Vinson Voice: 2 October 2011

In This Issue: British Royal Navy | Jewish New Year | Chef Lost at Sea | This Week Around the Vinson

Vol 02 No 71 | October 2, 2011

Carl Vinson & CVW 17 Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month Many Backgrounds, Many Stories... One American Spirit STORY BY MC3 (SW) Megan L. Catellier| USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

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arl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 Sailors celebrated Hispanic Heritage month when the American Heritage Observance Committee (AHOC) hosted a cakecutting ceremony on the aft mess decks and a festive performance on the ship’s foc’sle Sept. 30.

The events highlighted this year’s theme, “Many Backgrounds, Many Stories… One American Spirit,” and illustrated the culture HispanicAmericans bring to our nation, Navy and Carl Vinson and Quicksand teams.

Festivities began with a cake-cutting ceremony of a beautiful, Hispanicdecorated cake made by Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Samantha Achille assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25. A special dinner, served by

Vinson’s Supply Department, featured Latin American foods to tribute Hispanic Heritage month.

The evening program portrayed Latin American life through Salsa, Merengue and Cumbia music and dancing. Sailors also depicted Hispanic-American history with personal speeches and memoirs.

Hispanic Heritage month originated in 1968 when President Lyndon B. Johnson designated Sept.

15 as the start of Hispanic Heritage Week as it marked the anniversary of five Latin American countries’ independence day; Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. On Sept. 16, Mexico celebrates their independence and Chile celebrates the anniversary of Continue ‘HERITAGE’ on Pg. 2

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.

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their independence Sept. 18.

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded Hispanic Heritage Week to encompass a month-long celebration.

So, during the month of September we celebrate the culture, food, dance and traditions of Hispanic heritage.

With more than 50 million HispanicAmericans and more than 70,000 Hispanic Sailors serving in the United States Navy today, as Americans, it’s a heritage that belongs to all of us.

“Celebrating Hispanic Heritage gives us the opportunity to recognize Sailors for who they are in regards to their diversity, in regards to their background and in regards to their story,” said Dental Department’s Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO) Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/ AW) Webster Nicholson, president of AHOC. Hispanics have served in every war of our nation’s history since its independence.

Playing a key role in our history, Hispanic culture flows deep within our American veins.

Rear Adm. Samuel Perez, Commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, the program’s guest speaker, spoke about his Hispanic heritage and the role it now plays in his life as a naval officer.

“I used to wake up to the smell of my grandmother’s corn tortillas in the morning,” said Perez. “Now I wake up to the smell of breakfast from the mess decks and brass on the quarterdeck. It’s these smells and the passion the two cultures share that make my Hispanic heritage as big a part of me as my Navy heritage.”

In the Navy, there are three Hispanic flag officers, 158 Hispanic master chief petty officers and five Hispanic members of the Senior Executive Service. These Sailors serve as our role models and leaders across the nation and in the world’s finest Navy.

“Honoring Hispanic heritage is honoring the men and women who have made the military and our communities better,” said CMDCM (AW/SW) John Mendoza, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22’s Command Master Chief.

“Growing up, my grandfather used to ask me, ‘¿Como qué no se puede?’ or ‘Why can’t it be done?’” said Perez. “This spirit is resonant even now in the culture of our Navy. No one says, ‘No se puede’ or ‘It cannot be done’ – No one in the Navy says this, instead we ask, ‘¿Como qué no se puede?’”

Vinson Voice PHOTOS BY: MC3 (SW/AW) Rosa Arzola | USS Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

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A LIntel ea r n i n g E x p e r i e n c e department helps shape british royal navy’s future STORY BY

MC3 Jessica Tounzen| USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

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arl Vinson hosted a member of the British Royal Navy The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) has given the UK carte Sept. 27-29 in an effort to increase interoperability blanche to work with and learn from the United States, said Harris, between the American and British navies. and this is probably the first of many visits to that end.

