The Washington Surveyor

WASHINGTON SURVEYOR THE

Aug. 18, 2017

By MC3 Brian Sipe

FIRSTONTHESCENE GW IET PREPARES THROUGH DRILLS

By MC3 Joshua DuFrane

WHOAREYOU? THROUGH THE EYES OF AN OPTOMETRIST

By MC3 Jamin Gordon

GONEFISHING THE FAMILY THAT FISHES TOGETHER, STICKS TOGETHER

On the cover: AOC Jose Paz poses for a photo on his boat as he fishes . (Photo courtesy of MeMe Paz)

PHOTO of the DAY

(Aug. 17, 2017) AG2 Edward Ooms helps clean the Norfolk Zoo during a community relations project .(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

Editors MC3 Kashif Basharat

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 Alan Lewis MC3 Brian Sipe MCSN Oscar Moreno MCSN Marlan Sawyer

MCSA 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*

I E T A

FIRST ON THE SCENE

By MC3 Brian Sipe

n aircraft carrier at sea is a dangerous environment, with an emergency being only one mistake away. When a ship is in-port or in the shipyard, this threat does not go away.

To respond to these threats, Sailors must always be trained to effectively handle any emergency situation. Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) have daily training in the form of in-port emergency team (IET) drills.

IET drills put Sailors into simulated emergencies such as fire, flooding, toxic gas leaks and many other possible emergency scenarios to ensure they can be combatted quickly and effectively.

“Our purpose is to combat any and all casualties that happen while the

ship is in-port,” said Damage Controlman 2nd Class Daniel Sawyer, a duty fire marshal. “We’re the first line of defense when everyone goes home for the day, so it’s important that we stay ready to fight any casualty that can happen.”

Sailors are trained the same in the shipyard as they are out to sea on how to deal with anything from a small fire to a crack in the ship’s hull.

“We protect the ship from all sorts of fires, toxic gases and flooding,” said Damage Controlman 3rd Class Kevin Peters, a member of IET. “Everyone takes the roles that they have very seriously and are ready to respond if the bells start ringing.”

Each of the ten duty sections are trained every duty day on how to combat casualties through different sce-

narios. This training becomes especially important because of the higher risk issues arising.

“With us being dry docked, the threat of a fire or any other kind of emergency has sky rocketed,” said Sawyer.

“That puts a lot of responsibility on us to stay trained and to keep everyone knowledgeable on how to handle situations for when, not if, they happen.”

With all the hot-work happening around the ship, fires are an ever-present threat the ship faces. Now more than ever, Sailors have to be ready to go at a moment’s notice to save the ship.

George Washington is currently dry-docked at Newport News Shipyard, slated for a 48-month refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) maintenance period.

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THROUGH THE EYES OF AN OPTOMETRIST

By MC3 Joshua DuFrane

Above: HM Dzmitry Astabchyk consults with a patient. (Photo by MC3 Joshua DuFrane)

ospitalman Dzmitry Astabchyk was born in Vysokoye, Belarus in 1995. At the age of eight, Astabchyk moved to America with his family in 2002. He came to America only knowing how to say “hello”, “goodbye” and counting the numbers one through ten.

“It was difficult for me to adapt because of the language barrier,” said Astabchyk. “The only thing I was good at was math because math is universal, but

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Above: HM Dzmitry Astabchyk inspects a patient’s eye during a routine eye exam. (Photo by MC3 Joshua DuFrane)

as I started to learn the English language everything became easier for me.”

After completing high school, Astabchyk wanted to join the military to start his career. While at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS), Astabchyk had two rates to choose from; to be a machinist’s mate or corpsman.

“The people at MEPS gave me a rundown of what a machinist mate does and what a corpsman does,” said Astabchyk.

“I thought to myself that the medical field

would suit me a lot better than being a machinist’s mate, so ‘I’ll go with that.’”

After finishing “A” school, Astabchyk scored very high in his class, and was given the opportunity to pick which follow-on “C” school he wanted to attend.

“My mom is an optician as a civilian,” said Astabchyk. “So I had a good idea what I was getting myself into. On my dream sheet, I put optician for my “C” school, and I knew I was going to get it because no one else wanted it. I complet-

Above: HM Dzmitry Astabchyk poses for a photo in his work area. (Photo by MC3 Joshua DuFrane)

“It’s really rewarding to know that you know how to handle the situation and possibly save a life or stop the bleeding or stop the disease from spreading.”

