CONTENTS November 2014 Volume 25, No. 23
FEATURED
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Past to Present
Take a trip back in time to Gettysburg.
12
Physical Readiness
Lincoln’s “Fit Boss” shares dieting tips to go along with your everyday work-out routine.
15
Lincoln Advances 236 Sailors
Lincoln is proud to welcome our newest Petty Officer Selects.
11
Native American Heritage Month Lincoln shows appreciation for some of America’s finest.
14
Farewells, Retirements and Reenlistments
Take a moment to recognize some of Lincoln’s best as they continue their journey either on or off the ship.
Welcome Aboard! USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Welcome Aboard, Shipmates! You might not know it, but November 11th marked the 25th anniversary of the commissioning of our great ship, the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Although this date came and went quietly, overshadowed by the immense industrial undertaking that Lincoln has been engaged in over the past 20 months, its significance must be noted. When a ship is commissioned, it is placed in active service to be used in the defense of our country. She has been named, launched, and proven through exhaustive sea trials. When Lincoln completes her Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH), the massive project alluded to above, the event will be akin to a “re-commissioning” as she is reintroduced into the fleet. The Lincoln will be reborn. Similar to the obvious changes occurring on the ship, we’ve made some significant course alterations within the Media Department. We’ve redesigned the command logo, reformatted many of the video and multimedia products that we produce about our Sailors and most recently (and most obviously, if you’re reading this) revamped The Penny Press. So to our readers both old and new, welcome aboard. We’ve worked very hard on this issue, and certainly hope you enjoy the new format for The Penny Press.
MCSN Christopher Huot, MCSA Derry Todd, Managing Editors
Penny Press
CMC CORNER
Words from Command Master Chief Lee Salas
Greetings Fellow Lincoln Warriors!
I
t is a tremendous privilege and honor to be your Command Master Chief My first full month on board has been incredible! You have amazed me with the desire of each of you to get our ship ready to return to sea. Seeing your hard work motivates me even more to serve you. Now that the ship is in the water, we have a renewed sense of purpose and urgency to get the ship back in the fight. Keep charging forward!
This week begins the holiday season. I hope each of you take a moment to remember all the many things to be thankful for. If you are traveling, I hope the time with family and friends you care about will warm your heart this season. For those of you staying local, I ask that you to reach out to someone who doesn’t have family in the area and share this time of thanks with them. If you are alone during the holidays, reach out to your chain of command or the Chaplain’s
office. They can help you find people who want to share this holiday with you. In town or out of town, on duty or off, always have a plan, and plan to stick with it. When you’re off duty, ensure you have a way to get in touch with your chain of command if your plan changes. The goal is, we all arrive back safely after the holidays. Each one of you and your family is important to me and to this command! Now that Supply has issued you a new command ball cap, I see LINCOLN Sailors holding their head high displaying that command pride. Here are a few rules for wearing it properly; the ball cap you just received CAN be worn on and off duty. The only uniform you are authorized to wear the cap with is your NWUs or your PT gear. Next Friday, we have the honor of wishing fair winds and following seas to our former CMC, CMDCM Gregg Weber,
who is retiring after 30 years of honorable service to the Navy. I look forward to seeing you at the ceremony, which will be at 11 a.m., Dec. 5, at the Fort Eustis Theater. Come out and wish our departing CMC all the best. It will be a ceremony to remember, and a great way to honor a great Sailor. Stay safe, stay strong, and make good decisions Lincoln Warriors! - CMC
This week’s uniform note:
Proper wear of command ball cap – Wear squarely on the head, with bottom edge parallel to and 1 ½ inches above the eyebrows. Hair is not to protrude from the opening in the back of the ball cap to include buns.
