In This Issue: A Day in the Life | Plank Owner Returns to Vinson | Lagging Teams Gives it All
Vol 02 No 65 | September 18, 2011
New Deckplate Leaders Carrying on the Legacy of Chief Petty Officer
STORY BY
MC2 (SW/AW) Lori D. Bent| USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer
As you walk through the p-ways you may notice many familiar faces wearing a different color uniform adorned with gold name tapes, khaki belts and shiny gold collar devices. Sept. 16 marked a milestone for 29 Gold Eagle Sailors who were welcomed into the “goat locker” when they were pinned to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. The new Chief Petty Officers were presented the combination cover and fouled anchors, emblems of the CPO rank. Established in 1893, the history of the most significant promotion within the enlisted military ranks was celebrated as Sailors, family and friends looked on as the new Chief Petty Officers marched into the ceremony singing “Anchors Aweigh”. “It’s indescribable because you join those who have gone ahead of you and those who are always leading from the deckplates,” said Chief Aviation Ordnanceman (AW) Hashaun Swazy. “I have become a part of history, I feel truly honored.” Each selectee underwent a period of familiarization and indoctrination introducing a first class petty officer to the ‘brotherhood’ and tradition Continue ‘CPO’ 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.
Vinson Voice
2 From ‘CPO’ on Pg. 1
of a Chief. The pinning ceremony was the final step in the transition for the selectees, and now each new Chief Petty Officer is equipped with the tools to continue the legacy of and maintain the course that each Chief stands for. “It’s a sense of relief knowing that it is over and I am standing here. I have met a goal that many Sailors do not accomplish during their careers,” said Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) (AW/SW) Travis Mull. “It feels good now I can get back to work and my Sailors.” During the ceremony, friends and family members were invited to pin the Chief’s fouled anchor on the collar of their Sailor. But for one selectee, the ceremony was a tribute to her mother. “When I joined the Navy my mother didn’t think I would make it through my first four years. It didn’t hit me that I made it this far,” said Chief Aviation Maintenance Administrationman (AW/SW) Cynthia Novida. “Before she passed away I promised
her I would continue to take my career further and I kept on going. Now I have started a new chapter. Today is really a special day.” Vinson’s commanding officer Capt. Bruce H. Lindsey urged the families to share in the accomplishments of their Sailors as it was their day to be proud as well. He also described the transition a first class petty officer undergoes to become a Chief Petty Officer, backed by 118 years of tradition, and what separates a Chief from the rest of the khaki community. “Professionalism, which separates us from other industries and businesses, deckplate leadership by leading Sailors 24/7 and a sense of heritage is what sets us apart and give Chiefs a understanding of deep Navy heritage,” said Lindsey. Chief Petty Officers are selected by a board of Master Chiefs who convene at Navy Personnel Command in Millington, TN. The board is held annually and results are typically released Navy-wide in early August. This year’s group of new Chiefs were notified Aug. 3 and started CPO Induction the following day.
