Nimitz News - March 22, 2012

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March 22, 2012

Sailors celebrate women's history

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Building the first

March 22, 2012

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Vol. 37, No. 10

Still need to file your taxes?

Ship's Library (03-118-10-Q): Tuesdays 1pm-3 pm Thursdays 1 pm-3 pm (Bring all documents needed, including: a copy of last year's return) Filing jointly?

You need a power of attorney (available for pick-up at the Legal Office) signed by your spouse.

Tax prep bases and locations: EVERETT: 8 am-4 pm, M-F; BLDG 2106, Lab 220, Naval Operational Support Center (NOSC), 2000 West Marine Drive; 425.304.3884 BREMERTON: 8 pm-4 pm, M-F; BLDG 1013, 2nd Deck; Naval Operational Support Center (NOSC); 360.627.2232 BANGOR: 10 am-6 pm, M-TH; 10 am-4 pm, F; 10 am-2 pm, 2nd & 4th SAT of each month; Plaza Building (between the Inside Out Café and the Khaki Club); 360.315.8202

If you have a question before filing, feel free to stop by the Legal Office and ask.

Air-Traffic Controller (AW) 3rd Class Charles Roberts greets crew members aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) on the quarter deck. Roberts returned from a nine-month deployment as an individual augmentee at Isa Air Force Base, Bahrain, where he coordinated flight planning for Navy P-3 squadrons and the Royal Bahrainian Air Force. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Alexander Ventura II/Released)

Nimitz Sailor returns home from IA Story by MC3 Jacob Milner

There is much more to a Sailor willing to leave their friends, family and shipmates to take on a role generally not associated with the Navy and put themselves in harm’s way as an individual augmentee (IA).

Air Traffic Controller 3rd Class Charles Roberts is such a Sailor.

Having been in the Navy a mere two and a half years, his mind was made up to support ground operations in Bahrain. He left the then dry-docked command of USS

Nimitz (CVN 68) in July, 2011 to go to San Diego, to train for the days ahead.

Roberts’ next step was to head begin the transition from sea fairing Sailor, to boots on the ground IA, then to Isa Air Base in Bahrain to support Army operations outside of Manama. A big transition for a junior Sailor relatively fresh to the fleet.

“The heat initially is what I remember,” said Roberts. “I landed in the evening time, and every night when the sun goes down they say

prayers. The whole city has prayers playing over loud speakers and the sound just comes up from the streets and hits you. It was kind of eerie as they played from different parts of the city, echoing through the streets.”

Though much of the work to be completed was similar to that on Nimitz, different equipment, personnel and supervisors made the experience interesting, said Roberts.

See "IA" page 10

March 22, 2012

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Commanding Officer CAPT Paul Monger Executive Officer CAPT Buzz Donnelly Command Master Chief CMDCM Teri M. McIntyre Public Affairs Officer LCDR Karin Burzynski Media Division Officer LTJG Jason Scarborough Media LCPO MCC Mike Jones Media Production Chief MCC Mike Jones Editor MC3 Ashley Berumen Lead Designer MC3 Nichelle Whitfield Media Dept MC2 Michael Cole MC2 James Mitchell MC2 Vladimir Potapenko MC2 Mark Sashegyi MC2 Adam Wolfe MC3 Ashley Berumen MC3 Jacquelyn Childs MC3 Ian Cotter MC3 Andrew Jandik MC3 Shayne Johnson MC3 Jacob Milner MC3 Glenn Slaughter MC3 Thomas Siniff MC3 Nichelle Whitfield MC3 Devin Wray MCSN Christopher Bartlett MCSN Renee Candelario MCSN Alexander Ventura II MCSA Jessica Lewis MCSA Vanessa David MCSA Ryan Mayes Nimitz News accepts submissions in writing. All submissions must be in by Friday, COB. 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.

