WASHINGTON SURVEYOR THE
May 18, 2016
By MC2 Jennifer Case
S a i lo r l e v e l s u p itsn lewis invests himself in video game design By MCSN Clemente Lynch
DAY IT N H E LI F E : Q M
HISTO R I C R ATE , ALWAYS HAS THE WAT C H By MC3 Kris R. Lindstrom
GEORGE’S CORNER: TA
AIMING TO ENHANCE EDUCATION FOR SAILORS AND MARINES ON ACTIVE DUTY
PHOTO of the DAY
NORFOLK (May 5, 2016) – Master Chief Culinary Specialist Lucien Gomeyac, a native of Baguio City, Philippines, is pinned by his wife, Vivian, during a master chief pinning ceremony in the hangar bay aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Clemente Lynch
Sto r y by M C 2 J e n n i f e r C a s e
SAILORLEVELSUP ITSN LEWIS INVESTS HIMSELF IN VIDEO GAME DESIGN
I
n a world decimated by its own industries, the few hardened survivors take to darkened skies via ramshackle remnants of the mechanical age. Here they must navigate their new perilous environment, fraught with obstacles and hordes of monsters. Will villainous hopefuls succeed in a dastardly attempt to regain power from an illfated government or will you, the anarchic, mechanically-steampunked youth, dominate the new landscape? Retro Rider is the latest video game from the imagination of
USS George Washington’s (CVN 73) own Information Systems Technician Seaman Fetcher Lewis, who has been designing and creating video games for seven years. “I want people to have a feeling of exploration as they go through different places [in the game],” said Lewis. “Procedural content generation makes it so every place will be new and unique. Some of the tools I use randomize obstacles.” It has taken Lewis many years to cultivate the computer language skills, math and the creativity required
to build a new world from scratch. “When I was 12, I just started Minecraft and I wanted to make [modifications] for it,” said Lewis. “So, I looked into java development.” Minecraft is a sandbox video game, with no designated levels or milestones. This means the player creates the game as they go, much like children in a sandbox. “The first project I completed was a car model in Minecraft,” said Lewis. “I really liked playing Minecraft because it could be expanded. Using it inspired me
to start creating my own games.” Lewis completed his first project, a study tool for his younger brother, when he was 16 years old. It was an interactive, e d u c a t i o n a l spinning earth model; you could click and scan the different layers of the Earth. “There’s a huge difference between making a game and playing it,” said Lewis. “When you make a game it is going to take a long time and a lot of passion. There is going to be a lot of frustration along the way.” While onboard GW, Lewis doesn’t have a team of developers working with him so he uses game
engines to smooth out the details. Engines, such as Blender, provide a software framework, complete with rendering, streaming, calculations
for physical accountability and common sound effects. “There’s a lot that goes into filling a completely empty digital space with only thought and have that
space communicate an idea,” said Lewis. “Any object in the game was rendered from simple points in space connected by planes. So you can start with a cube, with 12 points and 6 planes, then make it into the characters head, after about 17 hours of manipulation.” Never one to shirk responsibilities, Lewis finds a way to focus on his Sailor duties during the workday and his hobbies in the interim. “I try to do my job as a Sailor effectively,” said Lewis. “I have been in a year and I want to give the Navy back what I take from it, but that means I can’t always find a lot of time to work on the game.”
Sto r y by M C S N C l e m e n t e Ly n c h
DAY LIFE:QM IN THE
HISTORIC RATE, ALWAYS HAS THE WATCH
T
he job of a Navy quartermaster dates back to 1798. And although the profession is more than 200 years old, the duties of today’s quartermasters, and those of old, share the same longstanding tradition and responsibility of ensuring safe passage of Navy vessels at sea, bringing meaning to the phrase ‘fair winds and following seas’. “As a quartermaster we maintain the safe travel and proper navigation of the ship,” said Quartermaster Seaman Rodney Cobia, assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) since 2013. “When we pull into or leave a port we stand watch on the bridge and the signal bridge to observe navigational points like lighthouses or landmarks so that if the ship ever returns [to that port] we have a reference as to the safest route.” Quartermasters stand bridge watches on a five-hour rotation 24 hours-a-day at sea. While paper charts and protractors have given way to computer hardware and software like the Voyage Management System, an electronic navigation
system, quartermasters still use alidade to obtain the ship’s bearing in conjunction with the voyage management system. “As quartermasters we stand a lot of watches on the bridge with the commanding officer,” said Quartermaster 1st Class Sheryl Gaines, leading petty officer of the ship’s Navigation Department. Quartermasters communicate with ships during underway replenishments, restricted navigation, or man overboard procedures by raising and lowering flags, lights and day shapes - three-dimensional visual communication aides. Quartermasters also render honors to other ships when appropriate. “When it’s all said and done it’s a very fulfilling job,” said Cobia. “After navigating through a tricky patch of ocean or keeping the ship on course during replenishment-at-sea, the feeling is one of accomplishment. And I feel as though I have helped the ship complete its mission.”
