WASHINGTON SURVEYOR THE
DEC. 26, 2017
2017 YEAR IN REVIEW
The Washington Surveyor
PHOTO
of the
WEEK
Commanding Officer CAPT Glenn Jamison
Executive Officer CAPT Colin Day
Command Master Chief CMDCM Maurice Coffey
2017 THE YEAR THAT WAS
Public Affairs Officer LCDR Gregory L. Flores
Deputy Public Affairs Officer
By MCSN Steven Young
LT Andrew Bertucci
Editors MC3 Devin Bowser MC3 Kashif Basharat MCSN Julie Vujevich
Content MC2 Alora Blosch MC2 Jessica Gomez MC2 Bryan Mai MC2 Anna Van Nuys MC3 Joshua DuFrane MC3 Jamin Gordon MC3 Shayla Hamilton MC3 Trey Hutcheson MC3 Alan Lewis MC3 Brian Sipe MC3 Kristen Yarber MCSN Oscar Moreno MCSN Marlan Sawyer MCSN Michael Botts MCSA Adam Ferrero MCSA Steven Young
ABOVE: (Dec. 16, 2017) - QM3 Moise Monestime lays a wreath on a grave during a Wreaths Across America ceremony at Hampton National Cemetery. George Washington Sailors, veterans, and civilan volenteers laid more than 7000 wreaths during the event. (Photo by MC2 Jessica Gomez)
QUESTIONS of the WEEK
DC
Q: What Aqueous Film Forming Foam stations are injection only?
A: 1,2,11 AND 12
3M
proud of. These are some of the past events and future goals as George Washington prepares to bring in the New Year. The year kicked off with the annual George Washington Birthday Gala at the Hampton Roads Convention Center Feb. 16. This gathering is held every year around George Washington’s birthday (Feb. 22) to celebrate the namesake of the ship
is the periodicity of Maintenance Q: What Requirement card S-2?
A: 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).
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s 2017 draws near it’s end Sailors aboard the Nimitzclass aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) are provided an opportunity to reflect back on their accomplishments over this past year. From transitioning the ship from Norfolk to the Newport News Naval Shipyard to the changeof-command ceremony, George Washington’s crew has much to be
SEMIANNUALLY OR DURING EACH UPKEEP PERIOD, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST
Where can you find the command
SAFETY Q: safety policy?
ON THE GEORGE WASHINGTON
A: INTRANET UNDER SAFETY DEPARTMENT.
*For comments and concerns regarding The Washington Surveyor, email the editor at julie.vujevich@cvnit.navy.mil*
(Aug. 4, 2017) George Washington begins the transit to its new homeport in Newport News (Photo by MC2 Alora Blosch)
and to let Sailors know that all of their hard work does not go unnoticed. “I wanted to show myself and a special someone a good time and the party definitely nailed it,” said Aviation Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Carlos Arevalo. “The food was amazing and I even got to show off my Electric Slide on the dance floor. Everyone looked like they were having a great time.” The next substantial milestone of 2017 for George Washington was the Shipboard Consolidated Offload and Outfitting Plan (SCOOP) phase, a process which required offloading all equipment, gear and furniture not hard-wired, plumbed-in or welded to frames to be moved off the ship in order to prepare for refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) maintenance. Sailors offloaded 60,000 line items of repair parts from storerooms, emptied approximately 2,300 spaces and used 45,000 triwalls of items from work centers around the ship during SCOOP. “We finished SCOOP 25 percent earlier than scheduled,” said
(March 31, 2017) ABHC Jorenged Font and AOCS Jeremy Zulz salute the national ensign as OSCM Lumarie Suders raises the flag during the colors ceremony for the 124th birthday of the chief petty officer on the flight deck. (Photo by MC2 Bryan Mai)
(Aug. 3, 2017) Tugboats tow the floating accommodation facility George Washington to Newport News Shipyard. (Photo by MC2 Bryan Mai)
(June 5, 2017) From left to right, Command Master Chief James Tocorzic, command master chief of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, Capt. Glenn Jamison, George Washington’s commanding officer, Rear Adm. Bruce Lindsey, Commander, Naval Air Forces, Atlantic, Capt. Timothy C. Kuehhas, former commanding officer of George Washington, and Cmdr. Philip Bagrow, George Washington’s command chaplain, salute during the national anthem during a change of command ceremony held in the ship’s foc’sle. (Photo by MC2 Bryan Mai)
“We are the plank owners to the second half of this great ship’s service life.” -Capt. Glenn Jamison Lt. Cmdr. Michael Kidd, George Washington’s SCOOP coordinator. George Washington was scheduled to complete SCOOP May 22 but was able to complete the task weeks earlier. “This is the fastest SCOOP on
record for a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier,” said Kidd. Arguably the most significant conversion of the ship’s personnel took place June 5 when Capt. Glenn Jamison became the 13th commanding officer of George Washington, taking
command from Capt. Timothy C. Kuehhas, who had been in command since January 2015. “It is a tremendous honor to take command of George Washington,” said Jamison. “I look forward to serving with the ‘Spirit of Freedom’
crew as we transition to Refueling and Complex Overhaul, and set the pace for successful redelivery – we are the plank owners to the second half of this great ship’s service life.” Upon attaining command of George Washington, Jamison already had his sights set on a successful RCOH. After completing SCOOP, the next step in preparing for RCOH was moving the ship from Norfolk to her new homeport in Newport News. This would be George Washington’s last movement for the next several years. “George Washington’s departure from Norfolk marks the completion
of the most comprehensive and successful Early Start work package ever, directly enabling an on-schedule commencement for her RCOH,” said Jamison. “We are excited this day has arrived. For the past several months, Sailors have been working tirelessly and in lock-step with our shipyard teammates preparing the ship for her arrival to Newport News Shipyard.” George Washington arrived in Newport News Aug. 4 and immediately commenced RCOH. RCOH has been in progress for nearly five months but is still in the early stages of the process. There is
still much more work to be done as George Washington is not projected to return to the fleet until 2021. George Washington is currently on schedule to meet the goal of departing from the shipyard on time and returning to the tip of the spear in the Navy’s fight. 2017 proved to be extremely successful for George Washington in many different ways. From proving to be a dominant war vessel to transitioning to the RCOH phase, Sailors aboard George Washington demonstrated their merit on several fronts and will continue to do so in 2018.