Introducing
the CommandBallcap
L
by MCSA Brandon Davis
eadership of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) began issuing newly authorized command ball caps to its Sailors Nov. 14. Command ball caps were authorized for wear Navywide with the Navy Working Uniform by the chief of naval personnel in NAVADMIN 200/14, effective Sept. 1. Though the addition of this optional uniform item may seem insignificant, it holds a deeper meaning to the Sailors. The reinstatement of the command ball caps brings a sense of tradition to Lincoln Sailors, especially the more seasoned Sailors aboard. “I feel like having these command ball caps is going back to tradition,” said Chief Ship’s Serviceman
Geanice Huff. “Back when we used to wear utilities, we would wear ball caps, and it’s good to see us getting back to that.” Chief Logistics Specialist Damon Hankins believed that these ball caps give Sailors a greater sense of Navy pride, and were indicative of the ship’s ultimate mission. “These ball caps symbolize what it means to be in the Navy,” Hankins said. “These are a change, and we’re always changing. At some point we will be moving out of the [ship] yard, and when you put this cover on, it means you’re ready to fight.” Hankins is also optimistic about how the crew will respond to the debut of the new ball caps. “However, because these aren’t
mandatory to wear, I believe the crew will be more receptive to wearing them.” Sailors are taught to take pride in their appearance, especially while in uniform. Hankins believes that by wearing the command ball cap, Sailors feel not only a sense of pride in their command, but in themselves as well. “When I wear my eight-point cover, I’m still a chief,” Huff said. “To anybody looking at me, I’m just a chief. It gives me a sense of pride to wear the command ball cap, because anybody looking at me could say ‘that’s a Sailor from the Lincoln.’ That means a lot, because I’m proud of being at this command.” For more information regarding proper wear of the command ball cap, refer to NAVADMIN 200/14.
ASK THE CHIEF Advice from Command Career Counselor Chief Yenier Ramirez What is the most common question a Sailor asks you as a Chief?
What is the best piece of advice that was given to you as a Chief?
How to better communicate.
Humility and perseverance.
Everybody comes in to be successful. How can I be successful? How can I progress more in my career? Focus on the basics, focus on their goals, don’t lose track of why they came in. If they have something they want to achieve in life, write it down. That way they are striving for something and how to get there. A lot of people know what they want, but don’t know how to get there or what steps they should take whether it be making rank, going into the officer programs or making Chief. Always be prepared. The goal is not to be number one the goal is to prepare to be number one.
How can I better communicate or how can people better communicate with me?
The best leaders are also great listeners. Those who take the time to listen to the Sailor’s needs and what they are looking for are often successful.
Penny Press
I joined the Navy as an undesignated Sailor. I dealt with a lot of adversity, hard work and dedication. Every time I felt like it was too hard I reflect back on my upbringing, knowing what my dad went through when I think it’s too tough. Do the basics and everything else will take care of itself. Thoughts on the Navy’s Future? The Navy I grew up in is not the same Navy as it is today. Room for error when I came in was greater than it is today. Sailors nowadays have so many distractions. I worry about the undesignated Sailors; their opportunity is limited to their potential. There are a lot of great Sailors walking these decks that deserve the opportunity to get the rate they want, but because of manning they may not get that opportunity.
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151
st
Anniversary of the Get tysburg address Lincoln Sailors Visit Their Namesake’s Past to Prepare for the Ship’s Future. Story by
MC2 Rusty Pang
M
ore than 50 Sailors stationed aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) visited the Gettysburg National Cemetery to remember and celebrate the 151st anniversary of president Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address on this day in 1863. In an effort to gain insight into their namesake’s leadership, the Lincoln Sailors participated in the annual ceremony to remember his 272word address. Considered by many to be one of the most memorable American speeches, Lincoln’s address was an example of inspirational leadership and poise. Following the 1863 ceremony, Benjamin French, who helped plan the event, wrote, “Anyone who saw and heard as I did ... would know that he lived in every heart ... the hurricane of applause was the spontaneous outburst of heartfelt confidence in their own president.” It was the intention of the
Lincoln’s command to instill such leadership into each visiting Sailor. “The big vision of the Lincoln Leadership series is to sharpen the saw of each Sailor. We thought it would be good for us to come here and literally walk the steps of each engagement of the Gettysburg battle,” said Lincoln’s Command Chaplain Cmdr. Maurice A. Buford. “We are in the yards recalibrating the ship, so we connect our past, present and future through Lincoln leadership. This allows us to be courageous and fight any future fight as necessary.”
the Civil War era,” said Thronton. “We’re here to strengthen ourselves by learning our past history. I think that Remembrance Day really strikes home.” Lincoln has taken an active approach, since entering the Newport News shipyard, connecting its Sailors to the legacy of the ship’s namesake through historical visits like this. In a pivotal time of the ship’s life, refueling complex overhaul (RCOH), the Gettysburg visit allows its crew to connect with our 16th president’s heritage and legacy.
To remember each soldier’s sacrifice 151 years ago, Lincoln Sailors laid 3,500 flags and 1,700 pennies with the date of 1972 symbolizing the hull number of USS Abraham Lincoln.
