he AOs from Helicopter Maritime Strike

Squadron (HSM) 75 night shift currently assigned to USS Nimitz (CVN 68) have their work cut out for them. They begin their shifts when the sun begins to disappear on the horizon and work 14 hours a day making sure their tools are accounted for and the machinery they work with is in working order. Due to the nature of their job and the materials AOs work with, safety is of the utmost importance.

“We do release checks at night on the helicopters, and make sure that nothing will fall off the aircraft, but if something does fall off at least it will fall off the right way,” said Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Robert A. Jordan.

Working with ordnance can be a tedious process, and performing maintenance on gear has to be done

precisely and with attentiveness to safety guidelines.“When I have to do maintenance on something

I have to do everything step-by-step according to what my written instructions are,” said Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Joshua K. Beville. “It’s

Story and Photo byMCSA Victoria Ochoa

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NIGHTCREW

JULY 27, 2013 Vol. 2 Issue 69

Continued on page 3

Editor

MC2 (SW) Jason Behnke

Lead Designer

MC3 (SW) George J. Penney III

Nimitz News accepts submissions in writing. All submissions are subject to review and screening. ”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.

Public Affairs Officer

LCDR Karin Burzynski

Commanding Officer

CAPT Jeff Ruth

Executive Officer

CDR John Cummings

Command Master Chief

CMDCM Teri McIntyre

CENTER FOR SERVICE SUPPORT (CSS) announced they are actively looking for high-quality senior Sailors to enhance its already

dynamic team.CSS and its learning sites provide Sailors with

the knowledge and skills needed to support the Fleet’s warfighting mission.

More than 300 staff and faculty work hand-in-hand with the Fleet and are dedicated to ensure training is current and well executed on behalf of 10,000 Sailors who graduate from CSS courses annually in the administration, logistics and media communities.

During a three-year tour, a subject matter expert (SME) would attend the Navy Instructor Training Course, granting them the Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) 9502, work closely with learning sites, compile questions for rating advancement exams and also have the opportunity to earn the prestigious Master Training Specialist (MTS) qualification.

Command Master Chief (SW/SCW/AW) Reinaldo Rosado said that a SME’s influence doesn’t just extend to the Sailors, but to the commands they serve in, all over the globe.

“Sailors we train often serve in diverse assignments,” said Rosado. “Many of our former students have served everywhere from the front lines of Afghanistan to the decks of our carriers. They report to their commands trained and ready to go to

work immediately.”Capt. Mark S. Murphy, CSS’ commanding officer

said the command’s expectations and goals are high but very obtainable.

“Work hard: be brilliant on the basics and take care of our people”, said Murphy. “Work, study and learn at the job you’ve been given. Be ready when opportunity knocks. Work smart: mission first, safety always. Push decision making to the lowest level. Communicate up and down the chain. Have fun: Keep a balance, keep a sense of humor and test your ideas. We want the best to train the Navy’s future.”

CSS was established Feb. 7, 2003, in response to Naval Education and Training’s (NETC) initiative to address challenges in Fleet training and to improve Sailors’ professional development products and processes. In streamlining the business of delivering training, NETC charged 15 learning centers like CSS with specific areas of naval training. NETC organized the centers around their functional areas and appropriately aligned schools and respective training sites to each center.

Sailors who are eligible for shore duty and in their transfer window are encouraged to contact their command career counselors and detailers.

For available billet opportunities, visit https://www.cmsid.navy.mil/.

For more news from Center for Service Support, visit www.navy.mil/local/css/.

2

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (AW/SW) Shawn D. GrahamCenter for Service Support Public Affairs

CSSLOOKINGFORSUBJECT

MATTER EXPERTS

3

annoying but necessary when you realize that we deal with potentially dangerous things.”

Examples of security procedures include checking circuit breakers to ensure they are off, wearing proper flight deck gear and checking that the aircraft is grounded and de-armed. All those procedures ensure AOs can efficiently and safely do their job.

“We deal with M-240 machine guns, Hellfire missiles and .50 caliber machine guns and that much power needs a lot of attention to detail,” said Beville.

With only five personnel working night check the AOs find themselves occupied throughout the night keeping their equipment in good condition.

“We work on the flight deck at night and it’s really dark,” said Beville. “Try working on a helo when the only thing you can use to light up what you’re seeing is a blue flashlight and the moon.”

Being an AO isn’t only about working long hours and moving heavy objects; it’s also about camaraderie.

“Whenever a ship’s company AO or anyone for that matter needs help, we help out,” said

Jordan. “It’s called being a shipmate and lending a helping hand and that’s what we do.”

In the early hours of morning, when the sun begins to rise above the pulsating ocean, the AOs from HSM-75 night check can begin to retreat to their racks. But the job is never over. Day check will take their place and continue the job. Night and day, day and night, AOs and other Sailors will strive to keep the ship safe until Nimitz arrives safely back home.

Continued from page 1

AOs prepare weapons for review and inspection.

4

5

A congressionally mandated pilot program will enhance an existing Defense Department program that provides care and treatment for military children with autism, a senior DoD official said.

Dr. Jonathan Woodson, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs and director of the TRICARE Management Activity, met with reporters yesterday to explain the new program.

An estimated 8,500 children of active-duty military families have a form of autism, Woodson said. He sought to dispel military parents’ concerns about rumors of a potential loss in benefits for their children with autism and autism spectrum disorder.

“We understand that there’s a lot of anxiety in the community of interest around autism about suspected changes that would adversely affect care,” he said. “Providing care to children who have autism spectrum disorder and making sure they get the full range of care they need is a priority to us.”

“All care will be continued,” Woodson added, noting that active-duty service members’ children’s autism care benefits in the applied behavior analysis administered through TRICARE would not change.

“Anyone who’s receiving care under the [Enhanced Access to Autism Services Demonstration] - there will be no change,” he said.

There’s also no change in benefits to anyone enrolled in the basic medical program that began July 2012, Woodson said. An expansion of services through the autism pilot program, he added, will

also allow retirees and their families to receive ASD benefits.

Autism care and treatment is evolving, Woodson said.

“In the future, we’ll try to identify what the best practice is for the periodic assessments - who should get it and over what period of time,” he said, noting the pilot program is expected to yield “great insight” into evaluation protocols.

The pilot program was developed by crafting requirements through consulting with experts in the field and advocacy groups to “try to find validated tests and the best strategy for focusing on what would be the right care at the right time for children [with autism],” Woodson said.

Woodson said the pilot program’s overall focus is directed at families, and what is best for their child. Parents’ input will be sought to ensure their issues are represented as the program is shaped, he added.

There is “an expanding need and recognition” of military families with children who have autism, Woodson said. Integral to increasing autism treatment capability, he said, is having a large network of providers that work with autistic children.

“We continually try to improve ... [and] expand our network of providers,” he said. “I think we have one of the most robust networks available.”

Woodson said it is “paramount” for children with autism to obtain professional reassessments to ensure they get the right care, at the right time, with updated care plans.

“That’s what we’re all about,” he said. “Focusing on the child and what’s best and providing the families with access to these services.”

By Terri Moon CronkAmerican Forces Press Services

PILOT PROGRAM ENHANCES

AUTISMTREATMENT

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HT3 George Weckman welds in the metal shop.Lt. Richard Dorsey signals to launch an F/A-18E Super Hornet.

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