T H E WOLVERINEDecember 2020
MEET THE BIG XO FORD, CSG-12 BEGIN INTEGRATION THE WOLVERINE USS GERALD R. FORD (CVN 78)
MEET THE TRIAD COMMANDING OFFICER CAPT John J. Cummings EXECUTIVE OFFICER CAPT Jeremy Shamblee COMMAND MASTER CHIEF CMDCM De’Andre Beaufort MEDIA DEPARTMENT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER LCDR Desiree Frame
ASSISTANT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER LT Ayifa Brooks
MEDIA DEPARTMENT LCPO MCC RJ Stratchko THE WOLVERINE EDITOR MC3 Zack Guth MEDIA DEPARTMENT STAFF MC1 Juile Matyascik MC1 Gary Prill MC1 Jeff Troutman THIS MONTH IN NAVAL HISTORY MC2 Kallysta Castillo MC2 Ryan Seelbach December 1, 1842 MC2 William Spears Midshipman Philip Spencer, Boatswains Mate Samuel MC3 Angel Thuy Jaskuloski MC3 Shanell Lawrence Cromwell and Seaman Elijah Small, of the Bainbridge- MC3 Dalton Lowing class brig Somers, were executed for mutiny. Spencer MC3 Zachary Melvin was the son of then-Secretary of War, John Canfield MC3 Brett Walker MCSN Jackson Adkins Spencer. MCSN Riley McDowell MCSN Sarah Mead MCSN Anton Wendler December 12, 1937 MCSA Trenton Edly After Japan invades Nanking, China, USS Panay (PR 5) evacuates american citizens, when it comes under attack FRONT COVER PHOTO from Japanese aircraft, killing three men, wounding 43 USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) conducts cyclic Sailors, and five civilians. flight operations in the Atlantic Ocean, Nov. 9, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Gary Prill) December 18, 1965 The River Patrol Force is established in Vietnam. In December 1970, the resources are transferred by Adm. Zumwalt to the Vitanamese Navy.
December 24, 1950 Under the cover of naval gunfire support, Task force 90 completes a 14-day evacuation of 100,000 troops, equipment, and 91,000 refugees, from Hungnam, North Korea, during the Korean War. 4 BIG XO MEET N’ GREET
PHOTOS OF FOR MORE CONTENT 6 THE MONTH Want to see more about USS Gerald R. Ford? https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/CVN78 MAIL CALL! MAIL CALL! @cvn78_grford 8 FORD’S POST OFFICE @Warship_78 BM2 JEN: LIFE OF A @USSGeraldRFord 9 MASTER HELMSMAN FORD AND CSG COMMAND OMBUDSMAN FIRST-EVER 10 OPERATIONS
Danni Campbell Jillian Stone 757-805-5958 401-405-4171 [email protected] [email protected] Meet the XO: An Honest Man with an Honest Plan Story and Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brett Walker
Capt. Jeremy Shamblee took over as USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) executive officer, Oct. 29. His parents were both serving in the U.S. Air Force in Germany when he was born. They soon moved back to the united states and separated from the military. When Shamblee was 16, his dad gave him a brochure to the United States Naval Academy. He initially did not want to join the Navy. However, after a week of “Summer Seminar” at the Naval Academy he knew he wanted to attend school there. Shamblee graduated with distinction in the top 10 percent of his class from the Naval Academy in May 2000. “After that week of ‘Summer Seminar,’ I was sold,” said Shamblee. “I was thinking to myself that I could go to school there and do my minimum five years. Then I’ll have my engineering degree and I can go find something new while I’m still young.” Shamblee did not apply to the Naval Academy to be in the Navy, he applied because he wanted to study at the Naval Academy. The Naval Academy is meant to produce mostly unrestricted line officers to include: aviators, seals, surface warfare officers, and submariners. When time came to choose his designation, Shamblee was very interested in the idea of flying as an aviator. “Flying seemed to fit what I wanted to do most,” said Shamblee. “I applied to be an aviator and I was very thankful to have been selected to go through the program.” 4 Five years has turned into 20. The love of his job Capt. Jeremy Shamblee, USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) executive officer, observes a fire drill, Nov. 6, 2020. Ford is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting fleet carrier qualifications for Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 and CVW- 7. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brett Walker) as a pilot and the ability to be around a variety of people like his dad. I never really talk about my job because that’s and learn from them and make new friends is why Shamblee home time. Him just seeing the Navy lifestyle has made him stayed in the Navy. He eventually went to executive officer decide to do that. He is only 12, so he still has plenty of time training, and was also executive and commanding officer of to change his mind. I will support whatever he decides as Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22 the “Fighting Redcocks.” long as he’s happy and making a positive contribution to Ford is his first executive officer tour aboard an aircraft society.” carrier. Shamblee also loves to read, travel, play sports such as He recently finished his training at Naval Reactors basketball or volleyball, and watch movies. Headquarters in the District of Columbia, and arrived to “My favorite movies are ‘Aliens,’ ‘Saving Private Ryan’ Ford with hopes of preparing the ship for future operational and ‘Silver Linings Playbook,” said Shamblee. “My favorite employments, and to help the captain and crew achieve college football team is Navy, obviously. I am from Houston, their goals. but my favorite [National Football League] team is the “I want to do my very best in everything so I can Indianapolis Colts. The only reason I’m a Colts fan is because contribute to getting this ship ready to join the fleet,” said the Houston Oilers were my team as a kid but then they Shamblee. “I want to help the captain and crew get ready moved to Tennessee and became the Tennessee Titans. My for their future employment.” wife’s family are Colts fans, so I chose them as my team. I Outside of being Ford’s executive officer Shamblee have even attended a few Colts games before and they were enjoys to spend time with family and friends. a lot of fun.” “I love to spend time with my wife and children,” said He listens to a wide-variety of music. Shamblee listed Shamblee. “I have a son and a daughter. In a world without classic rock and rap near the top with country music closer to COVID-19, we would go to the beach, go to see a new the bottom of his music choices. movie, or anything that just sounded like fun to us. I just While serving as Ford’s executive officer Shamblee has love being around people and having a good time.” three major expectations. He wants everyone to work hard, Shamblee was happy to hear his son tell him what he to have an honest self-assessment with themselves at the wanted to do when he grows up. end of every day, and continuous process refinement. “My kids have moved every two to three years with us “I am super happy to be here,” said Shamblee. “I am their entire life and they love it,” said Shamblee. “They love excited to help in the mission and if there are any roadblocks moving and meeting new people. My son used to say he that are preventing people from doing their job that I can wanted to cure cancer, and I never pressure my kids to do help with, then I will do everything I can to help. That goes anything they wouldn’t want to do. One day my son told me for the skipper and for every Sailor aboard Ford.” that he wanted to go to the Naval Academy and fly jets just 5 1 3
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6 5 PHOTOS OF THE MONTH DECEMBER 2020
1. FC2 Jonathan Smoot, assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) combat systems department, performs routine maintenance on NATO Seasparrow surface missile system on missile sponson no. 2, Nov. 3, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Sarah Mead)
2. AO3 Cody Ornelas, assigned to the “Warhawks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 97, performs routine maintenance on an F/A-18E Super Hornet on USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) flight deck, Nov. 6, 2020. (U.S. 6 Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ryan Seelbach)
3. An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, attached to the “Tridents” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, transports supplies to the flight deck of USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) during a vertical replenishment with USNS Arctic (T-AOE-8) Nov. 11, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Anton Wendler)
4. Aircraft attached to Carrier Air wing (CVW) 8 are positioned on USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) flight deck Nov. 11, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Zack Guth)
5. ABH2 Jynishia Wilson, from Lakeland, Florida assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) directs a A C-2A Greyhound, attached to the “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40, as it prepares to launch from Ford’s flight deck, Nov. 9, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dalton Lowing)
7 8 6. USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) steams in the Atlantic Ocean during flight operations, Nov. 13, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seamna Riley McDowell) 7. Sailors assigned to USS Gerald R. Fords (CVN 78) supply department move supplies received from fast combat support ship USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8) into Ford’s hangar bay during a replenishment-at-sea, Nov. 11, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Julie R. Matyascik) 8. AZ2 Will Palmore, assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) aircraft intermediate maintenance department carries a fire hose up a ladderwell in response to a class alpha fire during a general quarters drill onboard Ford, Nov. 13, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dalton Lowing) 7 Unboxing Happiness: Fords Mail Specialists at Work
U Story and photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Zack Guth )
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G 78 N E V R C AL ( D R. FORD