Cmdr. Gavin Edward, of the British Defense Staff ’s C4ISR While Edward said the UK is slated to bring their newest (Command, Control, Computers and Communication, conventional carrier online in the year 2020, there’s a great deal of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) unit was tasked work to be done before that goal can be realized. by the Navy Commander of the United Kingdom (UK) to learn “We’re effectively starting from scratch…it’s a huge, massive shift as much as possible about how the U.S. Navy accomplishes in our capabilities,” revealed the 23-year naval veteran. “We haven’t carrier-based ISR. used a conventional aircraft carrier in 30 years, and we’ve got to get “We’re shifting our capability from vertical-landing carriers to back in the game. We’re looking at all the aspects of the ISR business: conventional-landing carriers using steam-powered catapults. the personnel, the equipment that’s in place, what information flow To that effect, we’re building two new carriers, the HMS Queen is required…and we’re trying to build a picture of how that business Elizabeth and the is conducted.”

HMS Prince of Wales,” To help him form an Edward said. accurate and detailed While onboard picture, Edward spent Vinson, Edward his time onboard Vinson interacted closely with visiting each work center the ship’s Intelligence in Intel, learning about Department, gathering what each is responsible information to relay for, speaking with the back to his counterparts department’s personnel and in Washington D.C., getting an up-close glimpse where he’s worked for of how Intel accomplishes the past year in the its daily mission. The British Embassy. His British sailor also had the sponsors in the United opportunity to see how the Kingdom sent him to work centers interact with Vinson to determine each other to produce their the salient points: what end products. But for a equipment and systems more in-depth look at how are needed to get Britain’s the ship combines aviation capabilities on par with and intelligence, Harris that of the United States. invited Edward for a visit Interoperability is the during the ship’s upcoming fundamental reason for deployment.

PHOTO BY: MCSN (SW/AW) Nicolas Lopez | USS Carl Vinson Staff Photographer his visit, with the UK’s Edward shared his strike capability on top of the list, he said. impression of Vinson and crew during his visit.

Cmdr. David Harris, Carl Vinson’s Senior Intelligence Officer, “Everyone’s been really helpful in answering my questions. I was explained why having the UK and the U.S. on the same page is highly impressed by the level of professionalism I saw across the of the utmost importance. ship, and I want to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone for sharing their “Our Navy cannot continue to fill all the gaps in maritime time and their knowledge with me,” he said. defense,” he said. “The UK realizes that and wants to step up, but Harris said it’s exciting being able to have a front-row seat to such it isn’t ready yet and that’s why we’re partnering up with them to an exciting time in the relationship between the United States and help get them to where they need to be.” the United Kingdom.

While cooperation between the two nations is nothing new, “Vinson was chosen for Cmdr. Edward’s first visit because we’re Edward’s visit was aimed at bringing that relationship to a number one in training and readiness in the entire fleet. OPNAV new level. He explained the great desire in the UK to operate saw our training syllabus and our standard operating procedures seamlessly with the United States: to be able to launch and (SOP) and believed us to be the best, and that’s why they sent Cmdr. recover American aircraft off a British carrier (and vice-versa), Edward out here,” he said. “It’s a historic time for the Royal Navy and to be able to have both navies’ systems work together and for us too, because this ship and Intel Department are helping shape the British Royal Navy’s future capabilities.” effortlessly, to be essentially plug-and-play in nature.

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Rosh Hashana Vinson Celebrates Jewish New Year STORY BY

MC3 Jessica Tounzen | USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

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ewish Sailors onboard Carl Vinson donned their yarmulkes and opened their prayer books for a celebration of Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year, during a traditional religious ceremony in the ship’s chapel Sept. 28.

The ceremony was arranged by Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class (AW/SW) Abraham Dweck of Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) IM-3 Division. Dweck has been stationed onboard Vinson for four years, and took over as the ship’s Jewish lay leader this past year.

“Rosh Hashanah is probably the most important day in Judaism, even out to sea, and we should always celebrate it, no matter what, and remember the lessons it teaches us,” he said.

The first of the Jewish High Holy Days, Rosh Hashanah is believed to be the day on which God opened three books of account, recording the fates of the wicked, the righteous, and those of an intermediate class. The righteous are inscribed into the book of life, the middle class are allowed ten days preceding Yom Kippur to repent their sins, and the wicked are ‘blotted out of the book of the living forever’, according to Psalms 69:29.

