USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71)
ROUGH RIDER Holy Week Edition
IN THIS EDITION
T R s H o l y We e k a t S e a
CRMD: Keeping Spirits High Chillin’ With A. Corona Meme Kid
April 16, 2017
170409-N-GP724-105 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 9, 2017) Aircraft rest on the deck during flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Theodore Roosevelt is underway conducting a tailored ship’s training availability off the coast of Southern California. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Third Class Alexander Perlman/Released) PHOTOS BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT MEDIA
Theodore Roosevelt’s
Holy Week at Sea
S TO RY B Y M A S S C O M M U N I C AT I O N S P E C I A L I S T 3 R D C L A S S V I C TO R I A F O L E Y
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he aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt’s (CVN 71) Command Religious Ministries Department kicked off Holy Week with special services for both Christian and Jewish communities April 9-16. This year, Holy Week occurs before Easter and Christians reflect on the passion of Christ while people of the Jewish faith observe Passover, which commemorates their freedom from slavery in Egypt. “We started Holy Week with a number of services in the Christian and Jewish community,” said Lt. Cmdr. Reinel Castro. “The first event was the Christian observance of Palm Sunday marking the beginning of Holy Week.” Palm, or Passion, Sunday is the Sunday before
Easter, during which Christian religious leaders distribute palms to commemorate Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem. This event is followed by Holy Thursday, Good Friday and then Easter, which are the days commemorating Christ’s last supper, death and his resurrection. “I am convinced we are better people and Sailors when we are spiritual,” said Castro. “Saturday was a special Easter Vigil for Roman Catholics due to a baptism.” CRMD recognizes the Jewish community’s Passover observance while ministering to Christians during Holy Week. “The purpose of the Passover Seder is to remember the Israelite community leaving Egypt,” said Chief
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Religious Program Specialist Alan Brandt. “The meal they eat is usually in a family setting and each food item represents their time in slavery. The Seder allows Jews to worship God through prayer, study and learning by participation in Jewish history lessons.” The word Seder means “order” because observance of the holiday is a religious ritual including prayers, readings and a meal. The Haggadah is the holy text that guides the progression of the meal and the religious observances surrounding the dinner. “We celebrate our freedom, but even though we are free some others are not,” said Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Dave Valdez. “It’s sweetness
tempered with a little bit of salt from your tears and bitterness of your pain.” While the observances of this week reflect on liberation and renewal for Jewish and Christian Rough Riders, CRMD is always available to assist anyone with an interest in practicing their faith or has a need for counseling. “We put in a lot of effort in preparation for each service, and in turn, hoped to see every seat filled,” said Religious Program Specialist 1st Class Victor Montoya. “If you didn’t make it to the services, we’re available 24 hours.” Theodore Roosevelt is underway conducting a tailored ship’s training availability off the coast of Southern California.
Theodore Roosevelt’s CRMD Keeping Spirits High
B Y M A S S C O M M U N I C AT I O N S P E C I A L I S T S E A M A N R A C H A E L T R E O N
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he Command Religious Ministries Department aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) heightens morale by focusing on religious and recreational demands. While underway, CRMD provides religious services every day of the week. Services include Roman Catholic Mass, Roman Catholic Rosary Mass, Latter Day Saints, Catholic Inquiry Mass, Protestant Contemporary Worship, Gospel Service, Protestant Liturgical Communion, Islamic Prayer, Morning Glory Devotional, Liturgical Protestant Service and Catholic Vigil Mass. The ship is home to three dedicated Chaplains, Cmdr. Carl Barnes, Lt. Cmdr. Reinel Castro and Lt. Cmdr. William Dorwart. “This is my passion,” said Castro. “When I came to the United States in 1992 and saw the country going to war, I saw there was a need. I thought to myself, there couldn’t be a better way to pay back the people of this country for supporting me and letting me live here in peace. I hope to give Sailors words of encouragement, hope and advice so they can regain their strength and feel the same support I felt.” Theodore Roosevelt also welcomes Lt. Cmdr. Carl Rhodes, Chaplain assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17. The Chaplains have joined together to ensure every crew member has maximum opportunity to receive the assistance they need. Chaplains are available 24 hours a day and have a complete confidentially guarantee. While in port Chaplains can be reached through the Command Duty Officer during non-working hours for
emergency situations. CRMD also offers life-skills classes to help the crew through their personal struggles. These include anger management, budgeting and “Friends of Bill,” an alcoholics anonymous class. Recreational activities provided by CRMD include the internet café, where the crew is welcome to check their email and social media, the ship’s library and a movie theater where bringing personally-owned, appropriate movies is encouraged. “We’re here as an outlet for everybody,” said Religious Program Specialist 1st Class Victor Montoya. “Life aboard the ship can be stressful so we want to create an environment for the crew to visit and relax. If you have a problem and don’t know where to turn, we have so many options and recommendations to outside sources. We can get you headed in the right direction.” CRMD works directly with Fleet and Family Services, which provides military members and their families with relocation assistance, new parent support, deployment services, clinical counseling services, financial management counseling, family employment services, family advocacy, the transition assistance programs and many more. No matter the religion or belief, CRMD is committed to serving everyone. If religious services are unavailable for your religious beliefs, crew members can be appointed as a lay leader by the commanding officer after completing training. Lay leaders are not Chaplains but have support to hold services in the name of their religion. Please visit the CRMD office if you wish to begin unoffered services.
