The Washington Surveyor

WASHINGTON SURVEYOR THE

OCT. 9, 2018

By MC3 Trey Hutcheson

By MCSR Steven Young

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY

HAVE IT YOUR WAY

GW CELEBRATES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

MENU REVIEW BOARD

By MC3 Jamin Gordon

By MC3 Julie Vujevich

AIMING FOR SUCCESS

RECOVERING THE NATION’S FALLEN

GW’S SAILORS OF THE QUARTER

GW SAILORS ASSIST IN RECOVERY EFFORTS

washington surveyor

SAILOR in the SPOTLIGHT

Commanding Officer Capt. Glenn Jamison

Executive Officer Capt. Daryle Cardone

Command Master Chief CMDCM Maurice Coffey

Public Affairs Officer Lt. Cmdr. Stephanie Turo

Deputy Public Affairs Officer Lt. Tyler Barker

Departmental LCPO MCCS Reginald Buggs

Divisional LCPO MCC Mary Popejoy

Editor

MC3 Julie Vujevich MCSN Zack Thomas MCSA Jack Lepien

Content MC1 Gary Johnson MC2 Mandi Washington MC3 Michael Botts MC3 Carter Denton MC3 Jamin Gordon MC3 Trey Hutcheson MC3 Marlan Sawyer MC3 Brian Sipe MC3 Kristen Yarber MCSR Steven Young

YN3

STEPHANIE AGUILAR Department: Supply

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.

From: San Diego Favorite Part of the Job: “I enjoy my rate a lot because I always get to help people.”

Time in Navy: 3 years

On the cover:

CS3 Shaquille Roberts prepares meals in the galley. (U.S. Navy photo by MCSR Steven Young)

PHOTO of the

WEEK

Cmdr. Kelly House, left, poses for a photo with Lt j.g. Shanita Williams after Williams’ promotion ceremony . (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Julie Vujevich)

AZAN Roland, Khalil

AOAN Reis, Devon

EMN2 Verbeck, Donald

AOAN Hampton, Quran

MA1 Olander, Susan

AN Ramirez, Jennifer

OSSN Turner, Keiva

ABHAN Arkanoff, Hunter

MA1 Jeanpierre, Richard

ABEAN Grovner, Jalia

MMN2 Torrez, Sarah

AOAN Magana, Marco

MASN Borges, Rosa

ABHAN Horsley, Shauna

MMN3 Hicks, Deandre

ICSN Dalziel, Deana

GM3 Sou, Selena

ASAN Jones, George

EMN3 McLean, Rodney

ETN2 Nguyen, Carlin MM2 Ervin, Matthew

HARDWORK LEADSTOSUCCESS: GWSAILORSRECOGNIZED ASSAILORSOFTHEQUARTER

M

By MC3 Jamin Gordon

erriam-Webster defines success as a favorable or desired outcome. As simple as this definition is, often times obtaining success isn’t that simple. To thrive, one typically puts in long hours of dedicated hard work.

These are also some of the qualities it takes for an individual to become a Sailor of the Quarter (SOQ).

The Navy recognizes Sailors from seaman to petty officer first class for their commitment and enthusiasm toward their work, their command, and their community.

Sailors who show exemplary leadership, self-improvement, and military bearing can be nominated for Senior Sailor of the Quarter (SSOQ), Sailor of the Quarter (SOQ), Junior Sailor of the Quarter (JSOQ), or Blue Jacket of the Quarter (BJOQ).

On Oct. 3, Information Systems Technician 1st Class Trisha Rand, the SSOQ aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Kokou Gbekou, the SOQ aboard George

Washington, Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Edward Lujan, the JSOQ aboard George Washington, and Seaman Andrea Thigpen, the BJOQ aboard George Washington, attended a special luncheon with George Washington’s commanding officer (CO), Capt. Glenn Jamison, and Command Master Chief Maurice Coffey.

This was an opportunity that most Sailors aboard the ship don’t get.

“Lunch with the CO was very relaxed and chilled,” said Thigpen. “We talked to him. He understood our questions. He gave us good responses. He didn’t just treat us like we were just [undesignated]

seamen.”

