Nimitz News, May 12, 2011

May 12, 2011 Nimitz News 1Page

May 12, 2011 Vol. 36, No. 19

Since USS Nimitz’ (CVN 68) arrival to Bremerton in December, seven cases of fraternization have resulted in Non-Judicial Punishment (NJP) for Sailors aboard. The rise in these cases is due in part to a misunderstanding, or in some cases ignorance, of Nimitz’ fraternization policy.

According to OPNAV Instruction 5370.2C, dating, sharing living accommodations, intimate or sexual relations, commercial solicitations, private business, gambling and borrowing money between officers and enlisted Sailors are strictly prohibited. Also, unduly familiar relationships with a Sailor and another Sailor directly in their chain of command are also prohibited.

“Right now fraternization is the second largest problem Sailors

are getting in trouble for,” said Legalman 1st Class (SW/AW) Aundra Howard.

Navy implements rules for fraternization to prevent favoritism, preferential treatment, and personal gain, which may affect good order, discipline, authority, and high unit moral.

“Fraternization can affect the workplace. It can affect morale, the cohesion of a work environment, and can cause a division among the Sailors,” said Command Master Chief (AW/SW) William Lloyd-Owen. “That means it undermines the authority of the chain of command when senior personnel have an unduly relationship with junior Sailors. It stands in the way of good order and discipline.”

Fraternization is punishable under Article 92; failure to obey a lawful order and Article 134; adultery under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Story by MCSA Alexander Ventura II

Story by MC2 Nathan Gomez

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard workers instal the forward Close- In Weapons System (CIWS) sponson on the starboard side of USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Photo by MC3 Nichelle Whitfield

CMC: fraternization will not be tolerated

see Fraternization, Page 3

USS Nimitz (CVN 68) took its first step toward becoming one of the deadliest carriers in the fleet Saturday, May 7. A sponson, which is set to hold a close in weapons system (CIWS), was installed on the forward starboard hull of the ship.

According to Andrea Curry, the assistant project supervisor, this project was started more than a year ago by drawing up the plans, building the 140,000-pound, 33-feet wide, 27-feet deep sponson, setting the exact position the sponson will go on the hull. On Saturday, all that work finally paid off.

“Saturday morning around 2 a.m., the sponson touched the hull of the ship,” said Curry. “We had to remove some the scaffolding around its location for it to go

FWD CWIS sponson welded to USS Nimitz

see CIWS, Page 7


Public Affairs Officer LTJG Jason Scarborough

Media LCPOMCCM Jon McMillan

Media Production ChiefMCC Mike Jones

Layout/ DesignerMC3 Robert Winn

EditorMC2 Nathan Gomez

Media DeptMC2 Scott McCallMC2 James MitchellMC2 Adam Wolfe MC3 C.J. AmdahlMC3 Matthew PattonMC3 Mark SashegyiMC3 Thomas SiniffMC3 Glenn SlaughterMC3 Nichelle WhitfieldMC3 Devin WrayMCSN Ashley BerumenMCSN Shayne JohnsonMCSN Andrew JandikMCSA Renee CandelarioMCSA Alexander Ventura II

“Nimitz News” is an authorized publication for the members of the military services and their families. Its content does not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or the Marine Corps and does not imply endorsement thereby.

Commanding OfficerCAPT Paul Monger

Executive OfficerCAPT John Ring

Command Master ChiefCMDCM William Lloyd-Owen

Sailors stand in line for what feels like hours looking at their watches as time slowly passes by waiting for their turn to get assistance from the Personnel Specialists (PS) on the ship.

“The line for Personnel is always long, sometimes even bending around the corner but its worth the wait because they are helpful with getting my problems worked out and situated,” said Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Evelyn Melendez.

Problem-solving is a specialty the PS rate provides along with a variety of other responsibilities.

It takes a self-paced course in PS “A” school at the Naval Technical Training Center (NTTC) in Meridian, Miss. to truly define and train a future PS in the United States Navy. However, PSs see this training as a mere introduction to what they do in the fleet once they get to their duty station.

“The tools we learn in “A” school are a small percentage of what we do in the fleet,” said Personnel Specialist Seaman Ian Kowalczyk, a personnel clerk for the ship. Kowalczyk said that although “A” school taught him the fundamentals of his rate, he quickly learned PSs do a lot more.

PSs do more than just shuffle around paperwork and type on a keyboard. In fact, it’s fair to say they hold a Sailor’s career in their hands on a daily basis. From the precious leave days

to the beloved pay, their job is more than essential.

