Vinson Voice, Vol 4, Issue 1

APRIL 18, 2013

USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) VOL 4 ISSUE 01

FROM

CARLTOVINSON

SOUTH KOREA

Know Your Sailors of the Quarter

Mentorship: Molding the Future Force

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HOW WORKS! A LATICEWORK OFJP-5 PIPES

Get Fit, Stay Fit NAVAL HISTORY: AFRICAN AMERICAN ENLISTMENTS

SOUTHKorea

Cover Image: Sailors assigned to Republic of Korea (ROK) Special Warfare Flotilla and SEAL Team 17 prepare to conduct a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) during exercise Key Resolve 2013. Photo by Lt. Cmdr. Cheol Kang.

One Sailor’s Journey Across the World

by MCSA Samuel LeCain

Intelligence Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Elizabeth Morris poses with a fellow Sailor and a Republic of Korea service member. Photo Courtesy of IS3 (SW) Elizabeth Morris.

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ne Sailor aboard Carl Vinson received a unique opportunity to participate in the joint forces training exercise Key Resolve 2013 at Yongsan Garrison, Republic of Korea (ROK) March 11 to March 21.

“One of Key Resolve’s main purposes was to practice scenarios that involved North Korea and South Korea engaging in conflict and how to take the country back from North Korea if it came to that,” Intelligence Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Elizabeth Morris explained. “This year the main focus was letting the ROK forces take the lead of the exercise instead of having the U.S. lead it. Our goal was to sit back, help as much as we could and integrate with their forces.”

More than 3,000 U.S. personnel and 10,000 ROK troops participated in the combined land, air and naval exercise.

“During the exercise I did intelligence work along with the Army, Marines, Air Force and ROK forces,” Morris said. “It was interesting working in an environment with so many different forces. Since I’ve been on two deployments, I could handle myself, but there were differences in the way other forces worked, so I ended up learning a lot from them.”

The exercise enhanced cooperation between the U.S. and ROK forces, giving both time to develop and coordinate their efforts toward the protection of the nation.

“The best part was working with the ROK [service members]. I was the Navy representative doing naval intelligence and had a ROK counterpart who did the intelligence with me,” Morris said. “There was a slight language

barrier, but we were able to talk about what it’s like to be in the U.S. Navy for me and what it’s like to be in the ROK navy for my counterpart.

We shared stories of our experiences and I really learned a lot.”

Once her role in naval intelligence for the exercise was completed, Morris worked closely with an Air Force staff sergeant and Marine Corps lance corporal.

“We got really close in our time there and learned a lot from each other. We did a lot of cross-training on the systems we use,” Morris said. “I was the only one that had been deployed before out of our group, so I was able to teach them a lot while they also taught me. It was interesting learning how they work and swapping ideas back and forth.”

With her technical skills, comprehensive knowledge of naval intelligence and outstanding military bearing, Morris was a clear choice for the brief IA assignment.

“IS3 Morris was chosen to be Carl Vinson’s representative on this exercise because of her qualifications, her attitude, and the quality of her work,” said Chief Intelligence Specialist (SW/IDW/ AW) Brad Hayes. “She’s been on two deployments, so I know I can always trust her to do what needs to get done.”

Morris said that she will use many of the lessons she learned while in South Korea in her work on Carl Vinson.

“From working with the different branches and the ROK forces I was able to get some new ideas on how to better do my job and I better understand the current issues going on in Korea,” Morris said.

“I brought the lessons I learned there back with me and know I’m better for it.

Infographic by MC2 (SW) Megan L. Catellier

Chaplain’s Corner

He is a Shield to Those Who Walk in Integrity -Proverbs 2:7

By Lt. Cmdr. C. Varsogea, Chaplain

Having integrity means having all the parts of our lives fit together in such a way that we consistently behave well regardless of the circumstances. A man or woman of integrity is as trustworthy and reliable in his or her private life as he or she is in the professional realm. People of integrity tell the truth to everyone, not only to the people they like. At the other end of the spectrum, people without integrity are like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. They are different people under different circumstances. A person struggling with integrity might be self-controlled when on duty but a serious liberty risk after hours. Such a person might be devoted to his or her family but unconcerned with the welfare of his or her Shipmates.

