USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71)
ROUGH RIDER PRE-DEPLOYMENT
August 27, 2017
TIME TO DEPLOY
IN THIS EDITION HSC-6
DEGREE AT SEA WATER CONSERVATION CHILLIN' WITH A. CORONA
170821-N-XC372-668 PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 21, 2017) A U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system (AWACS), assigned to Air Combat Command based out of Tinker Air Force Base, flies over 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 Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Anthony J. Rivera/Released)
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Anthony Rivera USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs
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he Indians of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6, embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), rescued a civilian pilot that ejected from an aircraft over the Pacific Ocean Aug. 22. Theodore Roosevelt was conducting flight operations as part of a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) when an HSC 6 helicopter conducting a plane-guard patrol was redirected to the scene. “At that time there were so many people on the radios,” said Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Matt D. King, the rescue swimmer assigned to HSC 6 involved in the rescue. “[The pilots] started passing us coordinates once they started getting information about what happened, where the downed pilot was and then we started the rescue.” After recovering the pilot, the crew aboard the helicopter administered first-aid. The helicopter then refueled aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and transported the pilot to Balboa Naval Medical Hospital in San Diego for further evaluation. “Getting in [communication], finding the location of the survivor and doing it all in under an hour is pretty remarkable,” said Cmdr. Josh Ellison, commanding officer of HSC 6. Ellison was impressed not only
with his squadron, but the cohesion of the air wing and the combined efforts to rescue the civilian pilot. “There was a ton of great teamwork that occurred at a lot of different levels, and it was impressive to see,” said Ellison. “I’m very pleased with the way the day went and I’m looking forward to continuing to provide for the strike group in the future.”
train,” said Ellison. “Every alert that we stand, every flight that we fly we have to be ready to respond in case somebody needs our assistance.”
It is unknown why the civilian pilot ejected at this time. 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 An embarked helicopter squadron on a carrier ability to effectively execute the Navy’s maritime is expected to cover a wide range of missions, strategy. including humanitarian assistance and disaster Following the successful completion of relief, anti-surface warfare, logistics, vertical COMPTUEX, the TRCSG will conduct worldwide replenishments as well as search and rescue operations in its upcoming deployment. operations. “You end up executing at the level that you
Foreign Port Call Travel NEVER travel alone Have the contact information of your chain or the U.S. Embassy Keep your wallets and valuables in zipper or closable pockets
DO NOT wear flashy jewelry or show a lot of cash! Don’t make yourself a target Always be aware of your surroundings Avoid large crowds, demonstrations and especially political rallys Know safe routes to the command or U.S. Embassy Check the news, know what’s happening in the country you’re traveling to
Know if you can have a knife...ie don’t carry anything that could be a weapon ALWAYS use command approved modes of transportation
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alex Perlman USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs
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ailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) have the opportunity to earn a college degree while on deployment. The Navy College offers courses that translate to college credits, transferrable to various colleges nationwide. “The courses we offer are enough to get you to earn your associates degree,” said Chief Personnel Specialist Jose Johnson, the assistant to the Education Service Officer aboard Theodore Roosevelt. “We’re looking to bring three professors aboard to teach math, english, history and communication courses. Essentially, we are teaching the general education courses found at most community colleges.” Johnson said, passing Navy College courses can allow for transferrable credits to accredited schools nationwide. “When Sailors become educated it makes us a better Navy,” said Johnson. “Sailors can also benefit from education by becoming more marketable when you enter back into the civilian world.” Johnson added that for first term Sailors, both rated or undesignated, it is good to focus on earning basic damage control, maintenance and watch standing qualifications over earning a college education. Once these basic qualifications are met, Sailors can focus on improving
themselves from an educational standpoint. “It’s highly recommended to earn your primary warfare qualification before you start working on college credits,” said Johnson. “If your chain of command feels you are capable of handling completion of college courses, completion of personal qualifications and the Navy’s mission, then they can sign off on your course request.” The Navy College courses held on Theodore Roosevelt aren’t just for Sailors who are new to pursuing a college degree. If a service member already has their associates degree, there are more advanced courses geared towards earning a bachelor’s degree. “I’ve found out that we’ve got four personnel on the ship between E-3 and E-5 that have a master’s degree,” said Johnson. “More than 100 E-5 and below have their bachelor’s degrees and about 50 with an associates degree, so we’ve got a very smart crew. With the courses available, there are options for almost everyone.” Course attendance is limited to 25 students per class and offered to ship’s company and all embarked personnel. The opportunity to take these courses allows Sailors aboard Theodore Roosevelt to better themselves both educationally and operationally. For more information, contact the Education Services office in personnel, or call JDIAL - 6428.