“PSs handle a myriad of things, we take care of pay, travel, help service members with relocating their family , permanent change of station, checking in and out of the command, separations, and managing service records, which hold everything a Sailor has done in their naval career,” said Kowalczyk.

Since USS Nimitz (CVN 68) arrived to Bremerton for its Docking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA) the PSs have been extremely busy getting everything situated for our homeport change to Everett along with organizing the ship’s more than 2,000 Sailors’ individual service records.

“We’re currently transferring service records from file folders to a computer system leaving us to scan every individual page of a Sailor’s record and organizing it onto a computer program,” said Personnel Specialist Seaman

Mark Wilson, a dispersing clerk on the ship. “It’s time consuming, but it will be a more efficient way of helping our Sailors get their problems worked out quicker.”

Like most departments on the ship, Personnel met its share of challenges during DPIA, primarily providing high-quality service aboard the barge with less space.

“As a solution to the lack of space, our department has merged into two shifts: day and night,” said Wilson.

Even though two shifts can be challenging PSs still continue to strive to do their job well by welcoming Nimitz’ new Sailors to the command.

“I like helping people and meeting new Sailors aboard the ship, which is definitely an aspect of the PS rate,” said Kowalczyk. “There is a lot of awesome people on the ship I get to work with daily, it’s ultimately a rewarding feeling going to sleep at night knowing I helped someone finish what they needed to get done.”

By MCSA Renee L. Candelario

Personnel Specialist Seaman Adrian Ramirezrodriguez helps customers at the barge customer service window. Photo by MCSA Renee L. Candelario.

More to Personnel than the service counter


Chaplain’sBridges are wonderful things, making our lives

much simpler when we travel across tough terrain filled with rivers, deep valleys and hard to reach places. People who build bridges have specific skills that are required to erect a lasting bridge. I wouldn’t want to cross one that was put together hastily, just so a river had a crossing place. What if it collapsed due to poor construction, and I fell into the river?

It would be even harder to be a bridge. People would always want to walk on you, if only to get to where they want to go. Someone once said the problem with being a peacemaker, a bridge between two parties, is that people in conflict have to step all over you in order to come together.

There are a lot of people who need reconciliation, whether with neighbors and loved ones, or with God. Acting as a peacemaker, an agent of reconciliation is an important calling. Just consider Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” [Matthew 5.9.] There is a risk that comes in getting caught between two parties in conflict, and getting hurt in spite of good intentions. Still, we need to be ready to offer to act as bridges when the need is presented.

If you wish to avoid collapsing, like the hastily constructed bridge I mentioned a few lines above, then you need to ask a few questions of yourself. The first is, am I part of the solution, or part of the problem? There are some boundaries in life that need to be respected, and you are not called on to solve everyone’s problems. The second question is, does the problem need solving right now, by you? Maybe the people in conflict simply need a safe place to go work out their problems? All you may need to do is provide them with the time and a place so they feel safe enough to talk out their differences.

The third question is, have I enough understanding of the problem at hand? Sometimes you can go into a situation that requires intervention, but end up making matters worse by confusing every one. A good bridge is built on a solid foundation that is not swept away by fast, strong, unpredictable currents. Do you understand the underlying issues of the people you are trying to help?

Finally, are you at peace with the ultimate reconciler? The Apostle Paul wrote of God in the second chapter of Ephesians, “He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near.” If you are not at peace with God, having crossed his bridge, you will not be am effective peacemaker for others, helping them cross the bridge of reconciliation.

Chaplain Brent Johnson

Corner

This weeks Chester’s Champions receive recognition in a ceremony in Hangar Bay Two Tuesday for their outstanding attention to safety. YNSN Liannedraw Sales, EM3 John Purtell, and MM2 (SW) Derrick Coates received this week’s award. Photo by MC3 Robert Winn

Champions in safety

“Consequences for Sailors if convicted of fraternization and taken to NJP are 45 days on restriction, 45 days of extra duty, half month’s pay times two, and reduction in rank,” said Howard. “The senior Sailor may also receive a letter of reprimand which is detrimental toward their career. They may never advance to the next pay grade and can also be detached for cause from the command.”

Fraternization can hinder a ship’s ability to perform and complete our mission, said Lloyd-Owen.

Proper senior-subordinate relationships through recognition of rank and military

courtesies and customs are expected in the Military.

“We are in the military. We’re held to a higher standard,” said Lloyd-Owen. “We rely heavily on the chain of command and at times we have to order Sailors to do things that may kill them. Anything that can prevent leaders from being effective such as personal relationships can hinder the mission. That is why we have such a strict fraternization policy.”

Lloyd-Owen stresses Sailors to take the fraternization policy seriously.

