Nimitz News Daily Digest - March 9, 2012

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Nimitzcompletes sea trials,prepares to port in Everett Story by MCSA Vanessa David

The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) wrapped up its sea trials today after spending a nearly week out to sea. The ship is scheduled to arrive at its new homeport of Naval Station Everett, Wash.

“The main objective was to make sure all systems and equipment worked properly following the extended yard period,” said Lt. Cmdr. Chris Webster, Nimitz Training Officer. “In addition to checking out major systems like the rudder swing checks, Aqueous FilmForming Foam (AFFF) fire fighting system, and Close in Weapons System (CIWS), were several training requirements [the ship needed to complete], in areas such as Navigation and Damage Control.”

An additional goal of sea trials was to mentally prepare the crew for taking control of the warship, explained Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Dominique Anderson. “It gives Sailors the opportunity to actually see the responses that the equipment will have,” he said. “There’s a difference

See TRIALS, Page 6

Fireman Recruit Sara Battisti takes a sample from a sprinkler of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz’ (CVN 68) flight deck firefighting system.

Photo by MC3 Robert Winn

Nimitz tests AFFF sprinklers Story by MC3 Ian A. Cotter

The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) conducted an AFFF (aqueous film forming foam) test and a flight deck countermeasure wash down yesterday as part of the ship’s Sea Trials after its Docked Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA). The tests mark a crucial milestone in the ship’s progressive movement towards certification.

“We have to have at least 90 percent AFFF coverage in each zone, and only two zones can have less than 90 percent coverage,”

said Chief Damage Controlman (SW) Jeromy M. Hartley, one of the supervisors of the test. Nimitz passed 18 out of 21 zones and the ones that failed only did by about 15 percent each.

In the event of an actual aircraft fire, this process would be used to put the fire out, provided with backup from hose reels on the catwalks manned by the ship’s crash and salvage teams, and further assistance from the ship’s flying squad.

Damage Controlman Fireman Kelvin V. Santiago stood as one of See LIGHT OFF, Page 4

March 9 , 2012

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NMCRS campaign kicks off aboard Nimitz Story by MC3 Jacob Milner

The 2012 Navy Marine Corps Relief Society fundraising campaign kicked off aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and will feature events through April in an effort to raise the funds needed to benefit Sailors who could use a helping hand.

The mission of the NavyMarine Corps Relief Society is to provide, in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps, financial, educational, and other assistance to members of the Naval Services of the United States, eligible family members, and survivors when in need; and to receive and manage funds to administer these programs.

“The NMCRS provides financial, educational and other assistance to members of the Naval Services of the United States, eligible family members and survivors when in need,” said Lt. Jacob Prentiss, NMCRS coordinator.

Sailors who are in need of the services provided

by NMCRS may not know they are eligible. Many qualify for the assistance available, said Prentiss.

“Active duty and retired Marines, family members and family members of Sailors and Marines who died on active duty or are in a retired status, qualify for the services offered by NMCRS,” said Prentiss.

“Sailors and Marines simply have to show a genuine need for assistance to receive our services.”

NMCRS, best known for providing interest-free loans to Sailors, also offers many other services.

“NMCRS also provides spending plan development, Commanding Officer CAPT Paul Monger Executive Officer CAPT Buzz Donnelly Command Master Chief CMDCM Teri McIntyre Public Affairs Officer LCDR Karin Burzynski

Editor MC3 (SW) Robert Winn Lead Designer MCSN Alexander Ventura II

combat casualty visiting nurses, thrift shops, budget-for-baby program, education scholarships and loans,” said Prentiss.

NMCRS provides these services through the use of volunteer work and contributions from Sailors and Marines during fundraising events. “We will be holding several events throughout the Spring,” said Prentiss. “These include the distribution of allotment forms through departmental/divisional representatives, nominations for scullery duty and ‘pie in the eye,’ jail and bail, several different raffles, boot shining for contributions and even selling late sleeper chits.”

“Anyone interested in offering their services for such events should contact their departmental representative, Lt. j.g. Gregory Emry, Senior Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Galen Swogger or myself.”

