INSIDE

NOVEMBER 3, 2013

TRaININg DayPilot’S firSt carrier landing

SPOOKy SPaCESceleBrating Halloween at Sea

geo-BacHelorHOME aWay FROM HOME

ROUgH RIDERUSS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71)

DCOlympics

11.2.2013

photos of THE WEEK

By theodore roosevelt Media

training Day

By McSn John drew

He banks left as he prepares for his first aircraft carrier landing. The familiar feel of G-forces drive him down into

his seat as he rehearses his rhythmic breathing. He flexes his grip to remind himself that he is in control. He corrects his heading as he hears the air traffic controller granting him permis-sion to. His aircraft rapidly approaches the carrier. The flaps go down. It’s a mile away. He pulls back slightly to slow the jet, never removing his eyes from the heads-up display. He makes minor corrections as his jet banks left and right to correct for the motion of the ship. He’s seconds away as he eases off the throttle even more and drops altitude. As soon as he feels the thud of touchdown, he slams the throttle forward. He feels the trap try to rip the aircraft

out from beneath him as he slows from 130 miles per hour to zero in just over a second. He eases back the throttle and breathes. The pilots of Training Wing (TW) One and Two completed trap catches, cat launches and taxying maneuvers onboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Oct. 31, en route to their carrier qualifications. For the pilots of TW-1 and TW-2, it was an honor to make their first aircraft carrier landing on Theodore Roosevelt. “The first pass was absolutely terrifying,” said Lt. j.g. Nathan Shuey of TW-1. “It was a touch and go and your nerves are so high you kind of forget what you’re doing.” Pilots practice carrier landing and taxying on a simulator before flying out to a ship. The simulator is extremely lifelike but it does not compare to the visceral experience of the real

thing, said Shuey. “The LSO’s [landing signal officer] always teach us to ‘fly the ball to touchdown’. Which means keep your eyes on the lens, and be aware of everything else. So when you ap-proach the wires, don’t follow them with your eyes. Don’t look down or try to catch a certain wire. Keep your eye on the ball until you slam forward in the cockpit. You honestly fly until your jet stops moving. I just kept saying to myself, ‘fly the ball to touchdown, fly the ball to touchdown,” said Shuey. Being a pilot was always a dream but Shuey never thought to actively pursue it until his senior year in college. “I went to Naval Air Station Oceana for an event with Penn State ROTC [Reserve Officers’ Training Corps],” said Shuey. “There

was a squadron of F-18s there and I got to ride in one. I knew from that point on that if I could make [flying] an occupation, I wanted to do it. That’s when I got really motivated to work towards it.” The path to becoming a naval aviator is long and challenging. “I actually trained with the air force for half a year and that was pretty challenging because I moved to a place that I never expected to be,” said Shuey. “I was in Oklahoma for that at Vance Air Force Base and that was pretty rigorous training. I chose to go there and was hoping it would set me up to fly jets and it actually worked out but was really difficult.” Pilots complete an aerobatics course designed to boost confidence and familiarize pilots with the aircraft’s limitations after just

over a year of training. “I’m sure every pilot can appreciate their first aerobatic solo or aerobatic flight,” said Lt. j.g. Daniel Knight, a helicopter pilot assigned to the Dragonslayers of Helicopter Anti-Sub-marine Squadron (HS) 11. “You are basically given the controls with a training pilot and are told to do flips and barrel rolls. Then you are told to go up and do it again alone. It’s meant to build your confidence as a pilot. It’s terrify-ing but also a lot of fun.” Aviators receive their wings of gold at the conclusion of their nearly two year training pipeline. “It was a lot of relief knowing that I made it through the program and a good amount of pride knowing what I had accomplished,” said Knight. “Also knowing my family was there

and that they had been looking forward to it for so long. It was a great sense of accomplish-ment much more so than obtaining my bache-lor’s degree. It wasn’t something someone told me to do, it was something I sought out and that made it much more rewarding.” As he steps out of the cockpit, Shuey is reminded of the countless hours in a simulator, days of actual flight, weeks away from home and years of education and training that led him to this point. He fills with pride at the thought that soon he will join the ranks of elite naval aviators.