- Dzmitry Astabchyk

ed my training in Virginia and now here I am, at the USS George Washington.”

As the ship’s optician, Astabchyk makes eye glasses, performs acute eye care and eye exams.

“I enjoy having a patient come in, diagnosing their problem and never seeing them again. Knowing that I was able to fix my patients problems makes this job worth it for me,” said Astabchyk.

Astabchyk’s work and motivation affects not only his pa-

tients, but his co-workers as well.

“Astabchyk is a very hard working corpsman,” said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class John Stone. “He always helps out anyone who needs assistance. Astabchyk is one of the most well-rounded, knowledgeable corpsman I work with, and he is my go-to guy if I ever need anything.”

Astabchyk has been in the Navy serving as a corpsman for more than a year, and enjoys the challeng-

es and surprises each day brings.

“Being a corpsman you see some really interesting things,” said Astabchyk. “Sometimes you won’t expect it. One day you just show up to work, doing your daily business, and before you know it you have someone come in with a serious injury. It’s really rewarding to know that you know how to handle the situation and possibly save a life or stop the bleeding or stop the disease from spreading.”

GONEFISHING

THE FAMILY THAT FISHES TOGETHER, STICKS TOGETHER

By MC3 Jamin Gordon

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uthor and newspaper columnist John Sinor once said “It is admirable for a man to take his son fishing, but there is a special place in heaven for the father who takes his daughter shopping.” In many cases, people think of fishing as a fun activity between father and son. Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Jose Paz, an avid fisherman and father of four daughters, breaks that stereotype by taking time with each of his girls to teach them the ins and outs of fishing.

“I don’t have any sons,” said Paz. “I don’t regret it though. I raise my daughters to understand that they can do anything.”

Knowing they can do anything gives them the confidence they need to fish successfully.

“I was out fishing with my seven year old one day, and she thought she had a pretty large fish,” said Paz. “I told her she probably just got a tire or something stuck on her hook. She was so confident that it was a big fish, so I helped steady

her so she wouldn’t fall in the water.

Sure enough she reeled in a bass.”

The Paz girls aren’t only confident in their beliefs on the water, but also in day-to-day life.

“There was a time when an older boy was bullying one of the girls,” said Paz. “The oldest sister didn’t like knowing that her little sister was having a rough time. In true big sister fashion, the oldest took matters into her own hands and defended her sibling when she caught wind of another incident between the boy and her younger sister.”

Just as Paz teaches his daughters to protect each other, he also teaches them to be kind to animals.

“We don’t catch fish just to kill them,” said Paz. “If we catch a smaller fish I make sure that we take it off the hook and carefully release it back into the water.”

Thanks to people like Paz who care about the environment, Hampton Roads has plenty of viable places to enjoy a good day of fishing. Jon Kurowski, an

employee at Wilcox Bait and Tackle, recommends a few.

“There’s really no wrong choice in venue when it comes to fishing in Hampton Roads,” said Kurowski.

“Places like Ocean View fishing pier, James River Bridge fishing pier, Buckroe Beach fishing pier and 16th street fishing pier are just a few.”

After being stationed in a particular area for a lengthy period like Paz, a person is bound to find their own favorite spots for fishing.

“For me where I want to fish depends on the time of year,” said Paz. “In the summer months I fish in Prince Lake, Western Branch Lake and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel area. In the winter months I fish in Rudee Inlet and Lynnhaven Inlet for saltwater fish.”

As with any hobby or sport involving nature, there are rules and regulations that must be followed. When it comes to fishing, laws may vary by location and water type.

“In most cases you will need a salt

“I don’t have any sons. I don’t regret it though. I raise my daughters to understand that they can do anything.”

-AOC Jose Paz

water or fresh water fishing license,” said Kurowski. “People can obtain a license digitally on their cell phone or a paper version by coming into our store. It is important to double check guidelines online because some piers don’t require a license at all, while others may have additional requirements.”

Fishing can include technicalities on the regulations side as well as the physical side. During fishing adventures with his daughters, Paz ensures they understand both.

For more information on fishing and fishing laws in Virginia, visit www. dgif.virginia.gov.

