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From the Editor Good morning Lincoln Nation! What another great couple of weeks in RCOH! In this issue we have hit some big milestones. We didn’t just have one frockee, we had 174 frockees! Hooyah advancement! To celebrate such high spirits, Abe Warriors went out to better the community. The Second Class Petty Officer Association gave some much needed love to USS Wisconsin, Abe shipmates donated their time to local youth, and Captain’s cup football got underway. The celebration reached its peak with the 115th birthday of the Hospital Corpsmen rating. Surprisingly none of them look a day over 30! Keep up the good work Lincoln Nation and remember gambling on your life with drinking and driving puts yourself and of the community at risk.
174 Lincoln Sailors Frocked
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Story and photos by MC3 Benjamin T. Liston
he Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) promoted more than 200 Sailors in a frocking ceremony at Huntington Hall in Newport News, Va., June 10. “The two days I look forward to out of the year are these ceremonies,” said Capt. Karl O. Thomas, Lincoln’s commanding officer. “It brings me joy to see our Sailors advancing and rising through the ranks.” Frocking allows Sailors to wear the rank and assume the responsibility of the next paygrade being chosen for promotion. “I’m excited to finally be able to wear something on my collar,” said Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 3rd Class Patrick Rhee. “I came in as an undesignated Sailor and being able to become a petty officer is something I’ve worked really hard to accomplish.”
Prior to being frocked, the command requires that all selectees attend a two-day Petty Officer Indoctrination Course. The course trains the Sailors on how to handle the added responsibilities of their next paygrade and how they can help future Sailors and the command benefit from their leadership. “Helping people is what my rate is really all about,” said Religious Programs Specialist 3rd Class Alexis Howard. “Being able to do that and get respect as a Petty Officer 3rd Class just helps me get my message across faster.” The ceremony took place on the training field behind Huntington Hall to accommodate nearly 2,000 Sailors and their families. “We didn’t make this a mandatory event,” said Thomas. “It pleases me to see almost all of the crew out here to support and show appreciation to this group of Sailors.”
Lincoln Sailors Preserve USS Wisconsin’s History
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Story and photos by MC3 Danian Douglas
ailors from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln’s (CVN 72) Second Class Petty Officers Association (SCPA) painted USS Wisconsin’s ship library June 7, as part of a community relations project to preserve the history of this iconic U.S. Navy warship. Wisconsin played a vital role in three wars until becoming the last U.S. Navy battleship to retire from active duty shortly after Operation Desert Storm. The ship is now berthed at the Nauticus Maritime Center (NMC) in downtown Norfolk as a museum. SCPA president, Operations Specialist 2nd Class Maecyn E. Landrith, said that this was a great opportunity to get involved with helping the community. “One of our second class petty officers found this opportunity, and we figured it would be a great way to support our naval heritage by helping to restore one of the spaces to its prior active-duty condition,” said Landrith. According to the SCPA, both the ship’s library and barber shop need preservation and they chose to repair the library. “Either someone comes in here to volunteer and puts in the work, or they have to pay someone else to do it,” said Landrith. “Rather than shelling out money to a contractor, it’s easier for us to do the work for them.” Juli E. Mansfield, volunteer services coordinator for NMC and Wisconsin, emphasized how critical volunteers are to the center.
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“We are always searching for volunteers,” said Mansfield. “We look for anyone who has an affinity towards the battleship Wisconsin, people interested in maritime, naval or local history or who just want to see our community stay clean, grow and thrive.” Mansfield said that the center has been operating under financial constraints for several years but acknowledged the good fortune of being close to the world’s largest naval base. “Most of the volunteer groups on the battleship are naval commands,” said Mansfield. “Despite budget cuts, my role is still to find volunteers and to welcome the guests from all over the world, especially those who may not have heard about the program.” Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class Cierra Larke, an SCPA volunteer, said that it was her first time visiting the ship. “I’ve passed by here before but this was my first time actually coming inside,” said Larke. “I will definitely be coming back on my own because I had no idea there were so many interesting attractions in the museum.” SCPA’s Mentor, Chief Information Systems Technician Kenneth Polston, emphasized why it is important for Sailors to volunteer for community projects. “Such projects give Sailors the opportunity to serve their community and connect to and appreciate their naval heritage,” said Polston.
