USSBlue BlueRidge Ridge USS Ridge an authorized publication BlueBlue Ridge is anisauthorized publication for Sailors aboard Ridge for Sailors aboard USSUSS BlueBlue Ridge (LCC Contents herein are the not the (LCC 19).19). Contents herein are not views of,endorsed or endorsed by U.S. the U.S. views of, or by the government, Department of Defense, government, Department of Defense, the the Department of Navy the Navy or the Department of the or the Commanding of USS O of USS Commanding Officer BlueBlue O Officer Ridge. All news, photos information Ridge. All news, photos and and information for publication in Blue the Blue Ridge for publication in the Ridge mustmust be submitted to Public the Public Affairs Officer. be submitted to the Affairs Officer. Produced by Media Services Produced by Media Services Ext.Ext. 41554155 Commanding Officer: Commanding Officer: Capt. Daniel Grieco Capt. Daniel Grieco Executive Officer: Executive Officer: Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Ralston Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Ralston Command Master Chief: Command Master Chief: CMDCM (SW/SS) David Unnone CMDCM (SW/SS) David Unnone Public Affairs Officer: Public Affairs Officer: Lt. Clinton Beaird Lt. Clinton Beaird LCPO / Chief Editor: LCPO / Chief Editor: MCC (SW) Katherine Strom MCC (SW) Katherine Strom Production Chief: Production Chief: MCC (SW/AW) Allen Onstott MCC (SW/AW) Allen Onstott Leading Petty Officer: Leading Petty Officer: MC1 (SW/AW) Heather Ewton MC1 (SW/AW) Heather Ewton Media Services Staff: Media Services Staff: (SW/ MC1 (SW/AW) FoltzFoltz MC1 (SW/AW) Jerome (SW/ Jerome MC2 (SW) Aaron Pineda MC2 (SW) Aaron Pineda MC2 (SW) Jay Jay ChuChu MC2 (SW) MC2 Joshua Curtis MC2 Joshua Curtis MC2 (SW/AW) Steven Khor MC2 (SW/AW) Steven Khor MC2 Timmy Wakefield MC2 Timmy Wakefield MC2 (SW) Rafael Figueroa MC2 (SW) Rafael Figueroa MC3 FidelFidel HartHart MC3 MC3 Colin Sheridan MC3 Colin Sheridan MC3 MelMel Orr Orr MC3 MC3 (SW) Alexander Arroyo MC3 (SW) Alexander Arroyo MC3 (SW) Brian Stone MC3 (SW) Brian Stone MC3 CaleCale Hatch MC3 Hatch MC3 James Norman MC3 James Norman
TheJunior JuniorSailor’s Sailor’sAssociation Association The and photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class StoryStory and photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class BrianBrian StoneStone
In June 2011, Yeoman 3rd Class PettyPetty Officer Randy Sarran officially started the the In June 2011, Yeoman 3rd Class Officer Randy Sarran officially started Junior Sailor’s Association (JSA) withwith a group of shipmates and and a mentor, Chief Junior Sailor’s Association (JSA) a group of shipmates a mentor, Chief Operations Specialist Damiean Williams. Sarran saidsaid he started the JSA because Operations Specialist Damiean Williams. Sarran he started the JSA because he felt Sailors werewere missing opportunities to succeed within the command. he junior felt junior Sailors missing opportunities to succeed within the command. Now, withwith a group of members and and frequent activities, the JSA has become a a Now, a group of members frequent activities, the JSA has become meeting place for volunteer-minded Sailors looking to help theirtheir community and and meeting place for volunteer-minded Sailors looking to help community command. command. “If you’re thinking about joining, check the Plan of the and and come to one of of “If you’re thinking about joining, check the Plan of Day the Day come to one our meetings to see we’re all about,” saidsaid Sarran. “We’re looking for comour meetings to what see what we’re all about,” Sarran. “We’re looking for committed Sailors whowho wantwant to show up, join a team and and get things done. mitted Sailors to show up, join a team get things done.
ESWS ESWSNotes Notes
Responsibilities of the Commander ViceVice Adimiral ScottScott H. Swift Responsibilities of Fleet the Fleet Commander Adimiral H. Swift - Military command and and operational control of ships, aircraft and and forces - Military command operational control of ships, aircraft forces assigned to his command. assigned to his command. - Operational control overover otherother forces as assigned by higher authority. - Operational control forces as assigned by higher authority. - Exercise of such administrative functions as may be necessary in connection - Exercise of such administrative functions as may be necessary in connection withwith forces assigned. forces assigned. - Execution of such missions and and duties as may be assigned to him by by - Execution of such missions duties as may be assigned to him higher authority. higher authority.
