UNDERWAYR E A L . L I F E . S E A . S T O R I E S

Bigger!Faster!

Stronger!

Why is the Rum gone?

rain , Sleet, Snow or deployment

artiStFrom the mess decks to

the drawing boardth

e

5nCis

toP

rUn dmc

UNDERWAY is an authorized publication for the crew members of USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Contents herein are not necessarily the views of, or endorsed by the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy or the Commanding Officer of Stennis. Underway is edited, prepared and provided by the JCS media department. All news releases, photos or information for publication in the Underway must be submitted to the Public Affairs Office (3-180-0-Q). All submissions are edited for accuracy, clarity, brevity and conformance to style. The staff reserves the right to edit or reject any submission.

USS John C. StennisCommanding Officer Capt. Ronald Reis Executive Officer Capt. Jeff GrafCommand Master ChiefCMDCM Stan Jewett

Media DepartmentPublic Affairs Officer Lt. Cmdr. Zachary HarrellMedia Dept. DIVOEns. Joshua KelseyMedia Dept. DLCPO MCCS Alan MonyelleMedia Dept. LCPO MCC Jesse SherwinMedia Dept. LPO MC2 Kathleen O’Keefe

UNDERWAY MagazineEditor-in-ChiefLt. Cmdr. Zachary HarrellEditorMC2 Kathleen O’KeefeCreative Director MC3 Justin Lawrence

ContributersMC2 Kenneth AbbateMC2 John HetheringtonMC2 Charlotte OliverMC3 Grant WamackMC3 Crishanda McCallMC3 Chelsy AlaminaMC3 Destiny CheekMC3 Erin HamiltonSN Daniel Schumacher

A special thank you to all those who let us tell your stories to the crew and the fleet.

Dear Readers,

I have been fortunate enough to spend each Christmas on land, even though I was deployed. Last year I decided to do something fun since I couldn’t be home where I wanted to be. My friend and I bought tickets to go four wheeling in the desert sand dunes outside of Jebel Ali, Dubai. We were pretty excited in the weeks leading up to our excursion.

But when Christmas day came neither of us were feeling the seasonal cheer. We wanted to be home; to feel the chill of winter air instead of the constant heat of the middle east. I remarked on how I was missing out on watching my sisters open Christmas gifts. She resented missing her niece’s first Christmas. The whole ride to the dunes was focused on what we were missing out on.

It wasn’t until we started the ride that it hit us. We were spending Christmas day roaring over sand dunes and riding camels in the desert sands of Dubai! That was cool! I don’t care who you are!

True, we missed the traditions we loved, but we were making unique memories. I’ll never forget my middle eastern Christmas.

Life is short and you should spend it making the most of every moment; even the bad ones. This issue is filled with Sailors who live by that creed.

Take AOAA Eric Terrell for example. His dreams of attending college on a art scholarship didn’t happen the way he planned, but he didn’t let that stop him. He’s still finding his way to his dreams; he is taking the road less travelled. He’ll tell you how its made all the difference.

Appreciate the experiences this deployment, and life in general, have given you instead of the ones it has taken away. It’s okay to appreciate what you’re missing as long as it doesn’t stop you from seeing the great things right in front of you. Whether that’s your family, your health or even that you have your job, it’s still more than others have.

It could always be worse.

Letter from the editor

“Like” our Facebook page to see what your families are saying about the photos of you!

www.facebook.com/stennis74

UNDERWAY

-Kathleen O’Keefe

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FEATUREssTAPLEs

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contents

Volume 01 Issue 05November 2012 Edit ion

Seabag We fill you in on the top 5 things NCIS wants you to know, why the rum being gone really is a big deal, and how the mentorship program really can get you where you want to go.

Geared Up This ship doesn’t just keep itself secure! Take a look at some of the weapons and gear inside G-2 that Sailors use to defend the ship.

In Touch When the going gets tough it helps to remember that it could always be worse! Don’t believe us? Check out our list of reasons to count your never-ending deployment blessings.

SMO’s Corner He’s back with a vengeance and a whole new page! Doc Schiemel introduces us to the new and improved medical appointment system. Spoiler alert: He talks a lot about Run DMC.

Ask The LPO You have the questions and CTT1 Gregory has the answers!

The Artist Life may have sent him back to the drawing board, but AOAA Eric Terrell still dreams of being an art powerhouse that everyone knows.

A Postal Story Your packages don’t just get here on their own. Meet the people who make it happen.

Bigger, Faster, Stronger Your average Sailor can’t pull a 14-wheeler on their own, but MM1 Matthew White isn’t your average Sailor.

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Do not lend your Navy Cash Card to shipmates. If they asked to borrow $5 you would not hand them your credit card. The same principle applies as sometimes they “accidently” take extra money from you.

Under military regulations and the UCMJ, SPICE, marijuana and drug paraphernalia are illegal. Even though the use of marijuana has been legalized by Washington State vote, Sailors caught using or possessing these substances will face court-martial or NJP and be processed for administrative separation from the Navy.