By Machinist Mate 3rd Class Andrew Langholf USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Public Affairs
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very drop of water counts for the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Sailors rely on water to sustain quality of life and to carry out daily operations. “Water conservation helps us meet the ship’s mission, from creating steam used for launching jets to providing potable water to keep the crew healthy,” said Machinist Mate 2nd Class Malik Gamble, water control watch operator, aboard Theodore Roosevelt. On average, Theodore Roosevelt produces 204,000 gallons of potable water daily, and uses 181,000 gallons per day. Every person on the ship uses between 50-60 gallons per day, said Gamble. Most Sailors don’t know that potable water is actually distilled, treated sea water. It goes through a distilling process which removes salt and microorganisms, then gets distributed throughout the ship to be used in many different ways like drinking and bathing, said Machinist Mate 2nd Class Keenen Hendon. Even though water is created aboard, it doesn’t mean that there is an endless supply. Letting the shower warm up before jumping in is a waste of water. Water conservation is the responsibility of everyone on board.
“It is important that Sailors use water wisely,” said Cmdr. Warren Hakes, assistant reactor officer. “The overuse of water can lead to affecting propulsion plant operations and the overall mission of the ship.” Executing balanced water control while on COMPTUEX can ensure that sailors will already be conscious of their water usage and maintain a sustainable routine while forward deployed. “We need to start having the mindset of conserving water because of the upcoming deployment. When we have an actual casualty situation, we don’t want to be in 5th fleet without potable water,” added Hakes. Minimizing water usage while at sea and being conscious of how much water a Sailor uses daily can make all the difference. “It’s little things like leaving water running while brushing your teeth that eventually add up to potentially larger issues,” said Gamble. 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.
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By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alex Corona USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Public Affairs
[This is a continuous series by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alex Corona in which Sailors aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) provide a glimpse into their personal lives and aspirations.] “Growing up I saw a lot of social injustices that I desired to change,” said Resiliency Counselor Diondra Johnson, an Atlanta, Georgia native, aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). “Seeing these injustices in media and my personal experiences fueled my desire to want to help people.” Johnson remembers when she received an award for being the first student to ever earn a perfect score on an exam in an advanced placement class. A classmate insinuated that because of her ethnicity she couldn’t have received a perfect score and cheated on the exam. “After that incident it was important to me that I disprove racial prejudices,” said Johnson. “I moved onto Fisk University and found my calling in social work.” Johnson said that after attending Fisk for two years she transferred to the University of Georgia and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. She went on to receive her Masters in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania, a licensed master of social work and eventually a licensed clinical social worker. “After working at a hospital in Atlanta for a short time I started working as a contractor for the Army in a family advocacy program,” said Johnson. “It was there that I found my passion for helping military service members.”
Johnson went on to provide care for wounded veterans in a Warrior Transition Battalion. After the unit was disbanded, she applied for the resiliency counselor position aboard Theodore Roosevelt. “Helping the men and women who gave so much for their country only strengthened my resolve to aid service members,” said Johnson. “I feel extremely blessed and humbled to continue to serve the military.” Johnson expressed how amazed she was at the resiliency of Sailors. She is impressed at how Sailors overcome the long hours of work, the lack of contact with families and the stresses dealt with on a daily basis. “I’m here to help Sailors bounce back,” said Johnson. “If you need someone to talk to, if you are having relationship or interpersonal issues, I’m here to listen and offer some advice.” Johnson wants Sailors to know that they can come to her in full confidence. She is only obligated to file a report if you are going to harm yourself, someone else or have been a victim of domestic violence. “Tell me what I can do to help, even if you just need someone to talk to who’s not in the Navy” said Johnson. “Just because you talk to me, or if we are talking in the p-ways or mess decks, doesn’t mean you’re my client.” Johnson said she would like to get know Sailors on the ship and for them to feel encouraged to stop by her office. She has a wide scope of knowledge and wants to be utilized in a capacity to help as much as she can.
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A Theodore Roosevelt CVN 71 Comic by MC3 Jimmi Lee Bruner
SET THE ALERT 30!
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TATTOO TATTOO, LIGHTS OUT IN 5 MINUTES, STANDBY FOR EVENING PRAYER
GOOD EVENING “ROUGH RIDERS”, THIS IS THE TAO
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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: MMFA Israel Cornejo HOMETOWN: Corcoran, CA Favorite Thing About the Navy: "All the people I have met!" Message to the crew: "Stay positive and have some fun!" Favorite Food: Carne Asada Favorite Movie: Transformers
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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