Good to Go

the

SHUTTLE USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - Tuesday, March 8, 2011

GOOD TO GO

VMFA-251’s Powerline shop ensures Thunderbolt pilots receive top-notch aircraft to carry out missions Cpl. Thomas Sandrick, a plane captain assigned to the “Thunderbolts” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 251, signifies that one of the squadron’s F/A-18C Hornets is ready for flight on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65).

Photo by Cpl. Courtney C. White

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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

the SHUTTLE

Happenings

Take-off

Big ‘E’

Outlook

Celebrate Women’s History Month Nearly 50,000 women serve in a wide range of specialties as Navy civilians. Today, 95% of Navy billets are open to women, and women are assigned to ships, afloat staffs, naval construction force units, and aviation squadrons.

RMD note

Photo by MCSN Jared M. King

An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the “Checkmates” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 211 launches from catapult during cyclic flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65).

3-Day Calendar TUE

8

PT

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9

THU

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Liberty Center Open Play Ping-Pong, Board Games, Cards, Super Spades Guitar Hero Street Fighter Tournament Aft Mess Decks Tournament Aft Mess Decks Aft Mess Decks 2030-2230 2030 2030 0900-0945 BiggEst Loser Team Workout Fit Boss

0500-0545 BiggEst Loser Team Workout Fit Boss

1600-1645 Chuck Norris Power Hour Cardio Kickboxing AOC Wong

1600-1700 EOD/Diver PT LT Dennison 2000-2100 Step Aerobics ABECS Claxton

Steel Beach Picnic Events 1200-1330 Strong Man Team Contest 1330-1400 225 lb. and 315 lb.

Bench Press Maximum Repetition Contest

Q:

Question of the Day

We have a smoking sponson for E-3 and below and another for Petty Officers. Because of overcrowding, can we make it so that Petty Officers must go to their sponson?

Roman Catholic Mass 1145 Foc’sle 2030 Chapel

Protestant Services 1145 Chapel 1730 Chapel

Donate now to NMCRS The mission of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is to provide, in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps, financial, educational, and other assistance to members of the Naval Services of the United States, eligible family members, and survivors when in need; and to receive and manage funds to administer these programs.

Donate to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society’s 2011 fundraiser anytime this March and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a Playstation 3 or XBOX 360 gaming system!

• Any donation amount will enter you in the drawing • Big ‘E’ CMC Oxley will draw the names of the lucky winners April 5 • See your department’s NMCRS representative to donate the

A:

Yes. Petty Officers should use their designated sponson unless specifically there to monitor the cleanliness and habitability of the E-3 and below sponson (which can be done without smoking). The intent is to reduce overcrowding so Sailors can smoke and get back to work.

Navy Tradition of the Day

Flotsam & Jetsam: Flotsam is wreckage or goods that float when thrown overboard at sea. Jetsam are goods that sink when thrown overboard. The two words combined have become a commonly-used phrase to describe useless or discarded objects.

SHUTTLE USS Enterprise (CVN 65)

ESWS STUDY GUIDE

Q: What size is the suction hose for the electric submersible pump?

A: 2 1/2 inches

MWR

WED

Wednesday, March 9 is Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of the Christian holy season of Lent.

• Ashes will be distributed at the religious worship services according to the schedule below.

• Roman Catholics are reminded that Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat; and both Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast.

The Shuttle is published and printed daily underway and 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 MC3 Peter Melkus at melkusp@cvn65.navy.mil.

Commanding Officer Capt. Dee L. Mewbourne

Executive Officer Capt. Ryan Scholl

Command Master Chief CMDCM (AW/SW) Keith G. Oxley

Public Affairs Officer Lt. Cmdr. Sarah T. Self-Kyler

Editor MC3 Peter D. Melkus

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

the SHUTTLE

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Enterprise News

Powerline Thunderbolts stay busy on flight deck

By Cpl. Courtney C. White VMFA-251 Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, Red Sea – Marines scramble across the flight deck, about a hundred feet above the ocean, their job is to make sure their aircraft are ready to fly. From identifying and fixing mechanical problems to keeping them safely chocked and chained on deck, all while avoiding the dangers of fast-paced flight operations, have a unique responsibility in supporting their brothers on the ground.

While each maintenance shop within the squadron is responsible for their area of expertise on the aircraft, the Marines of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 251’s “Powerline” shop are responsible for the whole aircraft. Made-up of 22 plane captains, they ensure a safe, capable aircraft for the pilots who perform their ongoing mission during peacetime and while at war aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65).

“It’s both exciting and stressful to be a plane captain,” said Cpl. Matthew Coates, a VMFA-251 plane captain.

“As a plane captain, we are responsible for the safety of the aircraft as well as the flight crew. It

is a great responsibility that I am proud to have.”

For these Marines to become a plane captain they have to be proficient at launching jets, know emergency procedures and memorize approximately 40 handand-wand signals. Each plane captain works one-on-one with the pilot before the pilot launches off of the flight deck.