PHOTOS BY: MC2 (SW) James R. Evans | MC3
September 18, 2011
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Vinson Welcomes Our New Chiefs ABHC(AW/SW) Jorge Agostini
LSC(SW/AW) Martha Maya
MMC(SW/AW) Chris Atkins
MMC(SW/AW) Brian Moore
AZC(AW/SW) Quinton Avery
ABEC(AW/SW) Travis Mull
MMC(SW/AW) David C. Baker
AZC(AW/SW) Cynthia Novida
ATC(AW) David S. Baker
AOC(AW/SW) Shane O’Connor
MMC(SW/AW) Kenneth Benes
MMC(SW/AW) James Oden
ETC(SW/AW) Charles Brancato
ABHC(AW/SW) Michael Panaccione
AZC(AW) Chad Cochuyt
AZC(AW/SW) Rosalind Samuels
ABHC(AW/SW) Gilberto Cruz
ABEC(AW/SW) Robert Sanders
ADC(AW) Jason Evans
MMC(SW/AW) Narcisse Satchivi
ATC(AW/SW) Carlos Figueroa
EMC(SW/AW) Kurt Schriever
MMC(SW/AW) Rosemarie Gallegos
AOC(AW) Hashaun Swazy
AMEC(AW/SW) Michael Gudgel ABFC(AW/SW) William Harrison
MMC(SW) Larry Wilson _____________________
ABFC(AW/SW) James Hendershot
ABEC(AW/SW) Robert Roy - TAD
(SW/AW) Rosa Arzola | MC3 (SW/AW) Timothy Hazel | MCSN (SW/AW) Nicolas Lopez | MCSN Dean M. Cates | USS Carl Vinson Staff Photographers
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Vinson Voice
Vinson Plank Owner Returns to the Flight Deck
STORY BY
MC2 (SW) Byron C. Linder | USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer
T
homas Stoneham first set foot on the flight deck of USS Carl Vinson as an undesignated Airman in 1981. The ship was far from the sunny skies of San Diego, finishing construction in the Newport News, Va. shipyards. “I went to Air Department and was going to be a blue shirt on the flight deck since I was undesignated, but then I got sent TAD (temporarily assigned) to Training Division and (Aviation Electrician’s Mate) AE1 Maddox at the time talked me into becoming an AE,” Stoneham said. “I took the test, PNA’d (passed but not advanced) and became an AE, went to Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) and got capped to third class.” Stoneham went on to serve aboard other notable commands including USS Constellation (CV 64) and USS Independence (CV 62). Prior to his retirement from the Navy as a Chief Aviation Electrician’s Mate in 2004, Stoneham had established his own church after following his calling to minister beginning in 2000. In addition to his church, he works for the Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 contracted company ‘URS’ as
a plane captain out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island to qualify pilots and air crew on the new EA-18G Growler aircraft, which will phase out the existing EA-6B Prowler. The detachment he volunteered for was aboard Vinson from Sept. 12-15. “I didn’t know what ship we were going to be on when I volunteered to come out on this detachment. I asked my boss what ship we were going to, and when he said the Carl Vinson, I said ‘You gotta be kidding me. I started on the Carl Vinson back in 1981!’ And he said, ‘Well, you’re going back’”, said Stoneham. Stoneham was impressed with the multiple improvements made aboard Vinson since 1982 commissioning. “The ship, believe it or not, is cleaner now than it was back when it was brand new. I don’t know if it was because we were in the shipyards, but I was expecting it to be more run-down after almost 30 years,” said Stoneham. “When I retired from the Navy seven years ago, I said I would never go back to a Navy ship unless I was taking my family on a tour. And I never did come back to the Carl Vinson until now.” Stoneham quickly adjusted to being back
on his first flight deck. “It felt strange getting back on that flight deck, but after a couple of hours it was like old times. The flight deck crew was awesome, everyone really has their act together and they worked together to help us out,” said Stoneham. “Morale is a lot better than I thought it would be considering you just came back from cruise and are getting ready to go back on cruise. I thought I would get some attitude, but that was not the case at all.” The effort to qualify the pilots and air crew on the EA-18G Growler will pay off with improved mission capability, Stoneham added. “There’s going to be some challenges getting people who used to work on Prowlers to work on Growlers, because this plane can do a lot. VAQ-141 is using Growlers, and those guys are doing some great things for the fleet right now,” said Stoneham. Stoneham credited multiple factors in making his return to Carl Vinson a memorable one. “This is the chance of a lifetime to come back where it all started for me. I’m impressed with the structure and the organization, and it’s a testament to the Navy and the leadership that there’s a lot of pride out here,” said Stoneham. “It was good to come back, and I hope I have the opportunity to come back again soon.”