Nimitz CPO's Conduct 360 Training EVERETT, Wash. (March 21, 2012) – Senior Chief Intelligence Specialist Jim Williams speaks to 1st Class Petty Officers during a CPO 360 meeting in the aft mess decks of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN68). CPO 360 is designed by the chief petty officer mess of Nimitz to mentor and bring up future chiefs. Nimitz recently arrived at its new homeport of Everett, Wash. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Ryan Mayes/Released)

200 Years Ago

March 21, 1812 – Promotion Day for Mr. Percy Royal Navy officer Henry Percy is promoted to the rank of captain. Percy will soon command the 20Ͳ gun HMS Hermes. He will lose this ship in September 1814 during an unsuccessful attack on Fort Bowyer in Mobile, AL. Percy’s losses will amount to 50 of his crew wounded or killed, and he will be forced to set fire to the Hermes to keep her out of American hands. The defeat will end Percy’s naval service, though he will carry back to England dispatches announcing the British defeat at the Battle of New Orleans.

Learn more by visiting http://ourflagwasstillthere.org

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March 22, 2012

Last-minute preparations for upcoming PFA Story and Photo by MC3 Ian Cotter

Time is running out for Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) as they prepare for the spring Physical Fitness Assessment. Although the event is pre-planned some Sailors may still be struggling to prepare for it at the last minute.

“We conducted a survey in conjunction with the last PFA and found that out of the 253 failures, 201 of them were because of the body composition assessment,” said Lt. Douglas Santillo, Nimitz’ health promotion officer. “PFA failures have become a big problem.”

To try to push back the number of failures for the PFA during this cycle, many different programs have become more available to Nimitz Sailors.

“We’ve sent out (Plan of the Day) notes, we’ve been running (programming) on site TV, head education signs in the heads, and FITBOSS meal choices at chow,” said Santillo. “We plan to get health info placards to hang above the mess lines and healthier choices in the vending machines.”

One of the many roles of Nimitz’ FITBOSS, Melyssa D. Patterson, is leading the Fitness Enhancement Program (FEP).

“The main goal of FEP is to get people off of FEP,” she said. “We’re hoping to get down to less than two percent of the command failing this PFA. We don’t know if it’ll get down that far, but we definitely want to see a decline in the number of people on FEP next cycle.”

With less than two weeks before the start of the spring PFA, many Nimitz Sailors have resorted to extreme dieting and cramming workouts in an effort to pass. “To be honest, you can’t cram fitness or weight loss,” said Patterson. “That’s just not how the body works.”

An intense workout program this late in the game can hurt Sailors. “A lot of Sailors will start a really hard program,” Patterson explained. “You might hurt yourself, and you don’t want to do the PFA hurt. You need time to taper off your workout and give your body time to fully recover, though it doesn’t mean to fully stop.”

Rather than a rigorous, last-minute routine, Sailors are

encouraged to take it a little easier and focus on their well-being.

“The best thing to do now is to eat right, drink water, and slow down your workout,” said Patterson. “Rome wasn’t built in a day; neither is physical fitness.”

This cycle’s BCA weigh-ins for the PFA run from April 2 through April 6 and the actual assessment runs from April 4 through April 13.

Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Christopher Elsen does lunges through the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) during a session of the Fitness Enhancement Program.

Cruisin’ For Fun Story and Photos by MC3 Jacquelyn Childs

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eep in Tacoma, Wash., sits one of America’s largest collection of privately owned vehicles. The LeMay collection includes a wide variety of vehicles including Model T’s, Firebirds, El Caminos and even a DMC DeLorean.

There are Roadsters, Volkswagen vans, and everything in between. This is an absolute must for any car lover and a wonderful, fun experience for anyone else.

A Tacoma native, Harold LeMay and his wife Nancy collected the vehicles throughout many years. At one point in the 1990’s, it was estimated he had more than 3,000 vehicles and was listed in the Guiness Book of World Records for having the largest collection of privately owned vehicles. This would be impressive for royalty, politicians, or celebrities, but for a local business owner in Tacoma, it was nothing less than astounding.

The collection of vehicles is slated to move in June to a brand new home. LeMay, America’s Car Museum is currently under construction in Tacoma.

The building has been in the works for years and will soon be finished. For now, the collection is available for public tours at the Marymount Event Center in Tacoma.