Photo by McSn Jennifer fournier

Engineering department took top honors in the Damage Control (DC) Olympics aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roos-evelt (CVN 71).

Every department participated in the competition to measure their skills in medical and damage control events. “My department went into it thinking ‘we’re taking this, there’s no reason why we can’t take this’,” said Chief Damage Controlman Conor Flaherty from Engineering department. “They had the heart and they had the drive. I owe it all to the department. They went out there and they kicked butt.” Every department on the ship put on their game face and participated in a number of DC and medical events including pipe patching, stretcher bearing, hose team training and firefighting relays. “The emphasis is on DC and medical because outside of an actual casualty this is us learning and having adrenaline go through our bodies like it would be if it was an actual event,” said Lt. Cmdr. Terra McIntyre, Theodore Roosevelt’s training officer. “You’re actually getting the activ-ities, the hands on, and you’re getting the guys out here.” Sailors often participate in general quarter’s drills to train in medical casualty and DC evolutions. However, the DC Olympics bring out an element of friendly competition to motivate Sailors. “It’s about everybody getting out there and getting some good DC training while having some fun along the way,” said Cryptologic Technician Technical 3rd Class Chad Discher, who participated in the firefighting relay. “I think it’s great for morale, we’re out to sea and kind of doing the same thing every day, it’s kind of nice to change it up and do something different.” The DC Olympics brings energy to the Sailors, and keeps the learn-ing environment interactive, providing an opportunity for departments to demonstrate their skills.

1stAnd the winners ar

e...

2nd3rd

DCOlympics11.2.2013

By McSn Stephane Belcher

Photos by theodore roosevelt Media

ENGINEERINGDECKCOMBAT SYSTEMS

SPOOK SPaceS

tr Sailors may have spent the holiday underway,but that didn’t stop themfrom keeping in spirit andcelebrating Halloweenthe navy way!

Photos by McSn Bounome chanphouang & McSn John drew

yOUR

Leaving family is never easy, especially when it’s months at a time out to sea on deploy-ment. But, what if someone isn’t out to sea and they still have to leave their family behind?

“It’s a sad feeling,” said Quartermaster Seaman Christopher Lewis. “My daughter never knows when I’m leaving for long periods of time. When I go home, she never leaves my side. She follows me around the house. When I sit down to watch TV, she wraps herself around me. When I do leave her, she gets really mad. She starts crying, ‘Poppa! Poppa! Wait!’.” Chris made the biggest sacrifice of his life when he chose to leave his wife and daughter behind in New Orleans and live as a geographical bachelor aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). A geographical bachelor is someone separated from their family for reasons other than deployment and by choice. Chris lives aboard Theodore Roosevelt, but his wife and daughter live in New Orleans with their close friends and family. Chris joined the Navy in 2009 and married his girl-friend, Martha, Dec. 27, 2009. Two short years later, Martha gave birth to their daughter, Jaden, Feb. 27, 2011. During this time, Chris was in and out to sea, and hated leaving Martha and Jaden behind. Martha also wanted to go to school for nursing but worried about taking care of Jaden. Reluctantly, Chris and Martha decided that she and Jaden would go back to New Orleans to live near close family and friends . Martha’s parents were another big factor in their deci-sion. Originally from Nicaragua, they speak little English. Martha provided their transportation, was their interpreter, and took care of their bills. It was really hard for Mar-tha’s parents to live without her because Martha was their backbone. Every day has been a struggle for Chris since his wife and daughter returned to New Orleans. “It is extremely hard, because I have a wife and daughter that I can’t see every day,” said Lewis. “It’s hard because they’re my life. They’re my two favorite people in the world and we have to live without each other every single day.” “Quality time is the biggest sacrifice,” said Lewis. “I missed a lot of firsts, her first birthday and when she first started walking I wasn’t there. It was hard. Sometimes it’s kind of depressing that I miss those things, but I get over it because I know that I’m not doing it for myself. I’m doing it for them. I want them to have the best I possibly can give them.” Chris Skypes or calls his family every day. He sends his wife flowers, cards and writes her poetry. He goes home as much as possible. He makes it a priority that every moment he has with them is a joyful moment. “I ask her sometimes, ‘Do you think that we’re going to make it?’ Do you have any problems with me being constantly gone?’ We try to keep that in the dialogue and she’s with it 100 percent,” said Chris. Chris does everything he can to support and care for his family, and prepare them for his absence, but nothing could have prepared him for what came next.