“If I find out about any unduly relationships going on, I will get you,” said Lloyd-Owen.

Fraternization: Not tolerated on NimitzContinued from Page 1

CSADD chapter encouragedBY MCSN Ashley Berumen

Nimitz leadership supports Sailors interested in forming a Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) chapter aboard Nimitz.

CSADD is a Navy peer mentoring program developed to provide military members from all branches ways to prevent destructive decisions, reckless driving and assistance with issues such as drinking.

“The strongest influence on junior Sailors is the E-5 – the second class petty officer,” said Nimitz’ Command Master Chief CMDCM (AW/SW) William Lloyd-Owen. “I’d definitely like to see second class petty officers out there mentoring other Sailors.”

CSADD was formed in 2008 when Rear Adm. Mark Boensel and Fleet Master Chief (AW/SW/SCW) Scott Benning, wanted to create an organization similar to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). CSADD became an official Navy peer mentoring program in June 2010.

“I support anything Sailors want to do to better themselves, or the command,” said Lloyd-Owen. “Anything that promotes discussion amongst Sailors about how to make good choices and avoid pitfalls is a good program.”

For more information about CSADD and how to get involved, search CSADD at www.cnrsw.navy.mil or visit the CSADD Facebook page.


Exibits at the Burke Natural History museum include replicas of Allosaurus (above) and Saber-toothed cat (left). These are amoung many prehistoric animals in the top floor of the museum. Photos by MC3 Robert Winn.

Classrooms are set up throughout the museum to allow for interaction with exibits and hands-on learning.

Lost Worlds

Dinosaurs. They were some of the most terrifying and awe-

inspiring animals to ever walk the earth. Extinguished by acts of nature, separated from mankind for 65 million years, now, all that remains are fossilized remnants of those giants, unearthed and analyzed by paleontologists around the world. Thanks to the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, you don’t have to be a scientist to see them up close.

Located on the University of Washington campus in northern Seattle, the museum displays dinosaur and other prehistoric animal skeletons, as well as many other aspects of culture and history of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Last weekend, a few of my friends accompanied me on a trip to the museum to see what dinosaurs they featured, and the other exhibits.

The entrance was open and spacious, featuring a fossil replica of a giant prehistoric bird and displays of a large variety of artifacts from Washington’s natural and cultural history. At one of the corners of the entryway sat the admissions counter. We paid our admission, put on the orange stickers the staff gave us, and headed off to the first exhibit.

The Burke Museum’s dinosaur exhibit featured a replica Allosaurus and Stegosaurus in battle, a Triceratops skull, a leg of a giant, long-necked herbivore, and even a dinosaur nest. The museum also showcased exhibits of other prehistoric animals such as Archaeopteryx, which was a small bird, Elasmosaurus, a long necked Loch Ness

By MC3 Ian Cotter


Museum Visitors peruse the Owl & Woodpecker exibit, a temporary attraction at the Burke Natural History museum.

A Mastadon dominates the prehistoric room of the Burke Natural History museum.

An owl, perched in a high coner of the Owl & Woodpecker exibit, watches over museum-goers as they walk through the exibits.

Monster-like marine reptile, the giant ground sloth, and the iconic Mastodon. At the center of all the exhibits sat a children’s area where young explorers could get hands-on natural history.

One of the displays adjacent to the prehistoric life section was the volcano exhibit. The room was lit dimly red, resembling the hue hot lava gives off when spewing out of the earth, and the walls were surrounded by different stones and minerals created by the intense heat and pressure generated by volcanic activity. A model and cross-section of Mount Rainier gave us a glimpse into the inner-working of Washington’s largest active volcano.

The biodiversity exhibit close-by included a life-size model of a Washington forest, like a 3-D snapshot of everyday life in the wild. An illuminated map of Washington State highlighted the different ecological niches found in the Pacific Northwest such as rainforests, coastal plains, and even deserts.

The museum also featured a travelling exhibit called the Owl and the Woodpecker, based on the book by the acclaimed nature photographer, Paul Bannick. Photographs of regal-looking birds adorned the walls and the sounds of owl calls amid the rapping of a woodpecker’s beak

see Museum, Page 8


crew whose primary focus is resurfacing berthing decks,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (handling) Airman Adam Baez, deck and tile’s yeoman and training petty officer. “They come in so we don’t have to deal with conflicting issues for hot-work. We’re not allowed to primer some areas until after 3:00 p.m. There’s just less, overall, foot traffic and people to disturb us.”

“The first thing you typically see when you walk into a space is the deck,” Fletcher continued. “It’s imperative that, even though we have only minimal

USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Deck & Tile team rips up, repaints and lays new tile and deck for many of the spaces on the ship.

