WASHINGTON SURVEYOR THE
June 21, 2016
By MC3 Kashif Basharat
RECRUIT
DIVISION COMMANDERS Leave LASTING IMPRESSION By MCSN Michael Wiese
accelerateyour
navalcareer RISE TO THE TOP AS AN LDO
PHOTO of the DAY
ATLANTIC OCEAN (June 18, 2016) – The pilot of an F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23, waits to be launched from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Wyatt L. Anthony
RDIVISION ECRUIT Story by MC3 Kashif Basharat
COMMANDERS LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSIONS
A
t first he thought the recruit division commander (RDC) liked to single him out just for fun. He dealt with it; dutifully listening as his RDC recited naval instructions and impressed the Navy’s values upon him. Applying skills and values learned from his RDC, he reported to his first command, the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). “I realize now [the RDC] put pressure on me for a reason,” said Damage
Controlman Fireman Matthew Idos, who was the section leader of 12 recruits in boot camp. “Because of what he taught me, I’m much more meticulous when it comes to attention to detail as I perform maintenance checks throughout the ship. I believe that keeps my shipmates and me safer.” “After we failed one of our divisional inspections, we had a long and a meaningful talk with our RDCs about teamwork,” said Logistics Specialist
2nd Class Matthew Crafter. “With my current job, I have to network with all the repair parts petty officers on the ship to help them receive their new equipment. My RDCs taught me how to help and utilize the people around me, and I truly see the value of teamwork as I apply it.” More than 3,000 Sailors make up the ship’s crew, and in an environment as large as an aircraft carrier, teamwork is instrumental to completing the mission.
“The thing they always preached was respect,” said Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Pablo Guerraro. “I had to learn that in order to communicate other recruits effectively I had to treat them with respect.” Guerraro said he now uses this knowledge and treats all Sailors with the same respect. “Every time I help them figure something out I feel we, as a department, can perform better because everyone is on the same page,” said Guerraro. Chief Yeoman Kevin Putnam, a former RDC, said he always wanted his recruits to leave boot camp more mature and have a better understanding of who they are. “I tried to be more of a people person,” said Putnam. “I liked to just talk with them and laugh with them because at the end of the day, the human factor prevails. I keep that on my mind as I
lead my current department. I know that once I can gain their trust, some of them can come out of their shells and fully express themselves in a positive and constructive way.” Idos said the first few weeks of boot camp were tough but it got better when he realized someone believed in him. He said the encouragement he received from his RDC gave him confidence and a better sense of self. “We keep in touch and he is always asking me how I’m doing,” said Operations Specialist Seaman Joseph Mejares. “I was under a lot of stress trying to adjust when I first came aboard the Washington. I talked to him about it and he gave me a step-by-step plan on how I could motivate myself in the new environment. He constantly encourages me to put forth my best effort with everything I do.”
Story by MCSN Michael Wiese
ACCELERATEYOUR
NAVALCAREER RISE TO THE TOP AS AN LDO
“I
’ve been helping people through the limited duty officer (LDO) community my entire career,” said Cmdr. Don Wilson, the aircraft carrier USS George Washington’s (CVN 73) combat systems officer and former enlisted service member who commissioned through the LDO program, February 2000. The LDO program supports the war-fighting capability and readiness of naval forces by shaping enlisted Sailors with critical leadership and technical proficiency to fill positions that require technical background and skills not attainable through normal development within other officer designators. “You can apply as an E-6 or above,” said Wilson. “You are chosen in the specific community you grew up in while in the Navy. I’m an information professional limited duty officer, which means I grew up in the information systems technician (IT) community.” It’s never too early to start preparing, said Wilson. Check out OPNAVINST 1420.1B to determine your eligibility and make your chain of command aware of your goals. LDOs are technical managers commissioned as line or staff corps officers who progressively advance
within broad technical fields. Unlike Officer Candidate School or Officer Development School, applicants do not require a college degree to qualify for the program, though it is highly encouraged. “Every January we have our senior
LDO’s go to Millington, Tennessee, to pick the next group of officers,” said Wilson. “We have a mantra of, ‘identify and look out for your relief.’ When you see that younger Sailor who has those initial traits that we value and identify with in our community, we start developing that Sailor.”
Every March, selection results are announced via NAVADMIN, said Wilson. Two-hundred sixty-one Sailors were selected out of 1,531 applicants during fiscal year 2016, just 0.1 percent shy of the last five-year average of 17.1 percent. Ensign Paul Thompson, the ship’s electronics material officer and prior chief fire controlman, was selected for LDO and graduated from training August 2015. Like all the other officers commissioned through the program, Thompson was expected to go to work and display effective leadership skills immediately. “When we get out we are expected to conduct ourselves like we have been since we went in enlisted, just now we are filling the leadership roles,” said Thompson. “We learned the history of the commissioned officer and how the LDO came about in the military. We also have a lot of required training like sexual assault prevention and suicide prevention and conflict resolution.” The indoctrination course lasts four weeks and is held in Newport, Rhode Island, where LDO candidates will leave as commissioned ensigns. “You get polished and shined a little bit while in training at indoctrination school in Rhode Island and then get released into the fleet to do your job,” said Wilson.
