The Washington Surveyor by USSGW

WASHINGTON SURVEYOR THE

SEPT. 8, 2017

By MCSN Oscar Albert Moreno Jr.

THEPEOPLEBEHIND

THESAILORS A STORY OF PERSONNEL

By MCSN Julie Vujevich

THISDAYINNAVYHISTORY THE BATTLE OF VIRGINIA CAPES

By MC2 Anna Van Nuys

BETTERBREAKFASTMONTH THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING A BREAKFAST ROUTINE

On the cover: (Sept. 7, 2017) PS3 Sherane Blackman reviews documents at her desk inside the Personnel office in the Maritime Building. (Photo by MCSN Oscar Albert Moreno Jr.)

PHOTO of the DAY

W(Aug. 31, 2017) Capt. Michael Bratley, center, and his family pose for a photo during his promotion ceremony. (Photo by MC3 Joshua DuFrane)

The Washington Surveyor Commanding Officer

Executive Officer

Command Master Chief

CAPT Glenn Jamison

CDR Colin Day

CMDCM James Tocorzic

Public Affairs Officer

Deputy PAO

Media DLCPO

Media LPO

LCDR Gregory L. Flores

LTJG Andrew Bertucci

MCC Mary Popejoy

MC1 Alan Gragg

Staff

Editor MC3 Alan Lewis

MC2 Alora Blosch MC2 Jessica Gomez MC2 Kris Lindstom MC2 Bryan Mai MC2 Anna Van Nuys

MC3 Devin Bowser MC3 Carter Denton MC3 Joshua DuFrane MC3 Jacob Goff MC3 Jamin Gordon

MC3 Shayla Hamilton MC3 Kashif Basharat MC3 Brian Sipe MCSN Oscar Moreno MCSN Marlan Sawyer

MCSN Julie Vujevich

The Washington Surveyor is an authorized publication for Sailors serving aboard USS George Washington

(CVN 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 (7726).

*For comments and concerns regarding The Washington Surveyor, email the editor at kashif.basharat@cvnit.navy.mil*

THEPEOPLEBEHINDTHESAILORS A STORY OF PERSONNEL By MCSN Oscar Albert Moreno Jr.

o matter what duty station a Sailor get assigned to, they are accompanied with endless paperwork and documents under their name. From Page 2’s to performance evaluations to even pay issues, the paper trail seems endless and without any sense of organization. Luckily, the Personnel department aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) is stacked with qualified Sailors, ready to take on any and all issues that may come their way. Personnel is split up to five different sections, with customer service being the hub of the department. Customer service is split up into two sections: Pay and Personnel. Pay handles pay benefits and issues, like flight deck pay and family separation allowance. Personnel handles re-enlistments and Page 2’s. “At customer service, we try to help Sailors with any questions that they may have,” said Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Shavaughn Hunter. “Sailors will always have questions, from pay issues and reenlistments, and it’s our job to eliminate most if not all uncertainties that Sailors may have.” The remaining three sections are separations/transfers, travel/receipts and the education service office. Separations and transfers deals with any end of service documents or transfers to other commands. Travel and receipts takes care of any travel situations and new checks-in, and the Education Service Office helps with any school questions, online or on campus, advancement exams and signing exam worksheets whether they take the test or not. During George Washington’s refuel-

(Sept. 07, 2017) ABH 1 Charles Paulino, left, getS clarification on a document by PS2 Malik Jalloh, (Photo by MCSN Oscar Albert Moreno Jr.)

ing and complex overhaul (RCOH) Personnel Department can be located in the Maritime Building in Newport News at 2600 Washington Ave. Suite 203. However, there is a duty Personnel office in Room 220 of the Floating Accommodation Facility (FAF) for any necessities that need to be taken care of while Sailors are on duty. PS’s use TOPS (transaction online processing system) to transfer all documents from the ship to the main building, allowing PS’s on duty to start on Sailors’ needs on the spot. “TOPS acts like a liaison from the ship to the main office and vice versa,” said Hunter. TOPS also is like an accountability log on our side of things. It keeps track when the document was created, where it was sent, when it was read and its current location. It eliminates the issue where paperwork is left at the bottom of the stack and deadlines start placing Sailors in a bind,” said Hunter. Both the junior Sailors and Khaki’s play an important role in the machine

known as Personnel Department, and that is to uphold the standard they have placed on themselves to do their best on a daily basis. “Personnel is an intricate process with lots of moving parts,” said Chief Personnel Specialist Bradley Mcanuff, Personnel Department leading chief petty officer. “Each and every one of those 12,000 transactions a month are done by our detailed-orientated Sailors. The aptitude test you take before you enter the military gauges a person to a job that fits a specific description. These Sailors want to be here and they want to help.” The Personnel Department works hard with excellence on their minds as they proceed to handle every transaction that comes their way with proper execution every time. For more information, contact your duty PS at room 220 on the FAF, or Personnel at (757) 534-1582 at the Maritime Building.

