Washington Surveyor (19 May 2017)

WASHINGTON SURVEYOR THE

May 19, 2017

By MCSA Julie Vujevich

REMEDIATION TEAM WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY DO

By MC3 Joshua David DuFrane

dECKtEAM:

IT’SHAMMERTIME

By MC2 Bryan Mai

DRUNKDRIVING MORE THAN A STATISTIC

On the cover:(May 15, 2017) MM2 William Stinbaugh conducts a radiation survey. (Photo by MCSA Julie Vujevich)

PHOTO of the DAY

(May 18, 2017) - Cmdr. Kerri Yarbrough, GW’s supply officer, salutes the side-boys as she departs the ship for her next command. (Photo by MC3 Anna Van Nuys)

The Washington Surveyor Commanding Officer

Executive Officer

Command Master Chief

CAPT Timothy Kuehhas

CDR Colin Day

CMDCM James Tocorzic

Public Affairs Officer

Deputy PAO

Media DLCPO

Media LPO

LCDR Gregory L. Flores

LTJG Andrew Bertucci

MCC Mary Popejoy

MC2 Kris R. Lindstrom

Staff

Editors MC2 Jennifer O’Rourke MCSA Julie Vujevich

MC3 Kashif Basharat MC2 Alora Blosch MC2 Jessica Gomez MC2 Bryan Mai MC2 Jules Stobaugh

MC3 Devin Bowser MC3 Carter Denton MC3 Joshua DuFrane MC3 Jacob Goff MC3 Shayla Hamilton

MC3 Brian Sipe MC3 Anna Van Nuys MCSN Jamin Gordon MCSN Alan Lewis MCSN Oscar Moreno

MCSN Kristen Yarber MCSA Michael Botts

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 julie.vujevic@cvn73.navy.mil*

PLANNINGIT

SMARTLY GW Commences Smart Start

T

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 support 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

Washington’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.

Above: (May 10, 2017) ABH3 Jeremy Weaver uses a grinder to sharpen a jack hammer drill bit that is being held by ABHAN Christopher Hood. (Photo by MCSN Oscar Moreno)

(May 10, 2017) AN William Walsh tears up old deck plates. (Photo by MC3 Joshua David DuFrane)

DECKTEAM: IT’SHAMMERTIME

M

By MC3 Joshua David DuFrane

etallic clashes ring throughout the dust-filled air as Sailors swing their sledge hammers meticulously and methodically against the deck plates of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73).

As the ship prepares for refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) maintenance, Sailors are sent to Temporary Assigned Duty stations (TAD) to fulfill the command’s mission; one such TAD billet is the deck team.

“The deck team is tasked with removing all the deck plates on the ship that need to be replaced,” said Lt. Mircea Pamfil, production manager for the deck removal

team. “We also prepare and prime the decks for the installation of the new f loors.”

Being one of the few Production teams to start work months ahead of RCOH, the deck team sets the ship up for a successful RCOH by getting the work done ahead of time.

“Decks have to be removed before other jobs may commence; for example, the mess decks had to be cleared in order to clear the way for the removal of the reactor pump,” said Pamfil. “We had to remove decks and grind the deck to bare metal so that firemain pipes could be rerouted ahead of major bulkhead alterations. The soon-

“I have the best group of Sailors I could possibly ask for. They are always on time, they volunteer to work on their duty days when they don’t have watch or other responsibilities, and their work ethic is second to none.”

-Lt. Marcia Pamfil er all required decks are removed, about being on deck team is swing“I have the best group of Sailors the faster other teams can begin their ing the sledge hammer,” said Airman that I could possibly ask for,” said respective work.”

William Walsh, a member of the deck Pamfil. “They are always on time, The deck team knows the task, and team. “It’s an amazing feeling to tear they volunteer to work on their duty applies teamwork to get each job up the deck plates because we get to days when they don’t have watch or done at an incredibly fast pace. tear up the ship and because it builds other responsibilities, and their work “Deck team is two months ahead muscle; so it’s a win-win situation.” ethic is second to none. I couldn’t be of the Advanced Planning Team’s It is because of their team spirit happier with the team I have.”

