Staying Connected: Interior Communications Aboard Enterprise

USS Enterprise (CVN 65)

The Shuttle Newsletter Edition

“We are Legend”

August 29, 2012 Issue

Staying Connected: Interior Communications Aboard Enterprise Story and photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Scott Pittman USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea – Communication is key. This is a phrase many are familiar with and it can apply to virtually any aspect of life. However, aboard aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65), a 51-year-old American warship, it takes on an entirely new meaning.

As Enterprise continues its 25th and final deployment the ability to communicate remains as vital as ever to mission accomplishment. Leadership aboard the Big E needs to be able to stay in touch with not only the departments on the ship, but the other ships of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (ENTCSG) and the “beach” detachment of Enterprise Sailors, still in Norfolk.

Maintaining these lines of communication is the responsibility of the Interior Communications Electricians (IC) aboard the ship.

“We have a lot of equipment, so it’s a challenge to try to know every single detail about every single piece of equipment,” said Interior Communications Interior Communications Electrician Fireman Maggie Melching, from Crescent Hills, Ky., troubleshoots a 1MC line.

Electrician 3rd Class Courtney Roberts, from Brunswick, Ga. “As Combat Systems ICs, we equipment, is also maintained by the ship’s ICs. It is the last maintain the equipment in SITE-TV, the ship’s J-Dials and MK-19 in use by the U.S. Navy. telephones (among many other pieces of equipment).”

“Without the MK-19 gyro, we wouldn’t be able to navigate Without Combat Systems department’s ICs, there would be the ship through the water,” said Duke. “It’s a pretty important no American Forces Network (AFN) for the enjoyment of the piece of gear.” crew, or a Plain Old Telephone System (POTS), potentially There are also ICs attached to Air department, known as Air hindering off-ship communication. They are also responsible ICs. These unique ICs have special NECs that allow them to for navigational aids including dead reckoning tracers, which support day-to-day flight operations. are critical in locating a man overboard. ICs also maintain Personnel would not be able to launch aircraft without the the ship’s underwater log, which provides ship’s speed and ships wind indicators. Also vital to flight deck operations is distance traveled over water to various locations. the lens used to assist landing aircraft, operated by the ICs in Though much of the equipment aboard Enterprise has been primary flight control (PRIFLY). replaced over the past 51 years of service, some has been in “The five of us in PRIFLY stand watch at the lens, adjusting use for decades. This falls to the “Engineering” ICs. it to accommodate whatever plane is landing next,” said Interior “As Engineering ICs, we work on all of the communication Communications Electrician 3rd Class Mark Martin, from equipment like the sound powered phones, all MC circuits Patterson, N.J. “Adjustments have to be made for the Super to include the general announcing 1MC, the flight deck Hornets, Hornets, Hawkeyes and Prowlers.” announcing 5MC, the Captain’s Battle 21MC, and the Without ICs, the alarm systems that warn the ship of Ordnance 46MC, all of the ship’s alarms and certain indicating problems or danger would deteriorate and not work, putting the systems such as shaft, rudder and wind indicators,” said crew at serious risk. They maintain the equipment that helps Interior Communications Electrician Fireman Dylan Duke, guide the ship and gives the crew the ability to know when to from Oklahoma City. “Some cables have been here since the launch aircraft. The ship’s aircraft would not be able to land ship was built, so sometimes they don’t work like they’re without the assistance from the PRIFLY ICs. supposed to. Maybe they break a little more often than brand In short, without the people who maintain all of the ship’s new equipment. We stay busy with trouble calls, but it’s okay lines of communication, Enterprise would be unable to because we learn a lot.” complete any of the operations vital to complete its mission, The MK-19 gyrocompass, an essential piece of navigation proving once again that “Communication is Key.”

The Shuttle

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Big E Happenings

Quartermaster 3rd Class Robert J. Stallcup, from Hesperia, Calif., updates navigational charts.

(Photo by MC3 Jared King)

Fire Controlman 3rd Class Brent R. Garland, from St. Louis, performs daily tests on the SPS-48E, primary air search radar.

(Photo by MC3 Jared King)

Cmdr. Mark Seip, from Pittsburg, executive officer of the Screwtops of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 123, signs off on award packages.

(Photo by MC3 Scott Pittman)

Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Carl Swartout, from Jacksonville, N.C., solders the lead-line on a sound powered phone.