(Sept. 8, 2017) Brody Zerra, son to Lt. Cmdr Joey Zerra, places his father’s new shoulder boards on during Zerra’s promotion. (Photo by MC2 Anna Van Nuys)
(March 29, 2017) RP2 Meredith Mockler, center, poses for a photo with the Navy’s first all-female E-2C Hawkeye team. (Photo by MC2 Jessica Gomez) (May 5, 2017) Sailors from Air Department move branches to clear space for a civil war reenactment at Endview Plantation. (Photo by MC2 Alora Blosch)
(Nov. 18, 2017) Contestants form the Apollo 73 talent show pose for a photo. (Photo by MC3 Kashif Basharat) (Nov. 2, 2017) Sailors from air department compete in a tug-of-war competition. (Photo by MC3 Kashif Basharat)
S T N E M E O H M FT R O A E Y
(Jan. 05, 2017) QM3 Ryan Crosby breaks tiles on the aft mess decks. (Photo by MC2 Jessica Gomez)
(Dec. 8, 2017) Newly frocked petty officers pose for a photo. (Photo by MC2 Jessica Gomez)
(April 27, 2017) RP Joey Rush, left, and AN Alejandro Baisman skate during a skate the SCOOP away event. (Photo by MC3 Kashif Basharat)
(Sept. 15, 2017) Newly frocked chiefs pose for a photo with Fleet Master Chief (Ret.) Scott A. Benning, center. (Photo by MC2 Jessica Gomez)
(Oct. 30, 2017) George Washington’s anchor is removed. (Photo by MC2 Anna Van Nuys)
(Sept. 19, 2017) MA2 Nick Valentino, right, performs the part as a Red Man against FN Thomas Rajkowski. (Photo by MCSN Oscar Moreno Jr.)
(Feb. 13, 2017) Sailors carry mattresses off the enlisted brow during a mattress offload evolution.(Photo by MC2 Jessica Gomez)
(June 12, 2017) AO3 Jordan Ahline lowers the flag during colors. (Photo by MC2 Alora Blosch)
(May. 22, 2017) CSSN Kong Vang prepares food on the FAF. (Photo by MC2 Jules Stobaugh)
YEAR REVIEW IN
JAN. 2017
By M C 3 K a s h i f B a s h a rat
SMALLFALL
BIGPROBLEMS
GW HANDLES WINTER STORM
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snow storm on December 2728, 1892 set the record for the most snowfall in Norfolk as the city was buried under 18 inches of snow. Although winter storm Helena barely scratched 5 inches in some areas, the crew aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) felt her presence when she arrived Jan. 6-7. The snow began pouring down Friday night and continued until Saturday afternoon around Hampton Roads. Sailors on duty aboard George Washington quickly began to clear paths for other Sailors expected to come to work the following days. “It was very cold when we were first out there,” said Electronics Technician 3rd Class Leslie Fann. “The wind cut right through everything I was wearing and the snow was still falling the first time we went out there. Every time we cleared a path and turned around, the path was covered up again. It also did not help the wind was blowing the snow off the flight deck right onto the elevator we were clearing. I was tired, but I felt good knowing I directly contributed to the safety of my shipmates.” Sailors worked over the weekend to
clear snow around the ship and form a safer walking path to the ship. “We were pretty much out there all day on Saturday,” said Logistic Specialist 3rd Class Ileana Marrero Rivera. “We started the cleaning around 8 a.m. and took a break to eat lunch. We ended up finishing close to 5 p.m. Everyone, including our senior leadership, helped out. I feel exhilarated that we could work together as a team to make sure everyone on the ship was safe.” Although Sailors valiantly shoveled the snow and provided a safe route to the ship, some streets around the city and on Naval Station Norfolk became too dangerous to navigate. This caused the base, and subsequently the ship, to shut down for two days following the storm and required only essential personnel to come to work. “It took about an hour to finally get off of base due to traffic,” said Fann, who left Sunday morning. “I grew up where we always got a lot of snow, so I learned how to drive in it early on. However, out here you have to always be on your toes because there are people from all over the United States who may have never driven in
the snow. You have to drive slow and be patient so everyone can reach their destination safely.” Even though the snow may have caused havoc for some Sailors, others welcomed the sight of snow and enjoyed their time off work. “It was the first time I felt a snowflake hit my hands in over five years,” said Seaman Master-at-Arms Joseph Fernandez. “I’m from Arizona and the only time I would see snow was when I traveled toward the Grand Canyon. I really missed seeing snow and this was a nice change of scenery.” “When I got back home I shoveled out my driveway, and spent time with my family,” said Fann. “I took my two sons out to play in the snow for a while, and then we all drank hot chocolate and watched movies afterwards. As well as me having two days off work, my kids were also off from school. I got to spend quite a bit of quality time with them.” The full crew returned to work on Wednesday, Jan. 11, continuing on with the mission of getting the ship prepared for refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) maintenance.