The Marymount Event Center was originally a Catholic military school for boys and then briefly an English transition school for children new to the language. In the 1990’s, the LeMay family bought

the buildings and surrounding land to house the vehicles and made them available for the public to view. LeMay’s collection also includes a wide variety of classic and antique artifacts including old toys and several old gasoline pumps.

More than just a museum, the center is also available to rent for any type of event including benefits, weddings, and parties.

A tour of thousands of vehicles in three different buildings is quite an experience. The tours are given by well-educated and enthusiastic car lovers who make the tour fun and educational. They can tell guests whatever they want to know about each of the vehicles, including a detailed history about several of them. For instance, there is an El Camino Harold LeMay bought just to impress his future wife. He even proposed to her in the car.

Aside from the awesome collection of antique and classic cars, the friendly staff, and the neat history guests get to experience, active duty service members also enjoy special perks. The tour and the gift shop include a twenty percent military discount.

Anyone with the least bit of interest in cars and vehicles should take advantage of the close proximity of this awesome nationally-renowned collection.

Even with no real interest in vehicles, the experience is exciting, educational and fun enough that no one will regret a trip to the museum.

Vehicles from the LaMay car collection on exhibit at Marymount Event Center, in Tacoma, Wash.

Thousands of vehicles are available to view six days a week.

March 22, 2012

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Female Sailor takes on Nimitz' 600 lbs strength challenge

SQ UA T Be n

Story and Photos by MCSN Alexander Ventura II

S

he’s compact - a mere five feet and three inches tall and 140 pounds. She walks through the weight room ready to take on the challenge ahead. She bends down in a ready position and wraps her fingers around the 45-pound iron bar stacked with four 45-pound plates, two 25-pound plates, two 10-pound plates and two fivepound plates … a total of 305 pounds. She takes a deep breath and slowly lifts the bar. Inches away from finishing the lift, she gets stuck. Her friends cheer her on. She fights. She finally manages to push her hips through and finish the lift. Thumbs up from the judges confirms it: Victory.

On March 15, Electrician’s Mate Fireman Apprentice Vanessa Futch was the first and only female aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz

(CVN 68) to join the 600 pound club. To be a member of the 600 pound club, a female Sailor’s dead lift, squat and bench press must sum up to a total of 600 pounds. Futch bench pressed 135 pounds, squatted 225 pounds and dead lifted 305 pounds for a total of 665 pounds.

Nimitz’ Morale, Welfare and Recreation formed the 600-pound club for females and a 1000-pound club for males to promote physical fitness and well-being within the command, said Melyssa D. Patterson, Nimitz FITBOSS. Patterson said she is trying to get more Sailors aboard the ship to lift weights by challenging them to become club members.

“The 600 pound club and 1000-pound clubs are geared to promote general fitness, but more

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Futch does a combination of weights and cardiovascular exersise for her workouts.

“I usually stay in the gym for about two hours,” said Futch. “I run for 30 minutes, and then lift weights. I perform about two to three body parts a day and never perform the same body part the following day. I do three sets of eight to twelve repetitions for each body part and then I do abs every day.”

Patterson said Futch is a great example of a female weight-lifter.

“I thought it was great to see a female reach the 600 pound mark,” said Patterson. “Futch is super strong and she killed the challenge. I feel a lot of females are scared to lift weights because they might think they’re going to look bulky. Futch is not that at all. She’s in great shape.”

Futch said one of her goals is to be featured in a magazine and help others reach their fitness goals.

“I want to actually be on the oxygen magazine one day,” said Futch. “I am trying to be put in the body building section. Once I get out of the Navy, I really want to be a personal trainer and help others reach their fitness goals as well.”

To schedule a date to attempt the 600 pound or 1000-pound challenge contact melyssa.patterson@ cvn68.navy.mil or scott.skeate@cvn68.navy.mil.

De ad lif t

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specifically strength training,” said Patterson.

Strength training is a great way for individuals seeking to lose body fat, she added.

“One thing about lifting weights is that you build muscle,” said Patterson. “Muscle burns three times more calories by just existing on your body. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn when you’re at rest.”

