Blue Ridge Issue 10

June 24, 2011

vol. 1 i. 10

3M Assessment How Did We Do?

NOUMEA An Island Adventure

Information Systems Technicians

Not Just Trouble Tickets...

RECENT EVENTS

Command Picnic

Photo by MC3 Arroyo

YOKOSUKA, Japan (June 10, 2011) — Damage Control Fireman Michael Rodriguez gets his face painted during the 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) command picnic at Berkley Field.

Photo by MC3 Arroyo

YOKOSUKA, Japan (June 10, 2011) — Command Master Chief David Unnone and Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class Edward Craven cook hamburgers and hot dogs during the 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) command picnic at Berkley Field.

Photo by MC3 Arroyo

YOKOSUKA, Japan (June 10, 2011) — Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Chad Tomes participates in a jousting match during the 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) command picnic at Berkley Field.

Hospital Corpsman Birthday

Photo by MCSN Norman

YOKOSUKA, Japan (June 17, 2011) — Medical department personnel stand at attention during colors aboard 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) in honor of the Hospital Corps 113th birthday. Hospital corpsman stand as the oldest and most decorated rate with 22 Medals of Honor.

Photo by MCSN Norman

YOKOSUKA, Japan (June 17, 2011) — Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Scott Peterson wears desert cammies as he prepares paperwork on a patient during sick call aboard U.S. 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19). Blue Ridge hospital corpsman wore various uniforms in celebration of the Hospital Corps 113th birthday.

Photo by MCSN Norman

YOKOSUKA, Japan (June 17, 2011) — Retired Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON), Joe Campa talks to Sailors aboard 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) in celebration of the Hospital Corps 113th birthday.

Campa was a hospital corpsman for 19 years before being selected to MCPON.

Produced by Media Services division, Ext. 4155 Commanding Officer: Capt. Daniel Grieco Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ussblueridge Executive Officer: Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Ralston View this issue online: www.issuu.com/ussblueridge Command Master Chief: CMDCM(SW/SS) David Unnone Public Affairs Officer: Lt. j.g. Clinton Beaird Blue Ridge is an authorized publication for Sailors serving aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19). Contents herein are Editor: MCC(SW) Katherine Strom not the views of, or endorsed by the U.S. government, the Assistant Editor: MC1(SW) Todd Macdonald Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or Newsletter Staff: the Commanding Officer of the USS Blue Ridge. All news MC2(SW) Brian Dietrick releases, photos or information for publication in Blue Ridge NOUM must be submitted to the Public Affairs Officer.

3M HoewDDo?id MC2 Aaron Pineda An Island EA Adventure AssesW sment MC3 Mel Orr Info On the cover: Information Systems Technician MC3(SW) Alexandra Arroyo Syst rmation 2nd Class James Puncel and Chief Warrant Officer Tech ems MCSN James Norman nici Marty Silver patch circuits in order to ensure shipboard communications are running properly.

Photo by MC2 Aaron Pineda

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June 24, 2011

vol. 1 i. 10

Blue Ridge Information Systems Technicians Provide Capable Command and Support Story and photos by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman James Norman

Walking into the Main Communications space can be an interesting experience. After you make your way past the secretive blue curtain, you’re led into a space filled with machines transmitting massive amounts of data. The people you normally see walking around the passageways are huddled behind their computers, eyes fixated on their screens. The question begs to be asked, who and what are these people doing?

Get a Grasp on the IT Community The space, Main Comms, is the information hub of USS Blue Ridge. It’s the place IT’s process all data coming into and leaving the ship.

IT’s are found working behind a desk troubleshooting network and security issues. Much like engineers, they don’t have a typical nine-to-five job and their work day can sometimes last more than 12 hours. Aboard Blue Ridge, there are five divisions of IT’s that help perform the ship’s mission: customer service, applications, LAN hardware, networking, and radio.

Sailors aboard Blue Ridge know the IT’s through customer service. Forgotten passwords, offline printers and corrupt profiles all acquaint them with customer service.

“The first point of contact for your computer issues is the

help desk,” said Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Anthony Marandola.

“Whenever you submit a trouble ticket for your computer problem it first comes to us, the customer service division (CSD). We try to knock it out and handle it at the lowest level.”

Marandola said CSD fixes 90 percent of what they face, but if they can’t figure out the problem, they forward it to one of the speciality divisions.

