June2015 newsletter

JUNE 2015

PHOTO REVIEW

CO’S CORNER

FEATURE

ISSUE NO. 4

Stepping In and Stepping Up PHILIPPINE SEA – When Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Mark Petty went out for a few drinks with his friends, he didn’t forsee stepping in to save a shipmate. They had stopped by a few local bars and were relaxing after a long work day, when one of Petty’s friends became noticeably intoxicated. “He started getting loud and flirty with all the girls,” said Petty. “He had had a little too much to drink and wasn’t thinking very clearly.”

COMMANDING OFFICER co@lcc19.navy.mil

EXECUTIVE OFFICER Nathan Fugate xo@lcc19.navy.mil

U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) provided (BI2F) training for every Sailor on board to reinforce the importance of bystander intervention and to encourage people to “step up and step in.”

BLR OMBUDSMAN Shanette Abney

shanette.abney@lcc19.navy.mil

According to Master Chief Electronics Technician Darin Vazquez, the command BI2F training coordinator, the training took the place of four annually required general military training topics and combined them

BLR OMBUDMSN

Samantha Knepper

samantha.knepper@lcc19.navy.mil

Blue Ridge family and friends,

advancement results from the March exam cycle. Congratulations to all of our new Petty Officers and those that achieved the next paygrade. Over 70 Blue Ridge Sailors advanced, which is pretty good when we consider coming out of the shipyard period and getting underway immediately before taking the exams. Of all the things I get to do, one of my favorites is frocking Sailors. I am very proud of them and look forward to watching them grow as leaders.

YOKOSUKA, Japan (June 11, 2015) -- Information Systems Technician 1st Class Jessica Lorenzi, center, and Culinary Specialist 1st Class Gerald Foxworth, right, both attached to the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) instruct Sailors on techniques and the importance of bystander intervention. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Liz Dunagan/ Not Realeased)

into one lesson. “The BI2F training combined fraternization, hazing, physical readiness and sexual health into one session,” said Vazquez. “All of these occurences provide the opportunity for bystander intervention.”

“Once this training was completed our Sailors now have a clearer understanding of how to be an active bystander and further encouragement to use their new knowledge to keep their shipmates safe.” . . . READ MORE INSIDE >>

to conduct and we need to be on station supporting SEVENTH Fleet’s operations in the south Pacific. We are also going through maintenance, deck, damage control and medical inspections, all while maintaining the professionalism and dedication to the mission. The next few months will be hectic, however, I know our team can handle it.

Thank you for your understanding and support. We can’t do it without you.

Take care and talk to you soon!

This next stretch away from home will be our longest this year. I realize we leave just as school finishes and summer vacations start, but, we have several major exercises

Capt. Higgins

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the CAPTAIN’S CAPTAIN’S corner

It’s been great being home this past month. I know you enjoyed this time with your loved ones since our return to Yokosuka. The weather was fantastic for the most part and we’ve taken the opportunity to relax when we had the time. I know I am early, but I want to say Happy Father’s Day for all the dads here and around the world. You play a huge part in making our team what it is. Your leadership and example provide us the tools we need to be successful. Thank you for being there when we need you!

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Things escalated from there. “He was starting to pay a little too much attention to this one girl,” said Petty. “Me and the others were less intoxicated than him and we could see the situation getting out of hand, so I stepped in and I stopped him before things went too far and we ended up in trouble. Normally I’m not one to get between a friend and a good time but I knew that this time it wouldn’t end well for him.”

The U.S. Navy considers acts like this to be vital.

In October 2014, the Chief of Naval Personnel, Vice Adm. Bill Moran announced that the fleet would be completing Bystander Intervention to the Fleet (BI2F) training in an effort to increase bystander interventions and reduce the number of sexual assaults throughout the Navy.

Kyle P. Higgins

During our time home, we recieved

STORY BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS JACOB WALDROP

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Blue Ridge Sailors in route to their homeport of Fleet Activites Yokosuka in Yokosuka, Japan.

