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INSIDE
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Meals On Wheels
Images Of The Week
MLK Day
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FROM THE EDITOR The new year, 2014, is upon us. The Media Dept looks forward to bring new faces, new stories and new milestones your way. For our men and women serving aboard this great ship, 2014 is all about giving back and helping others. As we celebrate the life of a man who wanted us to judge each other by the content of our characters, Sailors prove that if called upon, they can affect positve change. In the spirit of Martin Luther King Day Jr., Sailors participated in a canned food drive at a local foodbank. In keeping with the community relations, another group of Lincoln Sailors volunteered their time to mentor students at an elementary school in Newport News. If that wasn’t enough, Abe Warriors also volunteered to deliver hot meals to citizens of Portsmouth during their lunch breaks! Isn’t that awesome! Well, we sure think so. Keep up the good work Lincoln Nation!
Lincoln Assistant Chaplain Selected To Receive Admiral Zumwalt Award Story By USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs
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chaplain assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), received one of two Admiral Zumwalt Awards for Visionary Leadership. "It is a tremendous honor to receive this award," said Lt. David Duprey, "and I accepted the award on behalf of the command and crew of USS Abraham Lincoln. I truly have the best job in the Navy, serving Sailors who embody the ideals which Admiral Zumwalt espoused." Duprey was notified of his selection by retired Vice Adm. Barry McCullough, president of the Surface Navy Association, inviting him to attend the Association's 26th National Symposium Jan. 14-16 in Crystal City, Arlington, Va. "On behalf of all of the members of the Surface Navy Association, I would like to pass along our sincere congratulations and deep gratitude for the important contributions you continue to make to the Surface Warfare community, the United States Navy, and our great Nation," McCullough wrote in official correspondence with Duprey. The award is presented to the active-duty Navy member in one of the two groups of pay grades, E-3 through E-6 and E-7 through O-5, who best exemplifies the ideals of Admiral Zumwalt and demonstrated dynamic leadership, operational excellence, unselfish dedication to duty, visionary zeal and exemplary care for personnel under his or her direction. Capt. Karl Thomas, commanding officer, USS Abraham Lincoln reflected on Duprey's enthusiastic support of Lincoln Sailors and his devotion to the command. "I am immensely proud of Lt. Duprey's accomplishments," said Thomas. "Lt. Duprey personifies honor, courage and commitment in everything he does for our command. He truly is a talented and gifted chaplain with amazing reach and impact across my entire command during a difficult and lengthy overhaul. I truly appreciate the Surface Navy
U.S. Navy Photo Courtesy of Navy.mil
Association acknowledging Dave as he is so humbly deserving of this recognition." Nominees for this award are suggested by fellow shipmates. Lt j.g. Bryan Gill nominated Duprey for his dedication and devotion to the crew of more than 2,500 assigned to USS Abraham Lincoln. "Lt. Duprey is the most dynamic and passionate officer in our command. No leader has more impact on our Sailors, as individuals, than Dave does," said Gill. "Words like force-multiplier, synergy, passion, sacrificial leadership, humble and inspiring truly define his character. Admiral Zumwalt would yearn for a c haplain like Dave Duprey." Since his arrival on board USS Abraham Lincoln, Duprey has served as the command's community relations program (COMREL) coordinator and has managed 196 projects involving 3,460 Sailors resulting in nearly 14,000 hours of community service directly benefiting the Hampton Roads region. Due to his work as COMREL coordinator, the command earned the 2013 Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Environmental Stewardship Flagship Community Service award for Community Service. Duprey also works with the Command Suicide Prevention Program and is responsible for the command's three-tier suicide prevention strategy, overseeing training of 1,074 Sailors in Applied Suicide Prevention Skills Training.
Story and Photos By: MC3 Benjamin T. Liston
Lincoln Sailors Mentor Elementary School Students in Newport News, Provide Positive Role Models
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ailors assigned to the Nimitzclass aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) visited Newsome Park Elementary School in Newport News to mentor students about good decision making and responsibility, Jan. 14-17. "The kids here are phenomenal," said Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Corey Howard. "They are very good at problem solving, and understand arithmetic very well."
Howard worked with a fifthgrade class during the mathematics portion of their day helping students with various math problems including multiplication and division. The Sailors visited classes throughout the elementary school where grades range from kindergarten through fifth grade. "The kindergarteners are very entertaining," said Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Travis May. "They're
energetic and have some of the most interesting things to say." May worked with a kindergarten class that was working on basic sentence structure and adding detail to stories that they wrote themselves without a teacher's help. "They're an intelligent group of little kids," said May. "They were more interested in what I thought about their drawings more
(Top Left) Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Corey Howard, assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), observes students of Newsome Park Elementary school during a “Meet and Greet”, Jan. 17. (Top Right) Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Travis May, assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), observes students of Newsome Park Elementary school during a “Meet and Greet”, Jan. 17. (Bottom Right) Machinist’s Mate Fireman Dicoda Waughway, assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), observes students of Newsome Park Elementary school during a “Meet and Greet”, Jan. 17.
than anything." "Helping out the next generation of young minds is a huge privilege," said Howard. "There are a lot of influences in the world that a young mind can be affected by." Lincoln has been actively involved with various schools throughout the Hampton Roads area including Lafayette-Winona Middle School, Achievable Dream Middle and High School and Newsome Park Elementary. "We volunteer at a lot of schools," said May. "I think we create a positive influence and a great environment for students to ask questions and receive honest advice."
