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Lincoln Supports Mentorship
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Images of the Week
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From the Cape St. George
FROM THE EDITOR
This deployment may be less than two months old, but it’s starting to sink in that we’re going to be out here for a while. So we might as well make the most of our time at sea, right? What better way to focus on the job at hand than to take a step back and ask ourselves how, exactly, we can achieve our goals while we’re out here doing the nation’s business. Every Sailor has a career to build and a future to plan--that’s where programs like the many careershaping tools available through the Command Career Counselors’ office and shipboard mentorship programs come into play. This week’s Penny Press invites you to take a moment to ask yourself what you’re doing to prepare for your future. How do you pick a rate? Who can help you find your path in the Navy? And how can you keep the money you work so hard to earn at sea?
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ow can I find out what rates are available to me? How long do I have to be aboard the ship before I am eligible to strike into a rate? Who do I need to talk to? These are just some of the questions that many new undesignated Sailors aboard Lincoln may have when thinking about striking into a rate. With the help of Senior Chief Navy Counselor Paul A. Tyquiengco from Lincoln’s Command Career Counselor (CCC) office, you can get the information you need to take control of your naval career. There are three ways to strike into a rate. One way is to take the navy-wide advancement exam (NWAE) and be rated upon scoring the required striker multiple. One thing to remember about taking the NWAE is that Sailors are required to serve time in their present pay grade in order to be eligible for the next higher pay grade. A secondary option is via rating entry designation (RED). The ship must have a billet available on board for that rate or the Sailor
will not be approved. Upon approval, if the rate is one that works exclusively in a different department than the one the Sailor is already in, the departmental leading chief petty officers will be the ones to execute the Sailor’s transition to the new department. The last path a Sailor can take is via “A” school, which requires the Sailor to have been on board for at least a year before becoming eligible. Tyquienco recommends you first schedule a career development board (CDB) with your departmental career counselor. Each department has a designated career counselor who is trained by the CCC to assist their Sailors with career choices for short- and longterm goals. CDBs are designed to identify a Sailor’s key interests pertaining to their career, which allows their chain of command to guide them toward their objectives. “We need to keep pounding the importance of CDBs,” said Tyquiengco. “Request a CDB and
U.S. Navy photo by MCSN Gregory Harden
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make sure your chain of command knows what your intentions are in order to help you and your career.” CDBs will be monitored through the Career Information Management System (CIMS). Your counselor will be able to address any concerns you may have regarding your personal goals. Your counselor will also help you develop of a career plan. Your career counselor will enter your personal information into a system called FleetRide, which will determine what ratings are available to you. FleetRide is updated monthly, and the new list of rating quotas is generated on the 15th of every month. Many things can attribute to what ratings are available to you. ASVAB scores play a vital role in determining rate availability. Some rates require a security clearance, which you can apply for via your departmental security manager. And just because you don’t see the rate you are looking for doesn’t mean that you will be forced to
choose one you don’t want. If your first choice is not available due to the community’s year group being overmanned, you can then pick at least three top choices from the rates available as a backup plan. However, Sailors not designated within 24 months of being on board their first permanent command will be offered needs of the Navy “A” school, provided all prerequisites have been met. Tyquiengco recommends Sailors consistently ask questions and take control of their career choices by planning ahead. “As a Sailor, you have to be responsible for your career,” he said. “It is important that you choose your own career path within 24 months, otherwise you will lose that option and the Navy will make the choice for you.” If you have any other questions about choosing a rate for your Navy career, follow up with your departmental career counselor.
