ABH3 (AW/SW) BriAn WAtSonAir Department, V-1 Tractor King

Story and photos byMass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jerine Lee

USS Abraham Lincoln’s (CVN 72) Health Promotions Committee began their second contest of “The Biggest

Loser” Dec. 28 to promote a healthy lifestyle and friendly competition.

The Biggest Loser competition for the first half of deployment had 176 participants in teams of two. Lincoln’s Health Promotions Committee said 72 Sailors are participating in the second contest.

“Being in the military, most Sailors are naturally competitive and driven to win,” said Chief Hospital Corpsman Michael Zarella, a committee co-chairman. “Because we are missing our families and friends back home, the competition is great to keep your mind away from it and better ourselves.”

The Biggest Loser competition, based on the TV show under the same title, consists of teams of two. Each team’s goal is to lose the most combined body fat percentage during a 72-day period.

With scheduled weigh-ins throughout the 72 days, teams can log their progress and win prizes such as gift cards and certificates, exercise equipment and discounts to future Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) tours.

“Everybody is so busy and can get caught up with work during the deployment,” said Zarella, of Campbell, Ohio. “The competition boosts morale and encourages people to keep in shape to better their lifestyle and become a better person.”

The top three teams losing body fat will receive prizes after the final weigh-in March 9. The prizes include Wii game systems, gift certificates and Visa travel cards.

New Year MeaNs New FitNess Goals; liNcolN BeGiNs aNother BiGGest loser coMpetitioN

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Brian Watson, a native of San Jose, Calif., joined the navy to travel the world.

Watson said his uncle and an aunt were in the Navy, so joining the fleet seemed like the right choice for him. He also has a cousin who was just sworn in.

Watson was 19 when he enlisted in May 2007. After finishing boot camp, Watson went to “A” School in August that year and shortly after, reported aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).

He works in air department, V-1 division as a tractor king.“I like the excitment of my job,” he said. “I know that what I’m doing is

directly involved with protecting our country so it makes me feel proud.“The flight deck is always moving, and sometimes a curve ball gets thrown

your way, so I enjoy helping out by trying to work through the problem and get aircraft off the deck.”

In his off time Watson likes to play hockey, travel and take vacations with his wife, Danielle. “The last place we went was Las Vegas. The next trip we’re planning is Cancun so I’m looking forward to that.”

KnoW Your SHipmAte

-Compiled by MCSN Adam Randolph

top Five teAmS From BiggeSt LoSer Competition (pArt i)1st place: ABEC Dennis Kelding and ET1 Alex Bonilla (lost a combined 65 lbs. Way to go!!!)2nd place: CAPT Richard Odom and CDR Kelly Robinson3rd place: ABE1 Douglas Faavi and BM1 Smith4th place: LS2 Margaret Gravning and LS2 Melissa Hanenberger5th place: ATC David Pickle and ATC Douglas Lively

20112011 2011incoln’s New Year’s Resolutions 2011L EMCS Ed Manangan

Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla. “ My new years resolution is to

spend more time with my family, and to exercise regularly.”

ABFAN Bailey Pagels (Left)Hometown: Oviedo, Fla.

“Ride in a Helo with Williamson”

ABFAN Kayde Williamson (Right)Hometown: Moses Lake, Wash.

“Try to keep a positive attitude, and work on my 27 pack”

ABFAN Kenneth KnoopHometown: Portland, Ore.

“My new years resolution is to get home safely, and lose weight.”

MMC Paul MataHometown: N.C.“I don’t have a new years resolution because they never get done.”

MA2 Alicia HanrahanHometown: Scapoose, Ore.“My Resolution is to lose weight and get my ESWS pin”

CSSN Jarel ThomasHometown: Nashville, Tenn.“Save money, and have as much fun as possible.”

HTFN Tykwa GoshayHometown: Newport News, Va.“This year I would like to over-reach a sparrow’s breath, carry the pollen to my family, and be a shepherd of myself.”

liNcolN wraps Up 2010 iN stYleBy Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sarah Murphy

Sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) rang in the New Year with an assortment of festivities around the ship

Dec.31.The ship’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation

(MWR) department planned events such as basketball games and karaoke in the hangar bay, as well as a special New Year’s Harley Big Bucks Bingo game that was broadcast over the ship’s TV network for all hands to participate.

“It will make for a great start to the new year for the winner of the Harley,” said John Porter, Lincoln’s MWR director. “Whether they’re a Harley rider or not, a prize like this will definitely boost their morale.”

In the grand finale game, Aviation Machinist Mate 1st Class Javier Campos was the first to blackout his bingo board, and won the 2010 Dyna Super Glide Harley Davidson motorcycle, valued at more than $12,000.

Campos, a native of Dinuba, Calif. and attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151, was excited when he was awarded the prize and said when he gets the bike home he will need someone to teach him how to ride the Harley.

The day’s festivities began with a 5K fun run on the flight deck, followed by a celebratory holiday meal with

ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and other traditional holiday foods, all served up by command leaders.

After the meal, the fun and games kicked off throughout the ship.

