T h e O f f i c i a l M a g a z i n e o f U S S M A K I N I S L A N D ( L H D 8 )

DECEMBER 2014

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ATIAROUND THE ISLAND

CAPT Alvin Holsey

CAPT Jon Rodgers

Command Master Chief:CMDCM(SW/AW) Thomas Moore

LCDR Michael L. Smith

Deputy PAO:MCC(AW/EXW) Bradley Sapp

Media LCPO:MCC(SW/AW) Adam Vernon

Lead Editor/ Quality Control:MC1(SW) Corwin Colbert

Layout Editor:

MC2(SW/AW) Lawrence DavisMC1(SW/AW/SCW) Ronald Gutridge

MC2 (SW) Christopher LindahlMC3 Robin Peak

MC3 Dennis Grube

AROUND THE ISLAND is an authorized publication for the crew member of USS Makin Island (LHD 8). 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

edited, prepared and provided by the MKI media division. All news releases, photos or information for publication in AROUND THE

clarity, brevity and conformance to style. The

submission.

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

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MASTER CHIEF’S CORNERAVCM (AW/SW) Joy S. McGill

BAPTISM AT SEAA Dip in the Red Sea!

FUN RUNTurkey Trot 5k

HOLIDAY SPREADA MKI Thanksgiving

STEEL BEACH PICNICMKI Unwinds on Deployment

NEVER WALK ALONE: PART ONEOne Sailor’s Story of Coming Back From the Brink

CFL REMINDERBodyweight Alternatives for Deadlifts

IRON CHEFCan You Take the Heat?

HOLIDAY SPREADA MKI Thanksgiving

This monTh’s conTribuTor: AVcm (AW/sW) JoY s. mcGiLL

Master Chief’sCorner

Do you believe that good coaches always produce winning teams? In leadership it is important to understand how accountability, discipline, praise, and respect affect ones ability to manage winning teams. This article will cover techniques learned and utilized by good leaders as well as good coaches.

Leadership is the art of inspiring people to follow and win on and off the field. Leaders are also followers accountable for accomplishing tasks to meet the mission. Like coaches, good leaders want their team members to perform at the top of their game, take responsibility for their actions, and reach their full potential. To accomplish this, it is important for all parties to be accountable for their actions. Lead by example; leaders that expect members to be on time to work should not be late for work. Members who make a commitment to accomplish a task have an obligation to uphold their word by doing what they said they would do. It is also important for leaders to make expectations clear with consequences in place if the rules aren’t followed. Holding people accountable and being accountable for ones own actions are parallel in good leadership.

Coaches and players must have the discipline to follow through on expectations and live up to the rules that have been established. When team members are self-disciplined and have good work ethic, competitiveness, and ambition the individuals have a good attitude, do their work efficiently, and exhibit high morale. Individual performance can impact the success of the entire team but it takes the whole team to produce the desired result to complete the mission. Leaders must enforce the rules, regulations, and procedures in an organization, allowing a member to push the boundaries can make each individual less productive. In well-disciplined units, members do the right thing because they want to.

Behaviors that are positively reinforced will be repeated. Those that don’t, will not. Through praise, leaders can bring out the best in their team members. Positive feedback and public recognition will empower members and build self-reliance and confidence. When members feel good about their abilities and what they bring to the team it becomes contagious and encourages creativity, innovation and collaboration. Praise in public gives added recognition to the member and inspires others to do well in hopes of being recognized. Good leaders inspire through positive reinforcement and avoid ego based, fear driven and reactive behavior.

Refer to the “Golden Rule” treat others the way you want to be treated. Leaders are responsible for creating an environment of mutual respect that fosters cooperation and encourages a positive work environment. Members who respect each other are more inclined to collaborate and stimulate productivity, top performance, and quality work. Following universal fundamentals of protocol are demonstrations of respect. Whenever the Captain, Executive Officer, or other senior officer approaches an area a member should call out “attention on deck.” When transiting a passageway members should give way to more senior personnel. While addressing the crew via the 1MC, it is out of respect that members stop and listen to the announcement being made by the CO or XO. Courtesies followed are reflections of learned behaviors through good leadership.

This article covered techniques learned and utilized by good leaders as well as good coaches. In leadership it is important to understand how accountability, discipline, praise, and respect affect ones ability to manage winning teams. As stated by legendary Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi, “Leaders are made, they are not born”.

