W
THE
ASHINGTON
BY MC3 Trey Hutcheson
READY FOR ANYTHING HISTORY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON’S HEADQUARTERS FLAG By MC2 Marlan Sawyer
S
URVEYOR May 20, 2019
By MCSN Tatyana Freeman
FAMILY AND FRIENDS ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH By MC3 Carter Denton
MEMORIAL DAY
ELECTRICIAN’S MATES
REMEMBERING THE FALLEN
HOW THEY SUPPORT A SHIPYARD PERIOD
washington surveyor Commanding Officer Capt. Glenn Jamison
Executive Officer Capt. Daryle Cardone
Command Master Chief CMDCM Maurice Coffey
Public Affairs Officer Lt. Cmdr. Stephanie Turo
MM3 Kyle Dill HM1 Nikira Feazell HM2 Sheryl Pilcher LSSA Jareddarius Baldoz SN Benjamin Lau AO3 Arianna Davis MA3 Fernando Ochoa FC3 Ramon Carneiro ET3 Bryce Tooker
HM1 Chamu Chimhau MA2 Edmundo Santos
Deputy Public Affairs Officer Lt. Tyler Barker
Departmental LCPO MCCM Reginald Buggs
Divisional LCPO MCC Christina Shaw
Editors
MC3 Adam Ferrero MCSN Jack Lepien MCSN Tatyana Freeman
Content MCC Mary Popejoy MC1 Patrick Grieco MC1 Gary Johnson MC2 Kenneth Gardner MC2 Anthony Hilkowski MC2 Alan Lewis MC2 Marlan Sawyer MC2 Mandi Washington MC3 Michael Botts MC3 Carter Denton MC3 Trey Hutcheson MC3 Kyle Loree MC3 Zack Thomas MC3 Julie Vujevich MC3 Elizabeth Cohen MCSN Samuel Pederson MCSN Cory Daut MCSA Stephen Sullins 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.
ESWS Coordinators
EAWS Coordinators
EIWS Coordinators
HMC Knesha Wimbush CSC Joe Magri
ABHC Rodney Martinez ABH1 Jade Cobb
ITC Xica Johnson CTT1 Nicollette Jeffery
“The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.”
~ Thomas Paine
SAILOR in the SPOTLIGHT
MM3 James Garcia Machinist Mate 3rd Class James Garcia, from Beaufort, South Carolina, works in the safety office aboard George Washington. His favorite part of his job is interacting with other departments on the ship. He likes to garden when he’s not at work. His favorite food is sushi and his favorite TV show is Broad City.
YOU MOVE. WE GUIDE.
Active Living Exercise helps you reach your personal best. You look good, feel good, improve your health, and perform at your peak on and off the job. As a Navy resource for physical fitness, the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center Health Promotion and Wellness Department offers you resources to help keep you active so that you can be at your prime physically, psychologically, and operationally. We know how to get you moving and how to keep you fit. Whether you want to start a new exercise routine, refresh your workout regimen, or train like a professional athlete, we can help you identify the workout program to help you meet your fitness goals. To learn how our resources and tools can help keep you fit for service and improve your overall health, visit us at WWW.MED.NAVY.MIL/SITES/NMCPHC/HEALTH-PROMOTION NAVY AND MARINE CORPS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER PREVENTION AND PROTECTION START HERE
06/23/15 HPW-000102A
For more information on your local resources, contact:
CVN-73’S NEW COMMAND SHOULDER PATCH George Washington’s Headquarters Flag Story by MC3 Trey Hutcheson
George Washington’s Headquarters Flag, also known as the Commander-in-Chief Standard, is described to have a field of a single width of faded blue silk about 27 1/2 by 35 1/2 inches. Thirteen large six-pointed stars with elongated rays that are in a three, two, three, two, three pattern in layout. The stars were designed after an English Heraldic language. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) chose George Washington’s headquarters flag design for its command logo shoulder patch for the Navy Working Uniform Type III. “Revolutionary Americans adopted various symbols to represent the new republic that they created after the Declaration of Independence,” said Dr. Scott Stephenson, the president and chief executive officer for the Museum of the American Revolution. “Washington’s Standard includes a blue field with thirteen white stars representing a new constellation, which Congress adopted in 1777 as a component of the now familiar ‘Star-Spangled Banner.’” George Washington wore six-
Design by MC3 Julie Vujevich
pointed stars on his shoulders as a general, which is possibly why he used six-pointed stars on his flag. “In the early 20th century, descendants of George Washington’s sister, Betty Washington Lewis, donated the flag to the Valley Forge Historical Society,” according to the Museum of the American Revolution website. “The society transferred the collection, including the Standard, to the Museum of the American Revolution in 2003.” George Washington was known to have worn a light blue sash as a symbol of his authority, which could have been his source of inspiration for the blue field. According to the Museum of the American Revolution website, a replica of the Commander-in-Chief Standard traveled into space with astronaut John Glenn as part of the 1999 bicentennial commemorations of Washington’s death in 1799. The Discovery crew and the flag traveled 3.6 million miles and orbited the earth 134 times. The Headquarters Flag is believed to be the earliest surviving thirteenstar flag representing the United States.
