INSIDE
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Saving the Navy Cash
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Fire Main Repressurized
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Stop, Safety Time
Command Picnic
Lincoln Sailors Honor War Vetrans on Memorial Day Story by MCSA Matthew Young, Photo by FCCS Eric Paschal
Chief Fire Controlman Eric Paschal, Washington trip Sailors from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS coordinator. “We also took some time and spent it with Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) traveled to Washington the veterans.” to participate in a wreath laying and spend time with One of the Lincoln Sailors was moved by spending veterans at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in honor Memorial Day with veterans. of Memorial Day The visit included a tour May 26. of Lincoln’s Cottage that The Sailors shares the grounds with the also visited the retirement home. National World “The Washington War Memorial, community relations the Korean War was truly humbling Veterans Memorial, and inspirational,” said the Vietnam Electronics Technician 3rd Veterans Memorial, class Gabriel Higbee. “Sitting the Lincoln at a table with veterans was Memorial, Arlington unbelievable.” National Cemetery Parenteau said that there and Lincoln’s are moments that change a Cottage, which sits Sailor’s career, and this trip on the grounds of opened her up to a bigger the Armed Forces picture, not found while being Retirement home. a shipyard Sailor. “Memorial Day “The experience I gained is meant to honor yesterday is something I wish our fallen comrades every service member could and thank those experience,” said Parenteau. who have fought Higbee said that he hopes and still fight for other Lincoln Sailors will our freedom,” said take the time to makes trips Machinist’s Mate such this one. 3rd class Tyler “In the yards environment Parenteau, one of I feel it is important for the participants. all Sailors to experience On May 5, 1868, something like that because it Gen. John A. Logan Lincoln Sailors reflected in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial raises morale,” said Higbee. issued General Order Lincoln is currently undergoing a refueling No. 11 for the Army, establishing May 30 as an annual date “for… decorating the graves of Comrades who died and complex overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries. in the defense of their country.” First called Decoration Lincoln is the fifth ship of the Nimitz-class to Day, it later became Memorial Day. undergo a RCOH, a major life-cycle milestone. Once This is the second year Lincoln Sailors have laid a RCOH is complete, Lincoln will be one of the most wreath on Logan’s grave to remember the holiday. modern and technologically advanced Nimitz-class “This wreath laying ceremony marks the first aircraft carriers in the fleet and will continue to be a vital anniversary of Lincoln Sailors participating in a part of the nation’s defense. Memorial Day ceremony at the grave,” said Senior
Sailors Save Lincoln $80,000 Story and Photos by MC3 Zachary A. Anderson
A Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH) is one of the most expensive maintenance periods a ship will go through in its life-cycle. In a time when budget cuts are a looming possibility, Sailors onboard the Nimitzclass aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) are doing their part to minimize the cost of Lincoln’s RCOH. Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Judith Bell led a team of three Sailors from Lincoln’s Deck Department in the refurbishment of detachable anchor links, saving the navy $80,000 by not contracting out the work. The project used 192 man-hours over a two-week period and resulted in a greatly extended lifespan for the chain links. “Our first step was lowering each of the three 350 pound links and transporting them to the light industrial
facility (LIFAC),” said Bell. “After we got the links to LIFAC they were sandblasted and thoroughly cleaned, followed by two coats of primer and paint.” While the evolution saved the Navy money, it also had another important benefit. “This was a great experience,” said Bell. “It was a welcome break from our normal day, it gave us a chance to get some valuable hands-on training while in the RCOH environment and save the taxpayers a considerable amount of money in the process.” The project’s supervisor, Chief Warrant Officer Brian Lencacher, Deck department’s Bos’n, was pleased with the multiple benefits of the project. “We got to save the Navy some serious money,” said Lencacher. “And our Sailors got some good on the job training and practice with leadership.”
