Vinson Voice: 29 September 2011

In This Issue: Hydrostatic Testing | Update Personal Info | A Day in the Life of Pri-Fly | Education

Vol 02 No 70 | September 29, 2011

Ace on Deck Former Padre Andy Ashby Visits Vinson STORY BY

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

C

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.

arl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing 17 Sailors welcomed former Major League Baseball starting pitcher Andy Ashby Sept. 26-27 during the ship’s underway operations off the coast of Southern California.

Over his 14-season career, Ashby pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, and Los Angeles Dodgers. In his 1991 rookie year, he struck out three batters on nine pitches in the fourth inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds, becoming the 15th National League pitcher and the 24th pitcher in Major League history to accomplish the nine-strike/three-strikeout half-inning.

He saw his career high during his tenure as a San Diego Padre from 1993 to 1999 as he helped the Padres reach the World Series in 1998, and was a member of the 1998 and 1999 National League All-Star team.

Following his final stint as a reliever for San Diego in 2004, Ashby retired, posting a 98-110 record with 1,173 strikeouts, a 4.12 earned run average, and 1,810 innings pitched.

Having gone overseas in 2008 and 2009 to visit troops stationed in Iraq, Ashby jumped at the chance to visit an Continue ‘BASEBALL’ on Pg. 2

Vinson Voice

2 From ‘BASEBALL’ on Pg. 1

PHOTOS BY: MC3 (SW/AW) Rosa Arzola

aircraft carrier. He toured the ship’s spaces, observed flight operations from the flight deck, and held an autograph session Tuesday morning on the ship’s aft mess decks, signing photos of his Padre days and taking pictures with Sailors.

“If I can give something back to the people that make our freedom what it is today, it’s the least I can do,” said Ashby, carefully looping his signature over a copy of his Padres roster photo. “To have the pleasure to see what the Carl Vinson is all about and seeing everybody work together blows my mind. It’s something I will never forget. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

Fire Controlman 1st Class (SW/ AW) Robert Hoskins, Vinson’s zone inspection manager assigned to Engineering Department’s Maintenance Division and Tacoma, Wash. native, held a freshly-autographed photo after shaking hands with the all-star pitcher.

“I remember watching him play when I was younger, and it’s an honor to get an autograph from someone I’m familiar with from Major League Baseball,” he said. “My wife is a die-hard Padres fan, and this picture is for her. It was her birthday Sunday, so this is a little something I can bring back.”

Hoskins acknowledged the multiple “Military Appreciation” events from local San Diego sports teams, and expressed his appreciation for their efforts to meet their local servicemembers.

“You can sense a real bond. We see people from Padres or Chargers on board a lot, so there’s definitely a good, strong tie there,” said Hoskins.

Ashby expressed his admiration while observing Vinson Sailors conduct their work.

“The Sailors are awesome. It’s amazing to see how young they are and how much they do. Everything is controlled, and it looks so chaotic to me because I have no idea what’s going on. You watch the flight deck, and stuff is happening everywhere, but everyone knows what’s going on, and to watch it is like poetry.

It’s incredible,” Ashby said. “To come here and be a part of this, see how you go about your business firsthand is something I’ll never forget. Without you, we wouldn’t have the country we have today, and I want to thank each and every one of you for everything you do.”

September 29, 2011

3

Navy Personnel Must Update Personal Contact Info By Oct. 31 PUBLISHED BY

Stars and Stripes

T

he Navy has ordered all personnel and civilian employees to update and verify their personal contact information

by Oct. 31 to aid in disaster relief planning, Navy officials said.

The semi-annual Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System (NFAAS) verification is a tool used to monitor and manage the recovery process for personnel and their families should disaster strike, according to a Navy news release.

It was used to account for upwards of 300,000 Navy personnel and their families following Hurricane Irene and 40,000 affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the release said.

“We cannot stress enough the importance of maintaining the most accurate and up-to-date contact information in NFAAS,”

said Fred Chambers, director of customer relations management at the Navy Personnel Command. “It is not only beneficial to those of us running NFAAS, but extremely beneficial to personnel because it can help determine how quickly they will receive assistance during a disaster.”