“The Commander-in-Chief ’s flag was recommended to the triad as a possible unit patch by [Chief Electronics Technician] Joseph Knight from combat systems,” said Capt. Daryle Cardone, from Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, the executive officer aboard George Washington. “He suggested that having a command flag would be a symbol that the crew would be able to rally around.” Knight is an amateur vexillologist, one who studies the history, symbolism, and usage of flags, and recently watched a TED talk about good flag design and the importance of flags. “He suggested that we design a command flag, and utilize that design as our command patch,” said Cardone. “He then sent me a copy of the Commander-in-Chief ’s flag and [the] leadership team loved it. We added the ‘First in War, First in Peace’ quote from [George Washington’s] eulogy, and that was that.” The command logo shoulder patch will be available for purchase June 1 at the ship store for $5.00.
FAMILY AND FRIENDS Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month By MCSN Tatyana Freeman May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and it was set aside to honor and celebrate a diverse group of Americans and the rich culture they praise and celebrate every day. The Navy highlights the diversity and rich culture Asian American Pacific Islanders contribute to the force every year. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) is no exception. The crew is comprised of a variety of backgrounds including Asian American Pacific Islanders who help the ship complete her mission every day. “My uncle was in the Navy,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Sheryl Pilcher from Manila, Philippines, a pharmacy technician assigned to George Washington. “The goal was to bring the family all back [to the United States] so we could all be together.” For Pilcher’s family, the process of emigrating from the Philippines to the United States was a long one. “I lived there until I was 18 years old,” said Pilcher. “I lived there my whole life. We had to wait to come here from a petition from my uncle. We had to wait forever. It took us 20 or 30 years to get petitioned. Some of my relatives didn’t even get to come here, because it took so long. Being Filipino means family for me, everybody is family for us.” Master Chief Logistics Specialist Teddy Murao, the readiness leading chief petty officer for supply department, was born in the Philippines and was raised there until the age of 12. His family also
possesses the mentality of keeping as close as possible. “In 1989, the Navy asked what place you want to live in the U.S., so [my family] picked Hawaii because my uncle and my aunt lived there as well,” said Murao. “We got together, and we help each other out.” Even after immigrating in America, the concept of keeping family close and having a strong family did not fall away. “My heritage means a lot to me,” said Pilcher. “I always remember when I was young, every Sunday we would always go and visit my grandmother and then have lunch with her after church. That’s very important to me. Now having my own family and kids, I make sure that I take them to church, and afterward, we spend time with family.” However, for Pilcher, the concept of family extends far past just a blood relation. “Even after joining the Navy, whenever we have Thanksgiving or Christmas, if I see single Sailors I always invite them to have Christmas with my family,” said Pilcher. Even though many cultures and upbringings make up the Navy, no culture is held higher than another. I like being in the Navy, because they tend to be accepting of other cultures,” said Pilcher. Despite the acceptance, there is sometimes a misunderstanding when it comes to some of the cultural ideals of family that Asian American Pacific Islanders possess.