(Jan. 6, 2017) LS3 Ileana Marrero Rivera, left, and ABHAN Marcus Brawner work to remove ice from Winter Storm Helena. (Photo by MC2 Jessica Gomez)
(Jan. 7, 2017) Sailors pose for a photo after shoveling snow. (Photo by MCC Mary Popejoy)
(Jan. 6, 2017) Sailors work to prepare the pier for transit following Winter Storm Helena. (Photo by MC2 Jessica Gomez)
(Jan. 6, 2017) Sailors work to remove ice from Winter Storm Helena. (Photo by MC2 Jessica Gomez)
YEAR REVIEW IN
JAN. 2017
THEFAFISHERE! By M C C M a r y Po p e j oy
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t first sight it may look like a floating barracks building, but the Floating Accommodation Facility (FAF) will provide the crew of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) with some quality of life services while they prepare for Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH) maintenance. The FAF arrived adjacent to GW on Naval Station Norfolk, Jan. 5. Soon the ship will be deemed uninhabitable, which means certain things like berthing and meals will no longer be available on board due to the amount of ship force and contractor work taking place. The FAF is a non-self-propelled, 300 foot barge designed with a four-story building attached to it topside. It will provide messing, office, classroom, medical, dental, and limited crew berthing for duty personnel. The new addition at Pier 12 means the normalcy of some things will change. One major adjustment will be meals beginning Feb. 3. Sailors will be required to pay for all meals (to include coffee or snacks) with their Navy Cash Card. Meal rates for military are $3.45 for breakfast, $5.55 for lunch, and $4.85 for dinner, that’s $429.35 for those who choose to eat every meal on the FAF every day of a full month. Enlisted Basic Allowance for Sustenance is currently $368.29 per full month. “The big takeaway is this will require some budgeting on your end, as well as good selfawareness of how many meals per month you will be eating on board during work and duty days,” said Cmdr. Kerri Yarbrough, GW supply officer. “If you currently eat most meals on the ship while we’re in port
and plan on using BAS to cover your food bill, you need to plan for the meals you eat on the ship, as well as the number of meals you will prepare for yourself in the barracks or out in town.” In addition to meals on the FAF, the barber shop and ship store will move as well. The hours of operation will mirror the current ship hours. Hazardous material pick up will not take place on the FAF. Supply Department will announce the location at a later date. Gym equipment is being moved off the ship, so Sailors will utilize base gyms. Another major change will be the move of Medical and Dental. “We will not be able to provide specialty care (oral surgery/root canals) on the barge. Those will be consulted out to clinics in the area,” said Chief Hospital Corpsman Nelson Lasage, GW Dental leading chief petty officer. “Members will be consulted to the clinic and will have an appointment made to complete the surgery.” Some of Medical Department’s auxiliary services will be reduced and/or no longer available, such as x-rays. Sailors will be sent to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth to complete. “Patients will continue to be consulted out to other medical treatment facilities in the Hampton Roads area as deemed necessary by GW Medical providers,” said Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Venita Johnson, Medical Department’s leading chief petty officer. “We still serve as the primary care manager and services for other locations should only be done via consultation from GW Medical except in case of an emergency.”