Lujan shared the same opinion as Thigpen. He stated how Jamison’s calm demeanor made it easy to converse with him. He also felt honored to have the special opportunity to eat lunch with the CO, who is the overall decision maker aboard the ship.

Motivation played a key role in getting these Sailors into the SOQ program.

“When I got sent to Security, I lost motivation,” said Thigpen. “Then I realized at the end of the day, I signed up for this.

I’m still working for a paycheck, so I just had to gain motivation and just push myself really hard so I could stay motivated, continue doing what I’m supposed to, and continue getting trained.”

Thigpen and Lujan are both on temporary additional duty (TAD) from their parent departments to Security Department.

Although they are assigned to a different department, they both put their best foot forward in everything they did.

“I’ve only been in Security for six or

seven months and won Junior Sailor of the Quarter for a department that’s not even my parent department,” said Lujan. “In my parent department, it just wasn’t my time. I overcame that and just did the best I could do and made an attempt to be the best at what I do.”

Earning any of the SOQ titles is an honor because it validates that individual’s endeavors and sets an example for one’s peers.

“It’s a blessing,” said Lujan. “All my hard work paid off. I just try to help individuals around me – my peers. This is a small token of what I got and I appreciate it.”

While Lujan and Thigpen both are examples for their peers, Thigpen’s success had an extra special meaning to her for a specific reason.

“I’m excited because I’m an [undesignated] seaman and I believe it really helps other [undesignated] seamen to know that they can be more than just a junior Sailor. They can work hard and be great,” said Thigpen.

As Sailors, we always hear the phrase “one team, one fight” because we are all one unit, and the Sailors of the Quarter have advice for other Sailors climbing toward success.

“Always try to be the best person no matter where you’re at,” said Lujan.

“Always try to help the people next to you, and always try to be the greatest whether it’s in your parent rate or TAD. Just keep working and keep pushing.”

Thigpen’s advice to others was what helped her along the way: motivation.

“Stay motivated,” said Thigpen. “I know we’re in the yards so we lose motivation and morale can be low, but just stay motivated and work hard, and you can do anything you want to do.”

Sailor of the Quarter boards are held no later than the third week following the end of each quarter. Sailors looking to follow in the footsteps of this quarter’s SOQs can heed the advice of Thigpen and Lujan, or reach out to any of the previous SOQs for guidance.

GEORGEWASHINGTON CELEBRATES HISPANIC HERITAGEMONTH

By MC3 Trey Hutcheson Capt. Glenn Jamison poses for a photo with Sailors while attending the Hispanic heritage ceremony. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Trey Hutcheson)

T

he world is a diverse place, and it’s important to recognize those who bring differences to our lives because our Navy and our nation are strengthened by the diversity of its people.

Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) is one way the nation takes the time to show its appreciation for the contributions of Hispanics throughout history. HHM is observed from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 of each year.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) held a HHM celebration Sept. 26 on the Floating Accommodation Facility (FAF).

Lt. Ruth Cortes, the physician’s assistant aboard George Washington, was the guest speaker. She spoke of her heritage, family, and culture.

“My parents emigrated from Zacatecas, Mexico and I was raised in southern California,” said Cortes.

“The Mexican culture is rich in family values, celebration of life, spirituality, and art. Families are usually extended and they take care of their elderly. There is appreciation of ancestors and history.

Hospitality to strangers and generosity is also a characteristic of most Hispanic

cultures I value.”

Yeoman 3rd Class Stephanie Aguilar, the master of ceremonies for the event, can attest to how important family is in Hispanic culture.

“We are all really close and you never feel like you are alone,” said Aguilar.

“It was hard when I joined because I’m from San Diego and for my first duty station I’m here in Virginia, but I call my mom probably every day. I’m definitely a momma’s girl, so it’s not that bad, and I take leave all the time, so we are good.”

Hispanic culture is also rich with holidays and tradition that Cortes and Aguilar both enjoy.

“The Christmas holidays have some of my favorite Hispanic traditions,” said Cortes. “As a family we would put together an elaborate nativity scene, and on Christmas Eve we would have a dinner celebration that included adding baby Jesus in the manger. It was one of the few occasions as children [that] we were allowed to stay up and open one gift. Also, cooking with my mother during the Christmas holidays are some of my favorite memories.”