Futch said her physique and functional strength has improved since she started lifting weights more than two years ago.

“Since I started lifting weights, I’ve lost 20 pounds,” said Futch. “I lost fat and gained muscle tone. I’m very proud of where I am now. Most girls think lifting weights gets you bulky, but actually it tones you down. In addition, it’s good for strength training which in turn, helps you in your job. It’s also great to know I can possibly help someone out in a disastrous situation and be physically capable of helping out my shipmates.”

Futch recommends Sailors stick to their strength training regiment once they start in order to make a habit of it.

“When I first started out, it was hard to keep going,” said Futch. “It took me about two months to actually go consistently to the gym for five days a week. Now I don’t second guess myself if I should go or not, it’s a daily routine.”

March 22, 2012

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Morale Welfare & Recreation Story and Photos by MCSA Vanessa David

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he Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) program is planning events for outdoor recreational activities and fitness classes this month through the Vibes Liberty Center on Naval Station Everett, Wash., as well as on board the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) through the Navy’s MWR Civilian Afloat Program.

The Civilian Afloat Program is made up of fitness and recreation specialists, FITBOSS and FUNBOSS, who work together to provide Sailors with fitness and recreation programs aboard aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships and other naval vessels.

MWR is responsible for managing fitness equipment and classes, self-serve laundry, the ticket office, the coffee kiosk and planning trips and tours.

With the arrival of summer imminent, sports are scheduled to kick off, said Melyssa Patterson, Nimitz’ FITBOSS. “I’m really excited about the softball tournaments,” said Patterson. “We already have a few teams on board, so it’s going to be pretty big.”

Along with sports teams, activities on board are funded primarily through Sailors, explained Shannon Smith, Nimitz’ FUNBOSS. “Purchases at the ship’s store and the coffee kiosk are circulated into the MWR program,” said Smith. “There are some non-appropriated funds from the government, but the activities are mainly paid for by Sailors on board.”

Although the MWR program on board lends much of its assistance, most of the activities on Naval Station Everett are not ship-sponsored.

Vibes Liberty Center, found on the second floor of The Commons on base, is a location for active duty service members to relax and boost morale. It has several amenities which include: four televisions with surround sound, leather recliners, free Wi-Fi, ping pong, pool and foosball

tables. It also houses gaming stations, a cyber café with 28 stations, a library, a music room complete with instruments and printing and faxing services.

The main focus of MWR is to provide service members with healthy activities and information about the areas off base at low to no cost, explained Bill Lewis, Vibes’ librarian.

“We’re always doing something around here,” said Lewis.

“We plan gaming and bingo tournaments, movie nights, and facilitate classes. If there’s a new movie release, we transport Sailors to the movie theater for $12, covering the cost of their movie ticket and a light meal,” he said.

MWR is also involved in supporting community relations by planning volunteer services twice a month.

“It’s great because it gives Sailors an opportunity to help the community,” said Lewis. They’re volunteering at the Everett Food Bank today from 5-8 p.m., he said.

To find resources about MWR online and to find information about registration and any fees that may apply, visit www.navylifepnw.com or www.facebook.com/ EverettFFR.

March 22, 2012

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IA: Nimitz Sailor recounts his tour in Bahrain

Continued from page1 “Doing the job over here is different because you deal with radar services in CATCC (Carrier Air Traffic Control Center), but on the airfield there we had a tower, so it was all visual procedures,” said Roberts. “I definitely got to see a different side of the job as opposed to being on the ship.”

The Army and Air Force controlled area of operations, as opposed to a Navy ship, made for a different work atmosphere, but also brought with it a sense of camaraderie amongst the people there, said Roberts.

“It was kind of interesting trying to get used to being around Army and Air Force people,” said Roberts. “We were outnumbered by the two of them together. Our group was a lot smaller than on the carrier, so I got to know a lot of people. I pretty much integrated with everyone fairly easily and knew everyone within about a month. I come from an Army brat background so I kind of knew where they were coming from and could relate to them.”

