The Talon @cvn70blogspot - Tumblr Blog

Carl Vinson Completes PIA

Story by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Heather Roe

USS CARL VINSON, At Sea -- Capt. Kent Whalen, USS Carl Vinson’s (CVN 70) commanding officer, officially commemorated Carl Vinson’s successful completion of a six-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) Feb. 3, 2013. “Today marked the culmination of this crew’s steadfast dedication and professionalism throughout a six-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) maintenance period. For more than 400,000 man-hours, 2,800 Sailors worked alongside 900 shipyard workers and contractors to make this great warship once again ready for sea and for the nation’s tasking,” said Whalen. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of everyone who played a role during this maintenance period to return Carl Vinson to an operational status on time.” PIA, an extended period of deep maintenance and modernization, coordinated the efforts of the ship’s work force and the technical expertise of civilian workers to attain or supersede the fifty-year life expectancy of Carl Vinson. “It gave Carl Vinson an opportunity to do a lot of corrective maintenance for deficiencies we’ve identified over the years since our last availability and during our past operations,” said Lt. Cmdr. Wayne Oxendine, Carl Vinson’s assistant PIA coordinator. “PIA also provided us time to complete a lot of habitability work, which was a majority of what the ship’s force accomplished during the availability.”

Carl Vinson’s crew and civilian shipyard contractors coordinated through extensive communications to plan and prepare for PIA 2012 a full calendar year before the maintenance period’s commencement Aug. 1, 2012. During the initial planning, Carl Vinson departed its homeport in San Diego for a six-month Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment to the 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibilities. As planning continued to develop, a small portion of the crew worked shore-side with contractors to further develop a work package encompassing the six-month availability. Meanwhile, shipyard contractors periodically flew aboard the warship to train the ship’s crew on upcoming responsibilities vital to completing the ambitious amount of work to be accomplished. The work package, consisting of 8,750 jobs and ranging from upgrading radar systems to improving the crew’s living quarters, was constructed to achieve the maximum amount of work while accounting for the incredibly complex web of requirements inherent to complete that many diverse jobs. Critical to PIA 2012’s successful completion, Carrier Availability Support Team (CAST) members were established and assigned to ship’s force zone manager – Sailors assigned to lead either a ship’s force team or ship’s department or division. CAST members liaised between the ship’s force and the shipyard contractors throughout PIA, providing guidance and lines of communication to precipitate the most effective and productive maintenance period. “With all the work that has to be done by all parties involved, you can’t just have ship’s force go out and do their thing or shipyard workers go out and do their thing,” said Robert Yates, the lead CAST member orchestrating Carl Vinson’s PIA. “We have to go out as one to define what their roles are and how we’re going to integrate everyone’s work. This is why we start planning 12 months prior to the actual availability.”

Multiple daily meetings between ship’s force and shipyard contractors were necessary to effectively manage and conduct the complex and exhaustive work accomplished in a comparatively short six months. “We integrated project team development sessions to get everyone together to work as a team because we all have one mission in mind: to get this ship out on time and to accomplish its mission,” Yates said. Further increasing the combined force’s effectiveness and to ultimately ensure PIA 2012 would be completed on time, ship’s force maintenance teams were formed to more evenly spread the workload. “For ship’s force, the brunt of the work comes from E-5 and below. That’s roughly around 1,350 Sailors that we’re able to identify during the availability,” Yates said. “They expended about 408,800 man hours. By using ship’s force, we saved $18,836,220.” A large portion of Carl Vinson’s PIA was rehabilitation of crew berthings and living areas. The berthing rehabilitation team, consisting of approximately 60 Sailors, overhauled 28 berthings, removing and reinstalling 904 sleeping racks ship-wide. Each berthing took from six to eight weeks to complete, which required the team to overlap multiple berthings at once.