“A lot of misconception is that we have our own group, but it’s not about that,” said Murao, “We come together. We unite to help each other out and succeed. It’s a culture thing. We know how to get together, we know how to help each other out, we know how to cook, and we’re here to help everyone out. The misconception comes with the fact we’re always in a group, because we like to gather and talk and tell stories. This month, George Washington will host its Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration May 29. “I feel happy and honored that the Navy is celebrating this [month] because there’s a lot of Asian American Pacific Islanders that are in the military that are doing so well,” said Pilcher. “I like it a lot. I am very grateful that they’re doing this for us. To show forth that Asians contribute to the Navy.” The honor of the month of May by both the Navy and the nation does not go unappreciated. “For the Navy to celebrate this month, to me, it’s a great opportunity to showcase what we’ve done for the entire nation,” said Murao. “It’s all about what we’ve done in the nation and the military. May is our month.” To find out more about Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, you can visit www. asianpacificheritage.gov, attend the May 29 celebration, or just simply ask. “We want to show everyone we’re here too,” said Murao, “We’re here to help everyone out.”
C H I E F TO Ensign Roderick Casey, from Shreveport, Louisiana, became a mustang during his commissioning ceremony May 6 at Langley Air Force Base. In the Navy, a mustang is an officer who has been promoted up from the ranks of enlisted personnel through an in-service procurement program. Before comissioning, he served as a Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment). Photos by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jack Lepien
M U S TA N G
President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks during the 2018 Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Hailey D. Clay)
MEMORIAL DAY Remembering the Fallen By MC2 Marlan Sawyer On May 5, 1868, Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Civil War veterans, created a national day of remembrance. Decoration Day first occurred on May 30, 1868. He chose this day because he believed that flowers would be blooming all across the United States. “With the choicest flowers of springtime, we should guard their graves with sacred vigilance,” said Logan. “Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.” According to an article titled “The
History of Memorial Day” on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) website, “During that first national commemoration, former Union [general] and sitting Ohio Congressman James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who were buried there.” Decoration Day, now called Memorial Day, initially honored only service members lost while fighting in the Civil War. After World War I, the holiday evolved to serve as a remembrance for service members who died, regardless of the war that they fought in.
In 1966, Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, New York, as the birthplace of Memorial Day. Previously, a ceremony on May 5, 1866 was held there that honored local veterans who fought in the Civil War. Businesses shut down for the day, and residents flew their flags at half-staff as a sign of respect and remembrance. Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30 for decades after its initial creation. In 1968, congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May. This is why the date for Memorial Day now varies from year-to-year, although it is on the same day of the week each year. The
Norman Sassner, a Vietnam War veteran and Purple Heart recipient, visits the Pensacola Veterans Memorial Park for a Memorial Day Ceremony. (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Jacob Kotlarski) change created a three-day weekend for all federal employees, taking effect in 1971. This act also declared Memorial Day as a federal holiday. Cities throughout the United States host Memorial Day parades every year. One of the largest parades takes place in New York City, which includes military personnel and veterans’ organizations. Many Americans observe Memorial
Day by visiting veteran cemeteries and memorial sites. Others celebrate the lives of those who have fallen with parties and cookouts with their friends and families. To ensure that our fallen service members are never forgotten, the National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a
moment of silence. Information for this article comes from the U.S. Officer of Veterans Affairs, https://www.va.gov/opa/ speceven/memday/history.asp, and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), https://www.pbs.org/national-memorialday-concert/memorial-day/history/.
As part of a Memorial Day ceremony, a U.S. Marine Corps Honor Guard unveils an additional 140 names that were recently added to Wall South. (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Jacob Kotlarski)
ELECTRICIAN’S MATES How They Support a Shipyard Period
Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Phat Pham, foreground, from Pensacola, Florida, and Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Tanner Stinson from Dallas, review danger tags. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Carter Denton) The job of any Sailor aboard a United States ship is continuously evolving to accommodate and accomplish the mission of the ship. This continues to apply even when the ship no longer has water under her hull. As a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier undergoing refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipyard, the mission of USS George Washington (CVN 73) is the ship’s timely redelivery to the fleet in support and defense of the United States. Electrician’s Mates (EM) aboard George Washington continue to support
the ship’s mission every day during the RCOH process. “The EM’s job in the yard is really broad,” said Chief Electrician’s Mate Leodolpho Romera II, a chief petty officer in George Washington’s electrical division, from Mendez, Cavite, Philippines. “Basically everything that you touch that’s powered by electricity is being maintained by electricians. We keep the lights on.” Managing the electrical components of an aircraft carrier is a responsibility that has many facets.