A diverse team of Airmen, Seaman and Firemen from most departments on the ship, especially Air, Deck and Engineering, and a few CEMAT contractors make up the small group that is tackling the challenge of refurbishing nearly 400 spaces around the ship.

“We’ve completed 115 spaces so far, just under 50,000 square feet,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 1st Class (AW) Curtis Fletcher, Deck & Tile leading petty officer. “There are about 270 spaces left.”

The Deck & Tile team pride themselves on quality and efficiency, said Fletcher.

“To redo a deck, first we go and do a ‘ship check’ to see the condition of the existing deck,” Fletcher said. “If the original deck is in good condition we’ll just do small

repairs and simple patchwork. If the under-laying is bad, we have to go from the ground up.”

The process for replacing the deck is simple enough, but requires a lot of elbow grease, said Fletcher.

“We have to go in and rip out the old decking, all the way to bare metal,” Fletcher explained. “Then we lay down primer followed by under-laying, which smoothes out any imperfections of the deck to get the whole floor as level as possible. After the under-laying is down, depending on what goes on above, we’ll apply glue for tiles, electrical matting, or polyurethane resin coating (PRC).”

The team is split into two shifts, day and night, in order to most effectively use their time.

“We have a small night

Deck & Tile team tackles refurbishment from the floor upBy MC3 Robert Winn

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Airman Esther Gootee takes a sludge hammer to aging deck. The deck is to be replaced by the Deck & Tile team during Nimitz’ Docking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA). Photos by MC3 Robert Winn

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (handling) Airman Jamarr Reese scrapes up aged glue to prepare a clean surface to lay new decking.

Hull Maintenance Technician Fireman Matthew Chaney paints a coating of primer for on which a new decking will be laid.

Continued on next page


The day starts with a loud bang on the door at 6 a.m.. For the unfortunate Sailor serving on restricted duty, life is definitely not a walk in the park. Seventeen Sailors are currently placed on restriction due to poor decision-making on USS Nimitz (CVN 68). These Sailors watch fellow shipmates walk across the quarterdeck to go home at the end of the work day while they must stay behind to serve their restricted duty.

That duty begins daily at 6:30 a.m. for the first muster of the morning outside of their isolated berthing. Sailors placed on restriction are given two berthings, male and female, in which to live. The lack of space to get ready serves to motivate some Sailors to never return there.

“It’s hard to get ready in the mornings, there are a lot of females currently on restriction and the berthing they give us to live in is small so I’m constantly bumping into someone,” said Culinary Specialist Seaman Alexis Hlavac, a Sailor who is currently serving 30 days

on restricted duty. “The heads consist of two sinks and two showers so I’ve learned to get ready quickly.”

Getting ready is not the only thing restricted personnel must do swiftly; they are given 30 minutes per meal to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. They sit in silence apart from the rest of the crew to sharpen the military bearing all Sailors originally learned in basic training.

“When we go to chow, we aren’t allowed to speak to one another,” said Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Dominic Tovias, a Sailor who has been in the Navy for 15 years, currently serving 45 days on restricted duty. “It’s very much like boot camp. We stand at parade rest until everyone has received their food, and then we can start eating.”

From 7:20 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. restricted personnel muster in quiet formation as Sailors pass them in the passage ways on their way to work. Restricted personnel participate in cleaning stations and sweepers, aboard the ship and on the pier followed by the first

of two working parties from 8:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. where they are assigned with a variety of tasks from different departments.

“We muster with several other departments to help out with cleaning, painting, and moving boxes,” said Tovias. “Most of the time we are assigned to the deck department and help with whatever task that needs to be done that day, it’s definitely not easy work.”

Restricted personnel are allowed one hour of personal time to reenergize and relax. This time is broken into two 30-minute sessions a day and an hour for physical exercise in the barge’s fitness center.

“During the allowed personal time, I work on a story I’ve been writing,” said Hlavac, as she displayed her composition notebook filled with words from her story. “It helps me to relax and gives me something to look forward to during the day. Being on restriction gets rough sometimes, so the personal time definitely helps me recollect my thoughts.”

Restriction now more strict:By MCSA Renee L. Candelario

experience, we still get a quality result.”The whole process of refurbishing the deck of a space

can take anywhere from five to 10 days, depending on the condition of the previous decking.

Contractors aid the team in the areas where they may not have experience.

“All these Sailors come from different departments, most having never done deck work,” said Dustin Gressang, a technical assistant from CEMAT. “I’m here to teach them what supplies to use; what steps to take; what technical manuals and references to consult; and provide quality assurance (Q.A.) on the work completed.”