Alcohol is a common factor in sexual assault cases. Alcohol impairs your judgement and statistically makes you more vulnerable to dangerous situations. Make sure you are following the liberty buddy policy to ensure you are putting yourself and your shipmates in safe situations.

75% of cases involve the misuse of alcohol. Responsible use of alcohol includes knowing your own limits as well as taking care of shipmates and intervening to prevent abusive drinking.

things NCIS wants you to know

seabag

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Story by MC2 Kathleen O’keefe

Story by MC2 Charlotte Oliver

The Navy’s push to encourage Sailors that they don’t need to drink to have a good time has been very successful. Alcohol related incidents are down, DUIs are down and its made the workplace a safer, less hungover place.

We’re definitely better off now, but there was a time when alcohol saved some Sailors’ lives. In the 1800s a disease called scurvy, which stemmed from a vitamin C deficiency, caused jaundice, fever and death. Sometimes half of a ship’s crew would be debilitated by scurvy.

It wasn’t until the English started serving watered down rum, or grog, as part of Sailors’ daily food rations that things got better. The stuff tasted so foul that crews added citrus juice, bursting with vitamin C, to the mix. That little extra juice made English Sailors vastly healthier than those of other fleets and some English naval victories are even attributed to the dark libation.

Before John “Trane” Coltrane put his mark on jazz music history, he was entertaining service members on the shores of Hawaii.

Coltrane was born Sept. 23, 1926 in Hamlet, S.C. The son of a tailor and amateur musician, Coltrane was introduced to music in church and learned to play the clarinet. With dreams of musical success, Coltrane moved to Philadelphia after graduating high school in 1943. While working outside the music industry, he switched from playing the clarinet to the alto saxophone and eventually settled on the tenor saxophone.

In 1945, Coltrane enlisted in the United States Navy as a volunteer apprentice seaman and was stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It was there, on the shores of Oahu, that he made his first recording with a Navy band called the Melody Masters. After a year in the Navy, Coltrane was discharged and moved back to Philadelphia. He spent the latter half of the 1940s between Philadelphia and New York, and in 1949 he recorded his first commercial album with famed trumpeter, Dizzy Gillespie.

In the early 1950s Coltrane fell victim to the draws of heroin and was fired from several bands before finding fellow addict and musician, Miles Davis. The power of addiction was too strong for Coltrane and he was fired from Davis’ group. After leaving Davis, Coltrane had an apprenticeship with pianist and composer Thelonious Monk, where he learned to extend his solos, focus on multiphonics, and start on the path to recovery from addiction.

Coltrane, now drug free, rejoined the Miles Davis group in the late 1950s with a renewed vigor and love of music. His long melodic solos can be heard on the best-selling jazz album in history, Kind of Blue. While recording Kind of Blue, Coltrane left Davis on his own accord and began working on what would be known as his masterpiece, Giant Steps. His masterpiece and the evolution of his playing style changed the jazz era.

Coltrane died of liver cancer at Huntington Hospital in Long Island, N.Y. on July 17, 1967. He was 40 years old.

Why IsThe Rum

Gone?Jazzing Up The Navy

Be mindful of what you post on Facebook. Sometimes the smallest piece of information is what the enemy is looking for. Posting information about future port calls is a violation of OPSEC and will be investigated. NCIS has seen an increased number of OPSEC violations.

NCIS is not out to get anyone. NCIS is responsible for

gathering all the facts in regards to criminal allegations brought to

our attention.3

What is the purpose/mission of the mentorship program?

The purpose of the mentorship program is to guide Sailors to the accomplishment of their personal and professional goals.

How has this program benefitted you?Although mentorship was not always recognized

as an official program in the Navy, it has benefitted me in many ways; both as a protégé and as a mentor.

As a protégé rising in the enlisted ranks, mentorship helped me achieved my goals by connecting me with senior Sailors whose experience gave them insights I didn’t yet have. It also broadened my knowledge of the my rating during my first few years in the Navy. Mentorship also helped me achieve goals outside of the office that will benefit me after my naval service is over. I was able to complete my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in part because of the mentorship I received.

Many good leaders are willing to help or want to give back some of what the Navy has given to them. They actually want to share their knowledge and guide Sailors to the path to success. Being a protégé is not as easy as others think because you have to be ready to accept honest and hard criticism from your mentor to get the desired result! Of course, protégé’s due diligence needs to come into play as well. Without action on the protégé’s part, nothing will happen.

As a mentor, this program also helped me achieved my aspiration to help others with their qualifications, advancement, and education. It really feels good to see someone you mentor succeed. I always guide and develop junior Sailors to succeed not only in this command but also other Sailors in other commands who are requesting me to be their mentor. I want all of them to succeed and reach their goals.

How would you define the purpose/mission of the mentorship program?

The purpose or mission of the mentorship pro-gram is provide sailors with leadership and guidance to assist in achieving personal and professional goals.

How does mentorship benefit the entire command?

We’re all part of this team and every team needs leaders to pass on their knowledge. No one will be here forever and the sharing of knowledge will benefit the entire fleet. When one Sailor excels we all win.

