December 14, 2012www.roosevelt.navy.mil

Story by MC2(SW) Austin RooneyPhotos by MC2(SW) Austin Rooney, MC3(SW) Brian Reynolds, and MCSN Eric Norcross

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)Public Affairs

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) completed its second readiness exercise Dec. 10, consisting of DC

olympics, DC jeopardy, a level of knowl-edge test, and a general quarters drill as a means to prepare Sailors for operational conditions during the ship’s last year of Refueling Complex Overhaul at Newport News Shipbuilding. The damage control training exercises aimed to challenge Sailors physically and mentally, and divided the ship into teams by department to compete against each other for the grand prize. “The objective here is to have good training, but also to have fun,” said Chief Warrant Officer Noel Genao, TR’s Fire Marshall, and the organizer for the training event. “Having a competition encourages departments to get excited and to partici-pate – it shows them that DC is not just for the in-port emergency team, it’s for everyone.” The event was split into five main events, a pipe patching contest, a P-100 pump operating contest, RAM fan op-erating contest, knowledge exam, and a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) relay race with a dummy carry. Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman (AW) Andrew Bustos, who competed in the olympics for Air Department, said the SCBA relay was the most difficult event of the day. “It was a fun and challenging experi-ence,” said Bustos. “I think it helped me out, and I’m still learning as I go. Hooyah!” In addition to physical events, there was also a written level of knowledge test,

which covered first aid and basic medical knowledge. Lt. Cmdr. Charlene Ohliger, the ship’s nurse and test administrator, said the test the Sailors took will eventually be mandatory for the entire ship. “[The Sailors who took it today] did well, but there is still a lot of room for improvement,” said Ohliger. “This test at least helped us figure out what people are having a hard time understanding, and what we need to focus our training on.” Ohliger said she believes the test was helpful to the crew, and her goal is to have everyone aboard able to demonstrate a basic level of medical knowledge. “I’m confident we’ll get there,” said Ohliger. “We have a lot of work to do, but I know we’ll get there.” The DC olympics trophy went to Com-bat Systems Department, led by Electron-ics Technician 2nd Class (SW/EXW) John Meisner, who earned 512 points in the five challenges. To finish off the night, TR held a gen-eral quarters drill involving all 10 repair lockers aboard the ship. With TR less than one year from leav-ing the shipyard to return to operation status, Genao said damage control training is more important than ever to get the crew back into an operational mindset. “This is a tremendous help in getting the crew ready to fight the ship,” said Genao. “We’re not there yet, but we’re on the right road. I think we’re doing better than most ships at this stage in the yard period, and I have confidence that we’ll be ready when we leave here.”

1) Supply Department’s DC olympics team competes in the pipe patching portion of the event.2) Lt. Cmdr. Ruben Galvan (right), Chief Warrant Officer Noel Geanau (center), and Damage Con-trolman 2nd Class (SW/AW) Laricia Glover (left) keep score during the DC Olympics.3) Sailors from AIMD’s team dress out in preparation for the SCBA relay race.4) Sailors take part in a general quarters drill after the DC olympics.5) Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Ashley McNelis trains as a victim during the medical portion of the DC olympics.6) Sailors take the written level of knowledge test on the aft mess decks. 7) Electronics Technician 3rd Class James Corley and Electronics Technician 3rd Class Louis Mal-danado, from Combat Systems Department’s team compete in the pipe patching portion of the event.8) Air Department Sailors simulate an aircraft casualty in the hangar bay during GQ.9) Sailors compete in the DC Jeopardy portion of the event, which was broadcast live on SITVE TV. 10) Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Kenneth Mahan competes in the SCBA relay race.

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A small silver Chevy Cavalier stood alone in an empty parking on a cold morning Dec. 6 at Na-

val Auxiliary Landing Field Fentress in Chesapeake, Va. In a matter of hours, the car would be reduced to nothing more than scrap metal on wheels. USS Theodore Roosevelt’s (CVN 71) Crash and Salvage team approached the car dressed in protective suits, armed with K-12 power saws, halligun tools, and knives. It was time to train. This was the first day of off-site Crash and Salvage training for TR since entering the shipyard three years ago. While many members of the team are new to the ship and the Navy, they were eager to learn more about their very important job. “We’re making history here,” said Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) (AW/SW) Michael Hopkins, Crash and Salvage’s leading chief petty officer. “Our team is still very green, but they’re motivated and they’re doing good.” Hopkins watched from a distance as his team took turns starting up the K-12 power saw and cut into the car’s sheet metal as if it were butter. In a real emer-

1) Cmdr. Dan Case, TR’s Airboss, landed this E2-C Hawkeye on Naval Auxiliary Land-ing Field Fentress, where TR’s Crash and Salvage team are now using it for training purposes. 2) Airman Apprentice Shaquille Austin uses a K-12 power saw to cut into a small car during a Crash and Salvage training exercise. 3) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class (AW/SW) Nandesh Baliraj, Crash and Salvage leading petty officer, gives training on rescue procedures in case of a flight deck emer-gency.4) TR’s Crash and Salvage team poses next to the car they trained on Dec. 6.

