The Washington Surveyor

WASHINGTON SURVEYOR THE

NOV. 5, 2018

MC3 Marlan Sawyer

MC2 Mandi Washington

EIWS: RE-CERTIFIED

HAIR, NAILS, JEWELRY

GW RE-CERTIFIES INFORMATION WARFARE PROGRAM

NAVY REVAMPS GROOMING STANDARDS

MCSA Jack Lepien

MC3 Carter Denton

JET SHOP CAFÉ

YOU’VE GOT MAIL!

HIDDEN TREASURE OF THE HANGAR BAY

GW POST OFFICE DELIVERS EXCELLENCE

washington surveyor

SAILOR in the SPOTLIGHT

Commanding Officer Capt. Glenn Jamison

Executive Officer Capt. Daryle Cardone

Command Master Chief CMDCM Maurice Coffey

Public Affairs Officer Lt. Cmdr. Stephanie Turo

Deputy Public Affairs Officer Lt. Tyler Barker

Departmental LCPO MCCS Reginald Buggs

Divisional LCPO MCC Mary Popejoy

Editors

MC3 Julie Vujevich MCSN Zack Thomas MCSA Jack Lepien

Content

MC1 Gary Johnson MC2 Mandi Washington MC3 Michael Botts MC3 Carter Denton MC3 Jamin Gordon MC3 Trey Hutcheson MC3 Marlan Sawyer MC3 Brian Sipe MC3 Kristen Yarber MCSR Steven Young

EN2

Mina Quint

Department: Joined:

The Washington Surveyor is an authorized publication for Sailors serving aboard USS George Washington ( 73). Contents herein are not the visions of, or endorsed by the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy or the Commanding Officer of USS George Washington. All news releases, photos or information for publication in The Washington Surveyor must be submitted to the Public Affairs Officer.

Reactor (RA)

2015

Favorite part of my job: “Meeting wonderful people

who I would’ve never met because they are from all over the country.”

Proudest Achievement: Won Junior Sailor of the Year

for Reactor last year.

On the cover: AT2 Allison Valdez stretches at Huntington Hall before participating in the Halloween Fitness Challenge. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Trey

Hutcheson)

PHOTO of the

WEEK

AOCS Jeremey Zulz performs a squat press at Huntington Hall during the Halloween Fitness Challenge. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Trey Hutcheson)

IT3 Callanta, Jon

MMN3 Garcia, James

EM3 Horlback, Deshawn

ADAN Williams, Cubie

MM3 Leslie, Deshawndra

ASAN Vincent, Gordon

MM3 Khampoumy, Daniel

YN3 Aguilar, Stephanie

ABH3 (AW) Gonzales, Briana

AN Brown, Jaylon

CSSN Ramos, Wilfredo

AD3 Robledo, Devyn

MM3 CancholaGozalez, Adriana MMN3 Phouthachack, Sean MMN2 Dawson, Thomas MM3 Sepulveda, Zachary MMN2 Lancaster, Collin OSSN Pullom, Antoric CS3 Carpenter, Phillip

Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Hill, left, and Yeoman 3rd Class Kenyatta Gadson, both obtained the enlisted information warfare specialist (EIWS) qualification after passing their oral board on Oct. 10, 2018. (U.S. Navy photo illustration by MC3 Marlan Sawyer)

EIWS

GW RE-CERTIFIES INFORMATION WARFARE PROGRAM

By MC3 Marlan Sawyer

A

fter a brief hiatus, the enlisted information warfare specialist (EIWS) qualification program has been recertified onboard the Nimitzclass aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73).

Due to modifications to the program, it was temporarily shut down. The process to bring it back online wasn’t an easy one. Some of the obstacles of recertifying a classified warfare program were difficult to overcome.

“Finding a space to conduct training was the biggest obstacle we faced,” said Chief Information Systems Technician Xica Johnson, command EIWS coordinator.

“Many of the secure spaces offered on the ship are now under construction. The command conference room was outfitted with

a safe, additional locks, a storage locker and a red alarm light which aids in securing the space. The EIWS team also had to rewrite new tests, board questions, and training material to be presented to U.S. Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR),” said Johnson.