The NAVADMIN 275/11 regulation requires all active-duty and reserve sailors — in addition to Navy civilian employees — to log in to the Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System website to complete the process, the release said. All Navy contractors outside the U.S. are also required to complete the verification process.

The directive also instructs commands to incorporate NFAAS updates into the check-in and check-out process during permanent change of station moves.

PHOTOS BY

MC2 (SW) James R. Evans | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

Hydrostatic Testing Complete

Vinson Voice

4

A Day Playing In The L a Critical R STORY & PHOTOS BY

MC3 (SW) Megan L. Catellier | USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

T

hey are not on deck maneuvering aircraft or retracting the arresting gear during an aircraft recovery but this week’s ‘Day in the life of ’ division plays a critical role in safe flight deck evolutions on board Carl Vinson every day.

We see them walking around the ship in their crisp white jerseys with ‘PRIFLY’ written across their backs. But who are they and what do they do?

Primary Flight Control is located on the O-10 level of the island and is occupied by the Air Boss, Mini Boss and 11 watchstanders assigned to Air Department’s V-5 and V-2 Divisions.

They are responsible for recording

aircraft launch and recovery data, coordinating tower operations with Air Operations and assisting the Air Boss and Mini Boss with air traffic control.

“These guys up here in Pri-Fly are very much appreciated, as is everyone else [in air department]” said Air Department Air Boss Cmdr. Richard Wiley.

It’s not about the Air Boss, it’s about Air Department and its more than 600 personnel keeping our shipmates and our flight deck safe, he said.

The Sailors who man Vinson’s Gold Eagle tower keeps the watch for flight deck crew. Each Sailor has an appointed duty but they all know their job in PriFly keeps pilots and Sailors out of harm’s way.

“I feel like I have a real responsibility to flight operations,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd

Class (AW) Daniel Logan, assigned to V-5. “We are literally the eyes and ears of the flight deck.”

Pri-Fly is like any other division on the ship; they begin with junior qualifications and progress in experience.

As the ‘land/launch’ recorder, watchstanders begin with logging aircraft side numbers, trap numbers, event numbers and the time of launch and recovery of each aircraft. Then they move to working the Integrated Shipboard Information System (ISIS), a virtual log of aircraft data.

“Keeping record of launches and landings is important for the pilots to receive all the right qualifications so they can go out and fly for real missions,” said Airman Anthony Hunt, also of V-5. “Training is one of the most important things we do in the Navy and

September 29, 2011

5

Life Of Pri-Fly Role in Flight Deck Evolutions we’re here to track it.”

Pri-Fly watchstanders are in constant communication with Sailors working on the flight deck. They relay information to the Landing Signal Officer (LSO) platform communicating arresting gear weight and incoming aircraft information with arresting gear operators and the Carrier Air Group (CAG) LSO. The gear operator is a V-2 Division watchstander in Pri-Fly who electronically sets the gear weight and communicates with Sailors working below decks with the arresting gear.

“Working up here is fast-paced, intense and a lot of fun,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) Airman Shawn Greer of V-2 Division. “I like knowing I’m a crucial part of flight operations.”

Although they are not facing the perils of the flight deck themselves, they all agree Air Department Sailors work together for one cause.

“Our job is not as greasy as other Air jobs, but it is undoubtedly just as technical (as any of them),” said Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Trish-an Campbell, also of V-2 Division.

“I think there is a misconception about working in Pri-Fly that it is easier or less stressful, but at the end of the day it’s a lot of brainwork. This job is challenging, rewarding and a lot of fun.”

There are a multitude of things happening in Pri-Fly at one time, but it all intertwines to generate safe and

smooth operation on the flight deck.

Whether it’s yelling, “FOUL DECK! FOUL DECK!” to warn incoming pilots of dangers on the flight deck or ensuring aircraft are safely guided to the ship by maintaining the Fresnel Lens Optical Landing system (FLOLS), these Sailors are piecing together a puzzle that results in safe flight operations.

“These guys manage their schedule, their time and qualifications while keeping their shipmates safe,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) (AW/SW) 1st Class Felipe Vazquez, V-5 leading petty officer (LPO). “While I do their administration paperwork, they are the heart of Pri-Fly.”

