Nov. 3, 2012
Vol. 1 Issue 76
T h e F a n t a s t i c F i ve Story by MC3 Linda S. Swearingen
There are currently five Chief Warrant Officers (CWO) on board the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) who have the same designator. CWOs are formerly enlisted chiefs who have been in the Navy for 12 – 24 years and have a proven track record of performing exceptionally well in varying technical specialties. “At this time on board Nimitz, we have five Chief Warrant Officers, Information Systems Technician (IT) with the same designator,
which is rare,” said Chief Warrant Officer Lashona Rodger. Normally, there are three IT CWOs on board Nimitz. Currently there are two extra CWOs due to one being sent here TAD and the other is in a turnover with another CWO. The CWOs work together as a team, but each one manages a separate division on board. “Being a CWO is an amazing experience,” said Chief Warrant Officer Phillip Jones. “It allows me to do my enlisted job at an officer see CWO pg. 7
Not theTypical Fundraiser see more on Pg. 4
Chief Machinist’s Mate Garnet2nd Esmalla a pie in the face afrom Machinist’s AviationSenior Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Classreceived Andre Taylor directs fixed-winged Mate Fireman James Garcia as part the Face”competition to Ryan raise funds for aircraft onofthea “Pie flightin deck. (Photo by MC3 Mayes) the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). (Photo by MC2 Benjamin Crossley)
Remember to stop the spread of DISEASE and Wash your hands Message From Our President From American Forces Press Service
“In our military families, we see the best our country has to offer. They demonstrate the virtues that have made America great for more than two centuries and the values that will preserve our greatness for centuries to come,” President Barack Obama said in his proclamation issued today declaring the month of November as Military Family Month. The proclamation reads: “Since our Nation’s earliest days, courageous men and women see November pg. 6
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in case of emergency 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 Benjamin Crossley 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.
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Nicholas Beard signals to lift an aircraft elevator aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). (Photo by MC2 Benjamin Crossley)
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USS Constitution seizes suspected slaver H.N. Gambrill. Dirigible USS Los Angeles (ZR 3) makes 10-hour flight out of NAS Lakehurst, N.J., carrying 207 persons, establishing a new record for the number of passengers carried into the air by a single craft. Battleship Oklahoma (BB 37), sunk at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, is refloated. USS Cambria (APA 36) removes 24 members of United Nations Truce Commission team from the Gaza Strip. USS Chilton (APA 38), USS Thuban (AKA 19), and USS Fort Snelling (LSD 30) evacuate more than 1,500 U.S. and foreign nationals from Egypt and Israel because of the fighting. After Hurricane Hattie, helicopters from USS Antietam (CV 36) begin relief operations at British Honduras providing medical personnel, medical supplies, general suplies, and water. Page 2
Sailor of the Day:
Teamwork Gets the Job Done Story and photo by MC3 Ryan Mayes
Seaman Apprentice (SW) Christian Saastad enjoys a day at sea during Nimitz’ COMPTUEX.
