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URVEYOR Vol. 21, Issue 10
May 17, 2021
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
Sailors assigned to deck department pose for a photo.
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MENTAL HEALTH: BREAKING THE STIGMA
CONTROLLING SHIP'S SAFETY
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month
Work control issues every danger tag on the ship.
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16
TAKING THE DECK INTO THEIR OWN HANDS
RESTORING SOME NORMALCY
AIMD takes control of their decks
Health protection conditions have returned to Bravo
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AROUND THE FLEET
Stennis departs Norfolk for Newport News Shipbuilding
ON THE COVER: Culinary Specialist Seaman Apprentice Iyanna Motley conducts CPR training. ON THE BACK COVER: A Sailor assigned to deck department stands at parade rest for a dress white inspection.
2 • The Washington Surveyor
W
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USS George Washington (CVN 73) Commanding Officer
May 17, 2021
Surveyor Magazine Command Master Chief
Executive Officer
Vol. 21, Issue 10
Editor-in-Chief Lt. Cmdr. Javan Rasnake
Copy Editors Lt. Chelsea Cannaday MCC Christina Shaw MC1 Stacy Atkinsricks
Capt. Michael Nordeen
Capt. Kenneth Strong
CMDCM Christopher Zeigler
MC2 Elizabeth Cohen
Media Team
Media Department
MC1 Patrick Grieco MC2 Marlan Sawyer
Public Affairs Officer
Deputy Public Affairs Officer
Lt. Cmdr. Javan Rasnake
Lt. Chelsea Cannaday
MC2 Anthony Hilkowski MC3 Tatyana Freeman MC3 Cory Daut
Departmental LCPO MCC Christina Shaw
Departmental LPO
MC3 Robert Stamer
MC1 Stacy Atkinsricks
MC3 Aislynn Heywood MC3 Leo Katsareas MCSN Jack Lepien
Media Department Requests PRINT REQUESTS
MCSN Preston Cash
PHOTO/VIDEO REQUESTS J-DIAL: 5617
E-MAIL CVN-73 Media Print Requests mediaprintrequests@cvn73.navy.mil
MCSN Dakota Nack MCSN Joseph Negusse MCSN Joshua Cabal MCSN Dyxan Williams MCSN Nicholas Russell
PHOTO STUDIO HOURS WED. - THU. MON. - TUE. 1230-1430 0900-1100 Located in 01-165-3-Q
A special thank you to all those who let us tell your stories to the crew and to the fleet. 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.
The Washington Surveyor • 3
SAILOR IN THE SPOTLIGHT
HOMETOWN:
MM3 Patrick Dizon
Las Vegas, Nevada
WHERE HE WORKS: Engineering Department
HOBBIES:
MM3's hobbies include powerlifting and working on cars. He says building and fixing cars helps him practice his engineering skills.
WHAT HE ENJOYS ABOUT HIS JOB:
MM3 loves to do maintenance on the #9 A/C plant. He enjoys the growth he has witnessed in the shop and on the ship since he has checked in aboard George Washington.
WHAT ‘SAILOR IN THE SPOTLIGHT’ MEANS TO HIM:
"I was shook. I never expected to be nominated," said Dizon. He says it makes him feel special and motivates him to keep working hard.
