WASHINGTON SURVEYOR THE
Feb. 24, 2017
By MC2 Jennifer O’Rourke
SHINY SIDE UP MOTORCYCLE SAFETY
By MC3 Kashif Basharat
bIRTHDAY gALA WASHINGTON sAILORS lET LOOSE
By MCSN Julie Vujevich
HEART HEALTH awareness is key
By M C 3 K a s h i f B a s h a rat
On the cover: HM2 Diosdado Valera competes in the best dressed competition at the GW Birthday Gala. (Photo by MC3 Kashif Basharat)
gwhosts
PHOTO of the DAY
birthdaygala “Tonight was a celebration of all the hard work the Sailors have put in for the past year.” - Derekca Collier
S Sailors and their families had a chance to get their photo taken at the GW Birthday Gala. (Photo by MC3 Kashif Basharat)
The Washington Surveyor Commanding Officer
Executive Officer
Command Master Chief
CAPT Timothy Kuehhas
CDR Colin Day
CMDCM James Tocorzic
Public Affairs Officer
Deputy Public Affairs Officer
Media DLCPO
LCDR Gregory L. Flores
LTJG Andrew Bertucci
Editors MC1 Alan Gragg MC2 Kris R. Lindstrom MC3 Kashif Basharat
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
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
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.”
MCC Mary Popejoy
Staff MC2 Alora Blosch MC2 Jessica Gomez MC2 Jennifer O’Rourke MC3 Wyatt L. Anthony MC3 Anna Van Nuys
MC3 Michael E. Wiese MCSN Krystofer Belknap MCSN Jamin Gordon MCSA 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*
Sailors dance on the dance floor. (Photo by MC3 Kashif Basharat)
MACS Vermikalasha Strange, right, holds a winning prize ticket. (Photo by MC3 Kashif Basharat)
Sailors model for the best dressed competition. (Photo by MC3 Kashif Basharat)
Sto r y by M C 2 J e n n i f e r O ’ Ro u r k e
SHINYSIDEUP MOTORCYCLE SAFETY
“T
he rider is the only nut that connects the control of the handle bars with the power of the engine.” – an expression people might hear from safety-conscious motorcycle enthusiasts. Sailors in the Motorcycle Safety Program aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) have organized numerous resources for crew members to have a safe riding season. George Washington’s Motorcycle Safety Coordinator Chief Hull Maintenance Technician Zachary Whisenant has about 20 years of experience on a wide range of bikes to share with Sailors prepping to ride. “When you get ready to ride for the season you have to make sure you do your T-CLOCS,” said Whisenant. “T-CLOCS is an inspection list that tells you what to look for with a motorcycle to find out if it’s in good condition and safe to operate. The list is organized by
tires and wheels, controls, lights and electrics, oil and other fluids, chassis, and stands. You need to go through and verify each one, and the list has everything you need on it.” T-CLOCS is a list produced by Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) to promote a safe ride by making riders more aware of their motorcycle’s condition. “Riders have to do maintenance,” said Whisenant. “They have to do T-CLOCS. That’s the best way to do it. If they don’t know how to do T-CLOCS, we have it available; any of the local representatives should be able to pull this up. It is also on the MSF website. If they need someone to help them do it because they don’t understand how to work on it, that’s what our representatives are for. I am a firm believer that anyone who rides should have cognizant knowledge of how to check their vehicle to make sure it is safe. And if they don’t, that’s part of the reason we have this
program.” Departmental representatives manage riders’ accountability through documentation and are a resource for less experienced riders. “The role of the departmental motorcycle safety representative is to keep track of all the people who are riding and make sure they are training,” said Kristin Givens, motorcycle safety representative for George Washington’s aircraft intermediate maintenance department. “We make sure their license, insurance and registration is up-to-date, and they are being safe while they are out there. I have been riding for four years now. It always helps to be able to understand them on that personal level of ‘I have been there.’” For any Sailor interested in owning and riding a motorcycle, the program provides easy access to information. “The first step is talk to your departmental representative,” said Whisenant. “If you don’t know who (Cont’d on next page)
(Cont’d from previous page)
that is, ask or talk to me. Start the conversation. Once you contact your representative the first thing we are going to ask is ‘have you gone through the MSF Basic Rider Course?’” The course, designed for beginner riders, covers how to be a safe rider with classroom time and hands-on riding. New riders learn about the T-CLOCS inspection, target fixation and other road safety concerns; and starting, shifting and riding. “I recommend to everyone, even remotely interested in motorcycles, to take the course,” added Whisenant. “They provide the motorcycle. It’s three days off work, to ride motorcycles and you are getting paid for it. Take the safety course to see if you actually like riding motorcycles, you are in a controlled environment, give it a shot.” Sailors must make a special request through their chain of command to attend the course, which is only held on weekdays. “Most accidents happen because people are not paying attention, not riding to road conditions, or they are making unsafe choices,” said Whisenant. “If you are riding and there are cars in the other lane, you don’t want to be in their blind spot. A lot of times you will have drivers come over into your lane because you are sitting in their blind spot. So, get ahead of them or get behind them. Try to make yourself as visual as possible. Unfortunately, motorcycles are dangerous because drivers aren’t looking for them or people are riding beyond their ability.” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website, motorcyclists are 27 times more likely to die, and 6 times more likely to be injured while riding than those in motor vehicles. A safe ride takes balance, coordination
Poser or Pro? HEAD – That beanie helmet may be legal and it may
protect your head. Maybe not…you only have one brain so why take the chance?