(APT) Smart Start jobs,” said Pam- and passion for the job that Pamfil is The hard work and exceptional fil. “We are looking at completing happy to have the team he has. team participation by the deck team Smart Start by the end has resulted in numof this month, and we bers that speak for are already taking on themselves. future jobs now and From January 2017 accomplishing them to April 2017, the ahead of schedule.” deck team properly With a work hard, removed and restored play hard attitude, the 26,591 square feet of deck team always puts deck coverings yieldin a full day’s work ing $904,098 of fiand then some. nancial savings to “Deck team is givthe Department of en a lot of work to the Navy, and elimdo,” said Aviation inated the need for Boatswains Mate contractor utilization.

(Handling) Airman To date, 31 passageChristopher Hood. ways, 49 work center “We never fall behind offices and 40 officer though. We know that state rooms have been we can’t leave until the completed, which job is done, so we all places the deck team work together to make two months ahead of the job easier and go schedule. by faster. We come in, RCOH is a time we have a job to do, consuming process we do the job and we but with the deck go home.” team’s commitment Tearing up decks is to the strenuous misno easy task, but the sion, GW paves the Sailors on the deck way for future carriteam enjoy the beneers going into an exfits it provides. tended maintenance (May 18, 2017) QM3 Ryan Crosby uses a jack hammer to tear up old deck plates.

“My favorite part (Photo by MCSA Julie Vujevich) period.

REMEDIATIONTEAM

T

By MCSA Julie Vujevich

he Remediation Team, or PM33, aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), is a newly formed temporary assignment for the ship’s refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) maintenance period, comprised of contamination technicians. These technicians are specialists at surveying, storing and disposing of contaminated waste.

The team is tasked with evaluating the radiological status of ventilation and motor systems that may have been contaminated during the Fukushima nuclear

incident in March of 2011 while George Washington was docked for maintenance in Yokosuka, Japan.

“Anything that moves air on the ship, whether it’s a motor, vent system, or anything that pushes air around, has the possibility of containing radiation or contamination,” said Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Charles Ripperger, one of three assistant leading petty officers. “It’s our job, going into RCOH, to survey all of those areas on the ship.”

Although it is not anticipated to find any high levels of contamina-

tion, the importance of the team’s work cannot be ignored.

“We verify that components are safe for personnel to operate, clean or work on and that there is no health risk to any personnel,” said Lt. Christine Jackson, the team’s division officer. “When we take our surveys, we are verifying that contamination levels are below their limits.”

The technicians chosen for the project have backgrounds in maintenance, mechanical systems, and machinery to ease the process of learning how to do radiological surveys.

It’s actually pretty impressive that, since this team has started, everybody has learned to do stuff outside of their rate for RCOH. It’s almost like learning an entirely new rate for these people.

-AO2 Charles Ripperger

“It’s a whole bunch of different departments involved, all the way from engineering to weapons,” said Ripperger. “Everybody has been hand-picked by either Lt. Jackson or by their parent divisions. It’s a ‘mixed bucket’ of different people, everybody is from a different background. It’s actually pretty impressive that, since this team has been started, everybody has learned to do stuff outside of their rate for RCOH. It’s almost like learning an entirely new rate for these people.”

To learn how to do the job, the Sailors attend a classroom-style training and hands-on practical assessments that last between two and seven days.

“The initial training is just to certify that the technicians are qual-

ified to do the job,” said Jackson.

“The actual training to build up a level of proficiency takes weeks.

It is a continuous process and we train on that a few times a week as a division or in small groups to build on that level of knowledge.”

Each survey requires a Work Authorization Form (WAF) and a tag-out procedure. It also requires contact with the parent division that owns the space. It can take a few days to get that work package secured and ready for survey. The surveying process lasts approximately an hour, depending on how easy it is to access the space.

“I think it is important to communicate that anyone opening a ventilation system or working on any ventilation component or mo-

tor should be communicating with us prior to conducting that work to see if we need to be involved to see if there’s any radiological surveys required,” said Jackson.

The team uses calibrated Radiacs to scan and survey the areas. They take multiple samples of the parts to get an accurate assessment.

The work list is more than 1,000 items yet to be surveyed and growing constantly due to the increase in production and repair work being done by contractors as the ship moves further into RCOH. The Remediation Team verifies that there is no health risk for any personnel when operating, cleaning or working on any component, this means any contamination level is well within safe limits.