THISDAYINNAVYHISTORY THE BATTLE OF VIRGINIA CAPES By MCSN Julie Vujevich

t began in 1775 with “the shot heard ‘round the world,” and ended with the surrender of British General Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, marking the end of the Revolutionary War. Over ten years of strained relations between Britain and the colonies was followed by the initiation of open combat in April 1775 at Concord, thus beginning a war that lasted eight long years. Al-

though combat ceased in 1781 with the surrender of British forces at Yorktown, the war was not fully resolved until 1783 when the Treaty of Paris was signed, recognizing the sovereignty of the United States and formally concluding the war. Many of the battles of the Revolutionary War are so notable that they are remembered by name to this day. As children, Americans were taught about the battles of Lexington and

Concord, Bunker Hill, Fort Ticonderoga, Valley Forge and Trenton. Many are not often taught, however, the Siege of Yorktown may not have been such a key battle in the war if it hadn’t been for a naval battle which had happened over a month earlier. The Battle of the Chesapeake, or the Battle of the Virginia Capes, is one very few Americans have even heard about. Most likely due to the

Battle of the Virgnia Capes

1781

The French fleet was lead by Rear Admiral Francois Joseph Paul, the Comte de Grasse Information courtesy of C3i magazine

The surrender of Lord Cornwallis October 19, 1781 at Yorktown (Photo courtesy of Library Congress)

A French fleet successfully prevented the British fleet from entering Chesapeake Bay and relieving Major General Lord Cornwallis’ army at Yorktown, Virginia. After a siege by American and French forces, Cornwallis was forced to surrender on 19October 1781, an event that led the British to abandon their effort to prevent American independence. fact that no Americans took part in the battle. The battle took place between the French, whom were allied with the Americans, and British navies. On Sept. 5, 1781, a French f leet of 24 ships engaged a British f leet of nineteen ships in the Battle off the Virginia Capes. The battle lasted for several days with no decisive victory. The British f leet redirected their forces on Sept. 13, returning to New York to regroup and repair their damaged ships. The British naval blockade was effectively broken by the Battle of the Chesapeake. As a result, the French wound up in possession of the bay. The French were then able to supply the American land forces with heavy artillery, also denying the British in

Yorktown their resupply and escape route. Because British ships couldn’t come to their aid, the British had to abandon all hope of retreat, and instead were forced to surrender to General Washington and his colonial army. Cornwallis’ surrender happened less than two months after the Battle of the Chesapeake. While neither side won nor lost the battle, the French f leet succeeded in the prevention of the British f leet from relieving the besieged army of Cornwallis at Yorktown, leading to the eventual surrender of some 7,000 British troops to the combined American and French army. James A. Michener wrote in his fictionalized novel of the event, Chesapeake about the impact that the battle had on American history.

“This engagement was one of the decisive battles of history,” wrote Michener, “for when it was terminated, with the French line of battle still impregnable, the English had to withdraw, leaving the Chesapeake open to the French f leet. Rochambeau was now able to bring thousands of French soldiers south for the final thrust against Cornwallis; the iron blockade of the Atlantic ports was broken. “It became a battle without a name, a triumph without a celebration. It accomplished nothing but the freedom of America, the establishment of a new system of government against which all others would eventually compare themselves, and a revision of the theory of empire.”

BETTERBREAKFASTMONTH

THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING A BREAKFAST ROUTINE By MC2 Anna Van Nuys

s the end of summer draws near, children begin to finish their outdoor games and head back to school. Instead of relaxing on the beach under the warm sunlight, people are returning indoors to plan for the autumn festivities. Whatever the season has in store, September is here, and with it comes an unofficial holiday period; Better Breakfast Month. While it may seem daunting to whip up a creative and healthy breakfast every morning, especially on a military schedule, there are ways to cut down on preparation time. With all the benefits a healthy breakfast has to offer, dieticians across America, including the Physician’s Assistant aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), urge people not to skip out on breakfast, no matter what. “What I come to find is especially with a job like ours in the military that is fairly demanding is that by

