Nimitz News Daily Digest - March 8, 2012

“HIIT”ing the weights Page 6

Nimitz Medical performs emergency surgery at sea Story by MC3 Jacquelyn Childs

USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Health Services Department performed an emergency appendectomy at sea March 6, less than 24 hours after getting underway for the first time in more than a year.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SW) James Ruane, an independent duty corpsman (IDC), alerted the ship’s surgeon, Lt. Karen Woo, when a patient arrived showing typical symptoms of appendicitis including nausea, abdominal pain, tenderness,

and loss of appetite.

“The patient checked in at the front desk for sick call,” said Ruane. “We were getting a lot of nausea and vomiting complaints because of the sea sickness, but he didn’t start getting sick until that morning and was having abdominal pain that started late the night before and progressively got worse.”

After a thorough examination in which Ruane checked the abdominal muscles for muscle rebound pain and asked the patient to stand and jump in the air which he was unable to do,

Ruane sent the patient to the laboratory for a blood test. After the results showed his white blood cell count was somewhat low, Ruane notified Woo of the appendicitis.

Woo checked the patient out and made the clinical decision of an immediate appendectomy. At that point, the only decision was whether to do the surgery on board or have the patient medically evacuated. After assessing the challenges and risks of both a helicopter evacuation and

See "Medical" page 2

Nimitz fires new model of CIWS for the first time Story by MC3 Ian Cotter

The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) successfully conducted a Pre-Action Aim Calibration fire with its two newly-installed Close in Weapons Systems (CIWS) Wednesday during Sea Trials.

“The firing of the CIWS was very successful today,” said Nimitz’ Combat Systems Officer Cmdr. William Carrol. “This was a new install, and this team’s never shot CIWS before.

Congratulations to the team from CS-7 for a job well done.”

As the countdown to the PAC fire progressed, crowds of Nimitz Sailors flocked to the flight deck to catch a glimpse of the CIWS in action.

See "CIWS" page 4

Fire Controlman 3rd Class Andrew Ritchie performs regular checks on the forward Close-In Weapons System gun mount aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). The ship successfully fired both of its newly installed CIWS.

March 8, 2012

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Medical: Emergency procedure performed on board Continued from page 1

operating on the ship the command decided to perform the surgery in the operating room on the ship.

“LT. Woo talked to our senior medical officer and told him we were ready to do the job on the ship here and had all the proper equipment and man power,” said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class (SW/AW) Jason Ast. According to the corpsmen, performing the operation at sea is the best thing for everyone.

“We’d rather have procedures like that done here on the ship when they can instead of medevac when there’s no need for it,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marcos Guevara.

One concern was the preparation of the department just coming out of the yards, and whether they would have all the appropriate equipment and training to complete the task.

According to Woo, her team was perfectly ready to perform this type of procedure.

“It’s always nerve-racking when you come out of the yards and then you find out you have all this stuff you need,” said Woo. “But with good supply and good team efforts

we performed the surgery like you would at a hospital.”

Medical personnel took time in the yards to train and prepare for these types of situations.

“I think we did a very good job on preparing ourselves for a situation like this,” said Ast. “We went through a couple mock scenarios for situations like this.”

Sailors were able to come together to make all the necessary preparations for the procedure.

“We basically just sterilized all the instruments and set up the room to do the procedure,” said Guevara. “It was kind of incredible because it was the first time we’ve done this type of surgery in more than two years. Overall I feel the procedure went well.”

According to everyone involved, the entire procedure went well, despite the fact it has been quite some time since they have had to perform a surgery while underway.

“I’ve been on this ship for over two years and this is the first time we’ve done a high risk procedure like this down here while underway,” said Ast. The team and their success was led by Woo, who performed the surgery.

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“She was very calm and under control,” said Ast. “She was professional, like she’d done this a hundred times.”

Woo gives credit to the success of the operation to her team, including the hospital corpsmen and other doctors.

“The surgery went well,” said Woo. “Surgery in itself has complications and risks and when we’re out to sea it even adds a little more risk to it. I’m just glad I had a good team.”

According to Woo, the medical team on board Nimitz is very supportive of one another and they were able to come together to assist in this procedure and make it a success.

