Flight Deck Cert underway Vol. 1 Issue 8
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May 9, 2012
Nimitz Medical receives Blue H Award Story and photos by MCSN Jess Lewis
USS Nimitz’ (CVN 68) Health Services Department was awarded the Blue H award for 2011. Annually, the Navy Surgeon General gives out the Navy Surgeon General’s Health Promotion and Wellness Award, or the Blue H Award. “Based on 91 different criteria for how healthy the command is, there are three possible levels of the award – bronze star, silver eagle and gold star,” said Lt. Douglas R. Santillo, Nimitz’ Physical Therapist and Health Promotion Coordinator. “We got the silver eagle.” Any Naval command with a medical department can submit an
application to the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center for the Blue H award. “We are working toward getting the gold star next year,” said Santillo. In working toward the gold star, Santillo said he along with the Health Promotion Committee of about ten members are focusing on weak areas in the command; the ship’s overall nutrition being one of the main focal points. “Looking for the good protein sources and choosing fruits and vegetables is a start,” said Santillo. “The options are out there, it’s
See AWARD page 6
LT. Douglas R. Santillo supervises as Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Eduardo Bello aligns the back of a patient during a physical therapy session on board USS Nimitz (CVN 68), May 8.
Medical prepares Nimitz Sailors for upcoming test Sailors on board the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) rehearse medical procedures within an auxiliary battle dressing station during a general quarters drill. Photo by MCSA Ryan Mayes.
Story by MCSN Jess Lewis
USS Nimitz’ (CVN 68) Health Services Department is preparing Sailors for the upcoming Crew Certification II testing phase. Throughout the month of May, the corpsmen will go to every department and teach Sailors first-response medical training on eight
basic wounds. “It’s important to know the basics of what to do in case one of your shipmates gets hurt,” said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Ashley Harvey. “All the corpsmen, E-5 and below, are in groups of two to three and are assigned different departments to train.”
See MEDICAL page 7
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Nimitz 3M program undergoes self-assessment Story and photo by MC3 Ian Cotter
The Maintenance Material Management (3M) team aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) began a 3M self-assessment yesterday in the Educational Services Office classroom starting with an administrative review. “This command selfassessment is a preparatory event for the CNAF (Commander Naval Air Forces) 3M assessment (3MA) in August,” said Lt. Harold E. Honeycutt, Nimitz’ 3M Officer. “It’s set up to have the command take a good look at itself since the Chief Machinist Mate (SW) David White audits Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Douglas Moffit’s maintenance books as a part of the 3M self-assessment. 3MTT (3M training team) the five-day self assessment that equipment validations to ensure visit during our yard period.” 3M representatives from each Nimitz’ 3M team will execute that the ship is operating in accordance with 3M standards. department observed and analyzed throughout the week. “They have to check each book “We’ve done a lot of different departments through electronic records and 43P1 work per section to look for any hits or administrative work, and since we center maintenance manuals and discrepancies,” said Machinist’s had a great showing this morning, scheduled spot checks for the Mate 3rd Class Kerry A. Joseph, it’s been progressing well,” said one of the spot check recorders Honeycutt. “With us trying to get upcoming week. “There are probably 100 people during the evolution. “This is to it done within the compressed working on the assessment today,” ensure that all work centers are up schedule for the ship, it’s shown a lot of dedication from the crew. said Honeycutt. “Work center to date with 3M standards.” Throughout the upcoming This 3M self-assessment is the best supervisors, LPOs (leading petty officers), chiefs, divisional officers week, the 3M team will conduct way for us to prepare for the CNAF spot checks, material data 3MA and further on for the 3M and 3MTT have all come down.” Yesterday marked the first of sheet performance reviews, and certification during deployment.” Commanding Officer CAPT Jeffrey S. Ruth Executive Officer CAPT Buzz Donnelly Command Master Chief CMDCM Teri McIntyre Public Affairs Officer LCDR Karin Burzynski
Editor MC3 Ashley Berumen Lead Designer MC3 (SW) Thomas Siniff
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Zebra GQ only the beginning to deployability are important when it Sailors assigned to the aircraft comes to water-tight carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) took integrity of the ship part in a general quarters (GQ) in the case that we get drill for material condition Zebra attacked while at sea, training as part of an ongoing effort or in a foreign port to promote mission readiness by the which may be hostile.” on board damage control training The different stages team (DCTT). of material conditions The preparedness of the ship’s are essential to a ship’s crew to handle a casualty in Zebra ability to combat a setting, GQ and Condition Two casualty and are used situations will be taught and in different situations practiced with the help of DCTT according to their members in preparation for an need. upcoming graded assessment by the “A Zebra setting afloat training group (ATG). is