July 26, 2012
Vol. 1 Issue 45
Nimitz Helps With Smooth Transition
ESO Note NCPACE The new NCPACE term will begin 10 September. Registration will be held 16-20 August. The request form and a list of courses are located at: S:\ADMIN\PUBLIC\ESO\NCPACE. All request forms are due to the ESO by 15 August. In order to participate in NCPACE you must attend a crew brief and education plan on file with Navy College. Various courses have prerequisites which must be completed prior to registration. For additional information, contact the educational services officer at J-Dial 5031.
ADVANCEMENT The list of Sailors eligible to take the September exam has been posted to the ESO public folder: S:\ADMIN\PUBLIC\ESO. E5 EP Sailors must route a special request chit approved by the department head and submitted to the ESO no later than Wednesday, 1 August. Departmental yeomen must submit the most recent periodic evaluation for their Sailors to the ESO office. Worksheet signing will take place per the following schedule: - E6 exam - 28 July - 2 August - E5 exam - 6 - 10 August - E4 exam - 13 - 17 August
Story by MC2 (SW) Robert Winn
With so many careers affected by Perform-To-Serve (PTS) and Enlisted Review Board (ERB), it is crucial for Sailors to know the most up to date and correct information about separation from the Navy. Pre-separation counseling through Department of Defense form 2648 in conjunction with transition assistance program (TAP) classes are being offered on board the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) to ensure that Sailors, who are separating, both voluntarily and involuntarily, will step into the civilian world with their right foot forward. “The 2648 pre-separation counseling is for anyone within 12 months of their soft end of active obligated service,” said Navy Counselor 1st Class Dominique Sanchez. “It’s mandated for every transiting Sailor, enlisted and officer.” The pre-separation counseling reviews a checklist of information which Sailors will take with them to TAP class to help them form an individualized plan for crossing into
Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Robert Vegara walks through the honorary sideboys during his retirement ceremony in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii July 3, 2012. (Photo by MC3 Ian Cotter)
the civilian sector. It reviews and provides contact information for job search and placement assistance, financial planning, family care, housing and relocation assistance, GI bill and educational privileges, medical and dental coverage, and legal assistance. “There are a lot of ‘sea-lawyers’ out there,” said Sanchez. “If you don’t attend both of these classes you’ll never get the right information about benefits offered to you.” See TAP on PG. 7
Reminders
What’s Inside
PFA Information: BCA: Aug. 27-31, Sept. 17-21 *Medical Waivers due by Aug. 28 PRT: Sept. 4-7, Sept. 24-28 Seeing Stars Pg. 3
Silent Heroes Pg. 4 & 5
Sinking Ships Pg. 7
Commanding Officer CAPT Jeff S. Ruth Executive Officer CAPT Buzz Donnelly Command Master Chief CMDCM Teri McIntyre Public Affairs Officer LCDR Karin Burzynski Editor MC3 Ryan Mayes Lead Designer MC3 Renee L. Candelario
Aviation Boatswain’s Mates (Equipment) brace against the thrust of an E-2C Hawkeye from the Wallbangers of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 117 as it prepares to launch off the flight deck of Nimitz. (Photo by MC2 Michael D. Cole) 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.
1812 - Frigate Essex captures British brig Leander. 1912 - First airborne radio communications from naval aircraft to ship (Lt. John Rodgers to USS Stringham). 1942 - Capt. Joy Bright Hancock appointed director, Women’s Naval Reserve. 1948 - President Harry S. Truman orders desegregation of the Armed Services. Sea (CVA 47) shoot down two 1954 - Three aircraft from USS Phillippine Chinese fighters that fired on them while they were providing air cover for rescue operations for a U.K. airliner shot down by a Chinese aircraft.
