USS Enterprise (CVN 65)
The Shuttle Newsletter Edition
“We are Legend”
October 29, 2012 Issue
Communication and Planning Key to Successful Return
Story by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Randy J. Savarese USS ENTERPRISE, At sea – Fleet and Family Services has provided return and reunion training aboard ships since the 1980’s, when following a rough deployment by another aircraft carrier, the ship’s chaplains felt it would be beneficial to bring specially-trained Fleet and Family representatives aboard to start helping Sailors make the transition from deployment and shipboard life back to civilian life. As aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) nears the end of its final deployment, Fleet and Family instructors have continued the tradition of preparing underway Sailors for their return to homeport by teaching a variety of classes on everything from financial planning to communication and intimacy. While each of the instructors aboard is trained to instruct on any topic, each has a different focus and insight into the homecoming process, whether it be the financial aspect or simply that of dreaming of a perfect welcome on the pier. Kim Tarshis, the return and reunion team lead, warns that having unrealistic homecoming expectations can be a problem. “I think the media has done a disservice to service members with TV shows focused on the perfect homecoming and all of the surprise homecomings,” said Tarshis. “When you watch them on TV they always work out perfectly, but that is not always the case. I go to bed every night hoping and praying everyone has the homecoming that they want and deserve after working so hard for eight months, but we just want to broaden that expectation so they are better prepared for what may happen.” Part of that preparation involves proper planning. “What we find is that with careful planning and realistic expectations, folks can have a great homecoming,” said Tarshis. “It’s not just about what you can expect when you walk off the pier, but also just reintegrating into life. You have to start that communication if you are returning to a partner or a spouse and (begin) really talking about expectations.” While many Sailors and Marines feel privileged to have served aboard this historic carrier during her final deployment, one of the challenges this has created is the unknowns centered around Sailors’ careers upon their return. “This is an unusual homecoming because of the ship’s inactivation,” said Tarshis. “There are still a lot of folks who don’t know where they are going. They don’t know what commands they might be going to or how soon they are going to deploy, and that’s unusual. So it’s harder to get them into the mindset that this is a homecoming when so many of their plans are still up in the air.” Danielle Gamez, a return and reunion instructor, stressed expectations and communication. “I would say the biggest thing is expectations,” said Gamez. “It’s important to realize the expectations of your families,
AD2 Bauer reunites with his wife after returning from Enterprise’s previous deployment. (Photo by MC3 Jared King)
your spouses and your children and realistic with those expectations.” “You’ll see in a lot of our classes we talk about communication. Fleet and Family loves that word. We talk about it a lot,” said Gamez. “Having open and honest communication with your loved ones when you get back about what things are like and what you’re feeling (is important). Starting that right away is going to make for a better reunion period.” Megan Sather, a Fleet and Family financial educator, brought her considerable knowledge on money management, another important aspect of returning home, but also stressed a focus on communication. “Communication is important for any topic,” said Sather. “Maybe there is a pot of money saved up and the husband and wife have two completely different ideas about what they would like to do with that money. I talked to a Sailor who saved a bunch of money and her husband decided they needed a new kitchen and spent it on that instead of paying off the bills like she wanted to do. Communicating where the money should go is really important.” As with homecoming, planning is also important when it comes to finances. “When it comes to money, just come up with a plan because your budget is going to dramatically change,” said Sather. “You’re going to lose money and you’re going to spend more because now you’re feeding more people in the house and you’re gassing up more than one vehicle, plus the water and electricity. So, you have a completely different budget then what you’ve had for the past eight months.” One thing Sailors should remember above all else are that these services are available to them at any point in their career. “We are here not just for the end of deployment, but continuing on into the future, and Sailors need to know that,” said Sather. “Fleet and Family is here, not just now, but for the long haul.”
The Shuttle
Page 2
Monday, October 29, 2012
Hispanic Heritage Celebration Photos by MC3 Heath Zeigler
CSSN Quindell L. Jenkins plays the guitar during the Hispanic Heritige Month Celebration.
CS2 Joseline Paulino and AM1 Ramon D. Diaz perform a traditional Hispanic dance.
OS2 Alcides Fuentes and ABF2 Luis Cabrera perform a song during Hispanic Heratige Month Celebration.