During his time spent in Bahrain, Roberts witnessed protests that gripped the country - some of them just outside the base gates. This made travel and attempts to absorb the culture from the surrounding area difficult, as service members were instructed to avoid areas of hostility and unrest.

“There was a lot of protesting over there,” said Roberts. “They had us try and keep away from that as much as possible. It was actually very violent because it’s illegal to protest there.”

The subtle differences in day-to-day life were the hardest things to get past, said Roberts. The weather played a major factor in the harsh transition to that part of the world.

“Getting over the heat was the biggest thing,” said Roberts.

“You didn’t want to eat anything; you didn’t want to do anything, because it was just so hot. Working in those tents wasn’t fun either because it’s the same temperature. The galley there did have an ice cream bar for lunch and dinner, so that helped relieve the stress.”

After work during his time in Bahrain, the rest of the world was not completely cut off, said Roberts.

“About twice a month I was able to get connection and Skype home,” said Roberts. “I would talk to my mom, my brother or friends back home. Communication is a big thing even to just keep in contact with what was going on back home.”

When video chatting, phone calls and internet were not available, Roberts did receive morale and personal support in the form of letters and care packages from both civilians and Sailors back on Nimitz.

“I got about a letter a week,” said Roberts. “I also received care

packages from back home. Teachers I went to high school with sent packages along with elementary schools from around the country. I happened to be there during Christmas so I got a lot of things sent from my family like blankets, movies and cookies.”

After nine months in Bahrain supporting Army and Air Force operations, Roberts boarded a plane on his way home.

“I was kind of nervous,” said Roberts. “While I was gone IA, a lot of people I worked with had transferred to other commands.

A lot of familiar faces and friends weren’t here. The ship was out of dry-dock so I had to go to a different base that I had never been to. Not to mention that I had never met half of my division before.”

Though many of the faces had changed and Nimitz had moved, something remained from his time in Bahrain.

“The money was good,” said Roberts. “You get compensated well for living over there. That was one of my big motivations for going in the first place. I saved up some money then, and then bought a new car when I got back.”

Though Roberts was back on board Nimitz with some old friends who welcomed him across the quarterdeck with a bright banner and cheers, he hasn’t forgotten those nine months of strengthening ties and friendships left back in Bahrain.

“The other thing that was hard about transferring back was that I left everyone I had worked with for about nine months. People I saw and talked with everyday were gone now,” said Roberts.

“There wasn’t any kind of turnover to build up to it. We all got there together and left at the same time. You meet someone, spend every day with them for nine months, then they’re gone.”

The transition back to Nimitz is going well, said Roberts.

Though at first it was quite a bit different from how he had left it.

“It was a big culture shock, especially when I had no one to relate to,” he said. “I’m just thrown into a division, a new base, and the ship looks different everywhere I go, new faces. It was just kind of overwhelming at first. I think I’m caught up with it now, but there are still surprises.”

With a fresh change of scenery, comes a yearning for the old.

Though he was back on Nimitz, the friends and relationships held in Bahrain still provide fond memories, said Roberts.

“I miss the people,” he said. “Just like anywhere you go, you do build friendships. The hardest things will be not continuing on with them. We had a good team and worked there every day.

Personally, I won’t miss the food, the Arabic street signs or the traffic in capital, but I do miss the people.”

Individual Augmentee Sailor; n; A Sailor who leaves their assigned unit or command to deploy individually or with a small group.

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March 22, 2012

Rick Williams, from Fleet and Family Support Center’s Relocation Assistance Program, gave training to USS Nimitz (CVN 68) sponsors at Naval Station Everett, Wash., March 19.

Nimitz sponsors receive training on base Story and Photo by MC3 Jacquelyn Childs

A sponsorship training seminar for all the departmental sponsor coordinators and qualified potential sponsors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) took place at Naval Station Everett, Wash., March 19.

Rick Williams, with Fleet and Family Support Center’s Relocation Assistance Program, gave the majority of the training on how to be a successful sponsor. Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Michael Hayes, the leading chief petty officer of the new Indoctrination Division, wrapped up the meeting by talking briefly about his division’s role in checking new people into the command.