Page 2
Page 3
Keep Your head on a SWI EL V
Story by MC2 (SW/AW) Eva-Marie Ramsaran
“PMS is the number one thing that most people are Many people when working on a project, walking complacent about on the ship,” said Chief Aviation around the ship or simply going down a ladder well Boatswain’s Mate (AW/SW) Robert Scott, Safety take safety for granted, whether it is not wearing the Department leading chief petty officer. “There’s no sense proper personal protective equipment or not paying of ownership and a lack of enthusiasm when it comes attention to where they are walking throughout the ship; to the material condition of the ship.” thus potentially causing harm to themselves or those Scott explained that if Sailors have something they can around them. call their own in their respective spaces, they would take Little do they know that there is a department aboard more responsibility and care for it, as they would do if the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) whose sole they were at home. purpose is to “keep an eye out” or ensure the safety Not only does the department perform walk-throughs, of more than 4,500 personnel and roughly 1,500 they also give training, ensure compartments on board. This such as general quarters, department, comprised of 11 “We are basically the evolutions damage control and engineering drills service members of various rates eyes on the back of are conducted safely and maintain a identified by their white jerseys firm presence on the flight deck during with green crosses, is known as everyone’s heads.” flight operations. the Safety Department. - ABE1 Steven Augustine “The flight deck is one of the most The reason for having diverse dangerous areas on the ship,” said rates work in safety is so that at a Augustine. “Our presence alone makes minimum one person will have the people check themselves out there. Some of these guys knowledge of what is happening in certain work centers don’t pay attention to their surroundings when they are or areas around the ship. “All we do is observe,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate wrapped up in what they are doing as plane captains, maintainers, AOs (aviation ordnancemen) loading (Equipment) 1st Class (AW) Steven W. Augustine, ordnance. We are basically the eyes on the back of Safety Department leading petty officer. “A lot of people everyone’s heads.” get really focused on their job and sometimes aren’t Currently, the Safety Department is working on the aware of what is going on around them, that’s why we command wide industrial hygiene survey, which reports remove ourselves from everything that is going on so we can find things that could potentially hurt someone.” potential health hazards from different work centers on the ship and preparing for Nimitz’ upcoming safety Personnel in safety conduct daily walk-throughs stand down in August. around the ship looking for safety hazards in work So while you are out there on the deck plates, centers such as having illegally stored hazardous keep your head on a swivel, pay attention to your material, having items that aren’t approved for use surroundings and don’t slide down the ladder wells! and departments not performing the proper planned maintenance system (PMS) in their designated spaces. Page 4
on a
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 1st Class Steven Augustine stands watch over the flight deck as the safety observer. (Photo by MC3 Ryan J. Mayes) Page 5
USS Nimitz Welcomes Colombia Story by MCSN Jess Lewis
Throughout the course of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012, multiple countries are given the opportunity to lead several exercises. Sailors from different nations, such as Chile, Colombia, Peru and Australia, are currently working on board the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Colombia has provided two officers to the crew. “This is Colombia’s third time participating in RIMPAC,” said Lt. Cmdr. Pablo Perafan, Colombian commanding officer of the Buemaventura Coast Guard Station. “This is my first RIMPAC and it’s been a huge experience for me and all my expectations have been met.” The Colombians aim to enhance their navy’s maritime operations based on their experiences gained on Nimitz like shipboard life, how the crew trains and conducts flight operations. “Watching flight operations is awesome,” said Lt. Cmdr. Carlos
Cruz. “We don’t have the same kinds of aircraft or strike operations. I’ve been learning a lot more about strike operations and maritime practices.” Working alongside the Operations Department, the Colombians can be found in the zulu module of Nimitz’ Combat Direction Center (CDC) along with the Chileans and Peruvians. “Both of us have the same position as a watch officer in the zulu module,” said Perafan. “We observe operations, how evolutions work every day and we keep track of ships, submarines and aircraft. We also track, plot, watch and look for different types of threats like subsurface, surface and air.” Nimitz offers a unique perspective as the largest of Colombia’s ships, a supply ship, is only one-twentieth the size of an aircraft carrier. “It’s amazing to see 5,000 people working together 24 hours a day,”
Page 6
said Perafan. “People are always working somewhere, no matter what time of day it is. It’s very disciplined here.” Cruz and Perafan appreciate the friendships and hospitality they’ve received since embarking Nimitz. “You all are beautiful people,” said Perafan. “We want to thank everyone here, especially our sponsor, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23. The work done here is fantastic. We’re very proud to be here.” This year’s Colombian involvement is just the beginning. Colombia hopes to increase their participation in RIMPAC over the next few years. “We expect to send some surface ships and submarines in the next RIMPAC,” said Perafan. “We also hope to be a part of the staff because [RIMPAC] is the most important and biggest maritime operation in the world.