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www.facebook.com/ussblueridge www.facebook.com/ussblueridge EVERY SAILOR IMPACTS MISSION: RIGHT! EVERY SAILOR IMPACTS MISSION: DODO IT IT RIGHT! From Ridge Command Master Chief David Unnone From USSUSS BlueBlue Ridge Command Master Chief David Unnone
Shipmates, Shipmates, Asall weenjoy all enjoy some deserved liberty, I want to remind of you As we some wellwell deserved liberty, I want to remind all ofallyou to dotoitdo it right! to have successful liberty incidents. right! OurOur goalgoal is toishave safesafe and and successful portport visitsvisits withwith zerozero liberty incidents. You’re all representatives of the USS Blue Ridge and the Navy while you’re You’re all representatives of the USS Blue Ridge and the Navy while you’re out out there. From on every up, every on foreign automatically there. From E-1 E-1 on up, timetime you you stepstep footfoot on foreign soil,soil, you you automatically become ambassadors of United the United States. Be mindful of your conduct. If you choose become ambassadors of the States. Be mindful of your conduct. If you choose to drink, doresponsibly so responsibly remember, influence the perception of what to drink, do so and and remember, you you influence the perception of what America is and Americans areyour by your actions. America is and whowho Americans are by actions. I encourage you to enjoy your liberty and take in local attractions, but always I encourage you to enjoy your liberty and take in local attractions, but always keepkeep in mind activities the responsibility of creating fostering in mind thesethese activities carrycarry withwith themthem the responsibility of creating and and fostering a a positive image. positive image. Before depart on liberty, a plan. a plan in place, you’ll be less likely Before you you depart on liberty, havehave a plan. WithWith a plan in place, you’ll be less likely to find yourself a position to make decisions. Think out ahead of time. to find yourself in a in position to make bad bad decisions. Think this this stuffstuff out ahead of time. We have of experience if you a question, We have a lotaoflotexperience herehere and and if you havehave a question, just just ask.ask. Be safe of each other. Buddy System is mandatory forhands all hands Be safe and and taketake carecare of each other. TheThe Buddy System is mandatory for all serves as one of controls the controls we have in place to ensure our safety. and and serves as one of the we have in place to ensure our safety. As many of you experinced in Singapore never know the future or when all hands be reAs many of you experinced in Singapore last last year,year, you you never know whatwhat the future maymay holdhold or when all hands will will be recalled to ship. the ship. When fill the out Liberty the Liberty make getthe all required the required information in there. It may be our called to the When you you fill out Log,Log, make suresure you you get all information in there. It may be our means of tracking down in event the event an emergency. onlyonly means of tracking you you down in the of anofemergency. NewNew Liberty LogsLogs willwill be located on the Decks for E-6 and and below, in the Lounge for Chiefs and and in the Liberty be located on Mess the Mess Decks for E-6 below, in CPO the CPO Lounge for Chiefs inWardthe Wardroom for Officers. room for Officers. On aOn final note,note, I want to talk ESWS. a final I want to talk ESWS. ESWS qualifications are now moremore important thanthan ever.ever. There’s no better timetime thanthan nownow to wrap-up thesethese qualsquals by taking ESWS qualifications are now important There’s no better to wrap-up by taking advantage of being at sea having access to those qualified to sign off your books and and conduct walkthoughs. advantage of being at and sea and having access to those qualified to sign off your books conduct walkthoughs. We’ve already begun talking about and and preparing for INSURV. Once we reach about a year out, out, thosethose preparations are are We’ve already begun talking about preparing for INSURV. Once we reach about a year preparations going to kick intointo overdrive and and the folks whowho havehave the time to sign youryour PQSPQS now,now, while we’re out now, probably won’t going to kick overdrive the folks the time to sign while we’re out now, probably won’t when the main focus becomes INSURV. when the main focus becomes INSURV. ESWS is more thanthan a requirement. TheThe pridepride that that comes withwith being qualified to wear the pin everyone that that you’re a a ESWS is more a requirement. comes being qualified to wear the shows pin shows everyone you’re Sailor, and and you you know youryour ship.ship. Make this this a priority now.now. Sailor, know Make a priority Now’s the time to do it so let’s get it done. Now’s the time to do it so let’s get it done.