TUITION ASSISTANCE
AIMING TO ENHANCE EDUCATION FOR SAILORS AND MARINES DURING ACTIVE DUTY
TUITIONASSISTANCEPROGRAM Tuition Assistance (TA) is the Navy’s educational financial assistance program. It provides active duty personnel funding for tuition costs for courses taken in an off-duty status at a college, university or vocational/technical institution. Navy TA pays for both classroom and independent study/distance learning courses. Associate, bachelor and master’s courses must be offered in semester hours or quarter hours as per NAVADMIN 105/10. Certificate programs must be offered in clock hours and be approved by the Department of Veteran Affairs as per NAVADMIN 305/12. The credit earned must show on the institution’s transcript. More information can be found at: www.militaryta.com/ta/navy and www.navycollege.navy.mil/ta_info
TUITIONASSISTANCEELIGIBILITY TA is available to both Naval Officer and Enlisted active duty members and some Naval Reservists on continuous active duty. It is also available to enlisted Naval Reservists ordered to active duty for 120 days or more, and Naval Reservist Officers ordered to active duty for 2 years or more. To qualify, service members must be on active duty for the whole length of the course and attend an institution accredited by a regional, national or professional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Also, service members have to receive counseling from Navy College Officer or a Virtual Education Center counselor and provide all grades from previously funded TA courses and reimburse all withdrawn of failing grades. (Withdrawals for involuntary reasons may be granted with command verification. More information can be found at: www.militaryta.com/ta/navy and www.navycollege.navy.mil/ta_info
HOWTOAPPLY -Contact your Navy College Office or the Virtual Education Center to receive educational counseling -Complete TA application in WebTA listing courses and fees. -To apply for Tuition Assistance electronically from any computer, go to www.navycollege.navy.mil, and click the MyEducation portal. More information can be found at: -You may log-in via CAC or NKO. www.militaryta.com/ta/navy and www.navycollege.navy.mil/ta_info
BY MC3 KRIS R. LINDSTROM
GEORGE’S
CORNER
MONEYINTHEBANK Navy TA pays up to $250 per credit to take campusresident or online education.
PRECOLLEGEBENEFITS Navy TA pays 100% tuition costs for course applicable to the completion of a high school diploma or general education development test (GED).
TUITIONASSISTANCE:FAMILYSUPPORT The Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Program provides eligible military spouses up to $6,000 of educational assistance to pursue a degree, certification or license leading to employment in one of many portable career fields. The MyCAA program pays tuition, books, supplies, exams, certifications and licenses.
CREDITLIMITATIONS There is a fiscal year credit limit of 16 semester hours, 24 quarter hours or 240 clock hours (or a combination of) per individual.
$87,900
Law Enforcement
$53,545 $52,810
Education
$58,230
Human Resources
Health Care
$69,570 $67,890
Network Management
Computer Science
Annual Salary ($10,000)
Average Salary for Common Veteran Careers
Information from this graphic was found on www.online-education.net/military, www.militaryta.com/ta/navy, and www.navycollege.navy.mil/ta_info
CVN MAZE
GAMES CROSSWORD
HARD SUDOKU
More Easy Sudoku Puzzles by KrazyDad, Book 10
Sudoku #1 SUDOKU 8 1 7 4
9 7 5
9 4 3 7 4
2 9 6 4 9 3 2 8 7 Š 2012 KrazyDad.com
Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and each
3-by-3 block contain of the digits 1 thru 9. Missed an issue of the Washington Surveyor? Fearall not. all past issues can be If you use logic you can solve the puzzle guesswork. found on the GW page at News/Media/movies, then navigate to without external news. Need a little help? The hints page shows a logical order to solve the puzzle. Use it to identify the next square you should solve. Or use the answers page
For the tenth time, dull Daphnis, said Chloe, You have told me my bosom is snowy; You've made much fine verse on Each part of my person, Now DO something -- there's a good boy!