(May 15, 2017) Sailors tighten down the barrel covers in preparation for a radiation survey. (Photo by MCSA Julie Vujevich)

(May 15, 2017) MM2 William Stinbaugh moves barrels through the hangar bay (Photo by MCSA Julie Vujevich)

(May 15, 2017) MM2 William Stinbaugh conducts a radiation survey. (Photo by MCSA Julie Vujevich)

DRUNKDRIVING: MORETHAN

A STATISTIC

By MC2 Bryan Mai

M

ost Sailors are familiar with the dangers of driving under the inf luence of alcohol. We see and hear the messages that discourage drinking and driving, but it is still one of the leading causes of injuries or deaths in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 10,000 people were killed in dr unk driving accidents each year from 2010-2014, or 1 every 53 minutes. The consequences of dr unk driving are very real.

“People don’t realize what kind

of effect dr unk driving will have,” said Operations Specialist 3rd Class Col Weatherly. “They don’t know what kind of impact it will have on themselves and their family, or on another person and their family.”

Weatherly’s step-father was involved in a car accident in which he and the other driver had been drinking. The passenger in the other car was killed and Weatherly’s step-father was seriously injured.

“The accident brought us together as a family at f irst, but after he

went to prison, it ended up tearing the family apart. He changed a lot, some for the good and some for the bad, but he’s def initely a different person after the accident and my parents eventually got divorced.”

The impact of dr unk driving stretches far beyond just the intoxicated driver affected. Alcohol-related traff ic accidents involve passengers, pedestrians and occupants in other vehicles. Other victims include the family and friends of the drivers, any passerby and even the police off icers and medical team that have to see

Graphic courtesy of www.newswheel.com

a traumatic scene.

“My friend in high school drove dr unk, got into an accident and was seriously injured,” said Damage Controlman Fireman Nawaz Sharif. “He didn’t hit anyone, but he ran into a tree. He was a top athlete with scholarships and after the accident, he lost all motivation to do the usual things he did, like sports, and he lost all his scholarships.”

Consequences of drinking and driving include loss of rank or pay, separation form the Navy, civilian punishments such as jail time and f ines, and possible injury or death.

“Most people probably feel they can handle the alcohol,” said Sharif. “They don’t consider other people and forget about everything else that matters when they drink and drive.”

According to the National Highway Traff ic Safety Administration, dr unk driving costs the U.S. $44 billion a year. A f irst-time offense can cost the driver up to $20,000 in f ines and legal fees.

“If someone is seen drinking and you know they were driving, you should step in and do something to stop them from driving,” said Weatherly. “Call Uber, call a taxi, or someone or take their keys.

Too many people will stand by and watch someone drink then go drive back home and think it’s not their problem. They need to start making it their problem.”

The Navy offers many programs to curb drinking and driving. Many ships, including USS George Washington (CV N 73), offer a “Safe Ride” program for Sailors to take a taxi home. The taxi service will bill them at a later date. For more information about the “Safe Ride” program, please contact your departmental DAPA.

NAVY NEWS

T

he Navy announced Tuesday in NAVADMIN 119/17 that personnel who wrongfully distribute or broadcast intimate images in violation of Article 1168 of U.S. Navy Regulations will face mandatory administrative separation processing.

“There is no room in our Navy for this toxic behavior,” said Chief of Naval Personnel, Vice Adm. Robert Burke. “This new policy shows that we are committed to eradicating this behavior from our force.”

These changes align with All Naval Message (ALNAV) 021/17, released April 18, which updated U.S. Navy Regulations with Article 1168, making it unlawful to share an intimate image of someone without their permission for personal gain or to humiliate, harm, harass, intimidate,

Navy Updates Policy on Wrongful Distribution or Sharing of Intimate Images From Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

threaten, or coerce the depicted person or with reckless disregard of harm to the victim.

Military Personnel Manual (MILPERSMAN) Article 1910233, Mandatory Separation Processing, and MILPERSMAN 1910142, Separation by Reason of Misconduct - Commission of a Serious Offense, have been updated to reflect this new policy for enlisted personnel.

This mandatory processing shall be conducted based upon the version of the MILPERSMAN in effect on the date the violation occurred. Officers who violate Article 1168 will be

subject to administrative separation processing in accordance with SECNAVINST 1920.6C. For more information read NAVADMIN 119/17 at www.npc.navy.mil.

CVN MAZE

GAMES CROSSWORD

HARD SUDOKU SUDOKU