Vinson Voice 8 Mar 11

Inside this Issue: Facebook OPSEC | DADT | Tools of the Trade | ISOPREPS VOL 2 / NO 24

March 8, 2011

a chance reunion NCPACE Reunites Student & Teacher

Story by MC3 Jessica Tounzen USS Carl Vinson Writer

U.S. Navy photos by MC3 cHRISTOPHER k. hWANG

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The Carl Vinson Voice is an internal document produced by and for the crew of the USS Carl Vinson and their families. Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government or the Departments of Defense or the Navy and do not imply any endorsement thereby.

t’s been almost nine years since Logistics Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Marcos Maldonado took his first college class under the Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE) program. It was back in 2002, during his first deployment with USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67). Maldonado had only been in the Navy for about a year. He decided since a college education was the main reason he’d signed his enlistment papers, it was time to get the ball rolling.

“Everyone around me was taking classes, even my Leading Petty Officer (LPO),” he said. “When he asked me if I was going to take classes, I said I just wanted to relax and enjoy my time. Eventually he convinced me. Then I started convincing others. It was almost like peer pressure in a positive way, a healthy competition.”

And so it was that Maldonado landed in his first college-level math class, Intermediate Algebra I, led by instructor Robert Mazur. Maldonado said his first interaction with the NCPACE program was a positive one.

“Mr. Mazur was really great…he would always sit down with the students and go over the exercises and explain more in depth if we didn’t understand something,” said Maldonado.

Mazur, a self-proclaimed math geek, See ‘NCPACE’ Page 2

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Carl Vinson Voice

From `NCPACE` page 1

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had been teaching math to NCPACE students for nearly two decades. It had taken him to dozens of ships. Prior to that, he’d taught at several universities and community colleges. Mazur revealed why he brought his passion for teaching to the U.S. Navy.

“I wanted to be up close and personal with the Navy…I thought it was a fascinating world, one that few civilians ever get to see,” explained Mazur, affectionately called ‘Teach’ by his students. “To me, educating Sailors is important because the Navy is getting more competitive all the time, and it needs educated, well-rounded personnel.”

Maldonado and Mazur had no idea they’d meet again.

Student and teacher reunited in 2004 on board Kennedy during Mazur’s college algebra class, as Maldonado continued working toward his degree during a deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). They wouldn’t meet again for more than six years.

Then in January, with ten years’ Navy experience under his belt, a twist of fate again reunited the Sailor with his first NCPACE instructor during a chance meeting in one of Vinson’s passageways.

Maldonado proudly boasts a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration he earned in 2009. Mazur described his reaction upon learning one his former students now possesses a college degree.

“There’s a big feeling of accomplishment,” said Mazur. “It’s great to see my students

complete a course and go on to graduate.

It makes me feel like I’ve contributed a small part to something much larger than myself.”

Mazur added he has a great deal of respect for those who have obtained a college education while juggling the responsibilities of sea duty.

“It’s the individual Sailor who has to shine, put forth the extra effort and try to squeeze in NCPACE courses between watches, warfare qualifications, sleep, and work. It’s a noble effort, and a great opportunity for those who are dedicated enough.”

For Maldonado, making the choice to dedicate himself to his degree wasn’t very difficult.

“When it comes to balancing work and school, it all boils down to how bad you want it. If you want to play video games, that’s what you’ll do…but if you want to go to school, you’ll have to study every day. It’s about priorities.”

Maldonado added there’s really no

Publisher

Capt. Bruce H. Lindsey Commanding Officer Executive Editors

Lt. Cmdr. Erik Reynolds Public Affairs Officer

Lt. Erik Schneider Deputy Public Affairs Officer Managing Editor MC2(SW) Ashley Van Dien Photo Editor MC2(SW)James R. Evans

Layout and Design

MC3 Megan L. Catellier

Staff Writers/Photographers

MC2 Byron C. Linder MC3 Lori D. Bent MC3 Christopher K. Hwang MC3 Jessica Tounzen

excuse for Sailors to not pursue their college degree, especially considering the flexibility of the NCPACE program. A variety of classes available during day and night cater to any work schedule.

And the popularity of the program is evident on board Carl Vinson; currently, 372 Sailors are enrolled in NCPACE courses like sociology, English and math, said Administration Department X-3 Division’s Personnel Chief, Chief Personnel Specialist (SW) Rondricus Allen. Since the ship’s been deployed, 246 crewmembers have completed one class or more, and 346 Sailors are slated to enroll for Term 3 courses.

With a little hard work and dedication, more Sailors can experience the sense of satisfaction felt by Maldonado in achieving something truly great, said Mazur.

“Maldonado is a success story for the Navy and the NCPACE program. It’s an opportunity, one some people grab hold of while some people don’t. He took it and ran with it.”

