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From the Editor Greetings Lincoln Nation! We made it through our first two weeks in dry dock with ease! V-5 celebrated the transition by giving back to the community. They spent a day rooting through the weeds at a local church. When it comes to giving back, V-5 digs it. The Warriors at LIFAC have been working hard and hardly spending! HOOYAH LIFAC! It’s not all about hard work. Lincoln took a much earned break to take a crack at the bases! This month’s Captain’s Cup event is, of course, Softball! Abe Warriors took time out of their busy schedule to cultivate the minds of children at Lafayette Winona Middle School. Now that’s smart! Keep up the GREAT work Abe Warriors!
Lincoln Transits to Shipyard Story by MC2 Kyle Henley Photo by Ricky Thompson
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SS Abraham Lincoln made the move across the James River March 29 to Northrop Gruman Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va. to begin the aircraft carrier’s scheduled Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH). The safety of Lincoln and its crew were paramount during the transition to Newport News. Sailors were issued proper protective equipment including hard hats, flashlights and safety glasses. “There’s no specific training for moving a into dry dock,” said Cmdr. Daniel Jurta, Lincoln’s safety officer. “Really it’s just operational risk management at its best.” Jurta said the entire crew, not just Safety Department, helped make the move easy. “It’s not a matter of what Safety did, but what everyone as a crew had been doing to make the move successful,” said Jurta. “Obviously, this was a big evolution, so we needed everyone’s help.”
Sailors with Deck Department untied the lines holding Lincoln to Pier 14 South at Naval Station Norfolk and helped tie the ship to tug boats. Navigation Department also played a major role in Lincoln’s transition. Navigation Sailors organized the necessary charts for Lincoln’s course based on weather conditions and tides. During the “dead-stick” move, Sailors on the ship’s bridge maneuvered the rudder while the ship was towed by tugs en route to dry dock at the shipyard in Newport News. Since the galley was not available during the transition, Sailors organized a Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society fundraiser by selling grilled hamburgers and hot dogs on the fantail. “The movement happened without issue,” said Jurta. “Each department played their part to the best of their ability.”
V-5 Sailors Give Back to Community Story and photos by MC3 Kathleen L. Church
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ailors from USS Abraham Lincoln’s V-5 division volunteered to improve the landscape around Calvary Baptist Church in Williamsburg, Va., April 4. Sailors pulled weeds, trimmed hedges, picked up trash and reframed the parking lot with wood blocks to make some aesthetic changes to the church’s landscape. “It helps tremendously to have Sailors here,” said Glenn S. Bingham, interim pastor at Calvary. “The more hands that help, the faster the work gets done, so that we can focus on our outreach to the community.” Due to having a predominantly older congregation, Bingham said the church has a lot of little maintenance projects to complete but lacks the manpower to be able to accomplish them. “It’s great to be able to give back to the community in this manner,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Airman Zumy Touar. “By helping this church it gives its members more time to focus on helping the community.” Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate
Miguel Mudahy said partnering his Sailors with this church is a great opportunity for them to learn the importance of giving back. “It helps the church and the community to see the work the Sailors have done and the contributions they have made,” said Mudahy. “It teaches our Sailors the value of giving back and shows that when you give back to the community the community will continue to help others in need.” Bingham said the support Calvary receives from Lincoln Sailors continues to aid the church’s efforts to help those less fortunate. “These Sailors are helping us help other people,” said Bingman. “As a retired military pilot, I can relate to their mission. The military mission is the same as our church’s mission, ‘to help others in need,’ and it is great to see these two organizations collaborating in this way.” Lincoln’s V-5 division will continue to partner with Calvary as an ongoing community outreach program.