WHY HE WAS NOMINATED:
Cmdr. Woody, chief engineer, recognized Dizon as a driving force of auxiliaries division's air conditioning and refrigeration shop. His effort and positive attitude were critical in bringing equipment into use in the wardroom, chief's mess, and aft galley. 4 • The Washington Surveyor
GW’S NEWEST WARRIORS ESWS ETN2 Coley MMN2 Dirienzo ETN2 Easton AO2(AW) Reichert MM3 Belman OS3 Gomez MASN Byrne MASN Paulo
EAWS MAC Bohannon MAC Leveretttw MM2 Williams ABE3 Garza ABEAN Cairnes
ESWS
EAWS
EIWS
Coordinators
Coordinators
Coordinators
Deck Watch Coordinators
OSC Zachary Machnics MAC Thomas Bohannon
ACCS Matthew Cuppernoll AOC James Cooksey
CTMC Kathleen Chandler IT1 Thaddeus Wiedemeier
Cmdr. Steve Yargosz Lt. Cmdr. John Coughlin
M E N TA L H E A L T H : BREAKING THE STIGMA STORY & GRAPHIC BY: MCSN PRESTON CASH Staying healthy through exercise and a proper diet is an example of a common topic for discussion in the Navy. However, one topic that Sailors may feel hesitant to discuss is mental health. On top of being physically fit, Sailors aboard the Nimitzclass aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) must also be mindful of the importance of being mentally fit. In 1949, The United States designated the month of May as National Mental Health Awareness Month in order to help reduce the stigma and myths surrounding mental illness by bringing awareness and starting discussions about the topic. “Mental health is important in the Navy for resiliency factors,” said Lt. Cmdr. Dan Babskie, the ship’s psychologist assigned to medical department. “It helps with having resources as well as assisting with sustaining job performance.” Sailors may avoid going to medical for mental health reasons because they are worried about what might happen to their careers in the Navy. “The myth that if you see an active duty psychologist, you’re going to leave Navy service or you’re going to have a disruption in your job, is completely untrue,” said Babskie. “A very small few are impacted by leaving the Navy, having limited duty, or having a limited duty role.” The number of Sailors seeking help for their mental health has improved over the years. 6 • The Washington Surveyor
“I've heard previous rumours if you went to medical for mental health reasons, people would assume there was a problem with you, or [possibly with] your character,” said Babskie. “However, in the eight years I’ve been in the Navy, there has been a definite shift of wanting to seek care and
There has been a definite shift of wanting to seek care -Lt. Cmdr. Babskie leadership advocating to seek care.” Since checking in aboard George Washington in December of 2020, Babskie’s cases have increased 50 percent, which may indicate shifting attitudes toward seeking care. Sailors who are struggling may show signs indicating that something is wrong. “The signs of someone becoming over-stressed or having any complication is a reduction in their physical fitness, change in their diet, sleep disruption and disinterest in hobbies.” Personality changes are a good
indication that something might be wrong with a Sailor, as well. “Sometimes, you’ll have that one Sailor who is always happy and cracking jokes and then suddenly they’re not. That is something to look out for,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Travis Land, the behavior health technician aboard George Washington. Communication is a critical factor in breaking the stigma surrounding mental health. Land explained, “Whether it’s an E-1 talking to their divisional officer, or the divisional officers talking with their E-1s, just communicating with each other and knowing what the resources are can contribute to breaking the stigma.” Chaplains, deployed resiliency counselors, and the medical department are just a few resources Sailors can utilize while aboard George Washington. Military One Source, Fleet and Family, and the Suicide Prevention Hotline are also available 24/7 to all service members and their family members. Having mentally healthy Sailors is a vital element in having a mission-ready Navy. While it may be challenging, it is essential to talk about mental health to help break the stigma and to encourage our fellow Sailors to seek help if they need it.
The Washington Surveyor • 7
F
Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Clayton McDonald and Aviation Support Equipment Technician Airman Mark Tarin work together to paint the deck.
