The Beacon by USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC 19)

CONTENTS

-ON THE HORIZONSNOOPIE SPOTLIGHT 6

SNOOPIE SPOTLIGHT

NEW EXECUTIVE OFFICER 8

OTARU COMREL

TEAM

SAPR PROGRAM

MEDIA DEPARTMENT

LEADERSHIP

MEDIA SERVICES DIVO

COMMANDING OFFICER

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

LTJG ERIC UHDEN

MCC CHARLES L. LUDWIG

LEAD DESIGNER

MC3 MAR’QUEON A. D. TRAMBLE

PRODUCERS

CAPT ERIC J. ANDUZE

CDR BENJAMIN E. NEHRKE

COMMAND MASTER CHIEF CMDCM JAMES W. GRANT

U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF) Command will begin a second round of testing later this year on a two-piece organizational clothing variant that offers flame resistance and moves the Navy one step closer to delivering Sailors a safe, comfortable, no-cost alternative to the Improved Flame Resistant Variant (IFRV) coveralls, with the same travel flexibility as the Type III working uniform. USFF conducted the initial wear test on twopiece variants from May through September of last year and collected feedback from nearly 200 wear-test participants across surface, aviation and submarine communities about everything from colors and design, to comfort and options like buttons and hook-and-loop fasteners. The command also received feedback from more than 1,700 Sailors in an online survey about colors and design. Fleet survey responses indicated that Sailors liked the functionality of the Type III but would like to see the design in traditional Navy uniform colors. More than 70 percent of E-6 and junior Sailors surveyed liked the navy blue blouse and trouser while a khaki version was the preference for chiefs and officers. The updated design, which won’t require Sailors to sew on components, will be tested by 100 officers and enlisted Sailors to see how well it performs from wash-to-wear without ironing, and how it holds up to laundering. The two-piece variant will allow for de-blousing in extreme climates and challenging work environments. An undershirt will continue to be tested with a flame-resistant, moisture-wicking fabric in black. Once approved, the new prototype will serve as an alternative to the IFRV coverall for operational commands. The coverall may continue to be the prescribed clothing item for some Sailors in applicable work environments.

MC1 MARVIN E. THOMPSON JR. MC2 ADAM K. THOMAS MC2 PATRICK SEMALES MC3 DYLAN MCKAY MC3 ETHAN CARTER MC3 ANGELES A. MIRON

The Beacon is an authorized publication for Sailors aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19). Contents herein are not the views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, Department of Defense, Department of the Navy or the Commanding Officer of USS Blue Ridge. All news, photos and information for publication in The Beacon must be submitted to the Public Affairs Officer. Produced by Blue Ridge Media Services Ext. 4154

EYE FLEET

ON THE Navy Returns to Flying

Union Jack

STORY FROM CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS PUBLIC AFFAIRS // PHOTO BY MC3 KALEB SARTEN WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy on Feb. 21 released a NAVADMIN 039/19 directing the display of the union jack instead of the first Navy jack aboard Navy ships and craft.

The union jack is a flag consisting of 50 white stars, representing each of the 50 states, on a blue background. A version of this jack first flew in 1777 and was updated as new states joined the union.

U.S. Navy ships and craft will return to flying the union jack effective June 4, 2019. The date for reintroduction of the union jack commemorates the greatest naval battle in history: the Battle of Midway, which began June 4, 1942.

“The union jack is deeply connected to our heritage and our rise as a global nation with a global Navy,” said Richardson. “The Navy is a symbol that projects American values to the world. Just as the Navy embodies the values and principles that we hold dear, our very appearance in port and at anchor communicates important messages.”

“Make no mistake: we have entered a new era of competition. We must recommit to the core attributes that made us successful at Midway: integrity, accountability, initiative and toughness,” said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson. “For more than 240 years, the union jack, flying proudly from jackstaffs aboard U.S. Navy warships, has symbolized these strengths.”

The Navy will re-establish the custom in which the commissioned ship in active status having the longest total period in active status, other than USS Constitution, will display the first Navy jack until the ship is decommissioned or transferred to inactive status. As of June 4, 2019, the only warship authorized to fly the first Navy jack is USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19).