Did DidYou YouKnow? Know? George Washington waswas the the onlyonly Founding Father to free his his slaves andand waswas alsoalso the the onlyonly president George Washington Founding Father to free slaves president whowho didn’t livelive in Washington D.C. Washington waswas partpart of the Freemasons group andand the the firstfirst Mason to to didn’t in Washington D.C. Washington of the Freemasons group Mason serve as president. HisHis 2nd2nd Inaugral address waswas the the shortest delivered in all history. serve as president. Inaugral address shortest delivered in of allpresidential of presidential history. It was onlyonly 135135 words! Washington’s rankrank in the Continental Army waswas General. Washington didn’t believe It was words! Washington’s in the Continental Army General. Washington didn’t believe in political parties andand didn’t associate himself as part of aofparty. He He did did his his ownown bookkeeping andand recorded in political parties didn’t associate himself as part a party. bookkeeping recorded every penny of expense or profit. HisHis ledgers stillstill existexist today. every penny of expense or profit. ledgers today.
BLUE RIDGE LAUNCHES NEW ZONE INSPECTION PROGRAM
Photo by MC3 Fidel Hart
Story and photo illustration by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timmy Wakefield
U.S. 7th Fleet flagship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) recently implemented a new ship-wide zone inspection program created by the ship’s Material, Maintenance and Management Coordinator (3MC). Senior Chief Machinery Repairman Edgardo Agustin, 3MC, created an efficient zone inspection program by dividing the ship into 13 zones. “I took all my experiences from my previous commands to create a program that is both efficient and effective,” said Agustin. “The new program consists of 13 zones because it reflects the 13-week 3M cycle. The zones separate the ship from forward to aft, top to bottom and no space will be overlooked.” The new program covers more than 780 spaces. During a zone inspection, more than 60 spaces will be checked per week.
Agustin said his zone inspections are intended to be less scattered focusing on one zone. Over a 13-week period, the entrire ship will be inspected. Blue Ridge’s 3M team, including much effort made by Electricians Mate 1st Class Sheila Kawahara, combed each zone of the ship and updated compartment names and the division responsible for each compartment. Agustin said, “It helps with training our junior officers, prepares us for Inspection & Survey (INSURV) and prolongs the service life of the ship to its designated 2039 life expectancy.” The new 13-week zone program identifies, documents and corrects problems maintenance deficiencies before INSURV “It prevents the same discrepancies from happening, creating improvement throughout the ship.” Agustin added. “We should never run into the same discrepancies during the next inspection, and that’s the goal.”
Blue Ridge on Patrol in 7th Fleet Story by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mel Orr
U.S. 7th Fleet flagship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), departed from Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka for patrol Feb. 21. Commanded by Capt. Daniel Grieco, Blue Ridge is manned by nearly 650 Sailors, and 300 embarked 7th Fleet staff and Fleet Anti-terrorism Secutity Team Pacific. Blue Ridge will visit foreign ports to engage allies and strengthen partnerships across the Asia-Pacific region. Sailors and Marines will also be participating in several community service projects with partner navies and local aid groups. The Blue Ridge morale, welfare and recreation department is offering tours to service members so they can have the oppotunity to visit local attractions. While Sailors will get the chance to enjoy some rest and relaxation, Blue Ridge will be fully operational during patrol. Blue Ridge will provide advanced communications capabilities throughout the 7th Fleet, supporting theater security cooperation,fleet coordination and engagement goals during the patrol.
Photo by MC2 Steven Khor
Sailor Question and Answer Being underway is rough but what do you enjoy most about it? CSC Robert Chambers: “I enjoy the friendships that are united and how all genders, races, religions and creeds can come together as one to accomplish the mission.” IT1 Charlene Westbrook: “I love the fact that no matter what time of the day, I can always get a hold of my shipmates.” CS1 Misty Cannon: “I enjoy the bonding with one another and the comraderie between different organizations like FCPOA, Chief ’s Mess, 5LSO and JSA.” HM2 Steven Nicholson: ”I especially enjoy the ocean, day or night. Seeing no land and cool breeze does it for me.” Photo by MC2 Timmy Wakefield