F "We built a deck team of our own to support the ship" - ATCS Minerly
TAKING THE DECK INTO THEIR OWN HANDS STORY AND PHOTOS BY MC3 AISLYNN HEYWOOD When it comes to overhauling a ship, one of the most important tasks for each department is to ‘close out’ their spaces. In order to close out a space, the department has to repaint the bulkheads, lay new decks, install power, and ensure the space functions the way it needs to. Some departments aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) only own a couple of spaces, while others have hundreds. Aircraft intermediate maintenance department (AIMD), for example, is responsible for 169 spaces throughout the ship. Each space has gone through extensive renovations and must pass inspections to make sure it is completed properly so the crew can work and live comfortably. AIMD is coming close to preparedness for crew moveaboard, complete crew moveaboard, and topside construction completion, and is currently working on self-sufficiency by doing their own deck work in order to remain ahead of schedule. “What we did in AIMD was build a deck team of our own to support the ship’s [refueling complex overhaul] mission,” said Aviation Electronics Technician Senior Chief Brian Minerly, the AIMD administrative leading chief petty officer. “Considering the air department and contractors handle all the deck work for all spaces aboard, we knew we wanted to get our Sailors trained up so we could speed up getting 10 • The Washington Surveyor
our spaces completed.” Leadership from AIMD handpicked Aviation Support Equipment Technician 2nd Class Altair Billups, the AIMD leading petty officer, to select other Sailors from the department to become part of the new deck team. After Billups put the team together, the Sailors were temporarily assigned duty (TAD)
off-ship to a civilian contracting course to get training on the proper way to apply a non-skid coating on the decks. Once the team learned the techniques to work on the decks, the AIMD deck team learned from the primary deck team onboard George Washington for four weeks to get hands-on experience. With their new knowledge of deck laying,
Aviation Maintenence Administration Technician 3rd Class Miles Harps mixes the paint needed to prepare the decks.
Sailors assigned to aircraft intermedieate maintenence department (AIMD) pose for a photo.
their preparation for installation accounted for over 400 manhours of jackhammering, needlegunning and deck-crawling to break down the old decks. “Doing this type of work outside our rates is extremely tough, but coming in every day and working with such positive, motivated Sailors gives the team a major moral boost,” said Aviation Support Equipment Technician 3rd Class Anthony Babcock, a Sailor on the AIMD deck team. “What helps our team be successful is the communication and camaraderie the team has established with each other.” AIMD’s deck team was able to work on and complete over 23 spaces, encompassing approximately 43,000 square feet throughout the ship, in less than five months. They estimate saving
Coming in every day and working with such positive, motivated Sailors gives the team a major moral boost. - AS3 Anthony Babcock
want to put in the hard work,” said Lt. Cmdr. Dwight Coons, the AIMD division officer aboard George Washington. “The team showed up every day with smiles on their faces, and Billups made it so that they enjoyed what they were doing.” The AIMD deck team will continue to work together until all of their spaces are restored and completed. A well-deserved Bravo Zulu to the team for doing their part to build the ship.
George Washington countless working hours and $11.7 million by taking the decks into their own hands. “[Aviation Support Equipment Technician 2nd Class] Billups took this small group of Sailors, kept them motivated and made them The Washington Surveyor • 11
CONTROLLING
SHIP'S SAFETY
STORY AND PHOTOS BY MCSN JOSHUA CABAL
Building a ship is a massive effort involving many parts and requires an astronomical amount of planning and organization. One responsibility is making sure the equipment and systems used on a daily basis are safe for operation. That is where work control, a division of engineering department, comes in. Work control aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) has been working tirelessly to enforce quality maintenance and electrical tag-out procedures to ensure safety for the Sailors and contractors aboard. “The ship does not move without work control,” said Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Jason Hightower, assigned to work control. “A lot of the work on the ship goes through work control. We handle all of the tagout procedures.” Work control plays a big part in the crew move-aboard process, which is a huge step in the ship’s progress towards becoming operational. Crew move-aboard requires the basic ship functions to be working such as the berthing, bathrooms, galley and other necessities. “Our biggest push right now is crew move aboard,” said Electronics Technician 1st Class Donald Bennett, also assigned to work control. “We have to make sure all the lights work in the berthings, and that all the 12 • The Washington Surveyor
sinks and everything like that work. We want to bring the crew aboard sooner rather than later.”
The ship does not move without work control. -EM3 Jason Hightower While assigned to work control, there is a unique set of challenges. Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuels) 3rd Class Regino Sosa second checks a tagout.
“The most difficult thing about work control is the physical aspect, like walking around the ship and hanging the [danger] tags,” said Hightower. Work control is essential to shipbuilding, and it takes a large amount of team coordination and manpower to keep up with work orders and tag-outs. “You can thank all these junior personnel that go out and hang the tags and second check the tags,” said Bennett. “They are the ones that make work control work the way it does. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be able to get the production aspect of the ship, and coming out of [refueling and complex overhaul], done.” Performing their duties in
Electronics Technician 1st Class Donald Bennet looks over a work authorization form.
