WASHINGTON SURVEYOR THE
Oct. 20, 2016
By SN Krystofer Belknap
cryogenicchat ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT SAILORS FABRICATE AIR AND LIQUIDS FOR SHIP
By PO3 Alora Blosch
W OR T H WOMEN ABOARD GW STAND TOGETHER AS A FAMILY
By PO3 Brian Sloan
RAISINGEXPECTATIONS G-4 DIVISION RELIES ON TEAMWORK TO COMPETE ITS MISSION
On the cover: Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin Huizar samples liquid nitrogen in the cryogenics shop. (Photo by SN Krystofer Belknap)
PHOTO of the DAY
Petty Officer 1st Class Edwin Soto, from Washington D.C., trains Seaman Jazzmine Burkes, from Charleston, South Carolina, how to make a stopper by hand. (Photo by SN Krystofer Belknap)
staff Commanding Officer
Executive Officer
Command Master Chief
CAPT Timothy Kuehhas
CAPT Kenneth Strong
MCPO James Tocorzic
Public Affairs Officer
Deputy Public Affairs Officer
Media DLCPO
LCDR Gregory L. Flores
LTJG Andrew Bertucci
Editors PO1 Alan Gragg PO2 Jennifer O’Rourke PO3 Kashif Basharat
CPO Mary Popejoy
Content PO3 Wyatt Anthony PO3 Alora Blosch PO3 Clemente Lynch PO3 Brian Sloan
SN Krystofer Belknap SN Jamin Gordon SN Oscar Moreno Jr SN Jonathan Price
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@cvn73.navy.mil*
By S N K r ys to f e r B e l k n a p
CRYOGENICCHAT
Engineering department sailors fabricate air and liquids for ship
S
ailors in Engineering Department assigned to the oxygen and nitrogen (O2N2) plants aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) contain air and liquids to supply the ship’s crew with tools used for a variety of missions. “Our involvement is extremely critical for the operations that occur on the ship,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin Huizar, referring to the oxygen and nitrogen (O2N2) plant. “If we don’t have our plant online, or if we don’t have any oxygen or nitrogen, we can’t go underway.” Huizar said they make the breathing
oxygen for pilots, gaseous oxygen for medical and dental, the liquid nitrogen medical uses to freeze off warts, and gaseous nitrogen for aircraft tires. “All the sampling and maintenance we do is divided between us evenly as a team,” said Huizar. “I definitely like being in this shop.” The O2N2 plants have fans dedicated to blowing air into a low-pressure air-compressor (LPAC), which compresses the air to 90 pounds-per-square-inch. This compressed air can be drawn through vents into storage tanks, known as producers, where the air is filtered to
maximize cleanliness. Oxygen comes out of the producer and is stored into a liquid oxygen tank. Petty Officer 1st Class Daniel Willard, the leading petty officer of the aft O2N2 plant, said liquid air undergoes rapid temperature changes and pressure changes to create GW’s cryogenic products. “What we have is very dangerous,” said Willard. “Dealing with cryogenics is a very dangerous field of work because you’re dealing with high pressures and a volatile product. Sailors have to go through nine months of training to be qualified to run this plant. Safety is very (continued on next page)
Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Moore, from Detroit, Michigan, poses for a photograph in the cryogenics shop. (Photo by SN Krystofer Belknap)
(continued from previous page)
Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin Huizar, from Coloma, Michigan, samples liquid nitrogen in the cryogenics shop. (Photo by SN Krystofer Belknap)
important.” Oxygen is one of the four elements of the fire tetrahedron (heat, fuel, oxygen, and uninhibited chemical chain reaction), which makes it a risk for fire casualties aboard the ship. Nitrogen can cause asphyxiation freeze burns on skin. The O2N2 Sailors reduce the risk of hazards occurring in their work center through constant maintenance. “There’s no buffer zone for having broken equipment,” said Willard. “It’s dangerous as it is, so my Sailors are always looking for things to fix. They’ve meshed and work well with each other.” The air produced in the O2N2 plant receives quality assurance from Sailors in the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) who analyze sample kits.
“We require a lot more quality assurance than most shops in our department,” said Willard. “What we make is usually 99% pure oxygen, and that 1% is mostly nitrogen; so there are very few impurities in what we make.” Willard said the nitrogen they produce is the highest pressure air and their most widely-used product on the ship. It pressurizes up to 5,000 pounds-per-squareinch and is filtered up to 99.92% nitrogen. The Sailors working in the O2N2 plants show that it’s possible to make something out of thin air while providing a valuable service to the ship. “I love cryogenics,” said Willard. “I’ll definitely work in this field after I leave the Navy. There’s nothing quite like this plant and the physics of it all; it’s great.”
Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin Huizar poses for a photo in the cryogenics shop. (Photo by SN Krystofer Belknap)
By P O 3 A l o ra B l o s c h
WORTH
to relax and feel comfortable with each other. “We hold meetings for WOMEN ABOARD GW STAND questions,” TOGETHER AS A FAMILY said Brown. “This week we n 1908 the Navy allowed the first 20 women to enter military are going over stress relievers, places service and establish the Navy’s to go and things to do in the Hampton Nurse Corps. In 1917, women were Roads area and traveling on a budget.” Members also work to create officially allowed to enlist in the Navy as Yeoman, and that same year Loretta opportunities to help the community. “We also hold spa days for those Perfectus became the first female chief petty officer. By the end of World War long underways, how to be a woman I, there were 1,386 women serving in in a man’s world, COMRELs the Nurse Corps. Now, about 100 years (community relationship projects) for later, women can perform any job in the women’s shelters and the homestead Navy and hold positions of all ranks. ranch which is a shelter for victims The Women’s Organization to of sex trafficking,” said Brown.
for when our Sailors are out in town.” WORTH has created an environment for others to speak up and voice their opinions without fear of judgment. “We have a lot of round-table discussions,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Kimberly Patten. “At the end, we ask for feedback on what they would like to do next and everyone has a voice. It doesn’t matter if you are a lieutenant or a seaman, everybody becomes equal.” The organization is about building friendships to introduce new members to a comfortable environment to voice their concerns and opinions. “Usually at the beginning, our new members are pretty quiet just listening and looking, but by the end they are talking and participating,” added Patten. “It has created an outlet Reach, Teach and Help where these Sailors can be (WORTH) is a group heard. We like to include aboard the aircraft everyone in what we do.” carrier USS George Involving others is Washington (CVN 73) just one part of WORTH. that gives women of The rest is building all ranks opportunities successful Sailors who to find mentorship can take what they have and guidance from learned and bring it with women of senior ranks. them to future commands. “We have a lot of “I love watching women aboard, aged grow,” said 18-22, from all walks Sailors participate in a Zumba event hosted by WORTH. (Photo by PO3 Brian Sloan) women Brown. “I hope this group of life,” said Chief Petty Officer Charlena Brown, founder “The goal is to get women helping keeps going strong. If a woman finds of WORTH aboard GW. “I went women. We also hold physical training herself in trouble, but knows someone around and surveyed these Sailors for sessions, which include yoga, zumba in her department who is part of questions they had for senior women. and spin classes that are open to WORTH, then she can turn to her as Some of those questions actually made any Sailor wanting to participate.” a lifeline. We are a chain-link of help. WORTH also aims to teach Sailors We need to trust each other as family, me angry because it was simple things that they should have learned from how to protect themselves as part of as a GW family, because we see each women in their life growing up. They the Chief of Naval Operations’ goal other more than our own families.” WORTH also aims to teach asked for a group to help them bond to prevent sexual assaults in the Navy. “The Command Master Chief women how valuable they with women and develop mentorship in an environment that would offer asked WORTH if we could come are to themselves and others. “My biggest piece of advice,” said a place to ask those questions.” up with some ideas on how we WORTH meetings are open could prevent sexual assaults,” said Brown. “You never realize who you discussions that give members a Brown. “We are now working on are the most important person to, so chance to escape ship life for a moment teaching some self-defense classes take care of yourself and others.”
I
By S N O s c a r M o r e n o J r
RAISINGEXPECTATIONS
G-4 DIVISION RELIES ON TEAMWORK TO COMPLETE ITS MISSION
M
any would assume after the aircraft carrier G-4’s elevator shop plays a crucial role in medical USS George Washington (CVN 73) completed emergencies that may occur on board. an ammo off-load consisting of 2.6 million “It’s a time sensitive evolution whenever a medical pounds of ordnance that the ship’s Weapons Department emergency occurs,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Mikayla would have their workload grind to a halt, but that simply White. “We treat each emergency as a worst-case isn’t the case scenario. If we are dragging our feet for even a moment, The Weapons G-4 division has destroyed that stigma by the patient could suffer a great deal of pain, so we keeping their shops running in top form with persistent perform our job expeditiously and safely whenever the training and diligent upkeep of their equipment. moment arises.” “We are constantly training ourselves and other Seaman Megan Hainstock is in charge of ordering the divisions in elevator qualifications,” said Petty Officer parts and tools required to keep the integrity of G-4’s 3rd Class Alex Carlock. “We’re always trying to keep elevators and forklift running at optimal standards. our skills honed and ready for whatever may come our way.” A large part of the effectiveness of this division comes from the close-knit camaraderie of the personnel. “We can always count on each other to take care of any workload we’re given,” said Carlock. “In one day we can get five maintenance checks that can range from 30 minutes to six hours of work. We’ll split up the workload and get the job done. This is only made possible because of how efficient each person in this Sailors perform maintenance on a carbon dioxide bottle. (Photo by SN Oscar Albert Moreno Jr) division is.”
