taking any
“I have always wanted to be a nurse on one of the big Navy hospital ships, like the USNS Mercy, because I want to do what I love and be able to do the disaster relief-type work that those ships do.”
classes because of the rigorous workup schedule since he has been assigned to VFA-147. He has participated in Training Availability and Final Evaluation Problem, qualifications in Naval Air Station Fallon and Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX). After COMPTUEX and before Nimitz Carrier Strike Group’s regularly scheduled deployment Nyawir reunited with his mom in the states. Many years later and many miles away from his homeland, he was able to recreate a memory in a new place with his wife, kids and their grandmother. He took his mom and his family to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo in Fresno, California. They then drove through the rolling hills and tall trees of Northern California to a rocky beach for a delicious dinner that was back dropped by a beautiful, west-coast sunset. Nyawir took his mom’s advice, and now, he is only a few steps away from his goal. Luckily, he now has a whole new batch of memories to help motivate him along the way.
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his is the TAO.” The words echo throughout the ship as rooms and passageways become silent.
“Away the SNOOPIE team, away! Contact of interest, surface, bearing 2-5-2 relative at seven nautical miles.” Sailors assigned to the Ship’s Nautical or Otherwise Photographic Interpretation and Examination (SNOOPIE) team halt whatever they are doing, sling their camera bags over their shoulders and make a dash toward the nearest ladderwell. “SNOOPIE! Make a hole!” they shout. Those not involved hug the wall as the team swiftly zigzags through the narrow passageways of the ship. They must reach the 010 level of the ship, or Vulture’s Row, within 5 minutes. Depending on where certain team members work, it could be a climb of 12 flights of stairs. As they reach the top, the team brings out a variety of cameras and lenses to ensure they get the best quality of visual information on the contact of interest. One of the most important pieces of equipment in their arsenal is the large, 600 mm telephoto camera lens, or “Papa,” as it has the furthest reach.
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The team tracks the contact closely, taking photos and recording video of any type of interaction that may occur. Once the information is gathered, or the contact is out of sight, the team makes their rounds to various supporting work centers to ensure the information is clear and accurate. Down in the carrier intelligence center (CVIC), personnel have already begun a storyboard to accompany the eagerly awaited visual information that is to be transmitted and assessed by the combatant command. This type of occurrence has been almost a daily norm for the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) since reaching the Arabian Gulf. Yet, this monotonous and tedious routine has a large scale effect if an altercation should transpire. “SNOOPIE is the primary method by which U.S. Naval vessels collect intelligence on aircraft or vessels of interest,” said Information Specialist 2nd Class Stephen Russell, from San Antonio. The Tactical Action Officer (TAO) is to call away SNOOPIE when a contact comes within a certain range of the ship. Distance and speed of the type of contact is taken into account to give the SNOOPIE team adequate amount of time to reach Vulture’s Row.
Story and photo by MC3(SW) Leon Wong
“When there is any air, surface or subsurface interaction near the ship, we need to make sure we get a record of it,” said Lt. Cmdr. Justin Fujimura, from Kaneohe, Hawaii. The team also must determine whether the interaction was professional or unprofessional. “Basically anything that isn’t weird is considered professional: controlled closure rates, maintaining control of ships or aircraft, not closing in too close, etc.,” said Fujimura. “Anything unprofessional would be like if a plane did aerobatics, or if some guys were going crazy on jet skis for example.”
the time it’s pretty boring,” said Fujimura. “It’s usually professional, but we’re just passing ranges and bearings to whatever the contact is.” Although intelligence ratings primarily support SNOOPIE, media department shows a presence in the team as well due to their knowledge with cameras and editing software. “Media supports SNOOPIE by capturing and editing imagery so it may be sent off in a timely fashion,” said Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Deanna Gonzales, from Harlingen, Texas.
SNOOPIE fills two roles: visual information (VI) and intelligence collection (IC).
The SNOOPIE team plays a major role in the information game. They are always on watch, ready to respond to the call of the TAO at any time.
“The VI mission supports the Public Affairs Officer in winning the battle of the narrative and allows us to combat propaganda released by foreign entities,” said Russell. “The IC mission is to collect as much information as possible and report to the Office of Naval Intelligence to support their database requirements.”
“I think we can all say that we have a minor case of post-traumatic stress disorder that is triggered every time we hear the TAO call anything on the 1MC,” said Russell. “We’re already on the run as soon as we hear ‘This is the TAO…’ Although, it’s nice to get out in the sun every once in a while, but it can be stressful with the tight deadlines.”
This information has a considerable level of importance as it allows the intelligence department to establish historical trends for future analysts to determine capability and intent for seagoing threats.
Nimitz is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. While in this region, the ship and strike group are conducting maritime security operations to reassure allies and partners, preserve freedom of navigation, and maintain the free flow of commerce.
“Sometimes it can be really exciting, but most of
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crossword
channel list CH. 02- TRAINING CH. 03- MOVIE CHANNEL CH. 04- MOVIE CHANNEL (OOC) 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
Find Chester Admiral Chester Nimitz’s face is hidden somewhere in every Nimitz News. Can you find him?
tongue Twister A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk, but the stump thunk the skunk stunk.
weekly throwback Sailors participate in a replenishment-at-sea aboard Nimitz in 2005.
Try to say it 5 times fast!
Nimitz News accepts submissions in writing. All submissions are subject to review and editing. “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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1. AN Matthew Martin stands a full bore watch in the Strait of Hormuz. Photo by MC3 Leon Wong 2. 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
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1| ABH3 Brandon Leitzke, from Chicago, steps over a catapult.|MC3 Wong 2| Lt. David Corbin, from Dewar Okla., shoots an F/A-18C Hornet, from the “Death Rattlers” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323, off the flight deck.Www|MC3 Kinkead 3| An F/A-18E Super Hornet, from the “Blue Diamonds” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 146, launches from the flight deck.|MCSN Johnston 4| SN Derek Evans, of Austin, Texas, laughs as he is pulled back into a rigid hull inflatable boat.|MC2 Herline 5| ABE2 Matthew Syme, from Vernon, N.J., cleans his hands after cleaning a jet blast deflector.|MC3 Kinkead 6| CSSN Taylor Kuklinski from Elizabethtown, Ky., ices cupcakes.|MCSN Madrigal 7. SN Noah Milun, from Corcoran, Minn., chips off rust.|MC3 Wong
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