ATTT: The Sailors Behind Excalibur

USS Enterprise (CVN 65)

The Shuttle Newsletter Edition

“We are Legend”

September 25, 2012 Issue

ATTT: The Sailors Behind Excalibur Story by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Heath Zeigler

Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Crystal Rone, from St. Petersburg, Fla., participates in a SUW-17/Crew Served Weapons (CSW) exercise. (Photo by MC3 Heath Zeigler)

USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea – In today’s unpredictable geopolitical climate, there is no room for complacency aboard aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). At a moment’s notice, the situation could turn from routine to hostile. During this time, it is the job of certain crewmembers to protect the ship.

Throughout the course of Enterprise’s current deployment, crewmembers have probably heard the term “Excalibur” called over the ship’s 1MC announcing system. However, many crewmembers probably do not quite understand exactly what the announcement sets in motion. To the Security force and members of Enterprise’s Weapons department, it means manning the gun mounts around the ship in order to protect the “Big E” from any threat that might be in the area.

A majority of the time this deployment, hearing “Excalibur” announced has indicated the beginning of a training scenario for Enterprise’s security forces.

The group responsible for this training is the Antiterrorism Training Team (ATTT). The ATTT ensures they are prepared for any and all situations, including an active shooter or a small boat attack.

“The crew served weapons (CSW) exercise is for Sailors to understand how to react in a small boat swarm,” said Lt. Robert Files, the security officer aboard Enterprise. “We execute this about once a month while in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility - just to stay sharp.”

During a scheduled exercise, like the CSW, live

ammunition is used in order to keep Sailors familiar with the weapons they would use in a real situation.

“We train like we fight,” said Master-at-Arms 1st Class Brian Ferguson, the ATTT supervisor coordinator. “We build our own targets to throw in the water and simulate a small boat attack.”

During these drills, Security personnel man two M-240 machine guns at each sponson along with a few small arms to increase Security and Weapons department’s proficiency in protecting the ship. Sailors execute precision firing, coupled with command and control by direction of the commanding officer, while executing the ship’s pre-planned responses in order to prepare themselves for multiple targets.

The ATTT consists of 20 team members who have to demonstrate and have the knowledge of all aspects of the job. In total, Security provides Sailors for roughly 40 posts to protect the ship.

“It takes a good amount of training,” said Ferguson, “from learning how to load a gun to donning heavy, uncomfortable gear in order to defend the ship when needed.”

Situations such as strait transits, the Suez Canal transit or maneuvering in and out of ports, require Security to be on station in case of an incident. They also man 24-hour watches while in port for the same reason.

Regardless of the situation, everyone, from the lowest ranking person all the way to the watch commander, plays a significant role in defending this legendary carrier from any and all threats.

Members of the ATTT pose for a photo.

(Photo by MC3 Randy J. Savarese)

The Shuttle

Page 2

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Big E Happenings

Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Shawn Torsitano, from Grants Pass, Ore., assigned to the Rooks of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAW) 137, wipes down an ALQ-99 jamming pod for an EA-6B Prowler on the flight deck.

(Photo by MC3 Scott Pittman)

Lt. Miriam Behpour, a native of Berlin, Germany, performs an annual check up on a Sailor. (Photo by MC3 Harry Andrew D. Gordon)

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) Airman Unique Mcvea, from Oklahoma City, fuels an F/A-18F Super Hornet. (Photo by MC3 Scott Pittman)

Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Julian Salcido, from El Paso, Texas, inspects an AIM 9X missile. (Photo by MC3 Scott Pittman)

The Shuttle USS Enterprise (CVN 65)

The Shuttle is published and printed daily underway and bi-weekly in port by the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Media Department, FPO AE 09543-2810. This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Please direct all story ideas, questions and comments to MC1 (SW) Steve Smith at smithsw@cvn65. navy.mil.

Commanding Officer Capt. William C. Hamilton, Jr.

