Enterprise Gets Underway for Final Qualifications

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USS Enterprise (CVN 65)

Newsletter Edition

“We are Legend”

Januaray 12, 2012 Issue

Enterprise Gets Underway for Final Qualifications

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Stephen M. White

U

SS Enterprise (CVN 65) departed its homeport of Norfolk, Va., Jan. 11 to participate in a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) and Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX).

The early morning departure was the next to last departure from Naval Station Norfolk for the 50-yearold carrier. Enterprise is scheduled to enter deactivation after completing its 22nd and final deployment later this year.

COMPTUEX is the intermediate phase of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group’s (CSG) Inter-Deployment Training Cycle (IDTC), designed to hone warfare skills throughout the strike group while maintaining unit proficiency.

“It’s the final exercise to ensure Enterprise is combat ready,” said Capt. William C. Hamilton, Jr, USS Enterprise commanding officer. “We’re looking forward to working with the

full strike group conducting combat exercises across the full spectrum of battle spaces.”

COMPTUEX is designed to bring every part of a strike group together to work effectively and efficiently as one cohesive unit.

COMPTUEX will require a total team effort from Enterprise, the embarked air wing and the more than 4,500 Sailors and Marines involved.

Every department, division and work center, and every Sailor and Marine aboard Enterprise, from the engineering plants up to the flight deck, will Photo by MCSN Harry Andrew D. Gordon play a vital role in

Photo by MCSN Harry Andrew D. Gordon

the exercise.

The JTFEX will test the ship’s ability, as well as that of its strike group, to operate in a complex, hostile environment with other U.S. and coalition forces.

“By the end of COMPTUEX and JTFEX, we will have a combatready strike group that will be ready to execute the Navy’s mission anywhere in the world,” said Rear Adm. Walter E. Carter, Jr., commander, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group. “Our goal is to ensure we are integrated as a team and to exceed our requirements for our combat operational efficiency.”

The Enterprise Carrier Strike Group includes USS Enterprise (CVN 65), Carrier Air Wing 1, Destroyer Squadron 2, the guided-missile cruiser USS Vicksburg (CG 69), the guidedmissile destroyers USS Porter (DDG 78), USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) and USS Nitze (DDG 94).

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Thursday Jan. 12, 2012

Big E Happenings

U n d e f e at e d !

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Gregory White

together for two months.”

“Chief Kirton did a good job putting everyone together,” said Price. “We bring better competition to everybody else Members of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise’s (CVN in the fleet.”

65) basketball team got underway Jan. 11 with their The team understands that with so much manpower they undefeated record still intact. Enterprise has had multiple may not all get to play in every game and they are okay teams in the past, but this team “represents.” with that.

“We want to represent the Enterprise and represent the “Of course there are times that everyone doesn’t get in Enterprise well,” said Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Keith the game, but everyone’s on the team, said Kirton. “We’re Kirton, coach and coordinator for the basketball team. just trying to win.”

Enterprise had two teams last year, an “A” team and Both Price and Jemison reflected on one of the games a “B” team. Kirton didn’t like splitting everybody up, against their toughest competitor, the USS Dwight D. so when he took over he brought Eisenhower (CVN 69). everyone together by combining the “We were down, and I only had four teams. points in the first half,” said Price. “I “We have all the talent in one place,” couldn’t do anything. No matter what said Kirton. “We’re real organized and I tried to do, I couldn’t make anything we share the ball.” happen. They were in the zone.”

Kirton’s plan has paid off. The Price said the other team suddenly current Enterprise basketball team is spread out across the court leaving undefeated with a record of 8 wins and the lane open. With the lane open, 0 losses. everything came together for the Their very first game against Enterprise team, and they made a USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) was comeback. a resounding victory. Enterprise “We started dunking on them,” said defeated Bainbridge 50 to 15.

Price. “It just all came together, and it “Everybody was on their game,” said was amazing because it showed how Logistics Specialist Seaman Timothy good we can be as a team.”

Price, an Enterprise Sailor and team “We handle adversity well,” said captain. “Everybody was hitting. We Jemison. “If we’re down we just keep blew them out 32 to 9 in the first half our heads up and keep going.” alone.”

Kirton said the Enterprise basketball The Enterprise team has won every team usually plays Mondays, Tuesdays, game since. and Wednesdays inport at either Q80 “You would think from one of our or McCormick’s Recreational Centers. practices that we’ve been playing Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Gregory A. Pickett “Come check us out,” said Jemison. together for years,” said Machinist’s Mate Fireman “We’re going to win,” said Price.

