Know Your Shipmate
U.S. Navy photo and information byMCSN Mason Campbell
BMSN Ackeem N. Stewart Deck Dept/ 2nd Division
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aised in Harrisburg, Pa., Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Ackeem N. Stewart, of Deck department’s 2nd division, joined the Navy in 2010 to just get out and explore. Not that life in Harrisburg was bad or dangerous, but Stewart just had to see what was out in the world. Sheer curiosity and the attractive stability led him to join the Navy in 2010 and eventually the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in March 2011. Stewart looks forward to taking some well deserved leave in port. “I’m excited to take leave and see the family back home. It’s been a while,” said Stewart. Stewart looks forward to deployment, seeing it as a chance to view what the Navy really does and obtain the experience of the senior peers around him. “I’m very interested in what the ship is truly like on deployment, I’d like to see what happens when we’re actually out there,” said Stewart. When Stewart returns from his leave at home it will be time to zone in on preparing for deployment. “It’s going to be what I make of it,” said Stewart.
U.S. Navy photo by MCSN K. Ashley Lawrence
U.S. Navy photo
OneReturn Last Lincoln’s Final Everett Homecoming From USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs
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SS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) pulled into her homeport of Everett, Wash., for the final time, Oct. 18. Lincoln will depart Everett in December for a changeof-homeport deployment that will take the ship to its new homeport in Norfolk, Va. Lincoln is relocating to conduct a scheduled four-year refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) in-port maintenance period, which will refurbish the ship for another 25 years of service. Lincoln Commanding Officer Capt. John D. Alexander said the ship’s crew and their families will be sad to leave so many friends and Navy supporters behind when Lincoln departs Washington later this year. “Abraham Lincoln will forever be tied to Everett and the Pacific Northwest,” Alexander said. “The city has been home for the ship and our families for some 15 years. We cannot begin to express our appreciation for the support this community has provided.”
The Navy announced in December 2010 that USS Nimitz (CVN 68) will replace Lincoln in Everett upon completion of a docking planned incremental availability (DPIA) maintenance at Bremerton, Wash., in December. Lincoln has been based out of Naval Station Everett since January 1997. “I wish to thank all the people of Washington and the Everett area for their enormous efforts on our behalf throughout the years,” Alexander said. “They are all great Americans and are to be congratulated on their undying contributions to the Navy.” Lincoln departed Everett, Sept. 15, for several weeks of training in preparation for the upcoming deployment, including a three-week composite training unit exercise off the coast of California. Lincoln and Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9 and guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) participated in the exercise.
From Shop 8: Hidden Talent from AIMD Story and photos by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Wade Oberlin
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he Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) Avionics/Armament division is one of the largest and most technically elaborate divisions aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Most AIMD work centers and repair shops are located within “The Tunnel,” a long centerline passage forward of Hangar Bay 1. Shop 8 sits on the port side, a little ways removed from its sister shops. “The importance of Shop 8’s work maintaining equipment in the cockpit and the weapons replaceable assembly (WRA) area of an airplane is very vital,” said AIMD Maintenance Officer Cmdr. Wesley Joshway. “Without their assistance, the aircraft wouldn’t be able to decipher and discern information through different data links or be as effective with its flight controls.” Shop 8, AIMD’s main Consolidated Automated Support System (CASS) shop, is made up of 11 ship’s company personnel and nine sea operational detachment (SEAOPDET) personnel split between two shifts and two separate work centers that come together to tackle the toughest maintenance on Lincoln’s supporting aircraft. “The fact that we live with everyone we work with encourages comradeship. Being out to sea is a nice break from the monotony of shore duty while seeing a bit of what the Navy is really all about,” said Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class William Oberndorfer, Shop 8’s collateral duty inspector and a ship rider from Fleet Readiness Center (FRC) Northwest. “It also gives us a great deal of satisfaction to see our work in action and watch our equipment go out
and fly missions instead of just shipping it elsewhere.” The IM-3 division is also populated using SEAOPDET personnel, who encompass more than 85 percent of the AIMD work force. They provide crucial aircraft component repairs on various communication, navigation, radar, ordnance, test benches and tactical/electronic countermeasure systems. Shop 8 has the largest workload of all of the IM-3 divisions, and is responsible for repairing several mission-critical, safe-for-flight items on the aircraft. Quite a feat for a lowprofile shop. “We keep pretty busy in this shop, and the sense of accomplishment runs high. Many of these systems are quite complicated, dealing with radars and intricate electronics,” said Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Jacob Hyland. “I was trained last cruise to use some of these specific pieces of equipment within the shop, and only a handful of people know how to use them. It can be difficult but satisfying.” Workflow increased significantly during the recent composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) while the air wing was embarked. In port, the main focus will be to keep the CASS benches up since the squadrons aren’t aboard. While underway, the workflow is much more consistent as components need more repair as they get used more. Oberndorfer said the latest COMPTUEX period was worthwhile for him and all the maintainers of AIMD because it helped them get into the flow of working together again. “For me, the camaraderie that comes with being on the ship is my favorite part of being in Shop 8. It’s impossible to go home and get away from your coworkers anyway, so getting to know one another and work together is essential.”