For Sailors in need of financial services from the NMCRS, there is no shame in asking for help, said Prentiss.

“There is no stigma involved with the use of our services in my mind,” said Prentiss. “NMCRS helped one of every five Sailors and Marines in 2011.”

NMCRS offices are located in Bangor, Bremerton, Everett and Whidbey Island. For more information contact your departmental NMCRS representative, call (877)232-7337 or visit www. nmcrs.org.

Nimitz News accepts submissions in writing. All. 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.

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March 9, 2012

Legalman 3rd Class Wilma Galido accepts her Sailor of the Day certificate from Capt.

Paul O. Monger, commanding officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

Photo by MC3 (SW) Nichelle Whitfield/Released

USS Nimitz’ Sailor of the Day

200 Years Ago “...promote measures of warlike character...”

Secretary of the Navy Paul Hamilton, knowing that President Madison is prepared to Madison send information to Congress exposing the John Henry spy case, writes to one of his correspondents that “I am of the opinion that Congress will very soon be obliged to vote on the question of War, and do hope that there will be a large majority for the measure. In confidence I tell you that a disclosure will shortly be made that must give rise to this question, if we are not indifferent to our vital, best, interests. Amidst all the indecisions of

Congress it is a source of great consolation to me, that the President is undeviating in his endeavours to promote measures of warlike character; and I say with confidence, that if war were determined on tomorrow, it would have his ready concurrence.”

The last “hard shock” of the New Madrid earthquake series rattles nerves today in the Midwest, but does little damage. But on the other side of the world in China, the magnitude 8 Xinjiang earthquake causes widespread, injuries, deaths and damage.

In Bristol, England today the first formal school having a lasting influence for teaching adults to read in the English-speaking world opens its doors to two students, a 63-year-old man, and a 40-year-old woman. Named the Bristol School, the successful instution quickly outgrows its capacity and has to move to larger spaces. The Bristol School will inspire many imitators, and by 1816, seventy-five similar schools, all programs begun by ordinary citizen volunteers, will be in operation in England Ireland, the United States, and Sierra Leone.

Learn more by visiting http://ourflagwasstillthere.org

Left: Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) wash Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) from the deck of Hangar Bay 3 with a fire fighting hose following a test of the sprinkler system. The test was conducted in order to test the AFFF system and clean residue from the lines.

Photo by MC3 Jacob Milner.

Below: Damage Controlman Fireman Robert Letsinger tags a malfunctioning sprinkler of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz’ (CVN 68) flight deck firefighting system.

Photo by MC3 Robert Winn.

Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) perform regular maintenance on the ship’s flight deck firefighting system.

Photo by MC3 Robert Winn.

fIRE FIGHTING SYSTEMS light off Continued from Page 1

the observers for the wash down from the ship’s Primary Flight Control. “We were testing out AFFF hose reels on the catwalks and the flight deck,” he said. “ Members of the check team donned green camouflage suits while walking through the spraying mixture. “They keep the AFFF out and prevent dry skin and irritation. A lot of people break out from it their first time exposed to it. The suits also keep the wearer warm.”

As the green-suited Sailors walked through the snowy AFFF foam, they actively checked and inspected the deck edge nozzles where the substance was sprayed from. “They checked those for clogs,” Santiago explained. “Usually nozzles that don’t spout water are clogged with debris, which they dig out with pieces of wire called hangers.”

In the end, the evolution took more than two hours to complete. “Coming out of a year-long availability, we expected some hiccups,” said Hartley. “We had a couple, but it was an overall success with a few minor deficiencies.”

The AFFF test and countermeasure wash down were part of a chain of various tests and events conducted during Nimitz’ Sea Trial period during transit to the ship’s new homeport of Everett, Wash.

Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) perform regular maintenance on the ship’s flight deck firefighting system. Photo by MC3 Robert Winn.

March 9 , 2012

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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). Photo by MC3 Robert Winn.