“We did the removal of all racks, lockers, [floor] tile and the demolition of the berthing. We ripped it down to the bare minimum and then we built it back up,” said Chief Air-Traffic Controller (AW/SW) Shannon Lynch, the berthing rehab zone manager. Although the berthing rehab team finished ahead of schedule on Dec. 13, 2012, the team still faced challenges, Lynch said. “The learning curve was part of the biggest challenge because we are operations department – we are air traffic controllers and operations specialists who don’t normally use these types of tools,” Lynch said. “The learning curve of operating power tools, learning how to build a rack and level it out – many of us didn’t have those skill sets. So in the beginning, not only were we on a time crunch, but it was also on-the-job training.” Despite the initial challenges to effectively change jobs and responsibilities and the difficulty to re-adjust to a completely different mission after two back-to-back WESTPAC deployments, Lynch and her Sailors kept the principle forefront. “Every aircraft carrier is a 50-year carrier. We hit our 30th birthday not too long ago, so we need 20 more years out of this ship,” Lynch said. “PIA is a way to fix the ship and keep it ready for our next mission or deployment no matter what we need to do. PIA keeps us going.”

Improving the crew’s habitability further, the ship’s force head team, comprised of approximately 90 Sailors from different departments throughout the ship, refurbished and preserved 62 different heads, or bathrooms, throughout the ship. Magnifying the palpable positive impact on the crew, contractors completely revamped 30 heads ship-wide. “The team’s responsibility was to go into enlisted and officer heads to complete the restoration and preservation of bulkheads, showers, and overheads,” said Chief Logistics Specialist (SW/AW) Noe Nesmith, the head team zone manager. The main thing is ship’s morale, Nesmith continued. Sailors use the heads day-to-day and can see the improvement now. It’s definitely more rewarding for the Sailors to have a clean place to maintain hygiene. “We came in with a plan and we accomplished what we set out to do. That is a feat in itself. Of all the PIAs I’ve been associated with, I feel that I’ve never worked with a more professional crew,” Yates said. “They were highly respective, highly adaptive to the shipyard environment. They were receptive to anything we had to provide. I would have to say that these are some of the strongest attributes in any ship’s force I’ve ever worked with.”

Visit Original Link

This week we are focusing on Carl Vinson's Sailor of the Year HM1(SW/FMF) Tarren Windham.

USS Carl Vinson Names Junior Sailor of the Year

Story by Mass Communication Specialist (SW/AW) Luke Meineke CORONADO, Calif. – He was there alongside his shipmates during the Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH), helping to meet or exceed the 50-year lifespan expected of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. He was there, a first responder to the tragic 2010 Haiti earthquake, contributing to the relief effort as USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) played a vital role in Operation Unified Response. He was there as Carl Vinson made her historic voyage during Southern Seas 2010, transiting around South America during the ship’s change of homeport. He deployed twice in a span of 18 months, to the 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting Operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom. During his five-year journey in the U. S. Navy and aboard Vinson, Interior Communications Technician 2nd Class (SW/AW) Joshua Aziz has seen his ship honored with a visit by the commander in chief, watched a college basketball game on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier he works aboard, and experienced the different cultures and countries of Brazil, Peru, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Australia. Adding to his myriad adventures and milestones, Commanding Officer Capt. Kent D. Whalen named Aziz Carl Vinson’s Junior Sailor of the Year (JSOY) during the command’s Christmas party in San Diego Dec. 6. “I would never have seen this five years ago,” said Aziz, a mess deck master-at-arms. “This was awarded to me amongst some heavy competition. To this day, to this second, it still hasn’t hit me