RCOH occurs at the half-life of a carrier’s operation. Coincidentally, the trip to Gettysburg occurs eight days following the 25th anniversary of the ship’s commission Nov. 11, 1989.
The experience was surreal for the Lincoln Sailors said Electronics Technician 3rd class Jon Thronton.
With 25 years to go, events like the Gettysburg trip allow Sailors to connect with their namesake’s past to prepare for the ship’s future.
“It was great to come out here and see the turning point of
Penny Press
photoographs by
MC1 Gary prill
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Photographs by MC1 Gary Prill and MC2 Rusty Pang Penny Press
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Lincoln Sailors Celebrate
Native American Heritage Month
S
Story by: MC3 Evan Parker
ailors assigned to the Nimitzclass aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) observe Native American Heritage Month with traditional Shaman prayer in a ceremony conducted by Lincoln’s diversity council, Nov. 19. Capt. Todd Marzano, Lincoln’s executive officer, stressed why taking time to acknowledge the Navy’s vast diversity is important. “Today’s event is for our Sailors with different backgrounds, interests and strengths that enable us to be the world’s greatest Navy and it is why our country is so successful,” Marzano said. November is Native American Heritage Month, dedicated to recognizing the contributions and sacrifices of Native Americans thoughout history. Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Raymond Campigli, a Sailor assigned to the Lincoln and descendant of the Konkow tribe of Northern California, was thrilled to be able to witness the traditional tribal prayer conducted for the second year in a row by Lt. Kimberley Temple, first lieutenant aboard Lincoln. “The prayer was extremely impressive,” Campigli said. “It’s great that the Lincoln is able to offer experiences like this, not many people get the chance to witness a real Shaman prayer, especially outside of the reservation.” Capt. Ronald L. Ravelo, Lincoln’s commanding officer, followed up the prayer with stories of valor of about Native American Medal of Honor recipients. Ravelo shared the stories of trial and sacrifice in hopes to inspire his Sailors to continue to strive for excellence no matter the situation or odds.
“It is occasions like this that allow us to reflect on what makes our Navy great,” Ravelo said. “What makes our Navy great is that we are a diverse organization that embraces and capitalizes on the many contributions that are formulated by our Sailors’ rich history and backgrounds.” Ravelo went on to say that he hopes by sharing a few examples of Native American Medal of Honor winners, his Sailors are encouraged to pursue greatness in their own naval careers. “I think these stories have a very powerful message that Sailors can bring with them many great accomplishments,” Ravelo said.
The festivities also showcased literary works written by Lincoln Sailors entered as part of a command writing competition. The winner of the competition was Electronics Technician 3rd Class Laura Walker whose short essay touched on the struggles Native Americans have faced over many years. “I’m extremely proud,” Walker said. “I think me winning will encourage others to read my paper, and maybe do their own research into the struggles and accomplishments of Native Americans and learn a little more. That would make me very proud!”
according to the 2013 U.S. Census Bureau
There are currently
133,000 living
Native Americans WHO HAVE SERVED
in the UnitedStates ArmedForces
InhonorofNativeAmericanHistorymonth, A number of Sailors submitted essays and poems that captured the rich and unique culture of the Native Americans. The winner of this year’s contest was hand selected by Lincoln’s executive officer Capt. Todd Marzano, who selected an essay written by Electronics Technician 3rd Class Laura Walker.