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VOLUME 24 , ISSUE 27
Lincoln Sailors Deliver Hot Meals
To Citizens Of Portsmouth
Story and Photos By: MCSN Michael Fiorillo
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hree Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) volunteered during their lunch breaks to deliver hot meals to people in the Hampton Roads area participating in the Sentara Mobile Meals of Churchland, Jan. 13. Sentara Mobile Meals of Churchland is a non-profit corporation, delivering meals to their homes since 1974. This community service is directed to those individuals who are financially able but circumstantially unable to provide food for themselves. "The social interaction and appreciation are what keep me coming back," said Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Cory P. Scott. "Most of the people are veterans or spouses who have great stories." Scott first became involved with the project when he volunteered with the ship's Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department's group that was volunteering at the Norfolk Sentara's Meals on Wheels. After a suggestion from Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Michael T. Voils, the department coordinator, Scott contacted the Portsmouth Sentara Mobile Meals to coordinate future meal deliveries. "After doing four COMRELs at Norfolk, I went ahead and started volunteering for the Portsmouth chapter," said Scott. "AT1 Voils and Chaplain Duprey helped with the organization and beginning stages of the project." Sailors interested in volunteering must have their own vehicle and approval from their chain of command. Sentara Life Corporation delivers more than 850 nutritionally balanced meals each week to older adults in their own homes. "I hope in the next few months to have enough volunteers to deliver meals on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday to the community," said Scott.
(Top) Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), prepare hot meals for delivery to a Hampton Roads area resident, while volunteering with the Sentara Mobile Meals of Churchland. (Left)Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Cory P. Scott, assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), delivers a hot meal to Virginia Porter, a Hampton Roads area resident, while volunteering with the Sentara Mobile Meals of Churchland.
(Bottom) Electronics Technician Seaman Jeffery-James P. Darrow, assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), delivers a hot meal to Margaret Knight, a Hampton Roads area resident, while volunteering with the Sentara Mobile Meals of Churchland.
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IMAGES OF
THE WEEK
Lincoln Sailors Start Off Year With Command Physical Fitness Story and Photos By: MCSA Robert Ferrone
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ore than 1,000 Sailors aboard the Nimiitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) participated in the first command wide physical training (PT) following the holiday leave period at Huntington Hall in Newport News, Va. Jan. 17. Capt. Karl O. Thomas, commanding officer, and Master Chief Petty Officer Gregg Weber, command master chief, took part in the workout led by members of Waterfront Fitness. Terrence Quarles, one of the trainers leading the workout, was excited to be part of such a big group. "We love it, it's something different," said Quarles, who works at Naval Staion Norfolk’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation’s fitness and sports division. "Not only does it give us something different to do, we love working with a larger group, but it also gives the Sailors something different to do instead of the same old PT all the time." Training consisted of various stretches and calisthenics to warm up, followed by high intensity circuit training. Weber emphasized the importance of having the command work out as one unit, especially with the upcoming semiannual Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) around the corner. "One of the keys to success with PT is muscle confusion,"
Weber said. "So we're going to mix it up so the crew gets a different workout each time." "It is rare for an aircraft carrier to hold a weekly command-wide PT session," Weber said. He added that the Lincoln will continue to push its Sailors physically to prepare for the PFA. Waterfront Fitness plans to return next month for another PT session with Lincoln Sailors. The command can look forward to more variation during weekly PT, which has been moved from Thursday to Friday every week. Weber is confident the changes to Lincoln's training program will benefit Sailors and their physical performance. "Hopefully, people will use what they learned at command PT, combined with their divisional and departmental PT, to have three solid workouts a week," Weber said.
Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) participate in a command-wide physical fitness training following the holiday leave period at Huntington Hall in Newport News, Va., Jan. 17.
Lincoln Sailors Honor Martin With Volunteer Work at Local Foodbank
Story and Photos By: MCC Aaron Strickland
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ailors from Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) honored the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., by helping those less fortunate by packing food for people at risk of hunger at the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, Jan. 21. The organizer for Lincoln’s participation, Lt. j.g. Eric Gonzalez, Lincoln’s diversity officer, said that he chose Foodbank because it was a great way to get the crew together for an important day and a great way to remember a man who spoke out for those who had less. “This event was a great way to commemorate Martin Luther King’s work,” Gonzalez said. Gonzales added that the interest in supporting the community relations event was well received by the command requiring the volunteers to be split into two separate volunteer opportunities, one on Jan. 21 and the second, scheduled for Feb. 17. The two separate COMREL events came as good news for the Foodbank’s Volunteer Manager Jan Cline.