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Lincoln Sailors Race to End Zone
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Story by MC3 Jonteil Johnson Photos by MC3 Benjamin T. Liston
ailors from USS Abraham Lincoln’s Administration department beat Weapon’s department 21-0 in Captain’s Cup action June 12. At the beginning of the game, Weapons department started out with some impressive mid to long range passes to quickly get an edge on Administration department. However, Administration used speed and kept the ball grounded to move them closer to the end zone. With a combination of short passes and quarterback scrambles, Administrations emerged victorious over Weapons. Operations Specialist 1st Class Marcus Crenshaw, Captain’s Cup flag football event coordinator and official referee, said he believes playing sports instead of being at work can be an effective team building tool and can help Lincoln Sailors meet people they otherwise wouldn’t get the opportunity to meet. “Lincoln Sailors get the opportunity to play
with Sailors from different departments,” said Crenshaw. “This boosts morale and promotes camaraderie.” “It’s nice to get some of our Sailors off work early,” said Crenshaw “It doesn’t hurt to have a little fun while playing football either.” Flag Football is one of 10 sports played by Lincoln Sailors for the Captain’s Cup. Games are played every Wednesday during working hours. The department that wins enough games for each respective event will be awarded the Captain’s Cup Trophy for an entire month and will have their team name displayed on it. “It was an interesting game,” said Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Derrick Washington. “Both teams played very well.” Crenshaw said he enjoys football more than any other sport and is proud to share this with Lincoln Sailors. “Everyone knows football is America’s favorite sport, not baseball,” said Crenshaw.
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Lincoln Sailors Give Back S Story and photos by MC3 Danian Douglas
ailors from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) completed a mentoring project at the Newsome Park Elementary School in Newport News, Va., June 12, as part of a community relations (COMREL) project to build stronger ties with the local community. The project was designed to provide students a break aftercompleting Standards of Learning tests. Lincoln Sailors spent the entire week greeting students as they came off the buses in the morning, reading books in the classrooms and interacting during their lunch period. However, the field day was the main event. Twenty two Sailors joined the students, teachers and parents to celebrate the end of the school year with an all-day, spilt-roster jamboree of sack races; kickball; tire roll; parachute; tug-o-war; Frisbee toss; and basketball and soccer relays on the school’s field. Project lead Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Donnie Dowell chose Newsome Park because of his close ties to the school when he was aboard USS George H W Bush while it was being built in Newport News. “The field day event was to end the school year on a positive note and allow the staff and students a chance to have some fun,” said Dowell. The students were rotated between different game stations where the Sailors, teachers, staff and parents supervised the activities using simple communication to maintain the students’ attention. Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Ashley Walicki supervised the tug-o-war event. “I was able to communicate and relate to the children in the simplest way, by giving high-fives and by making sure they are having the best day they can,” said Walicki.
Assistant Principal Maggie Haley expressed her appreciation for the impact that Lincoln Sailors made. “This program demonstrated teamwork to the students and that it’s OK to have fun without being so competitive,” said Haley. “Even if you lose, it is fine because you enjoyed yourself.” Haley said that she hopes that the partnership between the school and the Lincoln continues so that the program can continue to benefit the community. While on deployment, Walicki volunteered for a COMREL in Thailand and compared this project to those abroad. “In Thailand, I volunteered at a local boys’ foster home and I’ve been volunteering here at Newsome Park Elementary School at least once a week since we’ve pulled into Newport News,” said Walicki. “The only difference between foreign and local COMRELS is the language and culture.” COMREL projects are intended to help enhance ties with local communities, but as Dowell explained, there is a reciprocal benefit. “The community benefits in ways that may not be noticed long after the Lincoln departs because every high five or smile exchanged between Sailor and student could be the highlight of that student’s day,” said Dowell. For junior Sailors like Walicki, such volunteer projects offer them the opportunity to be role models in local communities. “However, Sailors also benefit by knowing that students at Newsome Park look up to them and think highly of who they are. I remember looking up to my dad in the Air Force and uncle in the Navy and the values they instilled in me. They didn’t wear capes, but they were my superheroes,” added Dowell.
