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CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE 6 Aviation History Month A salute to naval aviators everywhere
8 Getting To Know The CO A question and answer segment with Capt. Strong
12 Helping Shipmates GW sends a care package to USS Abraham Lincoln
16 Smart Car Buying How to buy a car without getting swindled
18 2 â– The Washington Surveyor
Around the Fleet Exercise Dugong 2019 Commences in Australia
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USS George Washington (CVN 73) Commanding Officer
Executive Officer
Command Master Chief
Surveyor Magazine Editor-in-Chief Lt. Cmdr. Stephanie Turo
Copy Editors Capt. Kenneth Strong
Capt. Daryle Cardone
CMDCM Maurice Coffey
Lt. Tyler Barker MCC Christina Shaw MC1 Gary Johnson MC3 Trey Hutcheson
Media Department Public Affairs Officer
Deputy Public Affairs Officer
Lt. Cmdr. Stephanie Turo
Lt. Tyler Barker
Layout Designers MC3 Tatyana Freeman
Departmental LCPO
Divisional LCPO
MCCM Reginald Buggs
MCC Christina Shaw
Production LPO
MCSN Cory Daut
Journalists
MC1 Gary Johnson
MC3 Michael Botts MC3 Tatyana Freeman
Media Department Requests PRINT REQUESTS
PHOTO/VIDEO REQUESTS
E-MAIL MEDIA PRINT REQUESTS
(757) 534 - 2369
MCSN Cory Daut MCSA Stephen Sullins
CUSTOMER SERVICE HOURS MONDAY, WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY: TUESDAY & THURSDAY: 0800 - 1300 0800 - 1400 2600 WASHINGTON AVE. SUITE 203
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.
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SAILOR IN THE SPOTLIGHT
HM3 Ellysse Tilley JUNIOR SAILOR OF THE YEAR What does it mean to win Junior Sailor of the Year? Winning Junior Sailor of the Year is a huge accomplishment, not only for myself, but the dental department as well. We have under 20 Sailors in our department so it is pretty small compared to others. The first thing I did was thank HM1 Feazell and Chief Wimbush because I don’t think I would have done it without them. It’s a pretty big deal to me because I got to this command in 2018 and to achieve this much in that amount of time makes me pretty proud of myself. Do you have any tips for Sailors trying to accomplish what you have accomplished? As far as the boards, you are just going to be nervous. I have anxiety even with things that I know. You say the Sailor’s Creed a thousand times and during the board you stutter. If you do have any issues just say “chief or petty officer, at this time I do not recall.” What did you do to prepare yourself for Junior Sailor of the Year? I don’t really go over the Sailor’s Creed much myself because I feel if I study it too many times then in the moment I might make a mistake from anxiety. I also just look at everything going on in new admins and instructions. What are your hobbies? My hobbies are reading and writing poetry, random arts and crafts, and watching movies. What is your hometown? Dallas, Texas What is your favorite part of your job? My favorite part is cleaning teeth. We do a lot of stuff, but I love just cleaning teeth. What qualities do you think contributed to your winning Junior Sailor of the Year? I try not to harp on things, and if I mess up, I just try to keep going.
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SALUTING AVIATORS EVERYWHERE: Aviation History Month STORY BY MCSA STEPHEN SULLINS, PHOTOS COURTESY OF NAVY.MIL Decades before the introduction of modern purpose-built aircraft carriers such as the Nimitz-class carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), intrepid naval aviators took to the skies in a more rudimentary fashion, pushing the limits and paving the way for today’s naval aviation enterprise.
