USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71)
ROUGH RIDER CHIEF INITIATION
IN THIS EDITION COMPTUEX MIDPOINT
Heritage & Tradition River City Aircraft Damage Prevention Rear Admiral Myers
August 20, 2017
170816-N-FA490-292 PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 16, 2017) Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class Richard Hill, right, welds a table leg in the Machinery Repair shop aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Theodore Roosevelt is underway conducting a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) with the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) in preparation for an upcoming deployment. COMPTUEX tests a carrier strike group’s mission-readiness and ability to perform as an integrated unit through simulated real-world scenarios. (U.S. Navy photo by Machinist Mate 3rd Class Andrew Langholf/Released)
MIDPOINT OF
COMPTUEX T
By Carrier Strike Group Nine Public Affairs
heodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 conducted surge flight operations Aug. 18 and 19 at the midpoint of its composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), a milestone signifying the next step toward certification for deployment. Surge flight operations test the ship’s and air wing’s ability to launch and recover aircraft in excess of 100 sorties in a day. The capacity to surge was initially reached by individually training components of the strike group then integrating them during COMPTUEX. “The Carrier Strike Group with an embarked air wing brings rapid and flexible lethality anywhere it is needed,” said Capt. Chris “Gus” Ford,
commander, CVW-17. “Through an integrated approach the carrier strike group is flexible enough to respond to a crisis, protect the maritime commons, or provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.” To date, CVW-17 squadrons have flown 1,304 sorties while conducting carrier qualifications, carrier operational efficiency (COE) requirements and achieving blue-water certification. Blue-water certification evaluates the ability of Theodore Roosevelt and CVW-17 to perform flight operations autonomously, away from shore support, divert fields, or alternate recovery options. “Success in demanding flight operations is an indication that all facets of strike group operations are going well. Each warfare area and unit plays a vital role in carrying out that mission,” said Rear Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, Carrier Strike Group Nine (CSG-9). “Every Sailor and Marine on deck will be tested to their limit, ultimately proving they are capable and prepared for any challenge on deployment.”
In addition to flight operations, Theodore Roosevelt and the ships of CSG-9 have completed multiple training events throughout the first half of the exercise. COMPTUEX tests a carrier strike group's missionreadiness and ability to perform as an integrated unit through simulated real-world scenarios. The strike group has also successfully completed numerous logistic movements, damage control training, five routine and notional MEDEVACS, three replenishments-at-sea including vertical replenishment, and four rehearsal fueling-at-sea events. “It takes an incredible amount of commitment, proficiency, and endurance to achieve and maintain this level of combat readiness,” said Capt. Carlos Sardiello, commanding officer of aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). “The drive, the hustle throughout the ship is visible, and I’m incredibly proud of the work so far.” TRCSG departed Naval Base San Diego Aug. 1 for
COMPTUEX; its final pre-deployment evaluation to ensure safe and effective coordination within the strike group to achieve mission readiness and the ability to effectively execute the Navy's maritime strategy. Following the successful completion of COMPTUEX, the TRCSG will conduct worldwide operations in its upcoming deployment. CVW-17 includes the squadrons Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73, Electronic Attack Strike Squadron (VAQ) 139, Strike Fighter Attack Squadron (VFA) 22, Strike Fighter Attack Squadron (VFA) 94, Strike Fighter Attack Squadron (VFA) 113, Marine Strike Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312, and Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116. TRCSG is comprised of Carrier Strike Group 9 staff, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23 staff, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), and the DESRON 23 ships; the guided-missile destroyers USS Halsey (DDG 97), USS Higgins (DDG 76), USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS Sampson (DDG 102).