“I feel like I keep everyone safe,” said Hightower. “I make sure, for example, that if someone is going to be working on an aircraft elevator, the valves that transport refrigerant are shut and stay closed with a danger tag.” The responsibility that comes with ensuring ship safety must always be paramount. “I have seen too many accidents in the past where people don’t do their job right and people get hurt,” said Bennett. “I take it as a personal priority to make sure that doesn’t happen while we are here.” Work control ensures safety for George Washington Sailors and works toward building a ship to be proud of. -ET1 Donald Bennett “I like the work that I see taking place on the ship,” said Hightower. “When I get on that quarterdeck and work control can be fulfilling for the Sailors who salute the ensign, I feel like a reborn Sailor every time. perform the tag-outs. They can see the work they do, It’s a pleasure to work on the [George Washington] and and how it contributes to building the ship and to it is an honor to work in work control.” keeping Sailors safe.
I've seen too many accidents in the past where people don't do their job right and people get hurt
The Washington Surveyor • 13
DRESS WHITE INSPECTION Spring and summer means lighter colors for the Navy. Sailors assigned to deck department's dress whites are inspected.
PHOTOS BY MCSN DAKOTA NACK
RESTORING
SOME NORMALCY
STORY BY MCSN DAKOTA NACK, GRAPHIC BY GEORGE WASHINGTON MEDIA
Sailors assigned to the opportunity to resume some of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier their favorite activities. USS George Washington (CVN “I am excited to take my 73) have endured a lot over the kid to events and showcase last year due to the COVID-19 the world outside of our pandemic. The impact of the home and outside of COVID,” pandemic has affected all Sailors said Mendoza. “I want my in various aspects of everyday kid to see how important life. Being able to enjoy the little human interaction is to the things, such as going out to eat development of our mental and going to a salon, has been health and our physical health.” restricted Machinist’s due to the Mate Fireman Health Hailey Bartel, Protection assigned to Condition the ship’s (HPCON) supply Charlie department , guidelines says that Sailors she’s relieved have been to be back -Lt Cmdr. Danilo Mendoza in HPCON governed by. Bravo. However, Commander, Navy “I am incredibly happy to Region Mid-Atlantic recently be able to go out and do my declared that area installations favorite activities,” said Bartel. could return to HPCON Bravo. “I really enjoy being outside, According to Navy Region embracing the nature and Mid-Atlantic, authorized wilderness. I am just so excited activities under HPCON Bravo to be able to actually go outside include dining at restaurants without being worried that I am and visiting parks, beaches, and violating any guidelines. It takes movie theaters. Sailors also have a lot of weight off my shoulders permission to utilize off-base and I would say it’s an amazing barber shops, beauty salons, release.” and overnight stays in off-base Even though George hotels. Washington is now in HPCON Lt. Cmdr. Danilo Mendoza, Bravo, it does not mean Sailors the ship’s nurse, says that can neglect safety precautions the shift back to HPCON concerning COVID-19. The Bravo is a step in a positive pandemic is still ongoing and it is direction. Sailors aboard George important to still be mindful of Washington now have the social distancing, mask wearing,
I am excited to take my kid to events and showcase the world outside of our home
16 • The Washington Surveyor
and other health protection measures. “I believe we should still continue our mask wearing in social events, [ensure] frequent hand washing, and limit exposure to others to our best ability,” said Mendoza. “When going to events, it is essential to assess possible risks and use operational risk management to our advantage, so we can continue our contribution to building a combat ready ship.” There is no question that the move back to HPCON Bravo is something to be excited over. However, it must be emphasized that there are still positive cases arising. COVID-19 has not gone away, which means any sort of outbreak could regress the HPCON status back to Charlie. “When you are out and about in public, please just wear your mask,” said Bartel. “I know it is not the most fun thing to do, but I want us to actually go back to living a normal life. I am scared to get my hopes up because it only takes a few individuals to not be mindful of their surroundings and it could put us back [in HPCON C].”