H
istory is not just a class you take in school. The past is what has made this country what it is today, the people who they are, and individuals develop customs that shape their everyday lives. Many think the history of America started with Christopher Columbus’ discovery, but there was a whole culture thriving long before the charter was even drafted. America was flourishing before the Europeans crossed the Atlantic. In fact, some believe that there were more people in the Americas than in Europe in 1492. History has always been written from the perspective of the rich influential conquers; therefore there are a lot of negative portrayals of the natives. Not all of them are true though. Many Native Americans were accepting of the new settlers and tried to help them out, but it was a rough start. Conquers killed, raped, and plundered many villages. The Indians retaliated by executing several hundred explorers. There were several battles that escalated into wars. The first recorded war between the Europeans and Native Americans in America was from 1540-1541. Both sides lost many people, but ended when the Spaniards killed most of the men, women, and children. Those who weren’t killed were taken captive. This was just the first of many. The Indians always had to fight for their land and supplies, as well as to protect their women and children. Some of there were victories for the Native Americans, such as when the Powhatan Confederacy nearly wiped out the Jamestown colony. Others were losses such as the Tiguex War. Indians not only had to fight against more advanced weapons that the Europeans brought over, they also had to fight against new diseases that they had never seen before, such as small pox, which wiped out many colonies. Many tried to make the living
Penny Press
“Petty Officer Walker’s essay captured the essence of Native American History month,”
-Capt.ToddMarzano,Lincolnexecutiveofficer. conditions better for the Native Americans, such as the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, King Carlos I of Spain, otherwise known as Carlos Quinto who tried to ban Indians from being used as slave labor, although his law was repealed a few years later. One known case of Native American enslavement was Squanto. He was born in present day Plymouth where he lived until he was taken captive and forced to go to England. There he learned to speak English and trained to be a guide. He returned to America more than 15 years later, where he not only helped the pilgrims through their first winter, but he also orchestrated a peace treaty between the pilgrims and a local tribe, which lasted 50 years. Another famous guide was Sacagawea, who you can still see on a one dollar coin today. She was captured by another Indian tribe and sold to a French-Canadian trapper. When exposed to the expedition led by Lewis and Clark, she decided to serve as an interpreter, even though pregnant with her first child. She helped the explorers track and find edible plants. She was not only a guide, but also a symbol of peace between the travelers and the other tribes. She was able to negotiate with the other tribes to acquire supplies. She saved the explorers on many occasions, without her it would have taken a lot longer to explore the west. As if enslaving them was not enough, the Europeans still wanted them off their land. They would claim that if the Indians became “civilized” by learning English and assimilating themselves in with the foreign culture they could stay, but that was rarely the case. The first Indian reservation was opened on Au. 1, 1758. More and more people were forced to move into reservations similar to this one, only with less and less land to live on. In 1830, the President signed a bill called the Indian Removal Act. In this bill it gave
Here’s the complete essay written by Walker: the federal government the power to take the Indians land east of the Mississippi and trade it for land in the west. This law was enforced harshly. In the middle of the winter the Army coerced thousands of Indians to vacate, forcing them to walk thousands of miles barefoot, in some cases in chains, without any food or water for the trip. Many of them had to walk more than 1,200 miles. This event became known as the Trail of Tears. Many Indians suffered and died along this path. Even after the rough treatment, the Native Americans have still given so much to the nation we know today. Many of their trails became roads. Several of their villages still exist as cities we know, such as Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh, to name a few. Indians have contributed many words to the English language, such as caribou, hammock, potato, and woodchuck. Benjamin Franklin’s idea of federal government, with a small central government with most of the power resting in the states, came from a Native American tribe. There has been a Native American to excel in every field that we have, many athletes, entertainers, musicians, and even a vice president. The Indians even supported America’s fight during World War I and II. More than 32,000 Indians joined the armed forces even though they were not citizens during World War I and not required to serve. Even if they did not enlist, many supported the war effort from the home front. Forty-three thousand Indians also served in the Vietnam War. This just goes to show so much of our culture has been influenced and has benefited from the interactions with Native Americans. Indians were thriving long before Europeans crossed the Atlantic, and their contributions continue to be felt today.
Essay By: ET3 Laura Walker 11
USS Abraham Lincoln
Thanksgiving Day Menu 0600-0700 Continental Breakfast 1000-1200 Brunch ($4.60) 1500-1800 Thanksgiving Meal ($6.55)
Roast turkey with giblet gravy Honey Baked Ham with Pineapple Sauce Candied sweet potatoes Mashed potatoes Collard greens Corn on the cob Macaroni and cheese Bread stuffing
Sailor in the Spotlight Where is your home town? Brooklyn, N.Y. What did you do before the Navy? I used to work for a popular chain restaurant and also helped adults with developmental disabilities. I loved it.
Deviled eggs Potatoe Salad Cranberry sauce French onion soup Dinner rolls Pumpkin, sweat potato, pecan and apple pie Salad bar Egg nog
Culinary Specialist Third Class Bernadette Williams One of the top cooks on board Lincoln shares her views.
By MC3 Evan Parker What is your favorite part about being a culinary specialist? I love feeding the crew, making sure that they are full and ready to work on their mission for the Navy. What is your favorite sports team? New York Giants.
Why did you join the Navy? To see the world and finish school.
How long do you plan on staying in the Navy? I plan on doing the full twenty.
What are your plans for the holidays? To take leave and spend time with the family in Florida.
When you are not cooking food for the entire ship, what do you like to do for fun? Spend time with my husband and kids.