everything,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) Airman Katelyn Skinner secures a water-tight ballistic door during a general quarters drill “Zebra setting is very big to ATG,” Hartley. “All water aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Photo by MCSA said Chief Damage Controlman tight doors, hatches, Ryan Mayes. combat a casualty without going Jeromy Hartley, DC division scuttles, chill water leading chief petty officer. “We valves, fire main valves as well as air into GQ.” A condition two drill, which is have to set Zebra, Mod-Zebra and are secured. We tend not to secure Yolk which are material conditions. any valves because the stoppage can a required drill before the ship can The different material conditions affect operations. Operations up in receive all of its certification from combat systems can be affected TSTA (tailored ship’s training while they are flying birds, trying availability) and FEP (final to protect the ship. So a Mod- evaluation phase), involves only Zebra setting allows us to transit one damage control locker, and the the ship freely, but at the second flying squad as opposed to GQ drills deck and below, which is where which concern the entire ship. “Flying squad may respond to the water-line is, it preserves water a casualty which gets beyond their tight integrity.” While the GQ drill of the day was capability to control, or they’ve to properly set material condition exhausted all of their resources,” Zebra throughout the ship, many said Hartley. “DCA (damage control other drills are planned prior to assistance) can call a repair locker to augment them, back them up or ATG’s boarding and assessment. “We have a complex set of support them. The DCA will come drills,” said Hartley. “We have to over the 1MC after talking with the perform flying squad and condition captain and call for a repair locker. Sailors secure a water-tight hatch during a general quarters drill aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz two drills, which allow the ship to Story by MC3 Jacob Milner
(CVN 68). Photo by MCSA Ryan Mayes.
See ZEBRA page 7
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Nimitz continues flight deck Certification Story by MC3 Ian Cotter
Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) guide an F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the Argonauts of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 into position in preparation to launch from the flight deck during flight operations. Photo by MC3 Jacquelyn Childs.
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The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) continued its flight deck certification yesterday, launching and recovering aircraft for the first time in more than a year. “It’s been an all-hands effort,” said Lt. j.g. Brian Lewis, Nimitz’ Air Boatswain. “The catapults can’t go without the reactor’s steam, the planes can’t fly if Navigation doesn’t point us in the right direction and the crew can’t work without chow from the mess decks.” Yesterday marked Day One for the certification, which required daytime flight operations. Today, Day Two, will require both daytime and nighttime flight operations. Aviation Boatswains Mate (Handling) 2nd Class (AW/SW) Pablo Orozco monitors the movement of “It’s been going excellent, and aircraft with the ouija board on the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Photo by MC3 Thomas Siniff. pretty smooth so far,” said Senior aboard and work on the flight deck during its year-long Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Doug Schartz, dry dock period. Carrier Air Wing 11’s (CVW 11) liaison between the “We had a huge turnover, and every system has been air wing squadrons and the Nimitz. “It’s nice to be at sea reworked,” said Lewis. “We’re building a team from the where we belong. It’s definitely good to be back aboard ground up, and we have a fantastic foundation to build Nimitz.” off of. They’re all motivated, ready to work, ready to get Nimitz and CVW 11 have been preparing for flight out to sea and ready to continue flight ops.” deck certification since Nimitz began its docking Nimitz and CVW 11 have worked together on many planning incremental availability in 2011. different tasks and qualifications in order to fully qualify “It’s been a challenging but successful yard period,” the ship and the air wing in flight deck operations. said Lewis. “It all comes to a pinnacle here. Now that we “The biggest part is the movement of the personnel, are able to do this, it all pays off.” air lifts, surface lifts, and the movement of various CVW 11 conducted fake carrier landing practice squadrons and onloading all of their gear,” said Schartz. before coming to Nimitz. “The team has to get so many “We’ve been working with the ship, getting spaces hits before coming out here,” said Shartz. On Monday, assigned to us and we’ve done a lot of coordination the air wing practiced that same method on board setting the deck up as to where we’re going to be.” Nimitz as part of “Day Zero” qualifications. Nimitz is slated to complete flight deck certification “We’ve had a big turnover since last cruise,” said today after a three-day evolution. Schartz. “There are a lot of ‘green’ guys in the air wing, “It’s been fluid,” said Lewis. “Although there are a but we brought out all of our experienced guys for the lot of moving parts, it’s been smooth. We can definitely flight deck certification. By RIMPAC (Pacific Rim work out any kinks.” Cruise) we’ll add a lot of new faces to Carrier Strike After Nimitz completes flight deck certification, Group 11.” the ship will have to complete blue water certification Nimitz has also seen many new personnel come before it can deploy.
