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INSIDE
Command-Wide Comrel
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Berthing Team
VA health Clinic
14 FROM THE EDITOR COMRELs! COMRELs! COMRELs! Lincoln Sailors have been busy helping out at various locations throughout our community and giving back to those who have given a lot to us... and on Valentine’s Day no less. CMC Weber has once again graced us with his wisdom and has addressed Lincoln Sailors who are eligible for advancement in the upcoming cycle. Just when you thought we were done giving back to those around us, Chief Warley shows up and visits former servicemembers at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. While all that was going on, berthing team got busy on the ship and started preparing spaces for the crew move aboardcurrently going on aboard Lincoln. Hooyah free housing! It’s a jam-packed issue of good information and heart-warming tales aboard good ol’ CVN 72.
CMC’s Corner By Command Master Chief Gregg Weber
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ood day Mighty Abe Lincoln Warriors. It’s the CMC coming to you on a subject near and dear to all of our hearts. I’m talking about money. Cold hard cash. Moola. And in the world’s finest Navy, there are few ways to earn more than you’re getting now. But, the most common way to earn more money is a subject that is near and dear to every junior Sailor. Ok, I’ll say it. It’s the Navy wide Advancement Exam. Wait, wait, wait. Pick the paper back up… I’m not coming at you with a lecture, but rather a leadership lesson. Within the next year I’m going to need someone to take my place. The guy or gal after me is going to need a replacement, too, and that person has to start somewhere. No one ever made CMC without first making Third Class Petty Officer, but I digress. Let’s get back to the immediate motivation. The money. There are those of you who are what’s called “single term” sailors, and then there are those who want to be “lifers.” Both of these groups want to get paid more no matter how long their term is. Let’s lay out the basics. For the single termers, the monthly pay difference between an E3 over three years and an E5 over three years is about 405 bucks a month. Now I don’t know about you, but CMC wouldn’t turn his back on an extra $405, and that’s just base pay. Housing allowance also goes up with rank. For those of you thinking of making the Navy a career, remember when I said no one ever made Master Chief without first making Third Class. The monthly pay difference between an E3 over three or four years and a brand spanking new, fresh out of the box Master Chief over ten years is a cool 2,800 big ones, and that doesn’t include automatic pay raises every two years. So to my replacements and my single termers, start studying. There I said it. Studying – the real reason I’m chatting with you right now. In order to make rank, you have to do well on the exams. As an enlisted Sailor, how you study for your exam is the only part of making more money over which you have total control. The issue many Sailors have is that they don’t know how to study or even where to get the material to study. Luckily for the Sailors of the USS Abraham Lincoln, your CMC wants DFAS to make it rain on you, so he’s going to give you some tips: 1. Make sure you’re eligible for the exam. Your rating may have extra requirements to take the exam and all ratings have a service in paygrade requirement. If you’re not sure what these are, ask your friendly
Educational Service Officer (ESO). 2. Get your BIB (bibliography), otherwise known as your study roadmap. It contains all the references used in the making of your exam, and the list of topics and subtopics that will be covered in the exam. “But CMC, where do we find these BIBs?” In my day they arrived by stagecoach and LPO, but for this generation, getting a BIB is as easy as pushing a few buttons. Log onto www.nko.navy.mil. Under the “Career Management” heading go to the Navy Advancement Center and then “Bibliography.” Choose the BIB for your specific rating and paygrade. Boom. You’re in the know. 3. Make a study plan. Using the topics and subtopics from your BIB, break the info in the references down into 30-60 minute study chunks. Nearly all of your references on the BIB can be accessed by simply clicking on them while you’re in your BIB. Neat huh? Determine how much time will be needed to study each reference. Know whether you study better alone or in a group? Try to study your more difficult subjects when you’re at your best, because -- let’s be honest here -Navy references are not the most exciting literature. 4. Don’t study at a concert. Create a calm study environment where there are few or no distractions. Try to study at the same time every day or night, if possible. Dress comfortably. If those footie pajamas help your brain work, rock ‘em. Drink plenty of water and eat light. Monsters and Big Macs are not the answer! 5. Use proven study methods. Preview the material. Take a gander at headings, subheadings, or, diagrams and try to use these to form questions. If you see underlined, italicized, or bold words, use those to form questions as well. Focus on one topic at a time, and for the love of the Easter Bunny, don’t try Continued on next page
Sailors attached to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) take part in the Navy-wide E-4 exam at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton, Va.