Trials: Nimitz tests systems Continued from Page 1

between running a simulation and actually running the plant. Everybody has responded positively to this experience.”

Before Nimitz left for Sea Trials, the ship had been in Bremerton for the past 15 months conducting a Docked Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA) where the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Intermediate Maintenance Facility and Ship’s crew completed a $239 million maintenance package that included upgrades to the carrier’s self-defense, combat, navigation and potable water systems.

While underway for sea trials, Nimitz met the set criteria for testing its equipment and procedures to include conducting high-power steering evolutions, tested the ship’s weapons and combat systems

and conducted various damage control evolutions.

Nimitz successfully conducted a PreAction Aim Calibration fire with its two newly installed CIWS systems Wednesday. The ship’s new CIWS sponsons were added during DPIA. “Firing the CIWS is (one of) the first significant evolutions since DPIA,” 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 crew’s damage control response capabilities were put to the test in several general quarters evolutions during the underway period.

The ship also completed a flight deck countermeasure wash down yesterday.

The wash down gave Sailors an opportunity to thoroughly examine each of the vital damage control systems in this area.

“As I understand it, we were able to accomplish almost everything we needed to during this short period,” said Webster. “For the few things we couldn’t complete, we should be able to knock out during the next underway period.”

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March 9, 2012

Navy Announces New Drug Testing Parameters after Year of Record Low Positives From Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs To align with new DoD policy announced in February, Navy will begin testing for more commonly abused prescription drugs during random urinalysis starting May 1. This follows a record low in Sailors testing positive for illicit drug use.

Since 2001, the rate of urinalysis testing in the Navy has increased and remained at a steady rate for the past 10 years. As the testing has increased, the amount of members testing positive has decreased each year. Testing has been done for marijuana (THC), cocaine, and heroin among other drugs. For fiscal year 2011, there were a record low number of members who tested positive for illicit drug use with a total of 1,515 samples out of the 1,184,160 samples tested last year.

“We are really pleased with these results but while the drugs we’ve been testing have been on a decline, prescription drugs are on the rise. In the past three years amphetamine positives have increased 34 percent and oxycodone positives by 23 percent,” said Dorice Favorite, director, Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Office (NADAP).

The DoD announced Feb. 1 that more commonly abused prescription drugs will be added to the standard testing panel for all urinalysis samples submitted for testing. These prescription drug families include benzodiazepines, hydrocodones and hydromorphones (i.e. Xanax, Vicodin and Dilaudid).

“In addition to oxycodone and amphetamine, the Navy

already tests for codeine and morphine,” said Favorite.

Testing at the service-level will begin in May. The 90-day warning order from announcement to implementation is to allow ample time to ensure military members have their prescriptions properly documented in their health records. Additionally, the warning order provides members who are using prescription drugs that have not been prescribed or given by their health care provider to self-refer for treatment.

“We are concerned about service members who are using prescription drugs without proper authority and potentially addicted,” said Favorite. “If you have a problem, this is the time to ask for help.”

According to Favorite, Navy’s policy on substance abuse is zero tolerance.

“Substance abuse puts lives and missions at risk, undercuts unit readiness and morale, and is inconsistent with our Navy ethos and core values of honor, courage, and commitment,” said Favorite.

If a member is using, possessing, promoting, manufacturing, or distributing drugs they face disciplinary action that could result in unfavorable separation from the Navy.

“We recommend members seeking substance use counseling talk with their doctor, chain-of-command or self-refer to a substance abuse rehabilitation program,” said Favorite.

For more news from Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, visit www.npc.navy.mil/support/nadap.

March 9 , 2012

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Nimitz Movie List Times

5

6

Friday, March 9, 2012

8 a.m. SMALL SOLDIERS 10 a.m.

CYRUS

12 p.m.

HORRIBLE BOSSES

7

THE KINGS SPEECH

SALT

IDES OF MARCH

LET ME IN

FROST/NIXON

THE EYE

Full Bore

Aviation Ordnanceman Destiny Nacestanley stands as a phone talker at a full bore gun mount aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Photo by MC3 Robert Winn.

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