Saving Money
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Story and photo by SN Phyicia Hanson
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thousand dollars here, a thousand dollars there. In the middle of a multibillion dollar-RCOH, who cares, right? The Lincoln crew working at Newport News Shipyard’s Light Industrial Facility does. LIFAC is where Lincoln Sailors create and restore materials for the ship. Items they restore include: Watertight doors, non-watertight doors and ready room chairs. They also create new items, such as funnels and deck drain covers. “We had an order come in to make all new deck drain covers for the entire ship,” said Machinery Repairman 2nd Class Nathanael Goodwin. “Over a period of two weeks we cut and hand punched the holes for 2,000 deck drain covers.” The Lincoln Sailors at LIFAC come from different rates and departments aboard ship. But LIFAC Sailors are working outside of their rate. Meaning, they are also working outside of their comfort zone of knowledge. “We are going through a lot of trial and error, every day having to learn something new,” said Aviation Machinist Mate 2nd Class Perry Anderson. “It took the shop about six months to qualify everyone on all of the machines we use here. Thankfully, the Roosevelt Sailors are still here. We are learning a lot from them as we start to fill their shoes.” Among the many machines at
Hard Work
LIFAC, the blast booths standout. That is where doors and other mechanisms are sandblasted down to bare metal. Near the blast booths are booths for regular painting, for non-watertight doors. It’s with these stations that Sailors are able to do a lot of different jobs to save the Navy as much money as possible. “I am one of the people on the ‘door team’ and we are the ones who blast, repair and repaint the watertight and non-watertight doors,” said Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 3rd Class Bryant Guest. “We blast and then paint. We are using a new process for ships known as ‘powder coating.’ It is an alternative to painting. Powder coating lasts 10 times longer than regular paint, won’t rust, is environmentally safer, is an easier process and it takes less time to complete.” Learning how to become knowledgeable and qualified on the welding stations, blasting bays, paint rooms, machinery to measure and cut steel, and Chem Labs for each Sailor has also had its own set of challenges. “It is really important to reuse as much as we can as far as materials go,” said Senior Chief Aviation Machinist Mate Roberto Reyes. “With all the different cut backs in funding the Navy is experiencing right now, we try to use the fullest extent of each material we are sent to further our efforts without waste.” LIFAC has a long road in front of them as it takes pieces of the ship and renews to last another 25 years of service at sea.
Captain’s Cup Softball Bringing Spring Into Full Swing Story and photos by MC3 Benjamin T. Liston
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ailors attached to USS Abraham Lincoln held a Captain’s Cup Softball Tournament at Coast Guard Base Portsmouth, Va. April 10. Each department on Lincoln was represented and formed 14 teams. “The event was originally supposed to have eight teams,” said Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Juan Nevarez, head coordinator of the softball tournament. “This is an outstanding turnout for a command event.” Air depa r t ment played t he Aviat ion I nter med iate Mai ntena nce Depa r t ment i n t he f i rst ga me of t he tou r na ment. A i r won, 11- 0. “The tournament couldn’t have started on a more beautiful day,” said Shannon Smith, Lincoln’s Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Fun Boss. “It’s great to see, not only Sailors, but the families out here supporting the command.” Families of participating Sailors as well as other Sailors from Lincoln showed their support by cheering on their departments and enjoying the camaraderie of fellow shipmates. “It’s a wonderful surprise to see families out here, not only spouses, but children as well,” said Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Ronnie Padilla, Leading Chief Petty Officer of Lincoln’s MWR department. “It just goes to show that the Navy really is one big family.” The softball tournament continues through April.