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On Nov. 14, 1910, Eugene Ely became the first man to fly an airplane off the deck of a ship, taking to the air from the light cruiser USS Birmingham in Norfolk, Virginia. A makeshift bow was erected aboard Birmingham, and Ely’s short flight over Hampton Roads signaled a new dawn in naval aviation. Since that day naval aviation
has become a cornerstone of the United States Navy and the nation as a whole. “Back then it took a lot of courage to be able to go up in these contraptions that were basically made out of wood and canvas and then send that thing off of the ship,” said Lt. Russell Smith, V-4’s division officer. “What makes me proud of being
a [naval flight officer] today is just how far aviation has come.” From its humble beginnings with wooden planes and makeshift runways, U.S. naval aviation has come a long way. As technology and tactics have evolved, so too have the ways aviation has substantially altered the battlefield. Today’s aviators, and those who keep the planes in tiptop shape, carry with them a long tradition, a high sense of honor, and pride in the future of naval aviation. “The Navy has had many significant battles and achievements since day one,” said Cmdr. Matthew Picinich, George Washington’s Assistant Air Officer, or “Mini Boss.” “Our desire and ability to develop, employ, and refine the most advanced technology gives me pride in our service.” The Battle of the Coral Sea, which, took place in April and May 1942 in the Pacific theater of World War II, was the “first naval engagement in history in which the participating ships never sighted or fired directly at each other,” according to Naval History and Heritage Command. Coral Sea marked another pivotal moment in naval aviation history, and ushered in the unquestioned power and flexibility of
aircraft carriers and naval aviation. Since then, carriers have been the head of each fleet, mostly because of their dominance anywhere ships operate. “My favorite part of naval history is the advent of carrier airborne early warning aircraft, and the realization of their necessity,” said Picinich. “As a Navy, we started realizing this benefit around World War II, when RADAR technology was in its infancy, and have continuously refined this capability since then.” Inspirational goals set early on in life drive many into pursuing dreams of becoming a naval aviator. Sometimes all it takes is one ride along in the passenger seat of a small civilian aircraft to get the job done. “One of my uncles, who is a civilian pilot, took me up on my first flight when I was a kid which sealed the deal for me on this profession,” said Picinich. “My uncle, who is still active duty, has been a mentor to me since I joined and I have had the fortune to fly with him a few times over the years.” The history of naval aviation is already told, written, and, secured. What remains to be seen, however, is the future of our aviation enterprise. It is undoubtedly bright,
with advancements of technology and the continued improvement of tactics, training, and equipment. “As you move up to larger aircraft and as the mission changes, you’re faced with new challenges to overcome as you try to master your platform and mission,” said Picinich. “Joining the Navy and becoming a naval officer and aviator has always been a proud point for me.” Only twelve years after Eugene Ely’s flight from the Birmingham, Lt. Cmdr. Godfrey Chevalier accomplished another first, successfully landing aboard the USS Langley (CV-1), the Navy’s first purpose-built aircraft carrier commissioned in March 1922. Naval aviation has come remarkably far in the 97 years since the first landing aboard Langley. It has been a long road with much more in store for the future, and it is even more exciting to see George Washington continue to add to this legacy and tradition in today’s Navy.