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Twenty-seven Sailors and Marines aboard amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) took advantage of a unique opportunity for deployed service members as they received a baptism-at-sea in the Christian faith, Nov. 21.Conducting baptisms aboard Navy ships is a tradition that dates back several hundred years to the British Royal Navy, where baptisms were carried out in foreign ports, or for infants born at sea. The sacrament of baptism is the first stride in a lasting journey of commitment and discipleship in one’s chosen faith. The significance of this event will be recognized as extra special because it was conducted with water from the Red Sea.This was the first time a baptism-at-sea ceremony was held aboard the Makin Island in the ship’s history. To safely conduct this historical event, the Wasp-class ship filled her ballasts with water from the Red Sea and then flooded approximately three feet of that water in to the well deck prior to the ceremony. “These kinds of opportunities are very rare,” said Cmdr. Timothy Moore, Makin Island’s command chaplain. “The well deck was filled with water from the Red Sea which holds huge significance in the Christian faith. According to scripture, this was where Moses parted the waters and led the Israelites away from Pharos’s rule.”Each service member partaking in the event picked which denomination they wanted to be baptized in. Them, as well as many other service members observing, gathered on the ramp in the well deck and waited with anticipation for the time honored ceremony to begin. “We had Catholics and many other denominations as well take part,”

said Moore.As the Makin Island choir performed traditional hymns, one by one, service members walked down the ramp in to the water and were baptized by Moore and other chaplains aboard Makin Island. Each time, the crowd observing from the ramp cheered as each

showed emotion and glory after they had just publically proclaimed their faith.Chief Aviation Ordnanceman James A. Henry, from Fayette, Alabama, was one of the volunteers helping the chaplains baptize the service members.“It was a real team effort across the board,” said Henry. “We had both Navy and Marine chaplains and religious programs specialists on both sides helping out to make this event possible.”Among the service members that were baptized was Aerographer’s Mate 2nd Class

Alexa May, from Clearlake, California. “There aren’t many words,” said May. “To be baptized for the first time, here, where we are, is something that I wouldn’t have been able to experience anywhere else.”“Many of the service members will move on from this command and forget my name, maybe even forget the ports we stopped at,” said Moore, “but I truly believe that this unique event is something that they will take with them for the rest of their lives, and it was one of the most amazing experiences I have been a part of.”

Photos and story by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robin W. Peak, USS Makin Island Public Affairs

BAPTISM AT SEA

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Photo and story by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Lawrence Davis, Makin Island

The aroma of garlic, sautéed onions and peppers, paprika and freshly squeezed lemons permeated the atmosphere in the galley aboard amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), Nov. 16.

Several teams of Navy and Marine Corps food service specialists scurried about artistically piecing together creative entrees within the allotted hour and judging for the ship’s first “Iron Chef” competition was underway.

Makin Island’s food service specialists were challenged to prepare an entrée including the secret ingredient of chicken breasts, which was revealed at the start of the competition, and two side-dishes of their choice to be judged by the ship’s senior chain of command.

“We wanted to do something different and fun for our culinary specialists,” said Chief Culinary Specialist (SW/AW) Maria Sardono, Makin Island’s food service division leading chief petty officer. “We know they are creative but don’t get the opportunity very often to showcase their talents in day to day operations.”

Sailors and Marines divided into five teams and decided on themes and recipes to present for the competition.

Makin Island Sailors Culinary Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Juan Villareal, from Torrance, California, and Culinary Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Andrea Buckhamjack, a native of New York City, teamed up and decided on a theme of “Bon Appétit.” Together they prepared a series of three dishes, each including a recipe from a different part of the world.

“Our first dish is a Latin flavor called Lomo Sadado,” said Villareal as he and Buckhamjack scrambled to finish preparing their creations in time. “The second dish is Chinese chicken lettuce wraps and our third is Hawaiian flavored coconut shrimp tempura.”

Buckhamjack explained their theme and choices for recipes.“Bon appétit is French for ‘enjoy your meal,’” said Buckhamjack. “I love

the diversity in cooking different foods and tasting different recipes.”Lance Cpl. William Banks, assigned to the embarked Battalion Landing

Team 21, shared his opinion of the competition as he and two other Marines prepped their Italian chicken themed entrée.

“This is judgment day for me,” said Banks with a smile. “I’m tired of other cooks onboard thinking they can cook better than me and it’s time to prove I’m the best.”

Banks’ team member Cpl. Mark Caballero, assigned to the embarked

Battalion Landing Team, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, also shared his thoughts.“The competition highlights people’s talents and brings us all together to prepare

foods, which is something we all like to do,” said Caballero. Cajun chicken was the recipe Culinary Specialist Seaman Stephen Williams and

his team decided on. As they went about sprinkling seasonings and preparing side-dish vegetables, Williams said he was looking forward to seeing what each of the teams would bring to the table.

“It’s not only a competition,” said Williams. “I look at it as a chance to learn new techniques and recipes as well as how others plate and garnish their entrées.”