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viation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 2nd Class Sarah White hails from Chicago. She began her naval career in 2003. “I wanted to make a difference in the world,” said White. “Joining the Navy seemed like the logical way to give back to my country.” USS Abraham Lincoln is White’s 5th duty station. Her role while deployed was to launch and recover aircraft on the flight deck. “Launching and recovering aircraft is not a one person effort,” said White. “It takes the hard work and dedication of every Sailor to get the job done safely.” Since returning from deployment, White has been working as a housing management assistant at Huntington Hall in Newport News, Va. Her primary duty is to check Sailors in and out of the barracks. Not all of the Sailors living at Huntington Hall are from the Lincoln. She also handles Sailors from three submarines as well as Sailors attached to the future USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). Outside of her primary duties, White also holds various collateral duties. She helps facilitate command indoctrination, where she teaches the Navy Pride and Professionalism course. White feels that it is her responsibility as a second class petty officer to be able set an example for junior Sailors. Her role at Huntington Hall provides a perfect environment for her to reach out and educate. “Mentoring junior Sailors is not just a job,” said White. “It is an obligation.” “I taught this course at my last three commands,” said White. “I feel it is important to instill a sense of camaraderie and discipline in the Naval community.” White is also a Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
What’s Your Story? representative, a member of Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions, and has recently organized a community relations project for Lincoln Sailors. In her spare time, White recently attained her bachelor’s degree in the Science of Aeronautics. “If I choose to separate from the Navy, I would like to pursue a career in aviation management,” said White. “The Navy provided the groundwork for me to be able to excel in an aviation based field.” White is now working toward her master’s degree. Outside of work, White enjoys spending time with her family. One of her favorite leisure activities is watching her son play baseball. “It is great to be able to watch him excel at something he loves doing,” said White. “Watching him play provides me with a release from my daily routine.”
Story by MC3 Kathleen L. Church Photos by MC3 Benjamin T. Liston
Lincoln Sailors Adopt a School Story and photo by SN Phyicia Hanson
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ailors from USS Abraham Lincoln volunteered their time at Lafayette Winona Middle School (LWMS) in Norfolk, Va., April 4. Lincoln Sailors have “adopted” LWMS in a partner-mentoring program to help raise students’ Standard of Learning test scores. Several Sailors went as a group in the morning and then, as the students were on break for lunch, a second group arrived to relieve the previous group and to finish out the school day. “We are coming in to help the teachers as well as the students,” said Lt. Stephen Haggard of Lincoln’s Air Department. “A lot of these students aren’t getting the attention they need, and the teachers can be, at times, overwhelmed by the constant needs of every individual student. The opportunity we have here is phenomenal; we have the chance to make a change in these kids’ lives.” Chief Hospital Corpsman April Harrison, Leading Chief Petty Officer in charge of Lincoln’s volunteer force, said the main area students at LWMS need the most improvement in reading.
Sailors will help with after-school tutoring, arts and crafts, developmental classes, sports, debating classes and summer programs. “I think it’s very important for Sailors to help,” said Harrison. “Education is fundamental. If you don’t have a good education, it makes it difficult to become a functional member of society.” The tutoring program that Lincoln is participating in, either as individuals or as group efforts, is intended to help provide assistance to teachers. The program is meant to benefit groups as small as individual classes and as large as the entire school. “I didn’t really know what I was walking into when I came here today,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handing) 1st Class Shannon Walker. “I’m so happy I came though. This has been a rewarding experience.” Volunteering at LWMS will continue throughout Lincoln’s 48 month Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH). For more information on how to get involved in the program contact Harrison at 757-534-1053.
Climb the Financial Ladder How Are You Spending Your Tax Return? Story and grapic by MC3 Rusty Pang, Department Command Financial Specialist
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etting your finances in order does not happen overnight. It is a journey, but that journey can start today. Climbing the ladder of financial success always begins with a foot on the first rung. The first step to financial health and success is a starter emergency fund. “This beginning emergency fund will keep life’s little Murphies from turning into new debt while you work off the old debt. If a real emergency happens, you can handle it with your emergency fund,” said Dave Ramsey, personal finance expert. “It’s not a matter of if these events will happen; it’s simply a matter of when they will happen.” Having an account to draw upon for unexpected financial events will help decrease the need for a Sailor to go into debt. According to Navy.mil, practicing sound financial management provides choices for
Sailors and their family members. These choices help keep personnel focused on mission readiness. One way to apply these principles is to take advantage of ones annual tax return. Use the money from your tax refundto start your emergency fund and move up the financial ladder. Sailors who say “no” to wasteful spending in the short-term can realize an increase in happiness and productivity in the workforce, according to an article by the University of Florida. However, these benefits are contingent upon the commitment to change. “It won’t occur unless you have the personal strength to stick with the decision you have made.” In the end, every Sailor that has a financial plan adds one leg to the table of Sailor readiness. For more information regarding personel finance contact Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Erick Powell at powell.erick.@cvn72.navy.mil.