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GETTING TO KNOW THE CO: WORDS FROM CAPT. KENNETH A. STRONG STORY BY MC3 MICHAEL BOTTS, PHOTOS BY MC3 JULIE VUJEVICH AND MCSN CORY DAUT
Capt. Kenneth A. Strong assumed command of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) on Sept. 5, 2019. He is the 14th commanding officer (CO) in the ship’s more than 27 years of active commissioned service. Capt. Strong previously served as the executive officer aboard George Washington from September 2014 to November 2016, and he recently completed a command tour as the CO of the San Antonio-class landing platform dock USS New Orleans (LPD 18) from February 2017 to April 2019. We had the opportunity to sit down with the CO to get to know him a little better and to see what words of advice he has as the ship moves toward its next milestones of crew move-aboard, completion of refueling complex overhaul (RCOH), and getting back to the fleet as a capable and combat-ready capital warship. 8 ■ The Washington Surveyor
Q: What motivates you? A: I am surrounded by amazing people, that’s what motivates me. My shipmates, the executive officer, the command master chief, the department heads, Wardroom, Chiefs Mess, and all the Sailors on the deck plates motivate me. Getting on the deck plates is sort of my cure whenever I’m depressed or just dragging a little bit and getting out with Sailors, that’s what motivates me. Q: How do the jobs Sailors accomplish now affect the ship’s mission of returning to the fleet? A: It’s hard to think a year or two years out, but it is coming, and what we do now impacts how well things go two years from now. Every day you have to pay attention to every detail, dot the i’s, cross the t’s, and work hard. So, all that blood, sweat, and tears earns us the right to take our ship back out to sea. Q: What do you want to see out of the crew? A: We have got to work together, we have got to be committed. We realize that all these boundaries called departments will dissolve and we just become one crew. Q: What’s your favorite part of being the CO of an aircraft carrier? A: I love getting underway. I love taking the carrier underway and the team working at sea, all 20 departments, all of us working together with an air wing and squadrons that come out. That’s what it is all about. That is why we all joined the Navy. Q: What is your favorite part about being back on the George Washington? A: Every ship has its own personality and I love GW’s. The personalities of the Sailors are passed on with each successful generation of the crew and it’s a good ship and a great crew. It is awesome being back. Sailors interested in learning more about our new CO, or wanting to learn more about our progress through the RCOH process and our future endeavors as a command, can ask these questions through their chain of command, by dropping any questions they may have into the CO suggestion box, or by contacting the media department to have their question asked to the triad at the next virtual town hall.
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RANGE DAY Sailors from the USS George Washington (CVN 73) obtain shooting qualifications at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown on Nov. 20. Sailors qualified for both security and Anti-Terrorism Tactical Watch Officer (ATTWO) positions and qualified on pistols, rifles, and shotguns.
SHIPMATE HELPI SHI
STORY BY MC3 TATYANA FREEMAN, PHOTOS AND PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MC2 ANTHONY H
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The smell of seawater and JP5 has long since permeated every absorbable substance. On the flight deck, the sun beats down hard, and the noise is so familiar it doesn’t seem quite as loud anymore. In the hangar bay, Sailors transit to their work centers, looking out of the open bay
bow to the stern. For the Sailors aboard the Nimitzclass aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), this well-established routine will continue a little bit longer, as the ship is scheduled to remain deployed overseas longer than originally planned.
With the upcoming holidays, the Lincoln’s deployment extension is just a little more challenging than usual. “Being away from loved ones during the holidays can be challenging,” said Master Chief Mass Communication Specialist Reginald Buggs, the George
“It is tough getting through extensions, but this is what Sailors do and we must be ready to answer the call.” doors to the seemingly-endless deep blue ocean. Below decks, Sailors perform hours upon hours of maintenance, stand watches throughout the ship, wipe down and clean surfaces yet again, and a well-established routine is carried out from the bridge to the engineering and reactor spaces, from the
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“Being on deployment is a fulfilling feeling,” said Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Michael Singley, a Sailor assigned to the media department aboard Abraham Lincoln. “It is tough getting through extensions, but this is what Sailors do and we must be ready to answer the call.”
Washington media department leading chief petty officer. “But I hope they have leadership that is encouraging them that what they’re doing matters, that their job matters, and they’re protecting the American public and the American people. Their mission matters.”