How do you think it benefits the protégé? Sailors who take the advice of their mentors are

more likely to achieve their goals quickly. Mentorship exposes you to decades of experience in getting ahead in the Navy.

Why do you think it’s important to have this type of program?

Having a person you can turn to and lean on when times are rough not only makes you a better Sailor; it makes you a better person.

What is the goal setting process between the mentor and protégé?

The protégé sets their personal and professional goals with guidance from his mentor. They set a time line for his/her goals to be met and then the mentor follows up with protégé to see how he or she is doing with those goals.

How can Sailors get a mentor?Sponsors serve as an advocate for Sailors to

acquire a mentor. Usually they are assigned one during School of Ship. Within 30 days of being onboard, every Sailor should find a mentor.

How can you become a mentor?Basically you need to be E-5 and above and you

need to be asked. A form will be filled out between the mentor and protégé. The protégé will go over their goals and write them down. They will work together to accomplish the goals. That is their mentorship agreement. They will maintain a dialogue and keep up with the goals.

The idea is that you help them grow as a whole person, not just as a Sailor. It goes across the board. It’s designed to have them motivate you to become better. You are mentored by someone who won’t agree with everything you want; they need to be able to disagree with decisions they feel isn’t the best for the Sailor. It’s a healthy balance in the relationship and when trust is built, you will learn to trust the judgments of both parties.

Does the relationship stop after a member transfers?

No. I still have mentors that I keep in touch with over Facebook and other social media outlets. The relationship can sometimes end on the ship, but it can still follow you throughout your entire naval career. The mentorship program has allowed Sailors to meet other people who can become lifelong friends.

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2

3It’s designed to allow Sailors

to have someone to talk to. The concept goes with you throughout your career. The intent is designed to ensure Sailors have someone to relate to and discuss their problems with, whether it is personal or professional. The mentor is someone who is unbiased and will be an ear for you.

A protégé, as a bright and motivated individual, is the future of an organization; the insurance that a well-trained, high-quality workforce will exist to meet long-term employment needs.

Together, the mentor and protégé share mentoring experiences that, over time, can build a successful and enriching relationship.

The success of the mentoring relationship also depends on how well the mentoring relationship is defined. You need to know each other’s expectations. Once you have a clear understanding of these expectations you will be able to ensure that each other’s expectations are being met.

MentorshipProgramStory by MC3 Chelsey AlaminaPhotos by MC2 Kenneth Abbate

LSCS(AW/SW) Alexander Rullan

MMC (SW/AW) Kirk Jeppson

ITC (AW/SW) Michael Davis

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drink perhour

drinks per night

ZERO ARI

ZERO DUI ZERO ARI5

Photography by MC2 Kenneth Abbate

This month take a look at the weapons and gear G-2 keeps in the Armory.

G-2: Armory

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

(E)

(F)

(G)

geared up

(B) In the case that security and or gunners mates need self defense they are armed with the M500 20” Shotgun, which can also be used for riot control. $304.00Cost per A011 round: $0.46

(C) When threats such as small boats and low flying aircraft are approaching the ship the M2HB .50 cal. machine gun is one of ships self defense options $15,000.00It is supported by a MK93 Mount $2,069.00Cost per A557 round: $2.71

(A) The weapon of choice for ship self defense is the M-16A3 Assault Rifle and is carried by roving security patrols. $400.00 Cost per A059 round: $0.44 Attatched to the M-16A3 is the M203A1 Grenade Launcher which is used for shooting grenades, but onboard it is used for shooting warning flares at anything that is entering our threat zone. $593.00Cost per B536 round: $73.33

(G) During replenishments-at-sea a line on a rubber bullet is shot over to the other ship using a M-14, with a special attachment. $2,500.00 Cost per A130 round: $0.44

(F) Used alongside the .50 cal. mounts the ship is also armed with its little brother, the M240B Machine gun for use in stopping incoming threats. $6,000.00 Cost per A131 round: $0.91

(E) No more M-16’s? No worries. The armory is also stocked with the M41A Assault Rifle $1,329.00 Cost per A059 round: $0.44

(D) The standard military issue sidearm is the Baretta M9 Pistol. while it may not pack a big punch a well aimed shot will get the job done. $386.00 Cost per A363 round: $0.39

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ARTISTThe

Since he was a child, Eric Terrell has been chasing his dream to become one of the greatest artists of his time. Being deployed to the other side of the world isn’t going to slow him down.

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Story by SN Daniel Schumacher Photos by MC2 Kenneth Abbate8

Quick glances can tell a lot about a person. His red flight deck jersey with G-3 spray painted

on the front says that he assembles ordnance and mans the .50 caliber turrets to protect the ship and its crew. His smile as he cracks jokes with his friends says that he prefers to be in company instead of solitude, and he makes something more out of the normal moments in life.

What isn’t seen upon first glance is that Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Apprentice Eric Terrell has an artist dwelling within. He doesn’t use art as just a pastime or a way to ease off the stress but as a defining feature of who he is and what he has dreamt of becoming his entire life.