yet. It means a lot; it really does.” The JSOY award recognizes and rewards the performance and dedication of outstanding enlisted Sailors. “[Aziz] is involved,” said Chief Aviation Electrician’s Mate (AW) Edward Kelly, supply department’s S-2 division leading chief petty officer. “He goes above and beyond in his work and in his collateral duties – much more than what’s expected, and he takes on a lot of [extra duties].” Aziz actively participates as a board member in both the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) and Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist (EAWS) programs and is the president of the Second Class Petty Officer Association (SCPOA). “It’s a daily thing for me,” Aziz explained. “I come to work and I’m always trying to just find a way to impact somebody. I really try to develop men and women to the best of my abilities. The Sailor will come, and the good worker will come, but if they’re great men and women first, responsible and active members of society, then, no matter what walk of life they choose, they are going to succeed. That’s what I want to develop. That’s what I’m trying to do.” “As a Sailor, he is probably one of the best I know,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuels) Airman Patrick Hawkins, who worked with Aziz on the mess decks for more than four months. “He always puts us before himself. He’s always looking out for the next person. If we have something going on, he’s the first person that we go to.” He’s a great role model for the command, said Chief Aviation Maintenance Administrationman (AW/SW) Rosalind E. Samuels, aircraft intermediate maintenance department’s production control leading chief petty officer and SCPOA sponsor. “A lot of people look up to him because he does so much,” Samuels said. “He takes pride in everything that he does – pride in his job, his uniform and even whatever is going on at home. He’s a leader and a motivator.” Aziz is deeply committed to helping the ESWS and EAWS programs, scheduling walkthroughs, conducting training and helping Sailors complete their personnel qualification standards, Samuels said. “He has been a strong backbone for both of those programs,” she added, “making sure Sailors got whatever they needed.” Qualifications are so important, Aziz said. They enable the development of better Sailors and shipmates and that’s great for the command. Aziz puts the same energy, professionalism and passion he commits to his collateral duties into his assignment as mess deck master-at-arms, Kelly said. He ensures all stations and watches in the scullery are manned and the overall operation of the mess decks is proficient. “He doesn’t wait for problems to be brought to his attention,” Kelly explained. “He’s always seeking out discrepancies and has creative ways of solving them. [Plus], he spends a lot of his off-time accomplishing what he needs to get done.” “Despite the hard work – or, rather, along with it – I would never have won this award without the help of so many other people,” Aziz said. “There has been true progression within myself, but a lot of it is due to my peers and my countless mentors and sponsors who have just been there for me during the many different facets of my career.” “This entire command, as long as I’ve been here, [has] really helped me progress and mature to where I’m at today,” Aziz added. “Those chiefs, those first classes, second classes and thirds – their influence, their hard work, their time and their dedication are what you see today. It’s really a product of them.” It’s that standard that Aziz is striving to replicate as he advances through the Navy. “Every single day you have to be the example,” Aziz said. “[You have] to try to consistently be positive and answer the questions asked of you. If you try to develop a consistent passion to help each other, we are going to progress as a ship, progress as a command, as a Navy and as a society.” Though he may not see it, Aziz’s peers, mentors and chain of command believe he already exhibits the qualities he respects in his leadership, impacting the entire command positively. “He really deserved this award,” Samuels said. “He’s done a lot for this command overall. He is a comprehensive Sailor. It’s not only that his division knows, but his department and departments around the ship know. He’s a bright, bright light for this command.”