EYES, EARS AND FACE – Watering eyes, deafened by wind blast and able to identify at least 25 different insects by their flavor…another mark of the poser.
SHOULDERS AND ARMS – Wish you hadn’t
gotten that “I Love…” tattoo just before the big break-up? No worries, getting personal with the pavement will remove that in no time.
HANDS – Think those half-finger gloves make you look cool? Real riders call those “Nose-pickers”—that’s about all they’re good for.
KNEES – Posers collect sunburn, windburn, flying debris and maybe road rash. Just remember, there’s no such thing as a fenderbender when you’re on a motorcycle.
FEET – Personal contact with the
shift lever, brake pedal, hot engine or the asphalt will forever change your perspective on footwear…wind on the toes is not “cool!”
POSER
Clearly hasn’t ridden more than two blocks or she’d be smarter about riding gear and riding.
Which are You? HELMET – Well fitted helmets are
comfortable, quiet and protect you from impacts. They’re a smart rider’s first line of defense.
FACE SHIELD – Experienced riders
know how many UFOs are out there and make sure they’re prepared. Clear vision and saving face are a priority with pros.
JACKET – Armored, adjustable vents for changing weather conditions and highly visible to others. A good riding jacket is the pro’s “home away from home.”
GLOVES – provide
a good grip on the bars as well as protecting those pinkies from flying objects, sun and cold. Pros have several pairs to adjust for changing conditions.
PANTS – Another important factor in preventing hypothermia, dehydration, sunburn and windburn. Also, most motorcycle injuries are to the lower extremities. Anyone who is “in the know”, recognizes the value of comfort and protection from the road.
BOOTS – Provide comfort in hostile environments, protection from hot or sharp motorcycle parts and a good grip on the foot rests and the road. A pro knows the importance of all these.
PRO
A smart, knowledgeable rider who knows and has “all the right stuff.”
TEAM OREGON Motorcycle Safety Program 2010. Photography courtesy of Oregon Department of Transportation, Transportation Safety Division.
and good judgment. A lot of people think motorcycles are dangerous. Whisenant said he agrees to a point, and emphasized riders who choose not to follow the rules, or who drive at excessive speeds are increasing their chances of a mishap. “If you choose to use good operation risk management, and you are wearing
the right gear, and you are paying attention to what’s going on with your bike, yourself and the road conditions, it’s a very fun sport to get into,” said Whisenant. Whisenant added one more benefit too. “It’s fun to commute and parking is great.”
(PRESIDENTS’DAY DAY) PRESIDENTS'
WASHINGTON'S
BIRTHDAY DID YOU KNOW?
11
Washington was actually born on February 11, 1731 according to the thenused Julian calendar. However in 1752 Britain and its colonies adopted the Gregorian Calendar which moved Washington's birthday a year and 11 days, now February 22, 1732.
Congress ADJOURNED on GW's birthday
out of respect
for the first president.
Information obtained from archives.gov and history.com.
OF THE DATE
Following President George Washington's death, his birthday became a perennial day of remembrance.
President Rutherford B. Hayes made Washington's birthday a federal holiday by signing it into law after Senator Steven Wallace Dorsey proposed the measure. This, however, only applied to the District of Columbia.
1799
1879
Washington's Birthday as a federal holiday expanded to the whole country. At the time it was one of only five nationally recognized federal holidays.
1885
February 22 was used to reinstate the Purple Heart. George Washington originally created the military decoration to honor soldiers killed or wounded while serving in the military.
1932
This federal holiday has
NEVER officially been called
Presidents' Day.
George Washington,
Abraham Lincoln,
William Henry Harrison
In 1832
HISTORY
and Ronald Reagan
all have birthdays
in February but they will never be celebrated on the
day commonly known as
PRESIDENTS' DAY.
President Richard Nixon signed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act into law. This moved Washington's Birthday, Columbus Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day to Mondays in an effort to create more threeday weekends. This shifted Washington's Birthday to the third Monday in February.
Washington's Birthday is referred to by many Americans as Presidents' Day. Because the third Monday in February lays between Washington and Abraham Lincoln's birthday, people began to believe the day was to honor both presidents.
As many as half of the 50 states recognized the holiday as Presidents' Day, even adding the change to calendars. Congressional measures were proposed to reinstitute Washington's birthday to its original date but failed to pass. Officially, the third Monday in February is still Washington's Birthday.