As time expired, the teams gave their entrées final garnishing touches and presented to the awaiting judges; Makin Island’s Commanding Officer Capt. Alvin Holsey, Executive Officer Capt. Jon Rodgers, Command Master Chief Thomas Moore, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Sgt. Maj. Troy Black, and Makin Island Sailor of the Year Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 1st Class David Dysart.

Judges graded the teams on taste, presentation, and creativity. “The food was delicious,” said Holsey. “It was a great job by all, and I am very

proud of all the teams.” As the event concluded, the competition winners were announced and presented

with first, second, and third place wooden engraved plaques. First place was earned by Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Juan Villareal and Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Andrea Buckhamjack. Second place was awarded to Cpl. Andrelous Lockett, Cpl. Mark Caballero, and Lance Cpl. William Banks, from the embarked 11th MEU. Third place winners were Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Eric Kapfhamer, Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Simon Riley, and Culinary Specialist Seaman Aaron Simon.

Command Master Chief Moore gave his remarks about the overall benefit of the competition.

“These competitions are great,” said Moore. “Any competition onboard this ship where Sailors and Marines have the opportunity to win awards for showcasing their talents is always a great thing for morale.” Culinary specialists aboard Makin Island help ensure proper nutrition for a crew of more than 2,300 Sailors and Marines through serving approximately 7,000 meals a day.

Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) participated in the “Turkey Trot 5K” fun run on the flight deck, Nov. 27.

The ship’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) team hosted the event on Thanksgiving as a way to bring everyone together while the ship is deployed over the holidays.

“The purpose of these runs is to promote fitness and camaradeship,” said Kristen Venoy, the ship’s Fun Boss. “They like to do the runs because of the group camaraderie.”

With many of the Makin Island service members away from their families over the holidays for the first time, the ship’s MWR team works hard to balance home and work inside the lifelines..

“The significance of the holidays is to remind them of the bigger picture,” said Venoy. “We’re out here on a mission, but it doesn’t mean we can’t stop to take time to celebrate. We are each other’s family right now so we want to keep each other motivated, boost morale and have fun pictures to share with loved ones at home so they know we are alright out here.”

“Having these events over the holidays is very important because even though we may be deployed we can still do things that bring us closer to home, and these events give our minds and bodies a break from the hard work that everyone does on the ship,” added Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Robert Park.

Despite the overcast day, the temperature still blanketed the flight deck with plenty of humidity. The MWR volunteers were ready to help their fellow shipmates with plenty of water and orange slices as they crossed the finish line.

“It’s fitness, fun and a time to relax with our friends and cheer each other on,” said Venoy. “Especially on Thanksgiving, it allows us to burn some calories before we take in a whole lot more.”

“We don’t have our families here with us, so it’s great to have our friends around to spend Thanksgiving with us,” said Sgt. Donna Klunder, attached to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

MWR plans to continue holding 5K runs for the crew each month for the remainder of deployment including themed runs for Christmas, New Year’s and a final event to wrap up the deployment on the way home.

Photo and story by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Dennis Grube, USS Makin Island Public Affairs

TURKEYTROT 5K

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HALFWAY 1/2 MARATHON

THANKSGIVING

THANKSGIVING

This is the first article in a four-part series

about a Navy petty officer who came

close to taking his own life but did not do so,

thanks to the intervention of his leadership

and the use of support networks, and how he

continues to brave his battle with alcoholism

and depression.

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Thompson,

a mass communication specialist, is an

instructor at a joint command in Maryland. He

began his journey in Detroit as the child of a

mother and stepfather who were drug users.

He suffered physical and emotional trauma,

he said, and his mother repeatedly told him

he was a liar and a cheater, that he was stupid,

and that life was only going to get worse.

Because of this, Thompson said he first

thought of suicide when he was eight years

old, and he attempted it when he was nine.

While living with his mother could be

challenging, Thompson said his father fought

for custody and was a positive influence in

his life.

“My father was and remains my best friend,”

he said. “Unfortunately, given Michigan’s

legal processes at the time and my mother and

stepfather’s unified efforts, I was terrified to

speak out against them, and my father simply

could not get any legal recourse.

“Over the course of weekends and holidays,”

he continued, “my father and I bonded truly

as a parent and child should. We continue an

excellent dialogue that both nurtures and guides

while also being a slapstick comedy show. He’s

one of four people in my entire family I speak to

regularly.”

Choosing Navy service over suicide

Thompson said he thought again about suicide at

18, but decided his best way forward was joining

the Navy, and he enlisted July 7, 1998. He began

his naval career as an undesignated seaman

aboard guided missile destroyer USS John Paul

Jones (DDG 53), where he became a boatswain’s

mate and then a quartermaster. In 2003, he cross-

rated into the journalism career field, and then

in 2006, the career field merged into the mass

communication specialist rating.

“My time in the Navy has been adventurous,”

Thompson said. “It has been bittersweet at times.

