19 January 2012 Vinson Voice

In This Issue: Vinson Learns About Anesthesia | Re-Up: A Family Affair | Operations at Sea | Vinson Vignette

Vol 03 No 9 | January 19, 2012

Vinson’s

Junior Sailor of the Year HM2 (SW/AW) Travis Stephens STORY BY

MC3 (SW) Luke B. Meineke | Carl Vinson Staff Writer

“

W

hen they said ‘Hospital’, I almost cried,” laughed Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SW/AW) Travis Stephens, a preventive medicine technician assigned to Medical Department. “My heart started pounding. ‘Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class …’ and I thought, ‘That’s me!’ My heart was pounding extremely hard and I couldn’t see anyone standing in the hangar bay. I walked on the stage and saw the plaque with my name on it, shook the captain’s hand and even then it still hadn’t set in. They’re picking me?!”

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SW/AW) Travis Stephens was announced as Carl Vinson’s 2011 Junior Sailor of the year (JSOY) at an all-hands awards ceremony Dec. 26. The award represents the culmination of 10 months’ hard and selfless work Stephens dedicated to his job, Shipmates and the command.

Stephens, a Birmingham, Ala. native, joined the Navy in Dec. 2003 and reported to Vinson in May 2010.

“He epitomizes what a junior Sailor should be,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Melanie Torrez, Medical Department’s CONTINUE ‘JSOY’ ON PAGE 2

Photo by: MC2 Benjamin Stevens | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

Vinson Voice

2 FROM ‘JSOY’ ON PAGE 1

preventive medicine leading petty officer.

“He is very well-rounded. Not only is he a subject matter expert when it comes to his actual job, he is well-versed in anything outside of Medical Department and even outside the ship.”

Apart from operating as a preventive medicine technician, where he promotes health and hygiene standards around the ship through education, inspection, and one-on-one consultation, Stephens is heavily involved in the command. He is Medical Department’s ESWS coordinator and sits both EAWS final boards and ESWS murder boards. He is also an EAWS instructor. Stephens is Vinson’s interim Second Class Petty Officer Association president, and a member of the Medical Training Team and Gold Eagle Flying Squad.

It is this willingness to participate and penchant for helping those around him that sets Stephens apart, said Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/FMF) Jerry Ramey, Medical Department’s leading chief petty officer.

“He never says the word ‘I’; it’s all about the people around him,” Ramey said. “He’s always trying to get the next Sailor up to his level or higher, and, for me, that’s what it’s about. My anchor chain represents flexibility, and ‘flexibility’ from a chief ’s perspective is to be able to reach behind you and pull the next person up. For a second class petty officer to already perform at that level speaks clearly that he is a true leader.”

Stephens’ leadership continues to reveal itself through his interaction with junior Sailors. Staying long hours to mentor Sailors on personal and professional matters, Stephens avails himself to junior enlisted diligently while motivating them by the standard he sets, Torrez said.

“He is on the junior Sailors all the time about advancement,” Torrez laughed.

“This is his first time up for first class, and he’s going to bust his ass to prove that all you have to do is study – he brings that to his Sailors. And he’s very caring. He goes out of his way to make sure that he’s helping someone else out.”

“He always goes the extra nine yards to complete the mission, or, more importantly, for his Shipmates,” Ramey added. “He constantly mentors people to try to get them advanced. He’s always reaching out to people from both inside the department to the whole command because he’s concerned about taking care

of everyone around him.”

Along with his dedication to those around him, Stephens imparts an exemplary standard of professionalism and proficiency as a corpsman, said Torrez. “A lot of people come up to him and ask him about preventive medicine because he is so knowledgeable.”

Stephens’ knowledge of his job is only superseded by his compassion for those affected by it.

“I treat all my patients as if they were my mom or my sister or brother or son,” Stephens said. “If they were on the treatment table I would expect nothing less than for them to walk away from that table and back to full health. These Sailors are thousands of miles away from their family, so the last thing they want or expect is to be mistreated. I don’t care if it’s the hardest Master-at-Arms on the boat or the crustiest chief, everybody expects some compassion and you must provide that. No matter how bad your day, no matter how tired you are, these patients expect a certain level of care and you must always exhibit that.”

Stephens said he looks to remain grounded in his principles in the coming year, and refuses to slow down or take it easy.

“It’s a new year,” he stated. “I’m still here to be a corpsman. I’m still here to be a preventive medical technician.

