August 19, 2011

vol. 1 i. 14

MarinesFASTPAC

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Blue Ridge is an authorized publication for Sailors serving aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19). Contents herein are not the views of, or endorsed by the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or the Commanding Officer of the USS Blue Ridge. All news releases, photos or information for publication in Blue Ridge must be submitted to the Public Affairs Officer.

Commanding Officer: Capt. Daniel GriecoExecutive Officer: Lt. Cmdr. Kevin RalstonCommand Master Chief: CMDCM(SW/SS) David UnnonePublic Affairs Officer: Lt. j.g. Clinton BeairdEditor: MC1(SW) Todd MacdonaldNewsletter Staff:MC2(SW) Brian DietrickMC2 Aaron PinedaMC2 Joshua CurtisMC2 Fidel HartMC3(SW) Alexandra ArroyoMCSN James Norman

On the cover: Sgt. Matthew Miles of the 6th Platoon Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team, Pacific stands on the flight deck of USS Blue Ridge with his fellow Marines awaiting a gun shoot.Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Pineda

Steel Beach PicnicPhotos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Pineda

August 19, 2011

vol. 1 i. 14

MarinesFASTPAC

The Marines assigned to the Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Pacific

(FASTPAC) aboard U.S. 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) serve an essential role when it comes to the security and defense of the United States’ assets around the world. The role of FAST is to detect, deter and defend against threats with a focus on antiterrorism. They also share the common goal of reinforcing U.S. Embassies in addition to training and advising local and foreign security forces. “My fellow Marines and I are a force afloat in case anything terrorism-wise goes down,” Capt. Travis Posey, Platoon Commander said. “We are trained to be deployed from Blue Ridge rapidly to an Embassy or any other dire situation that may need our assistance.”

Being part of the Marine Corps Security Force Regiment, Marines serving within the FAST community are highly skilled and trained in counter intelligence, physical security, urban combat techniques, close quarter combat and martial arts. “I’ve done cross-training with the Australian Army before and it was a great experience,” Company Armorer Lance Corporal Michael Griner said. “We taught them the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, while they taught us medical field training.” Within the FAST regiment, there are three companies. The 1st and 3rd are based out of Norfolk, Virginia, while the 2nd is based out of Yorktown, Virginia. Within each company there are six platoons of 50 men. While deployed, platoons are assigned to commands in three areas: Europe, Pacific, or Central. Although Marines are not usually assigned to ships, there is an exception for those assigned to FAST. While deployed on Navy vessels, they try to stay active and busy by working out and

learning from their various classes. According to Posey, trying to stay active while the ship is underway can be hard, but he tries to keep his Marines engaged with various activities. “Besides exercising, we allow our more senior Marines to teach proper communication skills with the public and classes on different battle positions,” Posey said. “We show them how to detect IEDs, using CHF radios and identifying foreign infantry weapons to name a few.” According to FASTPAC Lance Corporal Joshua Chapius, the Marines assigned to Blue Ridge make an essential contribution to keeping the overall mission a safe and well guarded one. “The fact that I get to learn and train with other militaries doing something I already love, has been one of the highlights of my time with FASTPAC,” Chapius said. “This whole tour has been a great learning experience and I’ve been to countries I never thought I would be able to visit on my own.”

Semper FiFASTPAC Mission

Story by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman James NormanPhotos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Pineda

On any given day aboard USS Blue Ridge, busy Sailors engage in different projects to both preserve and improve the ship. Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Terrence Phillips, deck department’s, first division leading petty officer, was approached by his division officer with a project on a part of the ship that has deep roots in naval tradition. The forecastle, or foc’sle as it’s more commonly called, gets its name from medieval times when castle like structures were built on warships. These structures were located in the bow, or forward most part of the ship, where archers could take station and fire their arrows to shoot down enemy ships. They were also used as a defensive stronghold if the ship was boarded. On modern day U.S. Navy ships the location of the foc’sle remains the same, but the purpose is a little different. Aboard Blue Ridge it has many uses. It is home to the ship’s two 25,500 pound anchors, it serves as one of the ships mooring stations, and instead of archers, it is boatswain’s mates that stand post there. According to Phillips, it also serves another purpose. “The foc’sle is supposed to be a ceremonial place where people can do re-enlistments, pinning ceremonies, celebrations and even captain’s mast,” he said. The task that was given to Phillips and his crew: turn the Blue Ridge’s foc’sle into a ceremonial space while still keeping it operational. In true deck department fashion they got right to work. Seaman Chris Glaeser was one of more than 40 Sailors who worked on the transformation. “I started needle gunning and grinding away on the non skids and angle irons. A lot of grinding and getting rid of layers of paint,” he said. “It was a restoration project from top to bottom, fore to aft.