BE SAFE. BE SMART. BE HEALTHY. THE AUTHORIZED TRAVEL RADIUS HAS RETURNED
TO 250 MILES FROM THE SHIP, PLUS THE ENTIRE STATE OF VIRGINIA. HAMPTON ROADS NAVY INSTALLATIONS IS BACK IN
HPCON BRAVO.
SAILORS MUST PRACTICE STRICT HYGIENE AND SOCIAL DISTANCING. AVOID NON-ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES AND GROUPS OF MORE THAN 10 PEOPLE. SAILORS ARE AUTHORIZED TRAVEL TO/FROM PLACE OF RESIDENCE/WORK, AND TO MAKE STOPS FOR ESSENTIAL BUSINESS ONLY. *Sailors MUST comply with social distancing and protective health measures at all times* The Washington Surveyor • 17
N ANEWS VY
NORFOLK,Va. – The aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) departed Naval Station Norfolk and transited to Newport News Shipyard May 6, to begin its nearly 4-year Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH) maintenance period. The overhaul of the ship from the keel up is a massive combined effort between the ship’s crew, Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) and other contractors. Their collective work will prepare the ship for the second half of its 50 year service life. “We cannot accomplish this mission without the partnership we’ve established over the last year with NNS,” said Capt. Cassidy Norman, commanding officer of the John C. Stennis. “RCOH is critical to the future operation of the ship and takes tremendous planning and teamwork to get to the finish line.” RCOH accounts for approximately 35 percent of all depot-level maintenance in the ship’s life. This maintenance period was created to recapitalize the nation’s aircraft carriers and quickly get them back in the fight. RCOH extends the life of one of the nation’s most strategically critical national assets. At the 25-year mark in a carrier’s life it will typically go through RCOH. This process
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USS JOHN C. STENNIS DEPARTED NORFOLK FOR NEWPORT NEWS TO BEGIN RCOH From USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Public Affairs.
involves years of continuous planning and assessments, disassembly and replacement of surfaces and structures, and replacement of, or repairs to, complex machinery and systems. Essentially, the ship is gutted, rebuilt, and modernized. In preparation for RCOH the ship went through a maintenance process called “Smart Start,” in which temporary services and systems were installed throughout the ship, decking and catapult equipment was removed, painting, lagging and tile sampling was done, and refueling preparations were made. A component of Smart Start also included the Shipboard Consolidated Offload and Outfitting Plan (SCOOP). During SCOOP the crew and contractors worked together to remove equipment, tools, devices and almost everything not built into the ship, and placed it into storage. While in Newport News, the ship will accomplish major key events including propulsion plant repairs, shore steaming, cold operations, hot operations, and power range testing. This work will prepare the ship to conduct a total ship test program, followed by “fast cruise,” sea trials, and finally it will be ready to carry out operations at sea. "For the last three years, we have planned
each step of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis' RCOH, including procuring long lead-time materials, conducting shipboard inspections and readying our facilities for this extensive engineering and construction project," said Todd West, Newport News' vice president, in-service aircraft carrier programs. "We look forward to continuing our work with the ship's crew and our 579 vendors across 36 states that provide material and services which brings stability of this industrial base and is critical to our ability to continue to build and maintain the Navy fleet our Navy and nation needs." Stennis will be the seventh Nimitz-class aircraft carrier to undergo an RCOH. She will be dry-docked at NNS, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, for an approximate, 48-month maintenance period. The completion of RCOH will ensure the enduring mission of USS John C. Stennis to precisely project U.S. national power, in all domains, in peacetime and in war, anywhere in the world. For more news on John C. Stennis, visit https://www.airpac.navy.mil/Organization/USSJohn-C-Stennis-CVN-74 or follow along on Facebook at www.facebook.com/stennis74.
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Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuels) 3rd Class Regino Sosa second checks a tagout.