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Lincoln Enters 5th Fleet AOR

Sailors at Work

Crash & SalvageTo the Rescue

As we arrive in 5th Fleet ready for another successful deployment supporting maritime security operations in the Arabian Gulf, it’s no accident that the Penny Press is about Big Abe’s continued state of high readiness. After all, we owe our success to the tireless efforts of the crew to train constantly and to remain prepared for any possibility.

So check out what they’re doing up in Crash and Salvage to be ready if something goes wrong on the flight deck. Meet our new damage control assistant, a man whose career is dedicated to keeping Sailors safe and well-trained. Each one of our feature photos this week shows another Sailor working hard to keep Lincoln’s equipment ready for action.

We’re ready to assume the watch in 5th Fleet, America. Big Abe is back, and we’re more than ready to be on the job again.

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With USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) underway, the time has come for Abe Sailors to take advantage of various

programs that can prove beneficial to their futures. The United Services Apprenticeship Program (USMAP) is one program that most Sailors can use to prepare for their post-Navy careers.

USMAP is a free program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that allows service members to earn a federal journeyman certification in a variety of job categories.

Lincoln Sailors can take advantage of their work experience, whether in the shipyards or underway, by tracking their hours and reporting them on the USMAP website. Added to a resume, a journeyman certification can give a job seeker a leg up when seeking a position in the civilian workforce.

“I like the fact that I was able to continue tracking hours after changing commands, since I’m still working the same job,” said Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian Morales, who used USMAP to track the 6,000 hours of apprenticeship that he completed to obtain his certificate as Photographer (Professional & Kindred).

All active duty Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel with a high school diploma or general education degree (GED) are eligible to register for USMAP.

USMAP requires Sailors to log all on-the-job training (OJT) hours to get credit for their work. Registered members may choose to record their hours online or through paper records, which are provided on request.

Members must choose one method to track their hours and must submit their records to the website or by mail weekly, monthly and semi-annually. Each report requires a signature from someone in the member’s chain of command verifying the hours.

Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) recommends interested Sailors sign up as soon as possible to receive credit for their OJT hours. Senior Sailors signing up to USMAP are eligible for a waiver to receive credit for up to 50 percent of their OJT requirements.

According to DOL, 2,000 OJT is equivalent to 144 hours of classroom instruction. Certain certifications require 2,000-10,000 hours of OJT. A Sailor working eight hours per day, five days a week can complete 2,000 hours every year. Some vocational colleges offer college credits for completed apprenticeships.

“This is a good certification to have whether you stay in the service or go back to being a civilian,” said Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Francis Moesch who has been using USMAP on and off for the past two years. “It will benefit your future.”

Moesch is working on his certification as a machinery rigger.

To register for USMAP, Sailors can sign up on https://usmap.cnet.navy.mil. The website takes a Sailor’s information and rate and shows what trades that Sailor is eligible to earn a certification in. From there, Sailors may choose which trade to enroll in.

For more information or questions, Sailors can talk to their career counselor or visit the USMAP website.

Story by MCSN Gregory Harden

USMAP Provides Free Certifications for Sailors

Lincoln Enters 5th Fleet AORStory by MCSN Zachary Welch

Photos by MC2 Colby K. Neal

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The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) arrives for a routine deployment in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), Jan. 19.

Abraham Lincoln conducted work ups for months to train, man and equip the CSG prior to it deploying to the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR, in order to support maritime security operations, counter-piracy operations, theater security cooperation efforts, and conduct air missions over Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom.

“Our strike group has trained countless hours to ensure our Sailors are ready to conduct vital operations,” said Rear Adm. Mike Shoemaker, commander, CSG 9. “We’re looking forward to working closely with our coalition and regional partners to keep the sea lanes safe and secure for the free flow of maritime commerce that is so important for the continued prosperity of nations in this region and around the world.”

Abraham Lincoln CSG is comprised of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and embarked Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, which includes the guided-missile destroyers USS Momsen (DDG 92) and USS Sterett (DDG 104).

“From our air wing to the destroyer squadron and other surface combatant ships, we have a fantastic team,” said Capt. John D. Alexander, Lincoln’s commanding officer. “We provide a flexible, adaptable and persistent force that will support the regional commander by providing the greatest assets the Navy has to offer.”

The arrival of Lincoln brings the number of aircraft carriers to two within the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR. Carl Vinson arrived in theater, Jan. 9. A second aircraft carrier in the AOR ensures the U.S. military has the naval and air capabilities to support operational requirements while adequately meeting other security commitments in the region. The aircraft carriers will simultaneously conduct operations in different areas of the AOR, to adequately provide support operations requirements and other security commitments in the region.