Tearing down everything and taking it down to bare metal,” he continued. Seaman Casey Demarrias knew it was going to be a lot of work. Having to remove rust and paint that was really thick. He also knew it was an important project. “It’s a big space for deck department. I think it represents boatswain’s mates as a whole,” he said. After all the rust was removed and everything was sanded down, it was time to rebuild it from the deck up. After two months of long hours and hard work the time has come for these Sailors to showcase to the rest of the ship what they accomplished. “Mainly when people went to the foc’sle it was for duty section turnover,” said Phillips. “All they saw was white, deck grey and black chains, but when they come in now they’ll see bright colors and more fancy work all across the foc’sle.” Glaeser said the difference is night and day. He thinks it looks a lot nicer and everything is brighter. Seeing the finished product is an aspect of the job that Demarrias likes. “Everything we do takes a lot time and a lot of effort, and when you’re done you can see a big change in everything,” he

said. “I like seeing that change.” The deck department took a lot of pride in this project, as they do with all their work and for good reason.“Deck is the oldest rate in the Navy,” said Phillips. “We do the grimiest work, the dirtiest work, yet some people can’t tell because we are always looking clean at the same time. Everything we do we take a a lot of pride in,” he said. That pride was evident with all the hard work these Sailors put into the foc’sle. Phillips said his team did a fabulous job and put in late hours. “We were knocking down the paint and my crew stayed up all the way until taps. They worked from dawn till dusk,” he said. But the job is not quite done. Along with upkeep, the department continues to make improvements to the foc’sle that Sailors both past and present can be proud of. “The foc’sle gets used a lot, so it’s going to be hard work keeping it clean,” said Demarrias. “Deck department will step up to the challenge like we always do.”

Blue Ridge’s New Foc’sleStory and photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Curtis

Just as one group of ship riders departed USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), another group arrived. This time Blue Ridge hosted four Korean Midshipmen who joined the summer patrol on August 2, in Cairns, Australia. Sangsu Kwon, Min Sakong, Seongkoo Hong, and Gyunan Park’s arrival was part of a military exchange program coordinated by Blue Ridge staff and the Republic of Korea Naval Academy. The riders spent 11 days observing and participating in some of the ship’s training evolutions and even took part in the crossing the line ceremony. Lt. Valerie Greenaway, the ship’s training officer who worked with the Midshipmen, said the visit was a good opportunity to strengthen ties. “It’s been a great effort to increase foreign relations and allow them to experience the daily operations of a U.S. Navy warship,” she said. With the exception of Park, who traveled to China and Thailand, it was the groups first time outside Korea. “It’s been awesome,” said Park. “I’ve learned about American culture and met so many people.” After watching American Sailors and Marines for a few days, the group noticed the differences in the two nations’ navies. For Sakong, the most obvious was the difference in attitude. “The Americans have a much more free atmosphere, Korean navy ships are much more strict,” he said. While aboard they also focused on how the exchange

Korean Midshipmen Sail With USS Blue Ridge From Cairns to BusanStory and photos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Pineda

could enhance their military careers as Korean Navy officers. “I see there are many good practices that hopefully I can take back and apply to the Korean Navy,” said Kwon. One of the things the Midshipmen will be taking back with them is the experience of the crossing the line ceremony. Luckily for them they were onboard at the right time and were able to get in on the fun. “It was a little crazy, but we all liked it. We’re lucky because this is something we normally wouldn’t do in our Navy,” said Sakong. For Midshipman Hong, the crossing the line ceremony wasn’t the only memory he’ll bring back with him to Korea. “One of the best moments on the ship was being able to swim in the Pacific ocean during swim call,” he said. “That will definitely be something I won’t forget.” Before disembarking Blue Ridge, the Midshipmen prepared a meal for the wardroom. Ensign Amy Kim, who helped prepare the meal, said she and her fellow Blue Ridge wardroom officers thought it was a very kind gesture. “It was great. It shows how eager they are in sharing a part of their heritage and the pride they have in their culture,” she said.

