Vinson Voice: 4 December 2011

In This Issue: Change of Command | Leaving San Diego | Chaplain’s Corner | Burial-At-Sea Photos

Vol 02 No 74 | December 4, 2011

Carl Vinson Says Farewell & Welcome 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 ref lect the official views of the U.S. Government or the Departments of Defense or the Navy and do not imply any endorsement thereby.

SEE CHANGE OF COMMAND ON PAGE 2

PHOTO BY: MC2 (SW) James R. Evans

Vinson Voice

2 CHANGE OF COMMAND CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Capt. Kent Whalen Relieves Capt. Bruce Lindsey as Commanding Officer STORY BY

MC2 (SW/AW) Lori D. Bent| Carl Vinson Staff Writer

C

arl Vinson held a change of command ceremony Dec. 2, while the ship was underway.

Capt. Kent D. Whalen relieved Capt.

Bruce H. Lindsey as commanding officer.

The ceremony’s guest speaker and Vinson’s second commanding officer, retired Rear Adm. Thomas Mercer, praised Lindsey’s leadership, highlighting the ship’s humanitarian and disaster relief efforts during Operation Unified Response with Task Force-Haiti and the subsequent deployment to U.S. 7th Fleet and U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibilities in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn.

Before being officially relieved, Lindsey credited Vinson’s “Gold Eagle Team” as well as Carrier Air Wing 17’s “Team Quicksand” for making the carrier’s success possible as he transitions to Commander Naval Air Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

“The Gold Eagle and Quicksand team is simply stellar,” Lindsey said. “It’s about the people - the chiefs, the officers and the Sailors. Don’t ever forget you are special, and that is why this ship is special.”

After official orders were read, Whalen assumed all duties and responsibilities as commanding officer and addressed the crew for the first time.

“It is an honor and privilege to be your commanding officer, and I’m looking forward to witnessing all the great achievements this ship and Carrier Strike Group team will accomplish in the future,” Whalen said. “Nothing has changed in the way we do our business onboard Carl Vinson; the safety of this crew should remain paramount.”

Prior to assuming command, Whalen served on the staff of the Commander, Naval Air Forces, San Diego as the assistant chief of staff for force readiness.

Sailors stand in ranks during a change of command ceremony in the hangar bay Dec. 2. Capt. Bruce H. Lindsey was relieved by Capt. Kent D. Whalen as the ship’s commanding officer during the ceremony.

(U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Benjamin Stevens)

PHOTOS BY: MC2 (SW) James R. Evans | MCSN George M. Bell | MCSA Dean M. Cates | Carl Vinson Staff Photographers

December 4, 2011

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KEEPING YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME EDITORIAL BY Lt. Gregory Hazlett | Carl Vinson Chaplain

A

s we start this new cruise I want to share plane is tough work. Thankfully the sheepherders had no interest in with you a story from my previous duty us and continued to sit in the distance laughing. This freed the RP to station. Prior to coming to Carl Vinson, I was assigned assist in the task of digging. to the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74. On my last About one and a half hours into the process, the plane was close deployment, we were located in southern Afghanistan, where my to getting free, and I was close to worn out! The pilot kept the props battalion was spread all over, embedded with Marines and Special spinning while we dug and once again tried to free the aircraft.

Forces deep in the Hindu Kush mountains.

There was one stubborn mound of dirt behind the front tire that was Most of the locations were very isolated and many had not seen catching the plane. The RP took the shovel and began to walk from a Chaplain for several months. So for Christmas I took a (forward the rear along the fuselage of the plane to the front tire. He was laseroperating base) “FOB hop” to visit as many as I could. My RP and focused on the dirt and did not see the spinning prop. From the back I traveled from FOB to FOB of the plane I shouted to him, using whatever transportation but the prop noise and Kevlar we could find. helmet prevented him from On one leg of the journey, hearing me. we hitched a ride on a mail As I ran towards him, I saw delivery aircraft taking off from the prop hit him in the head. a hard packed dirt runway. As Remarkably, he did not drop. |LT Gregory Hazlett| we taxied down the runway, When I reached him I discovered the plane hit a patch of soft the prop hit the right side of his dirt and we were stuck. The pilot, a civilian contractor, tried in vain Kevlar, cracked the protective helmet and tore up the shoulder of his to drive the plane out. Finally he asked us to disembark to lighten the tactical vest; all of these saved his life. We later discovered the prop was plane’s load. not spinning at full force and had, as the pilot stated in his report, only The airstrip was desolate and surrounded by Afghan shepherds in “slapped” him. an area known for Taliban attacks. And if you do not already know, The moral of this story is this – complacency kills.