U.S. Navy photo by MCSN K. Ashley Lawrence
U.S. Navy photo by SN Gregory Harden U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Jerine Lee
Everett
U.S. Navy photo by MCSN K. Ashley Law
U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Jerine Lee
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U.S. Navy photo by SN Gregory Harden
U.S. Navy photo by MCSN K. Ashley Lawrence
U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Jerine Lee
Haunted bars--a far cry from panhandling for the neighbors’candy corn.
The Showbox is always pretty cool.
So, What’s Everyone Doing for Story by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jimmy Cellini
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alloween is fast approaching, and society has deemed it inappropriate for people our age to go trick or treating. If you’re like me, and completely bummed about this, you’re probably looking for something else to do to celebrate. Have no fear, for I have scoured the internet in search of alternatives, and I promise I’ve found something a little different to keep you in the spirit this year. “Haunted” Houses The seasonal haunted house scene has been gathering strength over the last few years and it shouldn’t be too hard to find one right around the corner from you, but I’ve decided to save you some time and give you a couple that are sure to be pretty awesome. If you’re into the traditional haunt— walk through a dark hallway, get scared by actors and gory contraptions—then you’re in luck because the greater Seattle area offers some of the best. A
couple of classics are the KUBE 93 Haunted House in Seattle and the KISS FM House of Terror in Lynnwood. Although these two have been around for years, this year they seem to have stepped up their game. KUBE 93 has moved their location to a former morgue in Seattle, which jumps up the scare factor immediately. While KISS may not have made any notable changes to the House of Terror, their attraction will be open a few more days this year to offer brave souls the chance to walk through their horror maze in pitch black, armed only with a small flashlight. If you want something a little different then the regular haunted house, head down to Renton (a short distance southeast of Seattle) and check out the Dark Hallow Haunt. No, it’s not a haunted corn maze, although there are plenty of those around if that’s what you’re into. Dark Hallow is an hour-long walk through a dark forest.
