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INSIDE
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RCOH Update
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ReenlistmentWeek
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Standdown
Another week of RCOH is in the books, but we still have many more to go. Take a look at page 4 for a glimpse into what CS-6 did this week to get us a little closer to our goal. It wasn’t all hard work this week, though. Religious Ministries personnel took a day off to visit the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, where they celebrated by reenlisting their chief to get him over the 20-year mark. Back in Norfolk, the rest of the Abe crew also stepped away from its daily routines to attend a day of safety training at a pair of venues on Naval Station Norfolk. So now you know we’re all ready for the holidays--we’ll all be focused on making good decisions throughout the festive season. And that training came at just the right time, since we all get to enjoy our Christmas dinner warmup at the Thanksgiving table this week. Happy holidays!
Lincoln’s Soccer Team Battles for Championship Story and photo by MCSN Joshua Walters
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n a cold Monday afternoon, the lights of Capt. Slade Cutter Athletic Park shined down upon the soccer field, illuminating tired Sailors and Marines fighting for bragging rights and trophies to end the season. The last minutes of the second half of the championship game were winding down, and Lincoln’s team was up 2-1 against their final match rivals, a group of Marines--Lincoln’s team knew they were about to win the championship. But then, as the last seconds slowly ticked down, the Marines managed a late goal to tie the game and force an overtime period. While Lincoln was on deployment, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Juan Delira and his fellow shipmates would get together during port calls to play soccer. Once the ship was back, Delira returned from leave to find out he had been named team captain by his fellow soccer comrades. “After I found out that my teammates made me captain, I was really surprised. It felt really good,” said Delira. “It showed me how much potential I have as a coach and as a leader.”
Once the team was formed, they met for one practice in August before heading into their match schedule. Delira requested the team play three games a week to maximize their playing time. After 12 regular-season games, the playoffs began. “The hardest part about only having one practice was learning skill sets and how to work with each other,” said Delira. “But we overcame that obstacle and had to learn while playing.” After a Marine player scored the game-tying goal, the referee blew his whistle. The teams played two more hardfought, scoreless overtime periods, then another. Still knotted at two goals apiece, the teams headed for a shootout. And that’s when Abe’s soccer warriors fell just a bit short of their goal. The Marines won the game on penalty kicks, forcing the Lincoln team to settle for second place. “It is a sad day that we lost the game, but we will win next year,” said Delira. “Now I’m going to find an indoor soccer league team and try my best to get our team’s name out there in the civilian world.”
“Even after deployment, we still have what it takes to get the hard work done.” - ET3 Jon McDowell
CS-6: RCOH Photo layout by MC3 Jeremiah Mills
U.S. Navy Photo by SN Phylicia Sorenson
U.S. Navy Photo by MC3 Zachary S. Welch U.S. Navy Photo by MCSN Jonteil Johnson
U.S. Navy Photo by MC3 Zachary S. Welch
U.S. Navy Photo by MCSN Joshua Walters
U.S. Navy Photo by MCSA Kayla King
Lincoln Hosts Health Fair Story and photos by MCSN Joshua Walters
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incoln hosted a health promotion fair for the crew aboard the ship’s floating accommodation facility (FAF), Nov. 16. Lincoln’s Medical department held the fair to educate and promote women’s and men’s health, tobacco cessation, back health, supplement awareness, stress and anger management, and to explain Sailors’ Tricare health coverage benefits. Lt. Thomas Slocum, the ship’s
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physical therapist and health promotion coordinator, said the fair provided Sailors with a good opportunity to learn about the ship’s various health care programs. “Pulling into the yards can be harder and more stressful for the entire crew than being out to sea,” Slocum said. “We are trying to push out all the promotable material so everybody knows what resources they have to stay happy and healthy.”
The Medical department representatives spent a few hours in a training classroom aboard the FAF displaying their products, sharing information and answering questions. “We’re here to support Lincoln Sailors who just don’t know what resources they have available,” said Slocum. Though there were many good reasons to host the fair, Slocum said, the biggest benefit was the opportunity to promote men’s and women’s health.