This policy change does not affect the wearing of the first Navy jack patch as an optional uniform component on TYPE II/III Navy Working Uniforms.

7th Fleet PORTS SPOTLIGHT

2019

BLACK HISTORY MONTH "You don't need to have a famous name to be a part of history. We're out here at sea making history every single day, giving our all by doing our best to make a difference in the world." -Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class Tarikh Williams

7 TH

D N T FLEE BA

CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH PHOTOS BY MC2 ADAM THOMAS

NOOPIE

STORY BY MC3 DYLAN MCKAY // PHOTOS BY MC2 PATRICK SEMALES

“Away the SNOOPIE Team, Away!” Every Sailor has probably heard this phrase passed over the 1MC at least once, but what is a SNOOPIE Team? The Ship’s Nautical or Otherwise Photographic Interpretation and Examination (SNOOPIE) Team is one of the most critical duties for ships operating in the Indo-Pacific region, tasked with many duties involving the collection of information. “SNOOPIE Team's job is to record any and all changes that occur outside the skin of the ship while underway," said Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Christopher Millis, a SNOOPIE Team Leader. “Once we have taken down all the possible information, we then distribute it to all concerned parties so that the ship is current and up-to-date with its intelligence requirements.” SNOOPIE Team consists of four positions: Team Leaders, Photographers, Recorders and Look-outs. Each role is extremely important, from the Team Leader coordinating the movements of the team, the Photographers capturing

images, to the Recorders writing down all relevant information such as time, bearing, nature of event, etc. “At this point in time, SNOOPIE is one of my most important duties on the ship," said Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Marvin Thompson, another SNOOPIE Team Leader. “It’s our job to document every unsafe condition that occurs.” The need for such a team has been made apparent with incidents in the past. “Each ship is expected to ensure their SNOOPIE Teams are ready for any possible incident that may occur," said Millis. “This is extremely important, because you never know when an incident will occur. You always have to be at the ready”. Using equipment consisting of cameras and recording logs, they document any and all changes that occur outside of the ship, such as unusual activity or an unidentified vessel. The team must reach the bridge within 5 minutes of being

Ship’s Nautical Or Otherwise Photographic Interpretation and Examination

called away. Once on site and ready, they collect all vital information within a timeframe of approximately 15 minutes. Once the collection is complete, the team has one hour to properly create a report and distribute it to all relevant parties. After the MCs have captured their photographic and videographic material, they record a narration complete with all of the information the Recorders have collected, voiced by the Team Leader. Once the narration is overlaid on the video, the completed product is emailed over a secure network to the commands that need it within the timeframe. “It’s definitely a challenge," said Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Patrick Semales, a SNOOPIE Photographer. “You don’t have a lot of time to collect the information, so you have to get it right the first time, every time. I enjoy the rush though, it keeps things interesting.”

threat or hostile activity that is present. “These watch stations need a competent SNOOPIE Team," said Millis. “Without us, they may find themselves lacking a vital piece of information that could directly affect the safety and integrity of the ship." Despite the difficult nature of being a SNOOPIE Team member and the many challenges they face, the people who ensure the safety of the ship with the information they collect are more than happy to do it. “It is a good feeling," said Semales. “It feels great when we meet our deadline and know that we’ve helped in keeping the ship safe.” For those Sailors interested in joining SNOOPIE Team, please contact IS1 Millis or MC1 Thompson.

SNOOPIE Team members are also responsible for reporting all activity to the tactical action officer, the officer of the deck, and the Combat Information Center. Since these watch stations are extremely busy with the incident or are located inside the skin of the ship, they are dependent on the information SNOOPIE Team collects to stay informed and make decisions based on the type of

GETTING TO KNOW THE

INTERVIEW AND PHOTO BY MC2 ADAM THOMAS

Q: Where are you from? Please tell us about where you grew up.

A: I was born and grew up in Arlington, Va., for 24 years before attending Virginia Military Institute.