While change may bring some growing pains, it won’t impact their commitment to providing the Spirit of Freedom with top notch care. “Medical’s goal is to continue to provide clinical support as needed with little to no impact on GW Sailors,” said Johnson. “If you encounter any concerns, please utilize the customer service surveys to let us know what we can improve and/or what we are doing well.” The GW security department will implement additional security measures on the FAF. “There will be additional Random Antiterrorism Measures implemented, increased inbound and outbound baggage checks, security rovers, and increased Loss Prevention measures in place,” said Chief Master-At-Arms Mark Collins, security division leading chief petty officer. The FAF will provide a lot of valuable services, including Personnel and Admin support. “The personnel office will move between Jan. 21-27,” said Chief Personnel Specialist Brad McAnuff, personnel division leading chief petty officer. “We will have half of our staff since we can’t fit everyone on the FAF, so we ask for your patience as we set up shop on the FAF and Newport News. Customer service and ID cards will be on the FAF. The processing of personnel requests will take place in Bldg. 2600 in Newport News. Pick up and drop off will occur on the FAF,” said McAnuff. XO Admin doesn’t have a definitive date to move to the FAF, but their business rules will remain the same. “Everything we currently do will take place on the FAF,” said Chief Yeoman Kevin Putnam, executive admin division leading chief petty officer. “We will process everything on the FAF, so there shouldn’t be any delays in processing. We ask departments to stick to our timeline requirements so we can continue to process paperwork in a timely fashion.” The FAF will augment the ship in many ways, and GW Sailors will witness and take part in many mission and duty requirements aboard the FAF to better serve the Spirit of Freedom crew now and throughout RCOH.
YEAR REVIEW IN
FEB. 2017
By M C 3 K a s h i f B a s h a rat
GWHOSTS
BIRTHDAYGALA “Tonight was a celebration of all the hard work the Sailors have put in for the past year.”
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- Derekca Collier
ailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), stowed their uniforms, put on their best suits and dresses and rolled out the red carpet for the George Washington Birthday Gala at the Hampton Roads Convention Center Feb. 16. More than 800 guests attended the party, which was spearheaded by the ship’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) team. Sailors and their family members had the opportunity to socialize, eat shrimp next to a large ice sculpture of the ship and enjoy themselves on the dance floor after eating dinner. “I wanted to show myself and a special someone a good time and the party definitely nailed it,” said Aviation Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Carlos Arevalo. “The food was amazing and I even got to show off my Electric Slide on the dance floor. Everyone looked like they were
(Feb. 16,2017) Sailors dance on the dance floor. (Photo by MC3 Kashif Basharat)
having a great time.” Sailors exchanged their entrance tickets with prize tickets upon arrival. Different members of the crew randomly picked out the winning tickets throughout the night. Prizes included watches, tablets, gaming consoles, a 65” HDTV and a grand prize of a trip to Puerto Rico. “Tonight was a celebration of all the hard work the Sailors have put in for the past year,” said Derekca Collier, the ship’s Fun Boss. “A part of the reason we had the party was to celebrate George Washington’s birthday [Feb. 22] but the main reason was to let the Sailors know that they are appreciated for all that they do.” Collier and members of the MWR team began planning the party several months prior. Together, they came up with a theme of making Sailors feel and look like stars. “I went around the mess decks to talk
(Feb. 16, 2017) MACS Vermikalasha Strange, right, holds a winning prize ticket. (Photo by MC3 Kashif Basharat)
with Sailors and used what they gave me as the inspiration for the theme,” said Collier. “They told me what they wanted to see and we tried our best to meet their needs. This was a party for them, by them.” Toward the end of the night, male and female Sailors E-1 to E-6 had the opportunity to model their formal attire to determine who was best dressed. Audience members voted by applause and the male and female winners each received a gift card. “Any excuse to dress to the tee and look fancy is good by me,” said Airman Julien Olynick. “It is unfortunate I did not win, but it was still fun seeing the Sailors show off their attire for the night. I would have never guessed how fashionable some of the Sailors are from seeing them on the ship. This really brought out a different side of them and it was great.”
(Feb. 16, 2017) Sailors model for the best dressed competition. (Photo by MC3 Kashif Basharat)
YEAR REVIEW
(May 4, 2017) IT3 Trevor Sipple uses a forklift to move a triwall box. (Photo by MC2 Bryan Mai)
(May 17, 2017) ABH3 Jeremy Weaver, right, uses a grinder to sharpen a jack hammer drill bit that is being held by ABHAN Chris Hood. (Photo by MCSN Albert Moreno Jr.)
IN
IN
MAY 2017
MAY 2017
ALLDONE!
GW COMPLETES SCOOP By MC2 Bryan Mai
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ailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) have just finished the Shipboard Consolidated Offload and Outfitting Plan (SCOOP) phase, which requires off loading all equipment, gear and furniture not hard-wired, plumbed-in or welded to frames to be moved off the ship in order to prepare the ship for refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) maintenance scheduled for Aug. 4, 2017. George Washington off loaded 60,000 line items of repair parts from storerooms, emptied approximately 2,300 spaces, and used 45,000 triwalls of items from work centers around the ship during SCOOP. “We finished SCOOP 25 percent earlier than scheduled,” said Lt. Cmdr. Michael Kidd, George Washington’s SCOOP coordinator. “We were scheduled to complete SCOOP May 22, 2017 and this is the fastest SCOOP on record for a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.”