Photos courtesy of MeMe Paz

A

PTSD A BRIEF OVERVIEW

ccording to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), about 6 of every 10 men (or 60%) and 5 of every 10 women (or 50%) experience at least one trauma in their lives. The traumas can range anywhere from being in a major motor vehicle accident, seeing someone pass away violently, rape, or in the case of some service members, being exposed to combat.

Most of the times when exposed to those kinds of conditions people will have certain sets of symptoms such as depression, angry outbursts, headaches and insomnia. However, when the symptoms persist for months up to years, they can be classified as someone having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“People with PTSD also tend to experience symptoms like nightmares or flashbacks,” said Cmdr. Kenneth Sausen, the psychologist aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). “For example, when a Sailor with PTSD experiences a flashback episode, they are not seeing their shipmates, they are not seeing the airplanes in the hangar bay, and they are not seeing fire bottles. They are just reliving their trauma in their head. Other people with PTSD might become more vigilant of their environments, become anxious around large crowds or just avoid certain triggers that remind them of their trauma.”

To be diagnosed with PTSD, psychiatrists usually test their patients in a clinical setting through interviews. During the interview, the psy-

chiatrist will look for four symptom clusters from their patients.

“The first symptom to be aware of is how much they are re-experiencing their trauma,” said Sausen. “Are they having nightmares or flashbacks?

Next symptom is altered cognition.

This is how their view of the world has changed because of the trauma and how safe they feel. Third, we try to sense how hyper vigilant they are.

For example, if you unexpectedly tap someone on their shoulder while they are not facing you, they might jump a little. But someone with PTSD will have a strong emotional response to it. The last of the four symptom cluster is avoidance. This is how much of an effort they are exerting to avoid things that remind them of their trauma.”

One of the more prominent causes of PTSD is exposure to life threatening combat zones. According to the National Center of PTSD, 93-97% of Soldiers and Marines in Iraq from 2003 combat theatre reported being shot at and seeing dead bodies as major stressors which they attribute to as causing them mental health issues.

Other stressors that may cause mental health issues for service members include long deployments, lower rank and being apart from family members “Anyone can experience PTSD,” said Beth Williams, the deployment resilience counselor aboard George Washington. “There might be some qualities that make you more prone to it and experience the symptoms. If a Sailor has PTSD and is untreated, it

By MC3 Kashif Basharat

can cause havoc on their well-being.

Underway we are constantly busy and not finding time to relax and decompress might amplify their symptoms.

My suggestion is if you see someone who looks like they might be going through a tough time, talk with them and encourage them to seek help.”

Treatment options for PTSD include medication and talk therapy.

According to PTSD.va.gov, although both help and might be needed, talk therapy has shown to have more noticeable changes in symptoms for the patients. The talk therapy options usually last anywhere from 8-15 sessions and includes cognitive therapy, prolonged exposure and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, which is when the subject focuses on hand movements while thinking about their trauma and changing their reactions to it.

According to the National Center of PTSD, one million troops left active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan and became eligible for care with the VA. However, only 46% of those troops came in for help and nearly half of those were diagnosed with a health problem. Most service members never came in due to concerns about privacy, being seen as weak, did not believe the treatment would be effective or had concerns about the side effects of the treatment.

For more information on PTSD and treatment options, contact either Cmdr. Sausen, psychology officer, or Williams on the floating accommodation facility (FAF), or visit PTSD. va.gov.

PTSD Treatment Works There are more options than ever for successful PTSD treatment

What are my treatment options?

MEDICATION OPTIONS

TALK THERAPY OPTIONS

DURATION: Continuous

DURATION: Usually 8-15 sessions with long-lasting effects

Antidepressant Medications

Cognitive Processing Therapy

Prolonged Exposure

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

HOW IT WORKS

HOW IT WORKS

HOW IT WORKS

HOW IT WORKS

Treats sadness, anger, and numb feelings that contribute to your PTSD symptoms.

You learn balanced ways to think about your trauma.

You talk about your trauma and approach the situations you’ve been avoiding.

You focus on hand movements while thinking about your trauma and change your reactions to it.

How effective are these treatments?

Both medication and talk therapy can help to treat your symptoms. Your customized treatment plan may include one or more of these options.

TREATMENT EFFECTS ON PTSD SYMPTOMS

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What do the numbers mean?