Sailors attached to U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and students from Yokosuka Middle School pose for a group photo on the main deck following a tour of the ship. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Liz Dunagan)

Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Eric Nava, attached to the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) pours sauce into a copper pot while preparing food for upcoming meal service. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class Don Patton)

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Sailors assigned to the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) put in a fresh pair of batteries in a gas-free analyizer.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Don Patton)

Search and Rescue swimmer, Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Richard Chavez, attached to the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), recovers a training dummy during a simulated man overboard. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jacob Waldrop)

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Sailors assigned to Blue Ridge give ship tours and prepare to get back underway in their homeport of Yokosuka, Japan.

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. . . “I had a Sailor that used to be overly friendly with a junior officer,” said Electronics Technician 2nd Class Page Gibson, a co-facilitator for the BI2F training. “He was always hanging around outside her workspace and even called her by her first name.

While it’s okay for the officers and enlisted to interact professionally, people started perceiving his behavior as inappropriate. I stepped in and let him know that he needed to correct it before he ended up in serious trouble. After we talked, he took the necessary steps and it quite possibly saved his career.”

The program was facilitated by Sailors who volunteered to receive additional specialized BI2F training. They taught small groups of Sailors around their own pay grades promoting a relaxed conversational atmosphere to maximize participation.

The program consisted of video scenarios and peer-to-peer group discussions, used to help Sailors understand what being an active bystander actually means.

“Whenever people think of bystander intervention, they automatically think of sexual assault,” said Gibson. “Bystander intervention covers any and all situations where a Sailor is out of line, and it doesn’t just only apply in extreme circumstaces.”

differently.

“I think the training was handled professionally,” said Seaman Brian Holst. “They covered many situations similar to some of my experiences out in town with friends and gave me new ideas on how to handle them.”

Every situation is different and not all people will react to intervention in the same way.

“Sometimes when I’m out in town hanging out with friends, I’ll see someone getting a little too friendly with another person and I don’t hesitate to step in,” said Electronics Technician 2nd Class Michael Fanton, a co-facilitator for the BI2F training. “My favorite technique to use is distraction. I walk up to the person and start a conversation to bring their attention elsewhere.”

Being an active bystander isn’t limited to taking care of a shipmate. It can even mean being there for a complete stranger.

“Bystander intervention is everyone’s job,” said Vazquez. “With Blue Ridge being forward deployed to Japan, we are held to a higher standard.

It’s essential that we maintain our professionalism and trust with in our host nation.”

The training was designed to educate Sailors about how to step in to prevent a shipmate from making a potentially destructive decision of any kind, from being out of uniform regulations to stopping a fight. Sailors can find themselves in a situation where they need to know what they can do to prevent things from getting out of control, and promote an environment of professionalism, respect and trust.

“I know this training may feel like the Navy is beating a dead horse,” said Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Alexandra Griffin, a co-facilitator for the BI2F training. “I realized however, that the reason we continue to have this type of training is because the incidents keep happening. I truly believe that these major incidents keep happening because no one steps in to stop them.”

Sailors discussed how to address a wide array of situations using different approaches to correct them. After each presented scenario, the facilitators would ask questions, encouraging the class to voice their opinions on what was done right and what could have been done Machinery Repairman Fireman Garrett Goodman, left, and Machinery Repairman 3rd Class Gabriel Donovan, both attached to the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) use a milling machine to widen the hole of a part for a water tight door. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class Don Patton)

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YOKOSUKA, JAPAN (June 11, 2015) - Sailors attached to the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) watch a training video during Bystander Intervention “BI2F” training. Blue Ridge is undergoing a brief maintenance period in preparation for future patrols within the 7th Fleet area of operations.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Liz Dunagan/Not Released)

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Shipmates Spotlight

To see your Shipmates in the spotlight checkout the new videos on the Blue Ridge Facebook page

If you do not frequent the pilot house often, let BM3 Butler show you what a typical day is like underway.