YEAR REVIEW
SCOOP, which is similar to a household goods move, but on a larger scale, required a lot of people, moving parts and planning, but with the fast and efficient work of the George Washington crew, the ship was able to finish ahead of schedule. “We started preparing for SCOOP early on,” said Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Jason Wyatt, George Washington’s Deck departmental SCOOP coordinator. “As soon as we heard about what needed to be done, we started staging our spaces to ensure the actual off load would go smoothly. We moved everything to a centralized location so we just had to off load the items from there instead of from all our spaces all over the ship.” According to Wyatt, one of the most difficult parts was ensuring all the divisions within Deck department all matched the pace of the SCOOP process. George Washington’s Deck department was the first department to complete
SCOOP and took about 25 days to complete. “Since SCOOP is finished and out of the way, we can start on the maintenance we need to do before we actually get to the yards,” said Kidd. “We’re now doing what is called Smart Start. We’re going to try to knock out as much of that work as we can to ensure we exit out of the yards on time. It is much cheaper for the Navy to do maintenance here than when we get to the yards.” Smart Start is an RCOH preparation phase before the ship moves to the shipyard in Newport News, Virginia. It involves setting up wiring and cableways and ventilation needed for RCOH and ensuring the contractors have the necessary work centers ready for work. George Washington will be drydocked at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries for a slated 48-month RCOH maintenance period early August 2017.
PLANNINGIT
SMARTLY GW Commences Smart Start
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By MCSN Oscar Moreno
he aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) has completed Shipboard Coordinated Offload and Outfitting Plan (SCOOP) and is now in the Smart Start phase. Smart Start marks the beginning of the refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) maintenance period. During this time, the ship will remain at Naval Station Norfolk, and the prep work that can be conducted in Norfolk is done to prepare the ship for RCOH prior to its arrival in Newport News Shipbuilding. “On January 30, we started an Early Start period ahead of Smart Start due to time critical Reactor department repairs,” said Ensign Stephen Hall, the assistant ship maintenance manager. “Smart Start lasts until the ship goes to Newport News for RCOH.” The crew will see the ship establish temporary systems, remove fuel/lube oil and Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) aboard, removal of the ship’s habitability sup-
port to include food service, berthing with the exception of the Inport Emergency Team, Automatic Data Processing Local Area Network access, and portions of Air Conditioning, lighting and power, removal of decking, offload of Combat Systems equipment, and construction of the Work Control Complex. With lots of work to do, the Spirit of Freedom crew should continue to work hard and get tasks done in a timely manner. “The work we do now will make our lives easier when we pull into the yard, and it will make the lives of “Crew 3” easier when they are trying to complete RCOH,” said Hall. RCOH is no easy feat, but team George Washington is up to the challenge, setting the bar high for future carriers going through RCOH. “GW has already established the reputation for doing this right and ahead of schedule,” said Lt. Cmdr. James Leasure, George Washing-
ton’s reactor maintenance officer. “We will be the first truly successful RCOH if we can continue this for the next four years. If you think you have free time, look around and find your Shipmates that need help and stay engaged. If you work hard when you’re here, and play hard when you’re not, there will always be time for both, but if you don’t give it your all when you’re here it will slowly creep into your personal time to get caught back up.” Conducting the work in Norfolk instead of Newport News allows the Navy to save money and reduce the total time of RCOH for the ship. The crew of George Washington is taking advantage of the work available early in this Smart Start phase thanks to the efforts of those Sailors involved in staying ahead of schedule. Leading the way ahead of other carriers is allowing George Washington to relieve some of the rush of work we will get upon entering Newport News Shipbuilding.
YEAR REVIEW IN
JUNE 2017
NEWCAPTAINONDECK THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE
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ircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) held a change of command ceremony June 5 in the ship’s forecastle. Capt. Glenn Jamison took command from Capt. Timothy C. Kuehhas, who had been in command since January 2015. Rear Adm. Bruce Lindsey, commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic, was the guest speaker for the ceremony and presented Kuehhas with the Legion of Merit. “Someone once told me the essence of leadership meant to get people to accomplish things they did not know they needed to do or did not want to do,” said Lindsey. “Those Sailors you see around here today believe in his leadership vision. That is why they, as a nuclear powered aircraft carrier team, have accomplished so much. And that is why they have always accomplished their assigned mission, whatever it may be.”
