WASHINGTON SURVEYOR THE
Dec. 7, 2016
By SN Jonathan Price
visuallandingaid watch it launch, watch it land
By SN Oscar Moreno Jr.
STRENGTHENING
THE SHIELD Security Reaction Force Basic (SRF-B) Training Begins
By PO3 Clemente Lynch
loveofthegame gw softball players showcase talents on diamond
On the cover: PO3 Jerome Gordon directs an EA-18G Growler on the flight deck. (Photo by PO3 Clemente A. Lynch)
PHOTO of the DAY
PO3 Learneice Ussery, right, uses a crescent wrench to charge a refrigerant to the reefer system. (Photo by SN Oscar Albert Moreno Jr.)
staff Commanding Officer
Executive Officer
Command Master Chief
CAPT Timothy Kuehhas
CDR Colin Day
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 SN Krystofer Belknap
SN Jamin Gordon SN Oscar Moreno Jr. SN Jonathan Price SN Julie Vujevich
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 Jo n at h a n P r i c e
VISUALLANDINGAID WATCH IT LAUNCH, WATCH IT LAND
T
he flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) is known to Sailors as one of the most dangerous places to be during flight operations. Looking out on the non-skid for the first time, one word comes to mind: chaos. The extremely skilled flight deck crew gets aircraft off with ease and turns chaos into control. However, below decks there is a network of procedures to complete flight operations safely. That network is operated by the Visual Landing Aid (VLA) team, which is part of GW’s Air Department V-2 division. VLA members specialize in traditionally non-aviation ratings, coming from rates formerly known as interior communications electricians (IC) and electrician’s mates (EM). “It’s strange being in the Air Department,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Adrian Quintos. “We aren’t air rates yet we’re surrounded by them. We do what we were all trained to do, but we work somewhere we’re not used to.”
One of the systems VLA operates is the Integrated Launch And Recovery Surveillance System, or ILARTS. “Using ILARTS, we are able to provide safety on the flight deck because they almost serve as security cameras,” said Quintos. “We use it during flight operations to line up planes as they land.” VLA owns 10 cameras on the flight deck, which provide a full view of the catapults, arresting gear, and catwalks at all times. “Landing on a carrier in the ocean is hard already,” said Quintos. “We make it that much easier by having a couple of cameras in the middle of the landing area.” Another system to help pilots land more accurately is the Improved Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System (IFLOLS), a series of lights more commonly known as the ‘meatball.’ IFLOLS indicates a pilot’s glideslope so they can make sure they’re not coming in too far off the mark in any direction. “It looks very precise, and there’s no
PO3 Dionta A. Gardner records aircrafts landing from the ‘spit.’ (Photo by SN Krystofer N. Belknap)
doubt in your mind,” described Cmdr. David Whitmer, GW’s Mini Boss, about a pilot’s view of the meatball. “What’s really neat about the lens is it’s actually inertially stabilized so if the ship is moving, it’ll take that motion into account to steady itself. You’re looking at lights on the ship that have been designed and engineered to help you land the aircraft.” Whitmer said pilots would have an extremely difficult time trying to land without the visual aids provided by V-2 Sailors. “The human mind is designed not to land on a ship in an aircraft going 160 miles an hour,” said Whitmer. “You would naturally want to aim your aircraft toward where you currently see the ship, not thinking the ship is going to be forward of that in a few seconds.” Landing on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier can be the hardest objective for an aviator, but with the help of the VLA team, GW is able to safely recover aircraft time after time.
PO3 Camesha K. Walters broadcasts the flight operations from the ‘spit.’ (Photo by SN Krystofer N. Belknap)
By S N O s c a r M o r e n o J r.
STRENGTHENING
THESHIELD Security Reaction Force Basic (SRF-B) Training Begins
A
new generation of the course pay diligent attention to the stander with us,” said Cook. “Every temporarily assigned duty lessons taught by the instructors,” said watch stander is required to be able (TAD) personnel have Petty Officer 1st Class Ralph Cook. to say the definition verbatim and at commenced their Security Reaction “It teaches the students attending a moment’s notice. Some people have Force Basic (SRF-B) training the basics on how to keep the ship never used or held a gun before the aboard the aircraft carrier USS and the personnel attached safe.” Navy, so each person that gets armed George Washington (CVN 73). The intense training takes place in the up with a weapon needs to understand The SRF-B course is a three- hangar bay and the classroom, and the the importance and the responsibility week course to prepare Sailors for OC spray course always draws a crowd. of carrying a loaded firearm that the one-year security billet they’ll “The funniest thing about the could potentially take a life.” fill in the ship’s security force. course is all the rumors that are In the final week, students are The first week of training is focused associated with it,” said Cook. “I’ve taught tactical team movement and on MACH moves, proper usage heard of people telling students tactical communications so they’re of handcuffs, able to carefully and baton strikes effectively clear out “It’s vital that the students going through the course and is topped any space on board off by a fivepay diligent attention to the lessons taught by the to be prepared stage obstacle for whatever course, which instructors. It teaches the students attending the basics incident may occur. challenges “As the defense on how to keep the ship and the personnel attached safe.” Sailors to of the ship, we complete tasks put our lives on PO1 Ralph Cook such as facing the line every day off against we arm up with a the “red man,” an SRF-B qualified that if they put Vaseline on their weapon,” said Cook. “But at the end Sailor wearing red protective gear eyebrows, the OC won’t drip of the day, the most important thing from head to toe, while suffering the down to their eyes. But it actually is being able to come home every effects of oleoresin capsicum (OC). makes it last longer so hopefully day safe and sound. By having the The challenges students face in no one has attempted to do so.” students go through this course, they training are just the beginning. The second week is about weapons will have the knowledge and training “I hope they are prepared to stand familiarity, from how it functions to required to defend and protect both a proper watch with diligence and a total breakdown of each weapon their shipmates and themselves.” perseverance,” said Seaman Stephen component. A key concept for trainees The ship’s security training team Johnson, a member of the ship’s TAD to become familiar with is the definition hosts the course approximately security force. “And that they come in of deadly force, and what conditions every quarter. Any Sailors with an open mind and a willingness must be met to apply such force. interested in joining Security should to get further qualified in Security.” “Deadly force is something that talk to their chain of command “It’s vital that students going through we have engrained into each watch and the Security training team.