Chapel: 03-118-10-L Chaplain Office: 03-116-4-Q Library/Movie Theatre: 03-118-10-Q
Chillin’ with
A. Corona
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Alex Corona USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Public Affairs
Marine Edition: Sgt. Pressley [This is a continuous series by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Alex Corona in which Sailors aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) provide a glimpse into their personal lives and aspirations.] “My great grandfather was a Marine back in World War II, in Iwo Jima,” said Sgt. Gregory Pressley, an Ordnance Quality Assurance representative for the “Checkerboards,” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 312, embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). “He and my father both inspired me to be a leader.” Pressley said growing up was a challenge due to the number of times he and his family moved during the first 18 years of his life. He attended 10 schools by the time he finished high school. “Growing up, it was tough moving around and being the overweight kid,” said Pressley. “Things started to turn around when I thinned out and joined wrestling.” Pressley’s father was in the Air Force for four years with a break in service and is now a reservist serving his first tour in Kuwait. His father and grandfather were a large part of why he wanted to join the military. “I joined the Marines nine days after I graduated high school,” said Pressley. “I saw what my father and grandfather accomplished. Knowing what they did is my inspiration.” Pressley said that an outstanding moment in his life was participating in the Resident Sergeants Course, located in Quantico, Virginia. This is a primary level course for Marine sergeants that provides students with the skills and knowledge
to become leaders, warfighters and critical thinkers. “At the end of the course we did a motivational run through the monuments in Washington,” said Pressley. “We had to prepare a speech and I chose to speak about the Marine Corps. Memorial because we finished at the Iwo Jima statue. My great grandfather received his Purple Heart for his service at the Battle of Iwo Jima.” While Pressley has enjoyed many great moments and triumphs, there was a point where his life took a dramatic turn. Several years ago Pressley’s wife passed away in a fatal car accident. “It was really tough being a single parent in the military,” said Pressley. “How does a parent explain to a two-year-old that their mother won’t be there for them anymore?” Pressley said that losing his wife in such sudden and tragic way was one of the hardest times in his life. It wasn’t until he unexpectedly met someone that things started to change. “A few years after my wife passed away I started dating Melissa,” said Pressley “When I approached her about becoming a part of our family she was extremely supportive.” With the support he receives back home, Pressley looks forward to finishing his tour with the Roosevelt. In the future he wants to become a drill instructor at Marine boot camp. Pressley said that he has never been the best at his profession but he has always been good with people and looks forward to teaching the future Marines of America.
meme kid.
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jimmi Lee Bruner At 7:15 p.m. all personnel are invited to participate in the foreign object debris walk down. Squidward looked up from his beach chair. His glasses slid up his forehead. He leaned forward in his chair. Squidward contemplated going. His glasses slid down over his eyes. He relaxed into a sense of comfort. “A lot of people like the squadron-squidward meme because they can relate to it,” said Aviation Ordnance Airman Royce Akira Kai Storm Yamada. “They hear the announcement for FOD walk down on the 1MC and think yeah I’m not gonna do that.” Roughly 5,000 people can’t all participate in FOD walk down, said the Hawaiian-Japanese airman. They assume someone else will do it. It’s these little idioms peppered throughout the Navy that we can all relate to or find funny. That’s why Yamada said he saw humor in making memes. In Yamada’s spare time, while temporarily assigned to the Food Service Assistant Program, he draws meme’s on cardboard cereal box scraps. “Memes illicit an emotional response to a cultural
reference related to a personal experience that we can find humorous,” said Yamada. As media evolves, so does the content used for memes. With greater access to apps and websites, anyone can make a meme with any picture, with any caption, said Yamada. He would use an application on his phone to design a meme. Yamada and his fellow FSAs would design funny memes together to draw the cardboard creations. Once created drawn he would hang it on the wall for anyone passing through the mess decks to see. Yamada said he would always doodle in class or at home. He would often draw people and anime characters. He didn’t like art classes though, because of the fundamentals. He felt real art should flow naturally. The memes started to appear on the messdecks in February. Yamada said he saw a need for something to look at while people throw away their trash. “I like to see people laugh in the morning,” said Yamada. “It’s a morale booster and a way to share my artwork.”
A THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) COMIC BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS JIMMI LEE BRUNER (IT WAS WORTH A SHOT) I heard that if weʻre under way for more than 30 days we go to Hawaii!
Bully, why are you wearing that shirt and lei?
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STAFF COMMANDING OFFICER Capt. Craig Clapperton EXECUTIVE OFFICER Capt. Fred Goldhammer PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER Lt. Cmdr. Beth Teach MEDIA OFFICER Lt. Michael Hathaway SENIOR EDITOR MCC Jennifer Roy MCC Jay Pugh EDITOR MC1 Michael Russell MC3 Alex Perlman ROUGH RIDER CONTRIBUTERS Lt. Aaron Hicks MC1 R. David Valdez MC3 Victoria Foley MC3 Spencer Roberts MC3 Jimmi Lee Bruner MCSN Rachael Treon MCSN Alex Corona MCSN Bill Sanders COMMAND OMBUDSMAN
cvn71ombudsman@gmail.com
NAME: AVCM Thomas Rousseau HOMETOWN: Southbridge, MA Favorite Thing About the Navy: “The challenges we face daily and the change of people. If you dont like someone, they’ll eventually go away.” Message to the crew: Don’t sell yourself short. Have goals, work towards them and you’ll be successful. Favorite Food: Lays Classic Potato Chips Favorite Movie: Anything with action and killing.
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 TR
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