“We have free t-shirts and Navy ballcaps to go along with horn blowers and festive New Year’s hats,” said Logistics Specialist Chief Restituto Hernandez, MWR’s leading chief petty officer.

When the clock struck midnight, everyone in the hangar bay blew their horns and cheered.

The celebration gave Sailors the opportunity to take a break from the busy grind of deployment and take in 2011.

“I like the fact that we are able to be out here socializing with all our other shipmates, looking forward to the New Year to come,” said Operations Specialist 2nd Class Latrisha Nash, from Union, S.C.

As for her new year’s resolution, Nash is keeping it simple.

“I’m planning on saving a lot of money,” said Nash.The Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is deployed

to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.

U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Sarah Murphy

U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Sarah Murphy

U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Seth Clarke

U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Luciano Marano

U.S. Navy photo by MCSN Adam Randolph

U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Luciano Marano

U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Brian Morales

DUBAIThe Abraham Lincoln Carrier

Strike Group spent the Christmas holiday visiting the

Middle Eastern port of Dubai, Dec. 23-27.

The visit to the United Arab Emirates was part of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group’s

current deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

The Lincoln choir commemorated the holiday by performing traditional carols as part of a morning Christmas service in Jebel Ali, Dec. 24.

While in port, Sailors participated in several Morale, Welfare and

Recreation-sponsored liberty tours in the cities of Dubai, Jebel Ali and the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Events included visits to beaches, waterparks, museums and shopping malls, as well as camel rides, sandboarding and a sunset safari on the dunes.

BostoN area sports FiGUres call liNcolN sailors to wish happY holidaYsComplied by Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs

Prominent Boston sports figures made special phone calls to deployed Sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) on three different occasions in

December to wish them happy holidays and talk about their respective sports.

The first call was from Boston Red Sox Manager Terry Francona, Dec. 21, followed by Celtics shooting guard Ray Allen, New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick and wide receiver Wes Welker on Christmas Eve. Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas called Dec. 29.

Each call had a group of 14 Sailors who enjoyed a short break from their routine to chat with the sports figures.

“Being a big baseball fan and being away from home, talking to Mr. Francona broke the monotony of cruise—being able to talk baseball for a bit and have that little bit of home you don’t normally get a lot of out here,” said Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Clayton Ladd, who is assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 137.

“It was awesome to actually have a little one-on-one

talk with the man who runs the show for your favorite sports team,” said Information Systems Technician Seaman Apprentice Michael J. Cappadonna.

The callers thanked Sailors for their service and let them know people back home were thinking about them while they were at sea.

“I want to wish you guys the best during the holiday season,” said Francona. “We appreciate your service. My son is a Marine, he’ll be heading to the Middle East in about three months; I just wanted to tell you how much we appreciate what you do for us, and I appreciate your interest in the Red Sox. It’s kind of fun to talk about baseball in December.”

Allen, a nine-time National Basketball Association all-star, grew up in a military family and told the Sailors he knew what it was like to have friends and family deployed.

“What you are doing for us helps me do what I do every single day,” said Allen. “It’s a real pleasure to talk to you guys. On behalf of myself and all my teammates, thanks for

everything you are doing for us.”Belichick, whose father was the assistant head coach at

the U.S. Naval Academy, told the Sailors he understands the military lifestyle and was grateful for and supportive of everything they were doing for the people back home.

During the last call, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Kaleb F. Brown asked what Thomas considered his most memorable moment as a hockey player.

Thomas said that although he has had quite a few memorable moments, his proudest moment came when he was named to the 2010 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team on the same day the Bruins won a shootout against the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2010 National Hockey League Winter Classic in front of 40,000 fans at Boston’s Fenway Park.

“Being named to the Olympic Team had been my dream since I was five years old, and finally I was able to realize that dream,” said Thomas. “It was a great day.”

The calls gave the sports figures an opportunity to inspire Sailors and let them know that their work is appreciated.

“Thank you--What you do is the real work that’s of real importance,” said Thomas.

He later told NHL.com in an interview “What I do is I play a game. What they do--the future of a nation rests on their shoulders. So what they do is the real important thing.”

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.

“What I do is I play a game. What they do--the future of a nation rests on their shoulders.” -Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins goalie

U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Alan Gragg

U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Alan Gragg

U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Spencer W. Mickler

U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Seth Clarke

i’M Not FroM hereoBservatioNs oF aN aMericaN sailor eMBarked oN a FreNch aircraFt carrierStory and photos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Luciano Marano

“For lunch we are having steak and

potatoes,” my new friend informed

me as we stood in the surprisingly short chow line. “You must say potatoes. You can’t say French Fries, because all fries here are French.”

Like so many things in life, it’s funny because it’s true. I embarked on the aircraft carrier FS Charles De Gaulle (R 91) knowing almost nothing about the ship and virtually no French at all (fries, toast, kiss, Eiffel Tower and that’s about it), but in my whirlwind time on board I was destined to discover that despite vast differences in the way that we do business in our respective navies, at the

heart of the operation there is a bond between all seafaring workers--a Sailor is a Sailor no matter what language they speak.