Rosh Hashanah is a religious event steeped in rich tradition, and Vinson’s celebration of what’s considered the highest of the Jewish High Holy Days was no exception.

The festivities began with a reading from the Torah, Genesis 21:34 in its original Hebrew form, presented by Lt. j.g. Ethan Samuels of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22. The melodic reading told the story of Abraham and Sarah having their son Isaac.

Following Samuels’ reading from the prayer book, the junior officer offered a blessing of the Shofar, a ram’s horn that is a staple of Judaism, a call to repentance and a reminder that God is king. Once the Shofar-blowing had been blessed, Dweck

launched into a series of complex notes of varied length on the ram’s horn, each of which Samuels preceded by singing the names of the notes in Hebrew.

Making their way down to Vinson’s enlisted mess decks, Dweck, Samuels, Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. James West and two junior officers sat down to an elaboratelyprepared spread consisting of traditional challah bread baked with honey and sugar, sliced apples, sautéed yellow squash, a cake adorned with the Star of David, and juice in lieu of the traditional wine consumed on Rosh Hashanah.

After thanking God for all He had given in the past year, Dweck then blessed the wine and broke the bread, placing a chunk of it on the table to honor those lost. After he and his Shipmates drizzled honey or sugar on their bread, Dweck offered a short blessing, again thanking God and praying for a sweet new year.

The process was repeated for the apples, squash and cake.

Dweck revealed the reason bread, apples and squash were eaten during the celebration.

“Bread is considered the crown of God and that is why we break the bread first.

The apple is used because we are in the harvest season, and most people consider the apple as the first fruit of the season.

It is the fruit of the trees. The squash is the fruit of the earth. It is tradition to have one of every food on hand during this celebration,” he said.

The Rosh Hashanah celebration would not have been possible without help from others, Dweck admitted gratefully. Carl Vinson’s Command Religious Ministries Department (CRMD) provided the chapel and the shofar, and Supply Department’s Culinary Specialists (CS) prepared the traditional dishes for the ceremony.

Dweck urges his Jewish Shipmates to join him in the ship’s chapel Oct. 7 for a celebration of Yom Kippur and a dinner to follow.

October 2, 2011

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Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Abraham Dweck, assigned to Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department’s (AIMD) IM-3 Division, prepares traditional bread for a celebration of the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashana in the bake shop aboard Carl Vinson.

MC3 (SW/AW) Rosa Arzola | MCSN (SW/AW) Nicolas Lopez | Carl Vinson Staff Photographers

PHOTOS BY

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A Chance Encounter A Chef Finds Himself Aboard the Vinson

PHOTOS BY: MC3 (SW/AW) Rosa Arzola | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

STORY BY

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

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hen he boarded a C-2A Greyhound on Sept. 27 at Naval Atkins credits his love for customer service and making customers Station North Island (NASNI), Culinary Specialist 1st and Sailors happy for giving him motivation to produce good quality Class (SW) Bobby Atkins thought he was on his way to USS products and he praises Vinson’s Sailors and galley supervisors on the Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). To his surprise, when he landed and quality of their work. deplaned, he was sitting in the Air Transfer Office (ATO) on board “It’s important to love what you do because it will show in your Carl Vinson. product,” he said.

Two days later, fully dressed in his USS Sterret (DDG 104) While onboard, Atkins stayed in the galley, which was immensely culinary specialist smock, he stood, sleeves rolled up and hands bigger than that of the Sterret, observing and interacting with Sailors. covered in flour, coaching Vinson Sailors through the art of making “It was different because everyone has different techniques homemade pizza. and methods,” said Culinary Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Heidi “I was immediately Ayala, Supply impressed by the youth D e p a r t m e n t ’s and motivation of the S-11 Division cooks,” said Atkins. leading petty “They are young and officer as she hardworking Sailors, a prepared the multi-talented group tomato sauce. that juggles many things Atkins believes at a time.” there is something When he is not to learn from | C S 1 ( S W ) B o b b y A t k i n s | whipping up a meal in being onboard the galley of Sterret to Vinson and both serve their 398 personnel onboard, Atkins is working to beat the his experiences and those of the Sailors on board can only serve to clock at Navy Iron Chef Competitions. improve himself and the Sailors who work in food services.