completely skipping breakfast you are going to impair your ability to perform, both physically and mentally,” said Lt. Ruth Cortes, the ship’s physician assistant. “We’ve seen a lot of people come into medical because their sugar has been dropping or they are dehydrated and shaking.” Cortes said the most common complaint she would hear is that breakfast just isn’t convenient for many schedules, so she recommends planning ahead and preparing your meal the night before. At the very least, she said, is to grab an apple or banana, something to jump start your metabolism. “The people who don’t eat breakfast are typically complaining about their struggle with weight,” said Cortes. “They skip breakfast, binge out on lunch, and what that really is doing is stalling the metabolism. When you starve yourself, your body goes into a ‘survival’ mode and craves high calories and things with high sugar, things that are an instant relief for hunger.” Weight isn’t the only thing to consider when choosing whether or not to skip breakfast. According to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report, research suggests that those who don’t eat a regular breakfast are at an increased risk of becoming overweight and obesity. This can lead to an increased risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes,

both of which are among the leading causes of death in Americans. “Health is a huge issue in the United States,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Alejandro Lazo, a Sailor onboard George Washington, who is a Fitness Enhancement Pro-

gram (FEP) facilitator and CrossFit coach. “People want to say, ‘It’s not that bad,’ but it really is that bad. There are young kids even in elementary school developing type 2 diabetes. If we can impact those kids lives and impact their parents lives, you can do a lot. It all starts from the top. My son is going to do whatever I do, and so on and so forth. So, if I set a good example for my son, he might follow in my footsteps, and his son might do the same thing.” In an effort to help those who don’t

eat breakfast due to time constraints, Maxine Smith, RD, LD, a registered clinical dietitian who works in the Department of Nutrition Therapy at Cleveland Clinic, suggested spending time over the weekend to plan out your mornings. “Consider batch cooking on the weekend, particularly foods that take more time to cook,” said Smith. “You can then use them for a few days or freeze in individual portions. It takes some planning but frees up so much of your valuable time during the week. Frozen fruits and vegetables are healthy, non-perishable options.

There are some great frozen options for whole grains such as quinoa with roasted vegetables and brown rice. These shortcuts may help.” In addition to eating smart, Cortes wants Sailors to keep a watchful eye on their caffeine intake in the early morning. “One thing we really like to discourage is waking up and just consuming an energy drink, anything with only caffeine. If that’s a daily routine in the morning, the person doing that

develops this dependency on the caffeine and the drink itself is not enough to hold you out throughout the day. Ingesting too much caffeine causes poor concentration, irritability, and it ends up slowing the metabolism, because they have nothing in their body aside from the caffeine to sustain them throughout the morning time.” Cortes also addressed those who may not eat breakfast in the morning simply because they just aren’t that hungry. She warns that this may be due to a poor diet overall, not just a poor morning routine. “I think that some of the problem lays with people eating their dinners really late,” said Cortes. “What happens is that people wait to eat later at night and then they aren’t hungry at all in the morning when they wake up. But by the time it’s 9 or 10 in the morning they are famished and overindulge on lunch. If you eat [dinner] by 7 p.m., you aren’t going to have any acid reflux or indigestion by the time you are laying down and getting ready for bed. It’s better for your metabolism too because now you are letting your body properly metabolize things and it just keeps you on a good routine and good rhythm.” While breakfast is important year-round, the month of September is a time to reflect on diets and healthy eating and ways

to improve. “Focus on where your weaknesses are,” said Cortes. “If you don’t like fruit, explore and try to find something you do like. If you don’t already take a multi-vitamin, maybe consider adding that to your diet. As always, if there is something wrong, any Sailor always can come to medical for help.” In addition to the ship’s medical department on the Floating Accommodation Facility (FAF), Sailors can utilize the knowledge of their ship’s Fitboss, Nate Owen, as well as visit the site www.navyfitness.org.

RAISINGAWARENESS SUICIDEPREVENTIONMONTH By MC2 Alora Blosch

“It sometimes only takes one stranger to say hi to another, one person to have a genuine conversation, one person to show genuine concern for the other. When someone tells you that they are thinking about suicide, the best thing to do is listen.”