While Cortes’ favorite holiday is Christmas, Aguilar’s favorite holiday is

Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos.

“We go out to the cemeteries and bring food and offerings,” said Aguilar.

“The way our culture sees it is the dead are able to cross over and they spend time with us and take the offerings with them. We are really close to our family so even when they pass on, they are still important to us. One year we actually went to Mexico. Usually we just do it here in the states. Our entire family actually attended, which is over 100 people. It was bittersweet. It was good to see them, but then sad because I knew I would not be there again for a while.”

From traditions to holidays and service to country, Hispanic Americans walk together with those who share in the honor and responsibility of calling this nation home. There are more than 56,000 Hispanic Sailors currently serving in the Navy and more than 12,000 Hispanic civilian employees working for the Department of the Navy.

George Washington honors its Hispanic community, military and civilian, for their significant contributions toward protecting the United States at home and abroad.

HAVEIT YOURWAY: MENUREVIEWBOARD COMINGSOONTOA FAFNEARYOU

By MCSR Steven Young

T

GW Sailors eat lunch in the galley. (U.S. Navy photo by MCSR Steven Young)

he Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) conducted a menu review board Aug. 28 and is scheduling another for late November.

As its name implies, a menu review board is an assembly of the food service team and the ship’s crew with the goal of evaluating and improving the current menu.

“A menu review board is a time for the crew to come in and share their feedback and their thoughts on the menu,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Cameron Kelsey, the food service officer (FSO) aboard George Washington. “We, in a service job like this, want to know what’s right with the menu and what’s not quite right because from a leadership perspective, we’re looking at this stuff all the time.

I don’t want to say you get numb to it, but you almost do. But you can be that person that points out ‘Hey, this is not something that works. We don’t like this,’ or ‘Hey, we love this; we’d

like to see more of it,’ and that’s really their division and find out what they what this is for.” like and don’t like. They can be that With another menu review board voice at the menu review board.” fast approaching, each department is Participation is key in getting encouraged to gather their collective accurate feedback from a menu review thoughts on the ship’s current menu board. The amount of input that food and select a representative. This service personnel receive from Sailors representative will then present the determines the effectiveness of the views of their department or division at the menu review board.

“I realize that I can’t get every Sailor on the ship to come,” said Kelsey.

“That’s why it’s important for each division to have a representative. If each division has a representative, CSSN Felesha Hill poses for a photo while preparing meals in the galley.

(U.S. Navy photo by MCSR Steven Young) they can poll

board.

“We’d like to see, at a minimum, a representative from each department, and if possible a representative from each division,” said Chief Culinary Specialist Joseph Magri, the S-2 (food service division) leading chief petty officer. “The more feedback we get about S-2, whether it be good or bad, the better we can try to adjust and improve things for the crew.”

While George Washington’s food service team continually makes strides to tailor the menu to the requests of Sailors, there are challenges that arise on occasion.

“Generally, the main thing that we’ll hear will be Sailors asking for a larger variety of items,” said Magri. “If Sailors say that they want something and it’s available in the catalog from a prime vendor, we’ll do our best to get it on board. With that, there are certain constraints such as availability and price. We have to balance the money we’re spending on food and comparing it to how much we’re bringing in each day. Being in the shipyard, we don’t have as many people that eat on the FAF (floating accommodation facility), so sometimes our menu is constrained to the availability of personnel eating.

CS1 Kevin Payne takes inventory of supplies in an S-2 storeroom. (U.S. Navy photo by MCSR Steven Young)

It really all depends on the availability of the product and the rotation of the meals.”

Even though S-2 is not always able to accommodate certain requests of the crew, every Sailor’s input is reviewed and valued.

“All feedback that we get from these boards is taken into consideration,” said Culinary Specialist 1st Class Kevin Payne, George Washington’s cargo leading petty officer. “There’s a 21-day menu cycle that we go by, but we can adjust that cycle by adding or taking away menu items based on the feedback we receive from the crew.

GW culinary specialists serve meals to Sailors in the galley. (U.S. Navy photo by MCSR Steven Young)

It’s our job to ensure that quality food is being prepared, and what we’re serving is actually what the Sailors want.”