Having grown up in Akron, Ohio,

Terrell credits his early understanding of art to his family.

“My mom liked to do cartoonish pictures of me and my sisters when we were kids,” said Terrell laughing. “They would always be funny drawings of me with a big nose and big ears. I had prominent features as a kid and it made me feel bad sometimes, but I loved the way she drew and I wanted to be like her. Since then, I’ve had art in my blood.”

While in elementary school, an art teacher recognized Terrell’s potential and encouraged him to try drawing.

“She had me draw the whole class and to this day, she still has some of my pictures,” said Terrell. “That’s the first time I drew real people. She encouraged

my mom to make sure I went to art schools so I could continue to grow as an artist.”

With the support and encouragement of his family and teachers, Terrell enrolled in art school. In 3rd grade, Terrell was accepted to attend Miller South Middle School, which offered a curriculum focused on improving a child’s artistic capabilities.

“That middle school took things to a new level for me in both art and academics,” said Terrell. “I had two art classes a day on top of all the regular classes. Both the classes and homework were harder than anything I’d done before, but I was determined to keep going and stuck with it. I loved art and wanted to go further.”

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In 8th grade, Terrell passed another audition to get into Firestone High School where he took four art classes a day in addition to his regular classes. During his sophomore year, Terrell’s skill out shined that of his peers when his year-long art assignment was awarded a Scholastics Gold Key and was displayed in an art museum in New York.

Terrell credits his fondness for realistic art styles to his childhood idol, Chuck Close, whose artwork is realistic enough to be mistaken as a photograph on first glance.

“I found out I enjoyed making my work as realistic as possible,” said

Terrell Terrell’s accomplishments brought about more success in the form of an art scholarship to Pittsburg Technical Institute (PTI). Not only would Terrell be able to afford college, but also stay close enough to see his family.

“Everything was working out for me,” said Terrell excitedly. “That was an amazing moment for both me and my family.”

Yet, the feeling was short-lived. Terrell’s scholarship depended on having good grades across the board and some classes proved more challenging than others.

“I just couldn’t get myself to become interested in art history,” said Terrell regretfully. “I wasn’t able to focus on the work and ended up getting a C grade average. I was kicked out of Firestone and lost my college scholarship to PTI.”

Terrell finished his junior and senior year in a public high school with only one art class focusing on the basic principles of art; a class Terrell took in middle school.

“My whole life revolved around art before I went to public school,” said Terrell. “Then I was the only one I knew who could even draw. I felt like my mind

was starving.”Terrell was unable to get a new

scholarship throughout the last two years of high school and even the best paying jobs available to Terrell at the time would take him years to build up a college fund.

“Times were tough for my family back then,” said Terrell. “They offered to help me pay for college but I knew none of us had that kind of money. I didn’t want them to do that for me.”

Since college would not be happening in the immediate future, Terrell started looking into military service to achieve his goals without anyone in his family going into debt.

“I decided to join the military for the college benefits and adventure,” said Terrell. “It was the fastest way to get my life back on track without working myself to death.”

Although Terrell has been in the Navy for more than two years, he still pursues his dream with the same resolve he had as an adolescent.

“I’ve gotten to see and do so many amazing things and still find time to do what I love,” said Terrell. “I’ve also been able to save up some extra money for college on top of the benefits I will be getting.”

Using the routine of the military lifestyle to his advantage, Terrell makes time every night to find an open table to spread out all of his art projects, listen to his favorite music and unwind from the day.

Experimenting with how it feels to be a freelancing artist, Terrell takes on requests from fellow Sailors to create something unique they can bring home to their friends and family. Most of the clients have either seen him working on an art piece or heard about him by word of mouth.

“I treat every project like a commission and use the opportunity to

become better at my own styles,” said Terrell. “I like how happy everyone is to bring something I make home with them.”

Aspiring to become a professional artist who can cater to the needs of the clients, Terrell challenges himself by leaving most of the project choices up to the client.

“I keep a few sketches on hand to show people my strongest styles, and people can use them to help decide how I will draw for them,” said Terrell. “It has sketchbook pen, color pencil, oil pastel, and oil paint. Most of the time, people choose color pencil. Next would be pastel. No one has chosen oil paint

yet, but they always have that option. ”Even though Terrell gives away

most of his work to Sailors on the ship, he isn’t finished with a project until he knows he put forth 100 percent of his effort to make every aspect as perfect as possible.

“Once I start a picture, I can’t stop!” said Terrell passionately. “I keep going until I know it’s looking good. If I can’t fix it, I’ll probably start the whole project over.”

Although Terrell’s next milestone in life will be going to college, he’s already looking at what lies in store for the future. As a kid, Terrell looked up to Bob Ross’ TV show where he created a new painting every episode as he instructed the audience how to do the same.

“I’ve always wanted to be on TV the way Bob Ross was,” said Terrell. “He put emotions into his paintings: happy blue, sad green. He was an excellent painter and I hope I get to do something like that in my life.”

Terrell’s been given a second chance and isn’t going to let this one slip through his fingers and through hard work and determination, he continues to follow his dream.