Whether on a routine underway or an extended deployment, care packages can supply essential items the ship does not have, luxuries that are dearly missed underway, and, if nothing else, a welcome, if brief, break in the somewhat monotonous underway routine. “Care packages are extreme morale boosters for us,” said Singley. Sailors stationed aboard Lincoln’s sister ship USS George Washington (CVN 73) have a bit of an understanding of the trials and tribulations that deployed Sailors may face. They know that material things in care packages can have a very positive impact on their recipients. “Good things to send would be toiletries, snacks that the ship store doesn’t normally sell, any type of literature they may not be able to get from the ship’s library, holiday cards, greeting cards, and just anything that would lift their spirits up,” said Buggs. “If we were in that position, what would we want someone to send to us?” Helping fellow shipmates extends beyond shipmates and family and friends at
“Giving a care package to your shipmates and just showing our thanks for them will send a volume of respect and gratitude.”
current commands. Reaching outside of the lifelines to help a fellow Sailor helps build camaraderie and esprit de corps across the waterfront and across the aircraft carrier fleet. “Giving a care package to your shipmates and just showing our thanks for them will send a volume of respect and gratitude,” said Buggs. “Showing we care about them and genuinely respect what they’re doing at the tip of the spear will help.” The media department aboard George Washington sent a care package to the media department aboard Lincoln, and encourages other departments on GW to do the same for not only the Lincoln, but any ship that may be underway now or in the future. “The George Washington media department is challenging ourselves to remember that one day we’re going to be out there serving the country and defending the country,” said Buggs. “We’re paying it forward.”
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BUYING A CAR
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WHEN PURCHASING A VEHICLE, BUYERS SHOULD CONSIDER WHAT FITS THEIR BUDGET. A NEW CAR MAY HAVE GOOD FEATURES BUT MAY NOT BE AFFORDABLE. MOST VEHICLES SOLD AT DEALERSHIPS ARE PRICED MORE THAN FAIR VALUE. BUYERS SHOULD CHECK WITH SOURCES LIKE KELLY BLUE BOOK AND EDMUNDS FOR A FAIR VALUE. LOOKING AT MORE THAN ONE DEALERSHIP OR PRIVATE SELLER CAN HELP BUYERS FIND THE RIGHT VEHICLE TO PURCHASE. VEHICLES SOLD AT DEALERSHIPS MAY COME WITH A WARRANTY. BUYERS CAN ALSO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL COVERAGE IF THE WARRANTY INCLUDED DOESN’T COVER EVERYTHING A BUYER WANTS. BUYERS SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER AFTER PURCHASE COSTS, LIKE GAS CONSUMPTION, PARTS, AND MAINTENANCE IN THEIR BUDGET.
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SMART CAR BUYING STRATEGIES: What To Know Before You Buy STORY AND INFOGRAPHIC BY MC3 ZACK THOMAS “WE FINANCE E-4 AND BELOW! END OF YEAR CLOSEOUT!” “GOOD CREDIT, BAD CREDIT, NO CREDIT NEEDED! THESE DEALS WON’T BE HERE AGAIN!” These are only some of the signs and advertisements a Sailor might see when they leave the ship to go out on a well-earned night of liberty. With Sailors from all over the country stationed aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), buying a vehicle involves a lot of time and knowledge. Knowing what to buy, how to budget, and what to expect after purchasing a vehicle helps Sailors stay mission-focused without the added burden of financial stress and instability. “A rule of thumb is to not spend more than 20 percent of your take-home pay (after deductions) on the car loan, insurance, and expected maintenance costs,” said Chief Machinist Mate (Nuclear) Preston Pannell, George Washington’s command financial specialist. “If you net $2,000 a month, then you should spend no more than $400 for all the associated vehicle costs. This can easily be applied to all paygrades, but financial situations vary from person to person.” Sailors can better prepare themselves for a vehicle purchase by consulting with command financial planners. “There are well-trained departmental and divisional command financial specialists throughout the command that can provide
excellent advice and training to Sailors for a variety of financial decisions,” said Pannell. “There are also outstanding programs at the Fleet and Family Support Center in Newport News at the bank building and in several other convenient locations throughout Hampton Roads. They often take walk-ins without an appointment. Still, all of their contact information is posted in the brown bag area [aboard the floating accommodation facility] with specific classes available to interested parties.” Understanding the payments that come during and after purchasing a vehicle is an essential factor when budgeting and selecting a vehicle. “The sticker price on a vehicle isn’t the only expense,” said Catrina Cain, a Fleet and Family Services Financial Specialist. “There is interest rate to consider, which raises how much you pay in total. There is the actual vehicle’s value which the dealers will mark up, and there are gas and insurance costs that add another layer of financial responsibility.” In addition to resources on the ship and at Fleet and Family Services, resources abound online concerning checklist items, common “dos” and “don’ts” and many frequently asked questions from others who have gone through vehicle purchase processes. According to militaryconsumer.gov, when a service member is considering purchasing a vehicle, they should check a