Abraham Lincoln departed its homeport of Everett, Wash., Dec. 7, for a deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet AORs. The ship departed Laem Chabang, Thailand, Jan.10, following a four-day port visit prior to transiting to U.S. 5th Fleet. Following deployment, Lincoln will change homeports from Everett, Wash., to Norfolk, Va., for a periodic refueling complex overhaul.

U.S. 5th Fleet, headquartered in Manama, Bahrain, is responsible for an area encompassing about 2.5 million square miles of water including the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, parts of the Indian Ocean and 20 countries.

Lincoln Enters 5th Fleet AORStory by MCSN Zachary Welch

Photos by MC2 Colby K. Neal

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He arrived on the ship at 2 a.m. on a Sunday, the night sky and the ocean at their darkest. Taking his first few steps aboard Lincoln, he was fully

aware he needed to be ready to assume responsibility for the safety and security of a ship with twice the population of his hometown of Curtice, Ohio.

Cmdr. Kenneth Belkofer, the ship’s new damage control assistant (DCA), has reported for duty.

The responsibilities of a DCA are to take preventative preliminary measures before damage occurs, minimize and localize damage once it has occurred and accomplish emergency repairs to stabilize the ship as quickly as possible in the event of damage.

While still in transition, Belkofer spends some time each day walking around the ship and absorbing life aboard an aircraft carrier. He keeps the Lincoln phonebook by his side so he can reference spaces and go out and find them. Belkofer said he appreciates the Sailors on the ship who have helped him when he has needed to find his way around.

“Most people tell you when you get on board that as long as you know where you sleep, eat and work, then it is all good,” said Belkofer. “As a DCA, you can’t do that. You have to know all the spaces on the ship and all possible routes while also knowing how to get quickly from place to place.”

As Belkofer learns his way around the ship, his work as the new DCA continues. Every day, he must ensure the ship is in a high state of mission readiness and must guarantee that all DC equipment is in good working order. He said that since anything can happen during deployment, it is crucial for the ship to be ready to prevent any damage that might possibly occur.

“I want to get through this deployment safely and get everyone on the ship home back to their families,” he said.

With this goal in mind, Belkofer is looking forward

to raising the current DC standards on the ship. He searches every day for discrepancies and ways to improve upon the ship’s DC practices. In order to achieve his damage control goals, Belkofer trains his mind by constantly running drills and scenarios in his head, always asking the ‘what if’ question and considering different preparations and responses.

“Everyone lives on check-off sheets,” he said. “But when it comes to a real life situation and you don’t have those check-off sheets in front of you, you might freeze and forget what to do, so you need to also know reactively what you need to do. We don’t have time to sit and read through a check sheet--you need to know it, so running scenarios through my mind really helps prepare for those ‘what ifs.’”

Belkofer’s number one concern for the ship is her battle readiness and our ability to combat casualties and other damage. He said that since damage control is everyone’s responsibility, it remains imperative that everyone maintains a damage control mindset in order to respond appropriately to potential discrepancies.

In order to maintain a high damage control standard, Belkofer will need the support of an efficient and effective DC team. Although he might not see every face in his division on a daily basis, he plans to meet with each one of his Sailors one-on-one to sit down and get to know them better.

“I will try my best to encourage positive attitudes and to keep them motivated and excited,” he said.

Belkofer said he enjoys asking his junior Sailors to tell him about themselves and what they would like to do or how they might improve practices.

“I enjoy what I do,” he said. “It’s all about your team, your Sailors and your leadership. If you have good leadership and a great team to support you, it makes what you do fun.”

Story and photo by MCSA Karolina Martinez

Abraham Lincoln Welcomes our New DCA:

Cmdr. Kenneth Belkofer

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An oft-repeated Navy axiom is that “every Sailor is a firefighter.” Nowhere is this truer than in Lincoln’s Crash and Salvage division.

Headquartered in Lincoln’s superstructure, or island, the Crash Shack is a quick-access staging area for members of Crash and Salvage. It is here that personnel and protective equipment remain on standby in case of flight deck emergencies.

Trained in all aspects of emergency flight deck and aircraft fire fighting, the 27-member division of Air department is equipped to handle just about any firefighting scenario that could happen on the flight deck.

With watches rotating around the clock, there is never a moment that the flight deck is not under the protection of Crash and Salvage.

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Johnathan Sanchez said Crash and Salvage personnel are the first responders to any and all aircraft mishaps.

“We’re trained for all this stuff,” he said. “We’re trained in aircraft components, aircraft firefighting and, of course, pilot rescue procedures should an emergency arise.”

Sanchez explained that Crash and Salvage Sailors train for very real scenarios. For example, an aircraft loaded with ordnance has an electrical malfunction that locks up the landing gear and the emergency net catches the aircraft. In the process, metal-on-metal contact produces

a fire that engulfs the aircraft, which leaves the pilot unable to evacuate.

