sailors aboard - united states navy · 2002-07-24 · sailors aboard uss yorktown is tough, but...

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[On the Front Cover]Heave ho... the job of deck

Sailors aboard USS Yorktown

is tough, but rewarding all

the same.

[Next Month]All Hands looks at harbor

defense, destroyer duty,

and the office of the

Master Chief Petty

Officer of the Navy.

[Number 1023]

28 Building aStrong Alliance

To demonstrate NATO’s ability to handle two simultaneous crises

in separate geographical regions, Exercise Strong Resolve 2002,

one of the largest NATO exercises in the last decade, brought

together more than 33,000 military personnel from

26 NATO and Partnership for Peace (PFP) nations. 14 Life on DeckAccording to Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Marlon

Huff, assistant deck leading petty officer aboard

USS Yorktown (CG 48), “This isn’t an easy job.

You just have to expect to work.” The bottom line

is that the deck department is arguably the hardest

working group of Sailors aboard any ship.

July[Features]

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P h o t o b y P H 1 T i n a M . A c k e r m a n J U L Y 2 0 0 2 • A L L H A N D S

34 Five Sides of TerrorSept. 11, 2001 — Pentagon Sailors found out first-

hand what their shipmates on USS Cole (DDG 67)

went through nearly a year before: a shocking,

unexpected, vicious terrorist attack. In the aftermath

of both attacks, some Sailors struggled to escape

while others helped their shipmates do the same.

Many stories have surfaced from actions that day

and shortly thereafter. Here are five from inside our

nation’s defense headquarters.P

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[Departments]Speaking with Sailors – 6

Around the Fleet – 8

24 Seven – 42

Eye on the Fleet – 44

Eye on History – 46

The Final Word – 48

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Liberty Speedway Manager QM1 Dennis Coolidge racesaround the go-kart track at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nev. Thetrack is one of the many activities the base offers for Sailorsboth permanently and temporarily assigned to the area.

Racing StreakPhoto by JO1 Preston Keres

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A Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal team prepares charges to blow up stockpiled bombs left behind by fleeing al Qaedatroops at the Kandahar International Airport in Afghanistan. U.S. and coalition force personnel are in Afghanistan supportingOperation Enduring Freedom.

Fire in the HolePhoto by PHC Johnny Bivera

Editor,

I wanted tolet you know thatI was deeplyimpressed by thearticle written byJOCS(AW) Dave

Desilets

“Embracing theVietnam Veteran”in the May issue ofAll Hands. I comefrom an Armyfamily, but I enjoynews from allbranches of the ser-vice. I feel that the article wascorrect and to the point.

My Uncle was part of Reconfor the Marine Corps and myown father served two tours inVietnam for the Army.My father felt that returningsoldiers were looked upon asbaby killers and murderers and those that did not stay in the service more than likelybecame homeless, broken men unable to cope. (Not all,

but the majority).

I aminspired toreturn to theservice once Ifinish college,and I hopethat we cancontinue toshow ourpatriotismfor ourcountry forthe men

and women that are currentlyserving, have served, and thosethat have lost their lives in ser-vice for their country. I do apol-ogize for being long winded,and I will look forward to read-ing your magazine in the future.

Jeannette Margarita Ahorrio

Orlando Recruiting Company

(U.S. Army) Orlando, Fla.

Editor’s Note: If you have aLetter to the Editor, e-mail it [email protected] write Letter to the Editoron the subject line. Letters canalso be mailed to:

Naval Media CenterATTN: Editor, All Hands2713 Mitscher Rd., SWAnacostia Annex, D.C.20373-5819

OOPS

The Front Cover text in All

Hands, June 2002 should have read: AB2 Johnny Harris and ABAN Valerie Rourke workedmany busy nights in the hangarbay of USS George Washington

(CVN 73) during their lastunderway period while prepar-ing for the ship’s currentdeployment. USS George

Washington (CVN 73) is cur-rently deployed to Operation

Enduring Freedom.

Mail CallLetters to the All Hands Editor

Speaking with SailorsMaster Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

MCPON (SS/AW) Terry D. Scott

September is almost here again, and you

know what that means. It’s time for Sailors

in grades E-3 through E-5 to take advance-

ment exams to compete for their next pay grade.

While there’s no magical formula that will guarantee

you will advance, the best advice

to put you in position for that next

promotion is to study! Now is not too

soon for you to be hitting your rate

training manuals on a daily basis.

Also take time to review materials

noted in your rating’s advancement

bibliography. If studying alone is

difficult for you, consider joining or

even starting a study group with

some of your peers.

Advancement opportunities remain strong

despite tremendous improvements in retention and

reductions in attrition. The CNO and Navy leader-

ship’s commitment to increasing the number of

Sailors in the “Top Six” enlisted pay grades (E-4

through E-9) is helping ensure the most competitive

Sailors advance.

The CNO’s goal is to have 75.5 percent of the

enlisted force occupy the Top Six pay grades by FY07

because this provides essential lead-

ership and technical skills to the

fleet. As of the March 2002 exam

cycle, the Navy is at 72.5 percent.

Despite seeing a reduction in promo-

tion opportunity this past exam

cycle, Top Six will keep promotion

opportunity strong in the long term

because the Navy is still in the

process of increasing the number of

Sailors in the senior pay grades.

Today’s Sailor has a much better opportunity than

they had in the 90s. Better opportunity hasn’t just

happened by chance — it is the direct result of a

strategy and commitment to fund our manpower,

which is CNO’s top priority.

The last cycle promoted more than 24,000 Sailors

to their next pay grade. Continue to push yourselves

and your shipmates! With promotion numbers still

looking good, it’s up to you to be among those who

add another chevron this fall!

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All Hands (USPS 372-970; ISSN 0002-5577) Number 1023 is published monthly by the Naval Media Center, Publishing Division, 2713 Mitscher Rd. S.W., Anacostia Annex, D.C. 20373-5819. Periodicals postage

paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Subscriptions: For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 or call 202/512-1800.

Subscription prices are: $36 (domestic) / $45 (foreign); $6 (single copy domestic) / $7.50 (single copy foreign). Postmaster: Send address changes to All Hands, Naval Media Center, Publishing Division

2713 Mitscher Rd., S.W., Anacostia Annex, D.C. 20373-5819 Editorial Offices: Send submissions and correspondence to Naval Media Center Publishing Division, ATTN: Editor, 2713 Mitscher Rd., S.W., Anacostia

Annex, D.C. 20373-5819 Tel: DSN 288-4171 or 202/433-4171 Fax: DSN 288-4747 or 202/433-4747 E-Mail: [email protected] Message: NAVMEDIACEN WASHINGTON DC //32// Authorization: The

Secretary of the Navy has determined this publication is necessary in the transaction of business required by law of the Department of the Navy. Funds for printing this publication have been approved by the

Navy Publications and Printing Committee.

Number 1023 • July 2002www.news.navy.mil

Secretar y of the Navy

The Honorable Gordon R. England

Chief o f Naval Operat ions

ADM Vern Clark

Chief o f In format ion

RADM Stephen R. Pietropaoli

Commander, Naval Media Center

CAPT James M. Kudla

Chief of Publ ishing

CDR W. Scott Gureck

D e p u t y C h i e f o f P u b l i s h i n g& P r i n t M e d i a C o o r d i n a t o r

LT Brook DeWalt

E D I T O R I A LEditor

Marie G. Johnston

Managing Edi tor

JOCS(AW) Dave Desilets

Assistant Edi tor

JO1 Preston Keres

Photo Edi tor

PH2 Robert Houlihan

Editor ia l Staf f

PHC Philomena GorenfloJO1 Joseph Gunder III

JO1 Craig StrawserPH3 Antoine Themistocleus

PHAN Morgan Freed

D I S T R I B U T I O NHank Lloyd

P U B L I C A T I O N & W E B D E S I G N

Rabil + Bates CommunicationDesign Company

Creat ive Di rector

Debra Bates-Schrott

Senior Ar t Di rector

Roger O. Selvage Jr.

Senior Web Director

Eric Robbins

Graphic Designers

Jamie KashettaMarco Marchegiani

Seth H. Sirbaugh

Digi ta l Prepress Specia l is t

Lisa J. Smith

P R I N T I N G

Universal Printing Company

G PO Pr int ing Specia l is t

John Kennedy

Recipient of the following Awards of Magazine Excellence

for 2000-2001:

6 A L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l

AWARDS

Speaking with Sailors is a monthly column

initiated by the Master Chief Petty Officer of the

Navy as a way of reaching out to the men and

women of the fleet, whether they are stationed

just down the road or halfway around the world.

Making the Grade: Sailors Gear Up for the Advancement Exams

J U L Y 2 0 0 2 • A L L H A N D S 7

Around the Fleet


Within a single week, detailersconducted conferences in thedestroyers’ homeports of Everett,Wash., and Norfolk, that enabledSailors to make informed life-altering decisions.

On each ship, the retention team’s role in the newly unveiledteam-detailing concept was to provide the crew with necessaryinformation regarding what to expectwhen negotiating with NPC detailers.As a result of the overall team effort,about 900 destroyer Sailors were able to secure a set of orders, reinforcingNPC’s commitment to give Sailors astronger voice and greater control overtheir career decisions.

The Chief of Naval Operations hasmade a commitment to focus on individual Sailors and improvedpersonnel readiness, which will result in improved mission capabil-ity and the growth and development of all Sailors, from recruits to master chiefs. NPC’s effort to bring the detailing process to the deck plates is a demonstration that they are on board with the CNO’s vision.

“Project SAIL” — Sailor Advocacy through Interactive Leadership — is thename adopted by Navy leadership for several programs focused on supporting the CNO’s pledge.

The results of NPC’s efforts show that the team effort has made a difference. Fife’s Command Master

Chief Herb Gregory said, “Efforts by the detailers saved approximately 20 Fife Sailors who might other-wise have chosen to separate from the Navy.” He called it his “most positive detailing experience” inalmost 30 years in the Navy.

Two of the “saved” Sailors are reflective of today’s Navy, in that they bring family issues to thedetailing equation.

An important part of ProjectSAIL team detailing involves theassignment by NPC of com-mand teaming coordinators(CTC) to every Navy unit inorder to facilitate the detailingprocess. CTCs are experiencedNPC personnel who serve assingle points of contact betweeneach command’s retention teamand NPC. A 13-month rollerspreadsheet has been developedto enhance the team detailingprocess. The spreadsheet willcontain the results of the com-mand’s career developmentboard and will display Sailor’spreferences. Engineered into theJob Advertising and SelectionSystem (JASS), the spreadsheetallows for the comprehensiveexchange of information earlyin the detailing process (seeNAVADMIN 13/02).

For more information aboutofficer and enlisted assign-ments, go to www.persnet.navy.

mil/pers4. Information abouthow Project SAIL can help youis available on the Squawk Boxat www.staynavy.navy.mil.

