TotalForce AW3 Chase Owens signals he has landed safely in the water during the search and rescue exercise portion of UNITAS Gold in the .

Photo by MCC Dawn C Montgomery

2 3 [On the Front Cover] After boot camp, the next culture shock for Sailors is checking aboard for the first time. Every Sailor deserves to have a guide [Departments] through that first tour, so step up and be that person who sets the new Sailor on the right track. Remember, the first 72 hours Around the Fleet — 6 can set the tone for both a Sailor’s tour and career. This Just In — 32 Photoillustration by MC1(AW) R. Jason Brunson Model: AZAA Jaliel Marquis McNeill assigned to USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Something to Think About — 36 [Next Month] Focus on Service — 38 This year is the 50th anniversary of UNITAS, the longest running multinational maritime exercise in the world. All Hands History— 40 embarked USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) to bring the exercise to you.

22 The Maritime Strategy at Work: ICEX 2009 Sailors have been bringing maritime strategy core capabilities of forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response to life on deployments and on shore in a vast amount of mission sets. But, there is that one operational exercise that ties into almost every facet of the maritime strategy, but few are aware of: Ice Exercise (ICEX) in the Ocean. Photo by MC1(SW/AW) Tiffini J. Vanderwyst

ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil [Departments] [Number 1107] Around the Fleet — 6 This Just In — 32 Something to Think About — 36 Focus on Service — 38 History— 40 June 12 Total Force: What You and Your Sailors Need to Know Now, more than ever, performance is the key to a successful Navy career. But Sailors are not going at it alone. The Navy offers a whole slew of tools designed to arm Sailors with all the resources and tools necessary to successfully negotiate every career milestone

Photoillustration by MC1(AW) R. Jason Brunson

28 Operation Arctic Care ‘09: Medical Outreach in America’s Last Frontier In the challenging environment of , military members conducted Operation Arctic Care, a joint exercise that tests the ability of Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Army National Guard members to deploy and operate as one team in a harsh environment to provide medical outreach operations in time of crisis, conflict or disaster.

Photo by Air Force Senior Airman Christopher Griffin

June 2009 • ALL HANDS 1 Speaking with Sailors Number 1107 • June 2009 Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy MCPON (SS/SW) Rick D. West www.navy.mil

Acting Secretary of the Navy The Honorable BJ Penn

Chief of Naval Operations Total Force… Total Performance Adm. Gary Roughead

hipmates, “Total Force” is a Chief of Information Rear Adm. Frank Thorp IV phrase you’re going to see a lot Director of in this edition of All Hands. Defense Media Activity-Anacostia S Capt. David E. Werner

There will be spotlights on different Villalovos A. Jennifer MC1 by Photo programs geared toward making sure Chief of Production Richard D. Welsh our Navy has the best people out Chief of Publishing front doing the right jobs. Lt. Ligia I. Cohen

Some of the responsibility for the success of Editorial those initiatives is going to fall on the shoulders of Editor our recruiters and then the leaders responsible for Marie G. Johnston training the fleet or assigning Sailors to jobs where centuries. All they want is more challenge and more Assistant Editor/LCPO their specific skills are put to the best possible use. opportunity for impact. MCC(AW/SW) Ernest W. Frazier All of that is necessary, and I’m on board with Those are the kind of men and women who make Photo Editor MC1(AW) R. Jason Brunson every element. But what I’d like to address is this: up our Total Force – active duty, Reserve or Navy How do you fit into that equation, into the Total civilian. And they’re all over the fleet. Performance is Editorial Staff MC2(SW) Elizabeth Vlahos Force? If you’re a junior petty officer, and you’ve the key to their success, and it’s the single factor that MC2(SW) William Blake MC2(AW) Jonathan W. Hutto Sr. been in the Navy a couple years, what does Total is going to help them stay Navy if that’s what they MC2(SW/AW) Jhi Scott Force expect of you? want to do. At every level, it’s the single qualifying It means this: If you’re performing well, and if factor for retention. the effort you’re giving every day is the best you Performance drives every program we have, LAYOUT & WEB Design Slice can do, then the Navy wants and needs you to stay Shipmates. It’s behind diversity, force stabilization Design + Project Management with us and to keep leading at different levels of and the maritime strategy. All of them have been built Richard Rabil, Julie Dorman, Diana Flores, Tory Hobson responsibility. If you’re a 20-year chief petty officer, on the premise that the keys to their success hinge on Printing and you’re concerned about the continuation Sailors performing to the best of your abilities. Universal Printing Company boards, convening this fall, I’d suggest you take a Our Navy is changing. Our missions are evolving GPO Printing Specialist Robert Coates look at the job you’re doing on the deckplates and and the face of our service reflects our society

the example you are setting everyday for our Sailors. more than it ever has. But one thing will always All Hands (USPS 372-970; ISSN 0002-5577) Number 1107 is published monthly by the Defense Media Activity - If you’re performing, you shouldn’t worry. stay constant … everything we do boils down to Anacostia, Production Department, 2713 Mitscher Rd. S.W., Anacostia Annex, D.C. 20373-5819. Periodicals post- If you’re pushing your Sailors to success, the Sailors staying true to one of our oldest adages, age paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Subscriptions: For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, continuation board isn’t about you. Those boards are “Ship, shipmate, self.” If you’re looking for a way to D.C. 20402 or call 202/512-1800. Subscription prices $45 (domestic)/$54 (foreign); $7.50 (single copy domestic)/$9 designed to find those who aren’t contributing and describe the best possible performance, go back to (single copy foreign). Postmaster: Send address changes to All Hands, Defense Media Activity - Anacostia Production ask them to step aside so that our hard chargers have that phrase. Department, 2713 Mitscher Rd., S.W., Anacostia Annex, D.C. 20373-5819 Editorial Offices: Send submissions and correspondence to Defense Media Activity - Anacostia room to advance, lead on the deckplate and succeed. If those are your priorities, we need you to stay and Production Department, ATTN: Editor, 2713 Mitscher Rd., S.W., Anacostia Annex, D.C. 20373-5819 Tel: DSN I met hundreds of those hard chargers in move our great Navy – this Total Force – forward. 288-4171 or 202/433-4171 Fax: DSN 288-4747 or 202/433-4747 E-Mail: [email protected] Message: Gulfport, Miss., recently. I spoke to a huge group Bottom Line: Perform and stay in the greatest NAVMEDIACEN WASHINGTON DC //32// Authorization: The Secretary of the Navy has determined this publication is necessary in the transaction of business of Seabees at their birthday ball, and I saw the Navy the world has ever known. required by law of the Department of the Navy. Funds for printing this publication have been approved by the Navy kind of enthusiasm that has defined our Sailors for HOOYAH! Publications and Printing Committee.

4 ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil

Around the Fleet

MCPON Praises Efforts to Save Shipmates, Stresses Hazards of Drinking, Driving

Sailor aboard USS West Virginia (SSBN 736) received accolades from the Navy’s senior enlisted leader for setting A Photo by MC1 Jennifer A. Villalovos the standard for the entire fleet. ▲ MCPON Rick West talks to guests at the Pentagon Hall of Heroes.

Master Chief Petty Officer of “Our second and third class significant progress in addressing of all those who you’ve affected, the Navy (MCPON) Rick West petty officers will have the and preventing alcohol abuse, but it’s a permanent, life-changing called Machinist’s Mate Fireman greatest impact. I think they it is still the common factor in mistake,” said West. “Worse yet Corey Ferrell and congratulated can really drive these numbers many disciplinary problems. would be to cross the yellow line him for his efforts to take care down. I’ve been there, and I know With the help from leadership, and be involved in an accident of shipmates. the impact you can have. I’m Roughead said he wants to reduce that causes serious injury or Ferrell received the Navy Marine challenging every second or third all alcohol related incidents loss of life. Corps Achievement Medal for class petty officer to lead those by 25 percent in 2009. He also “We’ve got a Sailor sitting in talking four intoxicated Sailors out junior to you to further reduce emphasized that the “Right a jail cell now. He hasn’t been of getting behind the wheel after our numbers. I know they can Spirit” Campaign is one tool to convicted of a DUI yet, but he attending a command function. and will succeed,” said West. reach that goal. knows he was involved in an Ferrell had volunteered to act The Navy and every local Right Spirit, launched in accident that killed a young as a designated driver for friends command have many programs 1996, is designed to deglamorize woman. Forget the money for during a command holiday party in place to provide alternatives to alcohol beverage consumption a minute and think about that. in December 2008. As he got drinking and driving. and eliminate alcohol abuse. Think about her family and what ready to leave, he noticed four The HERO Campaign The key principles of the he’s going to have to live with the intoxicated strangers discussing promotes the use of a designated Right Spirit campaign are rest of his life.” who was in the best condition driver and was established by leadership responsibility, Beyond the direct fines to drive. Ferrell intervened and the family of Ensign John Elliott command responsibility, mandated by the court, offenders discovered the four were all senior who was killed by a drunken shipmate responsibility and can also expect to pay much to him and were attached to driver in 2000, two months after personal responsibility. higher automobile insurance another command. Even though graduating from the U.S. Naval According to NAVADMIN rates, often for years after a he was outranked, Ferrell stood Academy. HERO was named 061/09 the Navy has seen a 33 license is reinstated. Studies firm and prevented the four after Elliot’s position as a human percent reduction in alcohol- focusing on various states around Sailors from driving. education resource officer during related incidents and a 23 the country have found the “I didn’t want them on the his time at the Academy. percent reduction in DUI/DWI average cost of a DUI conviction road. I didn’t want myself, them According to the HERO incidents since FY04 with the ranges from $5,000 to $20,000. or anyone else to get hurt,” campaign’s website, the help of these principles. For more information on Ferrell said. program’s mission is to prevent Public transportation such programs available, visit the “Leadership can come from drunk driving fatalities, injuries as buses and taxis are always Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse every level, this is a perfect and accidents nationwide by an alternative for drinking and Prevention (NADAP) Web page example of that, and what I expect promoting the use of designated driving, but the best method is to at www.npc.navy.mil/ from every Sailor in our great drivers and reminding the public have a plan prior to drinking and commandsupport/nadap. Navy,” said West. to drive sober and not to let designate a driver (who will not West also said that as the Navy friends drive drunk. drink) or use the resources from Story and photo by MC1(EXW) attempts to reduce driving under In a recent personal-for (P-4) the command assigned. Jennifer Villalovos, Master the influence (DUI) and alcohol- message released by the Chief “The cost of a DUI isn’t Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, related incidents, he believes other of Naval Operations Adm. Gary something that just goes away. Washington, D.C. junior Sailors like Ferrell have Roughead told commanding With the impact it has on your opportunities for significant affect. officers that the Navy has made career, your family and the lives

