MRs will take with them to their next commands, career building blocks created aboard a legendary carrier. “Without a doubt, MRs coming out of the Enterprise are going to have an edge,” said Machinery Repairman 2nd Class Michael Petronio, the Machine Shop’s leading petty officer. “As far as a floating machine shop, we probably get some of the best experience in the fleet. We are the oldest floating machine shop in the Navy on the oldest ship in the Navy, so, as you can imagine, there is a lot that breaks down and plenty of experience to gain from putting it back together.” The equipment, however, is only as good as its users. “I’ve got an excellent team,” said Petronio. “I have the fortune of leading an older, more mature group, they know their duty and they do it well. They’re very focused, very hard working and they pick up the different techniques and methodologies of machine work very easily. I think I’m the luckiest leader there could be.” There are many reasons to enjoy what you’re doing and MRs each perform their craft with their own personal motivation. “The most rewarding part of this rate is knowing I accomplished a job that kept the mission going,” said Stepney. “If a shaft breaks somewhere or something happens in the plants, we can’t complete our mission. Just knowing that we pulled it off and the mission kept going and everyone was safe…that’s a job well done.” One might think because Enterprise only needs to last a few more months that there would be less concern with the longevity of replacement parts, but this is not the standard set

August 31, 2012 Issue“We are Legend”Newsletter Edition

USS Enterprise (CVN 65)

The Shuttle From Solid Stock; USS Enterprise Machinery RepairmenStory by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Randy J. Savarese

MR2 Michael Patronio measures a piece of machinery in the ship’s machinery repair shop. (Photo by Brooks Patton Jr.)

USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea – “Perform organizational intermediate maintenance on assigned equipment and support other ships requiring the skillful use of our lathes, milling machines, boring mills, grinders, power hacksaws, drills, drill presses and other machining tools portable machinery and hand tools and measuring instruments found in the machine shop.” This is the text book description of the core of the Machinery Repairman rating but, as in every other rate, this cold technical definition does not do the job justice. A-School is approximately 32 working days and it covers everything from the engraving machine to the basics of operating the equipment. The lathes, drill-press and the mill are the bread and butter of the MR rate, according to Machinery Repairman Fireman Anthony Broderick who recently arrived aboard aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) from A-School. “We’re told from the start the lathes are going to be our best friend, so no matter how old or how noisy they are we have to get used to them, and you better get a feel for each one,” said Broderick. “That is one of the first things we are told, you have to get a feel for each machine because each one works a little bit differently.” There is a certain prestige in MR circles when talking about the Enterprise because it is one of the oldest ships in the Navy which translates to valuable experience. “The moment they told me I was going they said it’s the oldest one, it’s the largest one and it’s the only one that has a gap lathe,” said Broderick. “My instructors were pretty stoked I was coming here.” A lot of the newer ships in the Navy have parts mass-produced in factories and then flown out to the ship when they are needed, which gives those MRs less time with the machines of their craft. “Things break on Enterprise because it is an old ship, which means we get hands-on training that we can take with us to our next duty station,” said Fireman Jermaine Stepney. “It’s a big privilege to be on one of the world’s oldest floating machine shops. We have one of the oldest pieces of machinery in the Navy. The gap lathe has been on board since 1950. It’s the oldest, but our best, piece of machinery.” This knowledge and experience is something Enterprise

MR continued on page 3

Friday, August 31, 2012Page 2 The Shuttle

The Shuttle is published and printed daily underway and bi-weekly in port by the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Media Department, FPO AE 09543-2810. This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Please direct all story ideas, questions and comments to MC1 (SW) Steve Smith at smithsw@cvn65.navy.mil.

Public Affairs OfficerLt. Cmdr. Sarah T. Self-Kyler

Executive OfficerCapt. G. C. Huffman

Commanding OfficerCapt. William C. Hamilton, Jr.