6

Vinson Voice

September 29, 2011

E d u c a t i o n H elp i n g S a i l o r s S t a y Na v y

7

STORY BY

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

erform to Serve and the Enlisted Retention Board are stark reminders of a reality the fleet is quickly coming to grips with: if Sailors hope to “stay Navy”, they need to be competitive.

Vinson’s Education Services Office (ESO) is emphasizing that working toward, or attaining, a secondary education is one way Vinson Sailors can strengthen their record and prepare for a future in or outside the Navy.

During Vinson’s last Western Pacific deployment, more than 880 Sailors enrolled in 63 Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE) classes. With a 98% pass rate, the ESO team is ramping up the pace to advertise NCPACE courses for the upcoming deployment.

“We want our Sailors to be competitive when going up for PTS or ERB and we also want them to be fully equipped if they decide to go the civilian route,” said ESO Leading Chief Petty Officer, Chief Personnel Specialist (SW/AW) Rodricus Allen.

Allen strongly recommends full inrate qualifications, both enlisted warfare devices (ESWS and EAWS) and continuing

education for a Sailor planning on more than a single enlistment.

NCPACE offers college courses for those who want to move toward college as well as academic skills classes that can help increase a Sailor’s Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test score. “These are two options that can greatly help with PTS and advancement,” added Allen.

Command Career Counselor Master Chief Navy Counselor (SW/AW) Tammy Smoot urged departmental career counselors to conduct career development boards with their Sailors and determine what ratings they are ASVAB qualified for before they are within their PTS window.

“This will give Sailors an idea of what is available for them if they do not meet requirements in their own rating,” said Smoot. “If you don’t have a good ASVAB, a better score will give better options.”

Vinson’s leadership has always emphasized the importance of being a well-rounded individual, and Sailors are getting the message. For the upcoming NCPACE terms, more than 100 students have requested seats in 15 courses, and the ESO team anticipates a greater amount of

participation than previous terms.

“Route a special request chit through your chain of command,” said Personnel Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Luis Cano, lead ESO clerk. “Sit down and do an individual education plan and take a placement test to see where you stand and go from there.”

The ESO clerks stress that they are not educational advisors, but they’re trained and willing to help get their shipmates enrolled in school and advance through the Navy ranks.

“Take the opportunity,” said Personnel Specialist Seaman (SW) James Bryan, ESO clerk. “It’s your personal achievement, it goes toward your overall college transcripts and it’s free.”

In fiscal year 2011, Vinson was allotted 25% of the Navy’s overall education funding which employed college professors and covered the cost of registration fees for all the students.

For more information on NCPACE contact the ESO at J-2253. For more information on PTS and ERB contact your departmental career counselor or the command career counselors at J-6555.

PHOTOS BY: MC3 (SW/AW) Rosa Arzola

P

8

Vinson Voice

DIALOGUES D E C K P L A T E

| What is your favorite TV show and why? | “I like ‘Weeds’ because it’s simple, funny and intriguing - it always keeps me coming back for more.”

“I love ‘Workaholics’ because it’s hilarious and always makes me laugh.”

S H 3 ( S W ) Teca Sneed

C S S A Christopher M annix

“I love ‘Sons of Guns’ because they get to test out guns and blow stuff up.”

“I think ‘CSI’ is great because it’s a mystery and I like solving the case as the show goes on.”

M M C M ( S W / A W ) Timothy Armstrong

A S 3 ( A W ) Desiree Feliuai

STAFF

Did You Know Did You Know...

Many commercial airport runways are 10,000 ft. long while the flight deck on Carl Vinson is 1,092 ft. long.

Active-duty members accumulate two-and-a-half days of leave per month totaling 30 days of paid leave each year.

The Navy’s Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) identifies civilian credentials that best map a Sailor’s rating and training. For more info visit https://www.cool.navy.mil.

The Navy’s new CNO is Admiral Jonathan Greenert.

STAFF

The first aircraft FJ-1 Fury landed on the carrier USS Boxer (CV 21), March 10, 1948.

|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|

MC3 (SW) MEGAN L. CATELLIER

|STAFF WRITERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS| MC2 (SW) BYRON C. LINDER MC3 (SW/AW) ROSA ARZOLA