ROUGH RIDER USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71)
WELCOME ABOARD EDITION
January 22, 2017
IN THIS EDITION Our New Chain of Command Air Wing Onload CPO Advancement Exam
Welcome Our New Leaders Into Office
PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE
Meet our acting
SECNAV
The Honorable Sean J. Stackley assumed the responsibilities of acting secretary of the Navy Jan. 20 at noon. Stackley, who served as the assistant secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) for more than eight years, will carry out the day-to-day responsibilities of the secretary of the Navy until the incoming Trump administration nominates, and Congress confirms, a replacement for Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. The Honorable Thomas W. Hicks, deputy undersecretary of the Navy (Management), will also perform the duties of under secretary of the Navy until a replacement for the Honorable Janine Davidson is nominated and confirmed. The Honorable Allison F. Stiller will perform the duties of assistant secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition). She previously served as principal civilian deputy assistant secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition). The Honorable Scott W. Lutterloh will serve as
acting assistant secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs). He previously served as the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs). The Honorable Joseph B. Marshall will serve as the acting assistant secretary of the Navy (Financial Management & Comptroller). He previously served as the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Navy (Financial Management & Comptroller). The Honorable Steven R. Iselin will serve as acting assistant secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations and Environment). He previously served as principal deputy assistant secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations and Environment). The Honorable Anne M. Brennan will serve as acting general counsel of the Navy. She previously served as the principal deputy general counsel, Office of the General Counsel.
MAD DOG
Mattis Takes Oath as 26th Defense Secretary B y Ji m G a r a m o n e D oD Ne ws, D efens e Media Ac tivity By a 98-1 vote, the Senate confirmed retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis to be the 26th secretary of defense Jan. 20, and Vice President Michael R. Pence administered his oath of office shortly afterward. Mattis is the first retired general officer to hold the position since General of the Army George C. Marshall in the early 1950s. Congress passed a waiver for the retired four-star general to serve in the position, because law requires former service members to have been out of uniform for at least seven years to serve as defense secretary. Mattis retired from the Marine Corps in 2013. Mattis is a veteran of the Gulf War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. His military career culminated with service as commander of U.S. Central Command. The secretary was born in Washington State and raised in Richland, Washington, graduating from high school there in 1968 and enlisting in the Marine Corps the following year. He was commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1972 after graduating from Central Washington University. He served as a rifle and weapons platoon commander, and as a lieutenant colonel, he commanded the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines in Operation Desert Storm. In Afghanistan, he commanded some of the first troops to go into the country. In the Iraq war, he commanded the 1st Marine Division in the drive to Baghdad in 2003. He was instrumental in publishing the Army and Marine Corps counterinsurgency manual when he served at Marine Corps Developmental Command in Quantico, Virginia. He then commanded the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force before being chosen for four-star rank as the commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command and NATO’s Allied Command Transformation in 2007. He was named Centcom commander 2010. Mattis is a student of the study of war. Former Defense Secretary William S. Cohen called Mattis “a man of thought as well as action,” when he introduced him at the Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing last week. The world is awash in change, Mattis told the
committee. “Our country is still at war in Afghanistan, and our troops are fighting against [the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] and other terrorist groups in the Middle East and elsewhere,” he said. “Russia is raising grave concerns on several fronts, and China is shredding trust along its periphery.” The “islands of stability” in the world are under attack by nonstate actors and rogue nations, Mattis said. “Our armed forces in this world must remain the best-led, the bestequipped and the most lethal in the world,” he added. He told the committee that he will be “the strongest possible advocate for military and civilian personnel and their families” and that he will “foster an atmosphere of harmony and trust at the department with our interagency partners and the congressional committees.” “It’s good to be back and I’m grateful to serve alongside you as Secretary of Defense. Together with the Intelligence Community we are the sentinels and guardians of our nation. We need only look to you, the uniformed and civilain members of the Department and your families, to see the fundamental unity of our country. You represent an America committed to the common good; an America that is never complacent about defending its freedoms; and an America that remains a steady beacon of hope for all mankind. Every action we take will be designed to ensure our military is ready to fight today, and in the future. Recognizing that no nation is secure without friends, we will work with the State Department to strengthen our alliances. Further, we are devoted to gaining full value from every taxpayer dollar spent on defense, thereby earning the trust of Congress and the American people. I am confident you will do your part. I pledge to you I’ll do my best as your Secretary. “ -MATTIS SENDS
Welcome Aboard
Carrier Air Wing 17 PHOTOS BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT MEDIA
170118-N-NV908-081 SAN DIEGO (Jan. 18, 2017) An MH-60S Seahawk, assigned to the Indians of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6, is chocked and chained on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Theodore Roosevelt is currently off the coast of Southern California conducting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chad M. Trudeau/Released)
T H E O D O R E R O O S E V E LT J O I N S F O R C E S W I T H C V W-17 Story by MCSN Rachael Treon
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) welcomed aboard Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW-17) Jan. 17 for carrier qualifications in preparation to begin the ship’s work-up cycle. The flight operations mark the first time aircraft have landed aboard Theodore Roosevelt in almost a year. CVW-17 was previously embarked aboard Theodore Roosevelt in early 2016 before the ship entered its Planned Incremental Availability. “The relationship between the TR and CVW-17 was as smooth as I’ve ever experienced between an air wing and an air department and I’m very optimistic this will continue,” said Cmdr. Christopher Jason, Theodore Roosevelt’s air boss. “We’re both very professional groups and despite having new personnel, we have the same core of leadership to ensure success during this critical underway period. We’re heading right into work-ups so this gives us a chance to recalibrate and refresh ourselves on how to conduct flight operations.” Preparations to bring CVW-17 on board started immediately after the air wing disembarked in March of 2016. Theodore Roosevelt has under gone an extensive amount of upgrades and maintenance with the ultimate goal of returning to sea to conduct flight operations. “There are key roles from every single department to prepare for the air wing coming aboard,” said Lt. Cmdr. Anthony K. Tobias, Theodore Roosevelt’s principal assistant for logistics. “It’s challenging to be fully prepared for the additional people but with the TR spirit it makes the transition easy.”