Chaplains do not carry weapons, which is one reason we have RPs My RP is alive today by the grace of God. You might be thinking if with us; he was my bodyguard in the warzone. he had a little more situational awareness he could have avoided the We donned our protective vests and Kevlar helmets and my RP set prop, which is true. The point is that everyday we have opportunities his weapon to condition one – locked and loaded, ready for action – to be complacent, to lose our situational awareness. We cut corners; and then we disembarked. The plane was in about six inches of soft we skip a step in a check because we “know” it is good to go, or we do dirt. With the RP as our primary source of protection, I began to dig not keep our heads on a swivel. In short, we compromise. out the wheels. The plane crew and I dug for over an hour, with the Every time we compromise we become a bit more complacent, and pilot attempting to drive the aircraft out of the hole. complacency always kills. Do your part today to break the cycle of At 5,000-feet of elevation, clad in full tactical gear, digging out a complacency.

Every time we compromise we become a bit more complacent, and complacency always kills.

weekend worship schedule

Saturday

Sunday

Roman Catholic Mass (Sunday Vigil) -Chapel

Roman Catholic Mass -Foc’sle

1900-2100

Liturgical Christian Service -Chapel

1730

Gospel Bible Study -Chapel

0900

1100-1200

Anchor of Faith General Christian Service -Foc’sle

1300-1400

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -Chapel

1900-2015

Gospel Praise and Worship Service -Foc’sle

1930

Bible Study -Chapel

Vinson Voice

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L e av i n g S WESTPAC 2012 Begins...

MC3 (SW) Luke Meineke| Carl Vinson Staff Writer

STORY BY

U

ss Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 Sailors said goodbye to friends, family, and loved ones when the ship departed Naval Air Station North Island Nov. 30 for a scheduled deployment.

The scene was familiar to many Sailors, as loved ones braved the early hour and the cold to see them off as they did one year ago. Wives, husbands, parents, daughters, sons, and old friends were on the pier to say farewell.

Jessica Madrid, a Navy wife of almost three years, watched her husband, Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Mark Madrid, assigned to Weapons Department G-4 Division, walk up the ship’s brow to his home for the next six months.

“He had to be there by 6 a.m., so I just got to walk him to the gate and give him a hug and a kiss bye,” said Jessica.

She is confident they are prepared for this second deployment.

“We’ve done it. We got through the first one and they say the first one’s always the hardest,” Jessica said. “We’re just going to try and save money and keep in contact as much as possible.”

Some Vinson Sailors look forward to the opportunites a deployment provides.

“I think it’s going to be easier than the last two deployments I’ve been on,” said Aviation Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Kristopher Bradley, assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 15.

Bradley is looking forward to advancing to the rank of second class petty officer, saving money and achieving his Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist qualification.

Sailors and family experiencing deployment for the first time were less assured.

“I’m nervous for him,” said Margarita Vega about her son Airman Giancarlo Vega, assigned to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125.

Alexis Helton, wife of Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class John Helton, assigned to Air Department V-1 Division,

stood with their newborn son Nathan on the cusp of their second deployment together.

“It’s a little different with a newborn,” she said.

“It’s intimidating because there’s a lot more for me to do on my end. I’m just proud of the Sailors and proud to be a Navy wife.”

While those dear to them look forward to their return, Vinson Sailors exhibit the confidence and assuredness that comes from experience and lessons learned, and look to use the time and opportunities deployment provides to their advantage.