Martha drove her mother to the grocery store one day and suddenly she started panicking. She found herself short of breath so she pulled to the side of the road to call an ambulance. The ambulance took her to the hospital where she stayed for three weeks, while doctors worked to find out what was wrong. “I fell to my knees and started crying because I didn’t know what was going to happen to her,” said Chris. “I never dealt with someone I love and care about more than anything being really sick. I was really scared. I panicked and I lost it when she told me that, because I didn’t know whether she was going to live or die.” Chris was able to be by his wife’s bed side immediate-ly because of the support of his chain of command. “Once my master chief found out that my wife was sick, ‘boom!’ he got involved. My assistant navigator, Lt. Cmdr. Ragadio got involved. He was like, ‘Go!’ If I need-ed a way to drive there, whatever I needed, Master Chief Everix, my gator and my assistant navigator, they were on board to let me go as long as possible,” said Chris. Chris’s master chief made sure he flew home the next day. He went straight to the hospital as soon as he arrived. There, he found his wife pale white and with IV’s in her arms. “I was thinking, ‘Oh my god what happened to her. How? When?’,” said Chris. “She lost a lot of weight. She had these weird disfigurations in her fingers and her feet and she was really weak. She couldn’t walk and had to go on an oxygen machine for a month. 24-hour oxygen.” It turned out that she had two holes in her lungs and the doctor diagnosed her with connective tissue disor-der. They put Martha on steroids shortly after and Lewis stayed with his wife until she recovered. His command leadership stayed in constant contact to check up on Chris and make sure his wife was alright. The genuine concern of his command touched Chris. “I felt really grateful,” said Lewis. “This chain of command I have now, I think it’s the best chain of com-mand in the world. I love my master chief. I really do. He’s a great guy. I love my QM1s and my navigator. My whole division, we really care for each other. We really try to help each other as much as possible. My chain of command would do anything for any one of us, especially Master Chief Everix. So, I really felt grateful to have them in my corner.” Chris returned to Theodore Roosevelt after his wife recovered, but every time Chris leaves his family he finds himself struggling to hold back tears. “I try not to let them see me cry because Martha wor-ries about me a lot,” said Chris.” I miss them sometimes and I can’t help it. I cry when I’m walking out that door, when I’m starting my car up and when I’m driving down the street to get on the interstate to come back here. It’s hard. But I get over it, dry my tears and I look forward to the next time I’ll see them again.” With his chin up and his chest out, Chris takes it day by day as he serves his country aboard Theodore Roos-evelt. Patiently, he waits until the day when he and his family can truly be together again.

By McSn Bounome chanphouang (JP)

HoMe aWayFROM HoMe

YoUr naVY in tHe newS

flaMe-reSiStant coVerallS COMINg SOON

from U.S. fleet forces command

U.S. Fleet Forces and Pacific Fleet released a joint message Oct. 24 detailing the use and wear of the new Flame Resistant Variant (FRV) coveralls, which will begin being distributed to Sailors in the fleet before the end of the year. Scheduled to start arriving in December, the new coveralls will initially be provided to the crews of ships scheduled to deploy in early 2014. “We made the decision to supply flame-resistant coveralls to all Sailors assigned to ships as an added safety precaution,” said Adm. Bill Gortney, commander, USFF. “The information provided in the manner wear message will ensure everyone understands what is expected in the wearing of this new organizational clothing.” According to the message the FRV will be distributed to several fleet units before the end of the year. Early shipments will focus on next deployers and forward deployed naval forces. The type commanders will hold a series of show and tell roadshows in November and December in fleet concentration areas to ensure sailors have an opportunity to see and feel the FRV. The goal is to provide an understanding on the basics of where, when and how to wear the new coverall. Based on production schedules, initial fleet outfitting should complete by October 2014. Flame resistant organizational clothing had previously been limited to Sailors working in engineering departments, on flight decks and in other high-risk areas, but the Organizational Clothing Working Group recommended every Sailor afloat be outfitted with the additional protection. Once outfitted, Sailors are directed to wear the FRV while underway. The NWU type I and other polyester and poly blend