“The first responders in that scenario would grab an Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) hose to smother the fire and ordnance. We would also have the turret hose on our A/S32P-25 firefighting truck at our disposal. I would use the hose to create a rescue path over the fire so my teammates could secure a path to the cockpit,” he said.

Sanchez said that whereas general shipboard firefighting training focuses on tight, confined, close-quarters scenarios, Crash and Salvage teams specialize in open-air aircraft fires on the flight deck.

“We are trained to use equipment such as aircraft hoisting slings, K-12s (powerful chainsaws), fire trucks, and the A/S32A-35A aircraft crash crane, also known as Tilly,” he said.

Because JP-5 jet fuel releases extreme heat when ignited, the members of Crash are required to wear specialized firefighting suits on the job. Their silver fire proximity suits are designed to protect them by

reflecting high radiant loads produced by fires.“The proximity suits we don can protect a Sailor

from flash temperatures as high as 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately, the drawback is how hot the suit gets inside,” Sanchez said, half smiling.

With temperatures reaching as high as 130 degrees in their suits, Crash and Salvage personnel are required to be physically fit and able to withstand long periods of high temperatures.

“The Sailors that work up here are required to hit the gym every single day. It’s a directive because of the nature of the job,” said Sanchez.

Although Crash and Salvage is a physical job requiring long hours spent on watch, Sanchez said the job is not without its benefits.

“We’re a good group. We’re constantly studying and hitting the books when we aren’t working, and it shows because most of us advance. Also, most of our work center is warfare qualified,” he said. “We’re one big team in here, and we train how we fight.”

Story and photos by MC3 Adam Randolph

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Katherine May UgiBorn: Dec. 27, 2011

Time: 10:51 a.m. Weight: 7 lbs., 14 oz.

Length: 20 in.Father: ATC Mark Ugi

Ethan James Louis BitzBorn: Dec. 29, 2011

Time: 12:30 p.m.Weight: 8 lbs., 6 oz.

Length: 22 in.Father: Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Bitz

Leia Sky CisnerosBorn: Dec. 31, 2011

Time: 4:15 p.m. Weight: 6 lbs., 15 oz.

Length: 21.5 in.Father: LSSN Maryon Cisneros

Tyson Reese Pryor Born: Jan. 5, 2012Time: 3:03 p.m.Weight: 8 lbs., 1 oz.Length: 20.5 in.Father: Lt. Cmdr. Howard Pryor III

Connor Joseph DolanBorn: Jan. 7, 2012 Father: PR1 Robert Dolan

Peyton Roxanne PygottBorn: Jan. 15, 2012 Time: 11:28 p.m.Weight: 10 lbs., 11 oz. Length: 22 in. Father: MMFN Stanley Pygott

Briefly

HT2 Valeri BrawdyEnginEEring DEpt./rEpair Division

Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd class Valeri Brawdy, of Taylor, Mich., reported aboard Lincoln in Dec. 2009 from her first duty station on USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7).

Brawdy joined the Navy in 2007 when she was 19 years old. Five years later, she is the work center supervisor and the safety center supervisor for her shop. She is responsible for assigning all the maintenance for Repair division as well as for training and mentoring her junior Sailors. Brawdy is also the only female aboard the ship who has attended advance welding school.

In her off time, she loves to take “long random drives,” relax on the couch watching TV, spend time with her boyfriend, cook, workout and teach her pet blue-faced Amazon parrot new words.

“I’m your pretty average girl. I love sour gummy worms,” said Brawdy. “I also love nachos with extra cheese.”

After deployment, Brawdy is excited to start her next adventure in Norfolk, Va., and plans to adopt a Rottweiler puppy.

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Navy has announced the phase-out of the SEAL Limited Duty Officer (LDO) designator, officials said Jan. 17.

According to NAVADMIN 017/12 the disestablishment will create efficiencies while increasing war fighting capability through integration of existing officers into the naval special warfare enterprise.

Under a phasing plan announced in the message, disestablishment will occur in two phases.

During the first phase, current SEAL LDOs may convert to the SEAL unrestricted line officer designator based on defined criteria. Some SEAL LDOs may continue to serve in the LDO capacity until retirement if that date fits within billet conversion timelines. Implementation will be managed by the SEAL officer community manager.

In the second phase, beginning in fiscal year 2013, Navy will begin converting SEAL LDO billets to SEAL chief warrant officer billets or SEAL unrestricted line officer billets. Billet conversion will occur through fiscal year 2017.

SEAL LDOs may contact the SEAL officer community manager and SEAL officer detailer for individual career counseling to ensure the best possible individual decision for career success while integrating their skill sets into the naval special warfare community.

For more information, read the message at the NPC website at www.npc.navy.mil or call the NPC Customer Service Center at 1-866-U-ASK-NPC (1-866-827-5672).

(Source:www.navy.mil)

Navy Announces Disestablishment of SEAL LDO Designator