Continued from previous page to read the reference from cover to cover. Study with the questions you’ve formed and the answers you have from the references. Carry around flash cards for quick review. Most important: If you don’t understand what you’re studying, ask for help or OJT. 6. Don’t be tardy for the party. Though your chain of command will most likely tell you when and where the exam will be conducted, it’s always good to be self -sufficient. If you log unto www.npc.navy.mil, click ‘New Messages’ on the right and search ‘Examinations’ you’ll find out on what date everyone in the Navy is taking your exam. 7. On exam eve, relax. Don’t try cramming six months of info into your brain in one night. Don’t, just don’t. Relax, do something fun and get a good night’s sleep. 8. On exam day, eat right. Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey. Actually, no. Fruit and cereal would be a better idea. Eat light, put on your inspection ready uniform, grab your ID and get there early. Make sure you have more than enough time to make it to the exam because if you’re late, you’re not getting in. 9. Sit down, stay awhile. You’ve got three hours to
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take your exam. Use it. Read each question carefully. Try to put them in your own words and answer the ones that are easier for you first. If you have to come back to a question, write it down on your scratch paper so that you don’t forget to come back to it. If you absolutely cannot figure an answer out, guess. Yup, guess. You will not be shot for it. A wrong guess counts no more against you than an unanswered question, and if you get it right, the guess paid off. Once you’re done, go back over the answer sheet, not to change anything, but to make certain everything was answered and that there’s only one answer marked for each question. 10. You’re almost done. When you leave the test site, find somewhere quiet and try to remember as many of the questions as you can. Write them down and compare them to your study notes. Now breathe and await your results. The spring exam results usually come out around Memorial Day, which is a lot quicker than when we received them by dinosaur in my day. You’ll receive them on a profile sheet. We’ll discuss how to read those on later date. Happy testing Shipmates. Make that money. It’s yours if you want it… CMC out!
Story from USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs
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Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Jose Gomez, assigned to Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) unloads perennials from a truck at the Hampton, Va., City Hall. (Photo by MC2 Amanda Kilpatrick)
(Right) George Wallace, Mayor of Hampton, Va., exchanges ceremonial pins with Capt. Karl O. Thomas, Commanding Officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). (Photo by MC2 Amanda Kilpatrick)
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early 1,500 Sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) gave their own Valentine's Day gift to the Hampton Roads region: Volunteering in an allday community relations (COMREL) event in the Hampton Roads region, Feb. 14. Lincoln Sailors volunteered at more than 40 different COMREL projects ranging from visiting local elementary and middle schools to cleaning parks to planting perennials. The all-day volunteer effort in eight different cities in the region marks the second all-day COMREL initiated by USS Abraham Lincoln Sailors since the ship arrived in the area in August 2012. On Sept. 20, 2013, Sailors from the Lincoln volunteered more than 5,000 hours in a similar COMREL blitz. In Newport News, Lincoln Sailors visited seven different elementary and middle schools, teaching students about our 16th president in honor of Abraham Lincoln's 205th birthday Feb. 12. Capt. Karl Thomas, commanding officer, USS Abraham Lincoln visited various COMREL locations throughout the Hampton Roads region to thank his Sailors for their volunteerism. "I was truly touched that there is so much goodness that goes on in the community, and that our Sailors were enthusiastically involved in making a difference today," said Thomas. "I'm very proud to be their commanding officer, and to know that the Abraham Lincoln crew truly made a difference across Hampton Roads in so many different ways." Other Sailors, such as Lt. Josh Wyatt of Lincoln's Operations Department worked alongside Sailors from the carrier's Medical department sorting donated clothing at Union Mission Ministries in Norfolk. "Anytime we can lend a hand for the community in need is a great
“Anytime we can lend a hand for the community in need is a great opportunity.� - Lt. Josh Wyatt
Senior Chief Electronics Technician Camile Halliday, assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), interacts with students at the Jenkins Elementary School. (Photo by MC3 Danian Douglas)
opportunity," said Wyatt. Sailors assigned to Lincoln's Engineering department volunteered at an assortment of sites in the Hampton Roads region, including the Virginia Beach Farmers Market, Fort Monroe Community Center, North Phoebus Community Center, PETA, and the Hampton City Hall. "My entire team from work