Capt. Jeff Ruth, Nimitz’ commanding officer is scheduled to recognize Seaman Apprentice (SW) Christian Saastad as Nimitz’ Sailor of the Day for Nov. 2. In his commendation it is noted that Saastad performed his demanding duties in an exemplary and highly professional manner. He is cited for consistently displaying pride, professionalism and motivation while performing his duties in a manner that should be emulated by all. He was personally responsible for the completion of more than 20 maintenance checks on replenishment at sea equipment, including four sliding padeyes and three fuel receiving stations. His knowledge of the 3M maintenance system and attention to detail resulted in zero equipment issues during two fueling at sea evolutions and a replenishment at sea evolution. A native of Sacramento, Saastad, 23, is much more than a hard worker. He is a husband and a father who keeps his eye on his personal goals. Saastad said that his family comes first but also considers the Sailors of Nimitz’ Deck Department his family too as he tries to mentor younger Sailors whenever possible. “If I had to sum it up, I would say boatswain’s mates are defined by their camaraderie,” said Saastad. “I’m grateful for the recognition but even more I like to see that the BMs
are being recognized for their hard work. There are many smart hardworking people in our department, some with master’s degrees, and sometimes they are overlooked. The work we do affects the whole ship whether people realize it or not.” Saastad said that Sailor of the Day was one of his goals but also keeps the next goal in sight. “I want to work towards future Sailor of the Quarter,” he said. “If I could say one thing to others it would be to set your goals and hold yourself accountable to them. It will keep you from wasting time on things that really don’t matter.” That attitude is what has allowed Saastad, as an undesignated seaman, to qualify as an enlisted surface warfare specialist while juggling a normal work schedule plus six to eight hour watches. As a seaman apprentice Saastad has already begun working toward his enlisted air warfare specialist qualification. Saastads underway pastimes include working out and regularly attending Sunday worship services. He plans to work toward his future bachelor’s degree of exercise science by finishing his core classes while still in the Navy. He plans to strike boastwain’s mate later this year, solidifying his role in Nimitz’ Deck Department for more years to come.
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Good Old Fashioned Fun
Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Anthony Simmons is hit in the face with a pie by Airman Jacob Auffant. Story and photos by MCSN Vanessa David
The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) hosted a Pie in the Face competition Friday on the aft mess decks in which the top 10 Sailors nominated were pied in the face to raise funds for the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). All local Nimitz fundraising goes to the CFC general fund, which is a split between all of the charities under the CFC equally. “The main concern is to get people involved in a good cause and raise CFC awareness,” said Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Hidalgo, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department’s (AIMD) maintenance and material control officer (MMCO). Those who were nominated ranged from enlisted to officer. When we first set up the competition, I set it up so that the nominees would be khakis,” said Lt. Elyshia Hughes, Nimitz’ CFC representative. “I opened selection up to all Sailors because the turnout wasn’t very good. Maybe khakis are nicer these days. Since the switch, the last couple of days were a mad rush.” With 59 votes, Operations Specialist 1st Class Katrin Menthe was at the top of the list.
“I feel privileged because I helped raise money for CFC, and they were waiting to see me get pied in the face,” said Menthe. Among those throwing the pies, stood an officer. “I was volunteered by my division to take care of it and represent them,” said Lt. j. g. Janpaul Amposta, the Hazmat officer. “It was a good time. I was able to let loose, relax a bit and be outside the work environment for a change.” “This was a morale booster that allowed Sailors to have fun with people from their work centers or shops by putting pudding in their faces,” said Hidalgo. “It’s a good way to get stress out from being at sea and is not meant as a form of ridicule. It’s purely fun.” Following Friday’s event are a few others that will contribute to the efforts of CFC fundraising. “I would love to have the same support for the Sumo competition Nov. 9 and the spades tournament Nov. 10,” said Hughes. For more information about the upcoming events, contact Lt. Hughes at elyshia.hughes@ cvn68.navy.mil.
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Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Daniel Stagg and Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Brett Baldwin participate in a pie in the face competition.
Senior Chief Machinist’s Mate Garnet Esmalla participates in a pie in the face competition.
Chief Hospital Corpsman David Cunningham is hit in the face with a pie by Electronics Technician 1st Class Mondae Killian.
Senior Chief Culinary Specialist Glennmichael Delacruz prepares “pies” to throw at the contest winners.
