www.roosevelt.navy.mil
November 30, 2012
Story & photos by MCSN Eric Norcross USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Public Affairs
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is the season for giving as USS Theodore Roosevelt’s (CVN 71) Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is underway to raise funds to help a large variety of charitable organizations. “This is an opportunity we have to voluntarily contribute to non-profit organizations that are doing good things to help those in need,” said Chief Logistics Specialist (SW/AW) Albert Oparaji, TR’s CFC command coordinator. CFC is the only charity campaign
THE SPIRIT OF GIVING CFC ASKS SAILORS TO GIVE BACK
authorized to solicit and collect contributions from federal employees in the workplace on behalf of charitable organizations. Sailors can pledge to any of the eligible non-profit organizations that provide health and human service benefits throughout the world. “USS Theodore Roosevelt has a very wonderful tradition with CFC as one of the top contributors,” said Oparaji. “Last year we raised about $76,000. Our goal this year is to raise $80,000. Currently, we are at about 47 percent and have raised $38,000.” With two weeks left until the Dec. 15 deadline, there is still time to contribute and help TR reach its goal, and more importantly, help those in need. “It’s not too late to donate,” said Oparaji. “Please go to your CFC representative, collect a form, fill it out, and donate what you can. There is no limit – whatever you can afford.” One-time donations can be made by cash or check. Alternatively, Sailors can make monthly payroll deductions for a year. “We are the lucky ones,” said Oparaji. “We have a job and are guaranteed a paycheck. There are a lot of people out there who have health issues or are facing other challenges. The little money we donate can help make a difference in their lives.”
$80,000
$38,000
DECEMBER JANUARY FIRST HOLIDAY SECOND HOLIDAY FAST CRUISE #2, CHILDREN’S PERIOD LEAVE PERIOD 07 COMMAND HOLIDAY PARTY 09 HOLIDAY PARTY 10 DC OLYMPICS 18 27 LEAVE 28 07 (STARTING COB) (STARTING COB)
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Story by MC2(SW) Austin Rooney Photos by MC2(SW) Austin Rooney and MCSN Eric Norcross USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Public Affairs
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MOUSTACHIOED MEN OF MOVEMBER
SAILORS RAISE AWARENESS FOR MEN’S HEALTH
ovember is not just a month about Turkey, fall leaves, and football; it’s also a month which celebrates moustaches. The sudden influx of moustaches aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) during November does not mean Sailors are just getting tired of shaving their upper lips – many are actually participating in “Movember,” an initiative which aims to spread awareness about prostate and testicular cancer. While some Sailors already had moustaches before Movember, many have joined their ranks to support the cause. Electronics Technician 2nd Class (SW/EXW) John Meisner said this year marked his first time growing a moustache in support of the cause. “Considering how often men are diagnosed with these illnesses, I think it’s incredibly important to raise awareness,” said Meisner. “The more people that know about it being a possibility that they could be afflicted with these cancers the better – that way they will have a better chance to fight it if they are diagnosed early on.” Movember was started by a group of 30 men in Australia in 2004, in which they would grow a moustache for 30 days to raise money and awareness for prostate and testicular cancer. Since then, Movember has caught on around the globe,
having raised more than $299 million since it started. Unlike “No Shave November,” which involves a wide variety of facial hair, Movember is all about moustaches. The official rules of Movember state that on Nov. 1 all contestants must start with a clean-shaven face, and must only grow the hair on their upper lip, making the cause easy for members of the military to take part in. “I first heard about Movember when the executive officer put it out over the 1MC,” said Meisner. “If it’s fun and it gets the job done then hey, why not? I don’t mind looking funny for a month.” Though the competition aspect of Movember is meant to be fun, the message is serious. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 8,590 new cases of testicular cancer will be diagnosed in 2012. Out of those, 360 will die. Testicular cancer is relatively uncommon, but if it goes unnoticed and untreated there is a chance it could be fatal. Early detection can save a man’s life from the disease, as treatment is very successful. According to the American Cancer Society, Prostate cancer kills nearly 88 American men per day, and affects one in six men on average. Luckily, if caught early and treated, there is an almost 100% chance the man will be disease-free in
five years. Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Evans, TR’s public affairs officer, said he first began participating in Movember last year. For Evans, the cause hits close to home; his father and two of his father’s siblings were diagnosed with prostate cancer, making him more likely to contract the disease himself. “The major purpose of this is to raise awareness,” said Evans. “I wanted to help spur conversation about men’s health.” Evans said he believes his Movember moustache has been successful in generating conversations about men’s health around the ship, as most people know him as being clean-shaven. “People see me and say ‘hey, what’s that on your upper lip?,’” said Evans. “That’s the opener to tell them more about prostate cancer and men’s health in general.” Movember may not last longer than 30 days, however the message it intends to spread applies all year round. Though grateful to have been able to participate in a good cause, many newly-mustachioed TR Sailors expressed their relief in being able to return to being cleanshaven at the start of December. “This is my first-ever ‘stache, and no, I don’t plan on keeping it,” said Meisner. “It’s really itchy.” Page 3