CVN MAZE
GAMES CROSSWORD
HARD SUDOKU SUDOKU
Department: Supply Favorite Sports Team: Columbian Soccer Hobbies: Surfing and swimming
NAVY NEWS PHILIPPINE SEA (NNS) -- The USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) strike groups commenced dual carrier flight operations in the Philippine Sea June 18. The ships and aircraft assigned to both strike groups began coordinated operations in international waters demonstrating the United States unique capability to operate multiple carrier strike groups in close proximity. While at sea, the strike groups conducted air defense drills, sea surveillance, replenishments at sea, defensive air combat training, long range strikes, coordinated maneuvers and other exercises. “This is a great opportunity for us to train in a high end scenario.” said Rear Adm. John D. Alexander commander, Battle Force 7th Fleet and commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5. “We must take advantage of these opportunities to practice warfighting techniques that are required to prevail in modern naval operations.” As a Pacific nation and a Pacific leader, the United States has a national interest in maintaining security and prosperity, peaceful resolution of disputes, unimpeded lawful commerce, and adherence to freedom of
#USSGW
Two Carrier Strike Groups Double Down in Western Pacific From Commander, Task Force 70 Public Affairs
navigation and overflight throughout the shared domains of the Indo-Asia-Pacific. For more than 70 years, the U.S. Navy has been a persistent and stabilizing presence conducting operations throughout the region on a daily basis.
“Rear Adm. Alexander and I first flew together as a crew in an A-6 carrier-based aircraft in July 1988,” said Rear Adm. Marcus A. Hitchcock, commander of CSG 3. “Today, we continue that long history as our two Carrier Strike Groups maneuver together in the Philippine Sea. No other Navy can concentrate this much combat power on one sea or synchronize the activities of over 12,000 Sailors, 140 aircraft, six combatants and two carriers. It was truly impressive, and it is an important operational capability.”
U.S. Navy aircraft carriers have conducted dual carrier strike group operations in the Western Pacific including the South China Sea, East China Sea and Philippine Sea for several years. These operations typically occur when strike groups deployed to the 7th Fleet area of operations from the West Coast of the United States are joined with the forward deployed carrier strike group from Japan. In Sept. 2014, USS George Washington (CVN 73) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) strike groups conducted combined operations in the Western Pacific and in Sept. 2012 they operated in the South China Sea and East China Sea. In 2009, George Washington and USS Nimitz (CVN 68) operated together in the Western Pacific, and in 2001, USS Constellation (CV 64) and Carl Vinson operated together in the South China Sea. “Working with Rear Adm. Hitchcock and Carrier Strike Group Three, during their deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, has been a great opportunity for us to train on how we would operate multiple carrier strike groups in a contested environment,” said Alexander. “The U.S. Navy has flown, sailed and operated throughout the Western Pacific in accordance with international law for decades, and will continue to do so.”
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underway
movie
schedule
June 21st 2016
Channel 4 Channel 5 0800 Playing for Keeps 0800 Toy Story 1000 Mama 1000 Toy Story 2 1200 Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away 1200 Toy Story 3 1400 Entrapment 1400 Princess and the Frog 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 1600 For a Movie Request Call 4988 1800 Journey to the Center of the Earth 1800 Mulan 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2200 Ice Age 2200 The Little Mermaid 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 0200 Bullet to the Head 0200 Tangled 0400 Silver Linings Playbook 0400 Aladdin 0600 Identity Thief 0600 How to Train Your Dragon Channel 6 Channel 7 0800 Run Silent, Run Deep 0800 Ghostbusters 2 1000 The Bounty 1000 Lone Survivor 1200 Captain Horatio Hornblower 1200 American Hustle 1400 PT 109 1400 About Time 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 1800 30 Seconds Over Tokyo 1800 Grudge Match 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2200 They Were Expendable 2200 Delivery Man 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 0200 Das Boot 0200 God’s Not Dead 0400 The Odd Life of Timothy 0400 The Notebook Greene 0600 Pretty Woman 0600 Zero Dark Thirty
staff 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 L. Smedegard
Editors
MC2 Kris R. Lindstrom
June 22nd 2016
Channel 4 Channel 5 0800 Texas Chainsaw 2013 0800 Ice Age: The Meltdown 1000 Promised Land 1000 Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs 1200 Hyde Park on Hudson 1200 Shrek 2 1400 The Perks of Being a Wallflower 1400 Shrek the Third 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 1800 The Last Stand 1800 Kung Fu Panda 2 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2200 The Impossible 2200 Race 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 0200 Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of 0200 The 5th Wave the Ring 0400 Dirty Grandpa 0600 Lord of the Rings: The Two 0600 Eddie the Eagle Towers Channel 7 Channel 6 0800 The Lego Movie 0800 Finding Nemo (2012) 1000 Heaven is for Real 1000 Looper 1200 Sleepless in Seattle 1200 Won’t Back Down 1400 Ghost 1400 Snitch 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 1800 Breakfast at Tiffany’s 1800 Taken 2 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2200 All is Lost 2200 Hope Springs 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 0200 The Apparition 0200 When Harry Met Sally 0400 Saints and Soldiers: Airborne 0400 Anchorman 2: The Legend Creed Continues 0600 Paranorman 0600 Dallas Buyers ClubW
Content MC2 Jennifer Case MC2 Loni Lopez MC3 Jessica Gomez MC3 Kashif Basharat MC3 Devin Bowser MC3 Alora Blosch MC3 Jaime Marical MC3 Wyatt Anthony 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).