Nov. 16, 2012
Vol. 1 Issue 84
Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Eduardo Bello places make-up on a Lt. Cmdr. James Morris, the ship’s nurse, to simulate a real life scenario for a medical training drill. (Photo by MC3 Devin Wray)
The
Art of
WAR
Do You Want to Become an RDC? From Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs
The Navy seeks highly motivated Sailors in pay grades E-5 and above to serve as Recruit Division Commanders (RDC) at Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes, Navy Personnel Command (NPC) officials said Nov. 6. “Recruit division commanders are the single most important factor in preparing new enlisted personnel for a successful Navy career,” said Chief Yeoman (SW/AW) Lakeshia Patterson, a shore special programs detailer at NPC. Patterson and her fellow detailers are currently seeking Sailors interested in filling RDC billets at RTC in preparation see RDC pg. 6
See how Sailors simulate medical scenarios for training more on Pg. 5
USS Nimitz Celebrates Native American Heritage Story by MC3 Devin Wray
This month, named by the Department of Defense as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, celebrates the cultures, history and traditions of the indigenous peoples of North America to include Alaska and Hawaii. On board the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Sailors
in the Multi-Cultural Committee (MCC) will host a Sunday brunch and cake cutting ceremony as part of the observance of this year’s theme “Heritage, Diversity, Integrity, and Honor: The Renewed Hope of America.” Nimitz has also been playing a slide show highlighting individual Native American service members see Celebrate pg. 3
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 Nichelle Whitfield Lead Designer MC3 Renee L. Candelario
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.
Sailors standby for a Replenishment at Sea aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz successfully completed the ship’s Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX). (Photo by MC3 Chris Bartlett)
1776 First salute to an American flag (Grand Union flag) flying from Continental Navy ship Andrew Doria, by Dutch fort at St. Eustatius, West Indies. 1856 Barrier Forts reduction began at Canton China. 1942 Navy’s first Night Fighter squadron (VMF(N)-531) established at Cherry Point, N.C. 1963 President John F. Kennedy on USS Observation Island (AG 154) witnesses 1968 launch of Polaris A-2 missile by USS Andrew Jackson (SSBN-619) 1973 Operation Tran Hung Dao began in Mekong Delta. Launch of Skylab 4 under command of Lt. Col. Gerald P. Carr, USMC. The mission lasted 84 days and included 1,214 Earth orbits. Recovery by USS New Orleans (LPH-11). Page 2
Celebrate: Nimitz Sailors Take Pride in Diversity continued from Pg. 1 and their impact on their country and the military. “Native American Heritage Month is not a very well known subject for a lot of people,” Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Adrian Ramirez, a member of Nimitz’ MCC. “It’s a good way to help recognize how Native Americans have impacted America. We’ll be serving a brunch on the 18th, and we’re going to have someone speak on how being Native American has affected their life and how it had an influence on them joining the military.” In a message to all hands, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Mike Stevens said the following: “American Indians have served in key roles through every major U.S. military engagement both on land and at sea. Native American seamen served on continental and state vessels during the War of Independence, and 20,000 served during the Civil War, contributing to both Union and Confederate forces as auxiliary troops. During World War I, 15,000 American Indians enlisted to fight overseas, and more than 44,000 American Indians fought in World War II, including 1,920 Sailors and several dozen WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). More than 41,500 American Indians fought in the Vietnam War and between 10,000 and 15,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives fought in the Korean War and the Cold War.” Today, more than 14,000 active-duty and reserve Sailors and 1,200 civilians of American Native and Alaskan Native descent fill the Navy’s forces. Chief Aviation Machinist’s Mate Daniel McMurtrey, who is one-fourth Spokane Indian, is one such Sailor serving aboard Nimitz today. “I’m just proud of my heritage and the history of it all,” said McMurtrey. “The military and the U.S. are like this giant melting pot. Despite all our differences, I think it’s cool how we can all work
together in one place.” The story of the Navajo wind talkers is one that inspired McCurtrey to look deeper into his own heritage. “It gives people like me who aren’t full blooded [a descendant with an unbroken ancestry line of Native American parents] a renewed sense of pride in our heritage,” said McCurtrey. This month he has reconnected with his tribe from Washington to obtain information for a speech he will give during Sunday’s Native American observance on Nimitz. The ceremony will start at 9:45 a.m. on the ship’s aft mess decks. For more information about American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, visit http:// nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov.
