Nimitz News Daily Digest - June 28, 2012

June 28, 2012

Vol. 1 Issue 30

Seven Sailors CAP’d to Next Higher Paygrade Story by MCSN Jess Lewis

Fourteen Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) were advanced to their next higher pay grade by Capt. Jeff Ruth, Nimitz’ commanding officer, this week through the command advancement program (CAP).

“It feels like an honor and it’s a humbling experience,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuels) 3rd Class (AW) Donovan Neely, one of the

people advanced through CAP. “I’ve passed the test every time but wasn’t picked up because of how closed up my rate has been.”

Sailors are selected by their chain of command for CAP. Once selected, a nomination form is filled out.

The nomination consists of the Sailors’ qualifications, their time See “PROMOTION” page 7

Capt. Jeff S. Ruth, Nimitz’ commanding officer, caps Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Thomas Morrison and Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Hao Thai.

Sailors Train for Medical Readiness to Save Lives Story by MCSA Ryan Mayes

As USS Nimitz (CVN 68) conducts carrier qualifications (CQ) in the Pacific Ocean, the Afloat Training Group (ATG) has embarked aboard to ensure the ship meets the fleet wide standards of readiness. Part of ATG’s analysis is the crew’s overall understanding of damage control as well as basic first aid.

The Nimitz medical staff is on a mission to ensure that every Sailor on board is, at a minimum, qualified to administer basic first aid and cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). As a result they are holding remedial medical training every night this week for those who need it as a refresher.

“As a Training Site Faculty member, I help train and qualify the ship’s crew,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Richard Estevez. “The extra training we are holding isn’t just for the

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Brent Hammond demonstrates the proper way to treat some of the eight basic wounds alongside fellow corpsmen as part of remedial medical training. Photo by MC2 Robert Winn

Sailors who need it to qualify for their personal qualification standards or their assessments. It’s also for us, as a training team, to become better instructors.

Everybody needs remediation. Our

deployment grows closer and closer everyday and with a deployment we knowingly place ourselves closer to danger.”

See “MEDICAL” page 6

USS Nimitz’ Sailor of the Day Story and photo by MC3 Ian Cotter

Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class (AW) Sean M. Austin, the night shift collateral duty inspector for Weapons Department’s G-1 hangar bay division aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), was selected as the ship’s Sailor of the Day June 27. Austin took charge of the maintenance for 80 pieces of armament weapons support equipment and ensured that 694 maintenance checks were completed correctly. Originally from Corona, Calif., Austin joined the Navy in July 2009 to gain experience and travel to new places. In his free time, Austin stays fit by playing baseball and enjoys spending time with his son, Layton. While in the Navy, he aspires to advance in paygrade, earn his enlisted surface warfare specialist pin and eventually work to become a Gunner of Weapons Department.

Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Sean Austin stands by some of the armament weapons support equipment in the hangar bay.

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Nimitz Announces E-8 Selections Story by MC2 (SW/AW) Eva- Marie Ramsaran

Capt. Jeff S. Ruth, commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and Capt. Greg Harris, commander, Carrier Air Wing 11, announced the names of 23 chief petty officers who were selected for the next higher pay grade of E-8, June 27.

Nimitz completed a chemical, biological and radiological general quarters drill when Ruth and Harris made the announcements over the 1MC. “I didn’t know how to react when I heard my name announced over the 1MC,” said Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Richard Barcelona, leading chief petty officer of Nimitz’ Dental Department. “It’s an understatement to say thank you to everyone; to me it’s more than that.”

Barcelona, a Los Angeles native, has been in the Navy for 18 years and a chief petty officer since 2005. “What really helped me make it is all the sailorization,” he said.

“Setting a good foundation for our young and new Sailors is the most important part of my job.”

Senior Chief Aviation Structural Mechanic William Chapman Jr., attached to the embarked Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154, heard the results before the announcement was made and expressed

Senior Chief Aviation Machinist’s Mate John Newton is pinned to the pay grade of E-8 (Senior Chief) following the release of the advancement results. Photo by MCSA Ryan Mayes.

his excitement by hugging his command master chief and calling his wife. He said he felt a sense of validation for all the hard work and dedication he has done as a chief.

Chapman, an Olive Green, Ohio, native, explained what he had to do in order to achieve senior chief.

“When I made chief, I was told that it was my personal accomplishments that got me there,” said Chapman. “To make senior chief, you have to look at all the

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accomplishments of the people that work with you and for you, instilling the Navy core values and being a good mentor.”

Barcelona and Chapman thank the Chief’s mess, their commands and their families for supporting them to get the job done.

2012 marks the “Year of the Chief,” a worldwide spotlight on the history and contributions of the Navy chief petty officer mess.

Sailors Urged to Conserve

WATER

Story and photos by MCSN Jesse Monford

“

“

If we get low on water, we’re going to cut other things off that are not as essential such as laundry, start eating on paper plates, and going on water hours.

-Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Jordan Harshman

The Pacific Ocean, one of many resources for the ship’s water.

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Sailors on board the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) rely on the consumption of water for everyday use.

The water on board Nimitz comes from the same ocean the ship sails. It is kept in four tanks that can store 100,000 gallons of water a piece this large amount of water can be used by the crew within four hours, sometimes as little as two.

“That much water consumption normally happens during the lunch hours,” said Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Kevin Hairston, a water control watch for the ship. “When we know that it is going to be heavy traffic with water, we try to make up the difference.”