A person of integrity knows himself or herself and makes the effort to be the best possible person at all times. Behaving with integrity means knowing what we believe is good and knowing what is expected of us in any situation. In order to develop integrity we need to think about how the various pieces of our lives fit together. How do we fit our personal lives and our professional lives together in such a way that we are the same person even when we are doing different things?

How do we fit our values together with the Navy’s Core values so that we do not have to hide our true selves when we are at work? Figuring out the answers to these kinds of questions is how we integrate our lives and become whole people.

Integrity is important to the Navy. It is also an extremely important part of most religions. Those of us who profess a religious faith are always being encouraged to bring that faith to bear on the conduct of our daily lives. The Navy goes to great lengths to give us the opportunity to integrate our faith and our military service. It understands that religion is not merely a private matter to be practiced in one’s personal time.

Navy policy, like federal law, recognizes that a person’s religion can be as integral to his or her identity as race or sex.

The Command Religious Ministries Department offers a wide variety of religious services and forms of personal advice to help you bring together your religious ideals and the realities of your daily life. It is possible for us to reconcile the seemingly contradictory demands placed upon us by our families, our personal needs, and the Navy. We can find ways to align our spiritual lives with military service. Every day, your chaplains offer opportunities to worship, to meditate, to discuss, and to grow. Consider taking one of those opportunities to find out how much better things can be when all the parts of your life work together rather than working against each other.

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) Airman Cheyenne Foreman labels fuel samples in a pump room aboard Carl Vinson.

Photo by MC2 (SW/AW) Timothy Hazel.

JP-5: A LATICEWORK OF PIPES

he JP-5 jet fuel system aboard Carl Vinson is an essential component of flight operations for Carrier Strike Group One (CSG-1).

The complex structure of pumps and pipes that runs throughout the entire ship serves to store, filter and deliver fuel.

“The main focus is to fuel aircraft,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) 1st Class (AW/SW) Andrew Stephens, the assistant leading petty officer for air department’s V-4 division. “The secondary purpose would be to balance the list and trim of the ship.”

The design consists of three major components: the stripping system, the transfer system and the service system.

The stripping system is the first step in purifying the fuel.

“The purifiers have 186 disks stacked and it works like a centrifuge,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class (Fuel) (AW) Jamal Mitchell, air department’s V-4 division below decks supervisor. “It spins at 4100 revolutions per minute.

The fuel enters into the purifier through the middle, and due to centrifugal force the sediment is pushed outward.”

The transfer system is used throughout the entire process to transport the fuel along the ship.

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are located throughout the ship from the third deck to the eighth deck. We transfer the fuel from one side to the other as needed.”

The JP-5 smart carrier system allows counsel operators to monitor the tanks and distribution supply and work closely with Damage Control (DC) Central to ensure proper balance with the list and trim of the ship.

“If DC Central moves water throughout the ship, or if aircraft is moved onto the flight deck, we get a call from them so we can make the proper adjustments down here,” Mitchell explained.

The automated system allows controllers to observe the fuel as it travels throughout the ship in realtime.

“I’ve been working with JP-5 for 15 years,” said Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) (AW/SW) Sean Roberts.

“This is the safest system that I’ve ever

HOW IT WORKS!

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When the fuel is delivered to the ship it is housed in storage tanks, then the fuel is sent through the purifiers to the service tanks, Stephens said.

“We have 16 ready tanks forward and 12 ready tanks aft,” Mitchell said.

“Those tanks are the only ones used to fuel the jets and all equipment on the ship, including forklifts and small machinery.”

From the ready tanks, the fuel goes through a JP-5 service filter before it can be used on the flight deck, Stephens said.

The JP-5 service filters remove 100% of water and 98% of sediment.

Sediment is measured in microns, and the service filter removes all sediment five microns and larger. A strand of human hair measures in at 10 microns.

Once the fuel is run through the service filter, it is ready for flight deck stations and to serve its ultimate purpose – flight operations.

Carl Vinson carries nearly 70 aircraft aboard ship during a deployment.

Since the ship normally holds more than three million gallons of fuel, or approximately 20 million pounds, the JP-5 system is designed to use the fuel as leverage to balance the ship.

“We have balance tanks on both sides of the ship called ‘wing’ tanks,” Mitchell said. “We have sister tanks that are the exact same size and contain the same amount of fuel, they

worked with. It allows us to monitor every step of the process.”

V-4 division Sailors practice their work with strict adherence to Aviation Fuels Operational Sequencing System (AFOSS) to ensure safety.