“I

t’s easier to run, replacing this pain with something numb. It’s so much easier to go than face this pain all alone… Sometimes I remember the darkness of my past, bringing back memories I wish I didn’t have. Sometimes I think of letting go and never looking back and never moving forward so there’d never be a past.” These are lyrics sang by Chester Bennington, the lead singer of Linkin Park, in the song ‘It’s easier to run’ on his album Meteora released in 2003. Bennington took his life July 2017 after years of dealing with depression. His suicide sparked a conversation throughout the nation about suicide and how it affects everyone even those who seem to have their life put together. His music focused on bringing awareness to depression and anxiety and letting his audience know that they weren’t alone in those feelings. September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. Raising awareness is one of the first steps toward combatting suicide because the more educated people become; the easier it is to recognize the risk factors and warning signs. “I think raising awareness is important because it sometimes falls on the way side,” said Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Katelynn Phillips, a member of the aircraft carrier USS George Wash-

- CS3 Katelynn Phillips

ington’s (CVN 73) suicide intervention team. “It’s something that can happen behind the scenes and goes unnoticed, but by raising awareness we keep reminding ourselves what to do and what to watch out for in the people around us.” According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States with approximately 44,193 people dying from it each year. Learning to recognize when someone is contemplating suicide can help decrease these numbers by intervening or preventing the act before it happens. “The warning signs can happen very quickly when someone is dealing with suicidal thoughts,” said Phillips. “A suicide attempt is a very thought out, planned process by the victim. Chances are the day they are planning to go through with it; something could happen that changes the course of their plan. Watch out for a rush to end conversations that get too personal, avoidance to answering questions when asking about problems or suicidal thoughts. Encourage them that it is something many people struggle with and that they are not alone. Most importantly, if you think someone is at risk of suicide DO NOT leave them alone.”

According to the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) course from Living Works, some warning signs of suicide are giving away cherished possessions, saying goodbye to loved ones, isolation, expressing feelings of hopelessness, and withdrawal. Risk factors differ from warning signs because it doesn’t mean someone is experiencing suicidal ideation or depression, just that they are at risk of experiencing those emotions. “Someone at risk of a suicide attempt can be very stressed out,” said Phillips. “Maybe they are going through a divorce, lost someone close to them, are dealing with financial stress or have been struggling with mental illness. These things can make someone feel like they aren’t getting anywhere in life and can’t catch a break or accomplishment.” When someone is dealing with suicidal ideation it becomes important to get treatment, but sometime it comes down to friends to push them to it. The tendency is to keep all of those heavy emotions inside so that they don’t burden others and sharing can make it all seem real instead of just that voice in their head. “Seeking out treatment is important because if you hold everything inside, it can build up and become worse,”

said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class John Stone, a behavioral health technician. “I like to think of it like a balloon. The more air that goes into that balloon, the more likely it is to pop. Once that balloon pops, that’s when people end up in trouble. They start making destructive decisions. That’s why going to get help is equivalent to letting some air out of that balloon.” The psychologist provides support for those Sailors who may feel the pressure beginning to build; however, Stone believes a good way to help with releasing some of that pressure is also through support networks and friendships. “Friends are a great resource to utilize,” said Stone. “They are someone you can talk to, someone to vent to, someone to utilize for support in your time of need. If everyone had a good chain of support, then there wouldn’t be a need for a psychologist because you would have everyone you need there to help you get through a problem.” It’s also important to recognize people’s mannerisms and behaviors because the first line of defense is the people who work with those struggling Sailors. Stone said the best way to help is to ask. “Intervention is easier than someone would think,” said Phillips. “It sometimes only takes one stranger to say hi to another, one person to have a genuine conversation, one person to show genuine concern for the other. When someone tells you that they are thinking about suicide, the best thing to do is listen. Do your best to not leave the person alone. Ask them about what is causing them to feel this way and find out what things can happen to change or help their situation, make a plan to keep them safe until you can get them to the help that they need.” The AFSP stated that with every suicide there are approximately 25 attempts. Suicide doesn’t only affect the person struggling. It also affects all the people that love the person too.

“A lot of things happen with those affected from suicide,” said Phillips. “On top of the grieving process there is a lot of blame and shame that we can experience. The loneliness, depression and guilt can cause a lot more pain than a death by natural causes like old age or cancer, because it could have been stopped if the right intervention had occurred.” Suicide is something that can be combatted it only takes being informed and knowing how to identify risk and warning signs. It can be a simple conversation where instead of saying of accepting “I’m good” as a response, people dig deeper and ask about how things are really going. Showing compassion and be-

ing a listening ear for someone to blow off steam or sort through their problems can have a major role in preventing suicide. Being informed on what to do when the signs are recognized also helps, because when the right channels are used people dealing with depression can get the help they need to overcome it and can help remove them from the corner they feel backed into. If you are dealing with depression, anxiety or suicidal ideation reach out to the ASIST team, ship’s psychologist, a chaplain or call the national suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. The command chaplain can be reached on the Floating Accommodation Facility (FAF) in room 321 or by phone at 757-534-0269.