Q: Please tell us about your family, and what they

think of your naval career? A: My beautiful wife Shannah and I have been married for eight years, and she’s been with me through several deployments and has become quite familiar with Navy life. We have a beautiful new son Ezra, which is very exciting, and I’m learning to deal with the joys and challenges of being a Naval father. It’s given me a new found appreciation for what all the crew members with children go through on a daily basis. Being away for extended periods is tough, but it's something we all have to deal with and learn to get through together.

Q: What are your hobbies? What do you enjoy doing

on your time off? A: Right now, having a newborn son, my hobby is changing diapers. (laughing) No, I’m just kidding. I love the outdoors and enjoy running and hiking. But being a new father with a family that recently moved has taken my time away from running, so while I’m stationed

here, I’m really going to try and get back at it. I used to run marathons, and I’d really love to run the Tokyo Marathon. So, I’ve made that a goal and the crew can help me by asking me how my training is going.

Q: Tell us about your previous commands. What

experience do you have in the Navy? A: This is my fifth ship, and I’ve been stationed on various platforms to include an aircraft carrier, an AMPHIB, a frigate and even the Blue Ridge’s sister ship Mount Whitney. However, I’ll tell you that after having spent time on both of the Navy’s command ships, I think Blue Ridge is the better ship. As a matter of fact, Blue Ridge was my both mine and my family’s first choice when choosing orders, so we’re pleased to be here in Japan. During my last two tours, I studied at Johns Hopkins (University) and worked on OPNAV (Naval Operations) Staff, so I’m familiar with the staff side of things, which helps give me some perspective coming to Blue Ridge because that’s our job - to support the 7th Fleet staff.

Q: What kind of leadership style do you bring to the

Blue Ridge team? A: I think it’s summed up in two phrases, servant leadership and leading by example. In all the different

leadership positions I’ve been in, I’ve always seen my role as that of an enabler – it’s my job to make sure the conditions are set so the team can do what it has to do when called upon. Ultimately, it’s not about me. I want to empower the team, not slow it down or hold it back. I also like to get in and be a part of the action on the deck with the team. If that means jumping in the line during stores onload or trash offload, then I’m going to get in there and lend a hand. At the end of the day, every one of us is a leader, whether you like it or not, You’re a leader with how you live and act. You can either lead others in the right direction with integrity, or you can set a bad example and lead them astray.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish during your time

here? A: That’s a tough question because I’m the new guy here, and Blue Ridge is already a good team. I feel like I’m the new guy showing up to the team after it’s already won in the playoffs, so I get to ride the wave that I didn’t create. But I think that, just like any organization, we can get better, be more efficient, etc. I really want to reinforce the mentality that we are a family, the 7th Fleet/Blue Ridge team. Both sides of the team have different jobs, but at the end of the day we’re in this together. The better we work together the more we can each accomplish. I’m also very excited

about patrol and all of the great places we have the opportunity to see and experience. It is going to be a great ride.

Q: What challenges do you anticipate facing? A: Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is the

material condition of the ship. She’s 48-years young, and there are a lot of challenges that come with that age, lthough Blue Ridge looks absolutely great. We have INSURV (Board of Inspection and Survey) coming up, and I want us to crush it – I know we will, but it’s going to be hard work. I think another challenge we’re going to face is going from being operational, like we are now, back into the maintenance/shipyard phase before ramping quickly back up to the operational phase. That whole process is also tough and tiring, but we have to do it in order to keep the ship healthy.

Q: Anything else you like to add? A: I’m excited to be here – Blue Ridge was my first

choice for orders so I have no complaints. On top of that, I’ve been fortunate enough to see team Blue Ridge in action and watch what we’re able to do when duty calls, so I’m excited to be part of the team and go get after it – let’s turn to!

Making a Difference in...