“There are many things to order when it comes to weapons elevators,” said Hainstock, “all the way from temperature switches that keep the hydraulic fluid a certain temperature to keep the elevators running smoothly, to actuating devices that operate the doors and hatches of the elevator.” Another shop in the G-4 division is the forklift shop, which provides assistance to shipboard evolutions and forklift training to the ship. “Driving a forklift is a command collateral qualification that includes a class, test and board. We also provide forklifts to different departments and divisions, ranging from G-3, who uses them to move around equipment in the magazines, to personnel from Supply Department, who utilize the forklifts for replenishments-at-sea.” Finally, G-4’s damage control division keeps the Weapons Department’s damage control (DC) equipment at optimal levels of performance in case of emergency. “Our division assists in the day by day upkeep of the DC equipment integrity for the ship’s Weapons Department,” said Seaman David Helton. “We also are in charge of the ballistic armored integrity of the hatches and scuttles of the department’s weapons magazines. Failure to do so would put the watertight integrity of the magazines at risk, damaging equipment.” Instead of grinding to a halt, G-4 has shifted gears to keep their division in peak performance.
“It’s a time sensitive evolution whenever a
medical
emergency
occurs.
We
treat each emergency as a worst case scenario. If we are dragging our feet for even a moment, the patient could suffer a great deal of pain, so we perform our job expeditiously and safely whenever the moment arises.”
PO3 Mikayla White
Petty Officer 3rd Class Mikayla White, from St. Joesph, Michigan, operates an elevator panel. (Photo by SN Oscar Albert Moreno Jr)
G-4 Division Sailors pose for a group photo in a weapons elevator. (Photo by SN Oscar Albert Moreno Jr)
NAVY NEWS
Haitian-American Sailors Help Homeland By Petty Officer 3rd Class Jered Wallem, USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) Public Affairs
CARIBBEAN SEA(NNS) -- For most of the crew of amphibious Prince. “Not knowing what was happening during the disaster assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), the humanitarian mission or how my family was doing, and not knowing if they were to Haiti means a chance to help a foreign country in need being affected by the hurricane was very difficult.” following a natural disaster. But for some, it means helping Oscar has since been able to communicate with his family. their homeland. “I have been “I was born in in contact with Port au Prince, the my cousin and capital of Haiti, talk with him on in 1993,” said an almost daily Seaman Dashiva basis to keep Francois. “I left me informed on Haiti in 2004, what’s going on leaving a large out there,” said amount of family Oscar. behind in Jeremie, As a chief petty which is off the officer in Iwo west coastline of Jima’s supply Haiti.” department, Francois is one Oscar is playing of six Iwo Jima a vital part in Sailors born in the humanitarian Haiti. The coastal efforts for his Sailors and Marines attached to Joint Task Force (JTF) Matthew deliver food to the village of Jabouin. city of Jeremie, home nation. (Photo by PO2 Hunter S. Harwell) where his family is Supplying from, was one that the affected felt the full effects of Hurricane Matthew with reports of more populations with clean drinking water helps prevent the than 500 people killed in the storm and resulting floods. spread of cholera and ultimately saves lives. “Haiti is in a very strange spot on the map; it’s right in the “I feel it is a great opportunity to be able to help provide middle of the tropics, so almost anything that would happen relief to all the people out there, and I am very grateful to like hurricanes and earthquakes will always hit Haiti,” said have this opportunity,” said Oscar. “I am very thankful to the Francois. “Haitians are very strong, and the people there have Department of the Defense to actually go out there and to persevered through a lot of tough times, making them stronger provide the relief and support which is much needed, like the as a people.” support of clean water which is needed to survive. It means a Jeremie has been a main destination for U.S. and international lot to me.” aid since the hurricane struck last week. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) The Haitian-American Sailors stationed aboard Iwo Jima is the lead U.S. government agency for foreign disaster come from many parts of Haiti. assistance and is working with Joint Task Force-Matthew “This affects me tremendously because it is the country I to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the was born in and grew up in,” said Chief Petty Officer Jean people of Haiti following Hurricane Matthew at the request of Oscar, who grew up in Saint Marc, 90 miles north of Port au the Haitian government.
Department: Safety Favorite Sports Team: LSU Tigers Hobbies: Spending quality time with her friends
Department: Supply/ S-13 Favorite Sports Team: Kansas City Chiefs Hobbies: Playing sports and traveling
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