Visit Original Link

We sat down with Carl Vinson’s 2012 Junior Sailor of the Year, Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class Petty Officer (SW/AW) Joshua Aziz.

Carl Vinson Names 2012 Bluejacket of the Year

Story by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jacob G. Sisco CORONADO, Calif. -- After a year of hard work excelling in and out of his rating, impressing his chain of command and standing two boards that tested his Navy knowledge, Capt. Kent D. Whalen, USS Carl Vinson’s (CVN 70) Commanding Officer, named Cryptologic Technician (Technical) (SW) 3rd Class Michael Scott as Carl Vinson’s 2012 Bluejacket of the Year (BJOY), then command advanced (CAP’d) him from Seaman to 3rd Class Petty Officer. “At first I was shocked; it was pretty overwhelming,” said Scott, who is assigned to intelligence department’s OW division. “I wasn’t expecting it, but it’s a pretty good feeling.” Though surprised, Scott believes his dogged work ethic, strong military bearing and attitude were the factors that contributed most to his nomination. “You have to come to work with a good attitude, a squared-away uniform, and be positive and upbeat all of the time,” Scott said. “You have to work hard, you have to be productive and you have to do the right things.” Scott’s leading chief petty officer, Chief Cryptologic Technician (Technical) (IDW/SS) Ashley Jones, said he is not surprised Scott won as he is an outstanding Sailor. “I’ve only been aboard for two months now and, in the two months I have been here, he has thoroughly impressed me,” Jones said. “He is an impressive Sailor. He takes direction well and gets the job done.” Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 1st Class (SW/AW) Tyson Carter, Scott’s leading petty officer, defined Scott as a comprehensive Sailor. “I knew right away when I met him he liked the Navy and he liked what he did,” Carter said. “He is quick to take on duties and collaterals. He really follows through with everything that is asked of him.” Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 2nd Class (SW/AW) Thomas Beckley, OW Division’s lead technician said Scott immediately impressed him with his aptitude to train his peers. Scott joined the Navy in May 2010, and reported to Vinson in March 2012. He said winning BJOY has been his proudest moment to date and that the process has opened his eyes to what the Navy expects of its enlisted leaders. “Being a leader means having the ability to trust in others to accomplish a task you have given them and being able to give the right directions when instructing,” Scott said. “A good leader is somebody that can get their hands dirty with you, somebody that will show you direction but also be there to help work with you.” “[In] the short time I have known him, the one thing that impresses me is the fact that he comes to work and gets his job done every day even though he has a new family, new baby, new marriage,” Jones said. “[He] still comes to work focused and gets everything done. It’s impressive.” It’s the positive attitude and steadfast work ethic that has set Scott well apart from his peers, he added. “In situations where we have had equipment go down he is the guy who is always up and troubleshooting, trying to get the equipment fixed so we can keep doing the mission,” Beckley said. “On the watch floor, CTT3 Scott is very competent and makes a point of being diligent in knowing where the threats are and anticipating what might come up in our area of operations.” Despite his junior rank, Scott operates a key component of Carl Vinson’s anti-ship missile defense system. The AN/SLQ-32 Countermeasures SET performs the mission of early warning, identification and direction finding of incoming anti-ship missile terminal guidance radars, Scott explained. “We are the ship’s last line of defense against missile threats. I am proud that I sit the SLQ-32 during general quarters. In the event of a real casualty, or if we are in a hostile environment, I am the guy responsible for operating the system.” “We give him tough stuff to do and we put him in charge of things that are trusted upon us to be responsible for,” Carter said. “He is in charge of a multi-million dollar system. It is the missile defense; it keeps the commanders informed of the missile activity going on. We entrust him with maintaining and operating [the system] and he really follows through with what we ask him to do.” Scott said the positive response from his supervisors and the honor and pride he feels after receiving this award have only inspired him to work that much harder. “I want to become watch supervisor,” Scott said. “And, before I leave the command in 2014, I want to earn promotion to second class petty officer.” “I am proud of him and the way he is striving to accomplish his goals,” said Beckley. “He takes care of junior Sailors and continues to work and train with them – he is relentless.” Scott said, while humbly honored, he never would have won BJOY without the support of his shipmates and his chain-of-command. “I want to thank anyone who has helped me, especially in this past year,” Scott said. “I have had a pretty big year: I got married, my son was born, and then won Bluejacket of the Quarter second quarter. Then I won Bluejacket of the Year and [was] CAP’d. I want to say thank you to everyone who has looked out for me and supported me. It means a lot to me. It’s not something that I will forget.” “It’s great to see junior Sailors that report in try hard, put in great work and excel,” Beckley said. “It’s been a privilege to work with him.” For those Sailors looking to stand out and shine amongst their peers, Scott said it’s their determination and attitude that will lead success or failure. “Work hard, [and] don’t take ‘no’ for an answer,” Scott said. “If somebody tells you that you can’t do something, don’t take that to heart. Always have the motivation to strive to be better, to do better, to accomplish more, and to have a good attitude.”

Visit Original Link

We are starting off this week with Cryptologic Technician Technical 3rd Class Petty Officer (SW) Michael Scott, Carl Vinson's Bluejacket of the Year for 2012. Check back for more on our new BJOY later this week.