Executive Officer Capt. G. C. Huffman

Command Master Chief Public Affairs Officer CMDCM (AW/SW) Dwayne E. Huff Lt. Cmdr. Sarah T. Self-Kyler Editor MC3 Brian G. Reynolds

Capt. William C. Hamilton, Jr., commanding officer of aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and plankowner of the Knighthawks of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136, prepares for a flight in a Knighthawks’ F/A-18E Super Hornet.

(Photo by MC3 Scott Pittman)

The Shuttle

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Page 3

In the News Hazing Horror Story: Six RDCs Now Face Charges

By Mark D. Faram, NAVY TIMES

For the recruits of divisions 241 and 242, the extra physical training seemed ordinary at first. And then things got real nasty - and real dangerous.

The 167 recruits of these divisions were not new to so-called “instructional training exercise,” or ITE, which allows recruit division commanders to use punitive PT to “motivate” recruits in the wrong.

But on June 28, in their third week of training, these recruits were pushed too far, Navy officials say, and were hazed.

Three former recruits - the class has since graduated - who spoke to Navy Times on condition of anonymity relayed a vile scene. All have been given pseudonyms to protect their identities.

They say they were forced into cramped quarters and made to blockade the bathrooms. From there, they had to repeatedly chug water and PT. The punishment continued, even as 10 recruits vomited or urinated on themselves.

“At that point, it just became pure hell,” Recruit Jones said. Though accounts differ on exactly how the PT session played out, it remains a chief issue of concern at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Ill. RTC officials would neither confirm nor deny the recruits’ accounts, but in referencing the investigation, said there are many varying witness statements.

On Sept. 26, six RDCs allegedly involved will face an Article 32 hearing to determine what disciplinary action, if any, each will face for the incident.

RTC’s leaders say the RDCs hazed recruits - the first such incident at Great Lakes to come to light in at least five years. One chief petty officer, four first class petty officers and one second class petty officer were officially charged Aug. 8 for the June 28 incident inside one of the recruit barracks.

Charges include cruelty and maltreatment, assault, obstructing justice, making false official statements and failure to obey a lawful order.

“There will be complete accountability for this,” said Rear Adm. David Steindl, who commands Naval Service Training Command. RTC is part of his command, along with all officer accession programs, except for the Naval Academy. “Our job is to make sailors from civilians and in doing that, we take the safety of our recruits very seriously.” Even though he said he believes the hazing incident is an “isolated” one, Steindl has taken additional measures, including policy changes, to ensure this doesnít happen again.

The Incident When the recruits of divisions 241 and 242 returned to their barracks the afternoon of June 28, they were ordered

to move all the bunks to the sides of the compartment, as is common when extra space is needed for formations and physical training.

“This time, though, we were specifically told to block off the heads,” said Recruit Smith. “We knew something different was up.” The Navy’s official account as to why recruits faced extra PT was because of “poor performance” as a division.

But the recruits gave a different reason.

“We were told that one recruit didn’t hydrate properly today,” said Recruit Smith. “We would be taught a lesson to make sure that didn’t happen again.” Each RDC carries an ITE card that spells out 11 calisthenic exercises including jumping jacks, pushups and situps - that can be used for instructional training, with maximum reps and durations. The card states exercises are “used solely to correct substandard performance by individual or groups of recruits.” Recruit Roberts, part of Division 241, alleged that RDCs had given them ITE “almost daily and sometimes twice a day up until that point.” “We’d had longer sessions, but nothing like what happened that day,” Recruit Roberts added.

In an interview with Navy Times, these recruits claim there was a chief instigator among the RDCs who was not assigned to either division.

“Whenever this RDC was present - and he wasn’t our RDC - we knew we were going to get ITE,” Recruit Roberts said. “He would just show up at odd times and things would happen - and usually ITE.” Steindl wouldn’t provide details of what exactly happened, but confirmed there was a “full spectrum here of involvement.” “Some weren’t very involved at all, and it will become clear who the ringleaders of this were [after the Article 32 hearings],” he said.