It has been melancholy and lonely at times. My

time in the Navy has been marked by tidal shifts

of long periods of sustained superior performance

and also intense depression, melancholy, [and]

loneliness.”

Senior Chief Petty Officer Misty Hubbard,

the Navy element senior enlisted advisor at

Thompson’s command, has known him for 11

years. They first served together aboard USS

Enterprise (CVN 65) in Norfolk, Virginia, when

Thompson was a petty officer third class, and

as a petty officer first class at the time, she was

the lead petty officer of 10 mass communication

specialists on the ship. The ship would deploy for

six months at a time, and the Sailors would work

12- to 16-hour days.

Hubbard said she can describe Thompson in one

word: “phenomenal.”

“He’s always been a phenomenal worker,” she

added. “We used to tease him all the time [that]

he was Superman. Anything that needed to be

done well and quickly went to him, because he

could perform like a champ in a pinch. He did

great work under pressure -- really enjoyed tight

deadlines,

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because adrenaline went up in those kinds of

circumstances. He was always an incredible

worker in that regard. The challenge was he

wasn’t very good at letting people know when he

was overwhelmed or when he had taken too much

on his plate.”

Hubbard noted that when people are deployed,

they learn each other’s quirks, and that one of

Thompson’s quirks was that he had a bit of a

temper and would have little “hiccups.”

“He would have a blow-up but then he would

very quickly get control of himself again and pull

himself back together,” she said. “And 95 percent

of the time, he was No. 1, on fire... just [an]

incredible Sailor [and] worker.

“But every three or four months, you could

guarantee he was going to do something

impulsive and silly and not well thought out that

was going to result in him getting in trouble,” she

continued. “And he would have to bank on all

the great work he had done up until that point to

kind of rescue himself from the situation he would

get himself in about once a quarter. You could

guarantee that about once a quarter, Thompson

was going to do something stupid.”

Thompson kept in touch with Hubbard and

maintained a protegee and mentor relationship

with her. They met back up as instructors at the

joint command, and Hubbard continued

providing professional development to

Thompson and felt responsible for him.

A series of setbacks

In 2012, Hubbard said she started noticing

a change in Thompson when the chief petty

officer promotion board did not select him.

“Initially, he took it hard, which is not

abnormal -and we sat down and talked about

what the factors were that prevented him from

getting promoted and what we could focus

on in the upcoming year to make him more

competitive for promotion,” said Trent. “In

my mind, that’s when it started - when he

wasn’t selected for promotion.”

Not long after that, Thompson broke up with

his girlfriend; a relationship she said was one

of the healthiest she had seen Thompson in

since she had known him.

“He didn’t get promoted; the relationship

ended; those were two big things that

happened within a few months’ span,” she

said. “He started oversleeping, showing up

unshaven with his uniform not looking its

best, and then he missed a duty day. He was

behaving out of character. These are the sort

of things you see from a junior Sailor who is

struggling to adapt to Navy life. This is not

what you see all of a sudden from this senior

E-6 who’s been in the Navy for 14 years.

“It went from a slip every three or four months to

a screw-up every other week or every week,” she

said. “We verbally counseled him and did written

counseling to document this stuff to explain to

him that these things were going to be factors in

his annual performance evaluation. There was just

no way around it.”

During this time, Thompson, at age 32, had

decided he was going to take his life. He said he

did not say goodbye to anyone, because he did

not want to give away any kind of signs. “I didn’t

want an intervention,” he explained. “I didn’t

want to cry for help. That wasn’t my interest. That

wasn’t my goal. My goal was to die. I wanted to

die.”

One-Legged Bodyweight Deadlifts While many weightlifters dismiss this exercise as being too easy, the one-legged bodyweight deadlift is a fantastic way to build strength in your hamstrings, glutes and lower back. If done slowly and with strict attention to detail, performing a dozen or two one-legged bodyweight deadlifts can be a serious challenge even for someone who’s used to moving some heavy metal. They’re also an excellent balance and stability challenge.

Pistol Squats That’s right, the pistol squat is such a well rounded exercise, it can fill in for both squats AND deadlifts. The pistol also requires considerable core strength (that means lower back too, not just abs!) in addition to strong glutes and hamstrings. Of course the pistol is a big time quad exercise as well – you get a lot of “bang” for your buck with pistols!

Levers There are many ways to perform lever holds and they all require a strong back, powerful core and total body control. The elbow lever is typically the easiest for beginners to start with, though the more advanced back lever is especially demanding on the posterior chain. Try pulling into a back lever from the bottom up and tell me it doesn’t feel as hard as deadlifting a bar with twice your bodyweight.

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CFLREMINDER

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HORIZONHOME IS JUST OVER THE