Story & photos by MC2 Sean Hurt USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Public Affairs
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he temperature clocked in at 1 degree below freezing, five degrees below average for Nov. 17. The wind was blowing a steady 6 mph, pushing the cold air through even the thickest jackets. Most residents of the tiny town of Hagerstown, Md., were still asleep in their beds. The time was 5 a.m. Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/AW) Christopher Cwiklinski stepped out of his hotel, took a breath, and watched the exhale rise in the crisp November air. It was a good day for a run. Cwiklinski was not going for a mere jog. Hell, he wasn’t even going for what most of us would consider a nice long run. Cwiklinski laced up his running shoes and headed out to the JFK 50-Mile Ultra Marathon. “This never gets easier” Cwiklinski said before starting. “It’s different each time, but never easier.” While running 50 miles is no easy feat on its own, Cwiklinski faces unique challenges during every race he enters. He has Ankylosing Spondylitis, an autoimmune deficiency that causes swelling of the joints. The disease is a form of arthritis that commonly affects persons as young as age 20. Cwiklinski must mentally prepare for every race he runs knowing it very well may be his last. “There will come a day that this disease will take over, and I will not be
able to run anymore,” said Cwiklinski. “That’s going through my mind all day on the course, and it’s one of the biggest reasons I push myself to finish. I run to spread awareness, but when I’m out there I’m also running for those who are affected that cannot get out here and run for themselves. Not finishing isn’t an option.” The 50-mile course gains more than 1,000 feet in elevation during its 13mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail, descending 1,000 feet for the final 2.5 miles, continues 26 miles along the historic Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and finishes with more than 8 miles of rural highway. Each of these sections on their own is more than enough for many people, but to Cwiklinski, the race would not be over until he had conquered each of these sections, along with the unique challenges that each presented. “The Appalachian Trail was pretty hard,” Cwiklinski said. “It was all covered with leaves so you weren’t sure of your footing and a lot of it was narrow so only one person could go at a time. The canal was worse though. It felt like it would never end.” Although open to the public, the JFK 50-Mile is in spirit a military race. In 1963, the initial inspiration behind the event came from then-President John F. Kennedy, challenging his military officers to meet the requirements that Theo-
dore Roosevelt set for his own military officers at the dawn of the 20th Century. Roosevelt’s requirement was for all military officers to be able to cover 50 miles on foot in 20 hours to maintain their commissions. Cwiklinski finished the race in 9:45:19, exceeding his goal of 10 hours. He ran the 50 miles at an 11:43 pace, finishing 360th of 967. The fastest runner of the day set a course record of 5:34:58. “I’ve never been a fast runner, and I’ll never run at the elite level like some of these guys,” Cwiklinski said. “I just challenge myself to run farther and farther. I want to see how far I can go.” Cwiklinski has only been running for six years, and has been distance running for five of those years. He got his start in the Navy running his physical readiness test (PRT). “It all started with my PRT back in 2006. I finished that and started thinking about how much farther I could go,” said Cwiklinski. “I graduated to 5k races and in 2007 I ran my first marathon. From there I just kept trying to go farther.” The challenges that are presented by such a long distance run are not limited to endurance and fatigue, a runner also has to fight against his mind to finish. “You go through peaks and valleys out there,” Cwiklinski said. “You will be on top of the world, then a mile later you just want to say ‘forget it’ and quit. It’s a real emotional rollercoaster. Then when
“Not finishing is not an option.”
you want to quit, you get someone out there cheering you on and you feel like you can go another 10 miles no problem. This sport is 30% physical and 70% mental.” Cwiklinski fights through the pain of arthritis six times a week to train for his runs. He runs 70-80 miles per week (five to 10 miles after work every day, and four to five hours of running on the weekend), does core strength and cross training exercises, and balances his diet. “Running doesn’t happen overnight,” stressed Cwiklinski. “It takes time to build up the endurance to run long dis-
tances. I see people go out there all excited to start running, they jump right into it and get injured, then they don’t want to run anymore. You need to train hard, but train smart.” Cwiklinski’s biggest piece of advice to those who want to get into distance running is that anyone can do what he does with training and motivation. “It doesn’t matter if you are running a PRT, a 5k, a marathon, or an ultra, as long as you are having fun doing it. There will be times when you want to quit and say ‘this was a mistake’ or ‘this isn’t for me,’ but as long as you can put one foot in front of the other and are vertical, you can finish. That’s how I live my life: vertical and moving forward.”