Donovan J. Jemison, the other captain of the USS The Enterprise basketball team plans to play at least Enterprise basketball team, “but we’ve only been playing three more games prior to deployment.

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ESWS Question of the Day: What are the three methods of recovery for a man overboard?

Answer in tomorrow’s paper.

The Shuttle is published and printed daily underway and biweekly 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

Public Affairs Officer Command Master Chief Lt. Cmdr. Sarah T. Self-Kyler ABCM (AW/SW) Eric M. Young Editors MC3(SW) Jeffry A. Willadsen MCSN Eric Brann MCSN Harry Andrew D. Gordon

Thursday Jan. 12, 2012

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Around the World

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No Big U.S. Naval Buildup In Asia, Top Officer Says

By Phil Stewart and Paul Eckert WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama’s decision to reorient the U.S. military’s focus to the Asia-Pacific region will not lead to a major naval buildup there, the top U.S. Navy officer said on Tuesday, adding that the United States already has a robust presence in the area.

Obama last week unveiled a new military strategy shifting attention to Asia over the next decade while downsizing the overall force, moves that will accommodate significant cuts in projected U.S. defense spending. But the Pentagon has not yet revealed what that plan will mean concretely for the deployment of U.S. military forces and equipment to different regions of the world. More details are due in the coming weeks during the rollout of the annual U.S. federal budget proposal.

China’s military did not wait for details before issuing statements accusing the United States of trying to contain China.

Addressing a forum in Washington, Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the chief of naval operations, put forward a chart showing that the U.S. Navy has about 50 ships and submarines deployed today in the western Pacific, compared with about 30 in the Middle East.

Greenert said the Navy would review Obama’s strategy and “adjust accordingly.” “But my first assessment is that we’re in good shape in the

Navy where we stand in the western Pacific,” he told a forum hosted by the Center for a New American Security think tank in Washington.

Asked about a possible buildup in naval forces and equipment in Asia, Greenert appeared to play down speculation about a major change in the deployment of forces there and in the Middle East.

“My point is, it’s not a big naval buildup in the Far East. We’re there, we have been there, we will continue to be there,” he said.

“And that I see the same proportion in the (Middle East), I don’t see a naval movement” from there, he said.

Greenert spoke at a panel launching a report by the Center for a New American Security on dealing with potential conflict in the South China Sea, where maritime territorial disputes pit China against Vietnam and others.

‘A Declining Power’?

The report urges the United States to build a worldwide naval force of up to 346 ships - far more than the fleet of 250 vessels envisioned after budget cuts and the retirement of older ships.

The center’s Patrick Cronin said that if the United States did not use this decade to expand its fleet, “whatever we say, we’re going to be seen as a declining power” in Asia.

“What I’m worried about is the idea that we may be shrinking rather than growing our Navy,” said Cronin.

The shift in focus to Asia comes amid increasing concern at the Pentagon over China’s strategic goals as it begins to field a new generation of weapons that U.S. officials fear are designed to try to prevent U.S. naval and air forces from projecting power into the region.

The People’s Liberation Army’s newspaper said on Tuesday the United States was “laying out forces across the Asia-Pacific region in advance to contain the rise of China.”

Part of the U.S. strategy includes shoring up U.S. alliances across the region, and Greenert acknowledged deepening ties with countries including longtime allies such as Japan and Australia and emerging relationships with others, like Vietnam.

He also stressed the need to deepen dialogue with the People’s Liberation Army Navy.

China’s Ministry of Defense on Monday warned the United States to be “careful in its words and actions” after announcing the new strategy.

Asked about the comments, Greenert responded: “I appreciate the advice.”

People Form Defense Strategy’s Centerpiece, Official Says

By Jim Garamone WASHINGTON – People are the centerpiece of the new defense strategy guidance that President Barack Obama released last week, the deputy undersecretary of defense for strategy, plans and forces said here yesterday.

Kathleen Hicks told the Pentagon Channel that the new guidance calls for a military force sized to handle the operational environment in the world today, and that the force will not be like that of the past 10 years.

Rather, she said, the strategy guidance says the country is best served through having forward-deployed military forces present abroad.

While technology is an incredible enabler, “what we understand today is that nothing substitutes for the quality of our trained, equipped and ready force, and that’s our focus for the future,” she said.