6 ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil Shipmates

Bronze Star at least one captain from the Awarded to CNP Provides Update surface, and aviation Returning communities as well as the IA Sailor for Senior Enlisted Navy Expeditionary Combat Continuation Boards Command. Captains will serve Hull Technician 1st as panel heads while additional Class Lee M. Chandler, The Chief of Naval Personnel panel officers, typically O-3 and a member of Maritime Vice Adm. Mark Ferguson above, will assist panel heads Expeditionary Security recently released NAVADMIN in a manner similar to the Squadron 3, was 096/09, which outlines criteria, enlisted advancement boards. recently cited for board membership and defines Selected active-duty and full- “exceptionally meritorious service in support of Operation Enduring exempt billets for the upcoming time-support (FTS) force, fleet Freedom in Afghanistan from March 2, 2008 to Dec. 1, 2008. He Senior Enlisted Continuation and command master chiefs was awarded the Bronze Star in a ceremony aboard Naval Air Board (SECB). will serve as board members, Station (NAS) North Island, Calif. “The continuation board and selected active-duty and Chandler, a Reserve component Sailor from Columbia Heights, is part of our continued effort FTS master chiefs will serve as Minn., served as the non-commissioned officer in charge of the to optimize the quality of the recorders. motor pool for Provincial Reconstruction Team Kunar, Afghanistan, force,” said Ferguson. Personnel with orders to, or and was a member of the Vehicle Recovery Team (VRT). He was The annual performance- serving in the first two years of, involved in 25 vehicle recovery Quick Response Team (QRT) mis- driven review of master chiefs, an overseas or DoD area tour sions. senior chiefs and chiefs with at the board convening date are During a VRT QRT mission, Chandler’s team came under rocket more than 20 years of service exempt from the continuation attack from insurgent forces. Under enemy fire, Chandler ensured and three years time in grade board. Overseas duty is defined the safe evacuation of coalition forces and equipment without injury will be very similar to the as Type 3, 4 or 6 duty locations to personnel or damage to equipment. continuation boards already in outside the 50 United States “Petty Officer First Class Chandler’s personal courage and com- place for officers. and the District of Columbia. mitment to mission accomplishment in a combat zone, under the As a criteria for continuation, Consecutive overseas tour most extreme of circumstances, greatly contributed to the success board members will look for and overseas tour extension of Operation Enduring Freedom,” read the citation from U.S. Army those master chiefs, senior incentive program requirements Maj. Gen. Jeffrey J. Schloesser. chiefs and chiefs who have the will not exempt a Sailor from The medal was presented to Chandler by his stepson, Aviation ability to get positive results. consideration by the board. Boatswain’s Mate Airman William Zorich, who is currently on tem- Additional consideration will The FY10 E-7 to E-9 senior porary duty to NAS North Island from USS (LPD 18). be given to senior enlisted enlisted continuation board leaders who achieve success convenes Sept. 21 at Naval Story by MC2 Ron Kuzlik who is assigned to through leadership and personal Personnel Command, Millington, Defense Media Activity – Anacostia, Washington, D.C. performance while fostering well Tenn. Members not selected for trained enlisted and officer teams. continuation must transfer to the Documented misconduct Fleet Reserve or retire no later and substandard performance than June 30, 2010. are the primary reasons a Each candidate is responsible guidance on submitting a board Sailor would not be selected for for ensuring their record is package can be found in the Navy, Coast Guard continued service, according correct and up-to-date with their NAVADMIN 030/09. Service Chiefs to the message. Examples latest evaluations, awards and More information is available listed in the NAVADMIN other appropriate information. in NAVADMIN 096/09, which Sign Safe Harbor include “significant problems” Candidates may communicate should be read in conjunction Agreement or “progressing” promotion with the continuation board by with NAVADMIN 030/09 on recommendations, declining submitting a board package. the force stabilization page at Chief of Naval Operations performance from the same Selection board packages provide www.npc.navy.mil/CareerInfo/ (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead reporting senior, failure to candidates the opportunity to ForceStabilization/. and Commandant of the Coast maintain physical fitness submit any missing documents Guard Adm. Thad Allen recently assessment standards, military from the sections of their Story courtesy of Navy Personnel signed a memorandum of or civilian convictions and non- records that are viewed by the Command Public, Millington, Tenn. agreement (MOA) for the Safe judicial punishment. continuation boards. Packages Harbor program. The board will be comprised must be postmarked no later The Safe Harbor program is of a flag officer president plus than Aug. 17, 2009. Further the Navy’s lead organization for

Continued on page 9

June 2009 • ALL HANDS 7 Around the Fleet Photo by MC2 John Hulle

▲ BU2 Jared Quinn and SW2 Justin Rummel, both assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74, construct a timber tower during a field training exercise at Camp Shelby, Miss. NMCB-74 is conducting Operation Winter Talon, a field training exercise designed to test the battalion's combat and contingency construction capabilities.

◀ EODC Kenneth Simpson, assigned to Joint Special Operations Task Force- Explosive Disposal Task Unit, inspects ordnance before a scheduled disposal in Crow Valley, Republic of the Philippines. Photo by MC2 Aaron Burden

▶ ABH3 Cassandra Carpenter signals aircraft on the flight deck of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) during a vertical replenishment in the Arabian Sea.

◀ Sailors are silhouetted as they fight a simulated fire in the hangar bay aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during a general quarters drill. Photo by MCSN Aaron Hubner

8 ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil Continued from page 7

coordinating the nonmedical care of wounded, ill and injured Mentoring Helps Sailors, Coast Guardsmen and Build Productive their family members. In the fall of 2008, the Coast Relationships Guard approached Safe Harbor to gain an understanding of the A pilot initiative, known as the nonmedical care management Navy Women eMentor Leadership support provided to seriously Program, has gained momentum, wounded, ill, and injured Sailors exceeded expectations and helped and their families. Coast Guard build productive relationships for units are often located close to females in the fleet. Navy, and Coast Guard members “We were somewhat surprised receive medical care at Navy at the number of women who military treatment facilities, where immediately signed up,” said Lt. Safe Harbor nonmedical care Hope Brill, deputy director, Navy managers are currently located. Women’s Policy Program. “It The signing of the MOA became quickly apparent that this between the CNO and was not only going to be popular, commandant reflects their but that if it was successful, we’d commitment to providing the best have to find ways to expand access.” care possible for Sailors, Coast Upon entering the one-year Guardsmen and their families. pilot program, participants took “I think that this really gets to part in customized Web-based the essence of our services and matching to establish relationships. how we as services care for our They then were able to access Sailors. Through the great work electronic communication of our people at Safe Harbor, we capability, newsletters, mentoring have developed ways to address guidance, references and other those who are seriously wounded, online tools with which to develop Photo MC2 Rafael Figueroa Medina Figueroa Rafael MC2 Photo ill and injured to better provide those relationships. for them and their families,” The pilot program began with Roughead said. “We are just an open registration period in really privileged and honored that October 2008. While initially there we can bring this dimension of were only 500 slots available, that the Navy and the Coast Guard number rapidly increased to about together in a way that benefits 800 (total funded capacity). our Sailors and their families.” “Whole ships have contacted Through proactive leadership, us wanting to gain access for their the Safe Harbor program female Sailors,” said Brill. “In fact, provides seriously wounded, ill the surface warfare enterprise To be considered for the “Around the Fleet” section, and injured service members a recently set up its own eMentoring forward your high resolution (5” x 7” at 300 dpi) images lifetime of individually tailored program to accommodate the with full credit and cutline information, including full name, assistance designed to optimize great desire to take part in this rank and duty station to: the success of their recovery, kind of mentoring.” [email protected] rehabilitation and reintegration Women who signed up for the Directions on how to properly submit photos can be found at activities and to give their eMentoring pilot were able to sign www.navy.mil/photo_submit.html families the support they need to up as mentors and/or protégés. Mail your submissions to: get through that sometimes life- They could establish more than one Navy Visual News Service long process. relationship, and many have estab- 1200 Navy Pentagon, Rm. 4B514 lished several. These relationships Washington, D.C. 20350-1200 Story by MC2(SW) Rebekah are highly flexible because of the Blowers, Chief of Naval Operations, electronic matching and commu- Click on the Navy’s home page, www.navy.mil, for Washington, D.C. nication the pilot program allows. fresh images of your shipmates in action.

Continued on page 11

June 2009 • ALL HANDS 9 Around the Fleet

◀ Plane Captain AT3 Grace Marlow, wipes down the canopy of an F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 115. Plane captains are responsible for the pre-flight and post-flight inspections and procedures performed on Navy fixed-wing aircraft.

▶ A World Health Organization staff member vaccinates a baby in Daodaoya, Djibouti, during a Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa medical civil action project. The week-long project, planned by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Djiboutian Minister of Health, reached three villages in remote locations

Photo by MC2 Joseph M. Buliavac throughout the country.

An SA-330 Puma helicopter, commercially contracted by Military Sealift Command, takes off from USNS Lewis and Clark (T-AKE 1) to deliver mail to USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Photo by MC2 Daniel Barker

10 ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil Continued from page 9

“Online mentoring allows knowledge that I have to share, it’s people from all around the globe been a pleasure to have been able to be matched in new and creative to chat with some of the young ways for mentoring relationships ladies of today’s Navy who…just never before possible,” said need someone to talk to on the Stephanie Goebel, director of inside – and outside,” said Cox. Academy Women, the nonprofit “Someone who understands the professional development Navy … [but] outside her chain organization managing the pilot of command so the conversation for the Navy. “[This] reduces or flows easier [and] there is less fear eliminates some of the barriers of retribution.” posed by differences in rank, age, Other mentoring mechanisms race and other [factors].” include participation in affinity “I have had quite a few [positive groups such as the Chief Petty

Photo by MC2 Jesse B. Awalt B. Jesse MC2 by Photo experiences] so far,” said Chief Officers Association, the National Cryptologic Technician Christine Society of Black Engineers or the Cots, who enjoys the global nature Federal Asian Pacific American of the relationships. “[It] is a Council; formal and informal wonderful feeling to know you interactions with peers; social can talk to someone who does or networking groups and enterprise- does not share your geographical or community-sponsored personal location but can understand what and professional development ◀ A Sailor you go through each day.” opportunities. wearing the Participants surveyed about “Mentoring is a foundational Navy’s new their impressions of the program tool for anyone striving working uniform indicate that they are using it to to achieve goals and reach stands a top-side find women role models and to their full potential, especially security watch as connect with other women in in a challenging military USS Scranton their enterprise or community. It (SSN 756) gets environment,” said Goebel, underway after a has offered a forum within which who speaks from experience as routine port visit to gain assistance in dealing with a member of the first group of to Souda Bay, complex work-life balance issues. women to graduate from the Crete, Greece. Career guidance from others who Naval Academy. “The eMentor understand how gender affects Leadership Program is the first an individual’s situation and the of its kind and represents a ability to establish mentoring shifting paradigm in the military, relationships outside of the chain one that reinforces the value of command are also valued. and importance of diversity in The Navy recognizes leadership and experience.” mentoring as a necessary There are more than 250 component to job satisfaction and officers and nearly 550 enlisted performance. eMentoring is just women enrolled in the Navy one possibility in the mentoring Women eMentoring Program continuum in which all Sailors pilot. The majority are active duty, must engage for their personal with about 15 percent Reserve and professional success. This Sailors and some recent retirees. continuum starts with traditional While the pilot still has several required forms such as periodic months to run, the Navy has counseling, evaluations/fitness started looking at how it can both reports and career counseling increase access for women and sessions. However, mentoring does eventually establish a Navywide Photo by Paul Farley Paul by Photo not need to occur solely within the eMentoring capability. confines of chain of command, and that may be one of the keys to the Story by Lt. Cmdr. Elizabeth success of the eMentoring pilot. Zimmermann, Task Force Life Work, “With the experience and Washington, D.C.

June 2009 • ALL HANDS 11 Total Force

Story by MC2(SW) Elizabeth Vlahos, photoillustrations by MC1(AW) R. Jason Brunson

Shipmates, he Navy is within 1 percent of its end-strength This article is all Tgoal of 329,000 Sailors. According to Rear Adm. about you! Daniel Holloway, Director of Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education, the Navy continues to attract high-quality recruits.

“We are a world-class outfit, and we require world- class performance,” he said. “So the standards are high.” Losely translated, now more than ever, performance is the key to a successful Navy career. But Sailors are not going at it alone. The Navy offers a whole slew of tools designed to arm Sailors with all the resources and tools necessary to successfully negotiate every career milestone.

Fresh to the Fleet: Brilliant on the Basics The first whiff of salt and fuel – the typical smell of a Navy pier – brings with it a great deal of uncertainty. After the boot camp experience, the next culture shock for Sailors is checking aboard for the first time, with no idea who to look up to or who to trust.