“The bottom line is always being safe – that is number one – and having pride in what you do,” Roberts said. “Having pride in your work is something that we emphasize throughout the Navy, and that shows in our work spaces.”

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) 2nd Class Alex Rivera signals for tanks to be opened during the transferring of fuel in a pump room aboard Carl Vinson. Photo by MC2 Timothy Hazel.

APRIL 7, 1942 : NAVAL NAVY APPROVES AFRICAN AMERICAN ENLISTMENTS

HISTORY Since the passing of Executive Order 8802, African Americans have distinguished themselves throughout the Navy. Photos courtesy of National Archives.

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he United States entered World War II in December 1941, requiring tremendous manpower from service members.

Subsequently, on April 7, 1942, Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox approved the enlistment of African Americans into general service in the Navy.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt had previously rejected a report stating African Americans should only be accepted in the messmen branch of the Navy. Roosevelt pointed out about a tenth of the U.S. population was African American, and they were U.S. citizens with the same rights as other citizens.

Executive Order 8802, signed

by Roosevelt, prohibited racial discrimination in the national defense industry, eventually allowing more than 150,000 African-American Sailors to serve the Navy during World War II. In the beginning, these new Sailors were prohibited from sea service and limited only to serving on shore commands like Navy yards, and Navy construction crews and companies.

However, African Americans were

by MC3 Michael H. Lee

still required to achieve the same physical and mental standards of all Navy personnel.

Despite segregated training, restrictions on the percentage of African Americans that could be recruited, and limits placed on their promotions, important achievements were made by African Americans.

Doris Miller received the Navy Cross from Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz on May 27, 1942 for his extraordinary courage during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941. Miller continued to serve the Navy until his death in 1944.

The political pressures from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Assistant Secretary of the Navy Adlai Stevenson spurred the approval of a two-month officer training course for 16 African American enlisted men January 1944.

Twelve became commissioned officers and one was appointed as a warrant officer. These men are famously known in Naval history as the “Golden Thirteen.�

Through the hard work and dedication of the Department of Navy, National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Roosevelt,

the Navy presented the opportunity for African American Sailors to serve out to sea.

The destroyer escort USS Mason (DE 529) and the submarine chaser USS PC 1264 became the first ships that were operated by a crew of all African American Sailors as a result of Executive Order 8802. The objective was to replace all Caucasian petty officers with African American petty officers, which was accomplished within six months on PC 1264, but not on the Mason.

The first African American officer reported for duty in 1945 and joined the crew assigned to PC 1264.

The approval to accept African Americans into general service was an important step in Naval history.

Limited to serving as mess attendants prior to the approval, these Sailors demonstrated their abilities during key moments in war, their commitment to excellence as officers and their dedication to the Navy to man and operate Navy vessels.

Today, the Navy accepts people of all races, genders and creeds, strengthening the ranks through diversity.

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Get Fit, Stay Fit

Why Working Out Is Worthwhile for All Hands

by MCSA Matthew A. Carlyle

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Carl Vinson Sailors run the mile and a half portion of the Physical Readiness Test (PRT). Photo by MC3 Michael H. Lee.

ife aboard Carl Vinson is nothing like the average nine to five. Not only are the hours here referred to in sets of 24 instead of the civilian 12, but an expectation of each Sailor to serve in capacities greater than their rating demands for a specific fitness level.

It’s the crew that combats fires, fights and dewaters flooding.

It’s the crew that stands in the way of a casualty retiring Carl Vinson. Even navigating the ship with its myriad shops and offices spread throughout 18 decks and levels requires a certain physical fitness level.

Carl Vinson owes the Navy 19 more years to meet its life expectancy; every shipboard Sailor must do their part to sustain her.

Being healthy never hurt anyone either.

A Sailor’s physical fitness is gauged through the physical fitness assessment (PFA), which is comprised of the body composition assessment (BCA) and physical readiness test (PRT). The PFA is a basic physical assessment test designed by the Navy and held twice a year.

During the BCA, a Sailor’s weight and height are measured to make sure all personnel fall within their prescribed body composition guidelines. In the PRT, all hands must meet a minimum requirement for core strength, upper body strength and cardiovascular ability.

The BCA and PRT guidelines are all based on age and gender.