Story by Mike McLellan, Navy

Personnel Command Public Affairs

Task Force EXCELAnnounces NewRating Pilots

T he Navy’s Revolution in

Training is haze gray andunderway, steaming into a

port, bringing you the tools andopportunities to excel. The fleet,working hand in hand with TaskForce for Excellence throughCommitment to Education andLearning (EXCEL), is develop-ing professional continuums for17 ratings, with another 17 onthe launching pad.

“The train has left the sta-tion,” said Task Force EXCEL

Director RADM Harry Ulrich.“The revolution is happening,change is occurring as we speak.”

Following on the success ofthe information technologyspecialist (IT) continuum, theseprofessional developmentefforts will integrate relevantindustry-related credentials andappropriate college-level cred-its, giving Sailors the best possi-ble opportunities for success.Already, several pilots in theinformation technology anddamage control fields, as well asthose in the mess managementspecialist rating are givingSailors industry certificationsthat make them competitive.

The continuums, which actas roadmaps for Sailors’ careersby identifying all training andeducation opportunities, arepart of the revolution’s SailorContinuum. A five-vectoredmodel, the Sailor Continuumincorporates five areas of con-centration — professionaldevelopment; personal develop-ment; qualifications and certifi-cations; leadership; andperformance — to create anenvironment of holistic Sailordevelopment.

“Developing these continu-ums is the foundation forensuring our Sailors areprovided with not only the best educational opportunities,but the means to earn collegedegrees and certificationsthat put them on par with their industry counterparts,”said Ulrich.

Working groups are cur-rently being established for theratings recently identified.These working groups will betasked with the actual design,testing and implementationstrategies for each continuum.

Rating continuums underdevelopment include:

AG, BM, DC, EN, EM, GSE,GSM, HT, IC, IT, MM, MR, MS,QM, SH, SM, STG.

Rating continuums in theirinitial phases include:

AD, AM, AS, AW, AZ, CE,CM, CTA, CTI, CTM, CTO,CTR, CTT, ET(SUB), MN.

For more information onthe Revolution in Training, andto view the mess managementspecialist continuum, the firstone to be developed, log on towww.excel.navy.mil.

Story by JO2 Jd Walter, Task Force

EXCEL Public Affairs

FY02 SelectiveReenlistmentBonus ProgramUpdate

W ith Sailors choosing to

“Stay Navy” at recordlevels, Navy leadership

has taken a hard look atSelective Reenlistment Bonuses(SRBs). SRB requests have beenprioritized to provide bonusesto Sailors at a critical point intheir careers and those who areforward deployed, serving incombat zones.

SRBs have contributed to theoutstanding retention rate. Forthose Sailors with less than sixyears of service, Zone A, the

retention rate is at 65.8 percent,nearly 9 percentage pointsabove the Navy’s goal. Retentionrates for all zones are well aboveNavy goals.

“The Navy values the serviceof every Sailor who decides tostay Navy. The reenlistmentnumbers have been trulyimpressive, reflecting a sense ofmission and leadership involve-ment throughout the fleet,” saidChief of Naval Personnel VADM

Norb Ryan Jr.

With more than 15,000Sailors receiving SRBs, thisyear’s $186 million budget forSRBs has been expended at ahigher rate than expected,making it necessary to adjusthow SRBs are awarded.

Helping Navy leadershipshape manning in critical skillareas, SRBs are a financialincentive for these Sailors to reenlist.

After the SRB programrevised rates in March, approxi-mately 4,800 Sailors applied forSRBs during the transitionperiod in April and early May,making this one of the largestSRB months ever.

“The SRB take-rate has been super. To ensure we haveenough money to sustain theprogram through the remainderof the fiscal year, we’ve had to

J U L Y 2 0 0 2 • A L L H A N D S

Mess Management Specialist 1stClass (SW) William Carabelloof Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto

Rico, was recently named Navy Region

Southeast’s Sailor of the Year. During his

tour as officer-in-charge of Camp Garcia on the island of

Vieques, Carabello oversaw the construction of a new galley,

installed new MWR facilities and expanded the camp’s water

storage facility.

S h i p m a t e s

Postal Clerk

2nd Class (SW)

Michael Johnson

was faced withrefusing ordersoverseas and makingthe unwelcome deci-sion of having to enda 10-year Navy career in the interest of hisfamily. His wife and19-month-old daughterneed medical treatmentthat they aren’t able to receive overseas.When the NPC/Fife

team learned of his dilemma,they made himaware of theExceptionalFamily Memberprogram, got hiswife and daughterenrolled, and gavehim a new set oforders to theEverett area.

Sonar Technician

2nd Class (SW)

Andrea Simpson is aveteran of threeyears and a singleparent, being detailedto a follow-on seatour. NPC detailerswere able to find her abillet in Norfolkwhere she has family

members who can take care ofher 3-year-old daughter whileshe is underway. According toSimpson, being one of only a“few” Fife Sailors able to movecoast to coast “means a lot to me.”

9

Detailers Take Project SAILCoast to Coast

During recent visits to the soon-to-be-decommissioned

destroyers, USS Fife (DD 991), USS Nicholson (DD 982)

and USS Peterson (DD 969), Navy Personnel Command

(NPC) detailers demonstrated that Sailor Advocacy is more

than just an idea, it is a concept

that works for everybody.

take the step of prioritizing whoreceives SRBs throughSeptember,” said Ryan.

Priority consideration forremaining SRB requests will begiven in the following order:

• Sailors who will pass throughthe SRB zone of eligibilitybefore the end of FY02.

• Sailors who are under ordersto obligate service and ordersmust be executed in FY02.

• Sailors whose end of activeobligated service (EAOS) is inFY02 with no extension timeremaining on contract (reached48-month maximum extensiontime).

• Sailors with requests to reen-list and are departing a tax-freezone in FY02.• Sailors with an inoperativeextension with an EAOS inFY02.

• All other Sailors requestingSRB reenlistment.

Those Sailors whose FY02reenlistment requests cannot besupported based on these prior-ities will automatically be givenan extension and a reenlistment

date in the first 45 days of FY03.The intent is to approve eli-

gible SRB reenlistment requestsfor September 2002 or the first45 days of FY03 at an amountnot less than Sailors would havereceived if they had reenlisted atEAOS in FY02.

For more information onSRB prioritization, see NAVAD-MIN 141/02 and your com-mand career counselor. For cur-rent SRB award levels, seeNAVADMIN 097/02. Both mes-sages are available on the Webat www.bupers.navy.mil.

Story by Chief of Naval Personnel

public affairs staff

Naval FiresNetwork: TheTransformation ofNaval Warfare

W hen USS Abraham

Lincoln’s (CVN 72)

Battle Group deploysthis summer, it will bring alonga warfare system that’s beencalled the most transforma-tional effort in the Navy - theNaval Fires Network (NFN).

NFN is a network-centric

warfare system that providesreal-time intelligence correla-tion; sensor control; target gen-eration; mission planning; andbattle damage assessment capa-bilities, while also enabling real-time engagement of time-criti-cal targets. This capability willallow ships in a battle group toshare real-time targeting andintelligence data with eachother, as well as with other war-fighting assets in a joint orcoalition task force.

Naval Sea Systems

Command (NAVSEA) and theProgram Executive Office forTheater Surface Combatants inWashington, D.C., are responsi-ble for NFN development anddeployment to the fleet.

According to Lincoln’s battlegroup commander, NFN will helpdeploying forces get the most outof current investments in com-mand and control capabilities.

“We know to begin withhow to package informationproducts for strike missions,”said RADM John Kelly, in a May

J U L Y 2 0 0 2 • A L L H A N D S

9 story in Defense Daily. “NFNallows us to do that packagingmore quickly and to producehigher quality products,enabling us to be more effectivein putting ordnance on targetthan ever before.”

Operations Desert Storm andAllied Force underscored a needfor time-critical targeting againstrapidly relocatable targets. Sincethe 1990s, this threat - includingthe potential delivery of weaponsof mass destruction - hasincreased. To address this defi-ciency, the Commander in Chief,U.S. Atlantic Fleet identified theneed for a network-centric capa-bility to support joint, allied andcoalition forces in the engage-ment of time critical targets.

An NFN prototype was testedaboard the 3rd Fleet flagship USS

Coronado (AGF 11) in 2001, fol-lowed by a successful operationaldemonstration during FleetBattle Experiment India, involv-ing all four military services.

Based on these demonstra-tions, NFN was deployed aboardUSS John C. Stennis (CVN 74)

with congressional funding in the FY01 SupplementalAppropriations Act. Followingthe events of Sept. 11, 2001,additional funding was providedin the Emergency SupplementalAppropriations Act to enablefollow-on fielding on NFN capa-bility. In response to EmergencySupplemental tasking, NFN hasalso been installed, and is nowoperational, at U.S. 5th FleetHeadquarters, supportingOperation Enduring Freedom.

Future plans call for NFNinstallations aboard the 7th Fleetflagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19),

USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3), USS

Essex (LHD 2), USS Constellation

(CV 64), USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63)

and USS Tarawa (LHA 1), withfurther installs planned for sur-face combatants, submarinesand surveillance aircraft.

“NFN is the most transfor-

mational effort taking place inthe Navy today,” said VADM Pete

Nanos, NAVSEA commander.“It will bring unprece-dented war-fighting capa-bilities to our naval forces.”

More information aboutthe Naval Sea SystemsCommand can be found atwww.navsea. navy.mil.

Story by JOC David Nagle,

Naval Sea Systems Command

Public Affairs

Cheney to New Officers:United States Will Not Live atMercy of Terror

D uring this year’s

Commissioning Dayceremonies at the

U.S. Naval Academy VicePresident Dick Cheney saidthe United States “will notallow” terrorists to threatenthe civilized world.“Deliverable weapons of massdestruction in the hands of ter-rorists would expose this nationand the civilized world to theworst of wars, and we will notallow it. We will not live at themercy of terrorists or terrorregimes.”

Cheney told the class of2002 in Annapolis, Md.,that the United Stateswould depend on them tohelp lead the nation in thefirst war of the 21st century.

