SHUTTLEtheUSS Enterprise (CVN 65) -Saturday June 11, 2011

Photo by MC3 Daniel J. Meshel

Getting Big ‘E’

From AgB

the Page 3Saturday June 11, 2011

Enterprise NewsSHUTTLE

By MC3 Austin RooneyUSS Enterprise Public AffairsUSS ENTERPRISE, At sea – When operating any vehicle, a certain amount of concentration and precision is required on the part of the operator in order to ensure the safety of the passengers. For a 95,000-ton aircraft carrier with a full load of more than 4,000 Sailors and Marines, the men and women in charge of its navigation must be extremely precise with their every move while plotting its course and steering the ship. The team of highly-trained Sailors who work on the bridge of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) have already accumulated countless hours of high-risk navigation while operating during the ship’s 21st deployment. “It’s our job to get the ship to where it needs to be,” said Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Alexis Montgomery, a helmsman who stands watch on the bridge. “It’s one of the most important jobs on board.” Every turn, replenishment at sea, or strait transit is made possible by a variety of Sailors of different rates and levels of experience. Every time the commanding officer or officer of the deck needs to change the ship’s course, a team of quartermasters must carefully plot the course on large charts, and then pass the directions to the helmsmen who control the speed and navigation of the ship. “We make sure the ship gets from point A to point B on time and in the most efficient manner,” said Quartermaster 1st Class (SW) Bill Obry, Enterprise’s Navigation department leading petty

officer. “If our calculations are off by even a fraction of a degree, the entire ship would be thrown off course.” Obry said precision is such an important part of their jobs that they are required to perform what is known as fixes or updates of the ship’s position every two to 15 minutes depending on the proximity to land. The information comes from the quartermasters on the bridge, the commanding officer’s tactical plot and the boatswain’s mates standing lookout watch on the signal bridge. “It’s very important to double-check everyone’s input, even if it’s someone experienced who you trust,” said Obry. “If the ship’s course is off by even the length of a football field in some places, it could end up with us running aground.”

The boatswain’s mates on the bridge stand their watch on the helm and the lee helm. The helm controls the ship’s course, while the lee helm controls the speed. Montgomery said both watches must remain extremely vigilant and pay close attention to to ensure the course plotted by the quartermasters is carried out effectively. “You have to stay focused at all times,” said Montgomery. “The commanding officer usually sits right next to us, so he notices any deviation from the planned course.” Obry said navigating the ship is not always difficult when everything goes according to plan. According to Obry, last-minute changes are usually issued from the commanding officer, which forces the quartermasters to get new charts and begin plotting

Bridge watchstanders steer the course

Photo by MC3 Daniel J.Meshel

new courses on tight time constraints. “Whenever there is a change to our course, we have to plot it on the fly,” said Quartermaster 3rd Class (SW) Tom Sanborn, the ship’s chart petty officer. “A lot of times we don’t even know where we’re going next, so we have to be ready for anything.”Since Enterprise began its latest deployment coming straight out of the shipyard, Obry said much of the navigation team was inexperienced. Since Enterprise left the shipyard, every Sailor working on the bridge has gained valuable experience and works together as a team. “I’m really proud of all of them,” said Obry. “They have come a long way from the shipyard to being a cohesive navigation team.”

Quartermaster Seaman Nathaniel C. Allison plots course and speed to determine location using dead reckoning aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). Allison is part of Enterprise’s Navigation Department and bridge watch team.

the Saturday June 11, 2011Page 4 SHUTTLE

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Sailors of the DayBoatswain’s Mate SeamanEvelio Velez- Springfield, MA

Photos by MC3 Michael L. Croft

BMSN Velez, a deck seaman for Enterprise’s Deck Department, joined the Navy three and a half years ago for the educational benefits and to “serve my country and make my family proud.” To Velez, the most rewarding aspect of his job is completing the job and “seeing the big differences from start to finish.” Velez aspires to become a naval officer in the future. When he returns from deployment, Velez plans to work out and be “the best dad he can be.”

AE1 Cadmus, a line leading petty officer for Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 137, joined the Navy 10 years ago because he wanted to “do something different.” To Cadmus, the most rewarding aspect of his job is “teaching young Sailors.” Cadmus is working hard to become a chief petty officer and wants “to be with my family as much as possible.” When he returns from deployment, Cadmus plans to ride his quad motor bike.

Aviation Electrician’s Mate 1st ClassScott C. Cadmus- Westport, WA