Source: www.military.com, www.navy.mil
Strategies to Save Money Story and graphic by MC3 Zachary S. Welch
Ask for Military Discounts – Everywhere! This is especially true for those who live near an active military installation. Many restaurants and retail stores offer 10-20 percent military discounts. This is often not advertised, so get used to asking. Some stores have stipulations such as active duty only or only while in uniform. Some extend the discount to dependents, and retired personnel. Carry your military ID with you as proof, and ask before the cashier rings up your total. They’ll appreciate not having to redo it. Shop at the Commissary Commissaries offer items typically stocked at civilian supermarkets. They are managed by the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA). DeCA states that a family of four can save 30 percent of their earnings shopping at the commissary. Food items are sold at cost plus a 5 percent surcharge to the total. The surcharge is to pay for building new commissaries, maintenance and operations equipment. If you have access to a commissary such as, Langel Airforce Base or Naval Station Norfolk, there is really no reason not to shop there!
Take a “Hop” using the “Space A” program Space available travel (Space A) is a privilege for uniformed service members. Space A passengers travel only after all duty cargo and passengers have been accommodated aboard military and militray contracted aircraft. All available seats are released, but there is no guaranteed movement in your preferred time frame. Space A is a nice alternative for air travel, when going on leave. It saves a lot of money. Have sufficient funds available to complete travel using commercial transportation if necessary. Armed Forces Vacation Club The Armed Forces Vacation Club (AFVC) is a Space A program that offers military personnel the opportunity to enjoy vacations at popular destinations around the world for $369 per unit, per week. Armed Forces personnel and their family and friends have access to accommodations at more than 3,500 resorts, apartments, condominiums and homes in more than 80 countries.
SAPR Speaks
On Sexual Assault Story by MC3 Jeremiah Mills
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SS Abraham Lincoln is joining the Navy in promoting Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) to raise awareness about sexual violence through command wide training and education through April. Sexual assault includes acts of rape, aggravated sexual assault, wrongful sexual contact, aggravated sexual contact and indecent assault. According to a military sexual assault annual report, the armed forces received a total of 3,192 reports of sexual assault during 2011. Of the 3,192 reports, 2,439 were unrestricted reports and 753 were restricted reports. “Sailors have several options about how to report sexual assault. Through medical, SAPR team or chaplains, you can file an unrestricted report which allows the victim to participate in the military criminal justice process,” said Lt. j.g. Jose Mercado, Lincoln’s Sexual Assault Response and Prevention (SAPR) coordinator. “An unrestricted case goes at the pace of the victim.” “Restricted reporting excludes personal information of the Sailor while releasing a notification that the event has occurred to the command, law enforcement is not notified,” said Mercado. The Lincoln SAPR program has also placed a strong emphasis on education and bystander intervention in order to empower Sailors to protect their fellow service-members both in and out of the workplace. “Whether you are an E-1 to E-9 or higher, education, training and bystander intervention is our first line of defense in successfully preventing sexual assault,” said Mercado. “It’s the goal of our SAPR team and victim advocates (VA) to act as a support system in order to help the assaulted.” “Advocates help to establish that the victim is in no way at fault, no matter the level of involvement, whether at first voluntary or involuntary,” said Mercado. “When the victim could not or would not consent the result of the incident was an act of sexual assault.”