Carl Vinson Says Farewell to Four-time PIA Project Superintendent

Story by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Heather Roe CORONADO, Calif. -- On Dec. 21, during the fifth month of their Planned Incremental Availability (PIA), the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) will bid farewell to PIA Project Superintendent Tim Ferguson, who retires January 2, 2013 after 35 years of service. PIA, an extended period of deep maintenance and modernization, coordinates the efforts of a ship’s work force and the technical expertise of civilian contractors to attain or supersede the life expectancy of a ship. In the past 35 years Ferguson has worked at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF), he has completed more than 15 maintenance periods – conducted almost exclusively on aircraft carriers and submarines. He was project superintendent aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in 2003 and the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in 2007, overseeing each during a 10-and-a-half month docking PIA (DPIA), where the ship goes into a dry-dock maintenance period rather than a pier-side one, said Ferguson. In 2009, he managed a second PIA aboard Lincoln. Carl Vinson’s 2012-2013 PIA is the fourth and final one Ferguson will oversee in his career. “My job was to ensure a plan was built to integrate the work of all the maintenance providers – including ship’s force – that can be executed on time and within the budget,” Ferguson said. “He very much supports this carrier team concept; one team, ship and shipyard. I think because of his many years working in the shipyards he really does understand our culture, our traditions and customs and is able to help the newer, more recent shipyard personnel,” said Capt. Kent D. Whalen, Carl Vinson’s commanding officer. Ferguson began his career working for PSNS & IMF July 25, 1977, directly following high school graduation in Bremerton, Wash. He assisted mechanics, overhauled components, pumps and valves, and rotating machinery. In 1978 he was promoted to apprentice and from 1982 to 1986 he worked as a journeyman mechanic. “That’s the worker you see on the deck plates,” Ferguson said. “They have a certain level of experience that makes them proficient. They are trained to be a lead on a job assignment.” Continuing his career with PSNS & IMF, Ferguson worked as a foreman supervisor from 1986 to 1992, “delegating, overseeing and tracking the work being conducted during maintenance periods. A foreman has about 10 mechanics working for them.” In 1992 Ferguson was promoted to zone manager second level supervisor where he managed multiple foreman supervisors and was in charge of all work conducted in a geographical area on the ship. He continued to climb the corporate ladder at PSNS & IMF and was appointed as assistant project superintendent in 1998, inheriting responsibility for all the nuclear or non-nuclear work in the propulsion plant aboard a Naval vessel. “Mr. Ferguson is very talented, very sharp, and he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge that can only be accumulated by having done all his previous jobs,” Whalen said. “That is really invaluable. He knows how the system works, he knows how to make things happen, and he’s very good at it.” In 2002, Ferguson became a project superintendent, a position he says makes him ultimately accountable for a project success or failure. “The challenges come with accomplishing the mission and completing your work on schedule,” Ferguson said. “Every day those are the challenges for us – no matter what position you’re in – getting the job done correctly, on schedule and on budget.” “Tim has unique leadership skills. He has a tendency to put significant focus on taking care of his team and keeping outside influence away from his team,” said Ray Gibson, Ferguson’s deputy project superintendent. “And while that’s a very important trait, Tim has been doing that for quite some time so he’s refined it and is very successful doing that. And what that does is breed loyalty and ownership of his team.” Prior to Ferguson’s retirement, he mentored Gibson, training him to take over as project superintendent beginning Dec. 21, 2012. “He took me to certain meetings I wouldn’t normally attend and he briefed me before we went, telling me what he’s going to say and why he’s going to say it,” Gibson said. “Tim gave me some perspective based on his experience and then we went to the meeting. Afterwards he out-briefed with me – walking me through what was said and why it was said and the outcome he wanted to achieve.” Despite the high number and complexity of challenges he faces as project superintendent, Ferguson said his job is very gratifying. “The most rewarding part about my job is we are able to accomplish maintenance on the ship within the schedule we’re allotted so that the ship can still meet its operational schedules,” Ferguson said. “[It’s fulfilling] to give the Navy back a quality product they can be confident will accomplish its mission with minimal to no problems.” Ferguson said another rewarding aspect of his job is working with ship’s force personnel throughout an availability. “The leadership I have met while working on the [Carl Vinson] is some of the finest people I’ve met in my entire life.” “You can’t measure it; it’s hard to quantify. There’s a man who worked on ships and all the various different capacities for more than 35 years. You think of all the people he has come into contact with and influenced especially as he’s become more senior,” said Whalen. “Think of all the people he’s trained on the methodology he uses to get projects to a successful completion, all the tools and techniques that he has demonstrated and shown people just on the ship’s force side, let alone the shipyard side; that’s a lasting impact that you can’t really quantify.” Although Ferguson is preparing to retire in January 2013, he is honored to have contributed to the Navy’s mission over the past 35 years working for PSNS & IMF. “I think I’ve worked with some of the best people you could ever meet. Whether they are active duty or just civil service some of the people are just quality people with integrity,” said Ferguson. “I’m honored to have completed PIAs and DPIAs and to have contributed to the mission of the Navy in a positive, tangible way.”

