The Big Easy August 2014

The Ea

syMagazineBIGThe insider to what’s happening around New Orleans

Vol. 1 Issue 5August 2014

33CPR Training

Newly Frocked Petty Officers

Brush up on your CPR skills

HMC Brooks builds a happier life with every event she competes in.

STEP BY STEP

COLOR ME RAD, 5K BEER RUN, DEL MAR MUD RUN....AND MORE

The Ea

syMagazineBIGThe insider to what’s happening around New Orleans

Vol. 1 Issue 5August 2014

So many people complain that running isn’t fun, it’s taxing on the body, and boring to run for long periods of time around a track or on a treadmill. But what if you’re climbing over obstacles or getting sprayed with paint while loud music plays and people cheer you on? We have found five August and early September runs that provide a great workout while offering you an exciting time to spend with family and friends. On a training note, being CPR qualified is everyone’s responsibility. We have laid out a quick training page for you to brush up on your CPR knowledge.

Mark your calendars for Surface Line Week, from the 8th to the 15th. If you have signed up for an event, get out and represent New Orleans as we compete with other ships from around Naval Base San Diego.

As always, we are looking to improve The BIG Easy Magazine to better suit your interests and provide an entertaining read. We are looking for positive and even negative feedback; don’t worry, you won’t hurt our feelings. If you have any new ideas for the team to incorporate please feel free to email us at [email protected].

-New Orleans Public Affairs

The Editor’s Column

“This newspaper is an authorized publication for military members on board USS New Orleans (LPD 18). Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official views of, or endorsed by the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the United States Navy and do not imply endorsement thereof”

The Big Easy

Commanding OfficerCAPT Douglas Verissimo

Executive OfficerLCDR Roberto Dumlao

Command Master ChiefCMDCM(SW/AW/EXW) James Osbourne

OmbudsmanRachel Renner

Family Readiness GroupSamantha Schneggenburger

The BIG Easy EditorialPublic Affairs Officer:ENS Chloe Staab

Editor:MC1(SW/AW) Gary Granger Jr.

Designer:MCSN Brandon Cyr

Photos & Stories:MC1(SW/AW) Gary Granger Jr. MCSN Brandon Cyr

USS NEW ORLEANS LPD 18

Welcome AboardShipmates

SR Valentin FCSN AsmannSA CoreFC3 GillABF3 FriersonFC3 ChuGM2 HowardCTR2 MorrisFC1 ChapmanABH1 Greer

ENS LodatoENS HanrattyENS KimENS AngelesENS LynchENS DubeENS RubinENS RovitoENS MannierLT WebsterLT Herforth

USS NEW ORLEANSAUGUST 2014

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INSIDER

08 HMC Brooks has been running for fun and to meet fitness goals for years, but now Brooks and her wife are running to strengthen their relationship.

RUNNING RELATIONSHIP

Check out some photos of our ship and her crew throughout the past month. 1004 A new way to enjoy running.

We layout five family friendly running events that you can enter to help keep your body fit.

JUST RUNTHROUGH THE LENSE

THE

Welcome AboardShipmates


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New Orleans’ Sailors train in basic firefighting alongside other Sailors from the fleet.


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PHOTOS OF THE MONTH By New Orleans Public Affairs

HTC Reams reenlists at the USS Bennington Memorial on July 21st.

DCA CWO 3 Hodges observes the names of U.S.Veterans engraved on the cremation wall at Fort Rosecrans Natonal Cemetery

HM3 Cooper mans a firehose at the Firefighting Damage Control School on Naval Base San Diego.

HM3 Cooper mans a firehose at the Firefighting Damage Control School on Naval Base San Diego.

Sailors from New Orleans play a pick up game of beachNew Orleans makes her tranisi-tion to the BAE shipyards.

New Orleans enjoy an afternoon at the beach.

volleyball during the Command Beach Picnic.

