Enterprise Sailors Conduct Missile Upload
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March 21, 2012 Issue “We are Legend” Newsletter Edition USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Story and photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Scott Pittman Enterprise Sailors Conduct Missile Upload Sailors aboard aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) conducted an ammunition upload for multiple weapons systems used in shipboard defense March 15-17. Enterprise is equipped with two phalanx close-in weapons systems (CIWS), two NATO Sea Sparrow Missile Systems, and two Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) mounts. “Our primary responsibility, as Combat Systems, Weapons Division, is ship’s self-defense; meaning if the tactical action officer needs us to destroy a threat to the ship, we are able to register a threat and neutralize it,” said Ensign John Tatro, fire control officer for Enterprise. “With us, ensuring everything is operating properly and safely is a key concern.” In order to arm the weapons systems of Enterprise, Sailors with Combat Systems department must follow proper procedures to ensure the ammunition used to defend the ship does not harm the crew in the process. “There are a lot of safety precautions we take in order to ensure the safety of the ordnance handlers and the crew,” said Chief Fire Controlman John Tuley. “Our ordnance handlers have to become qualified, we hold a safety briefing before the actual ammunition loading, and we have safety observers on- scene while loading, among other personal safety precautions.” During the upload, the ship sets Hazardous Electromagnetic Surface Fleet’s ‘Huge Shift’ Includes Tougher Inspections, Revamped Training After years of mounting concerns that short-staffed crews and a rapid operational pace were wearing down the fleet, the surface Navy has revamped the 27-month training and maintenance cycle between ship deployments, adding new inspections and a phased approach to ensuring ships are ready for sea. The new plan, known as the Surface Force Readiness Manual, establishes standards for the surface fleet’s maintenance and training and is a blueprint for the interdeployment cycle. It was approved March 9 by the surface Navy’s top flag officers and lays out all assessments, certifications and inspections ships will have complete, from the shipyard through the training phase and into deployment. More than 60 ships have trained under the pilot version of the readiness cycle, which will become the fleet standard beginning this summer, officials said. Ships will undergo one big material inspection per cycle, along with seven progressive readiness evaluations. This new plan doesn’t extend to aircraft carriers, whose readiness is managed by Naval Air Forces, or littoral combat ships, which rely on rotational and module-based crewing. It also doesn’t apply to forward-deployed ships, which have a heightened state of mission readiness. But for the rest of the fleet, the readiness manual is the new bible. The new plan brings the surface Navy in line with submarine and air wing preparations for deployment, said Adm. John Harvey, head of Fleet Forces Command, who called this a “huge shift” because it unifies training through FLEET continued on page 3 MISSILE continued on page 2 By Sam Fellman and Gidget Fuentes, NAVY TIMES
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Sailors aboard aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) conducted an ammunition upload for multiple weapons systems used in shipboard defense March 15-17.
Transcript of Enterprise Sailors Conduct Missile Upload
The Shuttle March 21, 2012 Issue“We are Legend”Newsletter Edition
USS Enterprise (CVN 65)
Story and photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Scott Pittman
Enterprise Sailors Conduct Missile Upload
Sailors aboard aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) conducted an ammunition upload for multiple weapons systems used in shipboard defense March 15-17. Enterprise is equipped with two phalanx close-in weapons systems (CIWS), two NATO Sea Sparrow Missile Systems, and two Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) mounts. “Our primary responsibility, as Combat Systems, Weapons Division, is ship’s self-defense; meaning if the tactical action officer needs us to destroy a threat to the ship, we are able to register a threat and neutralize it,” said Ensign John Tatro, fire control officer for Enterprise. “With us, ensuring everything is operating properly and safely is a key concern.” In order to arm the weapons systems of Enterprise, Sailors with Combat Systems department must follow proper procedures to ensure the ammunition used to defend the ship does not harm the crew in the process. “There are a lot of safety precautions we take in order to ensure the safety of the ordnance handlers and the crew,” said