The revisions made to Commander, Naval Information Forces Instruction (COMNAVIFORINST) 1414.1A impacts Sailors throughout the fleet.

“The biggest challenge came with the announcement that noncore rates would no longer be able to participate in the program when stationed at a secondary mission command per ALCOM 080/10,” said Johnson. “This placed a deadline of 90 days on many Sailors stationed onboard.

The team worked diligently to square away any final criteria before coordinating with the force EIWS program coordinator for program review. The coordinator came to USS George Washington and inspected our entire program, including monitoring an EIWS board. NAVIFOR was pleased with the program and lifted the suspension allowing for the program to continue.”

Due to the length of the suspension, GW Sailors were only given until Oct. 19 to obtain 100300 series PQS signatures and test.

After this date, only those noncores awaiting an oral board would be allowed to continue to prepare for a board with a deadline of Dec. 31, 2018.

There were a lot of lessons learned by the EIWS coordinators

during the recertification process of the EIWS program.

“Looking back on the EIWS program, I think it was just a lack of overall knowledge regarding how the IW program should operate,” said Information Systems Technician 1st Class Trisha Rand, a board member for the radio/ communications portion of the EIWS program. “Thus, we could have certainly done a better job of being educated of the exact requirements that this warfare program needs.”

According to Information Systems Technician 1st Class Johnathan Kuehn, command EIWS assistant coordinator and subject matter expert for the

automated data processing (ADP) portion of the EIWS program, the recertification was a blessing in disguise.

“Now that our program onboard GW has passed a thorough inspection, we can provide adequate and appropriate training to Sailors while adhering to program requirements regarding the sensitive nature of some of the subject matter,” said Kuehn.

The modifications made to the EIWS program were a success and made a positive impact on the command.

“I believe the changes to the program are a good thing,” said Johnson. “It allows core ratings to focus on mastering their warfare area. Information warfare is a lot harder than many would expect.

The jobs that Sailors do behind locked doors and vaults are crucial to the mission. Displaying that EIWS pin will allow them to display a certain pride that comes with mastering a warfare area.

Many non-core rates are not aware of what the importance of core rates to the mission. The EIWS program allowed others to get an

understanding of why information warfare is mission essential.

Fortunately, we will be able to share these lessons with future ships undergoing the refueling complex overhaul (RCOH).”

A Sailor who achieved the EIWS qualification after the program’s reinstatement shared his perspective on the situation.

“The changes made to the EIWS program were necessary to protect the information that will

be circulating throughout the ship with personnel attempting to obtain the qualification,” said Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Hill. “I was set back from the shutdown of the program and had to wait it out. I struggled on the test, but still made it through. I recently passed the oral board and that was an exciting moment for me. This was the last qualification I needed before I transfer. I had goals to become a triple warfare specialist-qualified second class petty officer while onboard the George Washington.

Now that I have completed my goals, I can set new ones to achieve. I will always remember this moment because I put my heart into it. I want to set the bar high

and show Sailors that anything is possible.”

With the deadline for non-core rates fast approaching, Sailors are reminded that after Dec. 31, 2018, EIWS will only be open to the core rates of Cryptologic Technician Technical (CTT), Cryptologic Technician Collection (CTR), Cryptologic Technician Interpretive (CTI), Cryptologic Technician Networks (CTN), Aerographer’s Mate (AG), Intelligence Specialist (IS), and Information Systems Technician (IT).

of hairstyles, some currently allowed hairstyles have been updated.

Buns can now be as thick as three inches measured from the scalp outward and can be as wide as the back of the head, as long as it can’t be seen from the front of the head if the person is facing forward.

In keeping with tradition, all hairstyles shall present a professional and balanced appearance.

Appropriateness of a hairstyle shall be evaluated by its appearance when headgear is worn. All headgear must fit around the largest part of the head without distortion or excessive gaps.

Buns and ponytails are allowed to be worn through the opening of the ball cap.