Fire Controlman 2nd Class Ivan Galvez instructs Midshipman Gyunan Park on firing the .50 caliber machine gun. Park and three other Midshipmen from the Republic of Korea joined Blue Ridge on her journey from Cairns, Australia to Busan, Republic of Korea.

Republic of Korea Midshipman Sangsu Kwon, Min Sakong, and Seongkoo Hong serve Korean food to SH-60F pilot Lt. Cmdr. Wilson Porter in the wardroom. The Midshipmen prepared the meal as a gesture of appreciation before departing Blue Ridge in Busan, Republic of Korea.

Enjoying summer activities often includes fun in the sun. This summer Sailors are reminded that it is important to keep cool in the heat. According to Time Magazine and The American Association for the Advancement of Science, temperatures world-wide are steadily increasing. Higher temperatures mean heat safety is a rising concern. “Sailors should maintain proper hydration, know the signs and symptoms and know their limits in order to avoid possible heat stress,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jenna Bailey, the ship’s heat stress coordinator. Bailey described two types of heat stress injuries Sailors should be aware of; heat exhaustion and heat stroke. “Heat exhaustion typically happens midday during sporting events,” she said. “People should try to do strenuous exercise during cooler parts of the day.” Many factors can contribute to the levels of heat stress found in the body. These include health conditions, medications, and even caffeine or alcohol intake, explained Bailey. “We need to stay aware of our bodies hydration when we’re out at night, even though the sun isn’t with us,” she said. “If we had a long hot day in the sun, our

PREVENT HEAT INJURIES THIS SUMMERSIGNS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION:- profuse sweating- pale and clammy skin- pulse is fast and weak- breathing is fast and shallow- dizziness- nausea

SIGNS OF HEAT STROKE:- skin is hot, flushed and dry- pulse is fast and strong- vomiting, cramps and twitching- victim goes into shock

FIRST AID FOR HEAT INJURIES:- call for help- move victim to a cool space- remove clothing- cover with cold, wet material- gently massage arms and legs- lower body temperature

PREVENTING HEAT INJURIES:- drink plenty of fluids- avoid alcohol or caffeinated beverages- schedule vigorous activites during cooler parts of the day- spend more time indoors during humid days

ENJOY THE REST OF SUMMER AND BE SAFE!

body is still experiencing the effects in the evening.” Heat exhaustion may be a side effect of being in a hot environment but higher risks lurk behind every missed sip of water. “Heat stroke is the most dangerous heat related injury,” said Bailey. “It’s like a whole body meltdown.” According to Bailey, effects of heat stroke are high fever, rapid heartbeat, nausea, vomiting, seizures, a coma or even possible death. The ship has ways to prevent or reduce possible heat injury to ensure the temperature doesn’t rise above physical heat exposure limits, she said. “On the ship, we monitor the

temperature daily. If it gets too hot, we monitor the work in that area in order to keep our Sailors safe,” explained Bailey. Heat can affect Sailors on and off the ship. Sailors on board have a method of preventing heat stress injuries during the work day. Machinist’s Mate Fireman Ashely Smith spends a lot of time working in hot shipboard spaces that require constant supervision due to heat stress. She said engineering spaces have some of the hottest work conditions on board and that heat stress is take seriously. “There are dry bulb thermometers in the spaces

that have to get observed every hour,’ said Smith “Depending on the temperature, these readings help determine how long Sailors can handle the heat in that space.” Bailey explained that during a heat stress injury, the body is dealing with temperatures rising too quickly for the body to accommodate for the temperature. She said in engineering spaces, water helps maintain this balance. Bailey said basic knowledge of the human anatomy can help Sailors understand how to help when heat affects the processes in the human body. “Handling the heat begins with understanding how to properly maintain your core temperature,” she said.