handful of independent sources separate from the dealer. To find the standard price of a vehicle based on the vehicle’s condition, service members can check purpose-built sites such as Kelly Blue Book, Edmunds, and National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Guides. Sailors can also ask the dealer for recall notices and salvage and maintenance records. If the dealer doesn’t have this information, service members can use the vehicle identification number to check histories on websites like vehiclehistory.gov and safecar.gov. “You should know your credit report, which we can get to you for free at Fleet and Family, you should know the value of the vehicle you want to buy so dealers don’t overcharge you, and you should know how much you can afford with your budget,” said Cain. “A smart buyer will research the vehicle they want for the price, get a preapproved loan, if needed, and not fall for dealership tricks like showing a different vehicle than advertised or at a higher price.” When Sailors know what to buy, how to budget, and what to expect during and after purchasing a vehicle, they can avoid the flashy signs and too-good-tobe-true deals that are common at vehicle dealerships. Equipped with this knowledge and information, Sailors will be able to make smart choices and purchase vehicles that fit their lifestyles and their budgets.
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NAVY NEWS
Exercise Dugong 2019 Commences in Australia
From Commander Task Force 75 Public Affairs
PERTH, Australia (NNS) -- Mine countermeasure and explosive ordnance disposal professionals from five countries met at an opening ceremony Nov. 11 for the 19th iteration of Exercise Dugong. Dugong 2019 brings mine warfare and dive teams from United States of America, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand together for two weeks to practice contemporary mine warfare and dive salvage techniques and procedures in the vicinity of Garden Island. “It is fitting that the five eyes nations that are present today for the start of exercise Dugong are the same five nations that stood side by side at the end of the Great War in November 1918,” said Capt. Peter Bartlett, director at Fleet Force Generation Directorate. “For us Australians to stand together with those from New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada and the USA to commemorate Remembrance Day is a reminder of the sacrifices that we have all made in the pursuit of freedom and peace.” Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Five (EODMU5), Platoon 502 brings highly skilled technicians who can render
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safe all types of ordinance, in addition to the ability to safely dispose of hazardous munitions, pyrotechnics, and retrograde explosives using detonation and burning techniques. “Having all of our closest allies come together and show one another our diving capabilities as well as new technologies that everyone is incorporating will be fascinating,” said Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Jonathan Ross. “Practicing Mine Countermeasure Operations in a different part of the world furthering our cold-water training and exercising under logistical constraints pushes our limits and shows us how better to plan in the future.” Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) One will also take part, conducting harbor clearance operations in the vicinity of Garden Island, enhancing interoperability and diving capabilities as a part of the international exercise. “Through exercise Dugong 2019, our EOD teams will work side-by-side with their counterparts in the Royal Australian Navy to conduct a Full Mission Profile of Unmanned Systems (UMS) and Mine
Countermeasures (MCM) to detect, classify, and neutralize potential threats,” said Cmdr. Brandon Casperson, chief staff officer Commander, Task Force 75. “Exercises like Dugong 2019 are an important part of building confidence with our foreign partners and increasing our interoperability proficiency within the MCM platforms. It also provides us an opportunity to exchange best practices with equipment, tactics, techniques, and procedures in Mine Countermeasures.” Dugong also provides an opportunity to practice mine countermeasure techniques in a unique environment. Sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit One (EODMU1), Platoon 142 will also join the exercise, using Unmanned Systems (UMS) to practice detecting mines and mine-like objects without putting personnel at risk in a suspected minefield. By participating in Dugong, they can test their equipment and procedures in an area where salinity, water temperature and ocean floor contours differ from the environments that they are used to.