He told the 965 new Navyand Marine Corps officersthat the war against globalterror will take years. “Theterrorists who struck Americaare ruthless, they are resource-ful, and they hide in manycountries,” Cheney said. “Theycame into our country tomurder thousands of innocent,

Around the Fleet


T i m e C a p s u l eThis month, we look back in the All Hands archive to see what was going on in the month of July:

26 Years Ago – 1976

All Hands magazine featured Chief of Naval

Operations, ADM James L. Holloway III, speaking

at an all hands call as he began his third year in

office. This issue presented some of the CNO’s

views of the challenges the Navy faces ahead,

some of those being manning issues and the

threat of the Soviet naval build-up. We saw

an artist’s renderings of some of the new hardware on the

Navy’s horizon: an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, the

F-18 Hornet, and a VSTOL (vertical, short take-off and

landing) carrier. We also read an article about how George

Washington almost became a midshipman in England’s Royal

Navy in his early years (his mother wouldn’t let him). To view

this issue on the Web go to www.news.navy.mil/ media/all-

hands/acrobat/ah197607.pdf

21 Years Ago – 1981

For this issue, we went to Kings Bay, Ga., to get

a look at construction of the new submarine base

there. We published some advice about how to

use a VA home loan. We also went aboard USS

Charleston (LKA 113) during a port visit to New

Orleans to help celebrate Mardi Gras, and we

highlighted USS Dixie (AD 14), then the oldest ship in

the fleet (a distinction now held by USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63).

As such, Dixie was allowed to fly a copy of the first Navy Jack

(the Revolutionary war-era “Don’t Tread On Me” flag). To

view this issue on the Web go to www.news.navy.mil/

media/allhands/acrobat/ah198107.pdf

Six Years Ago – 1996

All Hands showed Sailors how to attain their

education goals. We also went back to boot camp

to look at recruit division commanders and their

charges. We turned up the heat at Naval Air

Station Miramar, Calif., where local federal and

civilian firefighters initiated “controlled burns”

of dried underbrush to prevent uncontrolled summer brush

fires. Lastly, we showed readers how to keep their cars main-

tained and rolling through the summer months. To view this

issue on the Web go to www.news.navy.mil/media/allhands/

acrobat/ah199607.pdf

Ricky’sTourBy JO2 Mike Jones [email protected]

San Diego, Calif., Sept. 12, 2001 — A Sailor aboard USS

Coronado (AGF 11), command ship for U.S. 3rd Fleet, keeps a vigilantwatch near the entrance of San Diego Harbor.

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13J U L Y 2 0 0 2 • A L L H A N D S

Military, Spouses,Have New Program to FindJobs in HamptonRoads Area

E ach year, between 15,000

and 25,000 military personnel in Hampton

Roads leave military service. Toencourage these individuals totransition into the HamptonRoads work force, Opportunity,Inc., Hampton Roads’ WorkforceDevelopment Network, is introducing a new programcalled NEXStep Training forTransition; which links exitingmilitary personnel and displacedmilitary spouses with free careercounseling and training.

As part of this program,Opportunity, Inc., has part-nered with the Hampton RoadsChamber of Commerce todevelop a program called“TekJobs” that posts technologyjob openings on a Web Site andassists eligible individuals infinding technology-related jobsin the region.

Both programs are alsobeing made available to eligibleindividuals on the HamptonRoads peninsula through a col-laborative arrangement with theGreater Peninsula WorkforceDevelopment Consortium andits Peninsula Worklink partner-ing agencies.

“Hampton Roads is home tofamilies from every branch of themilitary,” said E. Roy Budd, pres-ident and CEO of Opportunity,Inc. “Now, with the introductionof the NEXStep program, we canhelp eligible individuals obtainthe skills necessary to be success-ful in the civilian workforce.This not only empowers theindividual, it strengthens ourregional workforce.”

NEXStep augments the mili-tary’s transition assistance pro-grams by providing free career

counseling and trainingresources. Together withTekJobs, it provides eligible personnel with career trainingand helps them find jobs withHampton Roads businesses.

To be eligible for NEXStepservices, applicants must be a:

• Military person who has beeninvoluntarily, but honorably,discharged.

• Federal employee who hasreceived RIF (reduction inforce) notification.

• Military spouse who left a jobbecause of a military move.

• Reservist or National Guardmember who has been activateddue to the attacks on September11, 2001, and has concurrentlyserved 180 days of active-dutyservice.

“We are working withOpportunity, Inc., to ensurethat eligible personnel are madeaware of and take full advantage

of the NEXStep program,” saidRADM David Architzel,Commander, Navy Region,Mid-Atlantic. “We recognize theimportance of helping qualitySailors who have served welland decided not to make theNavy a career. This type ofservice helps make a smoothtransition for those leaving themilitary and offers a way for

the Navy to give back to thelocal community.”

Since many military personnelhave technical backgrounds,Opportunity, Inc., developedthe TekJobs program as a wayto leverage their expertise andto grow the region’s technologywork force. Currently, there are approximately 55,000people employed in technology-

Around the Fleet


unsuspecting men, women andchildren — including 14 gradu-ates of this Academy.

“There is no doubt theywish to strike again and areworking to acquire the deadliestof all weapons.”

Cheney said this new type ofwar has accelerated militarychanges already being contem-plated. He mentioned PresidentBush’s wish to redefine war onAmerican terms. “That meansthat our armed services musthave every tool to answer anythreat that forms against us,” hesaid. “It means that any enemyconspiring to harm America orour friends must face swift, cer-tain and devastating response.”

Cheney wished the gradu-ates Godspeed and told themthat as they begin their navalservice, “you can be certain thatwherever you are sent, you willhave from your Commander inChief consistent orders, cleardirection and every possibleounce of support required forthe missions ahead.”

For more information onAmerica’s war against terrorism,go to www.defendamerica.mil.

Story by Jim Garamone, American

Forces Press Service

CNO EmphasizesImportance ofMessageAlignment

T elling the story straight is

key to overcoming mes-sage mismatch, Chief of

Naval Operations ADM Vern

Clark said during the recent2002 Worldwide Navy PublicAffairs Symposium.

“There isn’t any organizationin the world with more than 20people who work there, thatdoesn’t have a message mis-

match problem,” said Clark. “Ifyou want to be an effective cor-porate structure that is going tobe able to accomplish the mis-sion and get the job done, youhave to have to have peopleworking this issue.”

Clark also stressed theimportance of organizationalself-talk at every level of thechain of command, from thePentagon to the deckplates.

“We become what we sayabout ourselves,” Clark said,adding that even more than theNavy’s record-breaking reten-tion, what he likes best abouthis first 22 months in office isthe renewed focus on service.

“I like the tone. I like the factthat people are talking aboutservice,” the CNO said. “Here’swhat I tell the COs.

“‘Do you feel like your job is

tough? Do you feel like theweight of the world is on yourshoulders? Do you feel likeyou’ve been given an incredibleamount of responsibility andyou don’t know if you can get itall done? Do you feel like you’rebeing held personally account-able for the output of yourcommand? Well, if you do,you’ve got it about right.’

“That’s the story. That’s whowe are. We are not shying awayfrom it, and our people are notshying away from it.”

Clark closed by challengingthe public affairs community tohelp carry that story and otherslike it to both internal andexternal audiences.

“None of this works ifpeople do not feel a sense ofpurpose and a sense of meaningin their lives. Sometimes leaders

have to tell them what the insti-tution stands for. We need toget together collectively as oftenas required to make sure thatthose of you who have beengiven the task and the responsi-bility to take this message toour institution, get it right.

“Thank you for what you aredoing. You could not be servingat a more important time in thelife of this institution.”

For more on the CNO, go towww.chinfo.navy.mil/

navpalib/cno.

Story by JOC Walter T. Ham IV, Chief

of Naval Operations Public Affairs

Air Traffic Controller 1st Class(AW) Maria Humphreyof Naval Station Rota, Spain, was recently

selected as Sailor of the Year for

Commander in Chief U.S. Naval Forces,

Europe. As flight planning branch chief for the Air Operations

Department, Humphrey was responsible for the safe and

orderly flow of more than 41,500 flight operations while ensur-

ing operational readiness of flight planning equipment and

approximately 200 aviation publications and charts. As the

departmental Spanish linguist, she translated more than 50

aviation documents that were key to flight safety.

S h i p m a t e s

Washington, D.C., Apr. 24, 2002 — Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Vern Clark and Master

Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Terry D. Scott stand among the CNO/MCPON Senior Enlisted Advisory Panelat their Spring 2002 forum. MCPON Scott assumed leadership of the panel upon taking office April 22. TheCNO/MCPON Senior Enlisted Advisory Panel consists of the Navy’s 42 Fleet, Force and CNO-DirectedCommand Master Chiefs. Collectively, they represent every enlisted Sailor in the Navy, and serve as advisorsto the CNO and MCPON.

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15J U L Y 2 0 0 2 • A L L H A N D S

(Handling) 3rd Class (AW)

Jermaine Noble was very anxious to speak with his wifeKim. During her husband’sabsence, she got involved withthe ship’s (FSG).

“I started thinking about thethings I miss the most aboutmy wife and son,” said Noble, ofSavannah, Ga. “They are thesimple things, like the smell ofmy wife’s perfume and thesound of my son J.J.’s laugh.The last cruise, my wife stayedwith family back home. Thiscruise she decided to tough itout on her own with the assis-tance of the ship’s FSG.”

During Noble’s conversationwith his wife, he received goodnews about Kim’s new job,and two-year-old J.J. drew hima picture.

“It was good to see his faceand hear him giggle again,”said Kim. “We were very fortu-nate to get the opportunity toconnect. I’ve participated inseveral FSG activities since myhusband left. I am even on thehomecoming committee.”

Hospitalman Johnny Evanshas only seen pictures of his 6-month-old daughter, Jada,since February. His wife, Teresa,commented to her husband onhow fast their child is growing.

“I am missing some impor-tant events in my child’s life,”said Evans, of Irving, Texas.“Getting a chance to see her,even for just a few momentsmeant the world to me.”

A five-and-a-half hour videoteleconference session for 32Sailors costs about $6,400. Butthanks to the USO and ChryslerMuseum of Art, Wasp Sailorswon’t be expecting a bill.

For more information aboutamphibious assault ships of theU.S. Navy, go to www.chinfo.

navy. zmil/navpalib/zfactfile/

ships/ ship-lha.html.

Story by JO1(SW) Crystal M. Raner,

USS Wasp Public Affairs

“Remember theUSS Cole” LicensePlate Realized

A father’s dream finally

came to fruition whenVirginia Gov. Mark

Warner signed a bill authoriz-ing a Cole commemorativelicense plate at the USS Cole

Memorial on Naval Station

Norfolk near Iowa Point. JonClodfelter - father of Hull

Maintenance Technician 2nd

Class Kenneth Eugene

Clodfelter, one of 17 Sailorskilled Oct. 12, 2000, when a ter-rorists’ bomb ripped a hole inUSS Cole in the Yemeni port ofAden – joined Warner andothers for the signing.

“I’ve always said there’s noway I want these kids to be for-gotten, or what the ship went through to be forgotten,”said Clodfelter, a resident ofMechanicsville, Va.

Thirty-nine other Cole (DDG

67) Sailors were injured in theattack, and the ship would havebeen destroyed were it not forthe efforts of its crew.

Clodfelter said his desire tohonor the memory of his sonand the rest of the Cole

crew was born fromsomething simple— a father’s love.