U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Timothy Godbee
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Leading Sailors to Success Through Mentorship
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mong the many tools available to help Sailors take charge of their personal and professional development, participating in a mentorship program can help you shape your career based on oneto-one advice from someone who knows the ins and outs of the Navy. The mentorship program is a Navy initiative in which junior Sailors receive guidance and direction from senior Sailors. According to the Command Mentorship Program page on SharePoint, any Sailor may join and choose a mentor from one of the various senior Sailors aboard Lincoln who can share their knowledge, skills, information and perspectives to help boost a Sailor’s growth and understanding of life in the Navy. “A mentor should be doing what you want to do,” said Chief Electronics Technician Jason M. Buonomo, a mentor for many Sailors aboard the ship. “If you want to be a chief, your mentor should be a chief. If you want to be a limited duty officer (LDO), your mentor should be an LDO. It’s someone who has achieved what you want and can help you get to where you’re going.” Mentors may provide guidance in an official or unofficial manner to educate junior Sailors by identifying their expectations of the Navy and their short-and long-term goals, by answering general questions about Navy life or simply by listening to what Sailors need to get off their chests. “The reason I keep going back is that it’s not just a strict, ‘Oh, I have problems help me!’ it’s also a friendly voice to hear here on Lincoln,” said Fire Controlman 3rd Class Richard Denton, who has had a mentor now for more than a month. “It is nice to sit
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and talk about things that are going on without any thought of being uncomfortable. It makes you really unwind, and it feels good to have that support as a part of your life on board.” The mentorship program is not designed to be a failsafe for Sailors looking to be handed the right answer. The program’s goal is to impart knowledge to enable Sailors to make the right decisions for themselves. It’s not a get-out-of-jail-free card for mistakes made. The program is more of a military version of the Big Brother/Big Sister campaign initiative. “There’s got to be communication; you have to be able to talk to each other. There has to be some goal-setting involved, some patience. Every once in a while, the mentee has setbacks, and the mentor has to be able to identify that and get the person over those roadblocks,” said Buonomo. Having a mentor is not a badge of incompetence, nor is it an admission of defeat, Buonomo said. Finding a mentor is just the opposite: it’s a decision to help fortify and grow your ideas, goals, needs and wants. Mentors want to help and to see to it that you succeed. Buonomo said he likes seeing Sailors succeed. Since he enjoys seeing people meet their goals, it’s gratifying to him to help Sailors through the mentorship program. “I think that’s awesome. There’s no better thing in the Navy,” said Buonomo. To find a mentor, visit the Command Mentorship Program link on SharePoint. Or you can simply ask a senior Sailor if he or she would be willing to be your mentor. “Or you can ask your chain of command to help you find a mentor,” said Buonomo. Story and photo by MCSN Zachary Welch
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U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Timothy Godbee
U.S. Navy photo by MCSA Karolina Martinez
U.S. Navy photo by MCSA Karoli
U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Adam Randolph
U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Wade T. OBerlin
U.S. Navy photo by MCSA Josh Walters
ina Martinez U.S. Navy photo by MCSA Josh Walters
USS Cape St. George
CG 71
photos by MC3 Chris Johnson
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How to prevent
CREDIT CARD
FRAUD Story and photo by MC3 Christina Naranjo
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ccording to Militarymoney. com, more than 11 million people are victims of credit card fraud every year, and the numbers continue to increase. Because members of the military are mobile personnel, regularly moving and traveling to many different locations, we are especially susceptible to credit card fraud. Chief Legalman Karyn Sigurdsson, Lincoln’s assistant command financial specialist, said being aware of identity fraud and credit card scams can make the difference for Lincoln Sailors between keeping their finances in order and being stuck with credit headaches. Sigurdsson said one of the most important parts of her job is making sure Sailors are well-informed about money management and credit card safety. “I can’t stress enough how important it is to check up on your credit card statements regularly,” she said. There are many types of credit card fraud ranging from identity assumption to fraud sprees. Identity assumption, or identity theft, is a long, drawn out victimization of an individual’s personal information. Fraud sprees occur when criminals rack up unauthorized charges on your existing accounts. One way criminals gain access to your information is through the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) scanners. These scanners allow users to gather information such as account numbers, expiration dates and security data without having to physically swipe your card. Sigurdsson said she has been a
victim of both identity assumption and fraud spree. “In Italy, I found unauthorized charges of about $3,000 within two days. I believe my information was gathered while making a purchase at a restaurant. Because of my vigilant response, I never had to pay back the credit fraud,” she said. As Sailors onboard a deployed Navy ship, we purchase products online all the time. Criminals with access to certain programs--phishing software--can hack into your account information and use your credit card to make purchases within the blink of an eye. Before you know it, you’re stuck with substantial debt. Sigurdsson said it is always a good practice to limit your shopping to well-known, secure websites. She also recommends that you check your credit report and your credit card and bank statements frequently. She said it is generally not a good idea to use your credit card outside the United States. She recommends Sailors use cash whenever possible. Credit reports affect Sailors in many ways. Career opportunities may decrease, clearances may be revoked and, banks may deny you loans or other assistance. In some cases, it may take years to rebuild and repair bad credit. “Poor credit scores may lead to barred advancement and force conversion. If your rate requires a clearance, you may lose your rate,” she said. For more information, refer to your divisional financial counselor or command financial advisor. To obtain a free copy of your credit reports, visit annualcreditreport.com.