The changes allows Sailors to showcase the diversity that is within our Navy.

“It encourages a wide range of interests, backgrounds, and experiences,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Rashad Beamon. “Differences among groups of people and individuals based on ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, exceptionalities, language, and geographical area. It’s one of the aspects that help keep the Navy strong by making it more a diverse force.”

Hair styles weren’t the only change made by Navy officials. The wearing of jewelry is now more specific.

Only one ring is authorized per hand in addition to a wedding/engagement

NAVY REVAMPS GROOMING STANDARDS

By MC2 Mandi Washington

By MC2 Mandi Washington

T

he Navy recently rewrote the personal grooming regulations to authorize a variety of hairstyles and specify the rules for nail polish and jewelry.

Hairstyles that were once deemed out of regulations, like locks (natural and faux) and ponytails are now authorized. Quartermaster 2nd Class Treonia Collier said it raises morale for Sailors.

“What I like most about the updated grooming standards is the versatility,” said Collier. “It allows our Sailors to express themselves more freely.”

Locks are individual sections of hair that are twisted from the root to the end of the hair. Locks shall encompass the whole head and are authorized to be worn down, in a bun or ponytail as long as it still follows the same regulations. A ponytail can be worn in a non-hazardous area and can hang no more than three inches below the lowe r edge of the collar.

In addition to authorizing more kinds

ring set. Rings can only be gold, silver, copper, gray, tan, brown, black, white, or light pink in color and may be made from natural metals or fabricated materials. Only one bracelet is authorized in uniform and can be made from and the same colors as authorized rings. Wristwatches shall be conservative, in good taste and noneccentric or faddish. A bracelet can be worn on one wrist and a wristwatch on the other. They cannot be worn together on the same wrist while in uniform.

Jewelry worn in uniform shall be conservative and in good taste, and should not present a safety hazard.

In addition to specified colors for rings and bracelets comes specific colors no longer authorized for fingernails. No nails shall be painted white, black, red, yellow, orange, green, purple, blue, hot pink, grey, glitter, striped, or with any pattern or decoration. Nails can be almond shaped, round or square shaped.

French and American manicures are authorized with white and off-white tips and a neutral-colored base.

Collier says keeping all personnel updated on new regulations should be a priority for all.

“I make sure I pass the word to my Sailors on updated grooming standards during morning quarters,” said Collier. “Any new instructions or [naval administrative messages] are important for anyone that’s a Sailor, male or female, and I try to do my part in helping us all stay in standards.”

For more information on the grooming standards and personal appearance, check out Navy Uniform Regulations (NAVPERS 15665I) or visit www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/ support/uniforms/uniformregulations.

GETTING DOWN AND SPOOKY To celebrate Halloween 2018, GW Sailors participated in a Halloween fitness challenge that was organized

by MWR. After completing the challenge, the participants received t-shirts as a prize.

Photos by MC3 Trey Hutcheson

(Cont’d on next page)

JET SHOP CAFÉ: HIDDEN TREASURE OF THE HANGAR BAY

By MCSA Jack Lepien

M

A GW Sailor makes a purchase at the new Jet Shop Café. (U.S. Navy photo by MCSA Jack Lepien)

ost Sailors wouldn’t

juice to water to coffee,” said Ellison.

out of a vending machine,” said Crain.

“Now I can get hot, good food right

expect to find the smell

The Jet Shop Café, like the galley,

of freshly-brewed coffee

ship store, and vending machines, take

here in the Jet Shop. It’s straightforward

and delicious chicken biscuits wafting

Navy Cash as payment, but they also

and easy.”

through the hangar bay, but that’s what

accept cash, on account of the shipyard

they will see, thanks to the Jet Shop

workers and contractors who also dine

Café many times each week, likes the

Café.

there.

friendly customer service and cost of

The Jet Shop Café aboard the Nimitz-

Ellison says that Sailors enjoy coming

class aircraft carrier USS George

by because of the camaraderie and

Washington (CVN 73) provides snacks,

convenience.

meals, and beverages to Sailors,

“I think a lot of Sailors come by

Crain, who eats at the Jet Shop

the food, as well.