Six days a week onboard USS Gerald R. Ford “In the mail office on a Nimitz-class, there is no (CVN 78) at 10 a.m., “Mail call, mail call” is broadcasted elevator, but on the Ford-class, thanks to the advanced over the 1 main circuit(1MC), bringing Sailors from the technology we have onboard, we do have an elevator,” bottom of the reactor plant to the top of the pilot said Akande. “Which makes it a lot easier to get mail down house down to the ship’s post office, to receive their here to be processed, and packages and letters. this definitely makes life a lot easier for my mail petty Ford’s post office is guarded, maintained and officers.” operated by four Sailors assigned to the ship’s supply From boot camp, to an underway, and overseas department S-1A division, responsible for delivering deployment, all Sailors wait to receive mail from their mail person to person below decks or sending it off loved ones, to enlighten their day. from the flight deck. “I believe [mail] is extremely important, a lot “I like what we do, we provide morale to the of Sailors live onboard, and getting mail is their little ship, and I work with a great group of guys, that happiness,” said Silvers. “Getting letters from family, or are definitely motivated, and always ready to work care packages, it’s a huge morale booster, so it’s extremely everyday bringing out mail,” said Chief Logistics important that people get their mail.” Specialist Ahnas Akande, who grew up in Germantown, “I do believe mail is very, very important, even as a Maryland. “I know Christmas is coming up, so we are chief, mail is important to me because I like getting mail, like Santa’s little helpers spreading joy across USS I like getting stuff from my family back home, letters from Gerard R. Ford; and what’s not to love about that?” your loved ones,” added Akande. “I do believe mail is Ford’s post office regularly receives 300 lbs. critical to morale onboard the ship, and we will definitely of mail for more than 2,700 personnel onboard, and do our best to keep up the morale.” after a delayed delivery schedule, she can receive up Ford’s mail team is comprised of Chief Logistics to 1,500 lbs. at once. Specialist Ahnas Akande, Logistics Specialist 1st Class “Underway we start by looking at the [carrier Joshua Wilson, Logistics Specialists 2nd Class Taylor onboard delivery] schedule, that tells us what time Stubblefield, and Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Tuesday we’ll be receiving mail, dispatching the mail, with Silvers. any outgoing mail we have to get ready to have it loaded onto the COD,” said Akande. “We remove the mail, bring it down to the post office, sort it out, and disperse it to the crew, so the majority of the time is loading mail onboard and getting mail off the ship.” “We usually don’t go on the flight deck unless we get a lot of mail, otherwise we go to the [air transit office] and hope we don’t get all the mail in the world,” said Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Tuesday Silvers, from Levonan, Indiana. “So far we haven’t had a day this underway where they need us on the flight deck, but I’m ready to go to the flight deck. I love the flight deck.” Even with how long mail has existed in the Sailors assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) supply department, world, Ford brought something new to the table; the sort care packages in the ship’s hangar bay. Nov. 4, 2020. (U.S. installation of an elevator access in the mail room. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Zack Guth)
8 Steady as She Goes: Life of a Master Helmsman
Story by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Riley McDowell
Born in California to missionaries, playing rugby as a child in South Africa, guided by the invisible hand of the universe, Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Allen Jen, from San Jose, California mans the helm of the fleet’s newest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) during special evolutions. Before Jen’s dad became a Christian pastor, he worked in the tech industry inside Silicon Valley. Once his father finished seminary school, the family moved to South Africa to help struggling churches. “My father has a really big heart for helping others,” said Jen. “He would start on Friday and drive all weekend. Visiting different towns that didn’t have a church. Really just looking out for those that couldn’t get to church but still wanted to praise the Lord and worship.” Jen has served in the Navy for five years and served on three separate aircraft carriers. “I didn’t choose the boatswain’s mate life,” said Jen. “The boatswain’s mate life chose me.” Jen grew up playing rugby in high school while living in South Africa with his family. He says that the team aspect of the game is his favorite part. “Everyone gets to put hands on the ball to carry it over the line for a tri,” said Jen. “When you pass the ball, it can only travel backwards, so every meter you gain down field is fought for.” Rugby taught Jen a lot about life including respect and appreciation for others. South Africa’s history is stained by apartheid and the country still struggles to this day with the idea of racial equality. “We had Zulu, Dutch, Asians, Indians and Afrikaans all just having a good time together as people,” said Jen. “Race Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Allen Jen, from San Jose, California, assigned didn’t matter. Life is too short to be angry.” to USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) deck department, takes control of the Jen brings that same attitude to his job on the Ford. ship’s rudders as a master helmsman during sea and anchor detail. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Zack Guth) As a master helmsman, Jen steers the ship during sea and anchor detail, replenishments-at-sea and other restricted “Training is pretty intense,” said Jen. “You have to maneuvering evolutions. Jen is one of three master helmsmen brief the captain before you go on station for transit. You have out of the ship’s crew of roughly 2,700 Sailors. The other to know all the drills. You have to know everything that could master helmsman onboard include Boatswain’s Mate 2nd affect the ship while you steer.” Class Patrick Fitzgerald, from New York, and Boatswain’s Ford has many helmsman onboard that stand the Mate 3rd Class Eddie Frazier, from Chicago all of which are watch 24 hours a day. But the master helmsman is the Sailor part of Ford’s deck department. the conning officer and the commanding officer are going to “We had a second class petty officer in deck entrust with special operations. For example, a replenishment- department that was on the way out the door,” said Jen. at-sea, where two ships are 300 feet away and steaming “He looked at who had potential. Who could keep the ship alongside each other at 15 knots. on course. He thought I had what it took, so he trained me “The skipper wants to make sure that his helmsman is up. One thing led to another and eventually I received my going to stay on course,” said Jen. “Like right on the money.” qualification.” Lt. Greg Sutter, Ford’s assistant navigator and one of After Jen was selected by his mentor, Boatswain’s his officers of the deck, works hand-in-hand with the master Mate 2nd Class Tyler Dietrich, he began his 8-month long helmsman, who is responsible for directing the helmsman training process to become master helmsman qualified. onto the desired route in the ship’s bridge during special Some of the tasks required to accomplish the master operations. helmsman qualification include: maintaining the ordered “Jen is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to course within half a degree by both gyrocompass and magnetic the procedures outlined in the ship’s control bill,” said Sutter. compass from aft steering during a restricted maneuvering “He is professional and respectful with the entire bridge team evolution. at all times.” Jen’s favorite quote comes from one of his fellow “The boatswain’s mate shipmates and master helmsman, Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Fitzgerald. “If you’re not heaving around, you’re slacking off!” life chose me.” 9 GRF Strike Group commences first-ever Integrated Operations Story by Lt. Cmdr. Desiree Frame, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 Public Affairs Under the leadership of Carrier Strike Group advanced weapons elevators to F/A-18 Super Hornets to (CSG) 12, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) along with Carri- be employed during close air support and air-to-ground er Air Wing (CVW) 8, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2, training missions. CSG-12’s Air and Missile Defense commander, comman- “It’s great to embark our air wing on the USS Ge- ding officer of USS Gettysburg (CG 64), and CSG-12’s rald R. Ford once again,” said Capt. Josh Sager, com- information warfare commander commenced first-ever mander, CVW-8. “This is an incredible opportunity to fully integrated carrier strike group operations for the exercise air wing missions in a carrier strike group set- Ford-class carrier, Nov. 8. ting, and Team Factory conducted a significant regimen During independent steaming event (ISE) 13, of unit level training in preparations for this at-sea trai- CVW-8 will execute cyclic flight operations while CSG-12 ning period. We’re thrilled to continue our integration oversees unit level training, maritime strike exercises, an aboard the flagship of the Ford-lass of aircraft carriers.” air defense exercise, and other larger force exercises. During ISE 13 DESRON-2 will focus on preparing “Recent underway periods have provided my staff the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to defend against and my warfare commanders a greater understanding surface and subsurface threats using CVW-8 aircraft and of how Ford and Nimitz-classes are similar and how ship’s self-defense. they are different, but this underway will enable us to According to Capt. Stefan Walch, DESRON-2’s learn how we will fight the Ford-class,” said Rear Adm. deputy commodore, the command and control of Craig Clapperton, commander, CSG-12. “This is another long-range missile strikes against enemy warships, and stepping stone to learn, synchronize, and coordinate the protection of assets in constrained waters are cha- with fleet stakeholders and mature our processes and llenging missions that require both technical proficiency capabilities to posture the ship and the strike group for and solid unity of command. success in their first work up and deployment cycle.” “There is no substitute for underway, integrated While this is the first time the entire strike group operations with all of the various staffs that make up the has operated together, this past May elements of CVW- strike group,” said Walch. “This underway will be a huge 8 embarked Ford to complete critical milestones that benefit to building the necessary command relationships prepared the air wing for this current scale of operations. and collaboration required to effectively execute our They conducted cyclic flight operations with thousands mission.” of pounds of inert ordnance transported via Ford’s
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) conducts cyclic flight operations Nov. 16, 2020. Under the leadership of Carrier Strike Group TWELVE, Gerald R. Ford is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting first-ever integrated carrier strike group operations with Carrier Air Wing EIGHT, Destroyer Squadron TWO and their Air and 10 Missile Defense Commander, Commanding Officer of USS Gettysburg (CG 64). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Riley McDowell) 11