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
ABF2 Class Luis Cabrera, HM3 Tamara Porter, Senior Chief Yeoman Kimberly Fisher, and FC3 Nedra Blocker perform a song during the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.
The Shuttle
Monday, October 29, 2012
Page 3
In the News New York, Washington, Philly Begin Mass Transit By CNN Wire Staff
New York (CNN) -- The subway in the city that never sleeps started shutting down Sunday night as officials brace for the impact of Hurricane Sandy. New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) was under orders from Gov. Andrew Cuomo to begin the suspension of subway service at 7 p.m. The last commuter railroad trains also left at that time. Bus service will stop at 9 p.m. “The storm is coming ... and now it is time to take action,” Cuomo told reporters. “A situation like this, you don’t want to be overly panicked and overly prepared, but you want to be prudent and you want to do what is necessary.” It’s rare for New York’s massive transit network -- the largest in North America, with nearly 4.3 million people every day riding the subway alone -- to grind to a halt. But Cuomo said the move was a necessary step, because it isn’t safe to operate trains in high winds, and equipment could also become damaged. It’s unclear how long the system will be down. “Service will be restored only when it is safe to do so, after careful inspections of all equipment and tracks. Even with minimal damage this is expected to be a lengthy process,” the MTA said on its website. Second to the New York subway in terms of
size, the Metro system in Washington D.C. is also scheduled to shut down because of the approaching storm. Bus service will stop at the end of the day Sunday, while rail service will be closed Monday. The storm is expected to cause massive flooding and widespread power outages when it hits the East Coast, in full, late Sunday and into the week. But before that happens, transportation companies and government officials are allowing -- and, in some cases, urging -- people to plan for the worst. Various airlines have canceled flights. Delta, for example, canceled all flights out of New York and Philadelphia, starting at 7 p.m. Sunday, while flights from Washington to Boston will stop Monday morning. United Airlines canceled approximately 3,700 flights between Sunday and Wednesday. Both companies are allowing some customers to change their flight plans without paying any fees due to Sandy. Delta will let those ticketed to fly between Sunday and Wednesday, in and out of airports in 15 states and the District of Columbia, to reschedule by November 4. United’s offer applies to travel to and from 29 airports, for the same dates.
Hurricane Injects Uncertainty Into Presidential Campaign By Michael O’Brien, NBC NEWS
An impending hurricane injected a new degree of uncertainty into the 2012 presidential campaign, impacting candidates’ schedules and early voting opportunities just nine days before Election Day. President Barack Obama called the storm “serious and big” following a briefing at the headquarters of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA), warning residents in the storm’s path “to take this very seriously.” The president also canceled campaign trips to Virginia and Colorado scheduled for early this week, the last full week of campaigning this election, in order to monitor Hurricane Sandy. The storm’s impending landfall was poised to add a new variable to a presidential contest that has tightened considerably in its closing days, along with scores of downballot races up and down the East Coast. President Barack Obama addresses the nation on Hurricane Sandy as the storm prepares to hit the East Coast. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney
canceled planned stops in Virginia ó one of the most hotly-contested battleground states this fall ó on Sunday and headed to Ohio instead. Obama spent Sunday in Washington, where he traveled to FEMA headquarters following church services early this afternoon. The administration authorized several emergency declarations for states sitting in Sandy’s path, and Obama convened a conference call with administration officials and governors in the storm’s path to receive an update on preparations. The storm put some of Obama’s campaigning on hold, as he canceled a northern Virginia event for that afternoon, along with an event in Colorado Springs on Tuesday. Obama was still set, though, to travel to Youngtown, Ohio on Monday morning. The president appears ó for now ó intent upon returning to the campaign trail on Tuesday evening in Green Bay, Wis. His campaign also advised on Sunday afternoon that two stops on Wednesday in Ohio would go forward.
The Shuttle
Page 4
Monday, October 29, 2012
Sailor and Marine of the Day Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Airman Jessica Nixon
Corporal Rubin Tan
ABHAN Jessica Nixon, from Logan, Ohio, joined the Navy three years ago to take advantage of educational benefits. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and spending time with family. In the future, she plans to earn a degree and become an english teacher.
Cpl. Rubin Tan, from Houston, joined the Marine Corps two years ago to express his patriotism. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting and mudding in his truck. In the future, he hopes to return home and continue derby racing until he makes it to NASCAR.
Big E Entertainment