(June 5, 2017) Capt. Timothy Kuehhas, right, outgoing commanding officer of USS George Washington (CVN 73), receives a parting gift from Command Master Chief James Tocorzic during a change of command ceremony in the ship’s foc’sle. (Photo by MC3 Anna Van Nuys)
By MC2 Bryan Mai
“I am pleased to be here with you to honor this awesome American, this stellar ship captain, as he humbly turns over command of this great warship and crew in our time honored tradition called the ‘change of command ceremony,’” said Lindsey. Kuehhas ref lected on his time aboard George Washington and how the crew motivated him to accomplish the mission at hand. “Over the two-and-a-half years
that I’ve been here, it has been truly amazing to watch the ‘Spirit of Freedom’ crew at work both at sea and during our maintenance period,” said Kuehhas. “It has been the greatest privilege and honor of my naval career to be able to say that I was a part of this great team. The demands of working on an aircraft carrier are unyielding and I am inspired every day watching over officers, chiefs and crew tackle their many
(June 5, 2017) Capt. Timothy Kuehhas, outgoing commanding officer of USS George Washington (CVN 73), passes through sideboys during a change of command ceremony in the ship’s foc’sle.. (Photo by MC3 Anna Van Nuys)
and diverse challenges.” Under Kuehhas’ leadership, George Washington achieved the FY15 Battle “E” Award, led the ship through the Navy’s first ever three carrier hull swap from Yokosuka, Japan to San Diego and finally to Norfolk, and prepared
George Washington for the refueling and complex overhaul maintenance at Newport News Shipbuilding. Kuehhas will report to U.S. Fleet Forces, while awaiting follow-on orders, as Jamison looks forward to serving as George
Washington’s 13th commanding officer. It’s a tremendous honor to take command of George Washington,” said Jamison. “I look forward to serving with the ‘Spirit of Freedom’ crew as we transition to refueling and complex overhaul and set the pace for successful redelivery – we are the plank owners to the second half of this great ship’s service life.” Capt. Jamison was the executive officer of aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and captain of the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) prior to taking command of George Washington. George Washington is currently in port preparing to enter Newport News Shipbuilding for the mid-life refueling and complex overhaul.
(June 5, 2017) Capt. Glenn Jamison, left, relieves Capt. Timothy Kuehhas, right, as commanding officer of USS George Washington (CVN 73) during a change of command ceremony in the ship’s foc’sle. (Photo by MC3 Anna Van Nuys)
YEAR REVIEW IN
(June 22, 2017) Sailors from various commands at Naval Station Norfolk pose for a group photo after having completed a seven mile formation run in rememberance of the seven Sailors who lost their lives onboard the destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62). (Photo by MC3 Joshua DuFrane)
RUNNINGIN REMEMBRANCE
JUNE 2017
SAILORS RUN FOR FALLEN FITZGERALD SAILORS By MC3 Joshua DuFrane
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t was early in the morning, the sun had barely started its ascent into the sky as hundreds of Sailors from various commands from Naval Station Norfolk, including the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), stretched in formation outside Afloat Training Group (ATG) on Naval Station Norfolk. This gathering wasn’t a physical readiness test or group PT session; this was a seven mile run, every mile honoring a fallen shipmate lost during the unfortunate accident involving the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62).
“We come together to pay our respects and honor the seven shipmates we lost on the Fitzgerald,” said Chief Information Systems Technician Jesse Johnson, Afloat Training Group’s chief petty officer. What started out as a command event for ATG, slowly through word-of-mouth and emails, grew into a multi-command showing. “Usually we do PT every Tuesday and Thursday for CPO-365,” said Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Lerhone Burch, a member of ATG’s PT committee. “We figured instead of doing one of our regular PT sessions,
we should do a seven mile run in honor of our lost shipmates. After talking about it, we figured, ‘Why keep it at a command level, let’s just invite the whole Hampton Roads area to participate.’ So we did and the turnout was incredible.” The runners formed up, four abreast, with Sailors representing different commands taking turns holding the guideon that read ‘Pray for the Seven’, listing the names of the Sailors who paid the ultimate sacrifice. “Participating in this event makes you realize that the Navy is family,” said Information Systems Techni-
(June 22, 2017) Sailors from various commands at Naval Station Norfolk sign the guideon after having completed a seven mile formation run in rememberance of the seven Sailors who lost their lives onboard the destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62). (Photo by MC3 Joshua DuFrane)
cian 1st Class Allison Torres, a Sailor aboard the George Washington. “We have individual commands that joined as one to remember our fallen shipmates. We are all Sailors, 24/7, no matter what.” The run could seem daunting to many, but remembering what the run represented gave motivation to Torres. “I was nervous about the run,” said Torres. “I spoke with a chief for guidance and her advice to me was, ‘Just imagine what the Sailors on the Fitzgerald were doing during the hours of the flooding. Imagine what they were
doing during the collision, fighting for their lives; fighting for their brothers and sisters.’ I kept those words in my head and it gave me the strength to finish the seven miles.” Even though adversity presents itself to the fleet, the strength and support of the Navy family is ever present, even in times of unimaginable grief. Whether at sea, on shore, in good times and bad, the Navy family stands ready to support our brothers and sisters near and far. “Anything that we can do to motivate a Sailor into understanding that this is one team one fight we will
do,” said Chief Boatswain’s Mate Edmundo Brantes, a Sailor aboard the George Washington. “We are all together as one, the Navy is one great big family, and we are all here to support each other.” As a Navy family we not only support each other, but we also train together. Sailors across the fleet routinely practice general quarters to maintain a constant readiness for events that may occur. This vigorous training ensures that the United States Navy and it’s Sailors are always prepared to handle any situation that requires them to save the ship.