The strategy guidance uses information gleaned from the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, Hicks said, but the situation in two short years has changed.

“Now we have a changed fiscal environment, the Arab Awakening, the end of U.S. operations in Iraq, and [we are] looking forward transition in Afghanistan,” she said. Changes in Iranian behavior and other factors also were considered in the new guidance, she added.

The Budget Control Act signed last year calls for the Defense Department to cut $487 billion over 10 years. But even without this impetus, DOD would be incorporating the lessons learned from 10 years of war, she said.

The strategy guidance has some concrete changes to past strategy, Hicks said.

“We have been looking toward Asia more and maintaining our presence in the Middle East, but now we have to bring new focus to those primary emphases to ensuring we have the right mix of capabilities for our special operators all the way up to the high ends of warfare,” she explained. The emphasis, she added, is particularly in the air, naval, cyber and space domains.

But people remain the bedrock capability, Hicks said. The message from DOD to service members is “we are looking out for you, we are making sure that any drawdown that does occur comes with appropriate transition incentives and capabilities that we can help people transition to civilian life,” she added.

For service members who opt to stay in the military, department leaders will make sure they have the pay and benefits they deserve, and that family programs will remain in place, she said.

The country will continue to need a strong and capable National Guard and reserve components, Hicks said. But there are constraints there as well.

“We will have to draw down somewhat, but those who remain will be well taken care of,” she said. “What we can really offer now that we haven’t been able to do for some time is a more sustainable tempo.” This means employers of reservecomponent service members will be able to plan for military absences.

The president worked very closely with DOD leaders, including the combatant commanders, to understand all the nuances of a new defense strategy, Hicks said.

She called it a very collaborative and inclusive process.

In the field, there will be a growing focus on building partnership capacity in Asia, as well as more exercises and more opportunity to get high-end training. “We will still maintain [counterinsurgency] skill sets that are so vital, but we will begin to have time and opportunity to train on a much broader range of potential threats,” she said.

The biggest risk of any strategy is uncertainty of the future, she said. “We don’t know exactly where threats will emerge,” she acknowledged. “We don’t know where opportunities will emerge and whether we will be able to see them in time to take advantage of them. We really have tried to develop a balanced force that can take account of that uncertainty and be ready to flex to different types of crises that may emerge.

“We think we have brought down risk that we had at the highest levels of conflict,” she continued, “by investing in our power-projection capabilities.”

The strategy guidance does pose a risk in the case of large-scale, enduring operations like the military has been doing in Iraq and Afghanistan, Hicks said. “We believe we’ve addressed that risk by building in reversibility to the strategy,” she added.

Defense Department officials are concerned about several trends, including a continuing concern that terrorism still is a problem, Hicks said. Officials also worry about Iran’s path and the country’s push for a nuclear capability. “There is opportunity in the Arab Awakening, but there is also tremendous uncertainty,” she said. “North Korea remains a challenge for the United States and its allies in Asia.”

The strategy guidance makes sense if the cuts outlined in the Budget Control Act remain in force, Hicks said. But all bets are off, she added, if a “sequestration” mechanism in the law comes into play, doubling the projected defense budget cuts. The law calls for sequestration to kick in unless Congress acts before January 2013 to override that provision.

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Thursday Jan. 12, 2012

Movie Schedule Jan 12, 2012 Channel 6

Stop Loss Brothers Napoleon Dynamite The Express Did You Hear About The Morgans?

0900/1900 1100/2100 1300/2300 1430/0030 1700/0300

Quantum Solace Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Austin Powers: Man Of Mystery The Green Hornet Hotel For Dogs

0900/1900 1100/2100 1300/2300 1430/0030 1700/0300

Get Him To The Greek Gran Torino Meet Dave Sex And The City Bedtime Stories

0900/1900 1100/2100 1300/2300 1430/0030 1700/0300

The Town Despicable Me Taken Avatar A-Team

0900/1900 1100/2100 1300/2300 1430/0030 1700/0300

Social Network Up Toy Story Fight Club Red

0900/1900 1100/2100 1300/2300 1430/0030 1700/0300

Kill Bill: Volume 1 G.I. Jane Easy A Inception Groundhog Day

0900/1900 1100/2100 1300/2300 1430/0030 1700/0300

Terminator: Salvation Night At The Museum Happy Gilmore The Rock Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs

0900/1900 1100/2100 1300/2300 1430/0030 1700/0300

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