Another division that Sailors get to know is the applications division. It’s here that IT’s troubleshoot software issues.

“If CSD can’t handle your initial issues, it needs to be looked at more in depth,” said Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Joseph Halatyn, “That’s when the network division steps in.”

Tier web browsing restrictions always draw a sigh, but they serve an important purpose to manage data flow and support Commander, 7th Fleet with video teleconferencing capabilities.

“We’re the ones who implement the web restrictions,” said Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Elija Cabunoc. “One of our other jobs involves us scanning into our network for spillage, which is where we look to see if SIPR data has leaked on to the NIPR network.”

For Blue Ridge to perform its mission it has to communicate with the outside world, according to Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Andrew Sizemore.

Personnel in the radio division make

this happen, dealing with off ship connectivity from telephone calls to the internet.

“If it’s leaving the boat it comes through us,” he said. “We deal with everything that involves a radio, a satellite or an antenna.”

LAN hardware division is unique in that brings the IT and ET rates together. It’s the division Sailors come to when their computers’ hardware takes a dive.

“We deal with all the divisional maintenance and the ship’s hardware maintenance,” said Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Katie Young. “We’re in charge of the servers and physical troubleshooting on computers.”

Although most IT’s work takes place behind the scenes, their efforts are realized throughout the ship.

From profile accounts to making sure Commander, 7th Fleet’s video teleconferencing system is online, IT’s keep Sailors talking, interacting and communicating with each other.

A E M U O N

c i f i c a P h t u o S e h t s t e e m a r e i v i R h c n e r Where the F Nouméa is a bustling cosmopolitan city with a distinct French ambience, where most people will start their New Caledonia experience. There is so much to see and do in Nouméa, the possibilities are virtually endless.

The first humans to settle in New Caledonia arrived around 1,500 to 2,000 years ago, bringing with them their Melanesian languages and cultures.

In 1774 James Cook discovered a large island as his ship, The Resolution, made its way to New Zealand. He christened this land ‘New Caledonia’ and spent some time in Balade in the north, where he came into contact with Melanesian tribes.

The settlement was initially set up as a trading post and soon after as a French

fortress, and much of its layout today is due to these influences.

Since then, Nouméa has been discovered and fashioned by sailors and missionaries, governed by the military who turned it into the Headquarters of the U.S. Army during World War II. As Nouméa is built on a large peninsula, it is blessed with an excellent choice of harbor views, as well as many welcoming islands around its shores which are favorite weekend haunts. It is also home to around 100,000 people, which is approximately 40% of the population of New Caledonia.

Nouméa is also the country’s administrative and political economic center and reflects a multi-cultural

society, nourished by generations of peaceful communal living between the archipelagos’ various ethnic communities.

The city maintains much of New Caledonia’s unique mix of French and old Melanesian culture. Even today the U.S. wartime military influence lingers, both in the warmth that many New Caledonian people feel towards the United States after experiencing the relative friendliness of American soldiers, and also in the names of several of the quarters in Noumea.

EXCHANGE RATE 1 USD = 84 CFP Franc 5 USD = 422 CFP Franc 10 USD = 844 CFP Franc 25 USD= 2,110 CFP Franc 50 USD= 4,221 CFP Franc 100 USD = 8,443 CFP Franc

THINGS TO DO

Cafes, piano and karaoke bars come alive at happy hour from 5pm to 6:30pm. Later in the evening, the nightclubs open along “Anse Vata” and the “Baie des Citrons” for dancing and fun to the rhythms of Pacific and International music.

There is something for all tastes and budgets! You can sample many types of cuisine (local, European, Asian, West Indian) at different prices. Local chefs make a point of preparing quality cuisine based of fresh lagoon produce and New Caledonian agriculture. Some hotels and restaurants also put on special Oceanic dinner and dance shows.

“La Baie de la Moselle” and the famous market

The colorful market is open daily from 5am to 11am (closed the 3rd Monday of the month). You should also visit the American monument (erected to honor this valuable ally in WWII). Moselle Bay shelters a large modern marina which is the departure point for boat excursions, including trips to Amedee lighthouse, ilot Maitre and many other island paradises.