What You and Your Sailors Need to Know

12 ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil Total Force

What You and Your Sailors Need to Know

June 2009 • ALL HANDS Total Force: What You and Your Sailors Need to Know 13 Total Force shall ensure that all incoming personnel receive command indoctrination training within 30 days of arrival or within three drill weekends for Reservists. Another investment in your Sailors should include mentorship. Mentorship can be done from various levels: senior-to-junior, peer-to-peer, within- Every Sailor deserves to have a guide through communities and it can be either formal or that first tour, so step up and be that person informal. Everyone should have at least one who sets the new Sailor on the right track. As mentor – a person who is actively engaged in cliché as it may sound, the first 72 hours can set monitoring your professional and personal the tone for both a Sailor’s tour and career. development and who can advise you, not It’s up to not just the khaki leadership, but just on rate-specific choices, but on your also to that Sailor’s shipmates – like you - to entire career. make sure those critical hours get people on the right track. This is what ‘Brilliant on the Climbing the ‘LaDR’ to Success Basics’ is all about: An initiative that focuses on reaching out to Sailors through effective Naval Education and Training Command’s sponsorship and indoctrination. Enlisted Learning and Development Strategy There are a couple of fundamentals for good (ELDS) works toward assuring that every sponsorship. Sponsors should complete training enlisted Sailor is afforded the opportunity offered by the fleet and Family Service Center to develop and achieve their personal and and be at least the same pay grade or higher professional goals while providing the Navy than the incoming Sailors. Here are other key with the best fit in assignments to promote considerations: Sponsors and reporting Sailors peace and prevail in conflict. An important should have similar family composition (single, component of ELDS is the Learning and married, children), and the incoming Sailor Development Roadmaps (LaDR - pronounced should not be slated to relieve the sponsor. A ladder). The roadmap is for enlisted Sailors good source of information for arriving Sailors to refer to throughout their Navy career, and The career roadmap includes training is the Military Homefront Web site located at progresses from seaman to master chief. from the sailorization process at Recruit www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/moving. “It provides detailed information Training Command (RTC), Great Lakes, Once a new Sailor is on board, effective, on training and advanced education Ill., basic technical training, advance mandatory command sponsor and opportunities,” said Master Chief Petty Officer technical training and Navy Professional indoctrination programs represent the Tom Smith, an electronics technician and the Military Education (NPME). It also includes difference between good commands and Enlisted Learning and Development program advanced education opportunities through great commands. The return on up-front coordinator for NETC. “The roadmap is a the Navy College Office, as well as programs investment will pay huge dividends to your visual guide to track their career, and helps at the Naval Post Graduate School and command for years to come. According to the Navy get the right Sailor, with the right the Naval War College. The LaDR also OPNAVINST 1740.3C, command leadership training, in the right job, at the right time.” includes professional, industry recognized

Success Goals Leadership Tra ining Compensation Knowledge

14 ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil While most Sailors are permitted to reenlist in their current rating, if you’re in an overmanned rating, you may want to think about converting to an undermanned rating. Personnel performing below par may not be granted permission to reenlist. Also, all Sailors with an approved PTS application must sign a Page 13 within 30 days of message receipt to accept or decline their PTS reservation. “When we started PTS in 2003, there were a lot of Sailors whose promotion opportunities were severely degraded because their rating was overmanned,” said Senior Chief Personnel Specialist Ron Miller, PTS Branch, Enlisted Community Management Branch, Navy Personnel Command (NPC). “PTS has helped the Navy balance its ratings and where there is more balance, there are better promotion opportunities.” Consult your career counselor about 15 months before your end of active obligated service (EAOS) and fill out the paperwork to have the command submit a PTS application, regardless of your intentions to reenlist. For more details, read NAVADMIN 017/09 available on the NPC Website. Visit the nearest Navy College Learning Center (NCLC) and seize the opportunity to enroll in a series of classes aimed at improving certifications through Navy Credentialing The Reenlistment Gauntlet your Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Opportunities Online (Navy COOL). Battery (ASVAB) score if you wish to convert There are currently more than 20 LaDRs If you wish to have a nice long career to a different rating. NCLCs offer multiple on NKO, and all ratings should be available in the Navy, be prepared to prove you’re ASVAB improvement programs, with the by April 2010. worthy to reenlist. Perform-to-Serve most popular being a two-week temporary “Sailors can find their roadmap to success (PTS), which helps the Navy manage additional duty intensive study course. on Navy Knowledge Online (NKO), and I reenlistments of Sailors with less than Since individual commands must approve recommend Sailors and their supervisors six years of service, or Zone A, has now a request chit for a Sailor to attend class use the roadmap. It is a great mentoring expanded to include Zone B, which is full-time, talk to your chain of command and counseling tool,” said Smith. Sailors with six to 10 years of service as and follow up on your request. An per NAVADMIN 017/09. improved ASVAB score can improve your

Success Goals Leadership Tra ining Compensation Knowledge

June 2009 • ALL HANDS Total Force: What You and Your Sailors Need to Know 15 Total Force to see if a Sailor qualified for a rate,” said in 10 skill groups listed therein; all others Paul Martin, the Navy’s Fleet Ride Help are reduced to or remain at zero. The Desk manager.” reductions to multiples and ceilings applied to Fleet RIDE interfaces with other Navy non-nuclear ratings and NECs were effective software systems to collect data to screen May 1. you for ratings based on several criteria “I think the SRB was the deciding factor to include aptitude and legal, medical and in most of our reenlistments,” said Navy physical status, as well as Navy needs based Counselor 1st Class Stacy Kirton of Deer Park, chances of conversion or acceptance into a on career reenlistment objectives (CREO). It N.Y., speaking about USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) commissioning program. recently introduced a PTS module to include reenlistments while the ship was deployed to “I see young Sailors come here who are tracking which Sailors need to submit an a combat zone. “The Sailors have plans for insecure,” said Marisa Quinones, an NCLC application, and is now the preferred method the money when they get back to Norfolk, educational facilitator at Commander, Fleet for commands to submit PTS applications. whether they’re going to buy a house, a car, do Activities Yokosuka (CFAY). “They have the “Change can be hard,” said Miller. “We some traveling, care for their family or other GI Bill, and they know they have a chance to want to keep good Sailors, and we want to personal wants or needs.” go to school. They don’t know if they can do it make sure the right Sailor is in the right job. Commands must submit SRB requests - or how. We instill confidence in these Sailors. Even when Sailors have to change ratings, via Officer Personnel Information System When they walk out of here, they are different we’re providing them the opportunity to (OPINS) 35 to 120 days in advance of a people. They come back later with plans to go continue their career and maybe even find a Sailor’s reenlistment date. Sailors must have to school.” job they’re happier doing.” approved precertification before reenlisting The Fleet Rating Identification Engine (Fleet but may wait until their EAOS to reenlist. RIDE) can take the guesswork out of choosing Cash Incentives “While not every Sailor qualifies for an a career field, especially for Sailors in ratings SRB, all Sailors are important to the successful that have low promotion rates. Fleet RIDE The selective reenlistment bonus program execution of Navy missions,” added Ferguson. also empowers Sailors in overmanned ratings uses a monetary incentive to encourage Sailors at reenlistment to convert to undermanned with critical skills the Navy needs most to Preparing for Advancement: ratings, increasing their chances for reenlist, enhancing the Navy’s ability to size, Arm Yourself with the Facts professional development and advancement. shape and stabilize the force. The program is With input from the Sailor, Fleet RIDE market-based, allowing the Navy to strategically If you want to advance, you have to study pairs qualifications and career desires with adjust award levels as retention needs dictate. – there’s not much guesswork involved there. undermanned rating options. The Sailor can “Selective reenlistment bonuses are a Sailors can prepare for advancement by using then make a more educated choice about dynamic market-based incentive designed the exam bibliographies, organizing group which path to pursue. to retain those Sailors in our most study sessions and obtaining publications “Fleet RIDE is a program career counselors critical ratings and NECs (Navy Enlisted from Navy Web resources, such as the Navy can use to provide the Sailor a list of available Classifications),” said Vice Adm. Mark Knowledge Online (NKO) portal and the Navy jobs for which they are best suited. What Ferguson, chief of naval personnel. Advancement Center (NAC) Web site. Fleet RIDE does is dramatically streamline the The Navy announced revised selective You can view your Navy enlisted process by automating the Sailor’s search for reenlistment bonus (SRB) rates in advancement exam profile sheet on the NAC ratings. In the past the career counselor would NAVADMIN 075/09. The new message Web site and track your profile history going have to spend time reviewing multiple sources revised award levels for all but 56 NECs back four examination cycles.

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16 ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil “If a Sailor uses their past profile sheet(s), which shows their weak areas compared to their peers, along with the bibliography, they can develop a more focused study program than any commercial product can provide,” said Master Chief Electrician’s Mate Robert McCombs, the command master chief at Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center (NETPDTC), Pensacola, Fla. Both technology and the improved processes from delivery to tabulating advancement exams have enabled NETPDTC to get results back to Sailors faster than ever. Of course, your command leadership will continue to have access to the E-4/5/6 advancement exam results on BUPERS Online. forms that can be printed and signed when a Identification Code or UIC by contacting their Another important part of preparing for hard copy is required. NSIPS access manager. advancement or selection for special programs “Eventually, the enlisted field service record is to ensure your service record is accurate. will be phased out, and we will use only these Where Do I Go Next? The Electronic Service Record (ESR) is a electronic systems, so it’s important for all handy tool to use to help prepare yourself for Sailors to establish an ESR account,” said When it comes to picking your next advancement, especially when you become Dwight Stanton, military personnel records assignment, it helps to know what you’re eligible for the chief’s exam. The vision is for manager at NPC. jumping into. Career Management System/ ESR to replace the current paper-based Field You should already have an account to Interactive Detailing (CMS/ID) can give you a Service Record with an electronic records access your ESR. If you don’t, sign up for a glance at what’s available when you come into management application, automating most self-service ESR account on the Navy Standard your window for orders. When you see what service record maintenance and providing Integrated Personnel System (NSIPS) Web page billets are available and where, and the billets individual service members, personnel offices at https://nsips.nmci.navy.mil/#blank/ using for which you are eligible, you can put yourself (PERSO) and customer commands secure a Common Access Card-enabled computer. in for the locations and billets that work out worldwide access to service record data via You will be able to view your own record as the best for you and your family. There’s no the Internet. well as make minor changes to your emergency guarantee you’ll get the orders you pick, but The implementation of the ESR will enhance contact information, home and mailing address, it works much faster than submitting your reliability and productivity within the PERSO/ official email address, and personal info such “dream sheet” and waiting to find out where the PSD by making maximum use of corporate as race, religion and ethnic code. If you’re on Navy will send you next. If the process confuses data and eliminating redundant data input. It active Reserve, you can also put in your civilian you, talk to your command career counselor. will allow global transactions for medals and employment information. Commanding “Sailors in their detailing window get awards, training and education, personnel officers, executive officers, command master five choices each month,” said Master qualification standards (PQS), routine chiefs and pass liaison representatives may Chief Navy Counselor (SW/SCW/AW) administrative remarks and creates electronic obtain read-only access for Sailors in their Unit Tod Schuls, Navy counselor and legalman

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June 2009 • ALL HANDS Total Force: What You and Your Sailors Need to Know 17 Total

detailer. “You should always use all your Force CNP: choices because you waste valuable time off The Year your selection clock if you don’t.” in Review Interview conducted by MC2 Breaking Away From the Pack (SW/AW) Kat Smith Sometimes performing to serve means breaking out of the rank and file, so to Vice Admiral Mark E. Ferguson III, Chief of Naval Personnel, recently speak. The Seaman to Admiral-21 (STA-21) answered questions about benefits, advancements and recruitment program is a commissioning program in during his first podcast for the fleet. His comments provide a which you maintain the pay, benefits and comprehensive outlook of the status of the force, the goals and privileges you enjoy as an active-duty Sailor direction for the upcoming year. and receive a scholarship to attend a university. Sir you took over as Chief of Naval Personnel nearly a year ago. What STA-21, now going in its ninth year, is Q are some of the milestones you feel you’ve been able to achieve in this a full time undergraduate education and last year? follow-on commissioning program, which provides selectees up to 36 months to A I think it’s been a very, very successful year. First of all, we met 100 per- complete their bachelor’s degrees. More cent of our recruiting goals for the year. We met all of our recruiting cat- information on the program is available at egories in terms of quality and number of high school graduates. In terms www.sta-21.navy.mil. If you already have a of the mental abilities of the recruits coming in and their physical readi- bachelor’s degree or higher, you are eligible to ness, we’re at an all-time high. And we met, for the first time in five years, apply for Officer Candidate School. OCS is a our overall medical officer recruiting goals. 13-week course designed by Navy officers and Second, retention. We are seeing retention across the force anywhere educators to give Sailors a basic knowledge from 3 to 5 percent above what our goal was for the year. Individuals are of the high-tech naval establishment afloat deciding to stay Navy, and they’re staying Navy because of the compre- and ashore and to prepare you to assume hensive benefits and initiatives. Also, the important pilot programs we’re the responsibilities of a naval officer. For doing … eMentoring for women, the career sabbatical and the GI bill that more information on STA-21 and OCS, read has been approved by the Congress will provide not only great educa- OPNAVINST 1420.1, the Enlisted to Officer tion benefits for Sailors, but also one they can potentially transfer to their Commissioning Programs Application spouse and children. Administration Manual. We’ve implemented such things such as Sea-Shore Flow to provide sta- College can set you apart from the rank bility to our Sailors in their career planning. We continue to see effort by and file – in and out of the Navy – even if commands on the “Brilliant on the Basics” initiatives. Sponsorship pro- you don’t pursue a commission. Sailors can grams, career development boards, mentoring, all these things are build- receive points on their advancement exams ing a stronger Navy. But very importantly, the emphasis on mental health, for post-secondary education. Two points physical health, and family support that I see in Operational Stress Control are awarded for an associate’s degree; four and in Safe Harbor, shows Sailors that we care, not only for them [but also points are awarded for a bachelor’s degree or for] their families. So I think it’s been a very, very successful year. higher. A few points can make the difference