Inspiringwords fromthen-PresidentBill Clintonduring the Cole

memorial ser-vice in October2000, and atouch of inspi-ration from hisson Joe, quicklymoved Clodfelter toaction. In January 2001Clodfelter and his wife Gloriabegan the journey that broughtthem to naval station — nearly15 months after they began.

But, spearheading an effortto create a commemorativelicense plate with Cole’s coat ofarms and the words “Rememberthe USS Cole” emblazoned on itwas no easy task. Clodfelter hadto contend with numerousobstacles. Not only would heneed the Navy’s help on hismission, he found he neededVirginia politicians as well.

After getting permission touse the Cole’s coat of arms fromRADM Christopher Cole, then-commander of Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, Clodfelter worked with the Virginia GeneralAssembly to pass a proclama-tion – House Joint ResolutionNo. 568 – which he presented tohis delegate for HanoverCounty, Frank Hargrove, whosponsored the legislation for thelicense plate.

Having found a delegatewilling to help move his legisla-tion through, Clodfelter nowhad to get the public support towarrant the plate’s productionand distribution. To get the ballrolling, he would need at least350 signatures of peoplepromising to buy the $25 plates- $15 of which will go to a general welfare fund to help

Cole crew members -from the Virginia

Department ofMotor Vehicles.

Clodfelter,set up a table at the Norfolk NavyExchange andeven thePentagon inWashington,D.C., and

easily sur-passed his 350-

signature goal.“Hopefully,” said

Clodfelter, “one day, the Cole

will be able to play a small role in going after those whodid this.”

Around the Fleet


related jobs in Hampton Roads,representing eight percent ofemployed people in the region.

“Technology plays an impor-tant role in today’s work envi-ronment,” said John A.Hornbeck Jr., president andCEO of the Hampton RoadsChamber of Commerce. “Whenwe refer to technology jobs,we’re referring to any job thatutilizes information and auto-mated technology to performits primary function.”

The TekJobs program willinclude listings of availabletechnology-related jobs in

Northern Virginia.The NEXStep Training for

Transition center is located at7712 Hampton Boulevard,Norfolk. NEXStep representa-tives are also located at transi-tion assistance centers at selectlocal military bases.

To learn more about servicesand eligibility requirements,visit NEXStep Training forTransition sites at local militarybases, or call (757) 440-4003 onthe Southside, and (757) 865-5874 on the Peninsula.

Special to the Navy News Service.

To LSRB, or not toLSRB — That is the Question

T he newly implemented

Location SelectiveReenlistment Bonus

(LSRB) pilot program offersSailors more money in theirpockets.

The command career coun-selor of USS Abraham Lincoln

(CVN 72), Chief Navy Counselor

Mary Decker, said the programwas designed as an incentive

for Sailors to accept reenlist-ment orders to some of themore difficult locations to fill geographically.

“Historically speaking, thereare some places that most Sailorswon’t chose to relocate to whenthey reenlist,” said Decker.

In support of the new policy,Decker believes the programhas more than one benefit. “Itnot only helps the Navy fillhard-to-fill locations, [but] italso gives Sailors an incentive tocontinue their careers in theNavy with more money in theirpockets,” she said. “Especiallythose Sailors who, based on

their rate, don’t receive bonuseswhen they reenlist.”

Personnelman 1st Class

Merilyn Reed, otherwise not eligible for a reenlistmentbonus, is one of the first Sailorson board to reenlist under thenew program. She received$10,000 for signing orders toRTC Great Lakes.

“For those Sailors whoserates, like mine, do not offer an SRB, they now have anopportunity to qualify for onedepending on the location theyselect,” said Reed.

The program had not yetbeen implemented when Reedinitially chose her new duty sta-tion, so the bonus did not havean influence on her decision totransfer to Great Lakes.

But one month prior to her reenlistment ceremony, theLSRB information was releasedNavywide, listing Reed’s choiceas one of the few locations whereSailors are needed to fill billets.After hearing about the program,Reed contacted her detailer tofind out if she was eligible.

“Since I was still within thenine-month window of my pro-jected rotation date (PRD), and Ihadn’t signed my papers yet, I wasstill able to get the bonus,” saidReed. “I guess I just got lucky.”

Sailors reenlisting under theLSRB program, who are alsoeligible for a rate-specific SRB,will be granted both.

Here’s an example: Sailor Aapproaches his PRD and beginsnegotiating for orders with hisdetailer. Sailor A is informedthat there is an open billet forhis rate that offers an LSRB.Already eligible for an SRB inassociation with his rate, SailorA can also apply for the billetoffering the LSRB.

However, not all Sailors trans-ferring to duty stations in thosespecific locations that hold openbillets for an LSRB will automat-ically be granted the bonus.

For additional guidance onLSRB refer to NAVADMIN032/02 at www.bupers.navy.

mil/navadmin/nav02/nav02032.

txt. Contact the SRB executionhelp desk at DSN 882-2526 or(901) 874-2526, or fax to DSN882-2623 or (901) 874-2623. E-mail contact can be made [email protected],

[email protected], [email protected].

Story by JO3 Barbara Silkwood,

USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs

Wasp Sailors,Family MembersConnect Across the Miles

A huge time difference and

more than 5,000 milescouldn’t keep USS Wasp

(LHD 1) Sailors from visitingwith their families while on asix-month deployment.

In conjunction with ArmedForces Week, the United ServiceOrganizations and ChryslerMuseum of Art sponsoredvideo teleconferences (VTCs)for all deployed ships home-ported in Norfolk. It took sev-eral weeks for the ship’s familysupport group (FSG) to coordi-nate the VTC. The sessionamounted to a five-and-a-halfhour connection between Wasp

and Norfolk, and provided 32Sailors an opportunity to spend10 minutes apiece with theirloved ones.

“An event like this doesn’t getplanned overnight,” said Wasp’s

Command Master Chief (SW)

Delta Hinson. “The credit goesto the family support group.Without their commitment tothe Wasp family, 32 Sailorswouldn’t have enjoyed the fewspecial moments they received.”

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate

Air Traffic Controller 1st Class(AW/SW) David M. Keewas recently selected as the Naval Air

Station Kingsville, Texas, Senior Sailor

of the Year. Kee managed the command’s

physical fitness program, resulting in a pass rate of 80 percent

among 300 personnel. He was also hand picked to brief

student naval aviators and senior instructor pilots on air traffic

control rules and procedures. Additionally, Kee was nominated

as the 2002 Admiral Robert B. Pirie Air Traffic Controller of

the Year for 2002.

S h i p m a t e sMH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters from Helicopter Heavy CombatSupport Squadron 4 (HC 4), NAS Sigonella, Sicily, lift from the deck ofthe amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) during Exercise Dynamic

Response ’98 (DR ’98).

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17J U L Y 2 0 0 2 • A L L H A N D S

The two items were a $6,700Skeedoo Jet Ski and a $5,500hot tub. Santiago switched theprices and won both items.

“Seeing how there was onlyone name left, I never thought Iwould be called,” Santiago said.“It was great winning some-thing on the show, but I thinkI’m going to sell my prizes tosome of my good friends.”

To learn more about USS

Boxer, go to www.nvr.navy.mil/

nvrships/details/LHD4.htm.

Story by AO3 Robert Gervia,

USS Boxer Public Affairs

Navy’s ZeroTolerance Policy MakingGreat Strides

W ith the lowest drug

usage rates in 21years, the Navy is

making great strides toward itsgoal of zero percent drug useamong Sailors.

The cornerstone of the Navy’ssuccess with its zero tolerancedrug abuse policy is an aggressiveand random urinalysis program.

In the first seven months offiscal year 2002 the Navy’s drugpositive rate was 0.62 percentcompared to 0.77 percentduring the same timeframe inFY01. There have been 43,000more Sailors tested so far thisyear than last year, yet 499 fewerSailors have tested positive.

“Despite the success to date,we must continue to press untilthe positive rate gets to andstays at 0.00 percent,” said Chief of Naval Personnel VADM

Norb Ryan Jr. “The Navy’s com-mitment to a drug-free Navywill remain strong.”

Every Sailor and officer is required to participate inrandom drug testing. Each

command must test a minimumof 10 percent of all personnelassigned each month and con-duct one annual unit sweep.

However, most commandsare leaning toward testing 20percent of their command eachmonth and conducting twoannual unit sweeps.

Additionally, there are nowaivers to the testing policy andeach command must comply,whether deployed or not.

Effective tools are part ofthe formula leading to theNavy’s zero tolerance policysuccess. Some of the Navy’sstrongest tools are abuse prevention courses.

Drug and Alcohol ProgramManagement Activities(DAPMA), located in San Diegoand Norfolk, provide abuse prevention courses to the fleet.The courses include personalresponsibility and values educa-tion and training (PREVENT),alcohol drug abuse managers/supervisors (ADAMS) training,drug and alcohol program advi-sor (DAPA), urinalysis programcoordinator (UPC) and Navydrug screening program(NDSP) training. These toolsand resources are provided tohelp leaderships’ deckplateefforts to eliminate drug abuse.

“I ask for your continuedleadership in ridding our ranksof this menace called drugabuse,” said Ryan.

For additional informationor to obtain command specifictraining contact your respectiveDAPMA.

Commands located west of the Mississippi River andassigned to Pacific Fleet can reachDAPMA San Diego at DSN 522-4964. Commands east of theMississippi River and assigned to Atlantic Fleet and Europeancommands can reach DAPMANorfolk at DSN 564-8190.

Additional information onNavy alcohol and drug abuse

prevention program is availableat http://navdweb.spawar.

navy.mil.

For more Chief of NavalPersonnel news, go to www.

news.navy.mil/local/cnp/.

Story provided by Chief of Naval

Personnel Public Affairs

New Agency WillFocus Priorities,Aid Response

P resident Bush said that

his proposed HomelandSecurity Department

would help the governmentfocus resources to protect thenation and allow existing agen-cies to be more responsive.

Bush, speaking at the New York City Port Authorityterminal in Port Elizabeth, N.J.,recently said the governmentmust do everything it can toprotect innocent lives. He saidthe “cold-blooded killers”arrayed against the UnitedStates will strike again and theHomeland Security Departmentwould aid in defending againstanother strike.

“We’ve got to focus our prior-ities,” Bush said. “We’ve got to setclear goals. If cultures need to bechanged within agencies, we’llchange the cultures, because thisnew war of the 21st centuryrequires a 100 percent focusedeffort to protect the homeland.”Bush spoke at the terminal tohighlight administration effortsto beef up security at seaports.