TAP: Aid For the Next Step Continued from PG. 1
The Navy offers a lot of benefits for Sailors, explained Lt. Andrew Meyer, part of Reactor Electrical division and attendee of a recent 2648 class. Though, the Navy won’t just give these benefits to you -- you have to seek them out and apply for them. “You should think of this as a tool to get you as much information as you need,” said Meyer. “The only person in charge of your career is you. If you don’t go out and apply for these things, then you’ll lose out on the opportunity to take advantage of them.” Sanchez encourages service members to bring their spouse along when attending the classes. “These benefits are for both Sailors and their families,” said Sanchez. “It’s highly encouraged to bring your spouse so they can be aware of the benefits offered to
them independently of those offered to you. The class was very worth my time, explained Meyer. “It was a short class, I was only away from work for an hour,” said Meyer. “I got a range of websites and databases to pull information from.” Sanchez notes that one of the most forgotten things about transition that Sailors have is one of the Navy’s initial promises. “The Navy tells you when you first enlist, ‘We’ll pay to get you to boot camp, and pay to get you back home when you’re done,’” said Sanchez. “It takes a lot to move back to your home of record. And that’s a whole move, not just a plane ticket home.” Pre-separation classes are offered Wednesdays at 10 a.m. in the Education Services Officer’s (ESO) classroom. For more information on separation and veterans benefits, contact you departmental career counselor.
Navy News
Third Sink Exercise during RIMPAC Story and photo provided by COMTHIRDFLT Public Affairs
Kauai, Hawaii -A live-fire exercise, part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012, sank the ex-USS Kilauea (T-AE26) in waters 15,480 feet deep, 63 miles off the coast of Kauai. A sink exercise (SINKEX) benefits the U.S. Navy and participating allies and partners by providing crews the opportunity to gain proficiency in tactics, targeting and live firing against surface targets, which enhances combat readiness of deployable units. “HMAS Farncomb’s success reminds us yet again of the invaluable role submarines play in modern warfare,” said Combined Forces Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Stuart Mayer. “RIMPAC allows us to train with our allies for a worst case scenario in a real life environment.” Former Navy vessels used in SINKEXs are prepared in strict compliance with regulations prescribed and enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency. Strict environmental compliance is observed during all SINKEXs. Each SINKEX is required to sink the hulk in at least 1,000 fathoms (6,000 feet) and at least 50
nautical miles from land. Surveys are conducted to ensure that humans and marine mammals are not in an area where they could be harmed during the event. Ex-USS Kilauea was an ammunition ship commissioned in August 1968, decommissioned and transferred to MSC in October 1980 and deactivated in September 2008.
Page 7
Ex-USS Kilauea (T-AE-26) sinks 63 miles off the coast of Kauai as part of a sink exercise during RIMPAC.
Channel 5
Channel 6
Channel 7
Up in the Air
Inglorious Basterds
Channel 29
0800 / 2000 Hotel For Dogs
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
The Green Zone
1000 / 2200 Burn After Reading
Invictus
The Mr. and Mrs. Expendables Smith
1200 / 0000 The Fantastic The Bourne The Mr. Fox Identity Peacemaker
Enter the Dr agon
1400 / 0200 Men Who Stare at Goats
Troy
The Informant
Wr ath of the Titans
1600 / 0400 Megamind Ides of March
1800 / 0600 Soul Men
Hereafter
Ocean’s Eleven
Brooklyn’s Finest
Fight Club
Taken