USS Enterprise (CVN 65)
The Shuttle Newsletter Edition
June 14, 2012 Issue
“We are Legend”
Sailors and Marines Augment Enterprise Sailors in AIMD
Story and photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Scott Pittman USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea – Sailors and Marines from multiple land-based commands across the United States have left shore-duty behind temporarily in order to augment divisions of the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) aboard aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) as the carrier makes its historic final deployment. These Sailors and Marines embarked before work-ups in order to integrate themselves into the department before the start of deployment. “We’re out to sea and we’re one team,” said Master Chief Avionics Technician Kenneth A. Jackson, departmental leading chief petty officer for AIMD. “The embarked Sailors and Marines get treated the same way as ship’s company Sailors and are held to the same expectations. There is no difference between them.” Temporarily-assigned Sailors can be found in all four divisions of AIMD, while Marines are only assigned to IM-2 and IM-3. IM-2 is responsible for many elements of mechanical aircraft maintenance, including the jet shop, tire shop, oil lab, oxygen shop and the hydraulics shop. “If the Marine aircraft weren’t on the ship, these guys wouldn’t have to work on Marine aircraft engines,” said Cpl. William T. Gillespie, III, a Marine assigned to Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic, and temporarily assigned to the IM-2 jet shop aboard Enterprise. “It’s an excellent opportunity for the Sailors to learn about the Hornet engine and for me to learn about the Super Hornet engine.”
Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Austin Parker, left, and Cpl. William T. Gillespie, right, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 251, perform maintenance on an F/A-18F Super Hornet engine.
Electronic equipment that is removed from shipboard aircraft is worked on by the Sailors and Marines of the IM-3 Division. This includes the radar systems, aviation batteries and communication and navigation systems. Though welcomed by the crew with open arms, some Sailors and Marines have found the difference between aircraft maintenance on land quite different from aircraft maintenance at sea. “It’s a completely different experience being out here. I’m used to a base and shore duty,” said Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Vincent Ya, a Sailor embarked aboard Enterprise AIMD continued on page 3
‘No Silver Bullet’ for Situation in Syria
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE WASHINGTON -- U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said there is “no silver bullet” to fix what he called a tragic, complex situation in Syria, but renewed calls for the regime to relinquish power. Speaking to members of the AmericanTurkish Council, Panetta said President Bashar al-Assad’s forces had perpetrated “outrageous violence.” “From every angle the situation in Syria is enormously complex and tragic. There is no silver bullet,” said Panetta, according to a prepared text of his speech. His remarks suggested the Pentagon chief and President Barack Obama’s administration remained reluctant to back military intervention in Syria.
Panetta said Washington “will continue to work together with Turkey and the international community to bring pressure on Assad to step down, to bring about an orderly political transition in Damascus, and to bring an end to the Syrian people’s suffering.” Violence has intensified in Syria despite a truce that was supposed to take effect in April, with activists saying more than 14,100 people had been killed since Damascus launched a crackdown on protests in March last year. Turkey has adopted an outspoken stance on the conflict in Syria, demanding Assad step down and hosting a strategy session on Syria for 16 countries.
The Pentagon chief also urged Turkey and Israel to restore strained ties. “I believe it is very important for Turkey and Israel to find a way to come together and repair their relationship,” he said, according to the prepared text. “Turkey and Israel have a long history of defense cooperation that has advanced both Turkish and Israeli security and broader regional stability. There is much to gain through cooperation and much to lose in its absence,” he said. Tensions between Turkey and Israel spiked after an incident in which a number of Turks were killed when Israeli commandos stormed an aid ship seeking to break the blockade on Gaza.