“It’s in your job description to meet certain physical requirements and be able to accomplish certain physical activities, such as sit-ups, pushups and running,” said Electronics Technician 3rd Class Christine Bottoms, assigned to combat systems department’s CS6 division. “It’s all done to make sure you can handle the various rigors of this job.”

Sailors who fail to pass any portion of the PFA – either the BCA or a portion of the PRT – are then placed in the fitness enhancement program (FEP).

“FEP is a program developed by the Navy to assist Sailors in reaching their fitness goals,” said Jessie Bray, the ship’s Fit

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Boss, or fitness coordinator. “You have to exercise at least three times a week, attend nutrition classes and track your progress.”

Sailors are also required to perform a monthly mock PRT. If a Sailor fails three PRT’s within a four-year time-span, they are awarded administrative separation.

Bottoms shared her personal struggle with fitness and how FEP impacted her.

“The first time, I was really embarrassed about it,” Bottoms remembered. “You have to exercise in the hangar bay where everyone can see you. I didn’t really embrace it. The second time, I didn’t want to continue being on FEP. I didn’t want to continue having body image issues and I didn’t want to be unhealthy, either. I really embraced the program and took every opportunity I could get to workout.”

Her willingness to change her lifestyle and her commitment to the choices inherent to those changes were vital to reaching her goals, Bottoms said.

Bray says the commitment is also the most difficult part; her advice is to plan for success.

“Whenever you’re changing your life habits, it’s going to take you awhile to get used to it,” Bray explained. “You have to make smart choices. I think that being healthy and having a healthy lifestyle has a lot to do with planning ahead. Have healthy snacks with you instead of running to the food truck and getting a bag of chips and a soda. Have an apple or yogurt and water with you always. After a while it just becomes second nature to workout, and you’ll become healthier and happier.”

Bottoms admitted that when she was out of shape, it affected every aspect of her life.

“I had a very low body image and low self-esteem, and had a very high stress level,” Bottoms said. “My personal issues would bleed into my professional life. It affected my feelings and my self-image.”

According to Bray, studies have shown that people who workout usually have higher rates of productivity and job satisfaction in their professional lives and greater happiness in their personal lives.

“Working out has certainly improved the quality of my life,” said Bottoms. “It’s a lot more fun to go shopping now. It’s no longer embarrassing to try on something and have it not fit. I feel better. I have a better sense of wellness.”

Bottoms knows now the importance of being as healthy as possible and that the physical and mental demands of working on a ship are reason enough to make wellness a priority.

“If we have Sailors who can’t pull their own weight, then somebody else has to do the work for them,” Bottoms explained.

“This job is very demanding. Just walking through this ship is demanding. It’s a physical job. It’s stressful physically and mentally. I think if you’re not in a good physical state, you won’t be able to handle the mental stresses as well. It’s not really about just physical fitness, but about total wellness.”

For any Sailor looking for new ways to workout, Carl Vinson and Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) offer a wide variety of fitness and nutrition classes.

“We offer yoga, functional fitness, step aerobics, abdominal classes, cycle classes and cardio classes,” said Bray. “We’ve

started offering a class specifically to prepare for the PRT where people can come in and tell us where they’re struggling and we can offer them workout programs and some tips to help them progress in those specific areas that they’re struggling in.”

In order to get in the best shape you can be, Bottoms suggested taking advantage of the many opportunities available to get a complete and stimulating workout.

“Try out as many things as possible,” Bottoms advised. “Get a workout buddy, and if that’s unreliable, take classes. They offer free classes on base and they have these great gym facilities you can use.”

Now that she is leading a life dedicated to being fit and healthy, Bottoms hopes to one day become a command fitness leader (CFL) to help those whom are trying to get back within fitness standards, and offered to talk to anyone whom wants to know how she got to where she’s at today.

“I’ll be happy to sit down and talk to you one-on-one,” Bottoms said. “I’ll even go out and exercise with you. It’ll motivate me and I’ll try to motivate you.”

Operations Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Aaron Paul demonstrates the proper sit-up form for Carl Vinson Sailors participating in the Physical Readiness Test (PRT). Photo by MC3 Michael H. Lee.

First class petty officers exercise as part of Chief Petty Officer 365 training on the pier next to Carl Vinson.

Photo by MC2 (SW/AW) Timothy Hazel.