Carl Vinson Holds Command Frocking Ceremony

Story by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Luke Meineke

Coronado, Calif. – Commanding Officer Capt. Kent D. Whalen individually recognized and advanced 287 Sailors to the next pay-grade in a frocking ceremony Dec. 14 on the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). One hundred and fifty-one Carl Vinson Sailors were promoted to 3rd Class Petty Officer, 89 Sailors were promoted to 2nd Class Petty Officer, and 47 were promoted to 1st Class Petty Officer. Capt. Whalen congratulated the newly-promoted Sailors at the beginning of the ceremony and thanked them and the entire crew for their dedication during Carl Vinson’s Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) 2012 – a comprehensive and command-encompassing maintenance period that coordinates the efforts of the ship’s force and shipyard contractors to meet or extend the 50-year life of the carrier. “I thank you for your hard work and your diligence,” Whalen said. “You’ve worked some long days, some long hours, some weekends, and you’ve done a fantastic job, so thank you very much.” Every advancing Sailor was presented a certificate and personally congratulated by Capt. Whalen, Capt. Paul C. Spedero, Carl Vinson’s executive officer, and Command Master Chief CMDCM (AW/SW) Jeffrey S. Pickering, Carl Vinson’s command master chief. “This is as dedicated a crew as I’ve ever seen. They’ve put full effort into this maintenance period and they put equal energy into their own professional development,” said Pickering. “The numbers speak for themselves. They’re studying and it’s paying off.” Forty-two percent of Carl Vinson Sailors who tested for E-4 and 29 percent of those who tested for E-5 were advanced, making this cycle one that featured uncharacteristically high promotion rates for the ship. Carl Vinson Sailors advancing to E-6 outpaced the rest of the fleet as nearly 30 percent of those eligible made 1st Class Petty Officer, an accomplishment made even more significant considering the frenetic pace and myriad responsibilities of PIA. “This crew has worked extremely hard over the last five to six months during this maintenance period,” Whalen said. “We’re going to be extremely busy as we get Carl Vinson ready to go back out to sea.” Carl Vinson remains pierside at Naval Air Station North Island as it concludes PIA 2012.

Carl Vinson Selects 2012 Sailors of the Year

Story by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Shannon Heavin CORONADO, Calif. – Capt. Kent D. Whalen, commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), announced the command Sailors of the Year (SOY) during the ship’s holiday party, Dec. 6. Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SW/AW) Tarren Windham was named the Sailor of the Year (SOY), Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class (SW/AW) Joshua Aziz the Junior Sailor of the Year (JSOY), and Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 3rd Class (SW) Michael Scott the Blue Jacket Sailor of the Year (BJOY). “The competition was as strong as any I’ve seen in my career,” said Command Master Chief CMDCM (AW/SW) Jeffrey Pickering. “We put them through a rigorous board process and the choices were difficult at every level. I’m convinced, though, that these three Sailors are the best Carl Vinson has to offer. I’m convinced these are the best our Navy has to offer.” “I was definitely surprised,” Windham said. “A lot of the people I was going up against are friends of mine or people I have worked on projects with. The competition was strong.” Windham, a New Castle, N.H. native, is Medical department’s sick call leading petty officer and the departmental fitness leader. The Chief of Naval Operations established the SOY program in 1972 to recognize the outstanding Sailors of the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. The program is designed to recognize the best all-around Sailors from the ranks of E-4 through E-6. “It’s a humbling achievement [and] it hasn’t hit me yet,” Aziz said. “This is an award I have accepted on behalf of all the individuals that put me here. It wasn’t any one thing that I did. It was a collaboration of me, my chiefs, my former leading petty officers and second class petty officers [all] working as a team to make a difference within the command.” A Los Angeles native, Aziz is the command mess deck master-at-arms and president of the Second Class Petty Officer Association. The command SOY, JSOY and BJOY were selected by a board of senior judges through an interview testing their knowledge of U.S. Naval history, programs and policies, basic military requirements, current events and leadership. Military bearing and record of job performance were also considered. “Once I got into the board and reported I felt proud,” Scott said. “[I think] being confident in yourself and your abilities is the key to success.” “Sailor of the Year is the Sailor that is well-rounded and strives every day to be the best,” Windham said. “Advancement is my next biggest goal and I look forward to helping Sailors grow.” Windham will move on to compete at the U.S. Pacific Fleet level. The Pacific Fleet Sea SOY will be meritoriously advanced to chief petty officer in a ceremony in Washington, D.C., summer 2013.