Since you are, in fact, a culinary specialist, what is your ideal dinner? I really don’t have an ideal dinner but if I were to choose, it would be barbecue ribs, macaroni and cheese, and cornbread.
In your own words, why is what you do for the Navy important? Because if there are no CS’s to feed the crew, the morale of the ship would decrease drastically.
Fit Boss on Fitness and Nutrition Discusses Consultations
Chris Jacquard
A
s your new fitboss, my mandate is to develop a culture of fitness providing Sailors with the best opportunity to succeed. Adopting a healthy lifestyle will not only pay dividends during the Physical Readiness Test, but will improve your quality of life by increasing your energy levels, sharpening your mental focus, strengthening your immune system, increasing bone density and improving sleep at night. My responsibilities include continuing to educate and train the command fitness leaders (CFLs), programming the command physical training and managing the fitness enhancement program. I am striving to enhance and streamline these programs for Sailors. I have additionally been
expanding the programs available to Sailors and have spent a lot of time working to create a culture of fitness on the Lincoln. I offer daily classes that include: High Intensity Training (HIT) and agility, endurance conditioning and flexibility, strength training basics, functional fix-ups, Olympic lifting and functional fitness and Spartan training classes. The class schedules and a description of each class are posted throughout the Floating Accommodation Facility (FAF), Moral, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) spaces and on Lincoln’s Facebook page. One of the best resources I have for Sailors are consultations. A consultation equates to a personalized road map to balance living a healthy lifestyle and the daily workload each Sailor is accountable for. Adopting a
healthy life style means being mindful of nutrition, rest and sleep patterns, a fitness regiment and juggling life’s stress. Creating structure to improve the way they approach each aspect of personal health will improve their overall quality of life. The best way to schedule a consultation is through email. I hold office hours on the FAF and at Huntington Hall. My office is on the FAF is next door to the MWR office and I’m there from 8-10 am daily. I am also available by appointment at Huntington Hall. My contact information can be found in the ship’s global email database or Jacquard.Christopher@cvn72.navy.mil I’m looking forward to working with you all; please don’t hesitate to stop by and chat!
Fair winds and Following Seas...
Chief Culinary Specialist Denise Burke, we wish you a happy and healthy retirement.
Captain Randall Peck, departing. We all wish the best of luck at your next command , USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19).
Congratulations Shipmates, on a Job Well Done.
AT1 Wyonna Centonze receives her Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specalist pin
AZAR Andrew Dominguez receives a Letter of Commendation
AT3 Robert Beauchamp receives a Letter of Commendation
Lincoln would like to welcome our newest Ombudsmen
AbrahamLINCOLN
Advances
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236 SAILORS
ailors from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) gathered on the track at Huntington Hall not just for weekly physical fitness training, but for the results of the advancement exams, Nov. 21. The tension was thick and the faces were painted with nervous excitement as Sailors waited to hear their names called. The crowd of Sailors fell silent when Capt. Todd Marzano, Lincoln’s executive officer, stepped up to the microphone and said, “We’re going to start with the new First Class Petty Officers ...” Exactly 236 Lincoln Sailors advanced to 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Class Petty Officer, respectively. As expected, advancements to E-4, E-5, and E-6 have risen compared to last cycle’s results of 184 advancing.
Penny Press
Marzano expressed his pride in all of the Lincoln Sailors who advanced to the next rank. “The number of Sailors who advanced is significantly higher than last years’ [numbers],” Marzano said. “It’s really a testament to the professionalism and hard work of all the Lincoln Sailors.” Many Sailors who advanced this cycle, such as Fire Controlman 3rd Class Joseph Williams, have taken the advancement test multiple times, which made the feeling that much more rewarding, he commented. “Now that I made [Petty Officer] 2nd Class, I feel relieved,” Williams said. “I’m glad I finally have the opportunity to step up to bigger and better things in my career.” Fire Controlman 2nd Class
Travis Raub also advanced this cycle, and is looking forward to the responsibilities expected of him, given this new rank. “I’ve been in the Navy for six years, and I’m proud to have made [Petty Officer] 1st Class,” Raub said. For Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Darin Speers, his newly acquired rank is a chance for him to prove himself, take on more responsibilities, and be better equipped to support the command’s mission. “Now that I’ve advanced, this is a good way for me to develop my leadership qualities,” Speers said. “I know that I deserve it because I worked hard for it, now I have to step up and take on more of a leadership role.”
Story and Photos by: MCSA Brandon Davis
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