FROCKED!!THIRD CLASS

PETTY OFFICERSECOND CLASS PETTY OFFICER

FIRST CLASS PETTY OFFICER

HM3 CooperEM3 EdwardsABF3 JohnstonCTR3 LopezRiosMM3 MitchellEN3 PittsIT3 JacksonGM3 LiperOS3 MercadoIT3 RossmieslGM3 StetsonGM3 WorkmanHM3 Yang

BM2 BonnerOS2 CameronHM2 FrancoOS2 HernandezYN2 HintonBM2 JonesGM2 LewinLS2 NunneryABF2 ObarimaCTT2 O’ConnerOS2 OreBM2 SimmonBM2 WaldburgET2 Wallete

IT1 BrightMM1 EspirtuCS1 JohnsonHM1 Ponce


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An alarm sounds early in the morning as a young Hospital Corpsman (HN) Erin Brooks laces her shoes and prepares for the daily 0430 physical training (PT) with

her Marine battalion. This mornings’ workout consists of running in formation up steep hills and plyometric bodyweight training that will strengthen her body and ensure that Brooks is fit for duty. As the workout comes to an end Brooks would began her day with a sense of accomplishment and pride. This pride in physical fitness would follow and motivate her to stay strong throughout her military career and influence others in her life to get out and get active.

Fast forward to today, now Chief Hospital Corpsman Brooks is competing in running events with her wife Jennifer Kelso, a Chief Boatswain’s Mate aboard Assault Craft Unit 1, who brings fun competition to the realtionship that does nothing less than strengthen their bond with encouragment and commitment.

The Navy has set standards for its Sailors to follow and fitness requirements that must be met. For Brooks, running wasn’t only for fun and good health, but to be an effective Sailor and to be fit to fight at all times.

“As a young corpsman, I was assigned as a Fleet Marine Force (FMF) Sailor to a Field Medical Team

Battalion in Camp Lejuene, North Carolina where I really started to enjoy running,” said Brooks. “We would PT everyday no matter where we were with the Marines to the point where it just became routine and enjoyable. Lejeune had a bunch of trails that I could run and have my own time to be at peace.”

Stepping forward a couple of years, Brooks found herself deployed as an FMF Sailor to the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8). The ship would hold athletic events throughout the course of deployment to boost morale and promote physical fitness throughout the ship. She heard of an upcoming half marathon on the flight deck and jotted her name down on a whim.

This run would be her first event and ultimately would be the final push that sparked her interest in participating in future running events. Other Sailors and Marines from her battalion ran the 41 lap course alongside her around the flight deck of Makin Island.

“I will be honest, I definitely wasn’t prepared for how long it was, but we finished the run as a group and motivated each other the entire way,” said Brooks. “We worked together everyday but you would be surprised how much you learn about a person after a 13.1 mile run.”

A Running Relationship

Story by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Brandon CyrPhotos courtesy of Chief Hospital Corpsman Erin Brooks


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After returning from deployment the Makin Island run sparked Brooks’ drive to begin competing in 5K runs all around California.

Her toughest event to date was the Tough Mudder in 2012 when she crawled through pits of mud and vaulted over obstacles while pushing herself to the finish line. The satisfaction that Brooks gained from running was contagious and motivated others to improve their fitness standards and live an all around happier life. The most important person she motivated would be her wife Kelso.

“She always cheered me on at events and supported my running lifestyle,” said Brooks. “Jennifer hates running, so when she joined me for a run one day it came as a pleasant surprise.”

The pair began to stretch their legs everyday after work and would run until they felt satisfied. After a period of time they decided to sign up for the 5K Urban Warrior Dash. Urban Dash is very similar to the Tough Muddder being filled with difficult obstacles and deep mud pits.

“I don’t like to say that I compete in runs, because each event is all about finishing, not winning,” said Brooks. “Running in the Warrior Dash with Jen was so much more rewarding because it was a victory that we could both share in. We were neck in neck in the mud and helping each other over each obstacle all the way to the end.”

Brooks and Kelso have signed up for a wide variety of unique running events to include virtual 10Ks

and costume wearing runs. For the the costume run, the Ridiculous Obstacle Course held in San Diego, they dressed up like nerds for the race that had courses very similar to the popular TV game show Wipeout.

Brooks and Kelso continue to sign up for future events, but the one they are most looking forward to is 2014’s Tough Mudder.

“Jen was deployed during my first Tough Mudder, but we are taking the challenge on together this time,” said Brooks. “This will be our longest run together. It will be 10 miles of blood, sweat, and tears. I’m sure our relationship will be better for it as we receive our finisher headbands at the end of the course. Running has been something that we can always do together and has become a big part of our relationship.”