Story by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alexandra Arroyo

BEAT THE HEAT Photo by MC2 Curtis

Sailor

“I liked the obstacles we went through on the main deck and being sprayed down by salt water.”

“I liked being able to experience some of the traditions and heritage that still remain in the Navy.”

“I enjoyed watching all the new junior officers become shellbacks.”

“I liked the final part where we had to say ‘I want to be a shellback!’ as loud as we could in front of Davey Jones.”

“The end, where you’re all finished and they spray the water hose on you to get all the gunk off.”

“The whole day was fun! I enjoyed it all, even the more physical parts.”

CSSN Kevin Gonzales

ET3 Anthony Lehman LTJG Kristina Gladstone

SHSN Borys Tkachenko MM2 Melina Knight

CTRC Darold Little

Q & A“What was your favorite part of the Shellback Ceremony?”

Compiled by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Pineda

The Marine Band is the oldest musical organization in the United States. They have played at every Presidential Inauguration since 1801. They are also know by the name “The President’s Own”.Know?Did You

The Ships Nautical or Otherwise Photographic Intelligence Exploitation (SNOOPIE) Team aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) support the mission by identifying the unknown. The SNOOPIE team serve as the eyes of Blue Ridge when it comes to determining if any unknown contact poses a threat to the ships stability or mission. Enlisted Intelligence Assistant (EIA), Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Jeffery Quemada says the SNOOPIE team could be called away for any surface or air contact. “If the personnel standing watch on the bridge don’t know what they’re seeing, they can call us away so we can come up and try to identify it,” he said. “A big part of what we get called away for are foreign warships and aircraft.” Several jobs within the SNOOPIE team help carry out the essential routine tasks every time the team is called away. SNOOPIE Team Manager, Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Kenneth Jackson says the EIAs serve as direct leaders to the team while instructing them on what to look for and make sure the correct information is recorded. Enlisted Intelligence Assistant, Cryptologic Technical Technician 2nd Class John Richardson says being tasked with the job of EIA is a great opportunity and he loves being able contribute to the Intelligence community with the information gathered. “I’m the guy who makes sure our photographer is getting as many detailed pictures as possible while the recorder is gathering the vital visual characteristics of the contact,” he said. “I’m also making sure the Officer of the Deck is informed on the situation and of the contact’s status.” The recorder’s job is to gather any data collected on the contact including specific visual characteristics as well as the activity observed, he said. According to Quemada, one of the most crucial aspects to the team is the photographer who captures images of the contact and records detailed visual characteristics for further analysis.

The final job on the SNOOPIE team is the Photographer’s Assistant. They aid the photographer with the camera gear and look through “Big Eyes” binoculars assisting the recorder in gathering visual information. When the team is called away, the photographer gets his camera ready to capture the foreign contact, the EIA ensures his recorder writes down all the contact’s information and the photographer’s assistant captures what detailed data he can. Quemada says after all the information is gathered on the contact, he then makes his way down to Special Intelligence Communications or the Ship’s Signal Exploitation Space. “I type up our report with all the

Away the SNOOPIE Team, Away!Story by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman James Norman

information gathered, send it out via the Joint Information Processing Center watch in Main Communications, and the data is then communicated to the entire 7th fleet area of operation,” he said. Jackson says when the SNOOPIE team is called away it simply means there is a contact of interest within visual range of Blue Ridge not that the ship is under a hostile threat. Made up of different rates, the team provides a vital role in keeping the ship safe, in addition to keeping the intelligence community informed on a global scale. Jackson said the overall mission of the team is to respond and collect the initial data on unidentified surface and air contacts that come within visual range of Blue Ridge.

Photo by MC2 Hart

Photo by MC2 Pineda

Photo by MC2 Hart

Photo by MC2 Hart

Photo by MC2 Pineda

Photo by MC2 Pineda

Photo by MC2 Hart

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