“I like to compete,” he said. “I take pride and have confidence in “If you have the experience why not share it?” he asked as he pulled myself and my product and I strive to be the best.” out a rolling pin. “The Navy offered me the opportunity to create While onboard, Atkins had the opportunity to pass on some of different types of cuisines and I’m willing to share that with our junior the experiences he gained over a 17-year Navy career. As the galley Sailors.” supervisor on board Sterret, he is accustomed to teaching culinary “With this chance meeting he brought a passion for cooking and a arts to junior Sailors; a role he assumed upon entering both Vinson’s different perspective,” said Vinson’s Assistant Supply Officer Lt. Cmdr.

Chief Petty Officer (CPO) and Enlisted Mess.

Benjamin Sheinman.

“Think outside the box,” he said as he proceeded to knead the Throughout his career Atkins has served onboard the USS Okinawa dough on the counter in front of him. “All you need to add is a bit of (LPH 3), USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) and served ashore with Naval Mobile personality and the right ingredients and you will cook something Command Battalion (NMCB) One and Naval Network Warfare that the crew will enjoy.”

Command (NETWARCOM) Norfolk, Va.

“I was immediately impressed by the youth and motivation of the cooks. They are young and hardworking Sailors, a multitalented group that juggles many things at a time.”

October 2, 2011

MC2 (SW) James R. Evans | MC3 (SW/AW) Rosa Arzola | MC3 (SW) Megan Catellier | MC3 (SW/AW) Timothy Hazel | MCSN (SW/AW) Nicolas Lopez | Carl Vinson Staff Photographers

PHOTOS BY

AROUND THE VINSON

THIS WEEK

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Vinson Voice

DIALOGUES D E C K P L A T E

| What is something about your culture that you appreciate & share with your shipmates? | “I am Vietnamese & I share my food and etiquette because in food you can bring out a lot of culture.”

“I am Nigerian & I like to share my music and language because it exposes our culture to others.”

E M 3 N at h a n L e

C S 3 E n y iom a di C h u ta

“I am Dominican & the music and language remind me of my childhood and I can share that with people around me.”

“I am from Ghana & I like the respect we have for our elders and the music speaks of real life issues.”

I T 3 Ariel Collado

P S 2 ( S W / A W ) Daniel Preko

STAFF

Did You Know Did You Know...

STAFF

|PUBLISHER|

CAPTAIN BRUCE H. LINDSEY COMMANDING OFFICER

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

The ancient Jewish instrument known as the shofar, which is traditionally known as a ram’s horn, has been used in classical and contemporary music, including composer Jerry Goldsmith’s score for the 1979 film “Alien”.

Hebrew is a language that is read from right to left.

It is customary for the children to offer blessings and prayers for a prosperous new year during the meal consumed on Rosh Hashanah, as children have a place of high importance in Jewish families.

The pomegranate is another fruit that is traditionally eaten during Rosh Hashanah. In Judaism, a prayer is given that in the new year, one’s merits will be as numerous as the seeds in the pomegranate. There is a legend that there are 613 seeds in the pomegranate, corresponding to the number of commandments in the Torah.

The Navy supports the Association of Naval Services Officers, an affinity group that fosters the professional development and mentorship of Hispanic Sailors, officers and civilians in the sea services.

The 14th Lewis and Clark-class of dry cargo/ammunition ships was named after Cesar Chavez, the leader of Mexican-American civil rights, USNS Cesar Chaves (T-AKE 14).

LT. ERIK SCHNEIDER

ASSISTANT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

|EDITOR IN CHIEF|

MCCM (SW/AW) WILLIAM HOULIHAN MEDIA LCPO

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

|PHOTO EDITOR|

MC2 (SW) JAMES R. EVANS

|GRAPHICS/LAYOUT|

MC3 (SW) MEGAN L. CATELLIER

|STAFF WRITERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS| MC2 (SW) BYRON C. LINDER MC3 (SW/AW) ROSA ARZOLA MC3 (SW/AW) TIMOTHY HAZEL MC3 JESSICA TOUNZEN MCSN (SW/AW) NICOLAS LOPEZ