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HERITAGE TRADITION F ORG I NG A U N I T E D S TAT E S N AV Y C H I E F
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alex Corona USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs
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ailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) hear the crackle of the 1MC as they are working in their shops, transiting passageways and eating on the mess decks. As they hear the Boatswain’s Mate of the Watch blow the boatswain’s pipe they know that Capt. Carlos Sardiello, commanding officer of Theodore Roosevelt, is about to speak. 1st class petty officers all around the ship listen intently as they know that this is the moment when they find out if they are going to become chief selectees. As Sardiello, Command Master Chief Spike Call and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 Command Master Chief Tim Nettles begin to read the names of Sailors, shouts of happiness echo throughout the ship. For the chief selects it is an opportunity to begin
a new brand of leadership and pass on naval tradition for the next generation of Sailors. “Chief initiation is a long established and crucial rite of passage,” said Senior Chief Sonar Technician (Surface) Elnora McKinney, assigned to Theodore Roosevelt. “The Chief ’s Mess is here to teach leadership, team work and promote unity among our new leaders.” McKinney said that it is important to teach the selectees chief petty officer traditions in order to give them a stronger sense of the core values of the Navy. Chief petty officers need to indoctrinate them into a culture of accountability, responsibility, exercising proper authority, traditions and history. “Some of the toughest things for these chief selects to face during this season include communication
and time management,” said McKinney. “We pack their schedules and give them a large work load, all of which they need to complete in a short amount of time.” McKinney compared the experience of the chief selectees to that of a composite training unit exercise (COMPUTEX). They face a compressed schedule and simultaneously build their mental toughness and comradery. This season can be a trying time for the 1st class petty officers but many of them have tried for years to achieve the ultimate goal of becoming a chief petty officer. “This was my fourth time taking the test and I had made board three times,” said Religious Program Specialist 1st Class Victor Montoya, a newly selected chief petty officer assigned to the Theodore Roosevelt. “Finally hearing my name over the 1MC was an amazing feeling.” Montoya said that going through the initiation process of a becoming a chief petty officer is difficult but rewarding. He feels that although the workload is demanding and the lack of sleep doesn’t make things easier, that it is all for a purpose. “We have been chosen by our leadership to carry on the long-running traditions of the Navy and lead the future Sailors of this and future commands,” said Montoya. “I look forward to embracing the new responsibilities and helping my Sailors become better leaders.” Montoya expressed that he doesn’t anticipate the
transition to be an easy one. He feels that the demands of the job, although greater, will be extremely rewarding and help him grow as a Sailor and leader. “Being a leader of Sailors for years now has honestly been one of the most rewarding things I could ask for,” said McKinney. “After I retire from the Navy I can look back on my career and can say that I helped groom some of the finest, future leaders of Sailors.” McKinney said that after this process is over for the newly selected chief petty officers, she is confident they will deliver battle-tested and battle-ready chiefs. “With our deployment quickly approaching, these new leaders are going to be put to the test immediately,” said McKinney. “The stress and lack of sleep they are going through now is just the beginning of their journey as a chief petty officer in the Navy.” The naval tradition of becoming a Chief is one that has been shrouded in mystery since its creation on April 1, 1893. While the selectees and chief petty officers hold up the tradition of keeping this process secretive, it’s clear the Chief ’s Mess will be prepared to pass on the tradition when the next generation of Sailors is ready. The leaders of Theodore Roosevelt and CVW 17 finish reading the names of the newly selected chief petty officers. The Sailors who were selected to advance to chief petty officer celebrate the opportunity to become future leaders. The next six weeks of Chief indoctrination will be rigorous and exhausting. This is their time to carry on tradition of the “Goat Locker.”
Y T I C R E RIV By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robyn B. Melvin USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs
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et river city 1! While underway, Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt are bound to hear those words at some point. But what is river city and why would it ever have to be set? “River city is a network condition order,” said Senior Chief Information Systems Technician Iris Savant, leading chief petty officer of Automated Data Processing (ADP) aboard the Roosevelt. “It’s used to prevent information on the unclassified network from getting off the ship.” Incidents like man overboard or damaged and lost airplanes are just some of the reasons Roosevelt may employ river city. “We want to make sure that information won’t get leaked off the ship via Facebook or social media,” said Savant. “But river city affects more than just your internet browsing. It also affects the outgoing phone
lines and email off the ship as well.” The purpose is to control the dissemination of false or classified information to the public before an official statement by the Navy can be released. Instruction TRINST S3430.2A determines which groups of Sailors on the ship will lose access to outside communications depending on the severity of the situation. “Everyone on the ship is put into a group based on rank and need for access,” said Chief Information Systems Technician Lacey Pipolo. “Ultimately though, who goes into which river city is decided by the commanding officer.” The ship may also be put into a river city condition to regulate its bandwidth availability. In this instance there is a special river city condition that restricts all access from all personnel on the ship.