(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

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

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In the News In Policy Shift, Morsi To Visit Iran

By Ernesto Londono, WASHINGTON POST

CAIRO - A decision by Egypt’s new president to travel to Tehran for a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement this week reflects a major foreign policy shift for the Arab world’s most populous nation, after decades of subservience to Washington.

The visit by President Mohamed Morsi to Iran will be the first by an Egyptian leader since the nations broke off diplomatic relations in the 1980s after Egypt’s recognition of Israel. As the host nation, Iran is widely expected to use the gathering to strengthen tepid ties among the 120 countries set to attend the summit, and to decry what Tehran has portrayed as a heavy-handed and unfair crusade by the West to isolate the Islamic republic over its

controversial nuclear program.

The Non-Aligned Movement comprises nations that do not belong to major blocs led by world powers. As Egypt’s first Islamist president, and as a successor to a long tradition of military rule, Morsi has signaled an eagerness to extend his country’s ties, particularly with fellow Muslim nations, a spokesman for Morsi told reporters this week.

“We need to establish relations with all countries worldwide,” the spokesman, Yasser Ali, told reporters Sunday. “We will turn more agile, more active. Egypt is a pivotal country, and we want to play the role Egypt deserves to play.”

At Summit Meeting, Iran Has A Message For The World

By Thomas Erdbrink, NEW YORK TIMES

TEHRAN - At the entrance to the convention hall where Iran is sponsoring an international summit meeting are the crumpled wreckage of three cars driven by Iranian nuclear scientists who have been killed or hurt in bomb attacks.

Placards with the photos of the scientists and their children stand alongside.

The message is clear. As Iran plays host to the biggest international conference the Islamic republic has organized in its 33-year history, it wants to tell its side of the long standoff with the Western powers, which are increasingly convinced that Tehran is pursuing nuclear weapons.

Tehran, which denies that it is after the bomb, believes the scientists were killed by Israeli agents, an assertion that Israel has not acknowledged but never fully disputed.

The meeting of the so-called Nonaligned Movement, a group formed during the cold war that considers itself independent of the major powers, has so far proven to be something of a public relations success for Iran.

Last week, the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, decided to attend despite pressure from the United States and Israel. Egypt’s new president also said he would come to the conference, although his country has long been estranged from Iran, and India’s prime minister plans to bring a delegation of 250 people in an attempt to advocate for more trade with Tehran.

The announcements were seen as setbacks for efforts by the United States to isolate Iran and cripple it with sanctions.

Syria Foreign Minister Accuses U.S. of Stoking Violence

By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

LONDON - Syria’s foreign minister accused the United States of being the “major player” encouraging antigovernment rebels, but vowed the regime would not deploy chemical weapons in an interview published Tuesday.

Walid Muallem suggested to Britain’s Independent newspaper that the U.S. may be using Syria to curb Iran’s influence in the Middle East and that it had exaggerated Tehran’s nuclear capabilities in order to sell weapons to Gulf countries.

“We believe that the U.S. is the major player against Syria and the rest are its instruments,” he told journalist Robert Fisk.

When asked whether the U.S. was using the Syria crisis against Iran, Muallem cited a recent study by influential

Washington think-tank the Brookings Institution which concluded that “if you want to contain Iran, you must start with Damascus.”

“We were told by some Western envoys at the beginning of this crisis that relations between Syria and Iran, Syria and Hezbollah, Syria and Hamas are the major elements behind this crisis,” he told Fisk.

“But no one told us why it is forbidden for Syria to have relations with Iran when most if not all the Gulf countries have very important relations with Iran.”

UN chief Ban Ki-moon demanded an independent inquiry Monday into the killings of hundreds of civilians in the Syrian town of Daraya as world outrage mounted over the “massacre” by pro-government forces.

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Sailors of the Day Aviation Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Joseph Murphy

AE2 Joseph Murphy, from Newport News, Va., joined the Navy seven years ago because of a family tradition. In his spare time, he enjoys playing video games with his kids. In the future, he plans to earn a degree in software engineering and take his wife on a honeymoon.

Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Torshader Liverpool

AD3 Torshader Liverpool, from Franklin, La., joined the Navy three years ago to further her education and to travel. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and learning to play the guitar. In the future, she plans to finish college and become a physical therapist.

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