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18 ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil in a Sailor’s chances for advancement. Prior by the civilian workforce. Credentialed Sailors informational to me as a Sailor, as well as service degrees count, as well as those earned provide the Navy proof that the Sailor has a recruiter. It gives me the ability to show in service, and like awards, they count for attained a recognized level of competency prospective Sailors what kind of certifications multiple cycles. in his or her chosen field. In many cases, the they can receive. The [delayed entry world-class training received in the Navy has personnel] think it’s great that the Navy has Check the COOL site sufficiently prepared the Sailor for industry- made this information available to Sailors to recognized certifications and licenses. help support their career choices.” Navy COOL directly supports the personal More than 13,760 certification exams have and professional goals of today’s Sailor. The been funded since October 2007 with 35.7 Go Ahead, Take a Year Off Navy recognizes that while the objective of percent of the Navy-funded credentialing exam education, training and experience obtained users being stationed at overseas and deployable If you need a few years off but don’t want during an individual’s military service is to surface, sub-surface and airborne units. to leave the Navy for good, take heart - Sailors provide tangible benefits for the nation’s “The site is awesome,” said Fire Controlman can now take a break from active Navy service, defense, those skills have direct correlation to 1st Class Patrick Clark, a recruiter at Naval courtesy of the new Career Intermission Pilot knowledge, skills, and abilities in high demand Recruiting Station Stockton, Calif. “It’s very Program (CIPP).

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June 2009 • ALL HANDS Total Force: What You and Your Sailors Need to Know 19 Total

Q The CIPP will provide a one-time temporary Force In your first all hands call you mention the one question transition for active-duty personnel to the you’re often asked is, ‘How do Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). Participants you know were on the right path will retain full active-duty Tricare health and do we know what success benefits for themselves and their dependents looks like?’ Do you feel we’re on the and receive a monthly stipend of one-fifteenth right path to success now? of their basic pay. To ease the transition, members may elect a Navy-funded permanent change of station move to anywhere in A I think very much we’re on the path to success. As I mentioned previously, recruiting has been superb and strong with great quality recruits that CONUS when entering the program. all desire to serve. Retention has been superb. But we monitor myriad “This pilot program is for top performers metrics and surveys of the force; their quality of life, their compensation, who have the desire to ‘Stay Navy,’ but need access to health care, their morale and their support for the leadership some time off,” said Holloway. “It could be for that they see in their commands. In all those areas, Sailors are indicating any number of reasons – to pursue a degree great satisfaction with both the quality of their service and their gratitude full-time, to take care of an ailing parent or to for being able to serve the nation around the globe. start a family.” All program participants will return to active Q Now as you look to the future, what are some of your priorities for your duty at the end of the period prescribed and will second year in this office? incur a two-to-one service obligation for every month in the program (served in addition to A I think first and foremost it’s to strengthen our support of Sailors and any previously existing obligation). Time spent their families in response to the great service they provide the nation. in the IRR will not count toward retirement, Second of all, to continue force stabilization efforts with a focus on computation of total years of commissioned performance. Our initiatives relate to balancing the force in terms of service or high-year tenure limitations. experience, seniority and pay grades; stability and manning to the The break in service excludes participants fleet; and meeting operational demands. A key component of that from promotion consideration. Upon will be a continuum of service, to allow Sailors to transition from the returning to active duty, officers will have their active to the Reserve and back, throughout a career of service to the date of rank adjusted, and enlisted members Navy. I think that’s a key priority for us. will have their active-duty service date adjusted And lastly, to strengthen our diversity programs, our work flexibility and to be competitive with others of similar time in career flexibility programs, such as telework and virtual command pro- grade on active duty. grams that provide flexibility to keep our very best talent in the Navy. The pilot program provides an opportunity for up to 20 officers and 20 enlisted participants each year in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Application Q Alright sir, is there anything you would like to add about your year in review? packages should be sent to Pers-4. Full pilot A I would just like to say it’s a great privilege for me personally and an program details can be found in OPNAVINST honor to serve as the 55th Chief of Naval Personnel. As I travel around the 1330.2, and the instruction, NAVADMIN and fleet and meet with Sailors and their leaders, I am in awe of their perfor- related information are available on the Task mance, their enthusiasm and the great sacrifices they and their families Force Life/Work Web site at www.npc.navy.mil/ make in service to the nation. commandsupport/taskforcelifework/.

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20 ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil Totally Navy Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) during the need to make it easy and appealing for our past few years. Since 9/11, Navy Reservists best and brightest Sailors and their families, The total force vision is predicated on have completed more than 54,000 individual to shift to a mindset of a lifetime of service the concept that the contributions of active augmentee deployments compared to more in the Navy via a series of off-ramps and duty, Reservist and civilians overlap and than 20,000 for the active force. on-ramps,” said Ferguson. transform through a continuum of service: “One of our key initiatives is “Ultimately, our goal is to provide the fleet A well-trained Sailor might continue serving implementing a process to transition Sailors with the right person, with the right skill the nation in the Reserve force or as a Navy between the [active component] and the sets, at the right time and at the best value to civilian. By the same token, many Navy [Reserve component] in either direction accomplish the mission.” civilians are part of the Navy Reserve and are within 72 hours,” said Ferguson. often activated and deployed. The aim is to maximize the contributions Vlahos and Brunson are assigned to Defense The Reserve component has played an of each individual to the Navy goal regardless Media Activity-Anacostia, Washington, D.C. indispensable role that includes supporting of the color of the attire, the rank or position. individual augmentations (IAs) for “We must ensure the absolute best use of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and our greatest asset, our people That means we

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June 2009 • ALL HANDS Total Force: What You and Your Sailors Need to Know 21 Sub-Zero Sailors Story by MC2(SW) Rebekah Blowers, photos by MC1(SW/AW) Tiffini J. Vanderwyst

here are more than 60,000 Sailors Nick Michel-Hart, member of APLIS, takes a break after clearing deployed around the world at any ice off the hatch to open USS Annapolis (SSN 760) during ICEX 2009) given moment supporting a spectrum in the Arctic Ocean. of operations across the globe. Whether it’s boots-on-the-ground, in the airT or on or below the sea, the Navy is working with coalition partners to ensure security and stability around the world. The Maritime Strategy at Work:

APLIS personnel stand by for the next group of personnel to disembark Annapolis. 22 ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil A lookout aboard USS Annapolis (SSN 760) stands the forward watch during Ice Exercise (ICEX) 2009. The Maritime Strategy at Work:

ICEXJune 2009 • ALL HANDS 2009The Maritime Strategy at Work: ICEX 2009 23 In October 2007, the Chief of Naval Guardsman to make the maritime strategy built on a shelf of 5-foot thick Arctic pack Operations (CNO), Commandant of the Marine happen. The strategy consists of six core ice approximately 200 nautical miles north Corps and Commandant of the Coast Guard capabilities: forward presence, deterrence, sea of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The crew at APLIS came together to sign “A Cooperative Strategy control, power projection, maritime security, supports the entire ICEX mission. for 21st Century Seapower,” also known as and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief. Another supporting player is the Antarctic the maritime strategy. In it, all three services Sailors have been bringing those core Submarine Lab (ASL) that is owned by the outlined how they can best work together to capabilities to life on deployments and on Navy and run by civilian contractors. ASL plans support maritime security and cooperation with shore in a vast amount of mission sets. But, each ICEX and collects all the data gleaned coalition partners in the global community. there is that one operational exercise that from the Arctic. The agency also acts as the The maritime strategy lays out three ties into almost every facet of the maritime specialist in submarine operations in the Arctic. priorities: to implement integration and strategy, but few are aware of: Ice Exercise Through the efforts of ASL, are interoperability, to enhance awareness, (ICEX) in the Arctic Ocean. and to prepare Sailors, Marines and Coast The Navy conducts ICEX every other ▼ Lt. Steve Col (right), a student at the Naval year, contracting with the Applied Physics Postgraduate School, Monterey (NPS), Calif., shows ▼ An aerial view of the APLIS camp. Hooches Laboratory, University of Washington (APL- an APLIS member the autonomous turbulent flex are what APLIS members use to sleep in, UW) and other partners. The APL-UW buoy that the two NPS students deployed at the end and there are outhouses for their bathroom of the camp. The NPS students secured the buoy facilities. They also have to harvest ice and handles the construction and logistics of the in several feet of ice, and will be able to monitor then melt it to make potable drinking water. Applied Physics Lab Ice Station (APLIS), oceanographic data from the buoy via an antenna.

APLIS is built on 5-foot thick Arctic ice and has its own 2,800-foot runway, allowing daily aircraft flights to maintain its connection with the mainland.

24 ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil provided with special equipment that allows Helena tested while under the Arctic Ocean ice. The continents of the northern hemisphere them to operate under the ice canopy. CNO Adm. Gary Roughead visited ICEX – Europe, Asia and North America – all share At the heart of ICEX 2009, conducted in ’09, and he explained why the Arctic region is the Arctic Ocean and all the major capitals March, were two Los Angeles-class attack critical to the maritime strategy. of the northern hemisphere are within 3,500 submarines – USS Annapolis (SSN 760) and “The Arctic is important to the nation nautical miles of the Arctic Ocean. USS Helena (SSN 725). They conducted and the Navy because it really is a maritime The Arctic Ocean is a strategic maritime essential training and weapons exercises while domain. We have some very fundamental domain, and it’s important for the United States operating under the ice. All of these exercises interests – security interests in the Arctic to operate in, especially for the submarine force. were supported by Sailors, Navy civilians and region,” Roughead said. “We’ve been here For submarine Sailors to maintain the core technicians from the Navy Undersea Warfare operating in this part of the world for a long capabilities of deterrence and sea control, they Center (NUWC), Newport, R.I. time. This is one of many ICEXs that we’ve need to keep their skills sharp and make sure Additionally, students from the Naval conducted, and as interests in resources grow they will be able to operate in the Arctic’s harsh Postgraduate School (NPS), Monterey, Calif., and potential trade routes open in the Arctic, environment at any time. conducted oceanographic research for their it’s important that we maintain an awareness “There is potential for conflict under the thesis while at the Ice Station. The contractors of this very important region of the world.” ice. That’s not something people like to think from APL helped with all the logistics of The Arctic Ocean is a critical waterway about. But planes and surface ships wouldn’t APLIS, from building the camp to retrieving that connects the Atlantic and Pacific be able to participate in that type of battle – it and shipping the torpedoes that Annapolis and Oceans. This region is essential for the would be a submarine only battle,” said Hover. United States “[The Arctic] is truly a submarine atmosphere to operate in, and we need to be able to continue our ability especially for to operate [here] and provide U.S. presence the submarine and U.S. dominance underneath the ice as well force. Lt. Cmdr. as in open waters.” Chris Hover, The Arctic waters pose unique challenges. executive officer Sailors have to execute every movement of Annapolis, with exact precision because of the ice explained that keels and other possible contacts that are for most of the even more difficult to detect because of the year, surface different water densities between fresh and ships are unable salt water. The presence of an overhead ice to move through canopy changes the methods by which the the icy waters. submarines communicate, navigate and He said that it is maintain their habitability. River runoff and integral for the ice melt cause significant variations in the United States acoustic profile of the Arctic as well. This is and its coalition further compounded by the presence of a ▲ Personnel from Applied Physics Lab partners to be able to navigate through the contoured, reflective ice canopy under which Ice Station prepare to mine ice to bring unique Arctic environment and that many Annapolis and Helena were operating. back fresh water to the camp. Due to the extreme salt content of the water, people don’t consider how vital it is to Senior Chief Electronics Technician (SS) ice mines, which are pockets of older American interests and the security of the Tomas A. Garcia, aboard ice where the salt has leeched out over American way of life. Annapolis, explained some of the difficulties he time leaving fresh water is a necessity to support the ice camp. With the “The world is covered in 71 percent and his crew faced while operating under the ice. support from the Applied Physics oceans. The ability to continue to operate “It’s extremely hard navigating around the Laboratory, University of Washington, our submarines underneath the ice gives ice. We do have special systems on board – ICEX 2009 enables the submarine force to operate and train in the us that short avenue to places around the sonar systems – that allow us to identify the challenging and unique environment world where we can project power in a much ice keels that could up to 110 feet below that characterizes the Arctic region. faster way than having to drive through the the surface,” Garcia said. “We’ve had to Atlantic Ocean or the Pacific Ocean in a time train up here recently on how to execute and of need,” said Hover. employ that system so that we can identify