Chief Fire Controlman John Tuley. “Our ordnance handlers have to become qualified, we hold a safety briefing before the actual ammunition loading, and we have safety observers on-scene while loading, among other personal safety precautions.” During the upload, the ship sets Hazardous Electromagnetic
Surface Fleet’s ‘Huge Shift’ Includes Tougher Inspections, Revamped Training After years of mounting concerns that short-staffed crews and a rapid operational pace were wearing down the fleet, the surface Navy has revamped the 27-month training and maintenance cycle between ship deployments, adding new inspections and a phased approach to ensuring ships are ready for sea. The new plan, known as the Surface Force Readiness Manual, establishes standards for the surface fleet’s maintenance and training and is a blueprint for the interdeployment cycle. It was approved March 9 by the
surface Navy’s top flag officers and lays out all assessments, certifications and inspections ships will have complete, from the shipyard through the training phase and into deployment. More than 60 ships have trained under the pilot version of the readiness cycle, which will become the fleet standard beginning this summer, officials said. Ships will undergo one big material inspection per cycle, along with seven progressive readiness evaluations. This new plan doesn’t extend to aircraft carriers, whose readiness is
managed by Naval Air Forces, or littoral combat ships, which rely on rotational and module-based crewing. It also doesn’t apply to forward-deployed ships, which have a heightened state of mission readiness. But for the rest of the fleet, the readiness manual is the new bible. The new plan brings the surface Navy in line with submarine and air wing preparations for deployment, said Adm. John Harvey, head of Fleet Forces Command, who called this a “huge shift” because it unifies training through
FLEET continued on page 3
MISSILE continued on page 2
By Sam Fellman and Gidget Fuentes, NAVY TIMES
Wednesday, March 21, 2012Page 2 The Shuttle
Big E Happenings
The Shuttle is published and printed daily underway and bi-weekly in port by the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Media Department, FPO AE 09543-2810. This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Please direct all story ideas, questions and comments to MC1 (SW) Steve Smith at [email protected].
Public Affairs OfficerLt. Cmdr. Sarah T. Self-Kyler
Executive OfficerCapt. G. C. Huffman
Commanding OfficerCapt. William C. Hamilton, Jr.
EditorsMC2 (SW) Kristin L. Grover
MCSN Harry Gordon
The ShuttleUSS Enterprise (CVN 65)
Command Master ChiefABCM (AW/SW) Eric M. Young
Yesterday’s 3M answer:The Division Officer is responsible for the effective operation of the 3M
system within the division.
3M Question of the Day: Who is responsible for ensuring that
the ship’s CSMP accurately describes the material condition of the work
center?
3M
MISSILE continuedRadiation to Ordnance (HERO) conditions, in order to reduce risk of damage to uploaded explosives. “It’s nerve-wracking working around live ordnance, and you don’t want to become complacent,” said Fire Controlman 3rd Class Wayne Pattillo. “Listening to the assigned team leader is paramount, they are the only voice on the missile platform.” The ammunition upload took approximately three days, the efforts of an entire division of Sailors, and resulted in the loading of 2,800 rounds into the CWIS mounts, eight
RIM-7M missiles loaded into the Sea Sparrow Missile System, and 21 missiles loaded into each RAM mount. “The ordnance handling and loading teams did outstanding,” said Tatro. “All the team leaders were on point, they followed procedures exactly, and they far exceeded my expectations.” Enterprise is conducting its 22nd and final deployment in support of maritime security operations and theater security operations in the U.S. Navy’s 5th and 6th fleet areas of responsibility.
Yesterday’s ESWS answer:The purpose of IFF is to identify friend
or foe.
3M Question of the Day: What are the five modes for IFF?
The USS Enterprise Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society Fundraiser has begun!The NMCRS is committed to ensure that all available resources are used to assist personnel of the Naval Services - active, retired, and their eligible family members - to achieve financial self-sufficiency and find solutions to emergency needs.Contact your division NMCRS representative and donate today!Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society Fundraiser ends March 31, 2012.
Have a Great Navy Day!
