Flagship Edition 02.01.2018

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THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW IN THE EVENT OF A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN: • Military personnel continue to work • Excepted civilians continue to work • Medical facilities remain open • Child Development Centers and Gyms remain open • Commissaries will close within 72 hours For more information, speak with your chain of command, monitor the news and call ahead to check facility’s operating status.

Vo l . 26 , No . 05 N o r f o l k , VA | f l ag sh ip ne ws .c om

02 .1 –0 2 . 7. 1 8

USS WYOMING

ARRIVES AT NNSY FOR AN ENGINEERED REFUELING OVERHAUL

The ballistic missile submarine USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) returns to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay following routine operations.

MC1 Rex Nelson

By Michael Brayshaw Norfolk Naval Shipyard Public Affairs NORFOLK

USS Wyoming (SSBN-742) arrived at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Jan. 9 for its 27-month Engineered Refueling Overhaul (ERO). As a critical piece in the country’s nuclear deterrence strategy, the submarine will be refueled and upgraded during this major availability. In a first for NNSY, Enlisted Women at Sea ship alterations will be performed onboard, modifying the layout of berthing areas. For the other work, the availability is highly similar to the shipyard’s ERO currently being conducted on USS Rhode Island (SSBN-740), allowing the Wyoming project to leverage off record-setting successes and valuable experience gained during that overhaul. “Apples to apples, it’s pretty much the

same,” Project Superintendent John Walker said. “We’re looking to get at least 70 percent of the employees who worked on the Rhode Island to roll over to the Wyoming.” The project team is already off to a strong start with completing the Resource Constrained Schedule (RCS) 14 days early. This schedule provides an overarching integrated plan on the number of personnel needed to conduct work throughout the overhaul. “With the RCS, you’re leveling the shipyard’s resources across the whole 27-month availability. Now we don’t have to focus on that as we move into the actual execution phase. It’s a huge deal to get it done,” Walker said. Walker said the team already has a new record in its sights for this ERO. In February 2017, Rhode Island finished refueling in 217 days, setting a new record at NNSY thanks to safety, effective planning and timely execution of quality of work. NNSY’s former

DoD and VA release online tool to assist veterans with discharge upgrade process “We support our veterans, whether they served recently or long WASHINGTON ago, and we are excited to The Department of Deintroduce a tool that will fense, through a joint initiaindividualize the guidtive with the Department of ance for those who desire Veterans Affairs, is pleased an upgrade or change in to announce the launch of a their military discharge,” web-based tool that will prohe said. vide customized guidance to Over the years, some vetveterans who desire to upgrade erans have criticized the reor change the conditions of their view process as daunting or difU.S. Navy graphic military discharge. ficult to understand. The issuance “We are thrilled to have partnered of supplemental guidance over the with the Department of Veterans Affairs in de- past few years, while helpful to many, has veloping this wonderful and easily-accessible the side effect of creating multiple guidance tool,” Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Mr. Robert Wilkie said. » See TOOL | A7 From Department of Defense

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AROUND THE FLEET See what’s happening around the Fleet through the camera’s lense.

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refueling record was on USS Alaska’s ERO, which completed its availability on schedule in March 2009. “We’re scheduled to complete refueling in 213 days,” Walker said. “It is both aggressive and achievable. We’re taking the lessons learned from the Rhode Island and we’re utilizing much of the same team.” Rhode Island also raised the bar with undocking two days early in July 2017. Walker points out that sharing lessons learned is essential when it comes to setting new standards for Ohio-class EROs at NNSY. “I was there for most of that availability [as Deputy Project Superintendent] before I transitioned over to Wyoming, and I’m still in contact with that project team every single day.” Reflecting on the extensive overhaul that lays ahead, Walker said, “Everything we do is a challenge, but the ship is on our side and ready to help us out in achieving our goal.

The captain is excited and motivated to make 27 months or less. For the shipyard, we have a lot of experience and knowledge moving into this project. I think we’ve got a winning team!” Wyoming is one of the United States’ most vital strategic assets, and combined with the other Ohio-class submarines, makes up one leg of the nuclear triad. During a visit last year commending the Rhode Island team, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program Director Admiral James F. Caldwell challenged the shipyard to continue pushing itself for even greater successes on EROs. “I want more of that,” he said. “You have my incredible admiration and my greatest respect for the work you do. You are America’s Shipyard because you fuel America’s Navy.” For more news from Norfolk Naval Shipyard, visit www.navy.mil/local/nnsy/.

Navy’s 2018 VITA program is open for business lined tax software, called MilTax, to get the job done right — and hopefully a refund in the bank WASHINGTON within two weeks. The Navy’s annual Vol“It is truly Sailors helpunteer Income Tax Asing Sailors,” Lt. Alexsistance (VITA) program andra Marin said, the has officially launched. In Navy’s VITA program anticipation of the kickmanager at the Office of off of tax season Jan. 29, the Judge Advocate GenVITA tax centers fleet wide eral in Washington, D.C. “It are opening their doors. is an opportunity to work with VITA is a free self-service proa fellow Sailor on how to educate U.S. Navy graphic gram available to active-duty and yourself on preparing your own retired service members and their taxes.” dependents, as well as deployed Department “It’s a lifelong skill and starting out with of Defense civilians. a Sailor teaching you how to do this, so that VITA pairs those individuals and their families with trained volunteers and stream» See VITA | A7 From Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy Public Affairs

NAVY & NASA COMPLETE UNDERWAY RECOVERY TEST The Underway Recovery Test-6 (URT-6) is part of a U.S. government interagency effort to safely retrieve the Orion crew module, which is capable of carrying humans into deep space.

» See B1

VAMPIRE’S HEAVYWEIGHT BID In a battle of former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Superstars, “Vampire Warrior” Gangrel will debut in Vanguard Championship Wrestling (VCW) this Saturday, Feb. 3, as he competes for Billy Gunn’s VCW Heavyweight » See C3 Championship.

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