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Happy Birthday
Corpsmen Story and photos by SN (SW) Phylicia Hanson
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ospital Corpsmen aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) celebrated the 115th birthday of their rate June 17 with a cake cutting ceremony. Master of Ceremonies, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Zachary Boles, spoke about the significance and historic honor behind the rate of Hospital Corpsman. “The rate of Hospital Corpsman has received 22 Medals of Honor, four in Vietnam alone,” Boles said. “We are brought here today, as we are every year on June 17, to celebrate the life and legacy of the resilient, and often stubborn, being known around the world as a Navy Hospital Corpsman, known throughout history of the Navy as the backbone of Navy Medicine.” The benediction was given by Cmd. Denis Cox, Lincoln’s Command Chaplin. “I love Corpsmen! You would be hard pressed to find another rate in the Navy that is as difficult and as challenging as well as rewarding as a Corpsman,” said Cox. “I have watched Corpsmen save lives right in front of me; the persistence to never give up, and that has saved many lives. “ Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Raymond Chenoweth read a birthday message from Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Kenneth Fulson, Force Corpsman, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic Fleet. “I believe that I have the best job in the Navy,” said Fulson, “while working with the most dedicated and committed Sailors our Corps has to offer. Please continue to have the high standards that each of you have set and never waiver from achieving your goals, feeding your passions and reaching your dreams.”
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Immediately following the reading of the birthday message, Chief Hospital Corpsman Jonathon Wells led the group in the Hospital Corps Pledge. Following in a time honored tradition, the oldest and youngest Corpsman in the room cut the cake together. Once the cake was cut, the first piece was given to the oldest Corpsman who gave it to the youngest Corpsman, symbolizing the old and experienced Corpsman passing their knowledge to the new generation. Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Karamoh Sesay and Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Sandra Guzman represented the old and new generations of Corpsmen on board Lincoln. The cake for the ceremony was specifically designed to look like the Unit 5 Bag that was carried into combat by the Hospital Corpsman of the past. The Unit 5 Bag was not an accessory, it was a symbol of their mission, to care for the sick and injured. Lincoln’s Commanding Officer, Capt. Karl O. Thomas made the closing remarks. “Though I don’t have quite as compelling a story as Chaplin Cox,” said Thomas. “I do know that in my many years in the Navy I have known Corpsman to be the hardest working and most dedicated Sailors. I just have to thank you for all you have done and accomplished and all that you are doing in taking care of our Sailors every day. Keep up the good work, we are all proud of you.”
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Field Day Fun Lincoln Sailors Volunteer Story and photos by SN Phylicia Hanson
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eorge P. Phenix Middle School’s annual Field Day for grades 6-8 was June 7. Forty-two Sailors attached to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) came out to participate and show their support for the school. “We are so grateful that Lincoln Sailors have taken their time to come and help,” said Alexis Tharpe, the George P. Phenix Middle School events coordinator. “We have a lot of students here. Even though the field day was for the sixth through eighth graders, it is really useful to have extra eyes to monitor the kids as well as having more people to participate in activities with the students.” The Field Day had 12 different activities throughout the school including a Boot Camp Bouncy House, Inflatable Jousting Arena, Corn Hole, a face painting and temporary tattoos station, Nintendo Wii room, movie room, watermelon spitting contest and basketball in the gym. “These kids are so much fun to interact with,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 1st Class Glenn Walter, Lincoln’s project volunteer coordinator. “The
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teachers really appreciate us coming out to help. This is also the first command that has come to this particular school.” The Field Day wasn’t all about running around and high level activities. Several Sailors enjoyed sitting with the students in the bleachers as they watched basketball in the gym, getting to know the students, and acting as role models. “The kids I was playing basketball with were really good,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Michael King, who volunteered his time by playing basketball with the students. “They were really intense, but they have a lot of talent.” “I feel really lucky that Sailors came to my school,” said Marica Lewis, an eighth grade student. “It was a lot of fun to have more people, besides our teachers, to spend quality time with.” Lincoln’s outreach community program continues throughout a 48-month Refueling Complex Overhaul. To get involved please contact Lt. David Duprey, one of the ship’s chaplains in the Command Religious Ministries Department.