U.S. Navy photos by MC3 cHRISTOPHER k. hWANG

Term 3 Course Offerings* DSMA 0306 DSMA 0307 DSMA 0307 DSWR 0304 ENGL 1301 ENGL 1302 Hist 1301 HIST 1302 HMSY 1337 HMSY 1340 MATH 1314 PMAT 0101 SOCI 1301 SOCI 2301

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Introductory Algebra Intermediate Algebra Introduction to Sociology Fundamentals of Writing II English Composition I English Composition II United States History I United States History II Intro to Homeland Security Homeland Security Intelligence Ops College Algebra Preparatory Mathematics I Introduction to Sociology Marriage and the Family

*You must have an approved special request chit from your chain of command to sign up for classes. Contact ESO for more information.

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March 8, 2011

facebook & other social networks

Preventing OPSEC Violations 3

cryptologists and communicators whose job is to discern what we’re doing.”

The danger begins when the individual pieces are assembled.

One Sailor’s post of a port name could be combined with Sailor who has the time to write 50 e-mails or make 50 another’s post of their excitement at staying at a hotel soon. phone calls to 50 individuals on a daily basis would likely have his “It’s hard to mask where a carrier is going logistically. That time management heavily scrutinized and possibly judged to be an tells the enemy when you’ll be in port, and they can set up underemployed individual, perfect for a collateral duty assignment surveillance knowing a time and place. They can put two and or three. two together and know where a gathering will be,” said Jones.

Using the social networking website Facebook, Sailors on board Sailors have received the message and are staying cautious Carl Vinson can spend three minutes updating hundreds of their with their updates. Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) friends and family on the details of their day-to-day lives. But like Airman Johnny Muller, a Silver Springs, Md. native assigned to any tool, damage can ensue from careless and improper use, and Air Department V-3 Division, explained his vested interest in what may seem like trivial data can be collected and assembled maintaining accessibility. into a viable terrorist intelligence report.

“It’s how I get a hold of my family and friends back home. I’m Until very recently aboard Vinson, the use of Facebook had careful about what I post, because I don’t want to put someone’s been prohibited in the 5th Fleet area of operations for years for life in danger. You don’t know who might be watching,” said its potential as an avenue for Muller. “I would be very sensitive information to publicly frustrated if it went down. It’s “It’s how I get a hold of my the only way to reach them leak and violate operational security (OPSEC). Ensign G. family and friends back home. besides e-mail, but e-mail can Jones, Vinson’s communications go down at any time.” officer and information I’m careful about what I post, Aviation Ordnanceman services manager, explained the because I don’t want to put Airman Michael Robson, a concentrated effort by Vinson’s Lake, Wis. native assigned someone’s life in danger. You Silver leadership to bring the social to Weapons Department G-3 networking site back to boost don’t know who might be Division is not an avid user of the morale of Vinson Sailors. the service, but appreciates the watching.”

“We put together a team value of the resource.

- A i r m a n J o h n n y M u l l e r outside and inside [Navy “I don’t go on it a lot, but Criminal Investigation Service]. there was a lot of excitement in We looked at intelligence reports and lessons learned from other my division. OPSEC should be common sense, but a reminder carriers. Basically we looked for how often a social network was now and again is all right,” Robson said. “I know a lot of people used to gather intelligence and what risk it posed for Carl Vinson,” who would be angry if it got secured.” said Jones. “For now the benefits outweigh the risks, and this was a Jones summarized the issue into a case of what details need to decision by the captain and the staff.” be publicly known.

Jones cautioned Sailors of underestimating the value of their “Sailors need to be conscious of what is being said to their posts to the enemy. family and friends. Do you need to say that? Do they need to “Facebook is an OPSEC issue because it’s the most heavily used know where you’ll be at an exact time? The answer is no most of social network out there and our enemies know it. They know the time. If adversaries know, it gives them a target,” said Jones. how to tap into it, they know how to circumvent the restrictions Jones encouraged Sailors with questions regarding OPSEC on the site. They can plant malware and watch our activity, and to contact Vinson’s network security division, and for family they’re listening for evidence that we know they’re listening,” members with questions about the ship’s status to contact the explained Jones. “Iran, Afghanistan and China use state-sponsored command’s ombudsmen.

Story by MC2 Byron C. Linder USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

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Carl Vinson Voice

4 Story by MC2 (SW) Ashley Van Dien USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

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hey don’t physically drive the ship, but Carl Vinson’s Navigation Department is responsible for tracking where the ship

has been, where it is and where it’s going.

Quartermasters (QM) use a variety of tools to follow and plot the ship’s position, and avoid hitting objects or running aground.