The ocean water is processed through the ship’s four distilling units. These distilling units clean and purify the water, shortly after, it is put into a water tank. Once in the tank, the distilled water is mixed with chemicals that make the water drinkable.

This process may sound simple, but Sailors tend to take it for granted.

Water is one of many ‘must-have’ things on board a ship, not just for personal use, but also for the ship’s needs as well. Sailors aboard Nimitz use water for everything, including showering, laundry, and drinking. It is important to conserve as much water as possible.

“We have had a distilling unit that went out of service,” Hairston added. “Normally, where we would be able to make up to 400,000 gallons a day, it is now less because of the distilling unit not working.”

Airman Meagan Rowland and Airman Emelio Hare use water to wash dishes in the ship’s scullery.

The water on board is also used for the ship’s reactor.

The reactor heats up the water which creates steam. It also serves as a critical necessity for the ship’s everyday duties such as launching aircraft from the flight deck catapults, powering the turbines on the ship’s main engine, generating electricity, and more.

If Sailors were not able to conserve the water as needed, the ship would begin enforcing water conservation around the ship.

“Reactor safety is always number one,” said Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Jordan Harshman, the reactor training assistant leading petty officer. “If we get low on water, we’re going to cut other things off that are not as essential such as laundry, start eating on paper plates, and going on water hours.”

Some ways to conserve the ship’s water is taking shorter showers, turning off the faucets when brushing your teeth and reporting leaks that may be around the ship.

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MEDICAL: Sailors Get Ready to Respond in an Instant Continued from page 1 Training isn’t given just to be ready for a deployment.

The opportunity to save a life could come at any moment for anybody.

“We teach a concept of eight basic wounds called the ‘GTMO 8’,” said Estevez. “The procedures for responding to these eight wounds were developed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for service members deploying to the Middle East and has since been refined for use on board a ship.”

“I stress the eight basic battle wounds to my stretcher bearer team,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMF) James Ruane, an independent duty corpsman. “With the size of this ship everybody needs to know how to stop the bleeding and perform CPR when necessary, especially if the ship is at general quarters. It takes time to navigate through all the closed doors with my team. By the time we reach the

victim, someone else could have saved their life.”

Training is a constant evolution as the crew members are assigned to the ship and others leave.

“Anytime a new group of Sailors show up, it’s a new ship,” said Estevez. “With that comes the training. We teach and certify everyone during the indoctrination process for new arrivals and we continue to teach and train. Shipboard accidents happen all the time, whether we are deployed or not. We need to keep training without ceasing, that way it will always be fresh on our mind when an accident does take place. Our goal is to have [the crew] 100 percent qualified with 100 percent retention. We want to be at our best across the board, because we’re Nimitz and that’s what we’re known for.”

The remedial training, which is required for some and optional for others, will be held at 7 p.m. June 28 and 29 in the reactor training room located at 4-180-4-Q.

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PROMOTION: Excellence in Sailors Recognized Continued from page 1

in rate, their time on board, collateral duties, warfare pins, evaluations, college courses taken, community service, previous exam scores, any disqualifiers, personal awards and what rank they are advancing into.

“My division saw I was fit to do the job and had already taken on the responsibilities of a petty officer plus my qualifications exceeded that of an airman,” said Neely. “I

went TAD (temporary assigned duty) to the Bush (USS George W. Bush (CVN 77)) and got put into PRIFLY (primary flight control) and just excelled from there.”

Once advanced to the next pay grade, Sailors will take on more responsibilities. It’s essential for these Sailors to continue to excel in their positions and lead junior Sailors to do the same.

“I went TAD during DPIA (docking planned incremental availability) to the berthing team,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class (AW) Britney Gardner. “When I came back to my division, I received a rush of new responsibilities so I took them and ran.”

Being dedicated, both professionally and personally, will help Sailors to stand out above the rest.

“Prioritize yourself,” said Gardner.

“Look where you are at now and where you want to be in the future. Find a mentor to talk to about work stresses and seek advice from them. When looking for a mentor, look for someone who will motivate and encourage you to do better for yourself.”

Although CAP is going away, if Sailors continue to do more than required, get their qualifications and strive to do their best, the regular advancement system will still provide these promotion opportunities.

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Channel 5 Channel 6 Channel 7 Channel 29 0800 / 2000 Napoleon Dynamite

Lean on Me

The Guardian

Act of Valor

Perfect Storm

Sucker Punch

Madea’s Family Reunion

Water for Elephants

Stealth

Journey 2: Mysterious Island

1000 / 2200 R ango

1200 / 0000 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick 1400 / 0200 Cars

Something Nav y Seals Borrowed

John Carter

1600 / 0400 Cars 2

V for Vendetta

Kill Bill: Volume 2

Office Space

Soul Surfer

Thor

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

TV LINEUP 2 - AFN Sports 3 - AFN NEWS 4 - AFN XTRA 5 - 8MM MOVIES 6 - 8MM MOVIES 7 - 8MM MOVIES 8 - ROLLER 9 - DVD TRAINING 10-FLIGHT DECK 11-CNN 29-DVD MOVIES

1800 / 0600 Wedding Cr ashers

Commanding Officer CAPT Jeff S. Ruth Executive Officer CAPT Buzz Donnelly Command Master Chief CMDCM Teri McIntyre Public Affairs Officer LCDR Karin Burzynski

Editor MC2 Robert Winn Lead Designer MC3 Jacob Milner

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