Machinist’s Mate 1st Class (SW) Justin Nutt, leading petty officer of Engineering Department’s Auxiliary Division O2N2 plants, looks to impart the knowledge he’s gained from four previous deployments to his junior Sailors and prepare them for the rigors of deployment.

“It’s hard to keep your head up; you get pounded on a lot. Priorities change daily and you have to just keep swimming through it,” he said. “You have to take time for yourself. If you don’t take time for yourself, then you’re never going to recharge. Hit the gym, hit the rack, whatever, but you have got to take time for yourself.”

While deployments are known to be difficult and stressful, the attitude on Carl Vinson among veteran and new Sailors alike remains focused, positive and goal-oriented.

Seaman Joshua Perschbacher, assigned to Training Department, believes this deployment will surpass his previous WESTPAC deployment.

“I have more responsibility,” Perschbacher said.

“I like the challenges I have and I like having more responsibility.”

Perschbacher also feels more involved on his second deployment.

“Last time, I didn’t really know what was going on,” he said. “[It was my] first time on a ship. Now I see how the whole ship works together. When you get that bigger picture, you feel more plugged in.”

Those Sailors embarking on their first deployment hope to fulfill personal goals and establish themselves within the command.

“I plan to leave this deployment with both my warfare devices,” said Yeoman Third Class Jon Pinckney, assigned to Command Master Chief Administration. “Hopefully I’ll make YN2, maybe get more collateral duties – be more a part of the command.”

December 4, 2011

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San Diego

PHOTOS BY: MC2 (SW) James R. Evans | MCSN (SW/AW) Nicolas Lopez | MCSA Dean M. Cates | Carl Vinson Staff Photographers

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Burial-At-Sea Latitude 31°14’42” N Longitude 118°21’48” W MC2 (SW) James R. Evans | MCSN George M. Bell | MCSA Dean M. Cates |Carl Vinson Staff Photographers

PHOTOS BY

Vinson Voice

NOW PLAYING CARL VINSON CINEMA

December 4, 2011

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Vinson Voice

DIALOGUES D E C K P L A T E

| What are your goals for WESTPAC 2012? | “I want to get fit and break record sales for the ship’s store.”

“I would like to get my surface warfare pin and the highest qual in my division, divisional officer 3M qual.

S H 2 ( S W / A W ) Jessie Lu

A O 1 ( A W ) Jason Teeter

“I want to get my Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist pin, work out and improve my fitness as well as meet new friends overseas.”

“I am currently working on my ESWS pin and after that I plan to get my EAWS pin, I also enrolled in NCPACE classes such as English and Math.”

E M 3 Juan Jose Murillo

S H S N Erick Pinos

STAFF

STAFF

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|PUBLISHER|

CAPT. KENT D. WHALEN COMMANDING OFFICER

|EXECUTIVE EDITORS| LT. CMDR. ERIK REYNOLDS PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

LT. ERIK SCHNEIDER

ASSISTANT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

ESWS||EAWS

|EDITOR IN CHIEF| MCC (AW) MONICA NELSON MEDIA ALCPO

|MANAGING EDITOR| MC2 (SW/AW) LORI D. BENT

Flight Deck Length: 1092’ Water Line Length: 1039’ 8” Overall Length: 1115’ 4”

SPN 43: Primary shipboard Air Traffic Control surveillance radar. Also known as “Marshall”.

Full Flight Deck Gear: Cranial, Goggles, Sound Attenuators, Floating gear, Adequately secured whistle, Survival light The fire lane is the deck at each firefighting hose reel location, AFFF proportioner location, repair station access door location.

|PHOTO EDITOR|

MC2 (SW) JAMES R. EVANS

|GRAPHICS/LAYOUT|

MC3 (SW) MEGAN L. CATELLIER

|STAFF WRITERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS| MC2 (SW) BYRON C. LINDER MC2 BENJAMIN STEVENS MC3 (SW/AW) ROSA ARZOLA MC3 (SW) LUKE MEINEKE MCSN GEORGE M. BELL MCSN (SW/AW) NICOLAS LOPEZ MCSA DEAN M. CATES