TIGER CRUISE VOLUNTEERS NEEDEDEnterprise’s 2012 Tiger Cruise coordinators are seeking volunteers for this year’s Tiger Cruise Committee. At least one CPO or Officer representative from each department is required but, other volunteers who wish to assist are also welcome.Contact Lt. Cmdr. Reyman or ABHCS Williford via e-mail if interested in joining the committee.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 Page 3The Shuttle
World News
MILLINGTON, Tenn. -- A Navy message released March 19 reminds Sailors of requirements associated with receiving involuntary separation pay (ISP). According to NAVADMIN 093/12, all Sailors involuntarily released from active duty, to include Sailors affected by the Enlisted Retention Board, may be eligible for ISP. Command leadership, career counselors and affected Sailors must review the message to ensure timely actions are met to receive payment. ISP has Navy Reserve requirements and obligations. Career counselors and command leadership can assist Sailors with applying for affiliation in conjunction with ISP. All Sailors who apply for ISP must obligate in the Ready Reserve for a minimum of three years past their initial military service obligation. The Ready Reserve has two branches, the Selected Reserve (SELRES) and
Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). The SELRES consists of drilling reservists and units. SELRES typically fulfill the traditional service commitment of one weekend a month and two weeks a year. The IRR offers Reserve affiliation benefits without the SELRES drill requirements or Reserve pay. Sailors in the IRR have to maintain mobilization readiness and must keep the Navy informed of any address changes or conditions that may affect their readiness. While the Navy wishes to afford every Sailor an opportunity to transition to the Navy Reserve, SELRES billets are limited. Involuntarily separated Sailors E3 through E6 can apply for a SELRES quota via Perform-to-Serve/Fleet RIDE. Once approved for a quota, Sailors can contact the Career Transition Office (CTO) to complete the process. If a SELRES quota is
Transition Benefits: ISP Requirements Reminder
the pre- and post-deployment periods under the Fleet Response Training Plan. “This kind of approach is standards based, it’s material-conditions based, and it’s manning-based,” Harvey said in an interview March 9, after the plan was unveiled at Naval Surface Forces headquarters in Coronado, Calif. “It’s focused on what the ship is going to be expected to go do, and the time frame in which it’s expected to do it. It’s got tremendous flexibility.” “What I’m hoping,” Harvey added, “is that the CO and the wardroom and the chiefs’ mess will see a much more coherent approach to getting ready to deploy.” The new plan has a ring of “Back to the Future” about it, with the surface Navy circling back to older requirements that were jettisoned over the past decade, said one former cruiser commanding officer, who asked not to be named because of current business dealings with the Navy. “It’s a logical approach to current problems, and although the names have changed, the intent of the requirement appears familiar,” he said. The plan comes after a decade-long slide in ship
maintenance standards that stems from underfunding, understaffing and perpetual organizational changes, according to a fleet review panel that labeled this a “downward spiral.” In its 2010 report, the review noted a decrease in the number of repairs a ship’s crew could complete, a rise in Board of Inspection and Survey assessment failures, and higher casualty reports. “But more alarming is the amount of effort, money, time and outside assistance required to make a ship ready for the INSURV certification,” reviewers noted. In 2011, after the report was issued, there were two INSURV failures, the same as the year before; there were four failures in 2009. A central problem was that crews were unable to identify, let alone repair, broken gear and corroded materials, the panel said. Its members called for more inspections by visiting experts to find and document problems so they can later be fixed, and said that task must become a standard part of the interdeployment cycle. Because each ship is required to complete an INSURV every five years, these rigorous inspections typically fall within every other 27-month training cycle.
FLEET continued
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class LaTunya Howard, NAVY NEWS SERVICE
not available, Sailors can request to affiliate with the IRR. A Sailor who affiliates with the IRR must have their command complete a NAVPERS 1070/613 form and send it to their supporting personnel office. This must be accomplished prior to separation to ensure payment of this benefit, according to the message. If a signed Reserve affiliation contract is not completed prior to separation, Sailors must petition the Board of Correction for Naval Records to receive ISP. Under current legislation, Sailors who collect ISP and later collect a military retirement must repay their ISP upon retirement. Under current legislation, ISP must also be repaid upon receipt of Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service will reduce retirement payments until the ISP amount is repaid.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012Page 4 The Shuttle
Big E Entertainment
AO3 Heather Douglas from East Haven, Conn., joined the Navy one year ago because she wanted to travel the world. In her spare time, Douglas enjoys reading and hiking. She plans to attend Officer Candidate School in the future.
Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd ClassHeather L. Douglas
Sailors of the Day
FCSN Elias Opp from Pinckney, Ill., joined the Navy three years ago for educational and travel opportunities. Opp enjoys working on his Jeep in his spare time. In the future, he plans to earn his ESWS pin and finish his college education.
Fire Controlman SeamanElias S. Opp