“L’ilot Maitre”

A 10-15 minute boat trip from Noumea, in the center of a vast underwater reef, Maitre Island has been developed to cater to the needs of visitors and Noumean locals who come here to relax on weekends.

“La Baie des Citrons”

Generally a very sheltered bay, this is an extremely family-friendly beach with lovely cafes, restaurants and nightclubs.

“L’ Aquarium des Lagons” “L’Anse Vata”

A mecca for tourists and home for a wide variety of water sports, Anse Vata is also a pleasant place to go for a walk under the coconut palms. Here you will find hotels, businesses, restaurants and nightclubs.

“La Baie du Kuendu”

Just 10 minutes from downtown Noumea lies Kuendu Bay, which is popular for its white sand beach and water slide.

“L’ile aux canards” (Duck Island) Easily accessible by taxi boat from Anse Vata beach, this is a wonderful place for an excursion for the young and old alike. After a splendid 30 minute swim along the underwater path, you can have lunch on the island which has a restaurant.

Michel-Corbasson Zoological and Forrest Park

Situated on the heights of Montravel and only a few minutes from downtown Noumea, this park offers superb walks in an enchanting location. The botanical and zoological gardens possesses a superb collection of birds, both in aviaries and roaming in the wild around three lakes. Here you can find the rarest of them all: the Cagou bird, the emblem of New Caledonia, as well as lots of other New Caledonia birds.

The Noumea Aquarium, established in 1956 by Mr. and Mrs. Catala-Stucky, is a remarkable place. Everything here is natural, the seawater, the lighting and of course the huge array of marine life. It is a real window into the New Caledonia lagoon as it shows you the splendor of the coral reefs and their inhabitants.

“La Baie de Sainte-Marie”

The well developed Pierre-Vernier Promenade is a pleasant place for a wide variety of leisure activities and relaxation. This is a popular meeting place for walkers, runners and family bike rides in the shade of the coconut palms.

The International Sailing Center which occupies one of the bay’s coves, played host to the world Olympic windsurfing cup in 1999.

The Maritime History Museum

This Museum, opened in 1999 on the quays of the port area, owes its existence to the enthusiasm of members of the Fortunes De Mer and Salomon Associations. These people, who are passionate about underwater archeology, have made inventories of forty shipwrecks that have occured on New Caledonia’s reefs - a painstaking task which resulted in the Museum’s creation after many years of hard work.

* Information on this page is recommended by the writer and is not an endorsement by 7th Fleet or USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19)

Safety is Key to 3M Success Story by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alexandra Arroyo

Safety is a vital component to shipboard maintenance. No program exudes this point more than the Navy Material Maintenance Management program, also known as 3M. From June 13-16 Blue Ridge Sailors demonstrated their 3M know-how during the annual 3M Certification (3MC). This included an assessment from Afloat Training Group Western Pacific (ATGWP) that challenged Blue Ridge Sailors to reiterate how safety is tied to the 3M system.

Ensuring that no safety violations occurred during the time they conducted the maintenance, the inspectors

walked through every step of the maintenance with the Sailor during the spot check. Any safety mistake could pose a potential safety hazard or even a major injury to Sailors.

ATGWP 3M assessor, Senior Chief Engineman Javier Perez said safety checks are probably one of the most important things they assess. They need to be very detailed because it affects the safety of the personnel.

Blue Ridge 3M Coordinator, Master Chief Electrician’s Mate Ador Barcega said the ship had been preparing for the 3MC since January by doing numerous administrative reviews.

By utilizing the Material Maintenance Management Training Team (3MTT), Barcega

said they completed various spot checks, hands-on training with the Maintenance Data System (MDS) and tested for Schedule (SKED) proficiency.

During the 3MC, Sailors from every department performed spot checks for ATGWP in order to ensure the maintenance was conducted safely. These spot checks assured inspectors that proper materials and safety guidelines were used to complete the maintenance.

“Sailors normally do well when when they know their equipment and they do it on a regular basis,” Perez explained.

“If they don’t understand they ask somebody who knows, once that is done and repeated, it

builds their confidence and it shows during assessments.”

“ATGWP evaluates everything,” said Barcega. “If Sailors violate safety during the 3MC they would fail the spot check. Safety is a big concern.”

Perez said confidence in the safety of shipboard maintenance has remained a prominent key to whether or not Sailors sink or float during assessment time.