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Lincoln Buckles Up For Safety Story and Photos by MC3 Brenton Poyser
Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) took time to refocus on safety while undergoing a refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) during a command-wide safety stand down, May 21. Several guests attended the stand down to speak to sailors on various topics such as outdoor safety, nutrition and hydration. Emphasis was also placed on drinking and driving, boating safety and operational risk management. “It was very important to inform Sailors about the safety hazards they may encounter both in the shipyard and on liberty,” said Personnel Specialist 1st class Derrick Washington. “For many Sailors, it is their first summer in Virginia or in the shipyard, so it is important that they are aware of all the risks they may encounter.” Capt. Karl O. Thomas, Lincoln’s commanding officer, alongside Executive Officer Capt. Randall Peck addressed the crew about the progress of RCOH and
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what to expect in the coming months. “It was very helpful to get the crew all back on the same page as to where we are in our RCOH efforts,” said Airman Hannah Dasheill. “A lot has changed since we first got to the shipyard, but it looks like we are all focused and on the right track.” Guest speakers also informed the crew about some of the recreational activities that the area has to offer Sailors while on liberty. “Besides going to the beach, I had no idea that there are so many fun things to do in this area,” said Dashiell. “I will definitely be attending a Pilots baseball game and take advantage of Morale, Welfare, and Recreation’s (MWR) discounted concert tickets this summer.” This was the third safety stand down that the Lincoln has conducted during RCOH. “I always find the safety stand down’s helpful,” said Washington. “It’s great to get a glimpse into the future as well as an idea of where we stand in our RCOH efforts.”
A Week With Lincoln
Lincoln’s Fire Main is Back On Line Photos and Story by MCSA Matthew Young Firefighting capabilities are crucial aboard a ship. In the case of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), getting firefighting capabilities back up and running during a refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) was a top priority. Sailors in Lincoln’s Damage Control (DC) division finished the overhaul of the ship’s fire main system five weeks ahead of schedule by combining efforts with Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) workers and contractors of the Carrier Engineering Maintenance Assistance Team (CEMAT), the first ever fire main collaboration during an RCOH. “The fire main is our hub of getting water throughout the ship. That’s how we get all of our water for firefighting, and air conditioning backup, which is the bulk of what we have aboard the ship,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Gregory Collins, Lincoln’s assistant fire chief. “What we did was split the fire main in half: port and starboard side. We took down the port side, left the starboard side up. We replaced the valves in the port side then air tested those valves and then
restored the port side. Then we did the same to the starboard.” The lengthy and labor intensive project required a lot of coordination and collaboration between the three teams. “The hardest part was making something from nothing,” said Senior Chief Damage Controlman Rebecca Hunt, DC division leading Chief Petty Officer. “The fact that there was no previous process in place because no other ship had ever done it was tough so we had to create a process and then verify it, look at the diagrams and make sure that it made sense down to the most junior level.” Sailors replaced all 6-inch valves, CEMAT replaced all 8- and 10-inch valves and NNS replaced all 12-inch valves. Together they repaired or replaced more than 600 valves. Chief Damage Controlman Joshua Eccles said that junior Sailors, not the senior leadership, provided the backbone for the work to get done early and, more importantly, correctly. “If not for our junior Sailors, this would never have gotten done,” said Eccles. “They provided the support, they made it happen, and I couldn’t be more proud to call them shipmates.”
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Lincoln Celebrates Summer With A Picnic on The Beach
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Japanese Prime Minister and CNO Discuss Maritime Cooperation From Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs
TOKYO (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, May 27 in Abe’s office to discuss regional security and maritime partnership opportunities between the United States and Japan. The meeting between Japan’s political leader and the U.S. Navy service chief underscored the importance each nation places on maintaining their strong maritime relationship to achieve strength and stability in the region through cooperative efforts. “Given the increasingly severe security environment in the Asia-Pacific region the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance has become even greater than ever,” Abe said. “Through your visit I understand that we’ll see further collaboration between the [Japan] Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) as well as the U.S. Navy and that would mean of course the alliance between Japan and the United States. I believe that would have a positive impact on the peace and stability of the entire Asia-Pacific region.”