“Once we reduced our bandwidth down to a manageable level, we will move to a less stringent river city condition, but there is no set amount of time,” said Piplo. “We could be in river city for five minutes or for five days.” According to Savant, going in and out of river city conditions may be annoying, but it is necessary for the mission. “Loose lips sink ships,” said Savant. “If the enemy knows where we are and what we are doing, then we will not be able to get the job done. Setting river city conditions helps us complete the mission safely. It ensures that we come back with everyone we left with.” The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group is conducting its final pre-deployment evaluation to ensure safe and effective coordination within the strike group to achieve mission readiness and the ability to effectively execute the Navy’s maritime strategy. Following the successful completion of COMPUTEX, the TRCSG will conduct worldwide operations in its upcoming deployment. TRCSG is comprised of Carrier Strike Group 9 staff, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23 staff, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Carrier Air Wing (CVW 17), and the DESRON 23 ships; the guided-missile destroyers USS Halsey (DDG 97), USS Higgins (DDG 76), USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS Sampson (DDG 102), as well as the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52).
AIRCRAFT DAMAGE By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robyn B. Melvin USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs
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enior leadership from aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt’s (CVN 71) Air Department met on board to prevent damage to aircraft while at sea. The brief focused on limiting any incidents involving foreign object debris (FOD) and “crunch”, a term used to describe any incident when an aircraft comes into contact with another aircraft or any kind of ground equipment. “This council is really looking at determining solutions,” said Cmdr. J ason Christopher, air boss aboard Theodore Roosevelt. “We are here to attack the problem.” According to an instruction from the Chief of Naval Air Training, most FOD can be attributed to facility deterioration, improper maintenance and attitudinal awareness. To proactively combat these downfalls, Christopher created a three “A” approachawareness, analysis and action. “The more aware you are of a problem, the more information you have about what the impact is,” said Christopher. “Then we develop strategies based on that. This group possess thousands of flight hours and years of underway experience to develop a plan and try to drive that risk down.” After careful analysis, the goal is to implement a strategy pushed it to their units through supervision leadership and the energy at the deck level”, said Christopher. The brief came on the eve the Theodore
Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group commenced Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), and according to Capt. Carlos Sardiello, commanding officer of the Theodore Roosevelt, it was perfect timing. “Why wait for something bad to happen when you can make sure everyone understands that preserving our assets, keeping everyone safe and getting the mission done before a problem happens is a big priority,” said Sardiello. “We’ll continue to maintain that high carrier air wing 17 and Theodore Roosevelt standard of success.” The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group is conducting its final pre-deployment evaluation to ensure safe and effective coordination within the strike group to achieve mission readiness and the ability to effectively execute the Navy’s maritime strategy. Following the successful completion of COMPTUEX, the TRCSG will conduct worldwide operations in its upcoming deployment. TRCSG is comprised of Carrier Strike Group 9 staff, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23 Staff, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, and the DESRON 23 ships; the guidedmissile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97), USS Higgins (DDG 76), USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS Sampson (DDG 102), as well as the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52).
A Quick Visit
with
USS Bunker Hill By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robyn B. Melvin
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rafael Valdez USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs
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ommander Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 15, Rear Adm. Ross Myers, visited the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill to see how the “Sword of the Fleet” operates during Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), Aug. 12. CSG 15 is the training and evaluation strike group that designs the evolutions for each COMPTUEX. “Everything that we do,” Myers said during a Q&A session with Bunker Hill’s wardroom, “everything that we show you is based in reality. None of this is make believe.” Myers explained that each carrier strike group which returns from deployment provides feedback to CSG 15, creating an evolving program. A ship’s commander could go through COMPTUEX multiple times and still have new challenges during each iteration. He also pointed out that Bunker Hill and the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) are ahead of where a CSG would normally be during this phase of training. “Right now, Bunker Hill and TRCSG are beyond where other strike groups are normally at this point,” Myers said. “However, this is only the front half. The back half is where we put it all together.” Myers cautioned the assembled officers to maintain their focus and energy level for what is yet to come for COMPTUEX. “In aviation, we call the limits of what is possible ‘the envelope,’ he said. “You can only determine what that is by pushing those limits. On that glide scope, you are ahead of where you need to be, but that doesn’t mean you can coast along.” Myers pointed out that up to now, all of the different commands which are part of TRCSG have engaged in strictly unit-level training. While that training was vital, he said, it only served to support what real-world operations are: an integrated environment. “COMPTUEX is not for Phase Zero deployments,” he said. “It is for Phase II combat operations . . . and no one is
going to fight alone, it’s all integrated.” Myers, while fielding comments from the various officers about the value of their experiences so far, pointed out his own interest in seeing Bunker Hill. “In the past year,” he said, “we’ve done about eight iterations of COMPTUEX, and I’ve had the ability to see this ship and what her crew can do as OPFOR (opposition force). I’m really excited to see what you’re going to do on the other side of the fence.” Bunker Hill is part of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike group, which is conducting its final pre-deployment evaluation to ensure safe and effective coordination within the strike group to achieve mission readiness and the ability to effectively execute the Navy’s maritime strategy. Following the successful completion of COMPTUEX, the TRCSG will conduct worldwide operations in its upcoming deployment TRCSG is comprised of Carrier Strike Group 9 staff, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23 staff, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, and the DESRON 23 ships: the guided-missile destroyers USS Halsey (DDG 97), USS Higgins (DDG 76), USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS Sampson (DDG 102), as well as Bunker Hill.
A THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) COMIC
BY MASS COMMUNCATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS JIMMI LEE BRUNER (P.S. IF YOU DONT SEE ANY FUTURE COMICS, THEY LOCKED MY ACCOUNT) Well, I don‛t want to work long hours, I‛m not good with people and I frighten easily.
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STAFF COMMANDING OFFICER Capt. Carlos A. Sardiello EXECUTIVE OFFICER Capt. Fred Goldhammer PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER Lt. Cmdr. Beth Teach MEDIA OFFICER Lt. j.g. Brittany Stephens SENIOR EDITOR MCC Jay Pugh EDITOR MC3 Spencer Roberts ROUGH RIDER CONTRIBUTORS MC2 Paul Archer MC3 Jimmi Lee Bruner MC3 Alex Corona MM3 Andrew Langholf MC3 Robyn Melvin MC3 Alex Perlman MC3 Anthony Rivera COMMAND OMBUDSMAN
cvn71ombudsman@gmail.com
NAME: HM3 Trinidad Hollon HOMETOWN: Las Vegas, NV Favorite Thing About the Navy: All the great experiences to look back on! Message to the crew: Take your shore duty! Favorite Food: Carne Asada Tacos Favorite Movie: All the Indiana Jones
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
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CHIEF SELECTS FISCAL YEAR 2018 Timmothy Kammerer VAW-116
Wilmarie Torresrodriguez CVN-71
Richard Bartlett HSM-73
Corey Browne CVN-71
Steven Guarnieri HSC-6
Steven Carlson CVN-71
Bobby Johnson VAW-116
Marcus Bell CVN-71
Anthony Owens HSM-73
Orlando Capuno CVN 71
Joshua Nash HSM-73
Reginald Corpuz CVN-71
Nicholas Gibbon VFA-113
Joshua Cox CVN-71
David Ljung VFA-113
Meisteffani David CVN-71
David Porter VAQ-139,
Michael Dorbiala CVN-71
Matthew Reikowski VAQ-139 Tommy Tu VAQ-139, Robert Wawro VAQ-139 Amphavanh Xangsayasane VFA-94 Adrian Casas VAW-116 James Bales VFA-22 Jordan Chapman VFA-22
Luis Guzman CVN-71 Francisco Ipina CVN-71 Mario Juarez CVN-71 Seth Lowry CVN-71 Damarcus Mcgee CVN-71 Thomaskriztoffe Molina CVN-71 Victor Montoya CVN-71
Gregory Gintoft VFA-22
Ryan Myers CVN-71
Ramon Valdez VFA-22
Gerardo Olverbaez CVN-71
Chris Shaw CVW-17
Mark Parker CVN-71
Luis Cano HSM-73
Anthony Reanue CVN-71
Jacob Smith HSM-73 Robert Chernosky HSC-6 Matthew Nunn HSC-6 Thanh AU Katrina Shook Horace Mai Michael Kwon CVN-71,
Gina Robles CVN-71 Ronald Saucedo CVN-71 Christopher Scipione CVN-71 David Snell CVN-71 Julius Tatunay CVN-71 Andrew Thompson CVN-71 Ruben Torresalcantar CVN-71 Leonardo Urbieta CVN-71