uniforms are no longer authorized for wear while underway except for special events such as manning the rails, change of command or receptions held at anchor. Exceptions: (1) Personnel assigned to submarines will continue to wear the poly/cotton utility coverall due to its low lint characteristics. Once a long-term, all-purpose coverall solution that is flame resistant and low lint version is available, it is expected that it will be made available to the submarine force. (2) The FRV will not be worn in place of organizational clothing mandated for specific operational environments such as flight decks or while performing work on electrical systems requiring arc flash protection. The new coveralls are expected to maintain performance properties, durability and appearance for typical deployments of six to nine months, with an optimal wear life of 18-24 months. Like other organizational clothing, the FRV coveralls will be replaced by each ship over time based on normal wear and tear. The name/rank configuration of the FRV coverall will consist of a Velcro-backed name tag and metal collar devices. To build unit esprit de corps, each unit CO has the discretion to authorize the wear of the embossed leather name tag (same as worn on the V-neck sweater) or develop a fabric embroidered unit specific name tag similar to those worn on green Nomex flight jackets. Command ball caps are authorized for wear with the FRV. Materials making the coveralls flame-resistant are incorporated into the fabric fibers. Wear life is dependent on many factors, including wear and cleaning frequency, cleaning method and environmental exposure.

StaffCommanding Officercapt. daniel grieco

Executive Officercapt. Mark colombo

Public Affairs Officerlt. cmdr. Patrick evans

Media Officerensign Jack georges

Senior EditorMcc gino carr

EditorMc2 Brian reynolds

LayoutMc3 Katie lash

Rough Rider ContributorsMc2 gregory white

McSn Bounome chanphouang (JP)McSn Stephane Belcher

McSn John M. drewtheodore roosevelt Media

Command Ombudsmanapril Kumley

cvn71ombudsman@gmail.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 534-1406 or

stop by 3-180-0-Q.

CHECK US OUT ONLINE!facebook.com/usstheodoreroosevelt

twitter: @therealcVn71youtube.com/usstheodoreroosevelt

ROUgH RIDEROF THE WEEKHoSPital corPSMan 3rd claSS aJ nicHolaS

or ABFC Edric Kidd

300tHe aBYSS

tHe conJUringcloUd atlaS

looPer300

tHe aBYSStHe conJUring

cloUd atlaSlooPer

tHe waterBoYtHe lone ranger

r.i.P.d. tHe BoUntY

BraVe tHe waterBoY

tHe lone rangerr.i.P.d.

tHe BoUntYBraVe

cHiefS @ BillStitanS @ raMScHargerS @ redSKinSfalconS @ PantHerSViKingS @ cowBoYSSaintS @ JetS

NOTE: If a particular game is noted as BLACKED OUT on the listed channels, check channels 70, 72 or 73. The Sunday night game will be broadcast on channel 74 (NBC)

eagleS @ raiderSBUccaneerS @ SeaHawKSraVenS @ BrownSSteelerS @PatriotS

now YoU See MeBlacK HawK down fUll Metal JacKet

tHe HoBBitargo

now YoU See MeBlacK HawK downfUll Metal JacKet

tHe HoBBitargo

9899

100101102103

104105106107

0900110013301530183020302230010003000600

Ch. 66

1300 gaMES 1600 gaMES

Ch. 67 Ch. 68

*

*Movie schedule is subject to change.

footBall ScHedUle

SUndaY noV 3