I’m still here, most importantly, to be a Sailor. That will never stop, no matter how many or what awards I may or may not receive while I’m here, my work ethic will never change – if anything, it’s only going to get better.”

Top: HM2 (SW/AW) Travis Stephens is awarded Junior Sailor of the Year by Commanding Officer Capt. Kent D. Whalen aboard Vinson. Photo by MCSN George M. Bell.

Middle: Official Recruit Training Command portrait provided by HM2 (SW/AW) Travis Stephens.

Bottom: HM2 (SW/AW) Travis Stephens talks with Sailors assigned to Air Department’s V-4 Division about the RSS-220 heat stress monitor. Photo by MC2 (SW) James R. Evans.

January 19, 2012

3

STORY BY

MC3 (SW/AW) Luke B. Meineke | Carl Vinson Staff Writer

T

hirteen years ago Lt. Chad Moore was an enlisted road ahead of them. optician at Naval Air Station North Island, struggling A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, one to two years to find answers in his of critical care experience, pursuit of a career in the and some additional science medical field. coursework is required to Now, Moore, the lone gain entry into a CRNA certified registered nurse program. At the completion anesthetist (CRNA) on of such a program, a Master Vinson, is giving Sailors of Science or a Doctor of interested in nursing Nursing Practice is awarded or anesthesiology the and the recipient takes a opportunity to shadow board certification exam to him while the ship earn the CRNA credential. operates at sea.

Once awarded, they are Hospital Corpsman known as advanced practice 2nd Class (SW/AW) nurses who specialize in Lekeshia Atchison, administering anesthesia Medical Department’s and who are responsible to leading petty officer their patients pre-, intra- and of Medical Records postoperatively. who is working toward “You choose and deliver Lt. Chad B. Moore, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), stands in a treatment room aboard Vinson. Lt. Moore is the only CRNA aboard Vinson. Photo becoming a CRNA, is one your medicines,” he said,

by MC2 Benjamin Stevens. of 12 Vinson Sailors who “and you follow up with the have taken advantage of patients and are responsible Moore’s offer. for the consequences of whatever you chose to do.” This level “I shadowed him during an appendectomy,” Atchison said. of autonomy is in contrast to unspecialized registered nurses “He’s a great teacher. He went step by step, almost like a who follow a provider’s orders, said Moore. maintenance requirement card,” she laughed. “He explained “If you had surgery, a CRNA or anesthesiologist would be what he was doing and why as he brought the patient into the one making you comfortable for it,” Moore explained. the room, talked to them and prepared them for surgery and “Our goal is to keep you safe, comfortable and have you not finally took them out to the ICU. It taught me a lot.” remember anything unpleasant.”

Atchison filled in as an anesthesia technician two-and-aBecause proper anesthesia selection and administration can half years ago at Naval Hospital Yokosuka. mean the difference between the life and death of a patient, “Before working with anesthesia, I really didn’t know the CRNA training process has to be both demanding and anything about it,” Atchison said. “I knew people went under competitive. anesthesia for surgery, but I didn’t know how in depth it “It requires a lot of specialized training,” Moore explained. could go. It’s very, very fascinating. You have the ability “There are a lot of applicants and a small number of people to put somebody to sleep and wake them up – you control will come through – those that are most qualified to take care everything with this person.” of the patient.”

Moore’s wish, no matter the number of Sailors who In order to be selected for the anesthesia program, a participate, is to provide an avenue to the nursing or nurse person must have good grades in their Bachelors of Science anesthetist professions for any and all interested. in Nursing, outside recommendations and then do well in “I hope this gives Sailors a better opportunity than I was the rigorous anesthesia program, Moore said. However, he provided, and they gain a sense of direction if they didn’t stressed the program is worth the effort as nurse anesthetists have one already,” Moore said. are in high demand, receive high pay, and job satisfaction is If a Sailor desires to become a CRNA, they have a long very high both in the Navy and out.

Vinson Voice

4

Navy Reenlistment: A Family Affair STORY BY

MC2 (SW) Byron C. Linder | Carl Vinson Staff Writer

M

achinist’s Mate 1st Class (SW/AW) José Barraza, Engineering Department’s Auxiliary Division hydraulic shop leading petty officer, raised his right hand and chose to stay Navy for six more years Jan. 17, taking his total time in service to an even 20.

Two uncommon circumstances made the occasion especially memorable - the location high above Carl Vinson’s deckplates and a family member in attendance.

Barraza and Machinist’s Mate 1st Class (SW/ AW) Cataliuel Lumbang both reenlisted in a Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 15 “Red Lion” HH-60H helo, which fulfilled a longtime dream.