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Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) Airman (AW/ SW) Queonte Wilson, assigned to air department’s V4 division, has achieved a level few Sailors attain, and with barely a year under his belt. The Chicago native has earned both his air warfare and surface warfare pins, has nearly completed V4 division’s toughest qualification - the JP-5 pump room operator - and, perhaps most importantly, he’s earned the respect of his Shipmates up and down his chain of command.

Now he has one more honor to add to his already glowing reputation: Carl Vinson’s Bluejacket of the Quarter.

“Everything he strives for he achieves,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) 1st Class (SW) David J. Medel, V4 division’s below decks workcenter supervisor. “He’s barely been here a year and he’s already dual-qualified. He puts forth the right amount of effort, if not more, to obtain his goals and get things done in a timely fashion. He’s unquestionably one of the best.”

Despite his achievements and accomplishments, Wilson didn’t make a flattering name for himself when he arrived, admitted Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) 1st Class (AW/SW) Justin Yingling, V4 division’s below decks leading petty officer.

“He had his rough times when he got here, but he straightened it out real quick,” Yingling said. “We had a lot of good people in our chain of command [who] really pushed him to [excel]. They told him, ‘Hey, if you want to get here, you’ve got do this.’ They helped him set his goals, even though he had his [own] goals in mind, and they pushed him to get stuff done.”

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Wilson himself now recognizes he didn’t have the easiest time adjusting, just as is the case with many Sailors upon arriving to the ship.

“I’ve seen myself grow because when I first got here, I used to flip out about certain things, but now I’m more relaxed and more mature,” Wilson said.

That maturity hasn’t gone unnoticed, though, and his chain of command appreciated his fast acclimation and development to shipboard life and his

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) Airman Cheyenne Foreman, left, and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) Airman (AW/SW) Queonte Wilson, right, prepare fuel samples in a pump room aboard Carl Vinson.

Photo by MC2 (SW/AW) Timothy Hazel.

workcenter.

“He’s definitely grown a lot as a Sailor, worker and person,” Medel said.

“His maturity has grown. His level of knowledge has grown, as well. Anything work-related, he has the answers.”

It wasn’t until the Navy that I really started wanting to learn, Wilson said. In high school, I didn’t push myself the way I do now. Since I’ve gotten here, though, I’ve realized I know how to focus in and accomplish something.

Medel and Yingling both consider

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Wilson’s work ethic to be unmatched and know there isn’t a task he’s asked to do that won’t be completed on time.

“That’s hard to come by these days,” Medel said. “This guy doesn’t need to be reminded once or twice, he just does it.”

“He’s a go-to guy. He definitely does get everything done I ask him to do,” Yingling said, adding he was proud to see someone he works with recognized for such an honor.

“It’s outstanding, especially because he came from our workcenter,” Yingling said.

“He sets the example. He represents us as a workcenter, as a division and as a department. He’s the example everybody should strive to be like.”

“I feel very privileged to have the honor, not only for myself, but also for everyone else I work with,” Wilson said. “I feel like I did a good thing for my rate.”

In evidence of the positive effects he has generated for his rate and workcenter, Wilson said even people he doesn’t know come up to him and congratulate him.

After explaining exactly what the BJOQ award is and what receiving it means, Wilson said his family couldn’t be prouder. “[My mom] said she always knew I had it in me and knew I was going to do something good with my life,” Wilson said.

In order to achieve receiving a prestigious honor like this, Yingling advised following Wilson’s example in setting your goals high and striving to be the best you can be.

“He’s the prime example of what can happen if you put your mind to it,” Yingling said. “He sets his goals and he always accomplishes them.”

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achinist’s Mate 2nd Class (SW/AW) Ebony Shantea Stevens, assigned to engineering department’s auxiliary division, was chosen as the department’s Sailor of the Quarter 2nd Quarter for her tireless work ethic and exemplary leadership skills, and was subsequently named Carl Vinson’s Junior Sailor of the Quarter (JSOQ) 2nd Quarter.

Commanding Officer Capt. Kent D. Whalen made the announcement during an all-hands call April 3.

“She is an exceptional leading petty officer (LPO) for the liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen (N2O2) shop,” said Chief Machinist’s Mate (SW) Norman Sugai, leading chief petty officer (LCPO) of engineering department’s auxiliary division.

Stevens plays a pivotal role in the production of N2 and O2 which are utilized by a vast array of Carl Vinson’s departments to facilitate ship’s operations.

She deserves this recognition for all of her hard work, inside and outside of the department, said Lt. Megan May, division officer of engineering department’s auxiliary division.