Page 3
The Art of Story and photos by MC3 Devin Wray
“Are you allergic to latex? Are you allergic to shellfish?” asks Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Eduardo Bello before starting his procedure. In his hands are glue and makeup. Pulling out two large chests from the back of the main medical aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Lt. Cmdr. James Morris, the ship’s nurse, reveals a collection of rubber mats made to look like burnt skin and prosthetic body parts with fake wounds on them. “We have intestinal wounds, compound fractures, and here’s a facial wound,” said Morris sorting through the cases and then pulling out a faceshaped mask. The case even holds small hand pumps with tubes used to simulate arterial bleeding which spurts out. This assortment of wounds is used during mass casualty drills, medical emergency drills, or any drill meant to test members of the crew on eight basic battle wounds. “We make it look as real as possible for the stretcher bearers,” said Morris. “Stretcher bearers are like junior corpsmen. We like them to be really into their medical training in case the corpsmen aren’t available, this way their training kicks in so they don’t freeze up.” Most ships are required to carry these tools for medical training. Nimitz’ medical team carries two moulage kits
“We get into i have fu make su volun have fu it.
f War as well, which are filled with make-up, to enhance training. “Moulage is the art of making the wounds to bring realism to the scenario,” said Morris. “We have some really creative individuals. There are classes for this but we haven’t sent anyone.” Despite the lack of training, drills on the ship provide plenty of opportunities for the crew to practice moulage techniques. “People are always looking for ways to make it look more real,” said Bello. “We get really into it; we have fun and make sure our volunteers have fun with it.” As one of the first steps, Bello takes a grotesque looking eyeball and applies it to Morris’ face. “My favorite part is seeing their face after I’m done,” said Bello. “Taking a picture and seeing their reaction after is great.” Next, he mixes red and blue makeup to color the area around the plastic eye. “People tend to react differently the messier it looks,” said Bello. “We can freak out people who don’t know what we’re doing.” A scream is heard as Morris leaves to wash off his face. “Oh my god!” screams Lt. Patricia Hogan, a flight surgeon with Carrier Air Wing 11. “I thought it was real until he smiled.” The moulage works. “That’s why we do this,” said Morris, “to get a real reaction.”
t really it; we un and ure our nteers un with .”
RDC: Navy Looking For Highly Motivated Sailors continued from Pg. 1
for the annual summer surge of recruits. Interested Sailors should start by talking with their command career counselor. “It’s a good assignment for Sailors looking to diversify their career and to improve advancement opportunity or simply to try something different,” said Patterson. “The leadership experience of an RDC is unmatched in any other billet and, historically, RDCs experience 22 percent greater E-6/E-7 advancement opportunity.” The tasks required are mentally, physically and emotionally demanding and require proven selfdiscipline and imaginative problem-solving skills, according to Patterson. Sailors assigned as RDCs must continually demonstrate superior leadership and motivational skills in demanding and often unique situations. “It makes me feel good leaving my fingerprint on that many Naval careers,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (EXW) Larrissia Lackland, an RDC at RTC. “The hours are long and tiresome, but I love the job. I love to watch the recruits transition from just wanting to go home in the beginning to wanting to prove themselves and succeed.” While Lackland has pushed nine divisions of recruits during her tour she says it is possible and necessary for RDCs to take care of themselves. Training hours at RTC typically last from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., but working with fellow RDCs allows these Sailors to strike a life-work balance for a satisfying tour. “Each division has two RDCs which allows some flexibility because you don’t always have to have two RDCs present,” said Lackland. “It’s no cake walk, but RDCs still have opportunities to volunteer, opportunities to take college classes, and spend time with their family.” RDCs typically push recruits for one year and then move on to a facilitation mode for nine months