June 2009 • ALL HANDS The Maritime Strategy at Work: ICEX 2009 25 A member of Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington Hector Castillo, of Arctic Submarine Laboratory, stands (APL/UW) prepares to dive under 5-feet of Arctic ice to receive a torpedo watch as an assistant range safety officer during ICEX 2009. launched by USS Annapolis during ICEX 2009 in the Arctic Ocean.

the keels early enough so that we can turn ability to communicate back home and also to –from mining ice, to how do you get a torpedo the ship and not collide.” receive information,” Hover said. out of the water after we’re done shooting it? Garcia said that operating in an open water “We have no ability to come to periscope It’s pretty amazing,” Ott said. “I think the level environment gives Sailors more leeway on depth; we have no ability to surface the ship of expertise [of our partners from APL] is their exact positioning. Operating during and use all of our means of communication, another thing I see that is so important.” ICEX ’09, under the compact Arctic Ocean ice, so maintaining communications is necessary Integration and interoperability were a major was much more unusual. and to do that, we have to surface through the factor in ICEX ’09. So many organizations “We are currently at 350 feet and it’s ice to raise our and antennas to transit came together to make the exercise a success. extremely different. When we handle the information off the ship.” APL-UW, Arctic Submarine Laboratory (ASL), ship under the ice we have to be dead on For the submarines to surface, and perform NPS, NUWC and various U.S. Navy submarine with respect to our depth and our ship’s their many other functions while underway, commands. In addition, two coalition partners angle,” Garcia explained. “Normally, you they relied heavily on the “command hut” from the Royal Navy supported the testing. can relax your depth band by about 10 feet. at APLIS. Camp personnel monitored every Not only was this exercise an example of But while we are under the ice we’ve got to movement of the submarines using an integration and interoperability, it was also a maintain the ship at the ordered depth and acoustic tracking range. They used underwater prime example of how the Navy is preparing we’ve got to do that with a minimum angle communications that assisted the submarine its people – another priority of the maritime of the ship. We want to keep the angle of the in its positioning relative to the camp sensors, strategy. The submariners test their skills, ship right at 0 degrees.” coordinated the submarines’ test activities operational abilities and weapons systems One of the highlights of ICEX ’09 was with the personnel on the ice, and directed the while in the challenging Arctic environment. when the submarines practiced surfacing, Annapolis and Helena to areas of thinner ice “We have the latest fire control and latest or broke through the ice. Hover explained when it was time for them to surface. Capt. sonar systems. We’re doing a lot of testing of why it was imperative for Sailors to be able Gregory Ott, deputy director of submarine those systems which will aid the submarine to surface in that environment. He said prior operations, Commander Submarine Force, force in the future when they bring other to the exercise, the procedures, operations Norfolk, was the officer in tactical command submarines to operate in this area – they’ll and training the crew received was mostly for of APLIS, was in charge of the overall camp be able to learn from the things we’ve seen open-ocean navigation. ICEX ’09 gave them the and the operation of the submarines, as well and put the system through – the throes of opportunity to experience what it’s like to be as the logistics camp back in Prudhoe Bay, the environment through various line-ups, outside their standard operating environment. Alaska. He stressed the importance of the and various settings to figure out the best “Having an avenue to get to the surface command hut and the value APLIS brought settings,” Hover said. “Strategically, it gives is kind of our life blood, our lifeline, to get to the overall ICEX mission. us the ability to test our weapons up here communications on and off the ship, to get “I learned something new every day up and to determine their performance in the tasking of feedback of things we are doing. And here – everything from the environment of the cold weather and the Arctic ice.” when we’re underneath the ice, it hampers our Arctic to how you make a camp like this go The information that the Navy and its

26 ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil partners collected during ICEX ’09 contributes to the entire fleet. The research and testing that ASL, Annapolis, Helena and the other components gathered are essential to the maritime domain. “Submarines help out all the carriers, we’re their protectors, so if we can dominate worldwide, especially under the Arctic, then that will be good for the whole fleet,” said Sonar Technician 1st Class (SS) Jose Gutierrez, who was at APLIS supporting his shipmates. “There’s no word for it [being in the Arctic]. We’re in the middle of nowhere, but we have all this stuff going on, we’re Sailors aboard Annapolis chart the course of the boat with absolute precision while retrieving torpedoes and conducting all kinds of operating in the challenging Arctic environment. scientific experiments – it’s awe inspiring.” ETC(SS) Phillip Adams is on his fifth trip to the Arctic aboard a submarine. He said he enjoys going back to share his experience with Sailors who have not been to the Arctic before. He also knows how vital ICEX is to the Navy. “Not many platforms can go where we can go. With the intelligence we can collect, we can give that to other communities and they can learn from the data that we’ve accumulated,” Adams said. Garcia said that ICEX is the maritime strategy in action. While his shipmates are out and about doing their work every day, he wanted them to rest assured that even the farthest places on the globe are covered. “The biggest take away for the rest of the service is that they can identify that we truly are a global Navy, even though a surface ship can’t come up where we’re at right now, that they know that our nation has got the globe covered – whether it’s on the sea, air or land – we’ve got it on the North Pole,” Garcia said. The Sailors who participated in the exercise said that it was an amazing training experience as well as a personal one. “Only a handful of people compared to the population of the planet can actually say they A helicopter pulls a recovered have been to the Arctic Circle. Even fewer can torpedo through a hole in say they’ve been underneath it and broken the ice after being fired from one of the submarines through the ice in a submarine. That’s something participating in ICEX 2009. very, very cool we get to do; very few people get to do it,” said Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class (SS) Paul Andrew Scharf. Blowers and Vanderwyst are assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.

June 2009 • ALL HANDS The Maritime Strategy at Work: ICEX 2009 27 Sub-Zero Sailors Operation Arctic Care ’09

Story by MC1 Matt Grills, photos by Grills and Air Force Senior Airman Christopher Griffin Medical Outreach in America’s Last Frontier

estern Alaska boasts Wsome of the world’s most difficult terrain, remote and rugged. Moose, caribou, brown bears, black bears, wolves and musk ox roam a vast wilderness, where the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers slowly wind their way through the tundra and empty into the frigid waters of the Bering Sea.

Sgt. 1st Class James Morris of the 1st/207 Aviation Regiment prepares to tow a Black Hawk helicopter that will transport an Army Veterinary Corps team to the village of Alakanuk, Alaska.

28 ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil Operation Arctic Care ’09 Medical Outreach in America’s Last Frontier

The region has almost no roads. For the 25,000 Yup’ik Eskimos and other people living in the port city of Bethel, Alaska, and 55 distant villages, travel is limited to bush planes, boats, and in the winter, snowmobiles. During the coldest months of the year, rapidly changing weather conditions include freezing rain, ice and subzero temperatures as low as -25 degrees F. Winds can get as high as 60 miles per hour. In this challenging environment, military members conducted Operation Arctic Care ’09, a joint exercise that, since 1995, has tested the ability of Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Army National Guard members – both active duty and Reserve – to deploy and operate as one team in a harsh environment. Arctic Care is meant to simulate medical outreach operations in time of crisis, conflict or disaster. “Arctic Care ’09 was a tremendous learning ▲ Cmdr. Nancy Moya of Pueblo, Colo., attached experience for all of us, working side by side to Operational Health Support Unit Bremerton with the other service branches to provide the Det. P, checks Carole Alexie's heartbeat at a health clinic in Mountain Village, Alaska. best care possible to the region,” said Capt. Patty Reisdorfer, the exercise’s lead planner. The exercise is also a medical outreach, This year, the Navy took the lead in offering no-cost health care and veterinary planning and execution of Arctic Care, which support to underserved native communities is sponsored by the Innovative Readiness across Alaska. Villages do have health clinics, Training program under the Office of the but getting an appointment with a doctor, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve dentist or other specialist often requires flying Affairs. Nearly 200 military health-care to the nearest large city or even into Anchorage. providers volunteered for the operation, Veterinary services are practically nonexistent. bringing their equipment and expertise to the Each year, Arctic Care rotates to a different Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. area of the state; Bristol Bay, Kodiak, Kotzebue, In little more than a week, Arctic Care ’09 Nome and the interior are among the cities and teams saw 3,503 patients in 10 villages regions that have benefited from it. and Bethel.

June 2009 • ALL HANDS Operation Arctic Care ‘09: Medical Outreach in America’s Last Frontier 29 ▲ Army Sgt. Shirley Grant, left, of Beaufort, S.C., and Army Capt. ▲ HM2 Chris Lutton of Simi Valley, Calif., attached to the 4th Amy Clark of Anchorage, Alaska, both from the Army’s Southern Marine Division, Weapons Company 223, checks Martha Wasky’s California District Veterinary Command, locate the village of Alakanuk blood pressure at a health clinic in Mountain Village, Alaska. on a map as they prepare for this year’s Operation Arctic Care.

The mission “footprint” actually began in like getting to know the other services,” Heins self esteem and suicide prevention. January, when two Marine Corps electricians said. “These types of experiences teach us how “We all took a briefing we’re familiar with,” and one Air Force biomedical technician to work as a well-oiled machine in the event explained Air Force Tech Sgt. LeTroy Mays of traveled to Western Alaska and installed that we have to go someplace quickly.” the 445th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, who wiring connections for video teleconferencing The Kwethluk team also connected with the said Arctic Care taught him quite a bit, too. “I at local clinics, Reisdorfer said. The hook-ups villagers they came to help. From the minute set broken bones, did lab draws, helped people made it possible for the exercise’s 11 Heins’ team arrived via helicopter, they felt with preventative care – this is one of the best designated villages to communicate with the welcome, she said. trainings I’ve done.” Arctic Care ’09 command cell at the Yukon- “All the kids were waiting at the edge of Villagers were especially eager to see Kuskokwim Health Corporation in Bethel. the runway. They came up and grabbed my veterinarians. Dog bites are a leading cause of The advance team didn’t stop there, and wired hands, wanting to show us to the school. injury in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Every clinics in additional villages for a total of 33. Everyone was waving as they went by on year, bites and maulings cause dozens of injuries By March, mixed teams of doctors, dentists their snowmobiles. The local priest came out and hospitalizations – sometimes even death. and optometrists began deploying to 15 to greet us, and said thanks for helping. The Children are usually victims of these attacks. villages, where they treated patients during the teachers got together and threw us a spaghetti Teams from the Army’s Alaska District day and slept in schools at night. dinner. Folks greeted us with open arms.” Veterinary Command at Fort Wainwright “We sleep together; we eat together, so we’ve In Mountain Village, Hospital Corpsman visited nine villages and vaccinated 2,991 gotten to know each other well,” said Marine 2nd Class Chris Lutton of the 4th Marine animals, mostly dogs. They also spayed and Corps Capt. Cynthia Heins, commanding Division made fast friends with the school’s neutered 77 animals at pet owners’ requests. officer of Operational Health Support Unit kindergarten through 12th-grade students, “We encourage people to have their animals Headquarters Camp Pendleton, Calif., the sharing breakfast and lunch with them every spayed or neutered,” Staff Sgt. Christiana exercise’s host. She spent a week practicing day. They had all kinds of questions: ‘Why are Ramos said. “Some do; others are not too medicine in Kwethluk, a village of 730. you in the military?’ ‘What’s it like?’ ‘How does keen on it, but they definitely want to have At the local clinic, she treated an assortment an MRE taste?’ the vaccinations.” of cases, ranging from a broken finger and an “We talked with them about career paths, The exercise’s “heartbeat,” Reisdorfer said, ear infection to hypertension and congestive what we do in the Navy, what we do in is the Alaska Army National Guard, which heart failure. Down the hall, an Air Force our civilian jobs and emphasized staying transports teams by UH-60 Black Hawk optometrist and optometry technician in school,” said Lutton, a paramedic and helicopters. Poor visibility plagued the start conducted eye exams. In the next room, a firefighter from Southern California. of this year’s mission, making it a challenge Navy dentist and an Air Force dental tech did Besides CPR classes, Lutton and other to get the first few flights out on time, but teeth cleanings, fillings and extractions. medics taught topics such as nutrition and adding to the realism of the exercise. “I love being part of joint exercises because I healthy eating; hygiene and infection control, Arctic Care ’09 covered an area the size of