“The fact I reenlisted in a helo made today even more special. As a kid I always wanted to ride in a helicopter, and I got to put a check mark in my ‘to-do’ list,” Barraza said. “I was in awe when I got up there.”

But what made the event even more significant was his reenlisting officer, Lt. j.g. Michael Harris. Besides being HS-15’s Maintenance Material Control Officer, Harris is married to Barraza’s cousin.

“It’s an honor for someone to ask me to do this. I served in the enlisted ranks for about 14 years. When you reenlist, you try to pick someone special to you, someone you click with. When Barraza asked me, it was even more special since he’s part of my family,” Harris said. “I knew that he was up for orders, but I didn’t know he was going to reenlist.”

Harris and Barraza first met in 2010 after Barraza had lost contact with his father after serving in Guam for three years. When he received orders to Carl Vinson, his wife accepted a Facebook friend request from his cousin, who provided Barraza’s father’s contact information. After talking with his cousin and learning Harris was aboard Carl Vinson as part of HS-15, Barraza, his cousin, his father, and Harris met up for the first time in Los Angeles.

“I knew of him because my wife used to be in the Navy. He was a recruiter and he put her in, so she talked about him here and there,” Harris said.

“It’s such a small world,” Barraza added with a smile.

Having a family member aboard helps with the stresses of deployment, Barraza observed.

Lt. j.g. Michael Harris swears in Machinist’s Mate 1st Class (SW/AW) Jose Barraza, far right, and Machinist’s Mate 1st Class (SW/AW) Cataliuel Lumbang during an airborne reenlistment ceremony hosted by HS-15 “Red Lions.” Image by MC3 Kevin Harbach.

“You have your friends, and that’s comforting, but when you have someone that’s family, it’s even better. There are times you lose focus on why you’re here, but you can talk with a family member about things you can’t always talk about with your friends,” he explained. “If you have something going on back home, that family member understands where you’re coming from more because they know your family.”

Both Barraza and Harris acknowledge the challenge to separate family life from ship life, but overcome it with respect and professionalism.

“At home, I call him Mike. On the ship, he’s Lieutenant Harris,” Barraza said. “If anything, I respect him even more because I know what he’s like. But it’s all about professionalism.”

“We’ve been around each other in family settings. Sometimes it’s difficult to get out of that comfort zone when you’re here in uniform, but it’s cool nonetheless. I’ve never had anyone in my family at the same command as me,” Harris added. Barraza’s reenlistment

comes at a critical time for Sailors in the Machinist’s Mate rating, In addition to perform to serve for every Sailor E-6 and below, the enlisted review board significantly cut the rating’s first class numbers.

“Last year they got rid of 160 first classes out of 298. I made it over that hurdle, and it gives me peace of mind that I don’t have to worry about PTS or ERB anymore and can provide for my family,” Barraza said. “I love my job, but my family is why I’m here doing what I do. I didn’t know I was going to do 20 years when I signed up. I was just looking for a job.

Fourteen years later, I didn’t realize how much I’d like this job and the friendships built here. I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.”

For Sailors looking to take to the skies for their reenlistment, Harris revealed the process was simply running a request chit through the chain of command.

“We do a couple of airborne re-ups every month. I don’t think a lot of people know they can do that. If that chit gets approved, they’re good to go. It’s pretty simple.” Harris said.

January 19, 2012

5

Vinson Vignette

Who is Carl Vinson?

W

hen you walked up the brow back in November, ready to deploy on this multi-billiondollar warship, did you stop to think how this vessel got its name?

There are 11 active carriers in the Navy today and CVN 70, nicknamed “Gold Eagle” and commissioned in 1982, was named after a man from the small southern town of Milledgeville, Georgia.

Carl Vinson, born October 18, 1883, was one of seven children. He was raised believing success would come only with hard work and discipline and was given a choice of

working on his father’s farm or out in the town after school.

He started off working the soda fountain at the Culver and Kidd Drug Store before he took over the Atlanta Journal Newspaper agency. At age 15, Vinson tackled two jobs and worked at both P.J. Clines’ and Joseph’s department stores.

Despite the challenges faced by families living in a small nonindustrial town in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Vinson and his three sisters and three brothers were highly encouraged to attain what was described by his father as a “good education.”

In 1900, Carl Vinson left Milledgeville and began studying law at Mercer University Law School. In 1902 he graduated and was admitted to the Bar. When Vinson returned to Milledgeville to work as the junior partner of Judge Hines, Hines exposed Vinson to the ideas of military preparedness.