Under the Bush proposal,more than 100 agencies involvedwith aspects of homeland secu-rity will shift from their currentagencies to the Cabinet-leveldepartment. If accepted, morethan 160,000 federal workers willtransfer to the new agency,including many of the people listening to the President at theterminal. The Homeland SecurityDepartment will include theCoast Guard, the Immigrationand Naturalization Service, theSecret Service, the CustomsService, the Transportation SafetyAdministration and many others.

“It will make your jobseasier, for those of you involvedwith the agencies I’m talkingabout,” Bush said of the newagency. “It will make our federalgovernment more responsive. Itwill allow us to communicatebetter. It will allow all of you to

Around the Fleet


The one-year anniversary ofthe attack was marked with thededication of the USS ColeMemorial near Iowa Point onthe naval station. Several othersfollowed, including memorialsconstructed on board the newlyrepaired Cole, which returnedto Norfolk April 19.

In November 2001,Clodfelter presented the peti-tions with more than 3,000 sig-natures to the Virginia GeneralAssembly in Richmond for consideration.

And May 7, after more thana year of steadfast dedication,Clodfelter stood by at the USS Cole Memorial as Warnersigned two bills - one reestab-lishing a military advisorycouncil, and the second, a coop-eration between theCommonwealth of Virginia andthe military that will meet on aregular basis.

“What I saw reflected in thefaces of those young Sailors wasa commitment to never forget,”Warner said, of the Sailors onboard Cole he met during atour before the ceremony.

Clodfelter was visibly over-whelmed by the outpouring ofsupport. “If it wasn’t for the

1,600 people (who signed thepetition) today would not bepossible. “To the old crew (ofCole), I say, ‘thank you.’”

USS Cole commemorativelicense plates for Virginia willbe available later this year.

For more information on USS

Cole, go to www.cole.navy.mil.

Story by JO1(SW) Stefanie Sealy,

writer for The Flagship, Norfolk

“The Price IsRight” for TwoBoxer Sailors

“C ome on down!” was

the command ofthe day as 21 Sailors

from USS Boxer (LHD 4), recentlytransited north to CBS TelevisionCity in Burbank, Calif., to join

186 other Sailors from all overNavy Region Southwest to takepart in a special “all Navy” tapingof the longest running gameshow in television history,“The Price is Right.”

The show, entitled “ThePrice Is Right Salute to the U.S.Navy,” was the first of five prime

time specials to honor theArmed Forces during MilitaryAppreciation Month.

“I have always held the Navy very close to my heart,”said Bob Barker, host of theshow, and former World War IInaval aviator.

“This series of five shows isour way of showing just howmuch the U.S. military meansto us here at the ‘Price Is Right.’”

Each of the branches hadtheir own show during themonths of May and June, startingwith the Navy, followed by theCoast Guard, Air Force, Armyand finally, the Marine Corps.

The 207 Sailors who came to the taping filled out an initialregistration card to be a contes-tant on the show. After lunch,“Price Is Right” producer PhilRichardson interviewed eachpotential and hopeful Sailor.

Once interviewed, Sailorswere then allowed into thestudio where they awaited thetaping of the show.

As the show got underway,chosen contestants were told to“Come on down!” to “contes-tant row,” where they had theopportunity to guess the priceof certain items.

Playing by “Price Is Right”rules, whoever was closest tothe actual retail price of an itemwithout going over was thenallowed on stage to play a gameto try to win a bigger and betterprize. This goes on for threerounds and then the three con-testants go on to spin “the bigwheel” for a chance to win$100,000 and a spot in the“Showcase Showdown,” biddingon “fabulous” prizes worthmore than $40,000.

With one round down and only three more names tobe called to “Come on down!”the odds of one of Boxer’s

Sailors getting the call lookedpretty slim.

“When I heard my name, my

wife screamed and I jumped tomy feet in shock,” said ENS

David Miller, Boxer’s assistantnavigation officer,. Miller madehis way to contestant row andmade a bid on a pair ofwatches, but didn’t win.

Miller then had the chanceto bid on another item; a pooltable. He felt that everyone hadover bid on the table. He placeda bid of only $1. The actualretail price was $2,485, makinghim the winner of the table,and giving him a shot at some-thing bigger. As he made hisway up to the stage, Millerstarted flapping his arms like a chicken.

“I told everyone in my shopthat if I made it one stage, Iwould do the ‘chicken dance’for all of them and for theentire crew of Boxer.”

Miller was shown the gamehe would play, a game whereyou change numbers in a pricefor what you think the itemcosts. The item was a $26,865Pontiac Grand Am. Looking tohis wife and the crowd for help,he changed the numbers and tohis surprise, won the car.

“Being up there was likebeing in a movie, cameras wereall over the place. When I wokeup the next morning, I stillcouldn’t believe it.” Miller saidthat he was planing to buy hiswife a new car soon and afterhe pays the sales tax on the car,he plans to give it to his wife.

With one member of Boxer’s

crew having been called up, andonly one more name left, whowould have thought thatAviation Boatswain Mate (Fuels)

3rd Class Isaac Santiago wouldbe the last contestant called toparticipate on the show.

Bidding $1,550 on a newbedroom set, Santiago got onstage to play the “Switcharoo”game, a game where you haveto choose whether or not toswitch the prices of two items.

Master-at-Arms 1st ClassRaymond E. Law IIIwas recently selected as the Naval

Support Activity Gaeta, Italy, Sailor of

the Year for 2001. During the initial

stages of Operation Enduring Freedom, the Enterprise, Ala.,

native was handpicked to serve as the command’s security

watch commander, a key position that placed him in charge of

21 Sailors and seven DOD civilian security personnel. Law also

instructed 144 Gaeta family members on critical anti-terrorism

and force protection measures.

S h i p m a t e s

Airman Apprentice Waheed Alamof USS Bataan (LHD 5)was recently awarded the Meritorious

Service Medal for his work as a Pashtu

translator aboard the helicopter assault

ship during Operation Enduring Freedom. Originally from

Pakistan, Alam’s linguistic abilities allowed Marine and Special

Operations field units to conduct hundreds of interviews and

interrogations of Afghani citizens and Taliban/Al Qaeda sus-

pects that provided a wealth of information and mitigated fur-

ther terrorist attacks against U.S. and Allied interests.

S h i p m a t e s

19J U L Y 2 0 0 2 • A L L H A N D S

Natural Resources,Individual/Team:

• Navy – Tamara S. Conkle,Navy Region Southwest, San Diego; Runner-up – Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport, R.I., / National Environmental Policy Act-Natural Resources (Team).

• Marine Corps – MCAS Beaufort, S.C., (Team).

Cultural Resources,Installation:

• Navy – Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk

• Marine Corps – Marine Corps Base Camp LeJeune,N.C.; Runner-up – Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton,Calif.

Environmental Quality, Non-industrialInstallation:

• Navy – Naval Station Mayport, Fla.; Runner-up – Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga.

• Marine Corps – MCAS Yuma, Ariz.

Environmental Quality,Individual/Team:

• Navy – CDR Steve Markle,Lewis and Clark (T-AKE)-class Program.

• Marine Corps – Darrell H.Pittman, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island,S.C.; Runner-up – Marine Corps Station Cherry Point,N.C., (Team).

Environmental Quality, Overseas Installation:

• Navy – NAS Keflavik,Iceland; Runner-up – Naval Support Activity La Maddalena, Italy.

• Marine Corps – MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.

Environmental Quality, OverseasIndividual/Team:

• Navy – Naval Air Facility Atsugi/Shinkampo, Japan,program.

• Marine Corps – MCAS Iwakuni, Japan (Team).

Environmental Quality, Large Ship:

• USS George Washington

(CVN 73); Runner-up – USS Kearsarge (LHD 3)

Environmental Quality, Small Ship:

• USS Milius (DDG 69);Runners-up (tie) – USS

Thach (FFG 43) and USS

Tortuga (LSD 46).

Pollution Prevention, Industrial Installation:

• Navy – NAS Brunswick,Maine.

• Marine Corps – Marine Logistics Base Barstow,Calif.; Runner-up – MCAS Cherry Point, N.C..

EnvironmentalRestoration, Installation:

• Navy – Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst, N.J.

• Marine Corps – Marine Corps Base Camp LeJeune,N.C.; Runner-up – MCAS Cherry Point, N.C.

EnvironmentalRestoration,Individual/Team:

• Navy – Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Va., Installation Restoration Program (IRP) Partnering Team.

• Marine Corps – Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton,Calif.; Runner-up – Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C.(Team).

EnvironmentalExcellence In WeaponsSystem Acquisition:

• Navy – Lewis and Clark

(T-AKE)-class program

This year’s qualified SECNAVwinners will compete in theDOD FY01 EnvironmentalAwards Program.

For additional informationabout the SECNAV Environ-mental Awards, contact N45public affairs at DSN 664-5426 or commercial (703) 604-5426.

For information on Navyenvironmental programs,go to www.navy.mil and select “Environment” on the site index.

Story from the public affairs office,

Navy Environmental Protection,

Safety and Occupational

Health Division (N45)

Around the Fleet


make sure that the hard hoursyou’re putting in are able to[better] secure the homeland.”

A bipartisan group inCongress supports the idea. “Iwant to thank the members ofCongress who understand thatit’s important to put their ownpersonal turf aside,” Bush said.“It’s also important to put ourpolitical parties in the back-ground as we focus on doingwhat’s right for the country.”

Bush stressed that while it isvital to protect the homeland,the best way to stop terrorists isto “chase the killers down wher-ever they think they can hideand bring them to justice.”

“We’re making progress,”he told the crowd. “Sometimesyou’ll read about it, and some-times you won’t.”

He said the U.S. military has performed brilliantly inAfghanistan and called for

Congress to quickly pass theFY03 Defense Budget Request.“[Congress doesn’t] need todelay the defense bill in a timeof war,” he said. “They need todeliberate like they’re supposedto and get it to my desk.”

Visit the “DOD HomelandSecurity” Web site at www.

defenselink.mil/specials/home-

land to learn more about theDOD role in homeland security.

Visit the DOD’s “DefendAmerica” Web site atwww.defendamerica.mil for thelatest news and informationabout America’s response to theSept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacksand the war against terrorism.

Story by Jim Garamone,

American Forces Press Service

Navy Seeks BloodDonors to Beef UpSummer Supply

S ummer’s here and

chances are your calen-dar is filling with vaca-

tion and warm weather plans.But the Navy Blood Programhopes you’ll find time to helpmembers of the military com-

munity by giving blood.“The demand for blood is

the same year round, but thedonations tend to fall offduring the summer months,”said LCDR (Dr.) Michael Libby,

deputy director of the NavyBlood Program at the Bureau ofMedicine and Surgery.

How important is your dona-

tion? Consider that each year,military blood donor centersneed to collect 110,000 units ofwhole blood to meet the needsof the military community.