EditorMC3 Brian G. Reynolds

The Shuttle

USS Enterprise (CVN 65)

Command Master Chief CMDCM (AW/SW) Dwayne E. Huff

The Cartoonists are Here!Family Circus by Jeff Keane Speed Bump by Dave Coverly

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spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. Ban arrived in Iran’s capital of Tehran earlier in the day for a two-day summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) states, despite opposition from the U.S. and Israel over their standoff with the Islamic republic over its controversial nuclear program. The UN secretary-general called Iran a country that “has a very important role to play” in helping end the Syrian crisis, saying “ This is one of the important issues that I’m going to discuss with the Iranian leadership.”

Friday, August 31, 2012 Page 3The Shuttle

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The United States was urging United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon to deliver his pledge to raise the issues including nuclear program in his meetings with Iranian officials, the State Department said on Wednesday. “As we have been saying all along, we are urging Ban Ki-moon to follow through on his pledge to raise all of the difficult issues with Iran’s leaders when he is there, not only the nuclear file, but concerns about terror, concerns about Iran’s support for the Assad regime,” department

In the NewsU.S. Urges UN Chief to Raise Controversial Issues with IranBy Xinhua

Hormats said the visit aims to strengthen U.S.-Egyptian relationship as the new government tackles a range of pressing economic issues, such as a huge financial deficit, low economic growth and dried up foreign investment. He said the Egyptian government is committed to genuine economic reform. Egypt’s Cabinet was sworn in this month by the country’s first elected president, Mohammed Morsi, of the Muslim Brotherhood.

CAIRO - A high level U.S. government delegation is in Egypt this week in strong push to closely work with Egypt’s new government as it deals with this country’s faltering economy. The delegation is headed by U.S. Undersecretary of State for Economic Growth Robert Hormats. Hormats said Wednesday the delegation started meetings with Egyptian officials and is sponsoring a large mission of U.S. businessmen due here next month.

U.S. Makes Push to Work with New Egypt Government By ASSOCIATED PRESS

UAE Calls on Iran to Solve Islands Dispute By Xinhua

“Based on this, and in emphasis of cementing the historic relations and good neighbor policy, the UAE calls on Iran to respond to its calls to find a peaceful and just solution to the issue of the UAE’s islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb which are currently occupied by the Islamic Republic of Iran, either through bilateral negotiations or by referring the case to the International Court of Justice,” Gargash added. Ministers of 120 NAM members gathered in Tehran on Aug. 28-29. Head of states and governments will attend the summit on Aug. 30- 31.

DUBAI, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates issued Wednesday a statement on the occasion of the 16th summit of the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) in Tehran, urging Iran to solve the dispute on three islands through negotiations. “The United Arab Emirates is committed to all the principles on which the 120-member organization NAM was established, in particular respecting the sovereignty of states, the settlement of conflicts through peaceful means as well as the rejection of foreign occupation,” Minister of State for Foreign Affair Anwar Mohammed Gargash said in a statement, published by the UAE government Wednesday.

that everything going out is of exceptional quality.” If you have a system where a part deteriorates or breaks, MRs are the people who fabricate a new one. With a ship this old, this is a fact of life, and it takes the dedication of its Sailors to keep her in full operational condition. The fact Enterprise is still steaming along, conducting missions, is a testament to the skill and pride of Enterprise MRs. “We have the greatest machine shop in the Navy right here,” said Petronio.

by Enterprise MRs. “Sure we only need the ship to continue on for a few more months, but if a part isn’t machined up to proper specifications it could break in a matter of weeks,” said Broderick. “These parts may also go on to another ship after the Enterprise is (inactivated).” “It’s not a matter of just making parts for us so we can last long enough to be here,” said Broderick. “It’s about holding up to a standard that helps out our shipmates who will be receiving these parts later on. It’s a matter of pride

MR continued from page 1

Friday, August 31, 2012The ShuttlePage 4

Big E Entertainment

Yeoman 3rd ClassEric Horne

Sailors of the DaySeaman ApprenticeCorbin Cumpston

YN3 Eric Horne, from Eldersburg, Md., joined the Navy less than a year ago to provide for his family and to continue his education. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and listening to music. In the future, he plans to finish his degree and advance in rank.

SA Corbin Cumpston, from Roseburg, Ore., joined the Navy one year ago to finish his degree. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and working out. In the future, he plans to advance in rank and finish his degree.