30 ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil The weather forced Miller’s crews to delivered some babies, and was able to relieve, think on their feet, occasionally scrubbing a for a few days, Bethel’s only two doctors to mission and hastily rescheduling others when carry a high-risk pregnancy pager. conditions cleared up. At the walk-in Yukon-Kuskokwim Dental “They practiced safety every step of the Clinic, Cmdr. David Greenman extracted way,” Reisdorfer said. impacted wisdom teeth and removed Not every Arctic Care ’09 team traveled tissue lesions. An oral surgeon assigned to to villages. In Bethel, the Naval Ophthalmic Operational Health Support Unit Portsmouth Support and Training Activity produced Detachment A, Norfolk, he said many patients 610 pairs of eyeglasses. From the villages, had waited years for the procedures rather optometrists called in patients’ prescriptions, than fly to Anchorage. ▲ A dentist rinses out the mouth of and Hospitalman Derek Gaudin and Army “Each year Arctic Care just gets better and Dylon Sergie, a 2-year-old Alaskan Spc. Thomas Cochran ground lenses and fit better, because we bring in new resources,” native, after he had two cavities filled at a health clinic in Kwethluk, Alaska. them to frames. said Navy Capt. Karen Trueblood, who “Many of these people aren’t fortunate oversees the Innovative Readiness Training enough to have the amenities we take for program at the Pentagon. She considers it granted,” Gaudin said. “It’s cool to know we’re great preparation for overseas deployments. North Dakota and South Dakota combined. able to help them in this way.” “Everyone here knows their medical Army Capt. Todd Miller, commander of Bravo As lead service, the Navy also provided profession quite well,” Trueblood said. “What Company 1/207th Aviation, said the challenge colonoscopy and pediatric oral surgery teams they don’t know, really, is how to go into a for his pilots was a winter landscape without to augment staff at the Yukon-Kuskokwim strange location with no prior experience, much contrast. Delta Regional Hospital in Bethel, along with learn to get along with the community, what “When the snow moves in, it’s all tundra,” an audiologist, a mental-health clinician, to do when you’re not in a hospital clinic like Miller said. “There’s not much to look at, and a physical therapist, an emergency-room in the lower 48. You have to improvise here. that’s what you’re dependent on. The brush is physician and an obstetrician/gynecologist. Weather becomes a factor. Logistics become a what tells you where you are over the ground. Cmdr. Sandra Bierling, an obstetrician/ factor. You’re not in your comfort zone. If you end up navigating your way over a good- gynecologist assigned to Operational Health “The Office of the Secretary of Defense sized lake and hit nothing but white snow, you Support Unit Bremerton Detachment P, spent where Arctic Care resides says it’s one of can’t tell if you’re at 10 feet or 100 feet.” weekends covering labor and delivery. She their best programs running. This is the first time the Navy’s been involved to this extent, and it’s just done a great job. This is how we go to war now; we fight as one,” she said. Grills is assigned to Navy Public Affairs Support Element, East Reserve.

◀ HN Derek Gaudin of Baton Rouge, La., an optical laboratory specialist with the Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Activity, conducts a quality assurance test on a pair of glasses in Bethel, Alaska.

June 2009 • ALL HANDS Operation Arctic Care ‘09: Medical Outreach in America’s Last Frontier 31 This Just In

Still a fairly new aircraft in terms of Bataan Deploys With MV-22 Ospreys operating aboard Navy ships, Bataan uses civilian contractors to assist with ailors and Marines aboard USS Bataan (LHD 5) made unpredictable repair challenges as well as training to help the 22nd Marine history recently as the first ship to deploy with the Expeditionary Unit (MEU) gain more MV-22B Osprey in an amphibious environment. knowledge of the unconventional Osprey. S “Even though we are here to assist and Bataan embarked Marine Medium fly like a plane. train the Marines on the technical difficulties Tiltrotor Squadron 263 with a complement In early 2005, Bataan started training they might face, their ability to respond and of 10 Ospreys, providing increased flexibility and testing the MV-22. During the past four repair shows their high level of knowledge on over the CH-46E Sea Knight and CH-46D Sea years, a full team came together to prepare the craft,” said Butch Smith, MV-22B engine Stallion in their ability to transfer equipment the ship and her crew for this historical technical representative from Rolls-Royce. and troops from ship to shore. deployment. The crew has trained in several Ospreys from VMM-263 previously The Sea Knight and Sea Stallion have been technical areas, such as airframes, hydraulics performed more than 3,000 sorties and in service for more than 40 years, and they and avionics, electrical systems, maintenance logged more than 5,000 flight hours in 2007, continue to provide support to the fleet. But the control and most importantly training the completing missions in support of Operation Osprey brings greater range, lift capacity, speeds flight crew attached to VMM-263. Iraqi Freedom while operating from Al Asad and the ability to conduct aerial refueling. “I’m eager to get to work after completing Airbase in Iraq. The Osprey is a tilt-rotor vertical, short my training, and I’m looking forward to “The MV-22 is a valuable asset for the take-off and landing (VSTOL) aircraft. The becoming completely operational. We all Marines, and I love seeing it in action,” said aircraft has two large three-blade propellers, are striving to overcome all our challenges Staff Sgt. Eric Woody, an avionics mechanic allowing it to take off vertically, much like on board to become experts and execute for the MEU. “I know that the job I do assists the helicopters it will replace. It then has the our missions,” said Marine Corps Staff Sgt. in putting the Osprey in the air.” ability to transform in mid-air and use its Michael E. Aguilar, VMM-263 crew chief, Story courtesy of USS Bataan (LHD 5). large turboprop engine and transmission to from San Antonio. Photo by MC3 Patrick Gearhiser ▲ A V-22 Osprey aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 conducts landing qualifications aboard USS Bataan (LHD 5) during routine operations in the Atlantic Ocean.

32 ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil they have had to do, the effort they have put into building this ship, preparing this ship for where it is today, [is] something that’s brought them together in ways that ship crews don’t normally have the opportunity to do. “I had the privilege of putting an Arleigh Burke destroyer into commission in my younger days, and I know what’s ahead, there is a lot of hard work, a lot of challenges, but there is also going to be tremendous satisfaction.” Vlahos is assigned to Defense

Photo by Vance Vasquez Media Activity – Anacostia, ▲ Sailors man USS Stockdale (DDG-106) as the ship is commissioned at Naval Base Ventura County Port Hueneme. Washington, D.C.

Stockdale slit his scalp and beat himself with Navy Welcomes New a chair; he also slashed his wrists to show that USS Chinook (PC 9) Makes Additions to the Fleet he preferred death to submission. First Overnight U.S. Ship “James Stockdale is a true American Stories compiled by MC2(SW) Elizabeth Vlahos hero,” said Ross Perot, one of the guest Visit to Iraq “Man our ship and bring her to life!” speakers for Stockdale’s commissioning USS Chinook (PC 9) recently departed With these words, the Navy opened two ceremony. “Admiral Stockdale’s life can be Umm Qasr, Iraq, marking the first overnight new chapters in its illustrious history with defined by these words - patriot, guardian of port visit to Iraq by a U.S. ship. the recent commissioning of two new Arleigh our freedom, combat fighter, scholar, hero, “The U.S. Navy has operated in the region Burke-class destroyers, USS Stockdale (DDG fearless, brilliant, modest, an outstanding for more than 60 years, and Chinook’s visit 106) and USS Truxtun (DDG 103). leader, a man of excellent integrity, marks the first time a U.S. ship has remained These destroyers are able to conduct outstanding husband and father and a role overnight in Iraq; that’s extremely significant,” a variety of operations, from peacetime model for our nation.” said Rear Adm. T.C. Cropper, deputy presence and crisis management to sea control Truxtun, commissioned at Naval commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central and power projection. They can also fight air, Weapons Station Charleston, S.C., honors Command (NAVCENT). surface and subsurface battles simultaneously Commodore Thomas Truxtun (1755-1822) and contain myriad offensive and defensive who embarked upon a seafaring career at Continued on page 34 weapons designed to apply maritime power to age 12. When the U.S. Navy was initially protect U.S. vital interests in an increasingly organized, he was selected as one of its first interconnected and uncertain world. six captains on June 4, 1798. He was assigned Stockdale, commissioned at Naval Base command of USS Constellation, one of the Ventura County, Port Hueneme, Calif., is nation’s new frigates. Truxtun put to sea the first ship to be named in honor of the to prosecute the undeclared naval war or late Adm. James Bond Stockdale, one of the quasi-war with revolutionary France. On Navy’s greatest heroes and most decorated Feb. 9, 1799, Truxtun achieved one of his officers. Stockdale earned the most famous victories when Constellation after spending 7.5 years as a prisoner of war battered the French warship L’Insurgente in . He was also awarded the Navy into submission in one of the most illustrious Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, battles of the campaign. the , the Distinguished Flying The newest ship in the fleet shares her Cross, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the namesake with five previous Navy ships, and Air Medal and the POW Medal. her plank owners of Truxtun will share her

He became the highest ranked naval officer great naval history. Photo by Lt. Owen Morrissey to be held as a POW when he was shot down “This crew will be close for the rest of their ▲ Senior Iraqi officers greet Lt. Allen Maxwell, over enemy territory. While imprisoned, he lives,” said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. commanding officer of USS Chinook (PC 9), was often tortured and beaten. To prevent Gary Roughead, who spoke at Truxtun’s during the first overnight port visit to Umm his captives from using him as propaganda, commissioning ceremony. “The things that Qasr, Iraq, by a U.S. Navy ship.