“The donations we receivehelp support DOD beneficia-ries, as well as overseas commit-ments like Operation Enduring

Freedom,” said Libby.Giving blood is simple and

takes about an hour. Donorsshould be in good health, weighat least 110 pounds and not havemade a donation in the past 56days. There is no maximum agelimit for giving blood, but donorsshould be at least 17 years of age.

There are some additionalrestrictions for prospectivedonors who lived in Europesince 1980 as a precautionarymeasure against the spread ofmad cow disease.

Service members, spouses,retirees and DOD civilianemployees are all encouraged to give through the Navy BloodProgram.

Donation centers are locatedat the following naval facilities:

• Armed Services BloodDonor Center, NationalNaval Medical CenterBethesda, Md.

• Navy Blood Donor Center,Naval Medical CenterPortsmouth, Va.

• Navy Blood Donor Center,Naval Medical Center San Diego

• Navy Blood Donor Center,Naval HospitalGreat Lakes, Ill.

• Navy Blood Donor Center,Naval Hospital Charleston, S.C.

• Armed Service Blood BankCenter, U.S. Naval HospitalOkinawa, Japan

• U.S Navy Blood DonorCenter, U.S. Naval HospitalGuam.

The centers also sponsorblood drives, visiting military andfederal installations throughoutthe United States and overseas to make it convenient for donorsto give. Watch for drive noticeswhere you work.

For more Navy Medicinenews, go to www.news.navy.mil

/local/mednews.

Story by Brian Badura,

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery

Public Affairs

SECNAVEnvironmentalAward WinnersAnnounced

T he Secretary of the Navy

(SECNAV) has announcedthe winners and

runners-up for the SECNAVEnvironmental Awards competi-tion for FY01. The awards recognize ships, installationsand individuals or teams forexceptional environmental stewardship. The recipients are:

Natural Resources, Small Installation:

• Navy – Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Fla.;Runner-up – NAS Patuxent River, Md.

• Marine Corps – Marine Corps Base Hawaii; Runner-up – Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, S.C.

Killi, of the Security Departmentat Naval Station Rota, Spain, was recently recognized for his work as a

patrol/explosives detection dog. Along

with his handler, Master-at-Arms 2nd

Class Gabriel Vasquez, Killi was tasked to travel to Romania

for an explosives detection sweep in advance of a visit by

Secretary of State Colin Powell. Killi, as well as other working

dog teams from Rota, travel throughout Europe and help

provide force protection.

S h i p m a t e s

Aviation Antisubmarine WarfareOperator 2nd Class (AW/NAC)William Hallingof USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), was recently

named Junior Sailor of the Year. The Perry,

Iowa, native works with the tactical action officer in coordinat-

ing battle group assets and anti-submarine operations.

Halling’s job is to keep the carrier away from possibly hostile

submarines by maintaining a tactical plot of the location of

each potential enemy submarine.

S h i p m a t e s

21J U L Y 2 0 0 2 • A L L H A N D S20 A L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l

S t o r y a n d p h o t o s b y J O 1 P r e s t o n K e r e s

T HIS ISN’T AN EASY JOB, ” SAID BOATSWAIN’S MATE 2ND CLASS

Marlon Huff, assistant deck leading petty officer aboard USS Yorktown (CG 48). “You just have to expect to work.”

It doesn’t get any clearer than that. The bottom line is that thedeck department is arguably the hardest working group of Sailorsaboard any ship. As a matter of fact, you can see them laboring from sun up to sun down. No, make that sun up to sun up.

Their duties have them roving the outer shell of the ship at allhours, doing anything from swabbing the decks just after morningquarters, to being called away for flight quarters in the middle of the night.

And who is the Sailor who keeps this band of brothers’ back frombreaking? None other than the undesignated seaman.

A rookie of sorts and just like your favorite team’s newcomer, thisSailor is assigned the jobs no one wants, and he or she doesn’t havethat big-dollar contract yet to make it all equal out.

So what keeps these Sailors going?The fact of knowing that in today’s Navy, like in that of the past, a

hard charging Sailor with conviction and a strong work ethic willnot be left behind; rather, will gain something a little different thanthose who have chosen a separate path. Unlike many other rates inthe Navy, the folks in deck department truly gain a truly deepunderstanding and respect for the meaning of hard, physical workand what that does to a person’s character and soul.

� It’s back-breaking work, but it alwaysseems a little easier when land is just a few feetaway and liberty call will be called out at any time.


Lowndes County, Ala.,and wanted to make

something of his life.He’s no stranger to hardwork. Before joining theNavy, he toiled inconstruction, framinghouses for $450 a week.Now he makes about

that much every twoweeks, but then

again, he is just arookie on thisteam. With time,he’ll work his way

into a higher paygrade with more

responsibility.He’s not at that old

“9-to-5” job anymoreeither. Deck’s days are alittle longer; startingaround 6 a.m., sometimes4 a.m. if the ship move-ment requires it, andfinishing … well let’s saythey never really finish.

Yeah, Ford will hit his rack

in the evening, but if flight quarters arecalled away, he, along with the others inhis department, must stand the watch. Aseveryone knows, the infamous Mr.Murphy is always around the corner,ready to make life a little more difficult.

“These guys haven’t sat down to a fullmeal for the last four or five days,” said

BMC (SW) Robin Abrahams, deck divi-sion leading chief petty officer.“Something is always going onthroughout lunch, dinner.”

It’s safe to say that life in the Navy andon a ship is a lot different than Fordthought it would be. “I thought we’d geteight hours of sleep a night, but I haven’tseen eight hours since I was indoc.”

Even though this job may sound like amajor pain in the butt to some, for thosein the thick of things, it’s rewarding

knowing that being part of deck depart-ment means you are trained in manyfacets of the ship and can face anythingthe Navy can throw at you.

“I’m always hearing how we work in

the heat and bad weather, and how it’sunappealing work, but to me, that’s whatmakes this job so challenging,” said Huff.“If you are able to stick it out here indeck department, I believe you can makeit anywhere. It shows what kind of personyou really are.”

This message is not lost on the newest

� Like any undesignated seaman,Ford works hard and has the hands to show it.He takes pride in his work ethic and the factthat he and his shipmates play a key role in the ship’s mission.

� Ford will find himself working at anytime, day or night. It’s not the old “9 to 5” job he was used to back home, but here, hehas added responsibilities that his schoolfriends will never have nor understand outside of the Navy.

� Unlike other departments on theship, deck gets to enjoy the sunrise duringtheir morning quarters.

It’s not like they’re working in rocketscience – and they know that – butwithout their back-breaking, sweat-draining efforts, where would the ship be?

Most definitely, it would still beparked pier side, looking like some oldtin can in a rusted out junkyard.

There’s no way a true deck depart-ment Sailor would allow that to happen.

“The first thing people see when theycome to the ship is the ship itself,” saidHuff. “And when they cross the quarter-deck, they see the hard work that deckdivision puts in, and that makes us feel proud.”

So who is the person behind thebroom; the junior Sailor on the aft watchlookout; the seaman who didn’t reallyknow what he was getting himself intowhen he crossed the brow to checkaboard his first ship?

It’s Sailors like Seaman Recruit JohnFord Jr. who make up the spine of thisdepartment.

His story, like the many others whohave come before him, is pretty common.He came from a small town, in his case


� Like most sailors, Ford, SA ChrisSansom, and SA Eric Leger take a short break from their morning duties to “shoot the breeze.”

� It’s all about attention to detail;making sure every nook and cranny has beencleaned before the berthing inspections.

� Ford waits on the forecastle with therest of deck department to commence sea and anchor detail.

players of the team either.“I knew it was going to be hard work

and all that, but it’s not as hard as peoplesaid it was going to be,” said Ford. “It’snot like a regular job where you can justquit,” he added. “Here, you have to gut itout at times.”

There are more than a few times when the undesignated seaman has to gut it out and just get the job done.

Most of them are more than capable.A vast majority of the undesig-

nated seamen communityhave begun planning their

new careers and whatrating to strike for

thanks to the

strong leadership of those around them.“I believe there is an advantage for the

young Sailors who choose to come inundesignated and have a chance to seefirsthand what the other jobs in the Navydo,” said Huff. “Going to school right outof boot camp and not having any otherchoice than the one made before joining

the Navy can make some folks a littledisappointed with their job.

“For a guy who’s looking to strike outof deck, the more he’s qualified for looksbetter in front of the board. It’s impor-tant to do your best and take advantageof every situation you are in so you can


� The hours may be long,and at times the work may be difficult, but for Ford,and the many other deck Sailors like him, it’s all worth it in the long run.

continue to succeed throughout yourcareer, whether it’s in deck or not.”

Everyone has been the low man in theshop and stuck with the unappealingjobs. Other than the port visits, the“cokin’ and jokin’” throughout the dayand the sea stories about their ships’missions, no one has fond memories oftheir time doing the grunt work.

After all, how many times do youremember writing home about compart-ment cleaning or laying non-skid. Rather,it’s the exotic port visits, the fun timeswith friends and the added responsibili-ties the chief assigns to us as juniortroops that makes us and our familiesproud.

“There is a lot of responsibility placedin the hands of a young 17 or 18 year-old,” said Huff. “There are a lot of latenights and early mornings, especiallyunderway, so it’s important to be flexible.You could get called away at any momentfor a man overboard or flight quarters,any time of the day or night, and if you’renot prepared, you can either injure your-self or a shipmate.”

Today’s seamen seem to have what ittakes to accept these responsibilities andtake care of business. They are goaloriented and prepared to face the hardwork head-on in order to succeed.

“The difference between me and Fordis that he knows early on what he wantsto do. Because of that, he is able to worktoward his goal much easier,” said Huff.“Today’s younger recruits seem to havethat direction a little more than when Iwas in their shoes,” he added. “[If aSailor] knows what he wants, it makes myjob easier helping out with his goals.”

And that’s what it’s all about. Moldingand developing young troops intoproductive, happy Sailors, who will turnaround and lend a hand to the nextgeneration of undesignated seamen inTomorrow’s Navy, because they served intheir deck shoes today.

“You’ve got to be proud of what you’redoing,” said Ford. “We’re protectingpeople’s freedom and most people don’treally know what we’re doing other thanthat.”

Keres is a photojournalist

assigned to All Hands


� With crew members’ cameras ablaze, USS Donald Cook (DDG

75) makes a close pass by USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20). Both Norfolk-based ships were some 1,600 miles east of Florida, en route to Kiel, Germany.

P h o t o b y J O C ( S W ) R o b e r t B e n s o n

S t o r y b y C D R J o h n K i r b y

NATO and Partnership for Peace Countries Participate in Exercise Strong ResolveNATO and Partnership for Peace Countries Participate in Exercise Strong Resolve


E xercise Strong Resolve 2002, oneof the largest NATO exercises inthe last decade, brought together

more than 33,000 military personnelfrom 26 NATO and Partnership for Peace(PFP) nations. The exercise demonstratedNATO’s ability to handle two simulta-neous crises in separate geographicalregions. In Poland and in the Baltic Sea,forces dealt with a crisis response opera-tion (CRO), and in Norway, the scenariofeatured forces encountering a NATOArticle Five collective defense mission.