Williams gave a lot of useful information, including the history of the program that started at a single command in the 1970’s and quickly became an interest to the Department of Defense.

As a study, they implemented the program at a couple different commands and kept track of the numbers.

“One of the amazing things was, without the program, when service members first reported to the command, they were usually out of work for two weeks,” said Williams. “With a good smooth working sponsor program, that went down to four or five days.”

After the numbers from the study were out, the program quickly caught on. Finally, according to Williams, Congress actually made the program required by law across the DOD. Along with the history, Williams gave all the ins and outs of the importance and structure of the program itself.

There are detailed steps and checklists for the sponsor to follow along with the reporting Sailor that will help make the transition as smooth as possible. Sponsors should make the incoming Sailors feel as comfortable as possible and to make a

good impression since the sponsor should be the new Sailor’s first impression at the command.

“You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression,” said Williams. “First impressions speak volumes.”

Williams stressed not only communicating clearly with the incoming Sailor before they get to the command, but making their move as easy as possible after their arrival. This can be done by giving them all the resources they may need and inviting them to hang out with fellow workers and their families.

“I want to take care of the people I work with and I’m sure you all do too,” said Williams.

While being a good sponsor is the decent thing to do, it is also required by the command. The command leadership is stressing the importance of strong sponsorship and assistance to new personnel.

“The new CMC (Command Master Chief) will not even see a new check-in without their sponsor,” said Hayes. “I cannot even take them there if I’m not their sponsor.”

The check-in process itself has gone through recent changes also to improve the quality and success of the program.

According to Hayes, every new Sailors go directly to the Indoc division where Hayes and his staff have five days to get them completely checked in, by order of the Executive Officer. Hayes also said he needs the sponsors help to get this done.

“We don’t have the manpower to take 60 people around the ship,” said Hayes. “As a sponsor it’s your responsibility to take your people around to each of the places on the check-in sheet.”

For more information on Relocation Assistance contact Rick Williams at the FFSC at Smokey Point Support Complex in Marysville, Wash., by calling (425) 304-3367.

March 22, 2012

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Senior Chief Logistics Specialist Yolanda Adams speaks to the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), during the Women’s History Month celebration aboard the ship.

The event speakers emphasized the importance of empowering all Sailors to make a difference and be forward thinking. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Ryan Mayes/Released)

Nimitz recognizes Women's History Month on board Story and Photos by MCSA Ryan Mayes

The crew of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) celebrated Women’s History Month Wednesday on the aft mess decks of the ship with a steak and lobster meal and cakecutting.

Nimitz' Multi-Cultural Committee-sponsored event featured several guest speakers during the celebration. The speakers focused on the many women who have affected change throughout history, specifically Navy history.

“There are still barriers to be broken and records to be set,” said Nimitz Commanding Officer Capt. Paul O. Monger.

The Navy has a long history of female forerunners, several of whom have served aboard Nimitz. The first female Aircraft Handler in the Navy, Lt. Cmdr. Regina Mills, served aboard Nimitz. The first female Aviation Ordnanceman, Master Chief Aviation Ordnanceman (AW/SW), Jennifer Vollstedt, currently serves on board. Nimitz Command Master Chief CMDCM (SW) Teri McIntyre, now leads the enlisted Sailors as the first female command master chief in the ship’s 37 year history.

Nimitz’ leadership reinforced empowerment of Sailors to make a difference by being forward thinking and affect change for the better.

“The opportunities to learn and to succeed are yours for the taking,” said Senior Chief Logistics Specialist (SW/AW) Yolanda Adams to the gathered Sailors. “You have the tools to make history.”

“The Navy is an ever changing organization,” she added.

“Our principles remain the same, but our way of thinking changes. Women’s History Month is not only about our past, but it’s about our present, and it’s about our future. We have it so women can continue to make history, but mostly we have it so that all Sailors are empowered to succeed.”

Command Master Chief CMDCM (SW) Teri McIntyre speaks to the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), during the Women’s History Month celebration aboard Nimitz. The event speakers emphasized the importance of empowering all Sailors to make a difference and be forward thinking. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Ryan Mayes/Released)