June 2009 • ALL HANDS This Just In 33 Continued from page 33

“Chinook’s visit exemplifies the great and we had good ‘up and safe’ jets the whole confidence we have in our Iraqi partners Electronic Attack Squadron deployment,” added Ward. and reflects the excellent improvements Returns from Afghanistan VAQ-133 made an impression both in security that they have achieved. It on- and off-duty while standing 12-hour also demonstrates our commitment and Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) shifts, providing electronic attack support to partnership with the Government of Iraq, its 133 recently returned from a six-month combatant commanders and troops on the people and the Iraqi Navy.” deployment to Afghanistan in support of ground, and volunteering at the local Bagram While in port, the ship’s crew members Operation Enduring Freedom. Airfield Hospital. were able to participate in friendship- “The Wizards” of VAQ-133 reported to “I have some folks that like to use their building activities with several senior Bagram Airfield with 180 Sailors for the 175- free time in a manner that helps out the locals. Iraqi officers as well as conduct a logistics’ day deployment. There was always work to be done at the replenishment, where the ship took on fuel “This is my second deployment within hospital; it’s the biggest in Afghanistan,” said and other various supplies. about a 14-month period, and most of the Ward. “Working every day for the squadron “This is an important day for us and for people in the squadron are in that same and the mission and then finding time while Iraq,” said Lt. Allen Maxwell, Chinook’s turnaround, so we went back to a mission they’re off duty to help out local nationals who commanding officer. we had done before and were all familiar are in the hospital - I’m very proud of them.” “Our visit gave us a chance to interact with,” said Cmdr. John Ward, VAQ-133 The Wizards also had multiple with senior Iraqi Navy leadership and further commanding officer. “We knew what we were distinguished visitors during their tour, and enhance cooperation with the Iraqi Navy getting into and had the right attitude.” the support shown by these visits cemented and Marines. Today was an extraordinary The Wizards maintained a 100 percent the squadron members’ belief in their opportunity, and I am proud to have made a mission accomplishment rate during the contributions being appreciated. positive difference in Iraq’s future.” deployment, conducting 550 sorties, logging “It’s nice to feel appreciated and wanted. USCGC Aquidneck ’s (WPB 1309) approximately 1,800 total combat hours Every visitor would ask how the squadron daylight-only port visit to Umm Qasr Dec. through the combined efforts of their was doing, what we needed, and how morale 15, 2008, marked the last visit by a U.S. ship maintainers and air crews. and the troops were,” said Ward. “Being a to the Iraqi port. Cropper was pierside for “It was great. Everybody performed just Navy squadron in Bagram is not like a typical Chinook’s arrival to Umm Qasr and said he like they were supposed to, and teamwork Navy squadron; most squadrons are on ships. hopes more coalition ships will visit the Iraqi was outstanding,” said Senior Chief Aviation Being in that focus and that level of mission port in the months and years to come. Machinist’s Mate (AW) Jimmy Flores, VAQ-133 readiness with ground forces and then having “Visits like this are important because command senior chief. “We had no problems all the senior leaders come out and appreciate they help reinforce the strong ties that on the maintenance side of the house. Their it, made me, and everyone between me and already exist between our two navies,” conduct was great and morale is high.” my young airmen, proud. They notice us and said Cmdr. Thomas Cawley, NAVCENT’s “I’m going to go out on a limb and say the great work we’re doing.” country engagement officer to Iraq. this is the best maintenance department in Story and photo by MC2 Tucker M. Yates, Coalition maritime forces in the North naval aviation. We didn’t miss a single sortie, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Arabian Gulf maintain a naval and air Det. Northwest, Oak Harbor, Wash. presence to safeguard the region’s vital links to the global economy. These key maritime infrastructure nodes are the foundation for the region’s economic growth, stability and NAVSEA Eliminates prosperity as well as significantly impact the CFC Refrigerants on global economy. Aircraft Carriers “Our forces are here to foster security and cooperation in the region and conduct All U.S. Navy aircraft carriers are now operations that contribute to peace and chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-free. stability,” said Cropper. “U.S. and coalition Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)’s forces provide the assurance of security Shipboard Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and stability that enables the economic Elimination Program recently marked a major development and growing prosperity environmental milestone with the elimination throughout this region.” Photo by MC2 Tucker M. Yates of the final ozone depleting CFC refrigerants ▲ Lt. Cmdr. Ariel Klein, from Norwood, N.J. aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Story by Lt. Nathan Christensen, U.S. Naval Forces assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 133, “NAVSEA is eliminating these CFC is greeted by his wife and daughter upon his Central Command, Umm Qasr, Iraq. return to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, refrigerants because they deplete the earth’s Wash., after a six-month deployment to Bagram protective ozone layer which screens out Airfield, Afghanistan, in support of Operation potentially harmful radiation from the Enduring Freedom. sun,” said Gregory Toms, NAVSEA ODS

34 ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil during major ship maintenance availabilities these conversions are scheduled to continue through 2017. Story courtesy of Naval Sea Systems Command Office of Corporate Communications, Washington, D.C.

New Orleans Sailors Make a Difference in Gulf Coast Communities Sailors assigned to Naval Support Activity (NSA) New Orleans recently reached a significant milestone when they logged their 5,000th volunteer hour. Lt. Bryan Purvis, NSA command chaplain, said the total time invested in the community is impressive and that the feat was Photo by MC3 Matthew Campbell accomplished in little more than a year. ▲ Tugboats assist USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) as she transits down the James River while “The Sailors assigned to this area are doing moving from dry dock to a nearby pier in Newport News, Va., where she is undergoing her a great job in giving back to the entire Gulf scheduled refueling complex overhaul – at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. Coast community,” said Purvis. “All of these This will prepare the for another 25 years of service. Sailors should be commended. “The chiefs and first classes had done elimination program manager. eliminating the greenhouse gas emissions a remarkable job before I got here, but Currently, Carl Vinson is nearing from the burning of more than 38 railcars they lacked a central figure to coordinate completion of a refueling complex overhaul. of coal every year. When all of the carrier community outreach,” said Purvis. “They have When the ship returns to the fleet later refrigerant conversions are accounted for, the definitely affected the world around them, this year, it will have 10 air-conditioning annual emission reductions are equivalent to making it a better place than how they found plants and five refrigeration plants that have 325 railcars of coal. it. Their work and good deeds help foster been converted from CFC refrigerants to The conversions also have several other harmony and goodwill in the community.” non-ozone depleting hydrofluorocarbon important operational advantages including Purvis credited a great deal of the program’s (HFC) refrigerants. reduced acoustic signature, increased success to the variety of volunteer opportunities. Carl Vinson joins the other eight CVNs cooling capacity in areas of the world with “Many of them worked on projects built prior to USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) high seawater temperatures, decreased ranging from Habitat for Humanity to local that have now all been converted to ozone- logistics support and training requirements, animal shelters,” said Purvis.”They were friendly refrigerants. Starting with Ronald simplified troubleshooting procedures, and focused with only one goal in mind, helping Reagan, all new aircraft carriers are built increased reliability. These conversions also their fellow men and women.” without CFC refrigerants. support energy and environmental goals Chief Master-at-Arms Regina Tyson, NSA “The primary purpose of these CVN to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and security forces leading chief, said that many of refrigerant conversions was to eliminate the increase energy efficiency. the Sailors would volunteer without reporting nearly 1 million pounds of CFC refrigerants NAVSEA researchers and engineers also their service. that would have otherwise been emitted to the worked closely with the original equipment “We may have had more hours than atmosphere over the remaining ships’ service manufacturer to improve the energy efficiency what was logged,” said Tyson. “Many times years,” said Toms. of the air-conditioning plants as part of the we found out about our Sailors’ off-duty, In addition to being ozone depleting conversion process. Using state of the art volunteer work weeks after they completed substances, these refrigerants are also electronic control systems and compressor an assignment. They have always gone out potent greenhouse gases. Although the improvements, the converted HFC plants are and done work around the region without HFC refrigerants replacing the CFCs are up to 15 percent more energy efficient than acknowledgment or even a pat on the back.” also greenhouse gases, they have lower they were prior to the conversions. global warming potentials which drastically Another major milestone will be reached Story by MC1(AW/SW) Shawn D. Graham, Naval reduce their impact on the earth’s climate. in 2010 when all shipboard refrigeration plant Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans. The reduced climate impact from CVN 70’s conversions are completed. Because the air- refrigerant conversions alone are equivalent to conditioning conversions must be completed

June 2009 • ALL HANDS This Just In 35 hipmates, now is the time to think about disaster readiness. We are heading into a season of highly unpredictable Sweather, and the attitude of, “Oh, it will never happen to me” is the worst attitude you could have when it comes to your welfare. Disaster can strike at any time with no warning, leaving you vulnerable, seriously injured or worse. As we’ve seen in recent years, disaster readiness no longer applies solely to those living in coastal areas. Floridians are not the only ones in the hurricane path, and tornadoes do not discriminate between the Midwest and the Southeast. The best time to put together a plan is NOW – the last second is beyond too late.

Disaster Readiness: No Laughing Matter Story by MC2(SW) Elizabeth Vlahos

The Basics of Disaster Readiness Local maps. Familiarize yourself with the terms that are Other things you should keep handy used to identify a severe weather hazard: When preparing for a possible emergency include your prescription medications and A severe weather watch means there is a situation, concentrate first on the basics of glasses; your important family documents possibility of severe weather in your area. survival: fresh water, food, clean air and (insurance policies, identification, bank A severe weather warning means the warmth. These needs must be addressed no account records, etc.) in a waterproof, severe weather is either occurring or matter the nature of the emergency. You portable container; cash or traveler’s checks will likely occur soon. Take immediate should prepare a survival kit with these items and change; and emergency reference material precautionary action. at the bare minimum: (first-aid book or information from the Emergency communication methods vary Potable water - one gallon of water per American Red Cross or www.ready.gov). from community to community and radio person per day for at least three days, for In addition to a survival kit, you also need and TV broadcasts are the most common. drinking and sanitary purposes; a family emergency plan. Your family may not Now that we have the basics of disaster Food - at least a three-day supply of non- be together in the event of a disaster, so it is readiness, let’s look at how to prepare for perishables; important to plan in advance how to contact certain types of disaster one by one. Battery-powered radio and a NOAA one another, know how to get back together weather radio with tone alert and extra and what to do in different situations. Here Hurricanes batteries for both; are a few tips to keep in mind: Although hurricanes are forecasted and Flashlight and extra batteries; It may be easier to make a long-distance tracked for several days before they make First-aid kit; phone call than to call across town, so an landfall, you should still plan ahead what to One whistle, to signal for help; out-of-town contact may be in a better do if you’re told to evacuate. Once you get the One dust mask for each family member, position to communicate among separated word to evacuate, don’t hesitate. to help filter contaminated air; family members. Determine where your family will meet, Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter- Be sure every member of your family both within and outside of your immediate in-place; knows the phone number and has coins or neighborhood. Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic a prepaid phone card to call. Plan several places you could go in an ties for personal sanitation; You owe it to yourself and your family to emergency, a friend’s home in another Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities; find out what kinds of disasters, both natural town, a motel or public shelter. Can opener for food, if your kit contains and man-made, are most likely to occur in If you have a car, keep the tank at least canned food; and your area and how you will be notified. half full at all times in case you need to

36 ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil Something to Think About