1.)What radio uses the NT-66095 antenna?

2.)At what frequency does Blue Ridge monitor the AN/GRC-211 3.)What is the nickname for the SRA 62 antennas?

4.)Which AOR covers theWestern Pacific Ocean from the international dateline west to include the Southern India Sea? 1 5.)Air, surface and ___ uses Naval Missiles for warfare.

6.)___ Bullhead antenna is used for HF transmit.

3 7.) What is the acronym for the Tomahawk Land Attack 7 Missile?

1.)What is one of the two types of liferafts on board Blue Ridge?

2.)How many sections are there in an EDVR? 3.)How many numbers are in an NSN? 4.)What’s the other type of liferaft on board Blue Ridge?

5.)Which AOR covers the Atlantic Ocean and a portion of the Pacific 3

Aircraft Lost

[ESWS Crossword]

ACROSS

DOWN

LS3 Fornah shows us what its like to be a postal clerk aboard Blue Ridge.

2

American 145 Japanese 294

Fought June 4-7, 1945

5 1 Aircraft Carriers Lost Japanese: 4 American: 1 Japanese killed 3,507 Americans killed 307

6

4 They fought together as brothers in arms. They died together and now they sleep side-by-side. To them, we have a solemn obligation - the obligation to ensure that their sacrifice will help make this a better, safer world in which we live.”

- Admiral Chester Nimitz

Family Assistance Family Assistance Support Team Support Team To whom it may concern, To whomAssistance it may concern, Support Team Family 5

4

CFAY FFSC/FAST provides support and limited assistance to To whom it may concern, provides support and limited assistance to CFAY FFSC/FAST DESRON 15 and COMSEVENTHFLT Sailors, Marines and their DESRON 15 and COMSEVENTHFLT Sailors, Marines their periods. The FAST families, particularly duringand underway CFAY FFSC/FAST provides support and limited assistance to families, particularly during underway periods.

The FAST office is located on the second deck of the Community Center, DESRONoffice 15 and COMSEVENTHFLT Sailors,of Marines and theirCenter, is located on the second Community by thedeck Chapel,the Room #225, phone 243-5840. families,by particularly underway periods.

The FAST the Chapel,during Room #225, phone 243-5840. office is located on the second deck of the Community Center, SERVICES by the Chapel, Room #225, phone 243-5840.

SERVICES Transportation is provided to all fleet, shore and DoD civilian Transportation is provided to all fleet, andarriving DoD civilian personnel andshore families and departing Narita InternaSERVICES personnel and families arriving and departing Narita International Airport and Yokota Air Terminal. Call 243-7777 or Transportation is provided to all fleet, shore andCall DoD civilian or tional Airport and Yokota Air Terminal.

243-7777 email cfay_bus@fe.navy.mil for a complete schedule. FAST personnel andcfay_bus@fe.navy.mil families arriving andfor departing Narita Internaemail a complete schedule. vans will be provided to fleetFAST personnel if traveling on funded tional Airport andbeYokota Air to Terminal.

Call 243-7777 or on funded vans will provided fleet personnel if traveling orders outside the Narita bus hours, traveling with pets, or if email cfay_bus@fe.navy.mil for a complete schedule.

FAST pets, or if orders outside the Narita bus hours, traveling other than Narita andwith Yokota Air Terminal. vans will be provided to fleet traveling on funded other than Narita andpersonnel Yokota Airif Terminal. orders outside the Narita bus hours, traveling with pets, or if Administrative assistance and liaison in the following issuu.com/ussblueridge twitter.com/ussblueridge public.navy.mil/surfor/lcc19 facebook.com/ussb NEW SKIPPER lueridge SINGAPORE BABIN TALKS other than Narita and Yokota Air Terminal.

Administrative assistance and liaison in the following areas: BLUE RIDGE areas: NEWSLETTER | “FINEST IN THEHousing FLEET” liaison and administrative assistance Administrative assistance and liaison in the following Housing liaison and administrative assistance Forms processing