“We love to have Navy volunteers because [they] come to us already with a skill set of leading and helping others,” Cline said, adding that Lincoln Sailors have contributed nearly 500 volunteer hours at Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore since the ship came to the Hampton Roads region 17 months ago for its refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH). Foodbank of Southeast Virginia and the Eastern Shore provides 14.5-million meals to people at risk of hunger every year through local charities, such as Union Mission, Habitat for Humanity and Salvation Army, as well as distribution direct to the public from its Tidewater Road location. During the community relations event to honor Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy, 30 Lincoln Sailors sorted and packed food and helped clean the food handling areas of the facility. One of the Sailors reflected on what it meant to him to help out at the Foodbank. “I think everyone on the ship wants to do some
(Left) Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class John Kim, assigned to Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), sorts food at the Foodbank of Southeast Virginia and Eastern Shore during a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday community relations project. The food will be distributed to local charities and neighborhoods at risk of hunger. (Top Right) Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Leah Horton, assigned to Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), sorts food at the Foodbank of Southeast Virginia and Eastern Shore during a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday community relations project. The food will be distributed to local charities and neighborhoods at risk of hunger.
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Photos By MC3 Jeremiah Mills
(Bottom Right) Electronics Technician 2nd Class Chris Grubbs, left, and Electronics Technician 1st Class Daniel Dalton, both assigned to Nimitz Class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), sort cans of food at the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore Jan. 21, during a ship-sponsored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., birthday community relations project. The food will be distributed to area charities andU.S. neighborhoods risk of Mills Navy photo by at MC3 Jeremiah hunger.
Luther King community service,” said Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Clayton Drew. “I’m just glad to have this opportunity.” While the phrase “giving back to the community” is often heard at volunteer gatherings one Lincoln Sailor at the event doesn’t just say it, she sincerely feels it. Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Leah Horton was homeless as a teenager and vividly remembers depending on agencies such as Foodbank of Southeast Virginia and the Eastern Shore. “I remember what it was like. It brings back memories,” she said. “I’m just glad I can give back. It gives me a smile and an amazing feeling to give back.”
U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Jeremiah Mills
VOLUME 24 , ISSUE 27
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Lincoln Sailors Prepare for Tax Season Story By MC3 Benjamin T. Liston
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ailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) will be able to file their taxes for free through a self-service tax filing system starting Jan. 31. There are three Tax Assistance Centers (TACs) for the 2013 tax season, located at Naval Station Norfolk, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek/ Fort Story and Naval Air Station Oceana. "The great thing about this program is that it's free," said Chief Legalman Myron Chism, Lincoln's representative for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The self-service terminals provide eligible personnel a place to file their taxes with the assistance of certified tax preparers. The hours of operation for all sites will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, starting Jan. 31. The TACs will accommodate walk-ins at self-service preparation terminals on a first come-first serve basis. "The hours allow Sailors to take time off work to get their taxes prepared," said Chism. TACs will also provide VITA tax preparation services which are for customers unable to use the selfservice terminals due to disability. The VITA services are scheduled by appointment only. "The VITA program is only offered to people who are having trouble working on the self-service terminals," said Chism. VITA is a free income tax preparation assistance service which is limited to 1040EZ returns. The VITA program will not be offered aboard Lincoln, personnel will have to go to the prescribed locations to use them. "This service is for the 1040EZ form only," said Chism. "Personnel will have to go to a tax specialist if they want to itemize or if they have other sources of income other than the military." Personnel eligible for the VITA services are strongly encouraged to schedule appointments early in the tax season. Taxes will not be prepared for indiv iduals with businesses, rental properties, capital gains (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, 1099B), adoptions or any 1099 miscellaneous incomes.
Lincoln Sailors Learn About Tuition Assistance Changes
Story By MCSA Robert Ferrone
Photos By MC3 Zachary A. Anderson
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incoln Sailors looking to advance their educational careers will have to make sure their Tuition Assistance (TA) applications have been approved before classes start. Sailors will no longer be able to start classes before their TA applications are approved. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Telly Myles, educational services officer aboard USS Abraham Lincoln, emphasized the importance of Sailors turning their TA paperwork in with plenty of time to have it approved. “It’s not necessarily a change,
now they’re saying if your classes already started, and you submit your TA, we’re not approving it.” Tuition Assistance will continue to offer coverage on 100 percent of tuition costs, not to exceed $250 per semester hour. Sailors must be at their first command for a full year before applying, and Lincoln Sailors are required to have their surface warfare pin, Myles said. In return, the Navy College just wants the paperwork on time. “Don’t wait until the last minute,” Myles said. “Whatever degree you’re going for, your counselor will put in black and white whatever courses you need. Just get your paperwork in on time.”
“Don’t wait until the last minute,” Myles said. “Whatever degree you’re going for, your counselor will put in black and white whatever courses you need. Just get your paperwork in on time.” they’re just enforcing their policy,” Myles said. “Let’s say your classes started yesterday and you’re just now submitting your TA, normally they would go in and approve it. But