November: Military Family Month Declared
continued from Pg. 1 of all backgrounds and beliefs have banded together to fight for the freedoms we cherish. Behind each of them stands a parent, a sibling, a child, a spouse -- proud family members who share the weight of deployment and make profound sacrifices on behalf of our country. During Military Family Month, we honor our military families and recommit to showing them the fullest care and respect of a grateful Nation. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta, left, President Barack Obama and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, “In our military families, we greets his family after his deployment. (Photo by MC3 Mayes) chairmanAofSailor the Joint Chiefs of Staff, render honors. (Photo by MC1 ChadRyan J.McNeeley see the best our country has to Joining Forces will keep fighting to ensure the welloffer. They demonstrate the virtues that have made being of our troops and their families. America great for more than two centuries and the “When a young woman signs up to defend our values that will preserve our greatness for centuries to Nation, her parents are enlisted as well. When a father come. With loved ones serving far from home, military deploys to a combat zone, his children are called spouses take on the work of two. Their children show to serve on the home front. And when the men and courage and resilience as they move from base to base, women of our military serve far from home, their school to school, home to home. And even through families feel the strain of their absence. In that absence, the strain of deployment, military families strengthen let us stand together as one American family. Let us the fabric of each community they touch and enrich honor the brave patriots who keep our country safe, our national life as shining examples of patriotism. and let us forever hold close the memories of those “We each have a solemn duty to serve our Armed who have perished in the line of duty. This month, we Forces and their families as well as they serve us. reaffirm that we will always lift up our military families Through First Lady Michelle Obama’s and Dr. Jill -- not just when their loved ones are away, but also long Biden’s Joining Forces initiative, we have worked to after the welcome home ceremonies are over. fulfill this obligation by mobilizing all Americans to give “NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, service members and their families the opportunities President of the United States of America, by virtue and support they have earned. Last year, we challenged of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and American businesses to hire or train 100,000 veterans the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim and military spouses by the end of 2013. To date, November 2012 as Military Family Month. I call they have already exceeded that challenge, hiring over on all Americans to honor military families through 125,000 veterans and military spouses. From helping private actions and public service for the tremendous military children succeed in the classroom to increasing contributions they make in support of our service support for those who care for our wounded warriors, members and our Nation.” Page 6
(From left) Chief Warrant Officer Phillip Jones, Chief Warrant Officer Clayton White, Chief Warrant Officer Elbert Brown, Chief Warrant Officer Lashona Rodgers and Chief Warrant Officer Randy Dymond, the five Information Specialist Chief Warrant Officers currently stationed on board Nimitz. (Photo by MC2 Benjamin Crossley)
CWO: The Team That Completes the Mission continued from Pg. 1 level and it gives me greater position to take care of Sailors, ITs specifically.” All of the CWOs currently on board Nimitz specialize in multiple fields such as Tech Control, Network Administrators and Network Security. Chief Warrant Officer Elbert Brown is a communication officer on board Nimitz. Brown is in charge of providing super high frequency (SHF), extremely high frequency (EHF), ultra high frequency line of sight (UHF LOS), ultra high frequency satellite communication (UHF SATCOM) and very high frequency (VHF) communications suite to the entire Nimitz crew, embarked Carrier Strike Group Eleven, embarked DESRON 23 staff and embarked Carrier Air Wing Eleven. “I’m the information assurance office (CS-2) division officer and the electronic keying management system (EKMS) manager,” said Rodgers. “In other words, I lead a small well trained division to protect our networks against outside malicious attacks.
Additionally, I oversee all electronic crypto/hardware devices with a 100-percent accountability issuing to 11 local elements.” All of the five CWOs currently on board Nimitz were former information systems technician chief petty officers. “As a team, we all have special skills to troubleshoot communication issues working closely with the chiefs and the crew,” said Rodgers. “We all have to be a team in order to complete the mission. I truly believe any one of us will stop what we are doing just to help in the troubleshooting process.” For those enlisted Sailors who are hoping to be CWOs one day, Rodgers has some advice. “Learn your job to be the best. Always ask questions so you have a 100-percent understanding of the troubleshooting process. If you stay focused on your job and always take care of your Sailors, the goals you set will be achieved.”
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Red Riding Hood The Guardian Sucker Punch V for Vendetta Scream 4 Priest Cpl. Darren Henson of Death Rattlers assigned to the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323 sorts through equipment in Nimitz’ hangar bay. (Photo by MC3 Raul Moreno Jr.)