“I’ve gotten to see and do so many amazing things and still find time to do what I love,” said Terrell.

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POSTAL STORY

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story by MC2 Armando Gonzalesphotos by MC2 Kenneth Abbate

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Everyone loves the post office, which is to say that everyone loves getting mail. They love it so much that they don’t even notice the people behind the piles of boxes who have to hand scan every single parcel. People don’t even think about who has to hand carry everything from the flight deck to the 2nd deck and vice versa every day. You probably hardly notice them, but every goodie you get comes to you safely due in part to their hard work.

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A forklift revs its engine as a cloud of black smoke pummels out of the exhaust. It carries a pallet full of boxes that, to many, are the very thing that will lift their mood in this repeating adventure known as deployment. The boxes travel through the crowds of Sailors daisy-chaining food and supplies into their respective storerooms during this replenishment at sea (RAS). They arrive at their destination to the awaiting Sailors who are prepared to distribute the boxes to the Sailors throughout the ship.

This is a typical RAS for six logistics specialists aboard John C. Stennis. They work in the ship’s post office and handle all the incoming and outgoing mail for Stennis.

“Every day you get mail is a good day,” said Yeoman 2nd Class Jeannie Jardet, from Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133.“It breaks up the monotony of everyday life out here.”

For some, the post office position was a kind of calling.

“I just always wanted to be a part of a post office,” said Logistics Specialist 3nd Class Nick Anastasiou, who started working in the ship’s post office 3 years ago. “It’s a lot of hard work on these deployments but it all pays off in the end when you get people their mail,” he said.

A large part of Anastasiou’s job is distributing the mail delivered from C2A a Greyhound, aircraft that frequently bring supplies to the ship.

“Sometimes they bring a little bit of mail; sometimes they bring a lot of mail depending on what type of operation

they’ve got going on that day,” said Anastasiou.

“It keeps us busy and it keeps the crew happy,” he said.

For the most part, the postal workers stay behind the barred window to their post office, with a sign that warns any visitors to keep out. The United States Postal Service has certain rules set in place to prevent tampering with mail or theft.

“If you break into a mailbox it’s a $2,000 fine,” said Logistics Specialist 1st Class Marcus Parks, the ship’s post office’s leading petty officer. “If you steal mail it’s a $5,000 fine. We take our responsibilities very seriously because these packages mean a lot to our Sailors.”

The postal workers are responsible for not only following the rules of the

USPS, but also the transportation of all the mail into the post office.

“It’s a multi-faceted job,” said Parks. “It requires the handling of money, and it’s also physical labor.”

Parks said the work starts early in the morning when they prepare the finances and collect mail from the eight mailboxes around the ship. They then sort it, stamp it, and prepare their customer service window for normal operating hours.

He said the work only goes up during RAS days becuase they have to scan around 30,000 pieces of mail, but he doesn’t seem bothered by this.

“The most rewarding part is seeing people happy that they got their mail,” said Parks. “It makes all the hard work worth it.”

The postal workers see a lot of

Sailors gather mail from a recent mail delivery.

LS3 Alejandro Rodriguezmatos sorts letters.16

people throughout the workday, which is one of the main reasons why they say customer service is one of the most important aspects of their job.

“They’re good at networking and they really pay attention to their customers,” said Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Patricia Quick, who had previous experience with a few postal workers who took care of a leaking bottle in her care package last deployment.

“They had it all bagged up for me and said ‘careful it’s a little wet’ instead of throwing it away like some people might,” she said.

Parks said he keeps customer service as a high priority in the workplace and it seems to work for him because he has been employed in Navy post offices for more than 17 years. He said he has seen a lot of change over the course of the years.

“Computers have updated a lot of stuff to speed up the tracking or how we run things,” explained Parks, who also said one of the bigger changes is the way mail is tracked online.

“After someone comes down here and sends their seabag home, they can go online and find out where it’s at,” said Parks. “Its good to be able to give that to Sailors who are coming or going on Stennis because they can’t just pick up a phone and call the post office to find out.”

Finding out where a package can give the crew peace of mind, especially when dealing with items that could save a life.

“We get everything in the mail from vaccinations to everyday medical supplies like Band-Aids,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Katy Jones.

“Every time we have a shot evolution we order lots of medication or lots of immunizations.”

Even though Parks has seen a lot of change in the Navy’s post offices over the course of his career, one thing remains the same in his eyes.

“A letter is still a letter, a package is still a package,” said Parks. “The happiness people get from it; that stays the same.”

After the forklift dropped off its present, the post office workers continued their work. They sorted boxes of all sizes to give to the crew, working in a manner that bears similar qualities to the good deeds of a certain red-coated holiday hero. They prepared to deliver carefully sealed envelopes and boxes wrapped not in gift wrapper, but in postal tape. They are the ship’s post office workers.

(From left) LS3 Nicolas Anastasiou, LS3 Joel Dunbar, LS3 James West and LS3 Alejandro Rodriguezmatos work in the post office.

LS2 Brian Harmon (left) and LS1 Marcus Parks individually scan hundreds of parcels of mail each week.