September 18, 2011
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Taking Maintenance into Their Own Hands
PHOTOS BY: MC3 (SW/AW) Rosa Arzola | USS Carl Vinson Staff Photographer
STORY BY
MC2 (SW/AW) Lori D. Bent | USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer
T
he lagging team on board Vinson is taking a hands-on approach to the ship’s multitude of spaces and pipes by placing a fresh layer of casting to prevent leaks to remedy the damage caused by condensation. Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) (SW/AW) Jason Davis, Intelligence Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Darrel Ellis and six Sailors from various departments are members of Vinson’s lagging maintenance team. “We came together and did what we had to do and we got the job done,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) Airman Aaron Jones, a member of the team attached to Air Department’s V-2 Division. “It’s a dirty job but it helps to prevent damage around the ship.” Davis believes that the lagging team is making consistent progress to repair damaged lagging jobs throughout the ship. “We have the manning, tools and the availability to complete the jobs while we are underway and through to the next deployment,” said Davis. “The team requires
15 personnel but even with minimal manning we are still completing the job.” The team has completed more than 80 jobs, averaging seven to ten jobs a week, over a period of three months. They have repaired lagging in berthings, heads, pump rooms and work spaces. More than 700 man hours have been dedicated to lagging the ship’s piping and ventilation systems. “Essentially we will be prepared for pier availability when we get back in port after the next deployment,” said Davis. “We want to knock off a lot of the jobs now so we are a step ahead of our scheduled lagging maintenance.” “The guys on the lagging team are workers doing a job that may be thankless at time but they do what needs to be done every day,” said Ellis. If you require a lagging job in your space, Davis urges Sailors to submit a job request in Organizational Maintenance Management System- Next Generation (OMMS-NG). For further information contact Davis at J- 5406 or Ellis at J:-2705.
Vinson Voice
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A Day in the Life of STORY BY
MC3 Jessica Tounzen| USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer
H
ave you ever driven a multi-billion-dollar warship? Two Vinson Sailors attached to Deck Department’s 1st Division have, and they’ll tell you their view is better than any other on the ship. But it’s not your average scenic drive, and these guys can’t just sit back and enjoy the scenery. Master Helmsman, Seaman Daniel Dubon and Lee Helmsman, Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Jake Lord, have a lot of responsibility in their hands. They’re the ones who have to keep Vinson on course, and prevent this 3.8-billion-dollar behemoth from running aground. As Master Helmsman, Dubon drives Vinson during special evolutions, such as replenishments at sea (RAS) and pulling in and out of ports. It’s his job to make sure the ship stays within a .2 degree accuracy, less than that of an ordinary Helmsman, who has to ensure Vinson stays within .5 degrees of her prescribed course. So needless to say, it’s a job that comes with a bit of stress. “It’s especially intense during a RAS, because we’ve got a span wire running between our ship and the other ship, and if I don’t stay on course, the span wire could snap and possibly injure or kill personnel who are nearby,” said Dubon. In addition to avoiding the disastrous consequences of the span wire snapping, Dubon also has to deal with the Venturi Effect. Basically, he said, it’s something that occurs when two ships are in close proximity to one another, and they’re simultaneously pulling in close together but pushing apart at the same time. The Venturi Effect means it’s that much harder for Dubon to stay on
course, so he’s got to be on his toes at all times. “There are also a lot of order changes while we’re alongside another vessel,” added Dubon. “I’m constantly being told to ‘come left’ or ‘come right’, and it can be pretty intense.” More than a few people would panic when faced with this level of pressure, but not Dubon. “Yeah, it’s intense and there can be a lot going on at once, but I’ve got confidence and faith that I’ll get to where I need to go,” revealed Dubon, citing his mother as his inspiration—the driving force, so to speak—behind why he can get through every day without having a panic attack. While Dubon is busy keeping Vinson on course, Lord is hard at work maintaining the speed. As Lee Helmsman, it’s Lord’s job to process and relay orders on