Commander, Striking Fleet Atlantic(CSFL), commanded by VADM CutlerDawson, led the CRO portion, with morethan 15,000 service members partici-pating. CSFL was embarked in theflagship USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC20) to operate as a sea-based CombinedJoint Task Force (CJTF) headquartersplatform.

“What we planned to do in Strong

Resolve was to exercise NATO’s ability toconduct two very different operationssimultaneously,” Dawson said. “Theseoperations encompassed the full spec-

� As seen through the eyes of a remotely-mounted tailcamera, Mount Whitney’s (LCC 20), SH-3 Sea King, helicoptermakes an approach to the flagship in the waters off Germany.

� A Swedish sailor stands watch while his ship is at port inSwinoujscie, Poland.

� Swedish marines demonstrate an amphibious landingusing one of the most modern fast attack boats to date, the combatboat 90H, after offloading from USS Tortuga (LSD 46).


P h o t o b y P H 1 T i n a M . A c k e r m a n

P h o t o b y P H 3 G e o r g e S i s t i n g

� The Polish flag flies from the stern ofa minesweeper, while the rest of the ships ofthe multinational NATO minesweeping forceare seen in the backround.



trum of NATO military missions. We alsoset out to implement and validateNATO’s afloat CJTF capability,” Dawsonsaid. “We were successful on all counts,and I think all participants enjoyed atremendous learning experience.”

In addition to Mount Whitney, otherNorfolk-based U.S. naval units partici-pating in the exercise includedCommander, Destroyer Squadron 22,USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), USS OscarAustin (DDG 79), USS Briscoe (DDG977), USS Hawes (FFG 53) and USSTortuga (LSD 46). The experimentalvessel HSV (High-Speed Vessel) JointVenture participated in the exercise as well.

Strong Resolve exercises are held every four years and constitute thecapstone in NATO’s four-year trainingcycle. The next few pages contain a visualglimpse of how an exercise of this magnitude transpires.

Kirby is the public affairs officer, Commander,

2nd Fleet/Striking Fleet Atlantic, Norfolk.

� Belgian marine paratroopers jump from a C-130 onto a field in Nowa Wies, Poland.

� OS2(SW) Frank Joseph talks with other NATO units in the Joint Operation Center (JOC). The JOC is the comunications

headquarters aboard USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20),

the sea-based command and control flagship.

� An Austrian tank-gunner awaits the order to begin live-fire training during the Austrian 4th Infantry Brigade’s main battletank operations during the Operation Crisis Response.

P h o t o b y P H 1 T i n a A c k e r m a n


� Fire investigatorsenter a berthing space on

USS Briscoe (DD 977)

during a general quarters drill.

P h o t o b y J O 1 K e v i n E l l i o t t


3534 A L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l J U L Y 2 0 0 2 • A L L H A N D S

S t o r i e s a n d p h o t o s b y J O 1 J o s e p h G u n d e r

When Chief Yeoman (SW) JohnKrauss reported to work themorning of September 11th,

he had no idea he’d have to call upon hisshipboard damage control skills in thehallways of the Pentagon.

Krauss’ day started pretty much likeany other, at 6 a.m., in the Navy’s SurfaceWarfare Division, Room 5B453. Hefigured he’d be doing his job as anadministrative assistant to RADM PhillipM. Balisle.

But all that changed when he caught aglimpse of what was unfolding on theTVs in the office. CAPT Mark Kosnik,the executive assistant, came out and told everyone to “be prepared in caseanything happened.”

Krauss didn’t have long to wait.Not 30 seconds later, the plane hit.

“The whole building shook,” recalledYeoman 3rd Class Cean Whitmarsh,an assistant to Krauss. “Then the ceilingcaved in.”

Krauss and Whitmarsh were bothresponsible for making sure thateveryone was out of the area. “We have100 people working in our wedge,”said Krauss. “We did a sweep to makesure that everyone evacuated.

“As we exited to the alley between “B” and “C” Rings, I saw that to our leftwas the “C” Ring, engulfed in flames.To our right was safety.”

To Krauss, the choice was obvious.“Myself, YN3, the captain — we went tothe left and started helping out. I carriedout a woman on my back.”

“We could’ve escaped to center courtto safety,” recounted Krauss. “But therewere people hurt. We acted withoutthinking.”

YNC John Krauss – Hero

Flaming Hallways or a Safe Exit

WHILE MOST OF THE COUNTRY WATCHED THE WORLD TRADE

CENTER, the TV replays of the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and

Sailors stationed in the Pentagon found the horror right at their

doorstep.

Pentagon Sailors found out firsthand what their shipmates on USS Cole (DDG

67) went through almost a year prior: a shocking, unexpected, vicious terrorist

attack. In the aftermath of both attacks, Sailors dropped what they were doing to

help others or escape. Many stories have surfaced from actions that day and shortly

thereafter.

Space limitations allow All Hands to tell only a few of the stories, so read on;

we’ll introduce you to some of the Sailors of 9/11:

TERROR:PENTAGON

SAILORS OF 9/11

TV was airing the news in the phys-ical therapy department of thePentagon’s DiLorenzo Tricare

Health clinic. The second plane had justhit the World Trade Center.

“It looks like you guys are going to behopping today,” said Hospital Corpsman2nd Class Theresa Somers, as she wastreating a patient who happened to be amember of the Joint Staff.

Little did she know that she wouldsoon be hopping as well.

“We were a little on edge, not knowingwhat was going on,” recalled Somers. “So wecontinued to watch the news in the clinic.”

It wasn’t long before one of the staff came in with the warning to “evacuate the building!”

“So we gathered our patients and bags and headed out to North Parking,”Somers said.

As they passed another TV, they found out why.

“Pentagon Attacked” screamed thecaption on the news under an image ofsmoke streaming from the Pentagon.

“We could tell this was something big,as the whole building was leaving,” saidSomers. “That doesn’t usually happenwith drills.”

After safely making their way across a pedestrian bridge, past the entrance and to a small grassy area, they finallysaw the full scope of what was going on.

One of the physical therapy techs had run back into the clinic and returnedwith the blue vests designating membersof the mass casualty team. Somers puthers on.

That’s when Somers and her teamwent from being physical therapists tobeing emergency medics and fieldcorpsmen.

She was about to start treatingpatients on the field when calls started

coming through on their radios formedical assistance in center court.Somers and four others from the clinictook off running, back into the smoking Pentagon.

“She just put on her vest and ran backinto the building as the masses wereleaving,” said LTJG Alejandro Mata,assistant chief of physical therapy at theclinic. “She did that without thinkingabout her own safety.”

Center court was now a mass casualtyscene, with injured personnel streamingout of Corridors 3 and 4 and woundedlying everywhere.

Also lying about were emergency bags and medical kits.

“I just grabbed a pair of gloves andapplied direct pressure to one of thevictims who was brought out,” saidSomers.

After treating that patient, she cameacross a physical therapy patient sheknew and looked over his burns. Thenshe noticed someone sitting in the grass.

“He was just sitting there with an I.V. stuck in his arm,”rememberedSomers. “From the front, his clotheslooked torn. When I walked by him and turned around, I’ll never forget what I saw. His clothes and hair werecompletely burnt off him. I guess sittingon the grass was the most comfortableposition for him.”

“If there was one saving grace, it’s thatthe new wedge (of the Pentagon) wasnew and not everyone had moved in yet.Otherwise there could’ve been deaths inthe thousands, worse than the WorldTrade Center.”

HM2 Theresa Somers – First responder

Physical Therapy Tech to Emergency Medic, in No Time Flat


TERROR: PENTAGON SAILORS OF 9/11

Force. “The chaplains who were therejoined medical teams who were alreadyforming to treat and minister to thewounded. We stayed there for severalhours. There were more than 30 chap-lains there, Army, Navy, Air Force. Icoordinated those people’s work for the next 24 hours.”

“I remember seeing people on thelawn, alone and watching,” recalledWhite. “I would sit next to them and seehow they are doing. These are very youngSailors and Marines. You could just seethey were sitting in desperation on thelawn. Initially, as we all gathered in theparking lot, the natural thing for us wasto try to see what we could do to help.”

Kendricks said, “There were timeswhen we were standing there in line, withgloves and masks, ready to go into thebuilding as part of the stretcher teams tobring people out. We put on fire-fightinggear, but they said the fire was too hot.”

“We didn’t get to see many wounded,”added Kendricks. “Those that werecoming out were taken right away byhelicopter.”

The chaplains were eventually recalledback to the Pentagon for other, morepressing duties, serving with CACOs(casualty assistance calls officers). Theyhad the unenviable task of accompanyingthe CACO and offering pastoral comfortand support to family members.

“Investing in the lives of people iswhat we do,” noted Kendricks. “We didn’tknow it would mean going and helpingand being a part of the Pentagon that had being hit by a civilian airliner; or

the CACO calling; [or] the counselingsthat would come. It’s because we careabout people and we love people. Doingstaff work doesn’t separate us from our calling and our desire to invest in thelives of people.”

“Our hearts are tied up in service.That’s what our calling is about,”said Chaplain (LCDR) Mark

Kendricks, a staff chaplain serving at the NavyAnnex, a large, mostly Navy-occupied buildingjust up the hill from the Pentagon. “Whateverthat means, that’s what we’re willing to do.”

Kendricks figured he’d be spending hisTuesday afternoon doing his routine things,like holding devotions in the chaplain’s confer-ence room, and advising his boss, the Navy’sChief of Chaplains, Chaplain (RADM) Barry C. Black.

That all changed when the TV showed thenews from New York City.

Chaplain (LCDR) Dale White, another staffchaplain from the annex, caught the news else-where in the D.C. area and rushed back,figuring no one else would know what wasgoing on.

White recalled, after gathering all the chaplains with Chaplain (RADM) LouisIasiello, the deputy Chief of Chaplains they sawthe second plane hit on the news. We thenturned off the television and we prayed for thepeople of New York and the people on thoseplanes,” he said.

Then it was the Pentagon’s turn, as alow-flying airliner roared a few hundredfeet directly abovethe annex on it’sway to smash into the Pentagon’snewly renovatedWedge One.

When the plane hit,alarms in the annex sounded.

“We all just kind of bolted outthe back here,” said White.

“When the call came for volunteers,we went down there, hundreds of us (from the annex),” said Chaplain (RADM) DaroldBigger, deputy Chief of Chaplains for Total

Mark Kendricks & Dale White – Chaplains

Comfort from Above



J U L Y 2 0 0 2 • A L L H A N D S40 A L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l


Yeoman 1st Class (SW) Melissa A.Barnes had taken the morning off to register her son for first

grade. Her new assignment at thePentagon, in the office of Naval Trainingand Education (N79), made her a bit uneasy. She was a little nervous aboutworking in DOD’s largest office building.