Chief Warley Reenlists at Lincoln Memorial Story and photos by SN Phylicia Sorenson
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hief Religious Programs Specialist Elliot Warley reenlisted at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Nov. 15. Several of Lincoln’s Religious Ministries department personnel visited the nation’s capital with Warley to participate in the reenlistment ceremony. The reenlistment, Warley’s fourth, will get him over the 20-year mark toward retirement. Warley has served 19 years at eight different commands, including a year and a half spent as an individual augmentee attached to a Marine unit. “I spent a year and a half in Iraq working with Marines in the field,” said Warley. “That experience helped me understand my job more and why it is so important to have this rate in the armed forces.” Warley joined the Navy as an undesignated
Seaman, spent his first year working for Deck department aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) before striking into the religious program specialist (RP) rate. “I chose to become an RP because it is a rate where you can help change someone’s life,” he said. “This is a job I was meant to do.” Warley’s passion for taking care of others comes from his family life. He said being the father of five children has taught him the patience required not only to care for his family but also to care for his fellow shipmates. “My family has been a huge support to me in my career, and I have learned so much from them,” he said. “I never would have been able to make it through the dark times in my career without them.”
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keeping sailors safe command implements new program to cut back on duis Story by SN Phylicia Sorenson
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ince returning to the United States in August, Lincoln’s alcohol-related incidences (ARIs) and driving under the influence (DUI) numbers have skyrocketed. In an effort to reverse the trend, shortly after taking over as the new commanding officer, Capt. Karl O. Thomas devised a program to give Lincoln Sailors an incentive to decrease the occurrence of DUIs and ARIs command-wide: “30-60-90.” “Alcohol-related incidences and DUIs are issues that are near and dear to my heart,” Thomas said. To support the captain’s initiative, when the ship’s crew attended a safety standdown on base, Nov. 16, a major area of focus was DUI prevention. During the standdown, the skipper shared statistics that demonstrated how the introduction of alcohol to most activities was potentially dangerous and could lead to serious injuries or loss of life.
“I believe that the CO’s plan can be extremely successful,” said Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Jeremy Crandall, Lincoln’s command drug and alcohol prevention advisor (DAPA). “With the proper level of responsibility and initiative, I believe our Lincoln Sailors can accomplish anything.” The 30-60-90 program will reward the crew with a day off following 30 days without a single DUI or ARI. At the 60- and 90-day marks, the crew will earn additional days off. “What Sailor doesn’t enjoy time off?” Crandall asked. “The CO’s plan gives our Sailors an incentive to do the right thing. This also allows our Sailors to take pride in our ship and gives us an opportunity to build a positive reputation within the community in regard to responsible alcohol use.”
Safety Standdown Lincoln Prepares for Holiday Season Story and photo by MCSN Kayla King
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incoln Sailors participated in a command-wide safety standdown, Nov. 9, aboard Naval Station Norfolk (NSN). The morning began with opening remarks from Capt. Karl O. Thomas, Lincoln’s commanding officer. “This safety standdown is really important because it will allow us to work as a team to look out for each other,” said Thomas. A host of command leaders and representatives from naval support organizations, including the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) and the NSN Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC). Presentations ranged from preventing and coping with stress and financial issues to travel risks and other concerns specific to the upcoming holiday season. Lt. David Duprey, one of Lincoln’s chaplains, and the ship’s psychologist,
Lt. Gregory Asgaard, focused their messages on suicide prevention. They outlined steps to help Sailors recognize the warning signs for suicide and intervene on their shipmates’ behalf. Duprey and Asgaard both told the assembled crew members that suicide training will be offered to the command on an ongoing basis. Chief Cryptological Technician (Collection) Jeremy Crandall and Cryptological Technician (Collection) 1st Class Edward Stoessel shared information about driving under the influence (DUI) and underage drinking as well as the different ways alcohol can affect a person’s coordination. An FFSC representative provided advice about stress management, emergency preparedness and budgeting. A representative from NMCRS told Lincoln Sailors about financial management classes and available
programs for families facing financial crises. In 2012, NMCRS spent 8.1 million dollars to help families pay for bills and costs associated with emergency leave. Safety department personnel presented tips to help Sailors safely enjoy fall and winter off-duty recreation. Capt. Timothy Kuehhas, the ship’s executive officer, concluded the safety standdown. “Sixteen thousand people were killed this year alone by drunk drivers,” said Kuehhas. “Don’t think of the amount of people who died this year as a statistic, think of it as one person’s hopes and dreams gone. That is 16,000 hopes and dreams and lives devastated in the blink of an eye. You’re taking that risk for someone at the end of the night.”
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THE PENNY PRESS
Story and photo by MC3 Christina Naranjo