CORONADO, Calif. (Dec. 7, 2012) – Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class (Sel) Cassandra Richards places toys in a toy drive box onboard the Barracks Ship (APL-65) for the Operation Homefront Toy Drive sponsored by the USS Carl Vinson’s (CVN 70) Second Class Petty Officer Association (SCPOA). APL-65 is serving as the crew’s messing and berthing barge during Carl Vinson’s Planned Incremental Availability (PIA). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nicolas C. Lopez/Released)

USS Carl Vinson’s SCPOA Sponsors Toy Drive

Story by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (Sel) Shannon Heavin CORONADO, Calif. -- Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and their families and friends are invited to support the Operation Homefront Toy Drive sponsored by Carl Vinson’s Second Class Petty Officer Association (SCPOA) through Dec. 12. Operation Homefront is one of the nation's largest non-profit organizations, dedicated to assisting U.S. service members and their families with emergency aid – such as food, baby care items and financial assistance during times of crisis, and social support during deployments and holiday seasons. “Operation Homefront will be distributing the toys through the Operation Homefront San Diego Chapter to children in the local area,” said Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class (Sel) (AW/SW) Cassandra Richards, Carl Vinson’s toy drive organizer. “We wanted to give Sailors an avenue to donate to those who’ve been through some financial hardships or physical hardships that have amounted in doctor bills or anything like that,” said Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class (SW/AW) Joshua Aziz, the SCPOA president and Carl Vinson’s 2012 Junior Sailor of the Year. “One thing about our 2nd class petty officers is we’re always trying to develop some type of positivity or promote some type of command-wide unity. The Operation Homefront Toy Drive that we are currently sponsoring [is] just another way for us to give back to the community.” Richards said the SCPOA is looking for gifts with a $20 limit for ages one to 18. Gifts are being collected at the ship’s entry control point and on the quarterdeck of the Barracks Ship (APL-65) adjacent to Carl Vinson, on Pier Lima, Naval Air Station North Island. “Board games, cards – [those are] fantastic for older kids,” Richards explained. “We’re getting a lot of toys for five- to ten-year-olds, [but], older or younger, anything is going to be great.” Aziz and more than 120 SCPOA members are hoping to receive 100% command involvement. We plan to give presents to approximately 200 needy families, so we welcome all the help we receive, he added. “We want anybody to donate,” Aziz said. “Civilians, contractors, Sailors, family members, friends – whoever wants to get involved are more than welcome. We want [the toy drive] to reach as big of a population as possible.” “The support that the SCPOA and command have given to put on this toy drive has been phenomenal,” Richards said. “I appreciate everyone’s help and we need all the support we can get. Every toy, small or big, makes a difference.” The SCPOA extended the toy drive donation acceptance dates in order to receive as many donations and as much support as possible. Aziz stressed that “any contribution we receive is a plus and will always be counted as a success.” “For every one toy donated, that’s one more than what Operation Homefront had to begin with,” added Aziz. “It’s always going to be a success. It really can’t be a failure, especially when you’re talking about people donating and being charitable during the holidays.” The cost of the toy is unimportant, Richards added. What you are really purchasing is the happiness of a child and it is rewarding “knowing that somewhere some child is going to wake up and have a Christmas they might otherwise not have had.”

Visit Original Link

President of the Second Class Petty Officer Association, IC2 Joshua Aziz, gives us the details on how we can give back to the Wounded Warriors with a Military Family Holiday Toy Drive

Bicentennial War of 1812 Hockey Game

Blog by Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class Mike Love Playing in a hockey game to commemorate the “War of 1812” was an experience I will never forget. The game consisted of both United States Navy and Royal Canadian Navy service members, and the team names were designated as the Warhawks and Militiamen. Both teams' rosters had an even number of U.S. and Royal Canadian members, which were chosen at random a few days prior to the event. I pulled into the San Diego Ice Arena parking lot about three hours before the puck dropped, not knowing what to expect. I performed my physical and mental pre-game rituals and noticed the parking lot starting to fill up. By game time the rink was filled with hundreds of spectators - a lot compared to the 10 to 20 fans that show up to our normal weekend men’s league games. The locker room is where I first met my fellow Warhawk teammates. While putting on our pads, we conversed about everything from hockey to our hometowns. Right before warm-ups our coach and former National Hockey League (NHL) player, Daryl Evans, came in to give his pre-game speech. He gave a few pointers on what do out on the ice and praised us for our military service. Going on the ice for warm-ups brought on a big adrenaline rush. Both teams came out skating and everyone in the crowd started cheering. Before the puck drop we lined up on the blue line for both nations’ national anthems. It reminded me of something you would see prior to the start of an Olympic event. Immediately after we went back to our benches and set up lines. Then the puck dropped for the start of the game. I noticed the game was played at a faster pace and was more physical than most men’s league games I have played in. We kept our shifts short because we had four full lines of forwards. Our team went down 0-2 early, but made up a goal just before the first period, making it 1-2. During intermission the coach told us to keep skating hard and made a few strategy adjustments. We came out from halftime scoring back-to-back goals. Regulation time ended; the game was tied 3-3. The officials decided to hold a shootout, which is always a crowd favorite. We ended up winning the shootout 4-1, so we rushed to the goalie to celebrate our victory. Afterwards we all shook hands to conclude the game. I’ve played in quite a few hockey games in my lifetime, and I can honestly say this game was one of my favorites. It was a great foreign relations game with our neighboring country. I would like to thank everyone who helped put it together. Also, I would like to thank the NHL players Jim Fox and Daryl Evans for participating as our celebrity coaches."