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nAnCYPREGNANCY

no glove? no love.

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inmen will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime

don’t turn a blind eyereport sexual assault

National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE myduty.mil

inmen will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime

don’t turn a blind eyereport sexual assault

National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE myduty.mil

Hello again Team STENNIS,

Has it really been one month since my last letter to the crew? Did I really spend WAY too much money in Bahrain? Are we really staying in 5th Fleet?? This and more will all be answered in time…

Before I get into my whole RUN-DMC repertoire (and no, I am not going to throw out my best “a capella” bites of their 80’s classics in a fit of retro power-rap), I owe an apology to the good people of the Reactor Department. It seems that despite having my Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer pin (the medical SWO pin, if you will), I have a few things to learn about nuclear (not Nucular) powered aircraft carriers! First up on the list of “must knows” is this little gem – water is, in fact, made by reactor. Who would’ve guessed? Not your senior medical officer, that’s for sure! Darn my non-nuke amphib mentors and their hoity-toity engineers!!

Now without further ado, let’s get to the 80’s rap. Well, not exactly. In this case D.M.C. stands for “Duty Modification Check-in” – heretofore the way your beloved medical department will be RUN. See the play on words? Honestly, I am awesome. There, I said it!

For some months now the JOHN C STENNIS medical department has been running as an appointment-based clinic. This may come as a bit of a surprise to many of you, since we all continue to use the phrase “sick-call” and the vast majority of our patients still believe that in order to be seen by medical you must line up and stand around for 45 minutes starting precisely at 0830 each morning, but it’s true. As much as I am a fan of having a line each morning that could easily compete with the throngs of teenagers standing outside Ticketmaster on the morning of a Carly Rae

Jepsen ticket sale release, those lines will soon be a thing of the past. Say it with me now… A-men! Here’s how it’s going to go down…

THE DMC – 0830-0900 [and 1900-1930, for night check only]

Each morning (with the exception of holiday routine), from 0830-0900, only one type of patient will be seen; namely, any sailor who feels that they are unable to work that day due to the severity of their medical condition. Check-in during this 30 minute window will be entirely dedicated to determining whether or not a patient needs a “duty modification” that day – meaning SIQ or light duty. If a medical provider feels you can’t make it to work, you will be seen, treated, etc. If a medical provider determines that you can make it to work, you might receive a prescription, or an appointment, or some medical advice, or just about anything else; but it will occur quickly and you will be on your way. But who, you ask, is the “medical provider” that will make this determination? Answer – it’s me! – your loving SMO, armed with 4+ cups of coffee and 16 years of medical experience. Look out!!

The goal? Medical vigilance with a focus on mission readiness! Huh? Basically, treat the sick and injured and help everyone else get through the work day. We are out here forward deployed on a U.S. warship (as evidenced by the lack of staterooms with balconies, a pool, and a 24-hour casino), and staying home from work for a leg cramp or a small burn or a cold sore is generally not an option.

Please understand that what I’m trying to do here is make the best use of everyone’s time. No more waiting around all morning to get an appointment for something you knew you had the night before, or waiting in line feeling like death-warmed-over behind 8 people who are checking in for their appointments while you can barely stand. During this time, there will be no appointments – only D.M.C. So, if you need an appointment or you’d like a handful of Motrin for a sore shoulder from lifting, please wait until after 0900 – this way we can get our sickest shipmates seen, evaluated, and either patched up and back to work, admitted to the ward, or off to their respite care. Remember –

0830-0900 – it’s all about the D.M.C.

THE REST OF IT HASN’T ACTUALLY CHANGED

If you feel you need a medical appointment to discuss your “trick elbow” that’s acting up again, or your third mild headache, or the fact that your eyes have been a little itchy the past few days, you can come down to medical at ANY time of the day or night and schedule an appointment at the front desk. So, if your throat is getting a little scratchy one night, and you think you’d like to see a provider about it, come on down at 2300 and make an appointment to be seen sometime the next day. Simple! (side note, we’ve been doing this for most of this deployment, but people just haven’t realized it or something…)

Now, what about emergencies? “Doc Schiemel, I just cut my finger off trying to scrape out the last few bits of chocolate chip in the Wardroom ice cream locker. Do I have to wait until an appointment later in the day?” Uh, no. You don’t. Urgent walk-ins are still seen throughout the day and night, just as we have always done. The key here is the word urgent. If you stroll in at 1430 and expect to be seen immediately for your 3 year history of back pain just because you didn’t really have much else going on at 1430, you may not get seen immediately. Of course if we have an open appointment, we may be able to scoot you right in… Now, if your back is in spasm and you can barely walk – of course, no problem, hobble in and be seen! Remember – urgent is the key. Again, this is exactly how an emergency room back home works, which is why if you bring your child to an emergency room at 2 in the morning with a slight cough, you may wait 6-8 hours until all the urgent patients are seen. Not breathing properly and you’re 3-year-old is seen straight away! I know… it’s all coming together now, right? :) As an aside, I’m a board certified pediatrician… I’ve been there, honest. Again, this isn’t a change...this is how it’s always been done here on JCS.

