ROUGH RIDER USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71)
SUNDAY EDITION
CSADD HOSTS TR’S KICKSTART
ENCOURAGING WARFARE QUALS AND COMMAND INVOLVEMENT
REASONS WHY WE’RE HERE A GUEST EDITORIAL PIECE BY AO3 MASON
October 4, 2015
WEEK in REVIEW
ARABIAN GULF (Oct. 02, 2015) – The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) sails in the Arabian Gulf. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Alex Millar/Released)
by MCSN Chad. M. Trudeau
csadd hosts tr’s kicstart
ENCOURAGING WARFARE QUALS AND COMMAND INVOLVEMENT
T
he Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) welcomed Sailors and Marines to a professional development event entitled, “Kickstart,” on the aft mess decks aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Oct. 1. The CSADD-led event featured organizations such as the First Class Petty Officer Association, Second Class Petty Officer Association, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response team, Drug and Alcohol Program Advisor and coordinators from each warfare program to facilitate command involvement and encourage maximum qualification proficiency. “We invited all the associations and the enlisted coordinators to help Sailors get training, as well as get more involved throughout the command,” said Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Rona Enzon, CSADD vice president. “We had more than 600 people who attended the event and everyone has been telling us they were able to get what they wanted out of it.” Warfare qualifications are a requirement for TR Sailors. The crew is expected to be proficient in their warfare areas in order to be an asset to the TR team. Unfortunately, finding time to train with qualified personnel can be difficult because of the ship’s busy schedule. TR’s Kickstart created a solution to that common problem by providing the crew with an opportunity to network with the subject-matter experts aboard. CSADD is primarily geared toward junior Sailors trying to make a difference in their commands, but it is open to all personnel and welcomes the advice and experience of more senior members. One such member is Chief Logistics Specialist Donna Massey, one of
CSADD’s senior advisors. “I believe Kickstart was very successful because it gave us a chance to introduce the programs that are aboard,” said Massey. “Most of the Sailors that spend a lot of time manning their watch stations, or confined to their workspaces, don’t get a chance to get out and get the ESWS [Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist pin] signatures and training that they need, so instead of those Sailors leaving work tired and trying to find ESWS board members, we brought all warfare programs to a central location.” Far from being a business-only event, Kickstart featured games and music while crew members mingled and made new connections. Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Jeterry Cain found the event so uplifting that he signed up to join CSADD that night. ”It was great,” said Cain. “I had a chance to meet a lot of great people that I had a lot in common with. It definitely did boost morale.” Cain felt Sailors were able to gain a great deal from the night’s festivities. “It gave Sailors like me who lacked command involvement a chance to get involved with commandrelated activities,” he said. CSADD is a group of Sailors dedicated to creating a culture in which Shipmates maintain a course of success through good decision making. Kickstart was an event imbued with those ideals and designed to raise the morale of all Sailors in the process. If anyone is interested in joining CSADD and volunteering to help with similar events, contact any CSADD board member or visit their SharePoint page.
REASONS WHY WE’RE
~ HERE ~
I
can’t count how many times I’ve stopped in the middle of the hangar bays to stare out of the opening and see the ocean and sky. A senior chief once told me that when he feels out of balance he looks out at the sea and tries to guess how many drops of water make up the sea. We all have different ways of coping with the stressors of being away from our families for so long. One thing that always seems to brighten my day is talking to my wife and daughter. Mostly, we talk to each other on Facebook, but every now and then we talk on the phone. Hearing a voice is much more intimate than reading words. You never know how much you take the little things for granted such as the context of the tone of voice. Hearing emotion can literally do wonders. I remember earlier in the deployment when I had hit a rough patch and I didn’t feel as if I could talk to anyone. We have the ship’s psych and he does an amazing job but nothing compares to the warmth and comfort of someone you have an intimate and loving relationship with. My wife served in the US Army for eight years. She has been deployed to Iraq and knows the stress of deployment life. Even more so, she understands the sacrifice and commitment to duty. The people that we leave behind in order to protect deserve just as much recognition as we do - our spouses, parents, siblings, sons and daughters. My wife told me that she would be there to support me in any way that I need and I am grateful for her commitment to our household. Everything we do now is a setup for a better future. That’s what being out here is about for me and many others, I believe. Whether it’s for yourself, your family or your countrymen, you’re here to provide a better future. I’ve seen people on the phones breakdown from all types of different things. Sometimes it’s the sadness or frustration of hearing bad news from home and being here, powerless to do anything about it, or having a complete catharsis over something happening with their job. Our loved ones not only keep us anchored to our reasons for continuing the mission, but they also provide us the intimate mental encouragement that we, at times, long for. They deserve all the credit we give them and more. They raise our children, take care of our finances and provide the emotional support we need. We’re all shipmates, and we are all here for each other, but sometimes it’s just good to hear a familiar voice.
~
By Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Michael Mason
~
Photos
from around THE strike group
See what your shipmates are doing around TRCSG
GULF OF ADEN (September 25, 2015) – Damage Controlman Jeffrey Keel, from Round Lake, Illinois, inspects halon actuators aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81). USS Winston S. Churchill is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, strike operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Taylor L. Jackson/Released)
ARABIAN GULF (September 30, 2015) – Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Menelik Hubbard, from Richmond, Virginia, and Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Sean Sandoval, from Guam, handle hazardous material (HAZMAT) parts in the ship’s supply storeroom aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60). Normandy is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations as part of Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, conducting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Justin R. DiNiro/ Released)
GULF OF ADEN (September 29, 2015) – Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Clay Johnson, from International Falls, Minnesota, cleans and waxes a torpedo aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81). USS Winston S. Churchill is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, strike operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Taylor L. Jackson/Released)
GULF OF ADEN (September 29, 2015) – Operations Specialist 1st Class Ronaldo Romero, from Moore Haven, Florida, fires an M16 service rifle during an M16 qualification course on the flight deck aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81). USS Winston S. Churchill is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, strike operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Taylor L. Jackson/Released)
WHAT’S ON
sundaY
OCTOBER 4, 2015
movie schedule
Staff Commanding Officer
Capt. Craig Clapperton Executive Officer
Capt. Jeff Craig Public Affairs Officer
Lt. Cmdr. Reann Mommsen Media Officer
Lt. j.g. Jack Georges Senior Editor
MCC Adrian Melendez MC1 R. David Valdez Editor
MC2 Chris Brown MC2 Danica M. Sirmans rough rider contributers
MCSN Chad M. Trudeau Theodore Roosevelt Media
MOVIE TRIVIA
Q: What is the first dreamworks film to win a golden globe for best animated film?
A: See in the NEXT edition of the Rough Rider. Previous Question: at every transition in the movie forrest gump, one thing remains the same. what item of clothing is gump wearing at the start of each era? Answer: A BLUE PLAID BUTTON-UP SHIRT
monday oCTOBER 5, 2015
WHAT’S ON movie schedule
command ombudsman
cvn71ombudsman@gmail.com The Rough Rider is an authorized publication for the crew of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Contents herein are not necessarily the views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, Department of Defense, Department of the Navy or the Commanding Officer of TR. All items for publication in The Rough Rider must be submitted to the editor no later than three days prior to publication. Do you have a story you’d like to see in the Rough Rider? Contact the Media Department at J-Dial 5940 or stop by 3-180-0-Q.
check us out online!
about.me/ussTheodoreRoosevelt @TheRealCVN71
*Movie schedule is subject to change.
Sometimes the smallest action
Can have the biggest impact
A little positive peer pressure goes a long way.