control is helping to build fences, improve the landscaping, and clean up the grounds at PETA," said Senior Chief Machinist's Mate Reynaldo Alcantara. More than 46 other Sailors from Lincoln's Engineering department planted 1,000 perennials at the Hampton City Hall's Honor Park, which is a memorial park dedicated to
the fallen men and women from the police force and military. "This is a team building experience for us and a way to give back to the community; honoring those who have fallen and making these monuments a better place for everyone," said Machinist's Mate Fireman Apprentice Travis Hayes. Cmdr. Carl Koch, command
Sailors assigned to Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN72) sort food at the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. (Photo by MC2 Joshua Walters)
Sailors assigned to Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN72) bag up roadside trash at Sandy Bottom Nature Park. (Photo by AT1 Algernon Parker)
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Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Andrew Nicoletti, left, and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Zachary Bowstring, volunteer at Denbigh Middle School. (Photo by MC3 Benjamin T. Liston)
chaplain aboard Lincoln, was amazed by the high spirits and fast pace of the volunteers planting perennials at Hampton City Hall's Honor Park. "You can't beat the Lincoln's Sailors coming out here to help the local community," said Koch. "It's not their home community but it's a community they've adopted and who have adopted them. It's a great opportunity." One of the master minds behind the planning of the command's two all-day COMREL events is Personnelman 1st Class Mishell Brownlee who reflected on what Sailors gain from helping in the communities they work and live in. "This is the community we work and live in day in and day out," said Brownlee. "Sailors who help out with our command COMRELs can walk away feeling better about helping others and gain valuable career enhancement opportunities." Sailors assigned to Lincoln's Reactor department ventured out to Carrolton Nike Park to help remove downed limbs and clean up shelters in the park. "This is my first community project with Reactor department," said Machinist's Mate Fireman Apprentice Devin Hulstein. "The experience has been great." These Sailors were more than happy to come out and help their community. "Reactor department is always adamant about
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helping out with COMRELs," said Machinist's Mate 1st Class Matthew Theis. While Reactor Sailors were adamant about volunteering, other Sailors from Lincoln's Weapons and Transportation departments were eager to volunteer at a local baseball field in Newport News. "Weapons Department came out in full force to help out this area of Newport News," said Senior Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Kevin Nowlin. "The diversity and camaraderie of this group will make this a very successful project." Sailors lined up on their measurements and pounded in posts and placed fencing, turning a mundane field into two usable baseball fields for the benefit of the community. "We're all pretty excited about this project," said Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Andrew Nicoletti. "We're out here for the purpose of giving back to a community that has done a lot for us." Sailors from another division within Reactor department volunteered to paint fences surrounding the Phoebus Little League baseball field. Gerald Stutt, president of the Phoebus Little League appreciated Lincoln Sailors for providing their time and talents to mend the field's fences. "This is a tremendous help," said Stutt. "To have Lincoln Sailors come out to assist us with our
tremendous workload does a great deal more than they can understand." Nearly half of the more than 40 different COMREL events planned were conducted in and around Newport News. Sailors assigned to Lincoln's Air Department volunteered at Newport News Park and helped pick up fallen debris throughout the parks forest area. "It's just our way of showing our appreciation for Newport News has done for us," said Lt. Albert Duckworth. Sailors assigned to Lincoln's Air department volunteered at the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. Jan Silva, Foodbank manager reflected on the impact the volunteerism by Lincoln Sailors provide to the community members they serve. "This Tidewater location is more like a warehouse, but we serve approximately 1,000 people every month," said Silva. "We also have more than 400 partner agencies that give food to their local neighborhoods." Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Leon Johnson volunteered and reflected on giving back on Valentine's Day. "The Command-wide COMREL is a good thing, especially on Valentine's Day, because many people out there don't have a lot of love in their lives and this is a way to help with that," said Johnson. Lincoln Sailors continue to make a significant impact in the Hampton Roads region since the aircraft carrier arrived in Norfolk in August 2012, contributing more than 12,000 volunteer hours at various COMREL projects.