TRAINING FOR THE ‘REAL THING’CRASH AND SALVAGE GETS SERIOUS WITH RESCUE TRAINING

Story and photos by MC2(SW) Austin Rooney

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)Public Affairs

gency, the team would be on the aircraft carrier’s flight deck, sawing through the wreckage of a disabled aircraft in order to save the pilot trapped inside. “You don’t want your first time using this equipment to be during a real emer-gency,” said Hopkins as the saw buzzed behind him, shooting sparks into the sky. “We’re lucky – a lot of people don’t get these opportunities.” Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Han-dling) 1st Class (AW/SW) Nandesh Baliraj, Crash and Salvage leading petty officer, said their’s is one of the most important jobs on the ship, serving as the first line of defense in the event of a flight deck casualty. Soon, when TR leaves the shipyard, hundreds of pilots and flight deck personnel will have to trust this group of Sailors with their lives. “Right now we’re in the process of

building our crash crew,” said Baliraj. “A lot of the old people left, and we have a lot of new people in, so training is a huge part of getting us back into the fight.” Once the Sailors finished sawing through the car’s exterior, they took turns smashing the windows and prying open the doors – experiences which many Sailors don’t get. “It was my first time using this equip-ment,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Angella Green. “It was pretty intimidating at first, and really heavy, but having this training helped me out a lot.” After they finished with the car, the team went to a small airfield on the base where a decaying E2-C Hawkeye and F-18 Hornet sat, ready to be used for more training. Coincidentally, the Hawk-eye was landed on the small runway years ago by Cmdr. Dan Case, now TR’s Airboss.

“We need to be properly trained up for flight ops so we can get back to war.” ABH1(AW/SW) Nandesh Baliraj

The team trained for the next few hours in front of the two planes, simulating rescue operations and damage control procedures. Baliraj said having real tools and real aircraft to practice with made the training much more effective to the inexperienced crew. “Train, train, train – that’s the biggest thing as we get ready to go back out to the fleet,” said Baliraj. “We need to be properly manned up for flight ops so we can get back to war.”

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More than 1,450 Sailors of all ages and ranks aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) attended the ship’s 2012 holi-

day party at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel Dec. 7. Proceeds from the event, estimated at $21,000, went to the command’s Morale Wellness and Rec-reation (MWR) department. Tickets were purchased in advance in order to attend the much-anticipated highlight of the sea-son – a chance to dress for the occasion, let loose, have fun and possibly win some prizes. The holiday party gave TR Sailors the oppor-tunity to relax and have a good time after months of arduous work. “Everyone’s been working really hard,” said Holly Scheidt, the MWR Fun Boss aboard TR. “RCOH is a very demanding environment. It’s nice to be able to provide an environment for Sailors to come out, enjoy themselves and relax a little bit.” For some crewmembers, the event was their first holiday party since joining the Navy. “I thought the party was awesome,” said Sea-man Recruit James Howard. “Everyone seemed like they were having a good time. It was a great opportunity for everyone to kick back and enjoy themselves. The way that the Fun Boss put every-thing together made for a fun night.” As the festivities kicked off, Capt. William Hart, TR’s commanding officer, took a moment to share his holiday wish list with the Sailors in at-tendance. Hart also used this as an opportunity to

list the 14 individuals who were advanced through the Command Advancement Program. In addition to the CAPs, Hart announced the Sailors of the year. Electronics Technician 1st Class (SW/AW) Cheyenne Shasky was named Se-nior Sailor the Year, Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class (AW/SW) Michael Miller was named Sailor of the Year, Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equip-ment) 3rd Class (AW) Douglas Spencer was named Blue Jacket of the Year, and Operations Specialist Seaman (SW) Genna Maratita was named Rough Rider of the Year. “I couldn’t ask for anything more than the profes-sional Sailors of Theodore Roosevelt,” said Hart. “Thank you very much for that Christmas present. However, one thing that is on my Christmas wish list is to get out of Newport News, back to Norfolk and be a fighting combat ship again.” During the party, the command gave away sev-eral prizes to lucky contestants. Prizewinners were announced throughout the evening. The prizes ranged from iPod Touches to $2,000 travel vouch-ers. “I couldn’t believe it at first, but when I found out that it was true, I started crying,” said Opera-tions Specialist Seaman Holly Hogan, a winner of the $2,000 travel voucher. With all of the prizes and festivities, the 2012 holiday party helps ring in the New Year with a boost in the crew’s morale. “I think that this really improves their morale,” said Scheidt. “They were able to come enjoy them-selves, hang out with people that they work with on the ship, so they can let their hair down, so to say.”