1971
mid 1980's
early 2000's
The ConstableHamilton Portrait by Gilbert Stuart
I
t’s been several years since he got the call, but to this day he remembers exactly what was said on the other end of the line. “My mom called me crying,” said Seaman William Walsh, a Sailor assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). “My grandfather had a heart attack a few hours earlier.” Walsh’s grandfather was 78 years old at the time. He had high blood pressure and smoked regularly. “His doctor told my mom that he had a 50 percent chance of recovery,” he said. “If it wasn’t for his friend performing CPR, the doctor said my grandfather wouldn’t have made it at all.” After nearly losing his life, his grandfather had to make some big changes in his life, said Walsh. He
talked to his doctor about how to lower his risk of having another heart attack. “They came up with a plan for my grandfather to quit smoking,” said Walsh. “He cut a lot of sodium from his diet and lost a little bit of weight. He even cut back on his drinking.” His grandfather did a lot of things to make his health a priority, he said. “He’s still around,” said Walsh. “Hopefully, he’ll be around for a few more years.” For Walsh’s grandfather, the heart attack was a wakeup call, and motivated him to make appropriate lifestyle changes so he could live a longer life. At any moment, another GW Sailor could receive a similar call and be faced with losing a loved one. The heart is one of the most important organs in the human body,
but it’s also one of the most complicated. The National Heart Foundation website states that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. It is also one of the most preventable. Making heart-healthy choices, knowing your family health history, the risk factors for heart disease, having regular check-ups and working with your physician to manage your health are all integral aspects of saving lives from this all too often silent killer. Sailors should be proactive when it comes to their heart health and encourage family members to do the same, by adopting a more active and healthier lifestyle. For more info about heart health, visit www.heart.org.
INFLUENCERS Chapter 2- You before Me: IC1 Moye Supports her Junior Sailors By M C S N Ja m i n G o rd o n
This series shows how African-American women use their positions of influence to motivate, encourage and empower other Sailors to always push towards their goals. The women featured in these stories overcame various challenges despite the fact that they are a part of a double-minority demographic. Their stories strive to inspire all Sailors that there are no barriers that cannot be broken on the path to success.
“O
ur prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them” – Dalai Lama XIV Just like Dalai Lama XIV, Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class La’keisha Moye, the combat systems departmental leading petty officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), takes those words to heart as a deckplate leader. Moye supports her junior Sailors, and helps them succeed by providing time for them to study for advancement during working hours. She realizes the success of those she helps is also a triumph for her. “I always take care of my Sailors because that is my main goal,” said Moye. “If they advance, I advance. If they look good, I look great.” Moye has always been a supportive person. In fact, providing support for her friend is what led her to join the Navy 19 years ago. “I went with a friend while I was in college,” said Moye. “She said to me, ‘come on Keisha, let’s go see what the Navy has to offer.’ I went to support her, and the next thing you know, I’m in the Navy. Nineteen years later,
she still hasn’t joined the Navy.” Moye helps junior Sailors on a professional level and also plays a maternal role. Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Elena Carmona, a Sailor assigned to combat systems department’s interior communication division (CS-8) aboard George Washington, can attest to both. “IC1 Moye has been there for me since I checked in,” said Carmona. “She was my sponsor when I arrived. She made the check-in process so easy. Anything I needed, I knew I could ask her. Whenever we had spot-checks, she made sure we had everything we needed. She’s just like a mom to me in so many ways. She’s protective and treats all of her Sailors like family, all while ensuring we follow the rules. If there is a personal issue that myself or anyone else has, we can go to her and talk about it. Although she isn’t my LPO (leading petty officer) anymore,
I can still call on her whenever I need. When I do see her I call her ‘Mom.’” Moye is able to build relationships with her Sailors because she works side-by-side with them. “As a first class petty officer, junior Sailors look to you as a leader for answers,” said Moye. It’s inspiring for me because my Sailors come to Cont’d on next page
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me for Navy and personal issues, and I give them the tools to be successful through it all.” Leadership is hard, but if you get the formula right, Sailors will work hard for you simply because of the professional camaraderie that has been established. “You don’t realize you’re leading until you look up, and you realize you have a lot of followers,” said Moye. “They like to look up to you. Every time you talk, everyone tunes in, and if it’s something you want to do, everyone sways your way because they trust that you’re going to make the right decision.” While Moye leads her Sailors, it is through teamwork that both Moye and her Sailors are successful. They work together as mentor and mentee towards common goals. “I see positive things happening with my junior Sailors on a daily basis,” said Moye. “A lot of them have gotten meritoriously advanced. Some of my mentees throughout the department have also been selected as the command’s Sailor of the Quarter.” Moye herself was chosen as the command’s Senior Sailor of the Year for 2016. “It’s important that you listen to your Sailors and help them in any way possible. Looking out for my Sailors is one of the things that helped me become Sailor of the Year.” Moye looks out for her Sailors in the same manner her first divisional officer (DIVO) looked out for her. Putting junior Sailors first was instilled in her since the beginning. “My DIVO told me, take your Sailors under your wing,” said Moye. “If you take care of them, everything else will fall into place.” Moye is proof of the old adage, “put good in, get good out.”
CVN
GAMES CROSSWORD
SUDOKU
MAZE