During the meeting, Abe explained that Japan’s political leadership has been examining the relationship between their constitution and the right of collective selfdefense and other issues that would enable Japan to more swiftly and efficiently contribute to regional and global peace and stability. Japan’s consideration and debate of exercising the right of collective self-defense has been followed with interest by Greenert. He stated from his viewpoint collective self-defense provides greater opportunity for more effective operational cooperation among critical allies, which is key to maintaining the security of Northeast Asia. On another topic, Abe stated that following President Barack Obama’s visit to Tokyo in April Obama’s public reaffirmation of the United States’ position to uphold an existing defense treaty with Japan was meaningful to promoting stability in the region and bringing the two ally nations closer together.
140522-N-MM360-080 MARYSVILLE, Wash. (May 22, 2014) Master-at-Arms 1st Class Justin Shinn, from Portland, Ore., cleans a veteran’s gravestone at the Marysville Cemetery during a CPO 365 community service project to coincide with Memorial Day. CPO 365, first introduced in 2010, is a year-long development and training program for 1st class petty officers. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeffry A. Willadsen/Released)
140528-N-IP531-035 PACIFIC OCEAN (May 28, 2014) Lt. Chris Denton, a shooter aboard the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), gives the signal to launch an E/A-18G Growler from the Shadowhawks of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 during carrier qualifications. George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the IndoAsia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Chris Cavagnaro/Released)
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Naval War College ‘Breaks the Ice’ with Arctic Security Elective From U.S. Naval War College Public Affairs
NEWPORT, R.I. (NNS) -- Students and faculty assigned to U.S. Naval War College’s (NWC) inaugural Arctic Security class participated in the Arctic Strategy and Policy Seminar (ASPS) at NWC in Newport, Rhode Island, May 21-22. The seminar serves as the capstone event for the Arctic Security course, providing an opportunity to educate and develop leaders and help define the future Navy and its associated roles and missions in the Arctic. “The capstone seminar provided an amazing opportunity to engage with expert U.S. Arctic officials,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jamy Brasfield, a NWC student. “The last 10 weeks has allowed me to gain a deeper appreciation for the many unique challenges of operating at the tactical and operational levels and the myriad of issues effecting strategic thinking in the Arctic.” The two-day event stimulated strategic thinking among U.S. officials about complex risks, potential threats, and U.S. interests in the Arctic, and giving students an opportunity to present solution proposals and receive direct feedback from real-world Arctic policy-makers. “Thinking through challenging scenarios and possible alternative futures in the Arctic out to 2065 prompted us to reflect on current plans and polices, and the connections between long-term end-states and
140526-N-WL435-212 TOKYO (May 26, 2014) Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert salutes as he passes the American and Japanese flags during a full honors ceremony at the Japanese Ministry of Defense. Greenert is in Japan for a series of counterpart visits with Japanese political and military leaders. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Peter D. Lawlor/Released)
near-term requirements in the Arctic,” said Lt. Cmdr. Brandon Kraser, event participant and Arctic planner at Joint Task Force Alaska. The seminar provided an effective forum to help shape the Navy’s thinking in the Arctic and inform current and future initiatives that support implementation of the U.S. Navy’s Arctic Roadmap released this past February. “The ASPS was a worthy culmination to an important course,” said Lt. Cmdr. Russell Meier, Arctic portfolio administrator for U.S. Fleet Forces Command. “Student presentations and the event in general generated robust debate that will both inform Navy component commanders and the Navy’s numbered fleet commanders identify and plan for emerging operational requirements in the Arctic.” The Arctic Security course is currently offered to NWC students as an elective and marks the beginning of an emerging field of study that will help the Navy over the long-term. Six Navy officers and four international officers from Canada, Norway and Denmark, completed the course in its first offering May 2014. “This will foster an active and growing community of joint and naval leaders charged with planning and operating in the Arctic today and in the future,” said Walter Berbrick, a NWC professor and director, Arctic Regional Studies Group.
140523-N-LV331-004 ANNAPOLIS, Md. (May 23, 2014) Newly commissioned officers from the Naval Academy Class of 2014 celebrate the conclusion of their graduation and commissioning ceremony with the traditional hat toss at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Armando Gonzales/ Released)