Story and photos by MCSA Bounome ChanphouangUSS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)Public Affairs

Local ChannelsCBS (channel 3) Broncos VS Ravens 1:00 PMFOX (channel 14) Redskins VS Browns 1:00 PMCBS (channel 3) Steelers VS Cowboys 4:00 PMNBC (channel 10) 49ers VS Patriots 8:20 PM

Sunday night Football

Direct TVChannel 75 Giants VS Falcons 1:00 PMChannel 76 Packers VS Bears 1:00 PMChannel 77 Buccaneers VS Saints 1:00 PMChannel 78 Vikings VS Rams 1:00 PMChannel 79 Jaguars VS Dolphins 1:00 PMChannel 81 Colts VS Texans 1:00 PMChannel 82 Cardinals VS Lions 4:00 PMChannel 89 Seahawks VS Bills 4:00 PM

A group of Sailors stationed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) volun-

teered their time Dec. 7, at the Gatewood Program for Educating Exceptional Preschoolers (PEEP) in Newport News, Va., as part of a continuing relationship between the ship and program. More than 10 Sailors spent the morn-ing reading the book, “The Christmas Story” by Clement Moore, to groups of children at PEEP, a comprehensive program directed toward children ages two to six, with special needs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Each child was also given Christmas stockings which were hand-made and filled by Sailors involved in the Junior Enlisted Association (JEA) and Second Class Petty Officer Association (SCPOA) aboard TR. Like many Sailors volunteering, this was Aviation Maintenance Administra-tionman 3rd Class Bryan Brown’s first time volunteering with PEEP. “I used to be a substitute teacher for kids with special needs and it was one of my favorite jobs, ” said Brown. “I have a lot of good memories working with those kids. They would always make my day. That’s why I decided to volunteer here with PEEP.” Brown hopes to continue to volunteer with the PEEP program. Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class John Gee also volunteered for the first time with PEEP and was the first to read to the students.

It goes without saying that the holiday season is a truly special time for many children everywhere. Many children’s eyes

light up with the mere mention of Santa Claus or seeing the lights on a Christmas tree. However, for those living the military lifestyle, the holidays can be extra stressful, as many military members may be deployed and unable to spend the holidays with their children. However, the Sailors assigned to the air-craft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) took the opportunity to celebrate the fact that they are indeed able to spend the holidays with their families. Children enjoyed a their holiday party at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Va. Dec. 9. Children and adults enjoyed a multitude of activities during the party, including movies, bowling, pony rides, hayrides, face painting, arts and crafts, and rock climbing. “This was a great way to get our Sailors and their families to enjoy a good time and to relax,” said Holly Scheidt, the Fun Boss of TR’s Morale Wellness and Recreation (MWR) department. “We have all types of festivities for the entire family to enjoy.” Along with all of the games and activities, the party also hosted an extra-special guest who was the highlight of the day for many of the children. “My favorite part was seeing Santa Claus,”

“It was nice to see the smile on their faces when they got their gifts and when we read to them. It was a lot of fun,” said Gee. “ We just wanted to entertain the kids and get them in the Christmas spirit.” Gee’s animated reading of the Christ-mas book filled the room with laughter, both from the students and the adult teachers accompanying them. Although this wasn’t the first time TR Sailors have volunteered with the program, there are plans in the works for future developments with the program. As the New Year approaches, the relationship between the TR Sailors and PEEP is set to grow. Tutor training will start in January, and TR Sailors will con-tinue to volunteer and help teachers and students at PEEP. If you would like to get involved, e-mail HM1 Melissa Cason, for more information.

GIVING BACKSAILORS TAKE TIME TO VOLUNTEER IN COMMUNITY

Story and photos by MC3 Katie Lash

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)Public Affairs

TR Sailors volunteered their time to read and hand out stockings to students at the Gatewood Program for Educating Exceptional Preschoolers (PEEP) for the holiday season. TR has an ongoing relationship with the program where Sailors help with events and will soon be tutoring as well.