OK, well that pretty much sums it up. DMC for life baby! Represent! And, to answer those questions... Yes, Yes, and Yes.

SMO’S CORNERRUN-D.M.C.Coming to a medical department near you just in time for the holidays…

Senior Medical Officer

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? ask the LPOWhy is it important that I take the next advancement test if I’m leaving the Navy?

There is no guarantee you are leaving the Navy unless you received your final PTS denial. It is important to take the advancement in rate exam because you never know what may happen in your life causing you to stay in the Navy. Never let opportunities to advance pass you by.

What is the Enlisted Information Dominance Warfare Specialist pin? Who can qualify for it? Enlisted Information Dominance Warfare qualification is designed for those in the intelligence fields. Just as the Surface pin is to test surface knowledge, this is designed to so that a Sailor is competent in his/her rate and has acquired additional general knowledge that enhances their understanding of the role Information Dominance Corps (IDC) as it pertains to war fighting, mission effectiveness and command survivability. The following ratings can qualify for the Enlisted Information Dominance Warfare Specialist Pin: Cryptologic Technician (Technical), Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive), Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance), Cryptologic Technician (Networks), Cryptologic Technician (Collection), Intelligence Specialist, Information Systems Technician and Aerographer’s Mate.

What does MWR do underway? In Port?

Morale Welfare and Recreation has so much to offer while underway. For one, we have 7 physical fitness areas to use, in addition to several volunteer instructors that teach cycling, TRX and yoga classes. If you’re looking for something relaxing to do, we also have free movie and video game rentals available at the ticket window. We also introduced game night on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. There’s also karaoke on Saturdays. FUNBOSS love giving everyone a chance to win big money, games and prizes with bingo and bringing us various entertainment as well.

In port, MWR has discounted movie tickets and concert tickets. You just have to keep your eyes out and ears open for any other offers.

What is EAOS? End of Active Obligated Service is your last day in the active duty service. It is

usually 4 or 6 years to the date you enlisted or

The holidays are coming up, and this is my first time away from my family. What are some things I can do to make the days enjoyable?

You are asking someone who spent Christmas in boot camp. Even though you are away from your family were born into, you are around your Navy family. One way you can make it enjoyable is having Thanksgiving meal on the mess decks with some of the friends you have on the ship. For Christmas, do a gift exchange with your work center or division. If you don’t care to do one at work, then try it with the friends you have on the Ship. It’s a fun way to still be able to celebrate with the people you care about and that care about you. Take pictures and share them with your family at home, and ask your family to send you photos.

All sailors have questions they need answered. From the brand new Sailor who just checked on board yesterday to the salty master chief who has more sea stories then the sea itself.

Will you help me plan things to do when we get back to Washington? It all really depends on where you are going. I would encourage anyone to really discover the beauty of Washington State when you can. You can ask MWR about other events besides movie and concert tickets. You may be able to purchase discounted tickets to sporting events as well.

How can I go TAD to MWR? You can find out more about TAD positions in USS JOHN C STENNIS INSTRUCTION 1320.2E. It benefits everyone if qualified Sailors fill these positions. So if you are looking into possibly coming to MWR, make sure you have all of your primary

qualifications.

What is Run the Gulf?

Physical fitness is important to our Sailors so the goal for Run The Gulf is to run the width of the Arabian Gulf (615 miles) by our return to the United States. Currently we have 122 Sailors actively participating.

CTT1 GREGORY

reenlisted and is about as important as your Social Security number so make sure you put it into your memory.

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Photo by MC2 Kenneth Abbate

As an Aviation Machinest’s Mate I get to see the results of my work in a short turn around and take pride in the fact that pilots get to complete their missions because of what we do.

“ “rating: AD

ADAN Benjamin Spence

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White“bigger, Faster, stronger”

Q & AStory by MC3 Grant Wamack

MM1

Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Matthew White boils in the sweltering heat and humidity of the catapult shop. White is a veteran to deployments, this being his second time to be stationed on USS John C. Stennis, his third sea command and an Individual Augmentee billet under his belt. Towering at 6’7” and an intimidating 300 lbs, he is a giant among men but there is more to him than his size. He competes in Strongman competitions, where men and women compete against their respective weight classes using feats of strength as a form of entertainment. White’s mission is to prove that strength isn’t as important as what you do with it.

How did you get into being a Strongman?When I came to Stennis for first time in 2006, I wanted to find a coach of some kind, at least for power lifting. So I started to ask around on some forums on the internet, and someone mentioned the name Jesse Marunde. Well, he was one of the World’s Strongest Men competitors. Unfortunately I was on deployment at the time and I never got to meet him before he died of a heart attack. But I got the opportunity to train with the people who he used to train and compete with. So I spent a few months training with these professional Strongmen and eventually bought my own equipment and found people in Kitsap County to train with until everyone went their separate ways.