PO3 Yohlanna Cort, center, performs a tactical take down on PO3 James Bailey. (Photo by SN Oscar Albert Moreno Jr.)
PO1 Hector Morales gives instructions to SN Arvin Palma. (Photo by PO3 Clemente A. Lynch)
PO2 Nicholas Valentino, Albany, New York, left, instructs PO3 Yohlanna Cort. (Photo by SN Oscar Albert Moreno Jr.)
SN Arwin Palma strikes a training mat. (Photo by SN Oscar Albert Moreno Jr.)
PO1 Lindsay Jazwinsky gives instructions to SN Krystofer Belknap. (Photo by PO3 Clemente A. Lynch)
Th e GW softbal l t e am competes in a g a me in Japan.
love of the game gw softball players showcase talents on diamond BY PO3 CLEMENTE LYNCH
T
hroughout the Navy, various commands boast a number of athletic opportunities for Sailors to participate in ranging from flag football to softball. The matches can vary from league games to games that help build community relations.
The aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) has a softball team that recently competed in tournaments in the Hampton Roads area and Maryland. “We try to help out with the community as much as we can and
we play with the local teams pretty often,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Kevin Ramirez, the team’s coach and captain. “We started the team after the ship got back from deployment. Last month we went to Maryland and competed against nationally ranked
T h e GW s oft bal l t ea m com p et es in a g a m e in G u am .
“We just enjoy playing. If we can play in a tournament that can benefit the community, it’s much more rewarding than playing in a tournament where the winning prize is a trophy.” -PO2 Dustin Vaughan
teams in a ‘Toys for Tots’ tournament.” Petty Officer 2nd Class Dustin Vaughan said the team is more than willing to travel five or six hours just to compete. In January the team will be traveling to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to compete in Freedom Sports Worlds tournament. “We just enjoy playing,” said Vaughan. “If we can play in a tournament that can benefit the community, it’s much more rewarding than playing in a tournament where the winning prize is a trophy.” When they play league games, they
play against other commands in the area. The league games have two different categories for teams because there are shore-based command like Fleet Forces and teams from seagoing commands. The team may compete against any command that has a team, but Ramirez said GW’s biggest rival is the team from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). “Since this is a command team when we play the other commands all are welcome to come out and play,” said Ramirez. “However, when
The GW Softball team competes in a game in Japan.
we go to tournaments outside of league play, I narrow down the roster and try to take the best 15 players.” Next August, the team will be competing in the Military Worlds tournament held in Augusta, Georgia. That tournament consists of more than 120 military-comprised teams from around the country, representing every service branch. The team is always looking for new talent. If you’re interested in joining the team, contact PO2 Kevin Ramirez to find out when practices will take place.
underway
movie
Channel 4 0800 The Hobbit: Battle of Five Armies 1000 Annie 1200 Into the Woods 1400 Unbroken 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 1800 The Gambler 2000 Movie Request Call 4988 2200 The Theory of Everything 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 0200 Selma 0400 Taken 3 0600 Paddington Channel 6 0800 When the Game Stands Tall 1000 Dolphin Tale 2 1200 Scream 1400 Let’s Be Cops 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 1800 Silence of the Lambs 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2200 The Exorcist 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 0200 The Shining 0400 The Hundred-Foot Journey 0600 A Walk Among The Tombstones Channel 4 0800 Seventh Son 1000 Chappie 1200 Hot Tub Time Machine 2 1400 Cinderella (2015) 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 1800 Kingsmen: Secret Service 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2200 The Duff 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 0200 Divergent: Insurgent 0400 Get Hard 0600 Home Channel 6 0800 As Above, So Below 1000 No Good Deed 1200 The Maze Runner 1400 Gone Girl 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 1800 Ernest Saves Christmas 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2200 Bad Santa 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 0200 Step Up: All In 0400 The Nutcracker 0600 The Giver
schedule
Dec. 7th 2016
Dec. 8th 2016
Channel 5 0800 Women in Gold 1000 It Follows 1200 Unfriended 1400 Mad Max: Fury Road 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 1800 Tomorrowland 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2200 The Age of Adaline 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 0200 Ex Machina 0400 Aloha 0600 Hot Pursuit
Channel 7 0800 Hit & Run 1000 Premium Rush 1200 Argo 1400 Sparkle 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 1800 Red Dawn 2000 Movie Request Call 4988 2200 Dredd 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 0200 Wreck It Ralph 0400 The Possession 0600 Skyfall Channel 5 0800 Jurassic World 1000 Ted 2 1200 Southpaw 14000 Minions 1600 For a Movie Request Call 4988 1800 Ant-Man 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2200 Pixels 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 0200 Vacation 0400 Monster House 0600 The Gallows Channel 7 0800 House at the End of the Street 1000 End of Watch 1200 Paranormal Activity 4 1400 Twilight Saga: Braking Dawn pt. 2 1600 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 1800 Rise of the Guardians 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2200 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 0200 Flight 0400 Fun Size 0600 Alex Cross
Department: Maintenance Dept. / Line Favorite Sports Team: South Carolina Gamecocks Hobbies: Working out and reading books
CVN MAZE
GAMES CROSSWORD
HARD SUDOKU SUDOKU