YEAR REVIEW IN
JULY 2017
BOR
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Civil War Re-enactment at Endview.
he aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) and crew recently moved to Newport News so the ship could undergo a refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipyard. Moving can be a stressful event. Whether a person is moving to a different state or neighborhood, it is comforting to know a bit about the new place. Newport News offers many recreational and volunteer activities for Sailors and their families. When people think of Newport News, they typically think of the shipyard. This is understandable, since the city has a large industrial history. The city began developing around 1870, when the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway coal-shipping port was built. By 1886, the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company was established. Newport News has developed into much more than an industrial town over the past few centuries. The city
has many hidden gems for families, residents and tourists to visit. If a person is an animal and nature lover, they may want to visit the Virginia Living Museum. This museum features animals indigenous to Virginia, such as endangered red wolves, moon jellies and loggerhead turtles. Whether visiting the museum with family or with shipmates, Sailors can experience the museum as a tourist or a volunteer. There are many ways to volunteer at the Virginia Living Museum, including painting and grounds keeping, as well as special events like Noon Year’s Eve and Night of the Living Museum. If a person isn’t quite the nature bug, they may be interested in visiting somewhere more historical like the Virginia War Museum (VWM). VWM exhibits feature the history and development of the U.S. military spanning as far back as 1775, to present day. Collections include weapons,
personal artifacts, vehicles and much more. In addition, VWM offers summer camp, educational programs and volunteer opportunities. As a Sailor in a new environment, it is important to keep busy with positive activities. This is especially important for George Washington Sailors who may find more time on their hands now that the ship has gone into dry dock for RCOH. Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyler Sam, a Sailor assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), is very familiar with the working conditions in the shipyard. “It’s easy to get into trouble in this area,” said Sam. “To keep from going down that path, I made sure to surround myself with positive people, and get involved with the command by volunteering. My department would set up community service events with local charities like the American Red Cross so that we would have something positive to do.” George Washington’s Command Religious Ministries Department (CRMD) organized several volunteer events for the command while the ship was homeported in Norfolk. The department continues to work diligently
Fireworks During Hollydazzle
in providing events for Sailors to partake in now that the ship is in Newport News. “In the past few months, we have organized several COMRELs (community relations),” said Religious Program Specialist 2nd Class Joey Rush, a member of CRMD. “Some of the events we’ve done recently include volunteering at the Newport News Boys and Girls Club, city of Newport News Beach Cleanup and Sunday Run-day at Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach.” If any Sailors were unable to participate in the recent COMRELs, there is no need to fret. CRMD is working hard to continue organizing more events. As George Washington Sailors get settled in their new home in Newport News, they can take advantage of upcoming volunteer events. Some upcoming events between August and September include Operation Homefront Back to School Brigade, which will be held at the Peninsula Town Center in Hampton on Aug. 19, Hampton Roads Morning of Hope and St. Matthew’s Looking for Caddies. For more information on upcoming events, contact CRMD on the floating accommodation facility at 757-5340269.
Leif Erikson Statue at Mariners Museum
U.S. Army Transportation Museum
YEAR REVIEW IN
SEPT. 2017
GWPINS30CHIEFS By MC2 Alora Blosch
“F
amily members, guests and the crew of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) watched as 30 chief selectees marched in singing ‘Anchors Aweigh’ during the Chief Pinning, Sept 15. The ceremony took place at the Bayview Community Center on Langley Air Force Base, and the guest speaker for the event was (Ret.) Fleet Master Chief Scott Benning. “This is a great tradition,” said George Washington’s Commanding Officer Capt. Glenn Jameson. “This is 124 years of tradition. We have 30
chiefs to pin today, which is nearly five percent of all the chief selectees in the Navy. That’s an incredible accomplishment. I want to say that promotion in the Navy is not recognizing Sailors for their past work, but recognition that the Sailors have the capacity to lead at the next level. You will have to continue to prove that every day.” The ceremony was the culmination of a six-week training period known as CPO 365 Phase II, which began immediately after the chief advancement results were released, Aug. 4. Phase II is designed to strengthen the leadership skills of the chief selectees, and provide
(Sept. 15, 2017) NCCS Nickole Palmer-Seay (left) wipes away MMC Valerie Brin’s tears. (Photo by MC2 Anna Van Nuys)