“She is a strong petty officer who exemplifies so much of what the award is about,” May said.

“She knows her job forward and backward and is always striving for professional excellence and she will readily take on any task she is given.”

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“She is already performing at a [petty officer] 1st class level and she will maintain her work ethic and achieve many more great things in her career.”

-Chief Machinist’s Mate (SW) Norman Sugai

Stevens has had success and shown promise in each one of the duties she has undertaken, no matter the circumstance.

“She takes on divisional collateral duties as well as command collateral duties,” May said. “She goes above and beyond our expectations.

She is always on top of monthly training requirements and works to make everyone in her work center stronger, more qualified Sailors.

She is a credit to our department in every way.”

There are no challenges Stevens has shied away from in her time with the ship; she has found a seamless harmony between her duties as LPO and her collateral duties in a manner that sets her above her peers, said Sugai.

“She is already performing at a [petty officer] 1st class level and she will maintain her work ethic and achieve many more great things in her career,” he added.

Since arriving at Carl Vinson in June of 2011, Stevens has capitalized on every learning opportunity available and has

mastered a wealth of valuable skills.

“My time aboard Carl Vinson has helped me become a better leader,” Stevens said. “I have learned to handle stressful situations. I’ve become more focused, goal-oriented and more resilient.”

Her ability to learn and lead she has elevated her entire division.

The JSOQ award has been the culmination of a department cohesively working together under her leadership, Sugai said.

“This is not an individual award,” Stevens said. “Winning this award would not have been possible without the hardworking, supportive members of my team. I do not have words to describe how important they are in my success.”

Stevens said she is equal parts humbled and grateful for this award. She works hard because that is what she was taught.

There would be no award, or success without the direction, inspiration and guidance from several mentors during my career, said Stevens. “My mother, my husband, my division officer, my LCPO and my mentor aboard Carl Vinson, Chief Machinery Repairman Calandra Crawford, have all contributed greatly to everything I’ve accomplished.”

“I wasn’t trying to do anything more than a good job and I feel validated in winning,” said Stevens.

“I can’t stress enough that we share this – my Shipmates, my family and the many people who have assisted me – without their support I don’t think I would have been in a position to win an award.”

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ospital Corpsman 1st Class (SW/AW) Nathan Burger, an independent duty corpsman (IDC) and the leading petty officer (LPO) of medical department, was named aircraft carrier Carl Vinson’s Senior Sailor of the 2nd Quarter, April 3.

Burger strives daily to be an exemplary Sailor and to grow in his profession.

“You don’t have to be Sailor of the Year to be successful,” said Burger.

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anything stop him.

“He has a goal in mind, and continues to strive for them,” Ramey said.

“Sometimes it may get difficult, and there are set backs, but he keeps moving forward.”

As the LPO of his department, Burger’s responsibilities include training and leading more than 40 Sailors and tending to patients’ needs.

Juggling these responsibilities can become daunting, but he enjoys the process and the positive impact he makes on Sailors.

“I measure my success by the success of the Sailors under my charge.”

- HM1 (SW/AW) Nathan Burger -

“Proficiency in your job and setting the example for other Sailors are two things that set you up for a successful career in the Navy.”

Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/ AW) Jerry Ramey, leading chief petty officer (LCPO) of medical department, nominated Burger for the honor.

Since Burger’s arrival to the department, Feb. 12, 2012, he has seamlessly grown into his leadership role, Ramey said.

“I saw the potential he had to be a great leader, so I started pushing him and guiding him in order to take him to the next level,” Ramey said.

According to Ramey, Burger continues to strive for his goals and doesn’t let

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“I embrace the grind and the struggle,” Burger said. “You really grow, develop and mature as a Sailor with the grind, and when you do reach a goal, there is a sense of accomplishment.

“I measure my success by the success of the Sailors under my charge,” said Burger.

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Destiny Brown has been working with Burger since he came aboard Carl Vinson, and says he has shaped the way she sees her job in the Navy.

“Working with HM1 Burger has helped me understand the big picture,” Brown said. “I’ve learned that it’s not about me, but about the Navy and how we contribute to the bigger picture.”

Brown learned from Burger that becoming good at your rate and educating yourself go hand-in-hand, benefiting both the Navy and your career.

“I want to become the go-to person in my department like he is,” Brown said.

“I have learned a lot from him.”