120811-N-TZ605-590 SAN DIEGO (Aug. 11, 2012) Personnel Specialist 3rd Class James Bryan, left, and Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class Mike Love, right, both assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), pose for a portrait during a hockey game at the San Diego Ice Arena. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy A. Hazel/RELEASED)

Battle on Ice: Carl Vinson Sailors Commemorate Bicentennial

Story By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Zachary Bell SAN DIEGO – With laces pulled taut, the warriors donned their armor, sliding home gauntlets last. Admirals and Generals looked on as flags and banners were raised and the combatants assembled on opposite ends of the rink. The time had come to see who would rule the day. This wasn’t a battle for settling disputes, but celebrating a lasting peace. “It’s exciting in that we have Canadian and US service members mixed together on two teams that are going to go out tonight and play a bit of a fun game,” said Rear Adm. Bill Truelove, commander Maritime Forces Pacific, Royal Canadian Navy. “It’s imperative that we stop and remember the War of 1812 which is so important to both of our nations.” In an effort to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and to celebrate 200 years of cooperation while maintaining a peaceful border between Canada and the United States, the “Battle on Ice” was played Nov. 30. Both teams, the Warhawks and the Militiamen, consisted of servicemen and -women from the Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa (FFH 341) and United States Navy Sailors and Marines, including Sailors from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). “We’re obviously close to Canada, so having the opportunity to get together and have our teams mix up and get on the ice is just superb,” said Maj. Gen. Melvin G. Spiese, deputy commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force and commanding general of 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade. “We work pretty hard with the Canadians in the national security arena all the time; they’re deployed to Afghanistan with us, we patrol the coasts of our countries together. This gives us a chance to work together in a less stressful environment.” The atmosphere got a shot in the arm and a wealth of experience when two former Los Angeles Kings hockey players were introduced as coaches. Daryl Evans, who played left wing for the Kings from 1981-1985 coached the Warhawks, and Jim Fox, a right wing for the Kings from 1980-1988, coached the Militiamen. From the moment the puck dropped, the frenetic pace of the game never let up. In dramatic fashion, the teams proved to be equally matched with the score knotted 3-3 at the end of regular time. “We had a great game. It was tied up at the end and then we went on a shootout. We were down and then we just took it,” said Warhawks forward, Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class (SW) Mike Love. “It was definitely a good feeling to win, but, more importantly, it was a good bonding [experience] with our sister country. I had a lot of fun and I hope we do it next year.” Warhawks coach Daryl Evans congratulated his team after the game, in high spirits after their win. “It was a 4-3 shootout victory for our squad but, more importantly, it was a great game. Right from the beginning you could sense the energy not only on the ice amongst the players, but also from the people who were watching the game as well,” Evans said. “It just seemed the game got stronger as the game went on and to come out on top makes it a little more special. A lot of guys are talking about wanting to do it again and also doing it on a ship one day.” The Carl Vinson Gold Eagles hockey team will play their next men’s league game at 10:20 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9 at the San Diego Ice Arena.

Visit Original Link

Here's a twist: the first podcast hosted by a Tiger! Mass Communication Specialist Tim Hazel is your usual host. We handed the task over to his Tiger, his dad Geoff, to record some of your Tigers' thoughts during their first Steel Beach picnic on the flight deck yesterday.

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

The Talon