QM’s on board make a track and recommend transits using the voyage management system (VMS). VMS is a

computerized chart display which allows for quick and easy route planning. Carl Vinson is set to be one of the first ship’s to go paperless by converting to all electronic charts.

“The benefit of VMS is that it is more accurate by eliminating human error,” said Quartermaster 2nd Class Matthew Trujillo.

Of The Trade NAVIGATION

March 8, 2011

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U.S. Navy photos by MC2(SW) James R. Evans

“It also provides a constant update of the ship’s position.”

The Quartermaster of the Watch (QMOW) still uses paper charts to plot the ship’s location. They use dividers to find the ship’s position by calculating latitude and longitude, which are measured in degrees and seconds.

Once they find the location on the chart, the used to flash messages via Morse code.

QMOW plots the ship’s position with a pencil.

Quatermaster 2nd Class (SW/AW) Positions are plotted every 30 minutes when Vannessa Park was a former signalman, and the ship is sailing in open seas with minimal said that aspect of the newly-merged rate hazards. When transiting closer to land and remains her favorite part. other hazards, such as navigating a strait, “I am still learning a lot about being a the QMOW may plot QM. I really enjoy as often as every two the job as a “We definitely have doing minutes. signalman,” said Vinson’s QM’s also the best view,” said Park. “I love it.”

“We get QM’s also use use paper charts for Trujillo. plotting the ship’s to see dolphins, a statometer to course. In addition distance whales and flying calculate to the dividers they between ships by use to determine fish. We also get to using the height latitude and longitude watch an air show of the ship’s mast, location, they use a which they pull every day.” weems parallel plotter from publications to connect the dots containing various and indicate the ship’s ordered course. The ship’ descriptions, and lining up mirrors with charts are updated weekly. the keel.

Although the Navy is converting to more Some benefits of the job are based on advanced forms of technology, Carl Vinson location, location, location. still uses many of the traditional tools QM’s “We definitely have the best view,” said have used for years. They use a marine sextant Trujillo. “We get to see dolphins, whales and for celestial navigation, a method of reading flying fish. We also get to watch an air show the stars and heavenly bodies to determine every day.” ship’s location.

Navigation is also responsible for managing QM’s also use several tools during important the ship’s deck log, which is a vital minute-byshipboard evolutions such as replenishments minute legal log documenting any change in at sea (RAS). They use flags such as Romeo the ship’s course, speed, direction, and every and Prep to communicate with other ships, other event that takes place on the ship, such as well as a multi-purpose light. The light is as man overboard or reported hazards.

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The ISOPREP Explained MC2 Byron C. Linder USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

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he importance of a sheet of paper documenting a Sailor’s personal statistics and information is exponentially magnified for personnel charged with rescuing that Sailor from a hostile situation. A captured Sailor will have to wade through their disorientation and answer the questions on their Isolated Personnel Report (ISOPREP) to positively identify themselves.

Hundreds of Carl Vinson Sailors have stood in front of a plain background in their t-shirts and looked at the camera holding a whiteboardwithpersonalinformationwritten in dry-erase marker for their ISOPREP. As Carl Vinson continues operations in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility, the Vinson ISOPREP coordinators are working to ensure compliance with 5th Fleet’s stringent ISOPREP requirements.

Carl Vinson’s ISOPREP coordinator, Intelligence Specialist 2nd Class Andrew Brown, a Roland Heights, Calif. native assigned to Intelligence Department’s OZ Division, explained the form’s history.

“The form was developed back in Vietnam for pilots shot down and captured. We used it to determine if a prisoner of war was taken. The Vietnamese would say, ‘We have John Smith.’ The Americans would go to the form and tell the Vietnamese to ask John Smith what his first car was. He would tell

N M C R S FUND DRIVE

them, and they’d have confirmation,” said Brown. “Now it’s a tool to help personnel get rescued.”

The modern ISOPREP begins at check-in, Brown explained. Upon check-in to Media Department, a photo intentionally missing any military identification is taken. The Sailor proceeds to Intelligence Department and either completes a form on the spot or arranges for later completion at Vinson’s command indoctrination class.

Though many Sailors have experienced ISOPREP before with the Southern Seas deployment, the volatile nature of 5th Fleet emphasizes the importance of accurate, current information for Vinson Sailors to be on file and readily accessible for response.

“There’s a harder push to get this done now. There was a lot of disorganization after the forms were completed when we went to Brazil. There was no guidance on how to organize them, and 5th Fleet has strict procedures,” explained Brown. “The risk of an incident in one of the 5th Fleet ports is higher than most other places.”

The disorganization has since been remedied with training departmental representatives.