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Aviation Boatswain’s Mate of the
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Story and photos by SN Phylicia Hanson
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SS Abraham Lincoln’s (CVN 72) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate of the Year for 2012 started his career building structures for the Navy. Now, he is building Sailors’ careers. Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 1st Class (AW/SW/SCW) Marshall Gault is Leading Petty Officer of Lincoln’s Tile Team during Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH) “It amazes me that I was chosen,” said Gault. “My first eight and a half years in the Navy I was a Seabee. When I was up for PTS the career counselor told me that my rate was closed up and if I wanted to reenlist I would need to pick a different rate.” The rigorous evaluation factored warfare qualifications, performance evaluations, command involvement, awards and off-duty education in order to determine eligibility, Gault’s chain of command put together a package highlighting his personal and professional achievements. “I have been in the Navy for almost 12 years,” said Gault. “This isn’t just a job to me anymore, this is a lifestyle.” A total of 57 First class candidates were nominated for military performance, professionalism, dedication to duty and contributions toward improvements within the Aviation Boatswain’s Mates community aboard Lincoln. “I am very excited to see my Sailors receive the
recognition that they have worked so hard for,” said Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Smith, Lincoln’s Air Boatswain. “We are all very proud of Petty Officer Gault.” Coming into the Navy as a Seabee, and converting to an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) is a huge conversion of job fields according to Gault, who said. It’s like starting a career from the groundup again, a new field of qualifications to learn and be trained in, as well as new equipment to work with and on. “When I was talking to the career counselor about what I could pick as a new rate there were only Aviation Boatswain’s Mate available,” said Gault. “He told me the brief overview of the rate, that it was a lot of handson work; getting dirty, hard work and I knew this was the job for me.” “I would say to future Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) who would like to excel in their career: work hard,” said Gault. “When I say hard, I mean 110 percent of everything that you have, each and every day. Your ultimate responsibility is to your people, do what you need to do to be successful but always look out for your people. That isn’t just to air rates. This mentality will help you be successful Navy wide.”
Lincoln Sailor Breaks World Record, Literally! Story by MC3 Danian Douglas, Photos by Blackbelt Skydiving Group
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Sailor from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) recently punched his way to what is believed to be a world record May 23 to aid the Wounded Warriors Project (WWP). Information Systems Technician 1st Class Ernie Torres hand-smashed 12 boards while skydiving from 16,000 feet at around 120mph. He is in the process of getting his video evidence package verified. The Guinness Book of World Records lists most pine boards broken in a free fall at seven. Torres, a first degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, was inspired to attempt the world record when he saw news of the previous record being set. “I originally saw Jason David Frank, the actor who played the Green Power Ranger, setting the record via online news,” said Torres. “When I saw the video, I immediately saw I could get a better result.” The accomplishment has since garnered worldwide publicity through TV, radio and online coverage and his personal donation page on the WWP website has raised more than $1,500 of its $10,000 goal, all of which has gone directly to the WWP to help wounded service members. Since the first two record holders did it for charitable causes, Torres said that he wanted to do likewise.
“Being a member of the military, I chose to use the publicity to benefit The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP),” said Torres. In 2012, the fatality rate was.006 per 1,000 jumps, according to one source. Despite the risks, Torres said even amputees take up the sport. Torres pointed out that U.S. Marine Cpl. Todd Love, a triple amputee as a result of injuries sustained in an IED explosion, has started training in the wind tunnel, a vertical tunnel that uses powerful fans to create an air flow that simulates free falling. Torres began his training in 2004 in Spain with a company that was responsible for the stunt work in recent James Bond movies. “I now have more than 700 jumps, which gives me around 11 free-fall hours,” said Torres, emphasizing that safe skydiving depends on being properly trained and qualified, including practicing freefalling and body flight in vertical wind tunnels. “I’ve spoken with Love briefly about joining me for at least one of the World Record ideas I have in mind,” said Torres. “He’s all about it. Many wounded warriors engage in activities that some may think impossible. I hope to one day be training other wounded warriors to skydive as well.”