“The food is good, and the [culinary specialists] who work there are funny and friendly,” said Crain. “The prices

contractors, and shipyard workers every

because it’s a good way to see a friendly

can’t be beaten. I mean, an entire

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from

face and chat with friends while still

chicken biscuit for only a dollar? That’s

7:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

getting something to eat or drink,”

ridiculously good.”

Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Symone

said Ellison. “I also see a lot of Sailors

Ellison said that the most important

Ellison, the assistant leading petty

come by because it’s easy to just grab a

thing to the Sailors who man the Jet

officer of the Jet Shop Café, says the

burrito or sandwich and then head off to

Shop Café is making sure all the Sailors

café has a variety of options from which

their space to work.”

who come there leave happy customers.

customers can choose.

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate

“Customer service and satisfaction

(Handling) Airman Aaron C. Crain, a

is our number one priority in the Jet

and lunch,” said Ellison. “You can

Fall Branch, Tennessee native, also says

Shop Café,” said Ellison. “We want to

buy a breakfast burrito for lunch and

the convenience of it is the primary

make sure that every Sailor who comes

a cheeseburger for breakfast, if you

reason why he eats there.

here to grab a quick bite to eat or drink

“Our menu is based upon breakfast

want.”

“If I wanted a snack, I used to have

leaves content and happy with the price,

Beverages are also offered for sale.

to walk through the entire hangar bay

customer service, and quality of the

“We also sell a variety of drinks, from

and onto the FAF just to get something

food and beverages they’re purchasing.”

YOU’VE GOT MAIL!

GW POST OFFICE DELIVERS EXCELLENCE PS3 Joshua Weaver (left) receives mail from LS3 Hailey Tison at the GW post office. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Carter Denton)

By MC3 Carter Denton

R

eceiving, processing, and distributing mail takes many hours and requires strict adhereance to postal rules. A team of dedicated professionals on board the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) have that daunting task, and have proven they’re the best at what they do.

During a recent fleet-wide postal inspection, George Washington’s post office became the first carrier to score a grade of 100 percent in the mail orderly section and earned an overall grade of outstanding, thus garnering the title, “Best in the Fleet.”

“We scored the highest for all carriers in the fleet for our mail orderly program, which is unheard of on a carrier,” said Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Kimbridge Wilkison. “And we scored 95 percent overall on our directory program, which is also unheard of on a carrier.”

Each individual’s attitude, the overall teamwork, and camaraderie played a vital role in operating a successful post office.

“Despite the fact that there’s only four of us in the post office,

we each took care of our assigned jobs and diligently do our job,” said Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Hailey Tison. “We spent a lot of hours and sometimes we’d even stay late to make sure the administration side of the post office was taken care of.”

An efficient and effective operation ensures Sailors get a touch of home wherever and whenever they are.

“Underway we would serve to boost the ship’s morale,” said Tison.

“We make sure that when families want to send something to their sons or daughters or other family members that are out to sea, we make sure that gets to them so they can have a little piece of home when they’re out to sea.”

Even though the volume of mail has decreased now that the ship is no longer going to sea, the shipyard brings new challenges for the post office to overcome.

“I would say finding personnel is the biggest challenge while we’re in the shipyard because personnel are always shifting around away from their parent department, which makes it difficult for the mail orderlies to

find them,” said Wilkison.

Despite the challenges that come with being in the shipyard, the Sailors managing the post office have kept the same standard of excellence.

“The standards of the post office are still being maintained in accordance with our postal instruction,” said Wilkison. “There are a few things that we’ve had to alter as far as our directory goes due to personnel being shifted around to different [project management] teams, but the overall security and operations of the post office have remained the same.”

From official to personal mail, George Washington’s post office team stands ready to support the Spirit of Freedom crew with all things mail!