Sailors volunteered at the following locations: - In Hampton: Sailors will volunteer at the following sites: Boo Williams Sportsplex, John B. Cary Elementary School, Transitions Family Violence Services, The Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula, Virginia Space and Air Museum, Hampton City Hall, North Phoebus Community Center, North Hampton Community Center, Bethel Landfill, Phoebus Little League, Hampton City Honors Park, and Sandy Bottom Nature Park; - In Newport News: Newport News Park, Horace H. Epes Elementary School, Magruder Primary School, Newsome Park Elementary School, Jenkins Elementary School, Yates Elementary School, Dozier Middle School, Passage Middle School, Crittenden Middle School, Virginia Living Museum, Habitat for Humanity Re-store, Peninsula SPCA, and Denbigh Youth Basketball League. - In Norfolk: Ronald McDonald House, The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, PETA, Union Mission Ministries, Norfolk Zoo, Eggleston's Tanner Creek Nursery, Forkids' Haven House, Elmwood Cemetery, and Good Mojo Thrift Store; - Fort Monroe Community Center and Fort Monroe; - In Portsmouth, Va.: Oasis Social Ministry; - In Virginia Beach, Va.: Virginia Beach Highway Clean-up and Virginia Beach Farmers Market; - In Yorktown, Va.: Chesapeake Arboretum; - In Carrolton: Carrollton Nike Park.
Senior Chief Electronics Technician Chuck Chandler helps paint a fence for the Phoebus Little League Baseball Field in Hampton, Va. (Photo by MC3 Sean R. Hillier)
Lincoln prepares for Photos and story by MC3 Jeremiah Mills
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he Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) is working toward accomplishing the crew move aboard (CMA) process as Sailors from the berthing team install berthing racks to eventually move Sailors back onto the ship. In just a few months, 36 Sailors on the team have installed 450 berthing racks in 39 spaces, according to the Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Terrence Parks, berthing habilitation team leader. "We try to instill a sense of pride in our work and ownership of our spaces into our Sailors and incorporate that into our work ethic as well," said Parks. "It's remarkable to see Sailors from different departments work so cohesively and harmoniously together." Parks added in an effort to meet their goal, the team set July 2015 as the deadline to complete all berthing installation. At this pace the team will have completed the project nearly a year prior to the scheduled crew move aboard date of February 2016. Parks added that in addition to installing berthing the Sailors will also complete a major refurbishment to these living spaces by installing new tables, chairs, mirrors, and lighting. According to Parks, Lincoln's berthing team has also completed a great deal of preliminary work that will accommodate the smooth transition for Sailors moving aboard the dry-docked carrier. "Doing this type of work is different than what I'm used to. It's just like deployment in that we know the work is hard but we take care of each other," said Aviation Support Equipment Technician 3rd Class Brytney
berthing installation Wasnea, berthing team member. "It doesn't hurt to get a head start and pre-stage for this transition, it's hard, but all in all, we get the job done."
With even more berthing installations ahead of them working in sequence with the CMA, the berthing team has their work cut out for them in the foreseeable future.
Sailors from the berthing team break down crates containing new berthing racks to be installed during the Crew move aboard (CMA) process.
Penny Press Vol. 25, Issue 3
CAPTAIN'S CUP Lincoln Sailors Participate in the Semi-Finals of the Captain’s Cup tournament Photos By MC3 Benjamin T. Liston
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Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) particpate in a Captain’s Cup bowling competition at the Scott Annex Center in Portsmouth, Va. The competition continues through the month of February. The teams advancing to the finals are Reactor, Air, Weapons and Big Seven.