Otaru , Japan

PHOTOS BY MC3 ETHAN CARTER / / STORY BY MC2 ADAM THOMAS

SS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and her crew along with embarked 7th Fleet staff members made their first port visit to Otaru, Japan in nearly five years Feb 8th. During the port call, Sailors took the opportunity to show their appreciation of, and build upon the continued U.S. Japan alliance by participating in serval community outreach programs (COMREL). “It’s important to Blue Ridge crew members to attend these COMREL events,” said Navy Counselor 1st Class Chadd Thomas. “In order to show members of the local community that we appreciate the chance to be here and, that we stand beside them and care about the wellbeing, security and safety of Japan.” The COMREL events included a basketball game between Blue Ridge Sailors and students from Otaru Meiho High School with the Blue Ridge Highrollers celebrating a tough won victory over the Sonic Falcons with a final score of 50 to 48. “It’s great being able to come here and enjoy a friendly game with the local students,” said Highrollers coach, Yeoman 2nd Class Jordan Ogburn. “Even though we may be from different countries, it’s fantastic that people from all over the world can come together and enjoy a common interest in the game of basketball.” Sailors also volunteer to help out at the Snow Light Path Festival by chipping in to build snow lanterns, clear recently fallen snow and building ice sculptures. “It’s good for members of the local community to see American Sailors helping out and taking part in traditions like the Light Path Festival,” said Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class John Marcincak. “I really enjoyed building lanterns with the young children and taking a group photo together. Events like this just show that despite our passed differences, we’re building a bright future together.”

daily life around the

SAPR STORY BY MC3 MAR’QUEON TRAMBLE

For every Sailor, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) is a familiar program they’ve learned about from the first day of boot camp and throughout their entire Navy career. The SAPR program was built to help develop a safe and professional environment while simultaneously creating an outlet for Sailors and their dependents to report sexual assault or harassment if necessary. However, some Sailors become inspired and feel compelled to join the program and become victim advocates. “I wanted to be a part of a program that really matters,” said Ship’s Serviceman 2nd Class Jonathan Goulsby. “Of course, every program in the Navy serves its purpose, but the SAPR Program could very well help save a person’s life during or after a horrible situation.” Victim advocates go through intensive training to become qualified to administer the help and care that victims need however, a main concern of many victim advocates is that Sailors will be too afraid to report an occurrence and may feel ashamed or alone. “I think Sailors have a lot of reservations about reporting incidents to a SAPR program representative,” said Ensign Heidi Zisselman, a sexual assault response coordinator. “Personal pride, not knowing how or who to ask for help and fear of social perception all keep people from coming forward and speaking to an advocate.” Despite her awareness of these hurdles, Zisselman believes the SAPR victim advocates are the program’s strongest assets and she wants others to know how passionate and genuinely caring the advocates are.

Victim Advocates

“Someone may be too scared to talk to a doctor or a chaplain but they can always go to one of the advocates they’re familiar with,” said Zisselman. “The victim advocates take their role seriously, because they know ensuring their shipmates have a safe place to open up to can make a world’s difference.” What Sailors may or may not know, according to Goulsby, is that some victim advocates may have also experienced negative situations themselves, making them more able to relate and help victims feel comfortable and safe. “Some might be skeptical to come forward and receive support, but I’m living proof the SAPR program is a vital asset to the Navy and its Sailors,” he said. “Not many know this but I, myself, am a sexual assault survivor, so I make it my mission to be the very best victim advocate that I can be.” The SAPR program will be working alongside the Sailor 360 program to help bring awareness to the ship and its crew. SAPR Awareness Month will begin in April with several events planned by the SAPR programs of USS Blue Ridge and 7th Fleet. Watch the plan of the day for more details. For more information on the program and corresponding policies, Sailors can reach out to any of the Blue Ridge or 7th Fleet SAPR Victim Advocates: Ensign Samantha Westley, Quartermaster 1st Class Linda Siqueiros, Yeoman 1st Class Theodore Reeves, Damage Controlman 2nd Class Kieran Connell, Ship’s Serviceman 2nd Class Jonathan Goulsby or Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Breunka Davis.

Drink Responsibly FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT FACEBOOK.COM/USSBLUERIDGE

#FINESTINTHEFLEET INSTAGRAM.COM/USSBLUERIDGE

TWITTER.COM/NAVYSFLAGSHIP