Vinson’s speed and maintain 100 percent accuracy at all times. “I have to know the specific speeds and when they’re used, because if the wrong speed is put in, it could cause damage to the shafts or the screws,” said Lord. Additionally, if the ship’s steering is lost, Lord is the primary channel of communication from the bridge to aft steering to Damage Control Central. This means Lord has to know how to process and relay orders, and he also has to know the correct terminology when orders are given or sent. “In my job, I also have to have a questioning attitude when I know something is wrong. If an order is given to go a certain speed and it contradicts what speed the ship is able to do, I have to be able to respectfully say ‘This doesn’t look right’, and ask for clarification,” added Lord. Having that questioning attitude is important especially when land is in sight and Lord is preparing to bring Vinson in and out of port. There’s no room for mistakes, and Lord and his shipmates on
PHOTOS BY: MC3 (SW) Megan Catellier | MC3 (SW/AW) Timothy Hazel | USS Carl Vinson Staff Photographers
September 18, 2011
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The Master Helmsman & Lee Helmsman the bridge have to be on top of their game. And they do a great job of it, according to Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class (SW/SCW) Dunstan Lowe, 1st Division’s leading petty officer (LPO). “Their professionalism is off the charts. Especially with Dubon as Master Helmsman, he has to pay attention to what is going on and what he’s doing when he’s driving the ship,” he said. “As for Lord…as Lee Helmsman it’s even more important, being that he’s the one that’s controlling our speed; at any moment’s notice, he might need to bring in the order to stop or possibly slow down. These are top-notch guys, and they stay focused knowing the task at hand is the most important task at that time.” Despite all the demands of his job, Lord admitted having a great team at his side helps minimize the stress level. “We’ve got a very good crew. Everyone’s been there between two and three years, and we have a great conning officer, Lt. Brad Bauer. He’s got a calm demeanor and he makes the job easy,” he said. Serving on the bridge as Lee Helmsman also has another perk, said Lord. “When we were going through the Strait of Magellan, there was a lot of maneuvering. We were weaving in and out doing different configurations with another ship, and that was really cool,” he said. “The best part about this job is the scenery; we’ve got the best view on the ship, and it’s really neat seeing other vessels and land when we’re pulling in.” Both Lord and Dubon are passionate about what they do, and take a great deal of pride in their jobs and the attention-to-detail they exhibit in performing those jobs on a daily basis. And while both Sailors will say those jobs can be a bit nerve-wracking at times, they’ve both agreed that they have a view that beats no other.
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Vinson Voice
DIALOGUES D E C K P L A T E
| How do you feel about your New Chief’s accomplishment? | “It feels good and overwhelming at the same time. We are very glad to be able to be here and to do this.” V a V a
S a t c h i v i
Wife of MMC (SW/AW ) N a r c i s s e S at c h i v i
“We are extremely proud. It’s highly deserving.” Sandi
Moore
Wife of MMC (SW/AW ) Brian Moore
“It’s a huge accomplishment but I knew he could do it.” Kimberle y
Swazy
Wife of AOC (AW) Ha shaun Swazy
“I am just so proud of him.”
Ginny O’Connor Wife of AOC (AW/SW ) Shane O’Connor
Vinson operates in U.S. 3rd Fleet’s Area Of Responsibility in the Pacific Ocean from the North to the South Pole and from the continental West Coast to the International Dateline.
STAFF
Did You Know Did You Know... Vinson is one of ten Nimitz-class aircraft carriers active in the Navy today. Vinson currently has 18 Sailors serving as individual augmentees (IA) in Afghanistan, Iraq, Philippine Islands, Horn of Africa (HOA) and Guantanomo Bay. The Navy Working Uniform (NWU) is intended for yearround wear and is designed to accomodate male and female Sailors at sea and ashore. It is recommended that you wash your NWU’s inside out to prevent fade or wear.
STAFF
|PUBLISHER|
CAPTAIN BRUCE H. LINDSEY COMMANDING OFFICER
|EXECUTIVE EDITORS| LT. CMDR ERIK REYNOLDS PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
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|
MC2 (SW) PATRICK GREEN MC3 (SW) MEGAN L. CATELLIER
|STAFF WRITERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS| MC2 (SW/AW) MICHAEL LANTRON MC2 (SW) BYRON C. LINDER MC3 (SW/AW) ROSA ARZOLA MC3 (SW/AW) TIMOTHY HAZEL MC3 JESSICA TOUNZEN MCSN DEAN M. CATES MCSN (SW/AW) NICOLAS LOPEZ