(Top right) Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/AW) Christopher Cwiklinski receives his medal after finishing the JFK 50-Mile race in Hagerstown, Md., Nov. 17. (Bottom) Cwiklinski runs on a trail during the JFK 50-Mile race.
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Sailors assist with the onload of the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)). Photo by MC3 Lorenzo J. Burleson.
TRUMAN TESTS X-47B AIRCRAFT DEMONSTRATOR Story by MC3 Taylor DiMartino
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he Navy hoisted an X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator on board aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Nov. 26, in preparation for an unmanned aircraft’s first carrier-based testing. The X-47B, which boasts a wingspan of more than 62 feet (wider than that of an
F/A-18 Super Hornet), will demonstrate seamless integration into carrier flight deck operations through various tests. During each demonstration, the X-47B will be controlled remotely via a handheld control display unit (CDU). Truman will be the first aircraft carrier in Naval aviation history to host test operations for an unmanned aircraft. “It means a lot to our crew to be part
Fire Controlman 2nd Class Richard Kinnison supervises as Electronics Technician Seaman Jonathan E. Flores fires a MK-38 25mm machine gun during a live-fire exercise aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81). Photo by MC2 Aaron Chase
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of Naval history,” said Tarver. “We have Sailors who received additional training to safely move the X-47B and they are excited to play a part in its testing.” The X-47B test will be conducted over a three week period which will include inport and underway demonstrations aboard Truman.
Sailors assigned to the USS Constitution serve food to homeless veterans at the New England Center for Homeless Veterans. Sailors volunteer for the Thanksgiving meal every year to give back to the greater Boston area. Photo by MCSN John Benson
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert is honored with sideboys upon arrival aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Photo by MC2 Aaron Chase
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Staff Commanding Officer Capt. William Hart Executive Officer Cmdr. Mark Colombo Public Affairs Officer Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Evans Media Officer Lt. j.g. Michael Larson Senior Editor MCCS (SW/AW/EXW) David Collins Editor MC2(SW) Austin Rooney
USS Theodore Roosevelt’s (CVN 71) S-2 Division food service team poses for a photo in the aft messdecks during the ship’s Thanksgiving celebration Nov. 22. Photo by MC3 Katie Lash
ALL JACKED UP Interior Communications Technician 3rd Class Rachel Rice helps demonstrate the improper donning of winter gear for transiting to and from work. We counted 10 infractions. See below for the answers!
Layout MC2(SW) Austin Rooney Rough Rider Contributors MC2(SW) Austin Rooney MC2 Sean Hurt MC3 Katie Lash MCSN Eric Norcross Command Ombudsmen April Kumley cvn71ombudsman@yahoo.com The Rough Rider is an authorized publication for the crew of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Contents herein are not necessarily the views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, Department of Defense, Department of the Navy or the Commanding Officer of TR. All items for publication in the The Rough Rider must be submitted to the editor no later than three days prior to publication. Do you have a story you’d like to see in the Rough Rider? Contact the Media Department at 5341406 or stop by 3-180-0-Q.
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1. Bluetooth device 2. No insignia on jacket 3. Unzipped jacket 4. hood not stowed 5. Bag on incorrect shoulder 6. Out of regs. bag 7. Hand in pocket 8. Out of regs. gloves 9. Trouser pockets full 10. blousing strap too low.
ROUGH RIDER OF THE WEEK
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I AM ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THE TASK GIVEN TO ME WITHOUT SUPERVISION
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AS2 (AW) STEPHEN B. SORENSON DEPARTMENT: AIMD DIVISION: IM3 FROM: GRANITE FALLS, NC JOINED THE NAVY: 16 DEC 2008 ONBOARD TR: 1.5 YEARS PRIMARY DUTIES: TROUBLESHOOTER, DIESEL ENGINE MECHANIC, ELECTRICIAN GOALS: ADVANCE IN RANK, ESWS PIN, RECEIVE DEGREE IS MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, SUBMIT OFFICER PACKAGE, RETIRE IN 20 YEARS AND PROVIDE THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR MY SON HOBBIES: TEACHING MY SON DISC GOLF