Story and Photos byMC3 Derek W. Volland

T9SHOP

WELCOMETO

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

CIRCUIT REPAIR

JULY 3, 2013 Vol. 2 Issue 55

he Sailors of the AIMD 2M office in shop nine aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) could be considered the unsung

heroes of AIMD. With today’s technology relying so heavily on electronics, they provide a greatly underestimated service.

“Our job is to troubleshoot and/or repair any circuit board that comes up from the aviation shops,” said Aviation Electronics Technician (AT) 2nd Class Christopher Denker. “We can also repair electrical cabling, and sometime we’ll help other shops that are having problems troubleshooting their equipment.”

Don’t think that this job is easy; circuit boards

are encased in a hard film of clear plastic to protect them. Before any work can be done, the ATs must first remove it to trouble shoot the individual components to see, maybe, what the problem is.

Then, depending on how many layers that a circuit board may have, they dig down to the appropriate layer to make the repairs and replace the layers that had to be dug out, without accidentally creating a short in the process. All of this is performed on a miniscule scale. Often the average circuit board is only one-eighth of an inch thick and can contain as many as 20 layers.

Editor

MC2 (SW) Jason Behnke

Lead Designer

MC3 (SW) George J. Penney III

Nimitz News accepts submissions in writing. All submissions are subject to review and screening. ”Nimitz News” is an authorized publication for the members of the military services and their families. Its content does not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or the Marine Corps and does not imply endorsement thereby.

Public Affairs Officer

LCDR Karin Burzynski

Commanding Officer

CAPT Jeff Ruth

Executive Officer

CDR John Cummings

Command Master Chief

CMDCM Teri McIntyre

Sailor of the Day

Story and Photo by MCSA Victoria Ochoa

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Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Robert M. Cox, from Centerville, Ga., was named Sailor of the Day Tuesday on board the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

“I’m still half asleep since I work nights and I came up here thinking I was being put on working party or going to mast, but so far…I feel good,” said Cox.

Cox was directly responsible for the safe and efficient movement of aircraft during launch, recovery and repost evolutions. His supervision and training of 35 flight deck warfighters was instrumental in the execution of 8,471 aircraft, 237 elevator runs and 1,965 launches and recoveries in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and

Western Deployment 2013.His work ethic was key to the renovation of

16 divisional spaces, totaling to 950 man hours, enhanced quality of life and improved Nimitz’ material condition.

Cox joined the Navy in February of 2012 and has stood out to his superiors due to his work ethic and personal growth in his department.

“I looked up to anyone wearing a yellow shirt because that’s what I wanted to be,” said Cox.

If he doesn’t decide to make the Navy a career he aspires to obtain a pilot’s license and finish his education.

His advice to other Sailors was, “Just do what you’re supposed to do and someone will notice it.”

ATAN Matthew J. Manney repairs a circuit board.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “It can take 30 minutes to set up for a 15 second

job,” said Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Ryan McGowen. “Everything we do is very precise, or we could have to spend hours undoing a mistake on a job that shouldn’t have taken any time at all.”

Most of the aviation shops troubleshoot their own equipment, but every repair goes through shop nine of the 2M office.

“All of the other shops should be able to troubleshoot it’s own gear,” said Denker. “But if they have a problem they come up to see us, and we’ll help figure out what is broken and how to fix it. After they find out what is wrong with the equipment, they order the replacement parts and turn it over to us to make whatever repairs are needed.”

Shop nine may be a small out of the way work center but they are truly critical in helping the ship complete is mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

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NIMITZ SAILORS MENTOR VISITING MIDSHIPMENStory and Photo byMC3 Linda S. Swearingen

THELEARNING

ROPES

In Focus

4

There are 18 running mates currently assigned to the midshipmen who are on board the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) as part of a summer cruise.

Running mates assist the midshipmen upon arrival and spend a brief time introducing the future officers to various aspects of the ship.

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 2nd Class Erik D. Gonzalez, of Moreno Valley, Calif., volunteered to be a running mate during the midshipmen’s stay on board Nimitz.

“I was also a running mate during RIMPAC [rim of the pacific] last year and I enjoyed it,” said Gonzalez. “I volunteered again because I wanted to meet some of the future officers who took a different route than I did, and they are around the same age as me.”

The first thing a running mate does when the midshipmen come on board is to help them get settled into ship life by helping them with things such as getting their email accounts and Navy Cash cards set up.

“After we help them get settled we spend about one and a half hours a day with them,” said Gonzalez. “We show them our workspace and what we do and give them a taste of what our job is really about and enlisted life.”

Part of introducing the midshipmen to shipboard life is experiencing first hand how the enlisted personnel on board live.

“We eat dinner with them also every day on the enlisted mess decks,” said Gonzalez.

Running mates are assigned to only one midshipman so they are able to spend the limited time they have together as quality time on a one-on-one basis.

“I explain some of the issues that happen and the difficulties the enlisted go through on a day to day basis,” said Gonzalez. “I hope the information becomes helpful for them when

they become officers so they know what the enlisted go through and how to better solve problems.”

According to Midshipman 3rd Class Suzanne F. Waters, of Franklin, Penn, a sophomore at Penn. State University, having an enlisted running mate has been very helpful.

“I’ve had a really great experience with my running mate,” said Waters. “They know all the ins and outs of their rates and they have been passing that knowledge onto us.”

Gonzalez said that being a running mate is an experience he will always remember.

“I think it is good that they come out to Nimitz during a mission because of the opportunity they have to see more of what we do during combat missions instead of just coming during a training exercise,” said Gonzalez. “They get to see the real deal during the combat missions. A lot of the midshipmen want to become pilots so they actually get to see what the pilots do and meet the pilots and talk to them which is a great opportunity for them.”

According to Gonzalez, the midshipmen don’t wake up officers one day, they have to go through a process, and it shows that they are normal people when they come to naval vessels like the Nimitz and interact with the crew.

“I think it is important to be paired up with an enlisted Sailor because we get to see how everything on the enlisted side works,” said Waters. “I think it will help me become a better leader in the future.”

Midshipmen are naval cadets of the junior-most ranking in the United States Navy who attend various colleges attached to the ROTC program throughout the United States in preparation for a career as naval officers.

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Through the Lens

ABE2 Lamonte Jordan, left, and ABE3 Tyrrell Wheeler box in the hangar bay.-Photo by MCSA Kelly M. Agee

ADAN Ryan Milford repairs a jet engine.-Photo by MCSN Derek Harkins

An F/A-18C Hornet launches off of the flight deck.-Photo by MCSA Kelly M. Agee

ABF3 Payton Murrieta clears a room for hostiles during a force protection drill.-Photo by MC3 Raul Moreno Jr.

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