“The process has been streamlined significantly. We trained departmental reps on how to properly fill out the form, so updates can be done with the representative instead of people trying to track down Intel personnel,” explained Brown. “We’re tracking more than 3,000 personnel, and making sure

it’s updated before every major deployment.

If you were captured, you’d want your family and your loved ones to know.”

The updating process does not end when the Sailor turns in his form. Brown and Vinson’s assistant command ISOPREP coordinator; Intelligence Specialist Seaman Apprentice Elizabeth Morris, a Fisher, Ill. native also assigned to Intelligence Department OZ Division; upload copies of the ISOPREP to the Personnel Recovery Mission Software (PRMS) and keep the hard copies securely locked away.

“In the event of a transfer, other commands can pull the ISOPREP off of PRMS. So if someone was captured, 5th Fleet can get the ISOPREP right away,” said Morris.

The long work the uploads require will pay off in the long run, Morris explained.

“PRMS is very slow, but doing this now will make the next deployment much easier,” said Morris.

Though the time investment is relatively small, Brown cautioned Vinson Sailors to treat the ISOPREP process with deliberate thought.

“This is something to take seriously. We need accurate information, and you need to remember the answers to questions you put on there. The form is a little bothersome to fill out again for those who have done it, but it is a necessity.”

Brown encouraged Sailors to contact their departmental ISOPREP representatives with questions.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT LT. SCHNEIDER AT 6788 -OR- QM1 (SW/AW) ROYSTER AT 2745

March 8, 2011

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USS Bulkeley Frees Ship And Crew From Pirates NAVY NEWS SERVICE

A request for assistance from a Japanese-owned merchant vessel in the Somali Basin led to Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) warship USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) securing the release of the vessel and its 24 crew members from four suspected pirates, Mar. 6.

At approximately 3 p.m. (Bahrain), Mar. 5, oil tanker MV Guanabara reported it was under attack when it was 328 nautical miles south east of Duqm, Oman.

Bulkeley, assigned to CMF’s counter-piracy mission Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 was directed to intercept Guanabara, supported by the Turkish warship TCG Giresun

Alheem said, “The ships and aircraft under my command have today scored a real and immediate victory through the disruption of a suspected act of piracy and the detention of individuals believed to be engaging in piracy.

“Through our mutual cooperation and shared coordination, CTF 151 and our partner organizations has prevented the kidnapping of legitimate mariners who sought only to go peacefully about their business. Today, there will be a merchant ship sailing freely that would not be doing so were it not for the efforts of CTF-151.”

In accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and in cooperation with non-member forces, CMF’s mission is to disrupt piracy and armed robbery

“The ships and aircraft under my command have today scored a real and immediate victory through the disruption of a suspected act of piracy and the detention of individuals believed to be engaging in piracy.”

- C o m m o d o r e A b d u l A l h e e m of NATO’s counter-piracy Task Force 508.

Following confirmation from Guanabara’s master that the suspected pirates were aboard and his crew had taken refuge in the ship’s ‘citadel,’ Bulkeley’s specialist boarding team, supported overhead by its embarked SH-60 helicopter, secured the Bahamian-flagged vessel and detained four men.

There was no exchange of fire at any time during the operation to release the MV Guanabara.

CMF’s counter-piracy commander, Commodore Abdul

at sea and to engage with regional and other partners to build capacity and improve relevant capabilities in order to protect global maritime commerce and secure freedom of navigation.

CMF is a multi-national naval partnership, which exists to promote security, stability and prosperity across 2.5 million square miles of international waters in the Middle East, which encompass some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

A Power of Attorney (POA) is acceptable to the Navy-Marine Corps

Relief Society as authority to provide financial assistance to a service member’s family during deployment? The Society accepts valid General or Special POAs which authorize an individual to borrow money. As a fully accepted legal document, a POA also means that the Society will not allow the service member to disavow assistance rendered to family members. A POA is an acceptable substitute for a signed and witnessed Pre-authorization form.

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Aviation Support Equipment Technician Airman Sara Eastman removes non-skid from a tow tractor in the hangar bay. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christopher K. Hwang.

The Boat and Aircraft (B & A) Crane main hook has a lifting capacity of 50,000 lbs.

Aeronautical Equipment Service Record (AESR) is an insert to the basic aircraft logbook used as a service record for various aircraft equipment, such as power plants and propellers.

DECKPLATE Deckplate Dialogues

“If you could bring any celebrity on board, who would it be and why?”

AOAN Akeen Malone

EMFN Joseph Womack

SHSN Stephen Synakowski

“Jay Z. He would have something political to put out about what’s going on back home.

“Tobey Maguire. I would like him to meet the USS Carl Vinson Spider Man.”

“Tom Hanks. Since he was in a military movie (“Forrest Gump”), we could show him what the real military is like.”