1 3 5 4 2 7 6 4 3 2 1 5 4 9 9
underway
movie
schedule Channel 4
Channel 5 0800 Ocean’s Eleven 1000 Son of God 1000 Ocean’s Twelve 1200 The Quiet Ones 1200 Ocean’s Thirteen 1400 The Equalizer 1400 District 9 1600 Planes: Fire and Rescue 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 1800 Hercules 1800 Fargo 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2200 Reservior Dogs 2200 Double Jeopardy 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 0200 Boyz in the Hood 0200 Fury 0400 Groundhog Day 0400 The Drop 0600 Dead Man Walking 0600 Crying Game 0800 Jurassic Park
May 18th 2016
Channel 6 0800 Kingsman: The Secret Service 1000 The Duff 1200 Insurgent 1400 Get Hard 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 1800 Home 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2200 Unfinished Business 2400 Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 0200 The Gunman 0400 Little Boy 0600 Avengers: Age of Ultron
Channel 7 0800 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip 1000 Concussion 1200 Miss You Already 1400 Brooklyn 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 1800 Marvel’s The Avengers 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2200 Battleship 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 0200 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 0400 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
ORLANDO, Fla. (NNS) -- Under the sunny, clear blue skies of Orlando, Florida, more than 500 wounded, ill and injured athletes from 15 nations gathered for the opening ceremonies of the 2016 Invictus Games, May 8. The Invictus Games are an international Paralympicstyle, multi-sport event created by Prince Harry in 2014 after he saw the Warrior Games in the U.S. He wanted to demonstrate the power of sports to inspire recovery, support servicemembers’ rehabilitation, and to demonstrate that there is life beyond their disability. This year, 113 athletes across the services are representing the United States. As the National Anthem filled the stadium, spectators rose to their feet, and veterans,
Commanding Officer CAPT Timothy Kuehhas
Executive Officer CAPT Kenneth Strong
Command Master Chief CMDCM James Tocorzic
Public Affairs Officer LCDR Reann Mommsen
Deputy Public Affairs Officer LTJG Jack Georges
Senior Editors MCC Adrian Melendez MC2 Alex Lyle Smedegard
Pt. 2
0600 War of the Worlds
NAVY NEWS
staff
Editors MC3 Jessica Gomez MC3 Kris R. Lindstrom
Invictus Games 2016 Sounds Off in Orlando By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Charlotte Oliver, Defense Media Activity
both young and old, could be seen throughout the crowd standing at attention and saluting. Ken Fisher, chairman of Invictus Games Orlando 2016, welcomed the athletes and spectators. “I am thrilled you are all here,” said Fisher. “These games will celebrate the military family as never before. We will celebrate their role in recovery, and witness the role sports has played in that long and difficult rehabilitation process.” There are 10 sports athletes will be competing in: archery, indoor rowing, powerlifting, road cycling, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis. They will be cheered on by thousands of spectators and
family members. “Over the next four days, you will hear stories of courage and fortitude told by men and women who refused to use the term ‘I can’t’,” Fisher said. “You 500 seated in front of me are truly unconquerable, as are the 1,000 family and friends seated next to you.” After the Marine Corps Silent Drill Team wowed the crowd with their performance, Prince Harry took the stage. “I cannot tell you how proud and excited I am to open the second Invictus Games here in America,” Harry said. “You are role models that any parent would be proud to have their children follow. So let’s put on a hell of a show in memory of all of our fallen comrades who didn’t make it back. We are Invictus!”
Content MC2 Stephane Belcher MC2 Jennifer Case MC2 Loni Lopez MC3 Devin Bowser MC3 Alora Blosch MC3 Jaime Marical MC3 Wyatt Anthony MCSN Kashif Basharat MCSN Clemente Lynch MCSN Michael Wiese MCSA Krystofer Belknap
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).