evacuate. If you do not have a car, plan One last thing: wherever you seek shelter, mirrors, pictures or where heavy bookcases alternate means of evacuating. stay there until the danger has passed. or other heavy furniture could fall over. Take your emergency supply kit. Take your pets with you, but understand Floods Brush Fires and Wildfires that only service animals may be permitted Flooding can happen anywhere. Some Summer means drier weather, which in public shelters. Have a plan for caring floods develop slowly during an extended increases the risk of brush fires. An average for your pets in an emergency. period of rain, or in a warming trend of 1.2 million acres of U.S. woodland burn following a heavy snow. Flash floods can every year, and more than four out of every Thunderstorms occur quickly, even without any visible signs five wildfires are caused by people. If you live Don’t be so quick dismiss thunderstorms, as of rain. Follow these guidelines to keep in a locale surrounded by plants and other they produce lightning and have the potential yourself above the water: vegetation that can easily catch fire, you need for danger. In the United States, lightning kills Review your area’s flood zones and identify to be especially vigilant. 300 people and injures 80 on average, each where your house is in relation to them. The same measures involved in planning year; the dangers of a thunderstorm can also Safeguard your home and possessions with for hurricanes evacuation apply for wildfire include tornadoes, strong winds, hail, wildfires flood insurance. Property insurance does evacuations. In addition, the following and flash flooding, which is responsible for not typically cover flood damage. measures can provide a certain degree of more fatalities than any other thunderstorm- Elevate the furnace, water heater and protection to your home in a wildfire. related hazard. electric panel in your home if you live in Select materials and plants for your Most lightning deaths and injuries occur an area that has a high flood risk. landscaping that can help contain fire when people are caught outdoors in the If you can, construct barriers to stop rather than fuel it. summer months during the afternoon and floodwater from entering the building Use fire resistant or non-combustible mate- evening. Take the following precautions to and seal walls in basements with rials on the roof and exterior structure of the reduce your risk of such an unsavory fate: waterproofing compounds. dwelling. Treat wood or combustible mate- Remove dead or rotting trees and branches Property insurance does not typically cover rial used in roofs, siding, decking or trim that could fall and cause injury or damage flood damage. Talk to your insurance with UL®-approved fire-retardant chemicals. during a severe thunderstorm. provider about your policy and consider if Remove vines from the walls of your home. Secure outdoor objects that could blow you need additional coverage. Store gasoline, oily rags and other away or cause damage. For more information about floods and flammable materials in approved safety how to prepare your family and property, visit cans. Place cans in a safe location away Tornadoes www.floodsmart.gov. from the base of buildings. If you hear one coming, it’s already too late. Tornadoes can appear suddenly without Earthquakes Help the Navy Help You warning and can be invisible until dust Forty-five states and territories throughout and debris are picked up or a funnel cloud the United States are at moderate to high risk in a Disaster appears. Planning and practicing specifically for earthquakes, including the New Madrid The Navy Family Accountability and how and where to take shelter is a matter of fault line in the Central United States. Since Assessment System (NFAAS) is a standardized survival, so be prepared to act quickly. it is impossible to predict an earthquake, it method for the navy to account, assess, manage Determine in advance where to take shelter is important that you and your family are and monitor the recovery process for personnel in case of a tornado warning. Storm cellars prepared ahead of time. In addition to basic and their families affected and/or scattered by a or basements provide the best protection. disaster preparedness, take the following widespread catastrophic event. If underground shelter is not available, go preventive measures around your home: It is important that you update your contact into an interior room or hallway on the Secure your house for sudden shifts by information with your command, Defense lowest floor possible. This also applies in a fastening shelves securely to walls and Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System or high-rise building. checking on how wall and ceiling fixtures NFAAS so the Navy can address your needs. Stay away from windows, doors and outside are secured. Store large, heavy or breakable For questions or to provide personnel walls. Go to the center of the room. Corners objects on lower shelves or in closed cabinets. accountability by phone, contact the Navy attract debris, so stay clear of them as well. Hang heavy items such as pictures and Personnel Customer Service Center at A tornado will destroy a vehicle, trailer mirrors away from beds, couches and (877) 414-5358 or (866) 827-5672. or mobile home will not stand up to a anywhere people sit. For more information on disaster readiness, tornado. Go quickly to a building with a Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky go to www.ready.gov, or the American Red strong foundation, if you can. gas connections. Cross website at www.redcross.org. If you can’t find shelter, lie flat in a ditch or Identify “safe places” indoors and Stay safe!. other low-lying area. Do not get under an outdoors, like under sturdy furniture or Vlahos is assigned to Defense Media Activity – overpass or bridge; you are safer in a low, against an inside wall, away from where Anacostia, Washington, D.C. flat location. glass could shatter around windows,

June 2009 • ALL HANDS 37 Camp Stone Gets First “Navy“ First Sergeant

Story and photo by MC1(AW) R. Jason Brunson

avy Aviation Warfare Specialist (NAC/AW) Senior Chief Ernest C. Edwards of Belle Glade, Fla., recently became the first Navy first sergeant at Forward Operating Base N(FOB) Camp Stone Herat, Afghanistan, a position normally filled by U.S. Army senior enlisted personnel. “I am just like any other 23 year-old,” said. “Because, it only took about five “I think this just may have been that thing Minkel said. He enjoys going out with friends, minutes to get a [DNA] sample, a painless he was looking for,” Donnelly said. having fun and says he never passes on the swab of the cheek.” Minkel said at first, finding out that he was opportunity to play golf. “If have time to play As an air traffic controller aboard USS a match for someone caught him off guard, … I will.” Essex (LHD 2) his job is to safely get aircraft but he quickly decided he would help any way But, to one little boy, whom he has never to land on the ship. So, in some ways Minkel he could. even met, Minkel just might be a hero. In is in the day-to-day business of keeping “I never thought twice about my February this year Minkel became a bone people alive, yet he remains humble. decision,” Minkel said. “There was small marrow donor to a 4 year-old boy with a rare Minkel said, that to him, a hero is child’s life at risk.” and life-threatening illness. someone who selflessly helps another, According to Minkel the doctors considered Minkel grew up in Redwood Falls, Minn., without any regard for themselves. It’s two methods of recovering his bone marrow. where he said one doesn’t see many strange having the ability to do what others wish The first is a bone marrow harvest, in which faces. Everyone knows each other there. The they could. doctors remove bone marrow from the pelvic small-town life he enjoyed as a kid was pretty “Some people say that what I did is bone, on the lower back. simple. And, like many young men do after heroic, but the ability to help those with The second [which is less painful] involves high school, he smelled adventure in the air an illness, or just anyone with a problem, collecting stem cells from the marrow. The and joined the Navy to see the world. anyone can do,” Minkel said. “Anyone can donor takes a medication that causes their While at boot camp he joined the C.W. donate bone marrow.” marrow to produce more stem cells. As the Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Minkel’s mother Cheryl Donnelly said stem cells move into the blood stream, they Donor Program registry. she felt her son had been searching for can be filtered out intravenously. “I honestly had something that would bring more meaning “I had the first one done, the doctors forgotten about joining into his life, and she had prayed that he picked this procedure as the best one in my the registry,” Minkel would find it, whatever “it” was. case,” Minkel said. Focus on 38 Service ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil He said there was some pain involved, but it was well worth it to possibly have saved a life. After surgery, Minkel said the medical staff did everything that they could to keep him comfortable. Minkel said this has taught him not to take family or loved ones for granted. “You never know when something may happen,” Minkel said. “It is a great feeling knowing I did everything I could to help. Hopefully now that boy has a bright future.” Protocol dictates it will be a year after the procedure before he is allowed to exchange personal information with the boy’s family in hopes that they can someday meet. “I can’t wait to see the boy and his family,” Minkel said. He recommends anyone who is thinking about, or even has the opportunity to sign up, to do so. “I’m going to try to do what I can to help more people sign up,” Minkel said. “A bigger registry will save more lives.” For more information on the C.W. Bill Young DoD Marrow Donor Program and what you can do to help, check out www.dodmarrow.org. Brunson is assigned to Defense Media Activity- Anacostia, Washington, D.C. History

When the order was given to abandon ship, Roy preserved his Visual History: One Sailor’s images of this historic battle by taping up three cans of film and stuffing them under his shirt and life jacket before leaping into the Account of the battles of Pacific Ocean. He spent several hours in the sea and assisted with the Coral Sea and Midway care of wounded sailors before being taken aboard the destroyer USS Hammann (DD 412). Fortunately, his motion picture coverage of the battle survived its lengthy immersion in the ocean. hroughout the years, much has been said and written about Roy volunteered to return toYorktown with the salvage party to the battles of Coral Sea and especially Midway – the battle record the efforts to save CV 5. Tthat changed the course of the war in the Pacific. But for “Hammann returned us to Yorktown early on the morning of William (Bill) G. Roy, then a photographer’s mate 2nd class, the June 6, 1942. The first order was to put out the fires in the forward time to provide his point of view was right there and then: behind rag locker. It was still burning near the forward bomb and torpedo the lens of his camera aboard USS Yorktown (CV 5). magazines and the aviation gas storage tanks. We next cut away the port 5-inch guns. I made On May 8, 1942, Roy captured photos,” Roy recounted. images and footage of the first-ever By mid-afternoon, while naval battle conducted with carrier- Hammann was tied up based aviation with no ship-to-ship alongside Yorktown both ships contact. During the battle, the were struck by torpedoes fired Japanese carrier Shoho was sunk and by the Japanese submarine the carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku I-168. Hammann went down were damaged. The U.S. carrier USS in a few minutes. Yorktown, Lexington (CV 2) was sunk and now with large torpedo holes Yorktown suffered bomb damage. on both sides amidships,

“The one bomb that hit the Roy G. William PH2 by Photo floated through the night of deck went down to the fifth level June 6, while her escorting and killed a repair party,” recalled destroyers treated injured Roy in an interview. “That was Sailors, kept watch and really devastating.” unsuccessfully pursued the As Yorktown’s photographer Japanese submarine I-168. Roy shot many pictures and moving As dawn approached, it was images during the Battle of the Coral ▲ USS Yorktown (CV 5) is hit on the port side, amidships, by a Japanese clear that the carrier was lower Sea, including images and film of the Type 91 aerial torpedo during the mid-afternoon attack by planes from in the water with an increasing sinking of Lexington. the Japanese carrier Hiryu, June 4, 1942. Yorktown’s heeling to port list. As the sun rose June 7, A month later, during the Battle indicating that this is the second of the two torpedo hits she received. Yorktown rolled over on her of Midway, was dealt a fatal port side and sank at the stern. blow – a blow that would turn the course of World War II in favor of Roy, forced to abandon his carrier a second time, photographed her as she the Allies. Roy once again wielded his still and motion picture cameras rolled over and finally slipped beneath the waves. to record images. Roy’s images, now at the National Archives, bear While his still photographs from Midway are quite famous, his witness to the courage and sacrifice of U.S. forces. moving images are not as well known and are quite rare. A number Famous photographs, taken from the signal bridge and flight deck of his moving images were shown at the National World War II of Yorktown, provide an incredible glimpse into the battle that turned Museum. The film is so rare that Roy had not seen the images since the tide of war in the Pacific. he shot them on June 4, 1942, until he was shown them during an “I stationed myself up in the signal bridge with a 35mm motion interview with the museum’s assistant director of research. picture camera to film the battle,” said Roy in his oral history interview. In July 1953, Roy received a direct commission as a photographic During the battle, Yorktown came under attack by dive bombers officer. He retired in 1981 as lieutenant commander. and torpedo bombers from the Japanese carrier Hiryu. Yorktown was Note: Other photos by Roy can be viewed at www.history.navy.mil/ struck by two Japanese air-launched torpedoes. photos/events/wwii-pac/midway/mid-8.htm.

40 ALL HANDS • www.navy.mil A World of Opportunities Legalman 2nd Class (SW) Erin Crusan Individual Augmentee Story by MC2 (SCW) Brian Coverley

t’s a far cry from her hometown of Rock able to reason the need for releasing detainees.” Springs, Wis., but after all was said and Having broken out of her normal Idone Legalman 2nd Class Erin Crusan Navy routine through her IA assignment, had done her part in advancing justice and Crusan delved into a different and dynamic the rule of law to for the Iraqi nation. For environment by integrating herself with the Army, Air Force and Marines to achieve the current staff member of the Recruit mission. She instantly encountered cultures Training Command Legal Service Office, her and philosophies vastly unfamiliar and IA experience was an eye-opening, singular divergent from what she and most in the journey into wisdom and compassion. United States understood. “I learned that you can take a situation Assigned to Multi-National Forces Iraq that is highly stressful, in a place and in living (MNF-Iraq); Task Force 134; Detainee conditions that are quite different from what I Operations from June to December 2008, am used to, and take away positives from it. I Crusan brought a much-needed human face learned that at the core, we are all still human, to the unit’s vital role in determining threats despite the differences in beliefs, religions, and screening former detainees. political ideologies or military branch.” “I was responsible for tracking detainee Crusan’s huge and constant, instinctive releases and submitting threat assessment urge to help others couldn’t remain just information to the deputy commanding within the margins of her duties or the general for the Special Compassionate and workplace. It carried over into areas that Expedited release programs. I also assisted brought deep fulfillment. with the preparation and delivery of legal “My most noteworthy experience during documents to detainees for the Judicial Pledge my IA was participating with the Victory Base and Release Program,” she said. Complex Scouting program … a spin-off from “I would highly recommend that every These release programs are essential to the the U.S. Boys Scouts. Coalition forces were Sailor volunteer for an IA because it is a multinational force commander’s effort to able to interact with Iraqi children by playing mind-blowing experience [providing] a separate hard-core terrorists from reconcilable soccer, [American] football as well as teach unique perspective into the military that many elements and provide those “reconcilables” the them basic camping/survival skills. We even of us in the Navy do not get to see on a day- opportunity to constructively rejoined society. indulged in [making] S’mores over a campfire. to-day basis. I had the opportunity to work “My current duties are recruit This was an overall positive experience for the with other DOD components … as well as administrative separation processing, and fraud troops and the children; definitely one I will third-country-nationals. I had the opportunity and waiver screening. My job has taught me never forget.” to step outside the realm of a typical day in to be open-minded and to look at things from When asked if others should elect for IA the Navy and expand my horizons as both a various perspectives. This was essential in being assignment, Crusan offered this: Sailor and a human being.”