to a year. Facilitation allows them to work in a fivedays-a week day-job atmosphere filling other key positions at RTC like teaching new RDCs, serving as quality assurance inspectors and in-processing new recruits. “Going from pushing recruits to facilitation mode is a lot like being underway and then returning from cruise,” said Electronics Technician 1st Class (SS) Dexter Buckley, an RDC who has served at RTC for 16 months. Buckley said he had a good time at boot camp and knew he wanted to come back one day. “I expressed an interest to my detailer about being an RDC and they sent me the paperwork to make it happen,” said Buckley. According to Patterson, E-5 Sailors must have a minimum of six years active service with two years’ time-in-rate upon application to serve as an RDC. E-6s must have a minimum of six years active service upon applying. There are no minimum years of service or time in rate requirements for chiefs and above. Applicants must be warfare-qualified, however, waivers may be granted on case-by-case basis. Sailors must have scored “good low” or higher in each category on the most recent Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA). The RDC candidate must be able to perform and pass the run portion of the Physical Readiness Test (PRT) before the screening is submitted to NPC. Waiver of the run portion of the PRT is not allowed. “RDC school physical training is very intense, so you should be in good shape before you come,” said Buckley. A complete listing of eligibility requirements can be found in MILPERSMAN 1306-954. Sailors who meet the requirements and would like to apply for the RDC program should contact their rating detailer when entering their permanent change of station (PCS) orders negotiation window, nine months continued next page
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prior to their projected rotation date (PRD). Detailers may nominate applicants who meet RDC qualifications to special programs. The special program detailers will a send screening message for applicants to complete. Upon acceptance to the RDC program Sailors will attend three weeks of instructor school and a 13-week RDC School, earning the required NEC before earning the coveted RDC red rope. Sailors who qualify as RDCs are currently eligible for $300 a month Special Duty Assignment pay; a supplemental clothing allowance rate of $220 per year; no-cost dry cleaning; and may be awarded the Recruit Training Service Ribbon. Tour lengths are a minimum of 36 months after graduation from RDC School. RDCs are guaranteed their choice of coast for assignment after RDC duty. The member must choose their coast at least three months prior to projected rotation date (PRD) from RDC duty. “Being an RDC is great duty and full of challenges. You never know what you can do until you do it,” said Lackland. “It will help you excel in your career while establishing the careers of hundreds more.” Shore Special Program detailers assign Sailors to more than 20 shore special programs Navy wide. These programs are not necessarily geared for a specific rating, but manning them with qualified Sailors is important nonetheless. Examples include RDC and recruiting duty, where Sailors serve a significant role in shaping the future Navy. Working with shore special programs, Sailors may also be selected for service on the USS Constitution, the USS Arizona Memorial, Historic Ship Nautilus, the Blue Angels and the Navy Ceremonial Guard. MILPERSMAN 1306900 contains a complete list of special programs available. For more on RDC duty and special programs, talk with your command career counselor and contact the NPC Customer Service Center at 1-866-U-ASKNPC (1-866-827-5672). Page 7
TV Guide 5 - 8MM MOVIES 6 - 8MM MOVIES 7 - 8MM MOVIES 8 - ROLLER 9 - DVD TRAINING 10 - FLIGHT DECK 11 - CNN 13 - ESPN 14 - TBS 15 - HISTORY
16 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 30
- NFL NETWORK - CBS - Nat. Geo. - ABC - AMC - NBC - COMEDY CENTRAL - FOX NEWS - DISCOVERY - DVD MOVIES
Channel 5 0800/2000 1000/2200 1200/0000 1400/0200 1600/0400 1800/0600
Bolt Bride Wars Marley and Me Sex Drive Bedtime Stories Groundhog Day
Channel 6 0800/2000 1000/2200 1200/0000 1400/0200 1600/0400 1800/0600
Australia (Part A) Australia (Part B) The Express Rock N’ Rolla Cadillac Records Pride and Glory
Channel 7 0800/2000 1000/2200 1200/0000 1400/0200 1600/0400 1800/0600
Quantum of Solace Kelly’s Heroes The Day the Earth Stood Still Transporter 3 Twilight Valkyrie
Channel 30 0800/2000 1000/2200 1200/0000 1400/0200 1600/0400 1800/0600
That’s My Boy The Waterboy Happy Gilmore The Rundown 21 Jump Street Ted
Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Recruit Paris Kellogg stows mooring lines on the fantail of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) as Nimitz leaves San Diego.(Photo by MC3 Ryan Mayes)