By MC3 Carter Denton “We handle electrical distribution and take care of the load centers, which are the hubs that distribute the electrical power coming from the generators, along with things like power panels, fuse boxes, overhead lighting, and outlets,” said Romera. With so many areas of responsibility, it could be overwhelming for new EMs coming to the RCOH process. “My advice for any new EMs is whenever you get here to be ready to learn quick,” said Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Brian Fingers, a Sailor in George Washington’s electrical division
from Fredericktown, Missouri. “If you see somebody leave the shop with a tool bag, follow them. That’s the only way you’re gonna learn your rate.” With so many electrical components and electrical loads, it’s important to maintain a safe working environment. That’s where safety electricians come in. “As safety electricians, we help to ensure that dead-ended cables are de-energized, and as a member of the safety department, we just make sure that everyone is being safe in general,” said Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Ronald Rose, a safety electrician assigned to George Washington’s safety department, from Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Working in a shipyard environment, George Washington’s safety electricians face some unique challenges. “The difference I’ve noticed with
being in the shipyards is the number of different safety discrepancies that come up that aren’t normally around when you’re operational, such as dead-end wires or holes in the deck,” said Rose. Problem-solving is an important aspect of being successful in an environment such as the shipyards. Some Sailors enjoy developing this skill. “My favorite part of the job is just being able to work with my hands,” said Fingers. “Having a problem and being able to brainstorm and find the solution is really satisfying.” Along with the individual effort of Sailors like Fingers, the George Washington electrical division relies on a team effort to accomplish the division’s tasks. “My favorite part of the job is just being here working with the Sailors,” said Romera. “No one can do the job
alone, so we have to work as a team and stay on the same page.” The RCOH process brings new obstacles for every team of Sailors, but also more opportunities to excel. “It comes with many challenges, but that’s where the fun part is,” said Romera. “The more we are challenged, the more we can show that we’re up to the challenge and support the mission of the ship.” Through their work on maintaining and refurbishing the electrical systems on board, the electrical division is one of many teams aboard George Washington that are working towards the goal of redelivering the premier and always-ready aircraft carrier to active service. The RCOH process would not be possible without the efforts of Sailors like those in the electrical division.
From left to right, Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Steven Gillen, from Allentown, Pennsylvania, Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Austin Levesque, from Attleboro, Massachussetts, and Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Richard Arguelles, from San Francisco, review work action forms. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Carter Denton)
NAVY NEWS
Service Secretaries Tackle Employment Challenges for Overseas Spouses From Secretary of the Navy Public Affairs
From the Office of the Navy Chief of Information
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- All three military service secretaries signed a memorandum today to jointly explore how military spouses can find employment and sustain careers at overseas bases. “Military service is a team sport that begins with the family,” said Secretary of the Army Mark Esper. “Helping our spouses pursue their careers while they support their service members is not only the right thing to do, it improves the readiness of the force and our retention of top talent.” The joint memorandum directs each service assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs to support a triservice team that seeks to understand the barriers to military spouse employment overseas. The team is expected to make
recommendations to policies, programs and laws that would make employment for spouses overseas easier. The tri-service team is expected to provide an update of their work to service secretaries by September 2019, with a final report and recommendations by December 2019. “We must be mindful that while we recruit individuals, we retain families,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Our military spouses support us without hesitation and it is only right to support them. That is why we are committed to removing barriers and helping our military spouses find employment overseas.” The effort is part of a broader initiative to holistically address readiness challenges, including retention.
Additionally, each service has released memorandums directing officials to implement re-licensure cost reimbursement for spouses based on authorities provided in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act. The policy offsets the cost, up to $500, of professional re-licensure incurred by military families as a result of qualified military assignments that move the family across state lines. “We’ve made an impact on reciprocity for licensure for family members stateside,” said Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson. “When I was visiting Aviano recently, the issue of spouse employment overseas came up and things we might be able to do to make it easier. I’m glad we are doing this together.”
GEORGE’S
CORNER
MEMORIAL DAY
MURPH CHALLENGE AN ANNUAL EVENT TO HONOR THE FALLEN
HUNTINGTON HALL THURSDAY, MAY 23 11 A.M. - 3 P.M.