The team is a temporarily assigned duty (TAD), but act as a functioning division.

“We’re TAD for the entire [Docking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA)], so we act as a regular division, both administrative wise and operational wise,” said Baez. “We do PT and departmental training, just like everyone else.”

Fletcher said, “The object is a quality job, so if it takes a few extra days to get it done right, we’ll do it.”

on perfectly. By noon, we made our first weld and have been going ever since.”

The team is ahead of projected expectations. The welding done over the weekend held the sponson to the hull to release the tension on the crane. This success gave Puget Sound Naval Shipyard the ability to have workers on the sponson to continue welding inside as well as outside.

The sponson will house everything: the local control, equipment room and the magazine room.

“Nimitz at one time had a CIWS and this is one step to getting back what every other ship has out there: frigates, destroyers, cruisers and a few other carriers have a CIWS,” said Lt. j. g. William Burkland, the assistant weapons officer. “Seeing that go up there, I think it will bring up crew’s morale seeing more guns and firepower, because the CIWS is an awesome tool.”

According to Curry, the aft sponson is set to be attached next week.

CIWS: Sponson welded

Nimitz Sailors learning to avoid future mistakes

Continued from Page 1

Continued from previous page


This WEEks MWR EVENTsThursday, May 12th- * Nimitz MWR $5 Pizza Night at Sam Adams, 1700-2000 *TX Hold ‘em Tourney Bremerton Rec Center !800, Free

Friday, May 13th- * Mary Poppins, Paramount Theatre, Seattle (tickets via Ticketmaster)

Saturday, May 14th- *Slaughterhouse County Roler Vixens, Kitsap Pavilion Military appreciation Night, Doors at 1730, Tickets $9 at Kit-saptickets.com *Rat city Roller Vixens, Key Arena, tickets at Keyarena.com *Sagit Cheese & Wine Festival. $82 from Bremerton Rec Center *Blackout Bowling - Bremerton Rec 1800- midnight * Northwest Paintball Park $40 for all day rental (includes 500 paintballs, air, gun, and Mask) * Seattle Sounders Vs. Portland Tim-bers, tickets $21 at Bremerton ITT, kick-off 2000

Sunday, May 15th- *Ramstein at Tacoma Dome tickets from Ticketmaster.com * Mary Poppins, Paramount Theatre, Seattle (tickets via Ticketmaster)

Monday, May 16th- * Lunch time bowling Bremerton Rec * Step at West Concourse Gym, Free, 1645 *TRX at West Concourse Gym, Free 0830

Tuesday, May 17th- * Ping-Pong Tourney, Bremerton Rec, 1800, FREE prize for first. * Nimitz Bowling Tourney, Bremerton Lanes 1700, sign up at the MWR barge office * Zumba, 1800, West Concourse Gym, FREE * Elmo’s Healthy Heroes, Tacoma dome 1400 $20 tickets from myffr.com

Wednesday, May 18th- * Bowling & Movie night, bremerton rec 1600-2100 $5 per person includes pizza, shoes, and bowling * Elmo’s Healthy Heroes, Tacoma dome 1400 $20 tickets from myffr.com * Step at West Concourse Gym, Free, 1645

could be heard amongst the ambient noise overhead. Interactive computer terminals allowed users to gain deeper insight into the lives of the birds, and many other displays of real owls and woodpeckers decorated the exhibit.

On the way out, something caught my attention. A large canoe was hanging from the ceiling in the corner of the entryway beside one of the display cases. Beneath the canoe was a staircase, revealing the museum’s lower level, so we went down to check it out.

Pacific Voices, an exhibit that described different cultures found around the Pacific Ocean, consumed the lower level of the museum. The displays included a Maori storehouse for knowledge, bowls and baskets made out of whale baleen by the Inupiaq Indians, and a mural depicting cannibalism. I made my way

through mock-ups of different celebrations like the Korean Hollye (wedding ceremony), Chinese New Year, Japanese Obon (celebration of life and ancestors), and the Dia de Muertos, or Mexican Day of the Dead.

After the Pacific Voices exhibit, we hit up the Burke Museum Cafe, grabbed a couple of coffees, and headed out. Many different species of labeled plants grew in the gardens outside where numerous totem poles welcomed visitors. It was an educational day at the museum, and I certainly had a blast.

The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a general admission price of $9.50, $7.50 for seniors, $6.00 for youth, and free for University of Washington students. However, on the first Thursday of each month, the museum stays open until 8 p.m. and admission is free for everyone.

Museum: Northwest’s culture exploredContinued from Page 5

Nimitz News, May 12, 2011

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