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AWARD: Navy Surgeon General awards Nimitz Medical continued from page 1
just up to the Sailor to make the choice.” Another weakness is alcohol abuse among Sailors. The Drug and Alcohol Prevention Awareness (DAPA) and the Junior Enlisted Association (JEA) are working with the Medical Department to put out alcohol awareness to Nimitz Sailors. Tobacco use has also decreased by 6% among Sailors between 2010 and 2011. “It’s a pretty significant decrease and we’re hoping for even more of a decrease in 2012,” said Santillo. Weight management is also another area of focus. “Nutrition classes are available for anyone to attend and are held twice a month,” said Melyssa Patterson, Nimitz’ Fitboss. “The gyms are also set up and [Sailors] can come to me either one-on-one or through e-mail for a nutrition consultation.” Healthy snacks like fruits, vegetable and nuts are things Sailors should look to eat, said Patterson. Also, Sailors should avoid the fried foods on the mess line. “Out of the people who were part of [the Fitness Enhancement Program] last cycle, 75% are off now,” said Patterson. “We focused more on nutrition and it seemed to work for those Sailors so we’re doing the same thing with FEP this time.” Another way to entice Sailors to work on their overall fitness are the different Physical Readiness
Lt. Douglas R. Santillo performs a needling procedure on the back of a patient on board USS Nimitz (CVN 68).
Test (PRT) Challenges put out to the command. Patterson said she’s looking at whatever needs to be done to work towards fitness and nutrition and what Morale, Welfare and Recreation can do to help motivate Sailors to work on their fitness and nutrition habits. “One Sailor, [Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class] Laquentin Longmire was the winner of the last PRT challenge and won an iPad 2,” said Santillo. “He lost 30 pounds in eight weeks, 40 pounds total since the last PRT cycle. He went from failing one PRT to scoring a good on the last one.” Patterson suggests Sailors start working on their fitness sooner rather than later. “Longmire went to a nutrition class at the Naval Hospital in Bremerton before coming to me. He was serious about getting on track with his fitness and nutrition,” said Patterson. “I worked with him a
lot and he had a nutrition question for me just about every day. He definitely did a 180 on his eating habits.” “Overall, we want to implement focus on the command’s weaknesses,” said Santillo. “This way we will have a better chance at getting the gold star level next year.”
Lt. Douglas R. Santillo performs a needling procedure on the back of a patient on board USS Nimitz (CVN 68), May 8.
MEDICAL: Corpsmen help prepare for ATG continued from page 1 When the corpsmen come to the departments they bring along white cards explaining what to do for facial wounds, compound fractures, smoke inhalation, burns, amputations, sucking chest wounds, abdominal wounds with protruding intestines and electric shock. The corpsmen then demonstrate treatment for each type of wound. After demonstrating how to care for the wounds, Sailors are then able to practice on each other while the corpsmen observe and correct as necessary. “When we go to training, we have [the Sailors] in the departments train on each other,” said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Starr Harris. “We’ll correct them on what they’re doing if it’s needed.”
Sailors who need a white card can go to medical and ask Harvey or any of the other corpsmen for one. “When [the Afloat Training Group] comes, they expect everyone to be able to sustain lives until medical gets there,” said Harvey. “Get a white card if you don’t have one. It’s okay to pull the card out of your pocket and use it.” For one set of corpsmen, the Weapons Department was their first group to receive medical training on all eight basic wounds over a span of a few days so they weren’t overwhelmed with medical knowledge, said Harris. “Everything about this training is important,” said Harris. “There are only so many medical people so we need you as our back up until we can get there.”
ZEBRA: Training essential for Nimitz’ readiness continued from page 2
He’ll call a repair locker outside of the affected area instead of calling GQ. We used to call away GQ and man up 10 repair lockers, but only two of them were combating the casualty. That just hinders the whole crew.” With so many drills and evolutions in need of completion, Zebra is not only a necessary step, but one that is harshly graded by those doing the assessment, ATG. “ATG is big on all of the CART II (command assessment of readiness and training) evolutions, but one of the things that you really get hit hard on is setting material conditions,” said Hartley. “CART II, which we’re in now, is more of just a training phase for ATG to come on board and make sure DCTT is training the crew effectively to get them ready for the final evaluation phase. FEP is a phase when ATG will come on
board and just try to sink the ship and we have to fight them off.” Since the end of Nimitz’ docking planned incremental availability (DPIA) maintenance period in dry dock, the ability of the ship’s crew to effectively combat a casualty has shown an ever increasing Sailors secure a water-tight hatch during a general quarters drill aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Photo by MCSA Ryan proficiency. “We’ve shown Mayes. improvement from the very TSTA and FEP we’ll be in the run beginning,” said Hartley. “Obviously, phase, and be able to run them off coming out of the yard period is the ship.” very difficult. We have a large part From now until Nimitz deploys, of the crew that is very new, either the crew and the ship will be put new to a carrier, or new to the Navy. under the microscope to test their We started off at the crawl phase, combined mission readiness and now we’re in the walk phase and ability to stay afloat. hopefully by the time we’re into
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