“The empowerment in the reporting process is that it’s at the pace of the victimized sailor,” said Mercado. Mercado said that SAPR advocates assist the victim by documenting or recording all the details about the assault and the assailant. Seek medical care as soon as possible and preserve all evidence of the assault. Do not bathe, wash your hands or brush your teeth. If you are still where the crime occurred, do not clean, straighten up or remove anything from the crime scene. If you suspect you have been drugged, request that a urine sample be collected. Even if you do not have any visible physical injuries, if applicable you may be at risk of becoming pregnant or acquiring a sexually transmitted disease. Ask a health care professional to conduct a sexual assault forensic examination to preserve forensic evidence. “There is no right or wrong way to recover from a sexual assault,” said Mercado. “However, there are unhelpful or self-destructive ways of coping. Alcohol abuse, drug use, suicidal statements or increased behaviors with unhealthy outcomes unprotected and/or anonymous sex, gambling, smoking and over eating are sometimes warning signs. “ Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from someone skilled in helping with more productive coping strategies. Lincoln’s chaplains Lt. David Duprey, and Cmdr. Denis N. Cox and ship’s P sychologist Lt. Gregory Asgaard, along with Mercado, are trained in confidentially helping victims through a SAPR incident. The sexual assault helpline can be reached at 877-995-5247 or 444-NAVY.
Voucher Program Enables Advanced Education
for Senior Enlisted Sailors Story by Ed Barker, Naval Education and Training Command Public Affairs Photo by MC2 Jason Howard
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ENSACOLA, Fla. -- The Chief of Naval Personnel announced funding for the FY-13 Advanced Education Voucher (AEV) program April 9, providing advanced education opportunities for top-performing chief, senior chief and master chief petty officers. Announced by Naval Administrative Message (NAVADMIN) 093/13, AEV provides financial assistance to selected senior enlisted personnel (E7-E9) to complete post-secondary, Navyrelevant degrees through off-duty education. Senior Chief Electronics Technician Jason Szot, enlisted education program coordinator at the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), believes the educational program is one of the most significant in the military, as the Navy invests in the future of enlisted leadership. “For senior enlisted members interested in advanced education, the AEV program is an outstanding resource,” said Szot. “AEV offers the opportunity to get a degree from a university without having to worry about finances or Tuition Assistance (TA) restrictions, as it pays for 100 percent of tuition, books and fees up to a specified limit.” The AEV program will fund bachelor’s and master’s degree completion in designated, Navy/rating-relevant areas of study. Examples include: strategic foreign languages, construction management, emergency and disaster management, homeland defense and security, human resources, business administration, leadership and management, engineering, information technology, nursing, business administration, education and training management and electrical / electronic technology. All degrees, including any not listed above, must be approved by the AEV program coordinator at NETC to validate Navy relevance. Senior Chief Yeoman Lonnie Bussell, senior enlisted leader for the Naval Operational Support Facility at Naval Air Facility Washington, D.C., recently completed his Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management from Wayland Baptist University using the AEV program. Eligible applicants include E7s with no more
than 17 years of time in service (TIS), E8s with no more than 19 years TIS and E9s with no more than 22 years TIS. Time in service for all pay grades is computed to October 1, 2013. The TIS ceilings are not waiverable. Proven superior performers with continued upward mobility are encouraged to apply. AEV will support bachelor’s degree completion in approved, Navy-relevant areas of study through off-duty education, capped at $6,700 per year for a maximum of 36 months from the date of enrollment and covers 100 percent of tuition, books, and related fees. Total program cost per student is limited to $20,000. Qualified candidates must have an associate degree from an accredited institution or the equivalent amount of college credit applicable to the degree being sought. The AEV master’s degree program covers 100 percent of tuition, books, and related fees up to a maximum of $20,000 per year for up to 24 months of enrollment, with the total program cost per individual capped at $40,000. Qualified candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution recognized by the Department of Education. For FY13, Navy-relevant master’s degrees are required. The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy will convene the AEV Program selection board in June 2013 and program selectees will be expected to enroll in studies in the fall 2013 term.
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THE PENNY PRESS
Story and photo by MC3 Christina Naranjo