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They’re pretty vague about what you’ll encounter on your trip, but they don’t recommend bringing anyone under the age of 12. You can expect to encounter plenty of creepy people lurking in the trees, I would imagine. Ghost Tours Maybe these pretend haunted houses aren’t your thing. Maybe they don’t scare you enough because you know their ghosts are fake. Well all right, tough guy, how about going faceto-face with the real thing? As you may or may not know, Seattle has a pretty troubled history full of shady dealings, prostitution and murder. That makes for a number of city scenes that are ripe for haunting. If you’re brave to enough to want to venture into such places, there are a few people in Seattle that would be more than happy to oblige you. Market Ghost Tours in Pike Place have been around since 2004 and were one of the first ghost tours to be offered in the U.S. They’re open pretty much
every day, and you can check out their locations day or night, depending on how brave you are. One of the biggest bonuses to the Market Ghost Tour is a visit to one of the most haunted locations in all of Seattle, Kell’s Irish Pub, which was once a morgue that offered money for bodies during the Spanish Flu epidemic in the early 1900s. It’s said to be haunted by hundreds of victims that died of the flu or were murdered so someone could make a quick buck. Kell’s was also recently featured on an episode of “Ghost Adventures” on the Travel Channel. If you want a little more variety in your ghost tours, check out Spooked in Seattle in Pioneer Square. They offer a number of different kinds of tours for you to enjoy including walking tours, bus tours, ghost hunts, dinner and ghost stories, and even a haunted pub tour of Pioneer Square. Although Spooked is more of a showcase of how ghost hunting works then an actual tour, that
can still be pretty cool. Halloween Parties/Pub Crawls I know what you’re thinking: “Jimmy, maybe we don’t want to be scared. Maybe we just want to get dressed up, go out and have a good time.” Well fine, cowards. I’m happy to tell you about a couple of pretty cool events happening Halloween weekend, but know that you have to be 21 to attend. If you’re underage, you’re still among the lucky ones who can still go trick-or-treating, so grab a pillowcase and start knocking on some doors. Hopefully the dentist down the street doesn’t give you a toothbrush again. I won’t pretend I’m the type to go out and go dancing and such, but if that’s your thing, then you won’t find anything better than the Ultimate Halloween Party at The Showbox at the Market. It’s the longest-running party in Seattle and has sold out for the last nine years, so apparently it’s pretty
Above left: How KISS FM plans to frighten listeners for Halloween.
awesome. There’s plenty of music, tons of people and more than $4,000 in prizes given away for the costume contest. The party is Oct. 29 at 8:00 p.m. and tickets are $35 at the door. I recommend you purchase your tickets in advance. If you don’t like clubbin’ and you want something a little more lowkey (but still really cool), look no further than Bring on the Cape Mae!!! Don’t ask me what the name means; I have no idea. But what I do know is that it’s a pub crawl/ghost tour! Also October 29, you can head down to the aforementioned Market Ghost Tour and give them a crisp $20 bill in exchange for a night of ghost stories, drinks and dancing. The pub crawl is a hop-on/ hop-off pub crawl, which means you can just park it at any given bar you like the most. However, if you choose to stay with the group, you’ll see four of the coolest bars in the Market and also zombie Jackie-O, which is pretty cool, I guess.
Above right: How KISS FM terrorizes listeners the rest of the year.
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U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Brian Morales
Abe Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Story by Seaman Gregory Harden
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SS Abraham Lincoln’s (CVN 72) Diversity Council hosted music and dancing performances for the crew in the ship’s hangar bay, Oct. 16, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The ceremony, themed “Many Backgrounds, Many Stories and One American Spirit,” included several authentic songs and dances along with storytelling and photo slideshows of Hispanic cultures and traditions. Master Chief Logistics Specialist Joselito Tolentino started the celebration by performing the national anthem on a Spanish guitar. “Hispanic-influenced music is great music,” said Tolentino. “The music from my culture is a very distinct style of music, and it’s what I grew up with.” The celebration was topped off with a dance performance accompanying the song “Black Magic Woman,” by Santana. “Dancing and music are the heart and soul of who we are; they’re in our blood,” said Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Marisol Rodriguez. First established in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week by President Lyndon Johnson, the celebration was later expanded to cover an annual month-long observation from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Sept. 15 also serves as the anniversary of independence for five Hispanic countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The
Hispanic culture has played an integral part in shaping the United States’ national character and in creating a diverse environment within our nation’s armed forces. According to the U.S. Census and Bureau Labor of Statistics, Hispanics make up 15.1 percent of the estimated total U.S. population of 301.6 million. In September 2011, the Chief of Naval Operations reported that there were close to 60,000 Hispanic enlisted and officers serving in the Navy, including three flag officers and 158 master chiefs. They have served in the U.S. Navy since the American Revolution and have participated in every subsequent engagement throughout American history. Hispanic Americans have fought and died alongside fellow Sailors, Marines and Soldiers in the constant struggle to support and defend the Constitution, and they have earned prestigious honors, achieved prominent positions and secured their place in United States Naval history and heritage. Since Lincoln’s crew is comprised of Sailors from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures, Rodriguez said they are proud to celebrate their diversity by bringing everyone together to share in the crew’s rich and varied collective history. “We are made up of many different personalities, cultures and beliefs,” she said. “Our different customs and traditions bring the Lincoln crew together and make us a stronger team, especially when we can celebrate and share that diversity through these performances.”