What was it like competing?Competing was where I

realized I wasn’t all that big and strong. I was the kid in the group and I actually really liked that. It showed me how much more I can improve. I could be the biggest, baddest person in a commercial gym, but there’s no satisfaction in that. It’s all about improving and working to be better and stronger. Once you’re at the top, there’s nowhere else you can go.

What competitions have you been a part of?Well there are two major federations in the United States. There’s North American Strongman (NAS), and North American Highlander Association (NAHA). For NAS, I think the best I’ve ever done was ranking 3rd place in the heavyweight division. NAHA is where they combined Strongman and the Highland games. Unless someone has beaten me, I currently hold all the

records in Washington State for NAHA heavyweight.

What charity events have you competed in?There are various charity events done outside of the federation. I’ve done the Mt. Rainier Strongest Man two years in a row. The profits from that go to the Fragile X (FRAXA) Research Foundation. They research Fragile X, a gene that is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disabilities and autism. The man who organized this competition, has a son diagnosed with Fragile X. To be able to see this actually help somebody, for this money to go and make the quality of life for this child better and to go to the research foundation itself for other children, is great. To me, to be able to actually spend time physically doing something like entertaining people, mingling with the crowd, making everyone laugh

and cheer, and to help people with that money is a huge deal to be a part of.

What is your favorite part of the competitions?The camaraderie, hands down. You’re almost never going to find any contest on the planet where you’ll have the people who are trying to beat each other cheering each other on and hoping they beat them. Like the guy I’m trying to beat. He’s sitting there and kicking ass and I’m cheering for him and telling him to ‘go-go-go!’ so he can do even better and either beat me, or set a personal record, or both. The moment you step into that arena, you could be the weakest person on the planet and not be able to lift or move anything, but the fact is, you stepped forward and tried, and the most veteran professional anywhere on the planet is going to accept you because that’s a rite of

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Q & A

that’s a rite of passage.

Tell us about one of the competitions:Mt. Rainier Strongest Man was my first competition. There was an old double-decker bus there and we all pulled it. The light-weight women, around 145 lbs., pulled it too. So many people saw this and said, ‘I can’t do that,’ and I’m trying to tell them ‘no, you can do it. It might be slow, and you might not pull it as far or as fast, but you can do it.’ Those women aren’t juiced-out freaks of nature.

But they work hard and they’re strong. The fact is, if you put that harness on and pull, you’re going to be able to do it. It’s mind over matter.

What was life like growing up in your hometown?I grew up on a farm in Kewanna, Ind., so there was lots of physical labor, and lots of dust. I did some diesel mechanics on the tractors back at home. All and all, it wasn’t the most exciting place to grow up, the land was pretty flat. Although I do miss the thunderstorms we have there.

Why did you join the Navy?I had a chance to go to nursing school, and the school I wanted to go to was Purdue University. My dad was an alumni from there. I got denied, even though I had good grades and a good SAT score, I got denied. So when a recruiter talked to me, I had already decided what I wanted to do before he finished talking, and so I joined to become a machinist’s mate.

What is your shop’s role on the ship?

We’re the catapult shop. We provide the steam to the catapults. Reactor gives us the steam for the catapults, but we use the steam to make them work.

What is your role in the shop?Catapult supervisor. When I’m on watch, I’ll have either a bow or forward mechanic or a waist or aft catapult mechanic. They take logs and I’ll review them. If anything is out of specification, I’ll troubleshoot it. I’ll take the catapults down for maintenance, which means I’ll blow the steam out of big tanks called

accumulators. I’ll bring them back up when V-2 division is done with their maintenance. I also maintain small valve maintenance and anything else that needs to get taken care of.

What is your favorite part of working here?Honestly, this is a big change of pace for me. On my first ship, I was the oil king on the USS Belluea, and I was in liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen (O2N2) division when I was on Stennis the first time.

Generally in engineering, those positions are like your Prima Donna positions. This is a lot faster-paced and has a higher rate of failure if not done exactly right, so it’s a lot more dangerous.

What do you do in your off-time on the ship?I work out, relax, study various subjects such as philosophy, quantum mechanics, and I specialize in the Holographic Universe Principal. I also train other Sailors aboard Stennis during my spare time.

How many Sailors do you train?Directly, about three to

four. I advise at least a dozen Sailors. That’s all encompassing though. I’m an athletic trainer. I’m not a fitness, or a personal trainer. I teach people what will give them the best result whether specific exercises, supplements, or something else.

What motivates you?What motivates me is the person to the left and right of me. Training people to work out and seeing them succeed, especially if they have the desire to compete, is amazing. To

see them succeed, and knowing that I aided in the process, means so much more to me than if I was the one who succeeded.

What would you like to do when you get out of the Navy?Well, I’ve already been in for 10 years so I might as well push for 20. Once I get out though, my wife and I might head to India, and other countries with people in need to go do philanthropy and charity work. The American dollar goes a long way in the poorer Asian countries. I would also like to write a memoir and a book on philosophy.

STRONGMANTHE

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Stennis Sailors participate in a basketball tournament during a port visit at NSA BahrainPhoto by MC3 Erin Hamilton

parting shot

STRONGMAN26

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