More than 180 pallets of Theodore Roosevelt’s cargo including food, storeroom parts, ship store items, and other resources along with 175 pallets of CVW-17’s cargo were on loaded to accommodate new personnel living aboard, said Tobias. There was also an immense effort from the crew to offload trash and other unnecessary materials before getting underway. Theodore Roosevelt becoming fully operational gives many Theodore Roosevelt Sailors their first look at flight operations and many CVW-17 Sailors and Marines their first experience living aboard a ship. Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Eric Williams stepped aboard an aircraft carrier for the very first time. “It honestly made me proud to be a Sailor,” said Williams. “I’m excited to finally be doing what I’m supposed to do and I’m looking forward to deployment.” Completing carrier qualifications including the upcoming flight deck certification is a key factor in keeping Theodore Roosevelt on schedule for a deployment later this year. CVW-17 is comprised of the following squadrons: the Redcocks of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22, the Mighty Shrikes of VFA-94, the Stingers of VFA113; the Checkerboards of Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 312; the Cougars of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139; the Sun Kings of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116; the Indians of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6; the Battlecats of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73; and the Providers of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30. Theodore Roosevelt is currently off the coast of Southern California conducting carrier qualifications.
Chief Petty Officer Advancement Examination Photo story By: Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Alex Corona
On Thursday, January 19, 2017, 194 hopeful first class petty officers sat down to take the chief petty officer advancement exam. Navy Counselor 1st Class Loren Bell was one of the participants in the 175-question exam which covered rating and general military knowledge. “I studied every night for the last four months for 30 minutes,” said Bell. “It’s very emotional because you know what you’re studying for but you don’t know what is on the exam.” Leading up to, and during the exam, Bell said he was stressed out. Once the exam finally began, he felt ready to take the test he studied for. “Now it is just a waiting game,” said Bell. “You wait to see if you get board eligibility and from there it is up to the board, they decide.”
Sunday, January 22
Movie Schedule
0900 Pompeii The Boxtrolls 1110 Iron Man 2 22 Jump Street Olympus has 1320 Fallen Norm of the North Ratchet and Austin Powers: 1515 Clank Goldmember The Hunger Games 1710 Mockingjay Part 2 Mother’s Day 2025 Pompeii The Boxtrolls
Safe Haven Oculus Nerve The Darkness
Godzilla Safe Haven
USS Theodore Roosevelt Earns Retention Excellence Award After a Three Carrier Hull Swap PACIFIC OCEAN—The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) was awarded the Retention Excellence Award for fiscal year 2016, Jan. 19. The Retention Excellence Award was created by the United States Fleet Forces Command to annually award U.S. Navy commands that exceptionally sustain retention and maintain programs to allow Sailors to succeed in the Navy. Theodore Roosevelt’s Career Information Program ranked in the outstanding category by receiving an overall score of 92 percent. “The only way to have long term success is to build a culture that everyone believes in,” said Master Chief Navy Counselor Michael Hill. “Our brand new team of career counselors is filled with a diverse group of volunteers who want to take on additional responsibilities on top of their own job. It’s phenomenal.” This is the third consecutive year Theodore Roosevelt has won the award symbolizing a reminder that the ship takes care of its Sailors.
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 EDITOR MC2 Anthony Hopkins II MC3 Alex Perlman ROUGH RIDER CONTRIBUTERS MC2 Paul Archer MC2 Chad Trudeau MC3 Victoria Galbraith MC3 Spencer Roberts MCSN Rachael Treon MCSN Alex Corona MCSN Bill Sanders COMMAND OMBUDSMAN
NAME: PR2 Billy Phillips (Primary SAR Swimmer On USS Theodore Roosevelt)
HOMETOWN: Tallaposa, GA Favorite Thing About the Navy: “Getting pitted on the RHIB.”
Message to the crew: “Always strive to be the best in whatever you do.”
Favorite Food: Frijoles Favorite Movie: Hell or High Water
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.
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