US Condemns Attacks in Turkey By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr., American Forces Press Service
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resident Barack Obama was joined by NATO today in denouncing the early morning terrorist attacks against various Turkish outposts and police stations along the Iraqi border. “The United States strongly condemns this morning’s outrageous terrorist attack against Turkey, one of our closest and strongest allies,” Obama said in a statement. The attacks, which killed at least 24 soldiers and injured 18 others, including a child, have been attributed to the Kurdistan Workers Party, according to NATO. Obama said the U.S. supports Turkey, a member of NATO since 1952. “The United States will continue our strong cooperation with the Turkish government as it works to defeat the terrorist threat from the PKK and to bring peace, stability and prosperity to all the people of southeast Turkey,” Obama said. “The people of Turkey, like people everywhere, deserve to live in peace,
security and dignity,” the president added. “As they pursue the future they deserve, they will continue to have a friend and ally in the United States.” NATO also condemned the attacks on Turkey and pledged solidarity with the country. “On behalf of NATO, I condemn in the strongest possible terms the recent attacks in southeastern Turkey, which killed and injured several Turkish soldiers, policemen and civilians, including a child,” said NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. “There is no justification for such acts of violence, and I express my condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims,” he said. “NATO allies stand in solidarity in the fight against terrorism.” Obama also expressed his sympathy to the families of those lost in the attacks. “On behalf of theAmerican people,” he said, “I offer my condolences to the families of the victims and to all of the Turkish people.”
U.S. Marine Corps Col. John A. Ostrowski, left, and Royal Thai Col. Sukondhapatipak Werachon look on a map while assessing flooding north of Bangkok, Oct. 16, 2011. A U.S. Marine Corps Humanitarian Assessment Survey Team is in the area to assess flood damage and decide if U.S. forces from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force could provide support to Royal Thai forces. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Robert J. Maurer
Briefly DOD Better Prepared for Cyber Attacks The Defense Department and its partners at home and worldwide are much better prepared to deal with cyber attacks than they were in 2008, the DOD cyber policy director said. Operation Buckshot Yankee, the most significant breach ever of U.S. military computers, was the major compromise of DOD’s classified computer networks that led to the 2009 creation of U.S. Cyber Command, part of the U.S. Strategic Command, to centralize cyberspace operations, organize cyber resources and synchronize the defense of U.S. military networks. It also led to President Barack Obama’s May 16 launch of an international strategy for cyberspace and the Defense Department’s July 14 release of its related strategy for operating in cyberspace. DOD plans to work with the Department of Homeland Security as well as international partners and those in the private-sector to increase cyber security. One such effort is called the Defense Industrial Base, or DIB, Cyber Pilot, a program that helps certain industry companies protect defense-related information on their computer networks from the most serious intruders. The main part of the pilot was completed in September, but DOD has extended it for 60 days to allow an independent evaluator to determine the program’s success. In that time, department officials will discuss the results with other federal partners. DOD and DHS tightened their cyber collaboration in 2010 when the agencies signed an agreement to provide personnel, equipment and facilities in mutual support of strategic planning for cyber security, and to jointly develop capabilities and synchronize cyber mission activities. To prepare a coordinated response to future cyber attacks, DHS works with DOD and industry through the National Cyber Incident Response Plan, which provides protocols and procedures in the event of a cyber incident. In the case of an attack on the electric grid, for example, DHS would bring together senior officials to determine the best way to mitigate the attack, and determine which departments and agencies have the best tools for it. The United States also would try to attribute the attack or incident to a specific adversary. (source: American Forces Press Service)