Finding his niche, Vinson was appointed Baldwin County Court solicitor in 1904 and held that position for two terms.

Twenty-five-year-old Vinson subsequently ran and won a two-year term in the Georgia General Assembly in 1909 to 1912. He also served as Speaker Pro Tempore. Being a man of humble beginnings, Vinson was not deterred by the measly seven dollars a day he earned as a legislator during his time at the State Capitol.

After returning to Baldwin County in 1912, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1914.

Who is Carl Vinson? is part of a continuing series based on the book, Carl Vinson: A Legacy of Public Service.

Naval Missions and Heritage Naval Missions and Heritage

Taken from the 24th edition Blue Jackets’ Manual

Code of Conduct - Article 1

“I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.”

As a member of the armed forces it is always your duty to oppose the enemies of the United States. This applies whether you are in active combat or confined as a prisoner of war.

Your responsibility is to guard “our way of life” and to be prepared to sacrifice your life if that is what it takes to accomplish this mission. You need only watch the evening news to know that there are problems in America, that this

is not a perfect nation. But anyone who has traveled the world (as you may well do before your time in the Navy is over) will surely tell you that the United States of America is the greatest of all nations. And anyone who pays close attention to the evening news will also note that, despite the many problems, there is a never-ending struggle to find solutions. This nation was born and continues to survive because Americans have always jealously guarded their freedom and have been willing to sacrifice themselves rather than yield their hard-won rights.

You must do no less.

6

AO3 Michele Street, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25, checks an F/A-18C Hornet on the flight deck aboard Vinson. Photo

by MC3 (SW/AW) Timothy A. Hazel.

Operati Vinson Voice

BMC Sorrells Claiborne, left, teaches BM3 Charlesa Anderson, right, how to signal while training her as a rig captain aboard Vinson during a replenishment at sea with Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7). Photo by MCSN George M. Bell.

AO3 Marsades Ceaser, assigned to Security Department, reviews security cameras in the Security Dispatch office aboard Carl Vinson. Photo by MCSN Dean M. Cates.

An MH-60S Knight Hawk, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8, delivers supplies as Sailors aboard Vinson prepare pallets for offload during a replenishment at sea with Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7). Photo by MCSN George M. Bell.

ABH2 Dwayne Foster directs an MH-60S Knight Hawk on the flight deck aboard Vinson during a vertical replenishment at sea with Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7).

Photo by MCSN George M. Bell.

ions at Sea January 19, 2012

7

Sailors assigned to Deck Department conduct small boat operations as part of a man overboard drill. Photo by MCSN George M. Bell.

AEAN Kellen Burdic, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22, waits with aircraft tie-down chains as their squadron’s aircraft are prepared for launch on the flight deck aboard Vinson. Photo by MC2 (SW) James R. Evans.

Air Department’s V-2 Division personnel clear the launch area after readying a catapult to launch an F/A-18C Hornet from the flight deck aboard Vinson. Photo by MC2 (SW) James R. Evans.

ANAN Samuel Stouder, a plane captain assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25, signals the pilot through startup procedures of an F/A-18C Hornet on the flight deck aboard Vinson. Photo by MC3 (SW/AW) Timothy A. Hazel.

Vinson Voice

DIALOGUES D E C K P L A T E

| What celebrity would you like to see onboard? | “Will Smith. I want to see if he’s as funny in real life as he is on TV.”

ABE2 (AW) K e v i n

G i p s o n

“‘Weird Al’ Yankovic.”

MA1 (SW) James Jensen

“Alicia Keys. She’s very talented.”

N i n a

IT1 (SW/AW) B r e w i n g t o n

“Taylor Swift. For me, she embodies the American spirit.”

A r a n

ITSA D a m a s o

STAFF

|PUBLISHER|

CAPT. KENT D. WHALEN

STAFF

8

COMMANDING OFFICER

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

LT. ERIK SCHNEIDER

ASSISTANT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

|EDITOR IN CHIEF|

MCC (AW) MONICA R. NELSON

ESWS||EAWS

MEDIA ALCPO

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

|PHOTO EDITOR|

MC2 (SW) JAMES R. EVANS

|GRAPHICS/LAYOUT|

The engineering officer is responsible for the engineering department and equipment and will normally report to and confer with the XO for the administration of the engineering department.

Departure Control is responsible for the control of departing aircraft during Case I, II and III departures.

MC3 PHOENIX LEVIN

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