When she arrived at work that day,her office was mysteriously empty.Strange, it was already 9:30 a.m. Shequickly discovered everyone huddledaround the TV in Dr. Allen Zeman’soffice down the hall. Zeman is thedirector of Naval Training andEducation.

It turned out the World Trade Centerhad been hit while she was on the Metro,and everyone in the office was standingthere watching.

Then the terrorist’s attack found them.A sound, described by some as a “sick-

ening swoosh,” was heard. Then the floor buckled, and a fire-ball flew past the window.

Everyone dove for cover. Someonescreamed, “Oh my God! The terrorists arehere!” As the office began to fill withsmoke, they ran out.

The staff made their way out into oneof the Pentagon’s massive hallways.Another yeoman looked to the left andsaw the black smoke rapidly expandinglike a wave and closing in their direction.

“When she looked back at me, it was alook of pure terror,” said Barnes. “At thatpoint, I knew we had to get out of there.”

The occupants of the office, alongwith several others, hustled their wayfrom the “E” Ring; the suffocating blacksmoke licking at their heels.

Barnes moved with the crowd as itbrought them out the Pentagon’s northside, across a bridge over a highway, pastthe day care center and into a vastparking lot.

“I just stood there and watched thesmoke and cried,” recountedBarnes. “I wasn’t in my ‘comfort zone,’ not knowing my way around the building,and being new to the D.C. area.”

At this point, Barnesbegan to think about herseven-year-old son, Justin,and just how close hecame to losing hismother.

Days later, Barnesobserved thedamaged sectionfrom the outsideand realizedjust how closeshe was to theimpact. “Eighteenwindows. That’sabout eight or 10offices,” she said.

To make matters worse, Barnes has the same first and last name as one ofthe fatalities, Yeoman 2nd Class MelissaRose Barnes, which made for a lot ofmisunderstanding.

“People were sending their condo-lences to my family, and my pay recordswere all confused for a while, becausepeople thought it was me.”

Barnes said her son would think back to 9/11 and occasionally ask her,“If another plane hits the Pentagon

and you’re killed, who’ll pick me up from school?”

She explained to him how some relatives who live nearby could get him if something happened, but Barnes reallyneeded to try and calm his fears.

“I try to put it in words he can under-stand,” she remembered. “I just tell him that the Pentagon has good security and there are people out there protecting us.”

“We all thought we weregoing to die,” recalledIntelligence Specialist

Seaman Sarah Cole about what she andher co-workers thought would certainlybe the end. “And every time after I saidthat, I was surprised that I was still there.”

Her office at the Pentagon, Chief ofNaval Operations/Intelligence Plot, wason the first floor of the Pentagon’s “D”Ring (the second outermost ring), in thedirect path of the highjacked airliner,which stopped just yards from her office.

“My mom was watching the news andfigured, ‘What are the odds? It’s such abig building.’ My parents were in shockwhen they found out that out of all therooms in the Pentagon, I was right there.”

The impact blew out the wall in frontof her and threw a metal filing cabinetagainst her body, leaving her with aninch-and-a-half gash in her left shoulderand a mild concussion.

You’d think that would be enough tocrush Cole, who only weighs about 120

pounds, almost the same as the filingcabinet that slammed into her, but itdidn’t. The force of the crash blew her andseveral others completely out of the office.Dazed, she was led to a safer location.

Amazingly, she was recovered her wits and, despite her own injuries, foundshe was able to assist in the initial rescue efforts.

“I didn’t even realize I was hurt formost of the day,” said Cole. She spent the first part of 9/11 in the smoky air between the Pentagon’s “C” and “D”Rings, helping other workers jump out

of windows, searching for fire extin-guishers to fight the blaze, and yellinginto the building to see if anyone was there.

“I appreciate things more now,” Colemused, having cheated death when somany others, including seven in heroffice, died in the attack. “You neverknow. [Death] doesn’t always have to beplanned, like if you’re sick or something.”

Although she considers herself prettymuch back to normal these days, both

physically and mentally, except for anoccasional soreness in her left shoulder,she still feels the impact of that daywhenever she hears a noise, like thetapping of a hammer coming from theopposite side of the wall. “Those thingsstill make me jump.”

Gunder is a photojournalist

assigned to All Hands

Intelligence Specialist Seaman Sarah Cole – Wounded

She Lived to Tell

YN1(SW) Melissa Barnes – Survivor

Eighteen Windows from Death

41


S t o r y a n d p h o t o b y J O 1 P r e s t o n K e r e s24SevenOn Duty On-the-Hour Every Hour

It’s a space that’s only about 10 feet by 15

feet, smack in the middle of the ship, but it’s

filled with all of the items necessary to keep

a crew happy until they pull into the next

port. At least that’s the goal of Ship’s Serviceman

3rd Class Johnathan Garcia, ship store operator

aboard USS Yorktown (CG 48).

“I’m there to make sure the customers have

what they need while underway,” said Garcia.

“In a way I think it helps boost the morale too.”

It’s Garcia’s job to ensure there are enough

sports drinks and water in the chiller, and enough

bars of soap and shampoo on the shelves to keep

the crew clean and happy.

“I’m right here actually providing for the crew,

and to me, I feel I’m helping them a lot more on a

daily basis in my own way,” said Garcia. “It makes

me feel good inside knowing I’m providing [for

Sailor’s needs].”

With so many different people aboard this U.S.

warship, there are bound to be some unhappy

campers who aren’t pleased with the selection of

goods on the shelves. But that doesn’t faze Garcia

and his mission. He strives to make the crew

happy as a whole, and if he can, stock the spe-

cialty items for the smaller numbers who may

desire such products.

“There are a lot of different individuals, and

everyone wants different things, but we try to

make everyone happy,” added the two and a half

year veteran.

A look at the numbers will show that Garcia,

who stocks everything from uniform

items to breath mints, must be

doing something right. His reg-

isters ring up more than

$1,200 a day by selling

more than 1,140 bottles

of sports drinks and

200 peanut and

caramel bars a week,

among other things.

Now granted, it’s not your typical corner conve-

nience store, where the hot dogs roll endlessly

under the heat lamp until they petrify, and the

“slushie” machine in the back dishes out over-

sized cups of “blueberry mountain,” but for the

most part, it gets the job done. Garcia is able to

wake up in the morning knowing he is about to

begin a day that will make the life of his ship-

mates a little easier.

“I love my job and being able to provide for

the crew,” said Garcia. “I like being able to inter-

act with them on a daily basis.”

Keres is a photojournalist assigned to All Hands.

“Attention Ship’s Store Shoppers”

45

Eye on the Fleet is a monthly photo feature sponsored by the Chief of Information

Navy Visual News Service. We are looking for high impact, quality photography

from Sailors in the fleet to showcase the American Sailor in action.

Eye on the Fleet

To be considered, forward your high resolution (5"x 7" at 300 dpi) images with full credit and cutline

information, including full name, rank and duty station. Name all identifiable people within the photo and

include important information about what is happening, where the photo was taken and the date.

Commands with digital photo capability can send attached .jpg files to: [email protected]

Mail your submissions to:

Navy Visual News Service • Naval Media Center

2713 Mitscher Rd., S.W., Anacostia Annex, D.C. 20373-5819

For a new Eye on the Fleet everyday, click on the Navy NewsStand’s homepage,

www.news.navy.mil, for fresh images of your shipmates in action. 44

� Hornet HomecomingAn F/A-18 Hornet approaches theflight deck of USS John C. Stennis,while deployed with Carrier Air

Wing 9 in support of Operation

Enduring Freedom.

P h o t o b y P H A N T i n a L a m b

Up, Up & Away! �

Members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit

(EODMU) 2 leave the deck of USS George Washington

while participating in a Special Insertion and Extraction(SPIE) rig exercises with Helicopter Anti-Submarine

Squadron (HS) 15, during integrated training operations off the coast of Puerto Rico.

P h o t o b y J O 2 D a v i d V a l d e z

Daddy’s Home �

SH2 John Llewellyn, assigned to USS Ross (DDG 71), meets

his newborn daughter for the firsttime. Llewellyn returned from a

six-month deployment to theMiddle East, where Ross

conducted missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom

as part of USS Theodore

Roosevelt ’s (CVN 71)

Battle Group.

P h o t o b y P H 2 M i c h a e l S a n d b e r g

� Valet ParkingOn board USS Oak Hill (LSD 51), SN Jamaal

Sherrill stands by to guide another LandingCraft Air Cushion (LCAC) into the well deck, while conducting missions in support ofOperation Enduring Freedom.

P h o t o b y P H C S p i k e C a l l

Turbo Taxi �

SEAL Team 5 members from Guamand Philippine Naval Special

Warfare Unit (NSWU) 6, transit toan area of Basilan Island to trans-

port military personnel assisting inthe off load of Marines and

heavy equipment supporting a construction exercise during

Operation Enduring Freedom.

P h o t o b y P H 2 A n d r e w M e y e r s

Eye on History is a monthly photo feature sponsored by the Naval Historical Center.

For more photos pertaining to naval history, go to www.history.navy.mil .

47

� 1950At the Naval Air TechnicalTraining Center, Memphis,Tenn., SA Frances Blair standsby with a fire extinguisher and gives the “ready to start the engine” sign to SA June Barker.

Eye on History

46

U.S. Navy Photos Courtesy of

the Naval Historical Center

A L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l J U L Y 2 0 0 2 • A L L H A N D S

1918 �

YN1(F) Joy Bright served in the office of theNaval Superintendent of Construction atthe New York Shipbuilding Corporation,

Camden, N.J. After a Navy career that spanned 35 years,culminating in

the position of director of the WAVES, she retired as a captain in 1953.

1943 �

At Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Fla.,AD3 Violet Falkum turns over the

Pratt and Whitney R-1340 radial engine of a SNJ-4 training plane.

� 1989HN Patricia Asvec gives a Filipino villager a shot of novocain prior to a tooth extraction during a 7th Fleetmedical civic action program.

P h o t o b y P H 1 T e d S a l o i s

� 1968PH2 Carol Cline shoots some film of aircraft at the Naval Air Station in Norfolk.

A L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l48

The Final Word

T H E S A I L O R S C R E E D

★ I am a United States Sailor ★ I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America

and I will obey the orders of those appointed over me ★ I represent the fighting spirit of the Navy

and those who have gone before me to defend freedom and democracy around the world ★

I proudly serve my country’s Navy combat team with Honor, Courage and Commitment★ I am committed to excellence and the fair treatment of all. ★

“It’s still staying... areyou?”www.staynavy.navy.mil