Despite being the go-to Sailor in his department, Burger humbly admits that earning this honor wasn’t an individual effort.

“It takes hardworking Sailors that work with you to set you up for an award or recognition,” Burger said. “I am appreciative and thankful because my chain of command has shown me support, and the Sailors that I lead have worked very hard.”

Burger continues to push forward on the road to a successful career and has set his sight on becoming a chief petty officer “I want to make Chief,” said Burger.

“Chiefs have been leading me since I’ve been in the Navy. I’m very passionate about getting into the Chief ’s Mess.”

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SW/AW) Nathan Burger sutures a patient’s wound in ship’s medical aboard USS Carl Vinson. Photo by MCSN Hansel D. Pintos.

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by MCSN Curtis D. Spencer

entors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson manage my time wisely.”

Diversity, one of the Navy’s greatest strengths, shows its value (CVN 70) help mold junior Sailors into tomorrow’s leaders through military instruction, career advice, in the mentorship program as well. Mentors are consistently pushed by their mentees, allowing each one to grow throughout and by sharing their life experiences.

“Mentorship gives Sailors a guideline of the Navy’s expectations the relationship.

“Sometimes I’m asked questions about things I have never for their professional careers and personal lives,” said Chief Aviation Maintenance Administrationman (AW/SW) Rosalind dealt with in my career. Then I’m pushed to find the answer and Samuels, also a mentor. “An enlistment is fast-paced, with many I learn something new that I benefit from,” Samuels said.

Every command holds a wealth of knowledge, said Interior challenges and struggles. When a Sailor has a mentor, it is a Communications Specialist Petty Officer 2nd Class (SW/AW) guarantee against getting left behind.”

Because of the significant impact mentors have upon them and Joshua Aziz. Every shipmate can teach you something, so it can the close relationships that develop, Sailors can request a specific only behoove you to listen and act upon that.

Sailors can progress swiftly through their Navy careers with mentor of their choice to assist them in building their careers and an advisor, eventually finding themselves in a mentoring role. inspiring them toward their personal best.

“First of all, you want to select someone of a higher rank – a As mentors, each Sailor draws from their experiences and those person who will tell you what you need to hear, not just what of others before them to develop their personal leadership and you want to hear,” Samuels explained. “I look for someone who mentorship style.

There are Sailors who came aboard Carl Vinson as airmen and is straight-forward, has knowledge about the Navy and life in general, a person who will find answers for me and someone who are going to their next command with both warfare pins as 2nd class petty officers, Samuels said, adding, “They are the mentors is willing to take the time to help when I need them to.”

Having a mentor who has established him or herself within a now.” command and who is familiar with the work flow has multiple “Mentorship onboard Carl Vinson had a positive effect of my benefits. They demonstrate how to gauge the environment, career. I hope I can work to have a positive effect on other Sailors’ provide a better perspective on the pressures and surprises of a careers, in order to give back the knowledge I benefited from,” mission-focused culture, and help to temper expectations of what Aziz said. “There are certain lessons I have learned that will one can accomplish, should accomplish, and in what time frame. benefit Sailors who are in the position I was in when I reported “Coming to an aircraft carrier out of ‘A’ school is a huge reality to the ship.” check,” said Intelligence Specialist 3rd Class (SW) and mentee It is the cyclic, pay-it-forward mentoring that builds everElizabeth Morris. “My stronger Sailors. The mentor helped me learn ideal is for the collective and helped me set goals for knowledge and experience myself in my career.” to grow, placing each As subject matter experts, successive generation of mentors help set Sailors up Sailor further ahead and with tools to excel in every better equipped to serve. aspect of their job. They also Mentorship has attune them to the many improved my attitude, aspects affecting progress my thought process, my on their journey to success. work ethic, and my overall “Looking toward career progress, Samuels the future, a Sailor said. Every day we deal must consider things with something new. It helps to have someone we such as military can turn to for guidance bearing, advancement, and learn from within our qualifications, collateral command. duties, education and For information on physical readiness, in the formal mentorship addition to his or her job,” progam, contact AZC Morris said. “My mentor Personnel Specialist Seaman Max Stuart, left, helps Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Samuels at J-5204 or has helped keep me focused William Gibbs, right, with paper work aboard Carl Vinson. email her at Rosalind. and taught me how to Photo by MCSA Jacob G. Kaucher Samuels@cvn70.navy.mil.

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