Lincoln Chief Visits VA Medical Center Story and Photos By MC3 Benjamin T. Liston
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“This center is amazing,” said Warley. “The programs hief Religious Programs Specialist Elliot Warley, assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft USS available can literally take a veteran who is down on their Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), joined residents luck and make them a successful person again.” While walking the halls, servicemembers handed out and servicemembers from the region to visit the Veterans Valentine’s Day cards and treat bags to the patients of the Affairs Medical Center in Hampton Va., Feb. 11. “I came here to show my appreciation to those who medical center. “This is just a small way of giving back to them,” said served in our armed forces,” said Warley. Warley. “It’s a token of gratitude and a showing of our Veterans receive physical and mental treatment at the appreciation for what they’ve done for this country.” medical center. “The center has just about anything needed to help our brothers in arms,” said Warley. “Anything these people need to make themselves better can be done inside the facility.” The main facility of the medical center covers over 88,000 square feet and functions as a central hub for patient treatment “Walking through the facility helped me realize that our country hasn’t forgotten the work these people have done for the freedom of the American people,” said Warley. “It’s a very humbling feeling while walking these halls.” The facility has a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment area. “When more cases appear, the center has the ability to add rooms for more patients,” said Warley. The center also hosts a Drug Abuse Program, a Hospice, a dialysis center and a center where veterans who Chief Religious Programs Specialist Elliott Warley speaks with patients at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Hampton, Va. are homeless can stay and receive medical treatment before returning to the work force.
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Chaplain Corps Announces Release of DoN Plan WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Chief of Chaplains Rear Adm. Mark L. Tidd announced the release of the Department of the Navy's Strategic Plan for Religious Ministry 20142019, Feb. 10. "Chaplains play a vital role for our Navy and Marine Corps team, providing counsel, building hope, and increasing the resilience of our force," Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus states in the strategic plan. Navy chaplains and religious program specialists operate across a broad spectrum of environments to fulfill the mission of the Chaplain Corps: to inspire hope and strengthen spiritual well-being through the delivery and coordination of effective religious ministry at sea and ashore. The Department of the Navy (DoN) Strategic Plan for Religious Ministry 2014-2019 was carefully designed to support the priorities of the Secretary of the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Commandant of the Coast Guard. The plan also advances Professional Naval Chaplaincy and expands on the goals of the previous strategic plan released in 2008, Tidd said. "Part of 'Be Ready' is having the opportunity to practice one's faith wherever our Shipmates serve. Whether at home or operating forward, our Navy chaplains play a vital role in ensuring our Sailors, Civilians, and families have the resilience to meet every challenge they face," Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert states in the strategic plan. Gen. James F. Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps, also remarked in the strategic plan that "chaplains are invaluable when it comes to ensuring we keep faith with our Marines, our Sailors, and our families." Navy chaplains support the religious freedom of Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, DoN Civilians, and families as well as support commanders as they carry out their charge of command by: -Providing and facilitating religious ministry -Caring for all with complete confidentiality, dignity, respect, and compassion -Advising commanding officers on the accommodation of religious needs; the spiritual well-being of service members and families; a moral and ethical command climate; and
religious matters that affect the command's mission. The strategic plan will focus on leveraging these core capabilities to meet three strategic goals: serve our people, engage with leadership, and meet professional standards, Tidd explained. "When professional religious ministry is delivered effectively, chaplains can help inspire hope, strengthen spiritual well-being, increase personal resilience, and enhance mission readiness across the Naval Service," Tidd added. The strategic plan will serve as the foundation for policy and programming for the professional delivery of religious ministry across the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. It will also inform and shape the development of professional standards for chaplains and religious program specialists. "Every chaplain oversees a command religious program which can address health of force issues that impact resilience and readiness in a meaningful, substantive way," he added. "Each chaplain has a role to play in aligning their command religious program to support the commander's mission and intent as well as the DoN Strategic Plan for Religious Ministry 2014-2019," Tidd said. The Navy Chaplains Corps is currently comprised of 1,056 chaplains in both the active and reserve components, representing more than 100 different faith groups and religious organizations.