The command scored a total of 94 percent.

“94 is pretty high, that’s a big deal, 3M will effect the entire ship’s Battle “E” eligibility.” said Barcega.

“I was very happy with all of the efforts from the sailors,” he said, “To get that high of a result is very satisfying. Everyone can breathe now.”

Our New

Chief of Naval Operations?

Story by the Department of Defense

WASHINGTON (NNS) — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced June 16, he has recommended Adm. Jonathon W. Greenert, vice chief of naval operations, to succeed the retiring Adm. Gary Roughead as the next chief of naval operations.

Gates said he made the recommendation to President Barack Obama based on Greenert’s solid portfolio that includes both significant personnel programs and budget responsibilities.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Greenert is “an exceptional officer, and if confirmed, will be, I believe, an exceptional CNO.” “He has wonderful operational experience, fleet experience, he’s terrific with people and he has extensive experience in the money world, which is now facing all of us,” Mullen said. “So I strongly concur with

the Secretary’s recommendation.”

Gates praised Roughead, who will retire this fall, for four decades of service and leadership at the helm of the Navy for the past four years.

“I have very much enjoyed working with Gary and have greatly valued his counsel and wisdom on both Navy issues and broader strategic issues,” Gates said.

Upon being notified of the news, Roughead offered his congratulations and endorsement.

“I could not be more pleased that Adm. Jon Greenert has been nominated to be the 30th Chief of Naval Operations. I have known Jon and his family well for years and I have the utmost respect for him as a leader and a naval officer.”

In a statement released after the announcement Greenert said “I am honored and humbled by the Secretary’s recommendation and look

forward to working with Congress during the confirmation process.”

Greenert’s career as a submariner includes assignments aboard USS Flying Fish, USS Tautog, Submarine NR-1 and USS Michigan and as commander of USS Honolulu. He also served as commander of Submarine Squadron 11, U.S. Naval Forces Mariana, U.S. 7th Fleet in the Pacific and U.S. Fleet Forces Command before he became the vice CNO.

Sailor Q A &

EN2 Victor Chavez

“What are you looking forward to most about this underway?”

YN3 Donta Freeman

SR Emily Connell

Retired MCPON Visits USS Blue Ridge for Hospital Corps’ 113th Birthday Story by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mel Orr

“Since I’m leaving soon, I’m really looking forward to seeing my guys get their ESWS pins.”

“I can’t wait for Wog Day. I think it’s a tradition that most Sailors should look forward to.”

“I’m looking forward to exploring another part of the world that I’ve never been to. Plus I really wanna see a koala bear.”

GMSA Augustine Olivares

SN Brian Frechette

ET2 Daniel Kelley

“I can’t wait to see the sights in Noumea and just hanging out with my friends on the 4th of July.”

“I’m just trying to knock out as many of my qualifications as I can while we’re underway.”

Changes to the

“I’m looking forward to snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef and studying for the Japanese language proficiency exam.”

Program

Story by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian Dietrick

The timeline to qualify as an enlisted surface warfare specialist (ESWS) has gotten shorter. Qualifications and requalifications are mandatory for all enlisted Sailors assigned to designated warfare qualifying commands.

According to the Navy enlisted warfare qualification programs instruction, OPNAVINST 1414.9, personnel in the pay grades of E-4 and below have 30 months to qualify, E-5 and above have 18 months to qualify, and requalification of ESWS, in any pay grade, is 12 months.

As per the instruction, failure to qualify ESWS within the prescribed timeline will result in a special performance evaluation removing promotion recommendation.

Recommendation may be restored with a special performance evaluation only when qualification or re-qualification is achieved.

Personnel in the pay grades of E-4 and below that are already in a delinquent status have until July 30, 2011 to complete ESWS qualification. For E-5 and above Sailors that are more than six months in a delinquent status as of May 31, 2011 shall receive a special performance evaluation removing promotion recommendation. E-5 and above Sailors falling inside of six months delinquent status have until July 30, 2011 to qualify or re-qualify ESWS. Sailors with legitimate special situations such as limited duty, individual augment, or school should contact their command senior enlisted leaders to document qualification timeline adjustments.

For more information on the Navy enlisted warfare qualification programs, read BLUERIDGEINST 1414.1D and OPNAVINST 1414.9.