“It’s like ‘teamwork is a tradition’, it’s no joke,” said Woo. “It’s serious on Nimitz, you have to have teamwork.”

The patient is currently recovering in the Intensive Care Unit and doing well.

Nimitz is currently underway for the first time in more than a year since it entered its Docked Planned Incremental Availability.

After completing sea trials, the ship will arrive at its new homeport of Everett, Wash.

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Sailor of the Day Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Carlos Peralta is awarded Sailor of the Day by the Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) for his efforts during Nimitz’ Docked Planning Incramental Availability (DPIA) and the current underway.

March 8, 2012

Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) prepare to fire a Close in Weapons System (CIWS) as part of a trainig exercise at sea. The CIWS was installed during a year long maintenance period which Nimitz recently completed.

CIWS : Nimitz tests

automated weapons system Continued from page 1

Fire Controlman 3rd Class Renita Payno feeds ammunition into the forward Close-In Weapons System gun mount aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). The ship successfully fired both of its newly installed CIWS.

“Firing the CIWS is (one of) the first significant evolutions since DPIA (Docked Planned Incremental Availability),” said Senior Chief Fire Controlman (SW/ AW) Matthew Barry, Nimitz’ CS-7 division’s leading chief petty officer. “It took a lot of planning.”

The new CIWS sponsons feature stronger supports, Barry explained. “We installed sponsons forward and aft along with all of the infrastructure to support the mounts,” he said. “This includes cooling water, power, and insulations for the mounts.”

“We can fire the CIWS from local or remote stations,” said Barry. “Unlike the .50-caliber mounts, you don’t need somebody actually on the gun.”

The new CIWS will be used to deter the threat of air and surface craft. Capabilities specific to Nimitz’ two

Fire Controlman 3rd Class Andrew Ritchie fires the forward CloseIn Weapons System gun mount aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). The ship successfully fired both of its newly installed CIWS.

new guns include forward looking infrared upgrades.

“It adds increased anti-ship and missile defenses and added capabilities against surface targets,” said Barry.

“The CIWS is used as a last line of defense after missiles are fired.”

The MK-15 Model 22 Phalanx CIWS is a six-barrel Gatling gun similar to models installed in the noses of attack aircraft and fires 20 millimeter rounds in twosecond bursts.

Nimitz departed Bremerton March 5 to move to its new homeport of Everett, Wash after spending more than a year in DPIA. The CIWS sponsons were installed during the drydock period where the ship received many other upgrades as well.

The forward Close-In Weapons System gun mount aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) fires 20mm rounds during a preliminary test. The ship successfully fired both of its newly installed CIWS.

March 8, 2012

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HIIT class aims to keep Sailors fit while underway Story and photo by MCSN Alexander Ventura II

Loud thumps echo through the Hangar Bay as heavy objects hit the deck. As they lift, throw and swing heavy cast-iron metal, they catch the curiosity of everyone walking by. Despite the challenge of life underway, Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) make the best of their time and workout.

Sailors have the opportunity to participate in high intensity interval training (HIIT) classes in Hangar Bay 1 at 2 P.M. Tuesday through Saturday.

The class promotes physical readiness to Sailors while out to sea, said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) Airman (AW) Kassandra Robello, HIIT class instructor.

“The goal is to increase your peak metabolic rate, which is going to increase your heart rate when you are resting, which in turn increases your metabolism, said Robello.

“The higher your metabolism, the better your overall personal heath is and the faster you will be able to burn fat from your body.”

The workouts are comprised of Olympic lifts, such as power cleans and clean and jerks; basic workouts, such as pushups, pull-ups and sit-ups; and various kettle bell workouts.

“Workouts typically last 15 minutes to 45 minutes,” said Robello.

“Everything is high intensity.

Typically the workouts do not have any rest between exercises. You will be participating at 80 percent or higher of your personal output

Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) perform wall throws during a high intensity interval training class in Hangar Bay 1. The class takes place as a way to promote physical readiness to Sailors while out to sea.

capabilities.”

Each day the workouts will differ from previous classes, said Robello.

“I try to focus on doing something different everyday,” said Robello.

“If you’re changing your workouts everyday your body will get confused and it will work harder, which in turn allows you to never get stagnant.”