Menu review boards take place quarterly. A date has not been set for the upcoming board, but it is slated for late November.

“When we get a set date, it will come out on the green sheet, the POW (plan of the week), and e-mails will be sent out about it,” said Payne. “Those are a few ways we try to spread the word and get Sailors to participate.”

Every Sailor on board has a voice in the review board. The past has shown that Sailors coming together to voice their requests can bring forth significant changes.

“I strongly encourage Sailors to come out and participate,” said Kelsey. “As the food service officer, I value each and every single person’s thoughts and ideas, and I want to hear them. I’ve helped to write these menus at the TYCOM (Type Commander) level before, and we take into consideration feedback that comes from menu review boards. I will tell you that there’s been a lot of great feedback that I’ve seen over the years that come out of these. They definitely make a difference.”

RECOVERINGTHE NATION’SFALLEN SERVICEMEMBERS

By MC3 Julie Vujevich U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Bounthan Chantala, a linguist for DPAA recovery team, steadies a bucket of soil that may contain POW/MIA remains. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Trey Hutcheson)

W

hile the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) is undergoing refueling complex overhaul (RCOH), two Sailors from the ship’s Graphics Media Department were afforded the opportunity to work with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) on a joint-service mission in Laos.

The DPAA is an agency within the United States Department of Defense.

Founded in 2015, the DPAA’s mission is to recover missing personnel who are listed as POW/MIA from all past wars and conflicts throughout countries around the world.

Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Trey Hutcheson and Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Carter Denton were sent on a temporary additional duty (TAD) for approximately four weeks this past summer to be a part of DPAA and joint-service teams on a mission in Laos to attempt to recover any remains

of service members.

“I was doing forensic photography,” said Denton, “and my job was to open the dig site before we started and close the dig site after we finished excavating and then take an overall shot of any possible material evidence if any was found.”

While photography is nothing new to these two Sailors, the forensic photography that the mission demanded was a little different than the public affairs photography they normally perform on George Washington.

“Forensic photography took out the artistic side of the public affairs photos that we take,” said Denton.

“It’s simpler and less technical. Being that it was an investigation for what was considered to be a crime scene, the photos had to be very detailed and there wasn’t a whole lot of difference from shot to shot.”

The two Sailors were on the same mission, but worked on separate teams.

“I was tasked with recovery team three,” said Hutcheson. “There were two photographers on the team, a forensic photographer and a public affairs photographer, and I was the public affairs photographer. Even though we were photographers, we were also recovery [non-commissioned officers], so we had to help with the digging and search for the remains of fallen service members.”

The work consisted of digging in a grid-like fashion, working four meterby-four meter squares and excavating approximately 30 centimeters down at a time. The dirt that was dug up from each square is put into a bucket and then spread through a metal screen.

Sifting the dirt in this way allowed the workers to recover anything that wasn’t organic to the area, such as fragments of metal or bone.

“We were doing some pretty hard labor, digging eight hours a day,” said Hutcheson. “It was pretty tough, but it was also a great atmosphere and work

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Roy Woo, the forensic photographer assigned to the DPAA’s recovery team, and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Francis Sangimvongse, the linguists for the DPAA recovery team, dig soil out of a dig site (U.S. Navy photo by MC Trey Hutcheson)

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Paul White and U.S. Army Sgt. Nicholas Brown, recovery NCOs assigned to the DPAA recovery team, remove a hose from a pump. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Trey Hutcheson)

environment while working with the team. The leadership out there was truly incredible. They knew how to motivate us and keep us going.”

Even though the work can be hard, TAD assignments can be great opportunities for Sailors to go places and do things they wouldn’t usually do during RCOH. “My favorite part was being in a part of the world and having a hand in something that, outside of the military or this mission, I probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do normally,” said Denton. “I think the

U.S. Army Sgt. Nicholas Brown, a recovery NCO assigned to the DPAA recovery team, uses a broom to collect loose dirt from a unit. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Trey Hutcheson)

U.S. Army Sgt. Nicholas Brown, assigned to DPAA’s recovery team, uses a drill to build a wet screen. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Trey Hutcheson)

mission is important for a lot of people because they don’t really have a whole lot of answers as to what happened to their loved ones and that’s why we were out there: to provide them with those answers so they might get a little bit of closure.”