YOKOSUKA, Japan - A retired master chief petty officer of the Navy (MCPON) visited 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) to celebrate the 113th birthday of the hospital corpsman rating June 17.

Retired MCPON (SW/FMF) Joe R. Campa Jr., visited on the invitation of Blue Ridge Command Master Chief (SW/SS) David A. Unnone, for a ceremony in the enlisted galley that included a cake cutting and brief question and answer session.

Campa served as a hospital corpsman for nearly 20 years before becoming a command master chief and later the master chief petty officer of the Navy.

“The biggest thing being a corpsman offered me was the ability to work in a lot of different environments: working with the United States Marine Corps, working on board ships, working on different facilities,” Campa said.

“You’ve got to have a corpsman there.”

The Navy Hospital Corps was established in 1898, during the Spanish-American War. Since then, 22 Congressional Medals of Honor, 174 Navy Crosses, 943 Silver Stars, and 1,553 Bronze stars have been awarded to corpsmen. Fourteen Navy ships have been named for corpsmen.

Campa thanked the Blue Ridge Sailors for sacrificing their time to stand by to respond to any humanitarian relief aid needed after the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan March 11.

Campa also congratulated the ship’s crew for their recent successful completions for Unit Level Training Assessment, Engineering; Unit Level Training Assessment, Certification; and Maintenance and Material Management (3M) assessment.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE FLEET

USS Avenger and USS Guardian Locate Lost Helo

By Amphibious Force Seventh Fleet Public Affairs

GULF OF THAILAND — The crews of USS Avenger (MCM 1) and USS Guardian (MCM 5) found an HH-53A helicopter off the coast of Cambodia, June 17, that went down 36 years ago, losing all hands aboard.

All but one of the crew of “Knife 21” were found after the helicopter went down, and today, one Staff Sgt. Elwood Rumbaugh , the crew’s flight engineer, is still missing. His remains are presumed to still be in the downed helicopter, and finding this missing Marine is the overall mission of the search.

“It’s hard to lose a loved one,” said Lt. Cmdr. Kenneth Brown, Commanding Officer of Guardian, “This is an important mission, and doubly so if we can bring some peace to the families and friends that mourned Staff Sgt. Rumbaugh’s loss.”

The suspected location of the helicopter was previously identified by USS Patiriot (MCM 7) using side-scan sonar during a western pacific patrol last year. Guardian and Avenger pinpointed the location using a more accurate minehunting sonar, and sent an onboard mine hunting submersible to visually confirm

that they had found a helicopter.

“It’s really exciting to be doing something like this. We’re the first one to see this aircraft in more than 35 years,” said Lt. Cmdr. Patrick German, Commanding Officer of Avenger.

Now that the aircraft has been found, the Defense Prisoner of War/ Missing Persons Office will continue the search for the missing Marine by ultimately sending divers to attempt to locate his remains using these new, more precise coordinates that Avenger and Guardian will provide.

DILI, Timor Leste (June. 17, 2011) - Personnel exit an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter on the flight deck aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS Cleveland (LPD 7). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael Russell)

KUANTAN, Malaysia (June 12, 2011) - Navy Diver 2nd Class Nick Johnson is helped onto a pontoon after completing a welding and salvage dive during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Malaysia 2011. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jimmie Crockett)

YOKOSUKA, Japan (June 12,2011) - Brandon Reese from Prattville, Pa. fires an M-9 service pistol during a live fire gun shoot on the number four elevator aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam K. Thomas)

YOKOSUKA, Japan (June 16, 2011) – Gunner‘s Mate 1st Class Michael Hoar and Fire Controlman 1st Class Gilbert Saucedo, assigned to USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), remove a mark 46 mod 5A(S) torpedo from the ship‘s over the side torpedo tubes in preparations to do maintenance on the torpedo. (U.S. Navy photo

by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mikey Mulcare)

YOKOSUKA, Japan (June 12, 11) – Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Michael Davidson, assigned to USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), instructs line handlers on how to remove a brow at Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mikey Mulcare)

SASEBO, Japan (June 15, 2011) - Lt. Nathan Chenarak, officer in charge Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133, detachment, Sasebo, highfives Zoe, the detachment’s mascot, at Fleet Activities Sasebo. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Richard Doolin)

PHOTOS FROM AROUND THE FLEET

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