The greater the effect size, the more noticeable a change in symptoms.

Next steps? Talk to your health care provider.

Which treatments are right for me?

How soon will I start to feel better?

How long will I need treatment?

When can I start?

For more information about PTSD treatment options, visit www.PTSD.va.gov August 2015 |

SOURCE Watts, B. V., Schnurr, P. P., Mayo, L., Young-Zu, Y., Weeks, B. B., & Friedman, M. J. (2013). Meta-analysis of the efficacy of treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 74(6), pp. e541-50.

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NAVY NEWS

Navy Sails Into The Pine Tree State For Portland Navy Week

By Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach, Public Affairs

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- “Forest City”

woman Mayor of South Portland from 1985 to

Mathematics (STEM) event with students at the

will host the world’s greatest Navy during Port-

1986. My stepfather, Birger Johnson, was elect-

Portland Science Center on August 24.

land Navy Week August 21 through 27 with a

ed to the Maine State House of Representatives

“Portland Navy Week will be the perfect occa-

weeklong series of community and outreach

for South Portland in the 117th Legislature from

sion to show the people of Portland what the Navy

events.

1994 to 1996. My father, Richard Whitney, was

EOD community is all about,” said Lt. Kristi Fon-

The Blue Angels will conduct an aerial show at

in the U.S. Naval Reserves and served onboard

tenot, public affairs officer of explosive ordnance

former Naval Air Station Brunswick that week-

the USS TILLS and lived in the Greater Portland

disposal group 2. “This is a great opportunity to

end on August 26 through 27.

Area for 40 years. My paternal grandfather, Per-

interact with the community, especially the chil-

Portland Navy Week is designed to give area

ley Whitney, was a ship welder and foreman at the

dren, and show them the equipment we use on a

residents an opportunity to learn about the Navy,

South Portland Shipbuilding, Corp. during World

daily basis here and abroad.”

its people, and its importance to national security

War II; he subsequently became a lobsterman in

and prosperity.

Cape Porpoise.”

“The EOD team will be interacting with Portland’s kids while at the Portland Science Center,

“This is our first time coming to Portland and

Historically, Navy Week events draw thousands

Boys and Girls Club and Camp Sunshine and will

conducting a Navy Week,” said Mr. Gary Ross,

of attendees to participate and create a dialogue

participate in a STEM day with the Boy Scouts,”

lead planner for Portland Navy Week. “The ex-

between sailors and local residents. The events

she added. “The team will also conduct a training

citement level is building with the people

exercise with the Portland Police Depart-

of Portland, and it’s going to be a great

ment to strengthen our partnership and

week to showcase what America’s Navy

interoperability.”

does on a daily basis.”

Navy Band Northeast is scheduled to

Rear Adm. Mark R. Whitney, director

participate in parades and perform on

of fleet maintenance, U.S. fleet forces

several stages within Portland. They will

command, will meet with corporate, civic

hold a pre-game concert at the Portland

and government leaders throughout the

Sea Dogs baseball game on August 25.

week, including Portland Mayor Ethan K. Strimling.

“Having a Fleet Week in Portland is important to me because it is an opportunity to continue building on communications,

“Navy Band Northeast is excited and (April 22, 2017) The U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, perform at the 2017 New Orleans Air Show at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans. (Photo by MC2 Edward Guttierrez III)

understanding, and relationships between

proud to participate in Navy Week Portland,” said Lt. Joel Borrelli-Boudreau, director of navy band northeast. “This is a great opportunity for our Sailors to perform for the local community, instill

the area and the Navy,” said Whitney. “The com-

are designed to raise awareness about the Navy

patriotism and build new relationships. We have a

mon bond between us has been and will always

in areas that do not have a large naval presence.

variety of outstanding musical groups which will

be our connection to the sea. The naval history

“We’re honored to have been chosen to host a

present free concerts during the week. Audiences

with Maine goes way back to the first battle of the

Navy Week celebration this year,” said Portland

young and old will be entertained; there’s some-

Revolutionary War. The connection with Portland

Mayor, Ethan K. Strimling. “As a coastal city

thing for everyone.”

is also significant in particular with the support

with a rich history for its working waterfront,

Also, Sailors from USS Constitution and Navy

provided to the Navy during World War I and

Portlanders have a real affinity for the sea and the

Recruiting District New England will attend and

World War II.”

jobs that it provides. I’m delighted that residents

participate in several community outreach events,

will have this opportunity to learn more about

including visits to local schools and Boys and

the Navy, its history, and the work that Sailors do

Girls clubs. They will also contribute to a Habitat

across the world.”

for Humanity build.