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KIDS, CARNIVAL, AND CLAUSTR CHILDREN ENJOY A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

Story and photos by MCSA Bounome Chanphouang

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)Public Affairs

said four-year-old Emma Hewitt, daughter of Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Chris Hewitt. “I asked him for a pogo stick and an Ariel with a skirt. I had a really fun time with my mommy, daddy and my sister.” “It’s something great for my girls to do,” said Hewitt. “Now that they are older, they are starting to get the feeling of Christmas. It gave me the opportunity to spend more quality time with my children.” Not only did the children enjoy games and festivities at the event, but the Office of Person-nel Management (OPM) also provided gifts to all children up to 12 years old. “What OPM did for us was great,” said Scheidt. “They collected donated gifts, wrapped them and then organized them by gender and age. This was done to ensure that all of the children could have gifts when they came to the party.” With the large amount of festivities required in this undertaking, the hard work of the per-sonnel involved in the execution of the event did not go unnoticed. Many TR Sailors who brought their children to the party expressed their appreciation for all of the activities and gifts available to their children. “There were definitely a lot of options for the kids,” said Hewitt. “It was very family friendly and organized very well. They did a great job setting everything up. Hats off. Good Job. This was very well executed.”

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StaffCommanding Officer

Capt.William Hart

Executive OfficerCmdr. Mark Colombo

Public Affairs OfficerLt. Cmdr. Patrick Evans

Media OfficerLt. j.g. Michael Larson

Senior EditorMCCS (SW/AW/EXW)

David Collins

EditorMC2(SW) Austin Rooney

LayoutMC2(SW) Austin Rooney

MC3 Katie Lash

Rough Rider Contributors

MC2(SW) Austin RooneyMC2 Sean HurtMC3 Katie Lash

MCSN Eric NorcrossMCSA Bounome Chanphouang

Command OmbudsmenApril Kumley

cvn71ombudsman@yahoo.com

The Rough Rider is an authorized publication for the crew of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71).

Contents herein are not necessarily the views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, Department of Defense, Department of the Navy or the Commanding Officer of TR.

All items for publication in the The Rough Rider must be submitted to the editor no later than three days prior to publication.

Do you have a story you’d like to see in the Rough Rider? Contact the Media Department at 534-

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Sailors attached to USS Theodore Roosevelt’s (CVN 71) Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) and Weapons Department participated in an evolution testing the loading of an AOQ-99 jamming pod and an AWW-13 data pod using a hoist. The equipment has not been used since TR first entered Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH). Photo by MC3 Andrew Sulayao

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QUANTICO, Va. (Dec. 11, 2012) Officer Candidate School students negotiate the Montford Point Challenge obstacle course at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. The Montford Point Challenge was designed in 2011 to give Candidates a taste of the hardships of the first African-Americans allowed to enlist in the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher A. Green/Released)

SAN DIEGO (Dec. 8, 2012) Navy Band Southwest’s 38-piece wind ensemble performs holiday festive music at the base movie theater on Naval Air Station North Island for service members and their families during an orchestral concert before a showing of Christmas movies. Navy Band Southwest averages about 600 performances each year and performs music throughout the San Diego area at various events during the holidays.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Carlos M. Vazquez II/Released)

CAMP MUJUK, Republic of Korea (Dec. 6, 2012) Rear Adm. Bill McQuilkin, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, center, and guests of honor break ground during a ceremony for the start of construction on new living quarters for U.S. Navy Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadron (HM) 14, Detachment 1. This will be the first U.S. Navy building in Korea with geothermal heating. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert Clowney/Released)

ARABIAN SEA (Dec. 10, 2012) Chief Aviation Machinist’s Mate Eddie Casusol, from New York, reviews test data from an F/A-18 engine test in the jet shop aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Char-lotte C. Oliver/Released)

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ACROSS

3 The soft patch is used as the primarytemporary pipe patch. It can hold up to150______.7 DC8 A flat plate of wood or steel used todistribute pressure over a wide area whenshoring.9 Primary damage control circuit (outgoing from DCC).10 Type of agent that affects the bodythrough the nervous system whenabsorbed into the body by inhalation,ingestion, and through the skin.

DOWN

1 There are 10 _____ ____ aboard TR.2 The ______ stage regulator breaks the air down from 4,500 psi to 100 psiin the SCBA.4 A solid stream of water should never be used on a class ______ firebecause it is an excellent conductor.5 Secured during conditions X-ray,Yoke and Zebra.6 Individual protection for all CBRNthreats: protective mask is maintainedin carrier and worn on person. For radiological: issue individual dosimetersand dose indicators.

Check back next week for the answers!