GEORGE’S

CORNER

Operations: Acronyms Down

1. Missile engagement zone 2. Air Defense Weapons Coordinator 3. METRO 5. North Atlantic Treaty Organization 6. Carrier Intelligence Center 9. Data link reference point 11. Carrier Tactical Support Center 12. Fighter engagement zone 13. Sound Operations Plot 15. Combat System Training Team 18. Radio Detection and Ranging 20. Ship’s Signal Exploitation Space 23. Identification Friend or Foe 24. Ship’s Self-Defense System 25. Air Intercept Controller

Across

4. TDZ 6. Combat Direction Center 7. Joint engagement zone 8. Tactical Actions Officer 10. Sea Combat Air Controller 13. SUPPLOT 16. Automated Status Boards 17. Dead Reckoning Tracer 19. Voyage-Management System 21. Anti-Submarine Tactical Air Controller 22. EMCON 26. SAR

“Be not glad at the misfortune of another, though he may be your enemy.” ~ George Washington

NAVY NEWS MILLINGTON, Tennessee (NNS) -Marking its one-month anniversary Oct. 24, officials running the MyNavy Career Center (MNCC) Contact Center report the newly established tiered service delivery model is exceeding initial expectations for timeliness, accuracy and customer satisfaction.

Since Sept. 24, the MNCC Contact Center has processed more than 25,000 service requests with a daily average of nearly 850.

These requests for information or transaction support arrive via phone, direct email and through MyNavy Portal (MNP). This marks a dramatic increase in volume from service requests received by the NPC customer service center, which offered a limited amount of support relative to the MNCC. Nearly 90 percent of the queries the MNCC Contact Center received were resolved by agents during the initial contact phase, said Ann Stewart, director, Navy Personnel Command (NPC) Pay and Personnel Management. This exceeds the industry standard for call center first contact resolution.

“We are learning more everyday about the kinds of things with which Sailors need help,” Stewart said, “When a contact center agent doesn’t have the information available to answer a question on the spot, a service request is created and routed to a subject matter expert to resolve. This is where we are really learning – we will work to get more information to the contact center agents, so they can answer more questions immediately, and we are tracking the response times and following up to be sure subject matter experts are resolving requests in a timely manner.”

The top service requests over the first month included: verification of selection board package receipt, requests for documents from a service record, retirementrelated questions and support to the

Great First Month for MNCC Contact Center From Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

Rear Adm. Jeff Hughes, commander of Navy Personnel Command, addresses the staff of the MyNavy Career Center (MNCC) Contact Center during the MNCC opening ceremony. (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Matthew Riggs)

numerous hurricane/typhoon accountability musters.

“We’re working to get better every day – so Sailors can spend their time focusing on their mission and their families,” Stewart said.

“The MNCC Contact Center is not only meeting our initial performance expectations, but also identifying areas for additional Sailor-centric process improvement,” said Rear Adm. Jeff Hughes, commander, NPC. “Sailors deserve a modernized personnel system on par with the very top service providers in the commercial sector, and we are determined to deliver with the MNCC concept.”

“Data collected over our first month shows that we are meeting benchmarks for both the timeliness and accuracy of our responses and overall customer experience,” Hughes said, adding, “Given current technology, Sailors are more connected than ever before, and they expect this level of service. We encourage all who make contact with us to provide candid feedback as we continue to

evolve to better meet their needs.”

Opened Sept. 24, the MNCC represents an evolution in Navy pay and personnel services delivery by providing Sailors a tiered system of support available to them around the clock. Tier Zero is the Sailor’s self-service option through MNP, my.navy. mil. Tier One is communication with one of the MNCC Contact Center agents by phone or email. Finally, if a Sailor’s inquiry or transaction request cannot be handled by a customer service agent, they will be escalated to Tier Two, where a subject matter expert will take appropriate action and then maintain contact with the Sailor through issue resolution.

The MNCC Contact Center is open 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week to field questions and support transaction routing and processing from Sailors, retirees, civilians and family members. For questions regarding pay and personnel issues, reach out to the contact center at 1-833-330MNCC (6622), (901) 874-6622, DSN 8826622, or via email at askmncc@navy.mil.