GAMES CORNER
If you or someone you know needs to talk, there are many resources: Chaplain Guilliams …………………………………………757-298-8474 Chaplain Irwin …………………..…………………………..901-428-7201 Senior Medical Officer CDR Blackmer ……………..…….757-761-5719 FAF Medical Front Desk ……………………………………757-534-0215 DRC Ms. Felita Davis ……………………………………….757-390-1734 Suicide Prevention Lifeline ………………………………...(800)273-8255 Crisis Text Line: Text 741-741WEDNESDAY to connect withTHURSDAY a trained crisisFRIDAY counselor TUESDAY MONDAY Militaryonesource.mil or (800)342-9647
HAMPTON ROADS EVENTS SUNDAY
24 Turkey Trot
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Talk with yourPoolfriends, family, shipmates,Thanksgiving and chain of command. Meal Monday Night Tournament Free Movie Night Black Friday NNSYShopping Trip 11:00 a.m. Portsmouth6:00 p.m. 5:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. NAVSTA Dam Neck NNSY If youNorfolk or someone you know NAVSTA needsNorfolk to talk, there are many resources: Little CreekChaplain Guilliams …………………………………………757-298-8474 12:00 p.m. NorthwestChaplain Irwin …………………..…………………………..901-428-7201 2:00 p.m. Football
8:00 a.m. Little Creek
1 12 Days of Fitmas 6:00 a.m. NNSY
Look out for one another. Now is the time for healing.
Senior Medical Officer CDR Blackmer ……………..…….757-761-5719 FAF Medical Front Desk ……………………………………757-534-0215 2 3 4 5 6 DRC Ms. Felita Davis ……………………………………….757-390-1734 Liberty Gift Ping Pong Christmas Paint-N-Sip Night Liberty Christmas SuicideStation Prevention Lifeline ………………………………...(800)273-8255 Wrapping Tournament Shopping Shuttle Dive-In Movie Crisis Text Line: Text 741-741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor All Day 6:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:00 p,.m. Militaryonesource.mil Portsmouth Dam Neck or (800)342-9647 NNSY Yorktown Portsmouth
Talk with your friends, family, shipmates, and chain of command.
Look out for one another. Now is the time for healing.
If you or someone you know needs to talk, there are many resources: Chaplain Guilliams …………………………………………757-298-8474 Chaplain Irwin …………………..…………………………..901-428-7201 Senior Medical Officer CDR Blackmer ……………..…….757-761-5719 FAF Medical Front Desk ……………………………………757-534-0215 DRC Ms. Felita Davis ……………………………………….757-390-1734 Suicide Prevention Lifeline ………………………………...(800)273-8255 Crisis Text Line: Text 741-741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor Militaryonesource.mil or (800)342-9647
Talk with your friends, family, shipmates, and chain of command.
Look out for one another. Now is the time for healing.
If you or someone you know needs to talk, there are many resources: Chaplain Guilliams …………………………………………757-298-8474 Chaplain Irwin …………………..…………………………..901-428-7201 Senior Medical Officer CDR Blackmer ……………..…….757-761-5719 FAF Medical Front Desk ……………………………………757-534-0215 DRC Ms. Felita Davis ……………………………………….757-390-1734 Suicide Prevention Lifeline ………………………………...(800)273-8255 Crisis Text Line: Text 741-741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor Militaryonesource.mil or (800)342-9647
Talk with your friends, family, shipmates, and chain of command.
SATURDAY
30 Liberty Harvest Festival Trip 10:00 a.m. Yorktown
7 Busch Gardens Christmas Towne Trip 5:00 p.m. Yorktown