NAVY NEWS

Florida Navy Bases Prepare for Irma From Navy Region Southeast Public Affairs

(Sept. 5, 2017) Sailors assigned to Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West port operations secure equipment from NAS Key West’s Mole Pier in preparation for evacuation from Hurricane Irma. Non-essential personnel and dependents at NAS Key West have received mandatory evacuation orders. Essential personnel will shelter in place, manning essential functions at the air station. (photo by Mc2 Cody R. Babin)

Navy installations throughout Florida are preparing for heavy weather as Hurricane Irma approaches South Florida. Commander, Navy Region Southeast, Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar, directed the evacuation of non-essential personnel and family members from Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, Sept. 5. “Their safety and security is a top priority,” Bolivar said. Approximately 50-60 mission essential personnel are remaining behind to maintain essential functions on the installation. Naval Air Station Key West personnel have a designated safe haven area of within 300 miles of Atlanta. Personnel and family members need to muster with the installation, their command or through the Navy Family Accountability and Assistance System (NFAAS) website upon arrival to the safe haven area. At the Atlantic Undersea Test and

Evaluation Center, 166 non-essential personnel and family members and 97 pets are being airlifted from the facility off the Florida coast. They will be headed to their designated safe haven. “Additionally,” Bolivar said, “I’ve directed that when mandatory orders are issued by competent civilian authorities in Florida counties that could be impacted by Hurricane Irma, non-essential active duty military, civilian employees, drilling reservists and authorized dependents residing in those counties are authorized to evacuate.” Personnel and family members who evacuate must be placed on evacuation orders issued by their parent command. For Navy Installations Command personnel and families, the safe haven is within 300 miles of Atlanta. For personnel and family members assigned to other commands, they should proceed to their command’s designated safe haven. Personnel and

families will be reimbursed for lodging and per diem at the approved rate for their designated safe haven. U.S. Fleet Forces, Navy Installations Command and Navy Region Southeast are providing support to the installations. Personnel and family members should check installation and Navy Region Southeast social media and websites and stay tuned to local radio and television stations for updates and additional information. “Please keep safety in mind when traveling to your safe haven,” Bolivar said. “The interstate highway and other roads will be congested with other Florida residents moving away from the storm. Be patient, follow the directions of local law enforcement officials and remember to muster when you reach safe haven.” All Navy personnel are encouraged to update emergency contact information through the NFAAS, which can be accessed at www.navyfamily.navy. mil, or through the NFAAS smartphone app available for both iOS or Android. If personnel need support, they can complete a needs assessment through the site or the app on their smartphone and a Navy counselor will make contact to provide assistance. Emergency Family Assistance Centers will open after storm passage. Personnel and family members are encouraged to check Facebook pages for their installation or Navy Region Southeast for the latest information and updates.

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- 9th Annual Opera in the Park Town Point Park - Neighborhood Expo TED Convocation Center - Magnolia Circle Dragon Boat Race Military Circle Mall Food Court - MacArthur Memorial 2nd Annual Film Festival - 2nd Annual Book Lovers Bash The Slover Library - Foodbank of Southern Virginia and Easter Shore Fundraiser - Diamond Aﬀair Charity Classic 101 W. Main St

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County Street Parking Garage - Old Town Antiques to Flea Market Corner of High and Courts Street - Olde Town Farmers’ Market (Every Sat.) Portside - Sunset Thursday at Portside: Hotcakes 400 High Street - Farm to Table Tastings Churchland High School - Portsmouth Community Convert: Paul McDermad - Sunset Thursday at Portside: BLOCK PARTY! Portside - Paradise Creek Nature Park Great Migration Bird Walk

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Symphony Under the Stars Chesapeake City Park Farmers Market (Wed. only) Chesapeake Health Department Dismal Swamp Trail Freedom Run Day of Remembrance Ceremony Chesapeake City Park Elizabeth River Park Rolling on the River Food Truck Movies and More Series: The Secret Life of Pets Family Fun Day Northwest River Park

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Neptune’s Annual Fall Wine Festival Virginia Beach Pet EXPO End of Summer Bash Sand Sculpting Championship Neptune Festival Firework Extravaganza

Neptune’s Park Convention Center Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club 4th -10th Street 16th-32nd Street 20th Street

Langley Speedway: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Campﬁre Fun and Wetlands Hayride NSandy Bottom Nature Park 7th Annual Buckroe Beach Arts in the Park Racing to Save the Bay Langley Speedway 92nd Annual Hampton Cup Regatta Mill Creek