a better understanding of what it means to be a Navy chief. Phase II also consisted of training on the history and traditions of the Chiefs Mess, mentorship, and additional responsibilities of being a chief petty officer. “Not everything that we went through was designed to be difficult,” said Chief Machinist’s Mate Darren Kovas. “Some of it was to teach us things, but some of it was designed to be hard. They wanted to see if we really wanted this and if we were going to go the extra mile to get our anchors. It made it much more worth it.” With the six weeks now complete, Benning spoke about their new roles in leadership, and sometimes they’ll just need to chill out and remember his motto of ICE; inspire, challenge and empower. “Inspire,” said Benning. “Be the type of leader that can inspire people to be like you. It’s not just how you lead your life in the life lines, you’re a chief petty officer. It’s about how you live your life 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. You are going to have to challenge your Sailors to do more than they ever thought they could do, and never forget that someone
(Sept. 15, 2017) MAC Lindsey Jazwinski, left, shakes hands with Capt. Glenn Jamison. (Photo by MC2 Anna Van Nuys)
did that for you. That challenge part is where a great deal of leadership takes part because in order to chal-
“This is 124 years of tradition. We have 30 chiefs to
lenge them, you have to give them the training, the knowledge, and the resources to go forward and perform the task that you’ve given them. Only after you challenge them, will you have the ability to empower them to go forward and lead. You can empower them because you’ve given them the confidence, you’ve given them all those tools, resources, and knowledge to accomplish a task.” Benning also stated that family
comes first because without the sacrifices that loved ones make, no one would be able to get to where they are now. He thanked the families for their support and for showing up to celebrate this moment with the soonto-be chiefs. Families came from far and wide, some flying from places like Montana and others driving up the coast. “We live in North Carolina,” said Jeanne Raney, the mother of a newly pinned chief. “We drove four hours to get here. When we first found out, it was something we didn’t want to miss.” Having family there to celebrate this moment meant a lot to those being pinned as well. “It’s an indescribable feeling that anybody would have, I would think,” said Chief Operations Specialist Travis Raney. “We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for our families. They take up a lot of the slack when we are gone. It means a lot to have them here.” As the ceremony came to a close and families and crewmembers cheered for their Sailors, the newly pinned chiefs came together for their first chant as the fiscal year 2018 chief petty officers. “U-S-S GEORGE WASH-ING-TON! NAVY CHIEF! NAVY PRIDE!”
pin today, which is nearly 5% of all the chief selectees in the Navy. That’s an incredible accomplishment.” -Capt. Glenn Jamison
(Sept. 15, 2017) ATC Viola Boone is pinned chief anchors by her family and friends. (Photo by MC2 Jessica Gomez)
YEAR REVIEW IN
AUG. 2017
(Aug. 18, 2017) Cmdr. Philip Bagrow, a chaplain assigned to George Washington, leads Sailors in prayer at a command picnic at Ocean Breeze Water Park. . (Photo by MC2 Bryan Mai)
(Aug. 18, 2017) ATAN Jonathan Deisenroth, right, puts a wristband onto CS1 Miguel Zavala during a command picnic. (Photo by MC2 Bryan Mai)
(Aug. 18, 2017) Sailors with their friends and family members prepare their food during the command picnic. (Photo by MC2 Bryan Mai)
(Aug. 18, 2017) Sailors eat during a command picnic at Ocean Breeze Water Park. (Photo by MC2 Bryan Mai)
(Aug. 18, 2017) Sailors with their friends and family members relax at Ocean Breeze Water Park during a command picnic. (Photo by MC2 Bryan Mai)
ENJOYINGTHEWATER
GW SAILORS RELAX DURING COMMAND PICNIC
T
he aircraft carrier USS George Washington’s (CVN 73) Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) division hosted a command picnic at Ocean Breeze Water Park in Virginia Beach Aug. 18. MWR rented out nearly half the park and sold more than 1200 tickets, blowing past the goal of 1000 tickets. “The work the Sailors did to get to this point (the underways last year, SCOOP, and the current RCOH period) wasn’t easy,” said Derecka Collier, George Washington’s Fun Boss. “We wanted to give back to the Sailors and the command for the hard work they did in bringing the ship to the yards and, well, what’s more fun than a water park?” The weather was perfect for a day at the water park and the water compli-
By MC2 Bryan Mai
mented the heat of the sun. “I can’t wait to ride the slides with the MWR team and Sailors,” said Collier. “It was a lot of work putting this together but it was worth it. My family isn’t here with me today but the GW is another family and they’re here.” Many Sailors also brought their families to the water park to enjoy the day. “I brought my family today because they deserve it just as much as I do,” said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class John Stone, from Aurora, Colorado. “It gives them a chance to be a part of everything I’ve been through so far. We are having a great time and we just went down a few of the slides. The kids went down a slide that had a drop to it and I thought they would be more afraid of it but they did a good job going down.”
The event stretched from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and included a buffet and a raffle for various prizes, such as a trip to Disneyland and a smart watch. “I think it’s awesome they’re doing this picnic,” said Stone. “It keeps people engaged and gets people to go out and do things they don’t normally do. Maybe they don’t like to go out or like to explore or whatever the case may be. With this, they get to actually do it and have fun. They get to do things with the chain of command in a more relaxed environment.” George Washington’s MWR team has a few more events in mind, such as a command car show, a command talent show, a ski trip and a command party. For more information on upcoming MWR events, visit their office on the Floating Accommodation Facility.
(Aug. 18, 2017) Sailors with their friends and family members relax at Ocean Breeze Water Park during a command picnic. (Photo by MC2 Bryan Mai)
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