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fast-roping with
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Momsen U
SS Momsen (DDG 92) conducted Helicopter Visit Board Search and Seizure (HVBSS) training recently in order to prepare for operations while in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR). The guided-missile destroyer’s 12-man VBSS team was joined by the members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 11 who are currently embarked aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). The EOD team fast-roped onto Momsen from a helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12 in order to maintain proficiency and qualifications for both the EOD Sailors and the helicopter pilots. Following that evolution, they conducted training for Momsen’s VBSS team. “The training was phenomenal and really helped to prepare the team for whatever encounters we may have in fifth fleet,” said Lt. j.g. Stephen Dutton, officer in charge of the VBSS team. “Everybody is definitely fired up to increase the intensity and accomplish what we are out here to do.” In preparation for potential counter-piracy operations, the EOD team trained the Momsen Sailors on improvised explosive device (IED) recognition aboard ships and walked them through trip-wires they had simulated throughout the destroyer. They also concentrated on shipboard tactical movements and communication as a boarding team. “I feel much more prepared now,” said Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 2nd Class Nathan Cook, a member of the VBSS team. “It was great to have our training reinforced by such a high-intensity team. We learned a lot as a group and are ready to support whatever mission we are called to execute in the next couple of months.” Story by Ensign Claire Clancy Photo by MC3 Carlos Vazquez
Know Your Shipmate Photo and information provided by MC2 Barry Riley
Navy Updates High Year Tenure Policy
HM3 Bryant McMullen Medical Department
“The ship is all what you make it out to be. I mean, if you find your motivation and stay focused on that, you can really make the most of your time here.” Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Bryant McMullen, a sixyear Navy veteran from Los Angeles, reported to Lincoln’s Medical department about two years ago. McMullen’s spent his first several years in the Navy working as an emergency medical team (EMT) member at Branch Health Clinic Atsugi, Japan. “I love the rush that I get from being a first responder,” he said of his time there. “I’d have to say that my favorite part about being a corpsman is being able to make a difference in that particular field.” After leaving Japan, McMullen served a two-year tour aboard the dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) before reporting to Lincoln in late 2010. When he’s not on the job, McMullen enjoys playing
Briefly
basketball, lifting weights and honing his video production skills. Though he has a laundry list of hobbies, McMullen said all come second to spending time with his two year-old son. “This kind of job can be really hard on the little ones,” he explained. “We’ve been out to sea a lot this year, so I really just enjoy spending as much time as I can with my son.” McMullen’s short term goals include getting promoted to petty officer second class and studying to become an x-ray technician. Though he is heading to Afghanistan soon, McMullen said he received one particularly sound piece of advice when he first reported to the ship, advice that has helped him throughout his time on board. “I’ve been on Lincoln for two years,” he said. “My time here has been good to me because of the people I surround myself with. I feel like life is just a marathon, and I’m glad my experience here was part of that.”
The Navy announced changes to the High Year Tenure (HYT) policy and the merging of the active and reserve policy into one Total Force policy in NAVADMIN 030/12, released Jan. 25. The NAVADMIN outlines several significant changes to HYT. Under the new policy, HYT for E-2 Sailors will be four years, down from six. Additionally, E-3 Sailors will reach HYT at five years vice six, and continuation to eight years for passing a Navy Wide Advancement Exam has been eliminated. These Sailors would have had a minimum of six opportunities for advancement before reaching HYT. Policy changes outlined in the NAVADMIN will take effect July 1, 2012. Effective July 1, active and full time support E2 and E3 Sailors with active service in excess of these HYT length of service gates must separate by Mar. 31, 2013, unless advanced or waived. HYT waiver procedures can be found in MILPERSMAN 1160120. Sailors who have been granted a HYT waiver for a specific assignment and cannot fulfill their commitment will have their HYT waiver canceled and will have to separate, transfer to the Reserves or retire. These HYT changes will not affect Sailors who have reached sanctuary, which occurs at 18 years of cumulative active duty. Additionally, nuclear rated Sailors will be managed separately by their community manager. HYT policy for E-4 through E-9 has not changed. For more details on the HYT changes, read NAVADMIN 030/12 by visiting the Navy Personnel Command website at www.npc.navy.mil.
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