“We always stay busy,” said Cpl. William Gillespie, a VMFA-251 powerline technician.

“Especially during flight operations, there is always something to do.

Our job is to look over not only our own work, but everyone else’s as well. We are the first and the last to see the jet being maintained.”

The powerline technicians spend approximately 10 hours a day working on the flight deck and about three hours worth of maintenance per aircraft after flights. The VMFA251 powerline shop does the work of three different Navy shops including power plants, line check and airframes.

“Our job can become very stressful,” said Lance Cpl. John Ruedasalvarez, a VMFA251 plane captain.

“Everyone relies on us when there is a maintenance problem.

Photo by Cpl. Courtney C. White

Marines assigned to VMFA-251’s Powerline shop prepare an F/A-18C Hornet for its next flight aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). Responsible for the overall maintenance of Thunderbolt aircraft, powerline Marines are the first and last to see the jets before and after flights.

Working aboard Enterprise is a lot different for the maintainers than what they are used to on the flight line ashore.

While at the air station, the Thunderbolts only have to focus on the squadron, Marines and jets in their own hangar. While aboard Enterprise they have a lot more moving parts with other maintainers, different types of aircraft while working in an unfamiliar and dangerous environment.

“Being a powerline technician on the ship can be dangerous.

You have to pay close attention to your job and to the aircraft that you are working on while being fully aware of your surroundings at the same time,” said Gunnery Sgt. Keith Evans, a VMFA-

251 division chief.

The Marines in powerline stick together during deployments.

They work, eat, go to the gym and go on liberty together.

“Our shop is a close group. We maintain professionalism and build camaraderie through mission accomplishment every day,” Evans said.

“I am proud to be a part of this shop because the Marines do their jobs knowing that they don’t know everything, but they stay open to learning. Even though they are tired, stressed and work long hours, they always perform the job to the best of their abilities.”

VMFA-251 is comprised of 227 Marines who fly and maintain 10 F/A-18C Hornets aboard Enterprise.

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the SHUTTLE

Sailors of the Day

Quartermaster 3rd Class

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 3rd Class

Jacob J. Gladura - Loveland, Colorado

Kirk Rodney - Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania

QM3 Gladura, a quartermaster of the watch assigned to Navigation department, joined the Navy two years ago to continue his family’s tradition of military service (his grandfather is a retired FCCM and his father is a West Point graduate). To Gladura, the most rewarding aspects of his job are “Being thanked by civilians for my service and hearing ‘good job’ from Gator and QMC for jobs I perform.” Gladura plans to make E-5, get married and finish his bachelors degree in the near future. Gladura enjoys working out, working on his Jeep and spending time with his family.

PR3 Rodney, assigned to the “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11, joined the Navy three years ago “to better myself and give back to the country that’s giving me a chance at a better life.” To Rodney, the most rewarding aspect of his job is being able to do a job he loves and looks forward to going to every day. Rodney is working hard to make E-5 on his next advancement exam and to be the best father he can be. During his free time, Rodney enjoys going to the movies and spending time with his kids.

Photos by MCSN Jesse L. Gonzalez

FUN ZONE!

Down 1 Hindu scripture 2 Bard’s river 3 “Auld ___ Syne” 4 Evokes affection 5 White house?

6 ___ bono 7 La femme 8 Author Rushdie 9 Doing very well 10 Final outcome 11 Like a couch potato 12 Intelligence 15 Be successful - as a traveler?

18 Exile site for Napoleon 22 “Enigma Variations” composer 24 Unexplained sightings 26 Engaged in litigation 27 Mogul capital of India 28 Happen to meet 30 Big name in chips 32 Botched 34 Change one’s story?

35 Pencil-and-paper game 37 “The Prisoner of __” 38 “Ah!” 41 Approval 43 Jazz great’s nickname 45 Danish city 46 Hone 47 Figure of speech 49 Unrefined 50 Cudgel 51 Part of a process 53 At some distance 54 Whimper 55 Slender 58 Regret

Across 1 Caesar’s farewell 5 Cold refreshments 9 Norse deity 13 Hunter of fiction 14 Russian prison camp 16 Aloha State bird 17 “Americana” author 19 From square one

20 “Measure for Measure” villain 21 Augustus et al.

23 “___ ben Adhem” 25 Unremitting 26 Pelvic bones 29 Wangle 31 Disgusted grunts 32 Sun follower?

33 Placated 36 Big time?

37 With more gusto 39 Old name for Tokyo 40 Jigs and reels 42 Curvaceous character 43 Agitated state 44 Comfort

46 Charlie of the Rolling Stones 47 Cared for 48 Authentic 50 Holy wars 52 Summaries 56 Easy pace 57 Dishonest

59 Atop 60 Sham 61 Neighbor of Senegal 62 Inclination 63 Pointless Olympic event?

64 City near Provo