My sponsor, Cyril Davesne, was a photographer equivalent in rank to me. He hails from Tulon and he’s been in the French navy for seven years. I was quickly introduced around the media department and I can’t say enough about the French hospitality. I felt like a truly distinguished visitor for my entire stay.

A few other Sailors from Lincoln joined me on this professional exchange, and each of us was paired with a French sponsor who worked in a similar job field. I was fortunate enough to have had the chance to meet Cyril a few days earlier when he came over to Abe as the first part of the exchange. He was eager to show off his department and ship.

Let me say first of all that I have never met a more polite and accommodating group of professionals than I met during my time on board the Charles De

Gaulle. There is a sense of pride and craftsmanship in everything they do there and it was constantly apparent in every job they performed. A photographer is not a “navy photographer” and there are no “navy cooks”, a sailor is a photographer or a chef or a mechanic and they operate at a highly skilled and competitive level as if competing for their own job every single day.

A little history: The pride of the French Navy and it’s only aircraft carrier to date, De Gaulle is like Abe’s cousin in that it is different enough to be a challenge just to get around, and similar enough to be eerily familiar. First set to sea in Brest, France in 1989, the ship has a crew of about 1,900 Sailors and a mission statement very similar to our own. De Gaulle provides air support for ground troops, a visible presence of French support throughout the world and even humanitarian assistance capabilities when necessary. She is 261.5 meters long (that’s about 858 feet), displaces 42,500 tons

of water and can travel at a speed in excess of 27 knots. De Gaulle has a flight deck that is very much like our own, with a few exceptions. She has just two catapults and travels with 40 aircraft.

On the deck is a rainbow of jersey colors that looked all-too familiar. I began to notice the green shirts standing by to reset the arresting gear and the yellow shirts moving the planes around the deck. Yes, this was a scene I knew. Much of the flight operations onboard were modeled after American procedures after World War II, hence the similarities.

When I wasn’t observing flight operations, Cyril took me all over the ship with my camera in hand and showed me everything I could have

wanted to see. I quickly notice that even though this ship is smaller than ours, it seems much bigger. With a much smaller crew on board, the French have the luxury of donating more space toward the cause of comfort.

Their bridge is huge, with chairs for all personnel on watch, primary flight control is much larger than it is on Lincoln, with large bay windows, and again, chairs for everybody.

I was most impressed with the kitchen, which, complete with full-size bakery, more resembled a fancy restaurant than a ship’s galley.

For all these amenities, however, their berthing areas are almost exactly the same as ours. Three bunks high, with a personal locker for each enlisted sailor must be the internationally agreed upon acceptable amount of living space.

Yes, crew members can drink alcohol aboard ships in the French navy. Let’s get that out in the open now.

There are actual bars on the ship; two that I saw, and sailors are allowed to drink in them after working hours. The bars are separated by rank.

A glass of wine with dinner is a staple of French living and being out to sea is no exception. In general drinking wine is treated as business-as-usual there, but it is considered in poor taste to drink too much on the ship.

I found it humorous to note that as jealous as our Sailors may be of their access to alcohol, French sailors are equally impressed with the presence of soda machines aboard U.S. Navy ships.

There is no soda in the galley there, in fact during the work day water and coffee seem to be the only beverages consumed at all. Soda is kept in departmental refrigerators, Sailors stock up every port, and just like here there is a ship’s store for all your junk food and hygiene item needs.

From the warm welcome that awaited my arrival to the gift-laden almost depressing mood that surrounded my departure, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my time on board the French carrier. With my colleagues I discussed American music, French wine, the nature of patriotism and how it differed in our own countries.

We talked about the

friends and families who waited for us back on shore, and plans we would make for our next port calls. We talked like Sailors must have talked since the start of maritime operations. No matter what language you speak or where you come from, we’re all out to do our jobs as best we can and make a living at them to support the people and activities we love. I’m proud that my own efforts, no matter how small they may have been, strengthened on some level the cooperation between our two countries.

I am glad to know that our allies are out there doing the job as well as they are, to know that we have such capable friends we can count on.

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alan Gragg

A day after returning to sea from a port visit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln

(CVN 72) launched its 1,000th sortie mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) Dec. 28 in the Arabian Sea.

Lincoln pulled in to the UAE Dec. 23-27 with a total of 999 sorties flown during OEF and 76 sorties in support of Operation New Dawn (OND) during the ship’s 2010-2011 deployment to the Middle East.

The first launch after returning to sea marked the carrier’s millennial OEF mission, amassing a total of more than 5,884 hours flown for OEF in just under four months.

Capt. John Eden, commander of Lincoln’s embarked

Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, said the milestone mission was just business as usual for the air wing.

“Being able to conduct our air mission safely and effectively, day-in and day-out, is what makes us such a formidable force capable of supporting the effort on the ground,” said Eden.

“The ability of the Air Wing and the entire Lincoln Strike Group to deliver consistent, reliable firepower is a testament to the dedication of the Sailors who make it all happen.”

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.

liNcolN laUNches 1,000th sortie

iN sUpport oF eNdUriNG FreedoM

U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Arif Patani