Whitney has personal ties to the city of Portland.

“I was born in 1961 and lived in South Portland from 1964 to 1984, essentially my entire

Sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal

Portland Navy Week is 1 of only 15 Navy weeks

life until joining the Navy after graduation from

Group 2 will participate in events throughout the

in 2017 that focus a variety of assets, equipment

Maine Maritime Academy,” said Whitney. “My

week, including speaking engagements at local

and personnel on a single city for a weeklong se-

mother, Linda Johnson, was a resident of South

schools and Boys and Girls Clubs. They will also

ries of engagements designed to bring America’s

Portland for over 50 years and served as the first

conduct a Science, Technology, Engineering and

Navy closer to the people it protects.

CVN

HEALTH/WELLNESS

Would your grilled chicken kabob at a summer barbeque taste as good without onions and peppers? Doesn’t bland cereal improve when you top it with bananas and blueberries? Eating fruits and vegetables is not only delicious, but also important for any healthy diet. In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages us to make half of our plate fruits and vegetables at every meal.1 The benefits of eating fruits and vegetables include disease prevention, weight loss, and workout recovery.2 When deciding which fruits and vegetables to choose, the best option is to “eat the rainbow” – different colored fruits and vegetables contain different vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that boost various functions in the body. To make sure you are getting the maximum nutritional benefits out of your food, try to have at least three colors at every meal.3 Reference the infographic below to see how each color benefits your body.3-8

RED

Key nutrients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, anthocyanin, carotenoid, lycopene, terpene

Supports heart health and improves blood flow

ORANGE

Protects the skin and supports the respiratory, digestive, and immune systems

YELLOW

Key nutrients: Vitamin Try: Apricot, nectarine, A, vitamin C, magnesium, cantaloupe, carrot, potassium, carotenoid, papaya polyphenol, terpene Key nutrients: Try: Yellow pepper, Vitamin A, vitamin C, squash, sweet corn, polyphenol pineapple

Optimizes brain function and maintains healthy skin

WHITE Enhances the recovery of the immune and lymph systems

GREEN

Key nutrients: Vitamin C, potassium, sulfide

Try: Banana, garlic, ginger, mushroom, onion

Key nutrients: Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, folate, potassium, carotenoid, sulfide, terpene

Restores muscles and bones, and fights cancer

PURPLE

Try: Cherry, cranberry, strawberry, red onion, tomato

Promotes circulation and fights life threatening diseases such as cancer and heart disease

Key nutrients: Vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, polyphenol

Try: Spinach, avocado, broccoli, leafy greens, kiwi

Try: Blackberry, blueberry, plum, eggplant, grapes, purple cabbage

Where can I get more information on healthy eating?

Check out the resources below for more information on fruits and vegetables, as well as eating healthy on a budget, family and kid-friendly tips, performance nutrition, and more!

• To learn more about the vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients found in fruits and vegetables, reference the Vitamins and Minerals and Phytonutrients NMCPHC Nutri-Facts series.

• Questions about proper portion sizes? Check out the Size Up Your Servings infographic.

• To learn how to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your diet, reference or complete the the 30-Day Fruit and Veggie Challenge.

• Find more information about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables.

• Do you often eat while distracted? Take these steps to practice mindful eating.

• Health promoters can find resources to support Fruits and Vegetables Month in the NMCPHC Fruits and Vegetables Health Promotion Toolbox.

• For general nutrition tips, visit the NMCPHC’s Healthy Eating page.

• To learn how healthy living can keep you and your family mission ready, check out the Military Health System’s Operation Live Well campaign.

• For information on healthy eating, physical activity, weight management, food tracking, and more, check out USDA’s ChooseMyPlate.gov.

• If you currently have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other chronic illnesses, be sure to consult with your health care provider for specific diet recommendations.

For references, visit: http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcphc/health-promotion/Pages/Eat-the-RainbowResourcesGhostPage.aspx

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