The class aims to improve anyone’s fitness level, said Robello.

Exercises can be geared to various fitness levels and goals.

“With high intensity workouts, we can tailor to a lot of people’s personal fitness levels and goals,” said Robello. “For example, pull-ups can be substituted to ring pulls to decrease the intensity. People who

are already strong can get stronger, people who are overweight can get leaner, people who are already fit can increase their fitness level; participating in this class can help you reach those goals.”

Sailors who participated in the HIIT class were surprised of the effectiveness of the exercises.

“I absolutely recommend more people to participate in this class,” said Logistic Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Hebert. “When I first saw the equipment we were going to use, I didn’t think it will be that serious of a workout, but after doing it, I’m glad I came, it was pretty intense.”

For more information email Kassandra.Robello@cvn68.navy.mil.

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March 8, 2012

Navy Pro: Sailor Charts Career Progress through USMAP

By Susan Henson, Center for Personal and Professional Development Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- The United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP) helps service members and civilians advance and is completely free, said one Sailor March 2, who has enjoyed continued success with the program.

Machinery Repairman 1st Class (SW/AW) Thomas Chaney, course supervisor and an instructor for Advanced Machinery “C” School at Surface Warfare Officer School Learning Site Norfolk, earned his U.S. Department of Labor-issued apprenticeship certificate for Inside Machinery in 2007. It took Chaney four years to complete this certificate, and he is currently working on a Locksmith apprenticeship that he is on track to finish within a year.

The Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) administers USMAP for service members in the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, according to Tom Phillips, USMAP supervisor and program manager. Phillips said civilians can’t earn certificates through USMAP - the program is open only to eligible active duty service members.

“Costs for certificates in the private sector vary widely based on the trades and trade union costs to complete,” he said. “It costs the Sailor nothing financially to enroll or complete a trade. The cost is in the time he or she will need to complete the trade.”

Apprenticeship is formal career training with requirements set by civilian industry. Each industry determines the essential skills needed to complete an apprenticeship trade, with a trade requiring anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 hours of on-the-job (OJT) work and classroom instruction to earn a nationally recognized certificate of completion, according to Phillips.

“Working a typical 40-hour work week allows someone to complete 2,000 hours in about one year,” he said. “However, Sailors can get credit for experience.

Depending on how aggressive they are, they can finish

longer trades more quickly than normal.”

This may sound like too much work to some, but Chaney points out to his Advanced Machinery “C” School students that they are already doing the requirements for the program. All that is really needed is documenting the work and training hours. “It’s a good program, and if you’re doing the work you might as well go ahead and enroll in it.”

Sailors who are interested in USMAP should visit the program website and for the right apprenticeship program for their rating. “I always encourage Sailors to enroll in USMAP. It costs them nothing,” Chaney said.

Besides the cost-free advantage of this apprenticeship program, there’s also the pride - and bragging rights - in Sailors being able say they have thousands of hours of work experience. And they have the USMAP certificate to back it up.

USMAP is one of many opportunities for personal and professional growth available to Sailors to earn certificates, licenses and degrees making them invaluable assets to the Navy. Those programs are important parts of the 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative which consolidates a set of objectives and policies, new and existing, to maximize Sailor and Marine personal readiness, build resiliency and hone the most combateffective force in the history of the Department of the Navy.

March 8, 2012

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Nimitz Movie List 5 6 7

TIMES

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012 8 a.m.

10 a.m.

Cyrus

12 p.m. Horrible Bosses 2 p.m.

Salt

Small Soldiers The King’s Speech Ides of March

Let Me In

Frost Nixon

The eye

Bolt

Van Helsing

Friday Night Lights 4 p.m. Beverly Hills Cop Everybody’s Fine

The Uninvited

6 p.m.

Jennifer’s Body

8 p.m.

10 p.m.

Caddyshack

The Joneses

Small Soldiers The King’s Speech Cyrus

Salt Let Me In

Ides of March

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012 12 a.m. Horrible Bosses 2 a.m.

Frost Nixon

The eye

Friday Night Lights 4 a.m. Beverly Hills Cop Everybody’s Fine

The Uninvited

6 a.m.

Jennifer’s Body

Bolt

Caddyshack

The Joneses

Van Helsing

Sports Brief