HMC Brooks sticks her toungue out to the camera for a pose during the 2012 Tough Mudder.


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Photo by MCSN Brandon CyrPhoto by MCSN Brandon Cyr

AUGUST 23RD 5K RUN

Get Fit, Have Fun...Just Run!Color Runs are bringing the worlds of fitness and partying together.

COLOR ME RAD FREE TO BREATHEAUGUST 23RDQualcomm Stadium9449 Friars RdSan Diego, California$40.00 by 8/15/2014colormerad.com

AUGUST 16THNorth Embarcadero Marina Park400 Kettner BlvdSan Diego, CA 92101$25.00 Online by 8/13/2014$30.00 Event Dayparticipate.freetobreathe.org

Come out and join the fun at the 3rd annual Color Me Rad 5K. Bring something you won’t mind getting dirty because it’s likely that it won’t ever be the same after this paint filled block run. When you show up

you will receive your very own RAD t-shirt and a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes as you are dowsed in a variety of colored paint.

This event is held in support of the non-profit Southern California Special Olympics with the mission of providing year round sports training and athletic opportunites to intellectually disabled athletes of the community.

Stretch your legs and use your lungs during this 5k run to help support efforts in curing lung cancer. This run is open

to all ages so feel free to bring your family out for some great exercise and fun.

Free to Breathe is funded off of fundraisers run by you. The top raisers are rewarded with various prizes, so get a team together and start raising money for this great cause.

Photo courtesy of colormerad.com


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Photo by MCSN Brandon Cyr

Photo courtesy of colormerad.com

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ADVENTURE RUN 5K BEER RUN DEL MAR MUD RUNAUGUST 14THRoad Runner SportsSan Diego5549 Copley Dr.San Diego, CA 92101Free Eventadventurerun.com

AUGUST 23RDEmbarcadero MarinaPark North585 Harbor LnSan Diego, CA 92101$40.00 5K Online by 8/22/2014$45.00 10K Online by 8/22/2014sandyfeetevents.com

OCTOBER 4THDel Mar Fairgrounds2260 Jimmy Durante BvldDel Mar, CA 02014$64.00 Online by September$74.00 Day of Event delmarmudrun.com

The San Diego Road Runner Sports Adventure Run is exactly what it sounds like: a 60 minute scavenger hunt-like run through the streets of San Diego.

During this 5k of fun you can challenge your family in friendly competion to win thousands of prizes.

Run the race at your own pace and collect as many raffle tickets as you can in 60 minutes while keeping your heart rate up and enjoying an afternoon of fun.

After youve reached the end and cashed in your tickets grab a FREE beer and relax with the new prizes that you earn.

As always, Road Runners Sports is looking to help support local organizations with your help through fundraising and donations.

Color and paint ain’t your thing? Well here is an event on the same day as Color Me Rad that may peak your interest. The San Diego Beer Run is a 5K or 10K option spanning out along the San Diego Bay.

Burn some calories and curb the guilt before participating in the Beer Olympics with your four man team as you go head to head against other teams to win beer and prizes.

The money raised along with fundraising support will be benefiting Access Youth Academy, a non-profit organization serving San Diego’s underpriviliged, first-generation youth.

Volunteers are also welcomed and needed to run this fun filled event. Help to cheer on the runners and assist in the beer challenges throughout the day.

Now this one is a few months early but as you can see it cost almost twice as much as any other event that has been listed. This is the fifth year of the mud run and is proposed to be the best yet.

Like the Tough Mudder, this is an ultrapopular event that has been recog-nized not only by the local citizens, but by celebrities and interantional media. The mud run is growing in fame and size each year and with that the tickets are selling out faster than ever.

Get a team together and bound over walls or crawl through the trenches as you make your way through the challenging course that makes up the Mud Run.

Following the race you can clean off in the “Magic Foam Experience,” a giant pit of foaming suds. After which you can don your very own Del Mar Mud Run finishers shirt while you suck down your first beer on the house. The Mud Run also offers discounted prices on local hotels so you can stay local and go out on the town after your awesome day in the pits.

Running is the greatest metaphor for life because you get out of it what you put into it.

Photo courtesy of toughmudder.com

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The Big Easy August 2014