As the ITE started, recruits say they were ordered to guzzle down all the water in their bottles, and then were ordered to refill them and guzzle it all again. When asked how many time they were forced to refill and guzzle their water, none of the recruits could give an exact number.

“I lost count,” said Recruit Jones. “After a while that just didn’t matter anymore.” For decades, recruits in training wore olive drab military web belts - “guard belts,” in RTC parlance - on which hung a canteen in a olive pouch.

But with the advent of the Navy working uniform, the service approved use of plain black backpacks and the guard belts went away. Instead of a canteen, recruits receive clear plastic bottles that hold 32 ounces, or one quart, of water.

Recruits claim the RDCs did not play by the rules HAZING continued on page 4

The Shuttle

Page 4

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Big E Entertainment 40. Stitch 41. Perspiration 42. Type of antelope 43. Of this earth 45. Tablet 49. Hog 50. Flag-waver 53. Wither 57. Number of people present 59. Roman emperor 60. Orange pekoe 61. Gloomy, in poetry 62. At the peak of 63. Makes a mistake 64. Shop 65. Fail to win

ACROSS 1. French Sudan 5. African virus 10. Requests 14. Black, in poetry 15. Enjoy 16. Petty quarrel 17. Where a bird lives 18. Ephemeral 20. Spoke

22. High ranking officer 23. Born as 24. Mountain crest 25. Faculty member 32. Ranted 33. Sad song 34. Big wine holder 37. Stepped 38. Seaweed 39. 5280 feet

HAZING spelled out on ITE cards.

“The RDC holding the card would pass it off to someone else and then start giving exercise orders,” Recruit Jones said.

All three recruits interviewed said the PT took place during the course of an hour, but Steindl said witness statements put the time at about 45 minutes.

The repeated drinking of water and the unavailability of toilets took its toll on the group, and sailors started losing control of their bodily functions.

Some urinated and others threw up, the recruits said.

“It was maybe 10 or so sailors in all who ended up having problems,” Recruit Smith said.

But the floor was getting messy, causing others to slip. Those closest to the sick recruits were still exercising, putting their bellies and backs in the mess, all three recruits said.

“We weren’t allowed to stop,” Recruit Jones said.

“And of course, we couldnít stop to clean ourselves or

DOWN 1. List of options 2. Assist in crime 3. Misplaced 4. Betrothed 5. High regard 6. A lyric poet 7. Egg cells 8. Not short 9. Backside 10. Daisylike bloom 11. Future fungus 12. Unit of gold purity

13. Pizazz 19. Absurd 21. Marsh plant 25. The products of human creativity 26. Concern 27. Affirm 28. Lazybones 29. Stogie 30. Angry 31. How old you are 34. 8 in Roman numerals 35. Aquatic plant 36. Blue-green 38. Reverence 39. Just barely adequate 41. Mug 42. Blend 44. Orb 45. Sudden burst 46. Not earlier 47. Fragrant oil 48. Amount of hair 51. Probabilities 52. Sourish 53. Stigma 54. Quash 55. God of love 56. Easy gait 58. Prefix meaning “Modern”

our shipmates up, either.” When the ITE session was finally stopped, the recruits had to clean up the barracks floor.

“We really didn’t know any better and thought this was just how boot camp was,” said Recruit Smith. “We were so used to ITE at this point that we all believed what happened was normal and was just how it was.”

Of the 167 recruits who were subjected to the alleged hazing, nine were discharged for a “variety of reasons,” said Lt. Matt Comer, spokesman for Navy Service Training Command. “This number is lower than our average attrition rate.” Year-to-date for fiscal 2012, the attrition rate is 10.7 percent. The two divisions allegedly hazed had an attrition rate of about half that.

After the Aug. 10 graduation, most recruits have gone on to further training or their first commands. One recruit from the division remains at RTC in the recruit convalescent unit for an unrelated incident, officials said.