According to the DPAA website, there are more 82,000 American remains missing from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf Wars, and other conflicts as of September 21, 2018. In Laos, the current status of unaccounted-for Americans lost in the Vietnam War

is 291 compared to its former status of 573, meaning that 282 American remains were identified and repatriated.

“It’s America’s promise to never leave a man behind,” said Hutcheson.

“As a service member myself, it’s very important to me to know that we’re going out and making sure that we’re returning these fallen service members to bring closure to their families because some day that could easily be me. I think that if anyone ever gets the chance to work for DPAA, they should do it. It’s one of the best things we can do in the military.”

GEORGE’S

WARFARE

DEOMI Equal Opportunity Climate Survey The purpose of the survey will be to help commanders understand what is important to you, what concerns you have, and your feelings about the work environment.

Honest responses are the basis for improving the climate. Your anonymity is important and protected.

The survey can be completed via government computer, personal computer and any smart phone.

Goal for completion is above 50%

End Date Extended to October 17th

NAVY NEWS

Navy Announces Deployability Assessment and Assignment Program From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

I

n an effort to maximize warfighting effectiveness and lethality across the force, Navy announced implementation of its Deployability Assessment and Assignment Program in NAVADMIN 239/18, released Sept.

25.

The program will ensure the timely disposition, processing, and accountability of all Active Component, Full Time Support, and Selected Reserve Sailors who are either medically, legally or administratively limited from deployment. The Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel (DCNP) is the single process owner of the program.

“The Navy the Nation Needs is a talented, ready and lethal active and reserve force, and we need deploymentready Sailors to accomplish the mission,” said Rear Adm. Jeff Hughes, DCNP. “While command leadership is responsible for overall personnel readiness, our Sailors bear the ultimate responsibility for their individual readiness and deployability status, and this new program is designed to help our force successfully achieve both goals.”

Starting October 1, 2018, Sailors who have been non-deployable for 12 consecutive months will be notified of mandatory processing for administrative separation or referral to the Disability Evaluation System (DES), as appropriate. The policy applies to all Sailors, regardless of current duty type (operational or non-operational).

Military treatment facilities and Sailors’ commands will make deployability assessments by determining a Sailor’s ability to perform appropriate military duties commensurate with his or her

U.S. Navy Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) man the rails as the ship departs its homeport of San Diego. The Carl Vinson Strike Group is operating in the Pacific as part of a regularly scheduled deployment. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Eleanor D. Vara/Released)

office, grade, rank, or skill in light of ongoing medical treatment or administrative limitations.

Commands will use written counseling and performance evaluations to document a Sailor’s knowing failure to comply with responsibilities to maintain individual readiness (e.g., missing medical or dental appointments or intentional failure to disclose status affecting deployability).

Sailors who fail to comply with this policy could ultimately receive administrative separation.

“Sailors who receive notifications will have the opportunity to be considered for retention by the Secretary of the Navy,” said Capt. Chris Harris, director, distribution management division, career management department, Navy Personnel Command. “All retention determinations will be made on a caseby-case basis.”

Retention may be granted if determined to be in the best interest of the Navy.

A Sailor who is unable to deploy for administrative reasons must personally submit a retention request. A medical evaluation board may recommend retention on behalf of a Sailor who is unable to deploy for medical reasons,

if it is likely that the Sailor’s medical condition will ultimately permit a return to a deployable status.

The Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery is proactively realigning resources and focus to support Sailor readiness and deployability, especially in Fleet concentration areas. However, in some cases, Sailors must be referred to civilian medical networks for followon referrals or appointments. Navy leadership is cognizant of the delays outside of the control of individual Sailors and this factor will be considered in the retention determination process.

Pregnant and post-partum Sailors are exempt from this policy. No other Sailors are exempt, but special categories for retention consideration include combat wounded members, Sailors who will be non-deployable for 12 months or longer due to administrative reasons, and Sailors who have attained such years of creditable service so as to be within three years of qualifying for retirement.

This policy supports Defense Secretary Mattis’ guidance to maximize the lethality and readiness of the joint force, and the release of DoD Instruction 1332.45.