The Carl Vinson Voice is an internal document produced by and for the crew of the USS Carl Vinson and their families. Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government or the Departments of Defense or the Navy and do not imply any endorsement thereby.

Just because Safety might not perform maintenance on a certain piece of equipment doesn’t mean the department isn’t ultimately responsible for it. Likewise, just because one department performs maintenance on a piece of equipment, doesn’t mean they’ll be the only department affected if something goes wrong.

That’s where it comes down to taking ownership and pride in the quality of your work to make sure your spaces are in the best shape possible.

“It’s like a domino effect. If you don’t do your job or you don’t do it right, it directly

Story by MC3 Jessica RobertsonUSS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

See INSURV` page 7

VOL 1 / NO 43 October 7, 2010

Photo By MC2 Adrian White

Vinson Ready for a GOLD EAGLE

As INSURV gets closer and closer (now less than two weeks away), CARL VINSON Sailors are realizing there are two vital qualities that will strongly influence whether or not CVN 70 succeeds: pride and ownership.

Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class (AW) Carlos Young, Safety Department’s Leading Petty Officer, knows just how important it is for Vinson Sailors to take pride in their ship. Young’s department has one of the widest reaches of any department on board. Safety is responsible for ensuring various items throughout the ship are up to par with current regulations.

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By MC3 Jessica Robertson USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

Publisher Capt. Bruce H. Lindsey

Commanding Officer

Executive Editors Lt. Cmdr. Erik Reynolds

Public Affairs Officer

Lt. j.g. Erik Schneider Deputy Public Affairs Officer

Managing Editor MC2 Ashley Van Dien

Photo Editor MC2 Adrian White

Layout and DesignMC3 Megan L. Catellier

Staff Writers/Photographers

MC3 Shentell DownesMC3(SW) Stephen Hale

MC3 Heather RoeMC3 Aaron Shelley

MCSA Kevin HarbachSTAFF

Carl Vinson teams up to tackle INSURV

As Carl Vinson prepares for Inspection and Survey (INSURV), Sailors are finding out just how important teamwork is in accomplishing the mission.

Although not every department on board owns equipment that will be checked during INSURV, VINSON leadership is stressing to the crew that every Sailor plays a crucial role in passing the inspection.

One department with several vital equipment checks is Deck. At sea, the department’s responsibilities include anchoring and mooring Vinson, bringing on mail, cargo, and fuel, as well as standing watch and serving as the first responders in the event of a man overboard. In port, the department’s daily tasks vary from space rehabilitation and preservation to equipment maintenance and inspection.

As INSURV approaches,

Deck Department’s workload has intensified. There is no room for error during the inspection, so the department must make sure all of their equipment is in proper working order.

“We’ve been doing maintenance on things like life rafts, search-and-rescue gear, towing gear and anchor chains,” said Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class (SW/AW) Zachary Chavez, a Sailor in Deck Department 1st Division. “These things are really big for INSURV. If they don’t work or they’re not up to speed, we can’t get underway.”

Preparing for the challenge that is INSURV means departments must lean on and be willing to support each other. One of the many departments that has stepped up to lighten Deck’s heavy load is Engineering Department.

“We’re doing checks on their connected replenishment (CONREP) stations and fueling-at-sea (FAS) stations,” said Engineering Department’s Auxiliaries Division Officer Lt. j.g. Michael Wellman.

“We’ve put in more than 400 man hours doing maintenance on life jackets and the same amount of time getting Deck’s anchor

windlasses up to par, since the anchor-drop is one of the major things the INSURV inspectors will be looking at.”

Chief Machinist’s Mate (SW) Leodias Jack from Engineering Department A-Division added it’s also important to consider the needs of other divisions and not just your own.

“You can’t compartmentalize your department and think, ‘I’m going to do things my way’,” said Jack. “If I decide to shut off the air-conditioning or refrigeration, all the Sailors on the ship will be sweating and all the food in Supply will spoil. We have to work every day as a team to make this work.”

Just as Engineering is lending a hand to the Sailors in Deck to prepare for their INSURV inspections, Deck is returning the favor to other departments. Deck maintains eye-washing stations for Safety, as well as equipment belonging to VINSON’s Damage Control Division such as battle lanterns, CO2 and PKP bottles.

“That’s how it works on the Carl Vinson,” said Chavez. “We come together and get the job done. From the shipyards, to being underway, to inspections, even if it’s hard work or long hours, we pull together and do it.”

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In addition to its practical use and rich heritage, the ship’s bell on board Carl Vinson also plays a role in the ship’s success during Inspection and Survey (INSURV). It has taken three months of hard work and the cooperation of several departments on board to restore the ship’s bell to INSURV standards. “The bell and the gong are a substantial part of our INSURV check,” said Quartermaster 3rd Class Erich Hoffman. “The inspectors will check the bell according to very specific standards, including the exact musical note that sounds when the bell is rung.” The bell, which is kept on the forward-most starboard catwalk, needed a new stinger to successfully pass the INSURV check. Navigation worked closely with Sailors in Vinson’s Machine Shop to get the bell up to standards. Machinery Repairman 2nd Class (SW) Adam Ferenbach and Machinery Repairman 3rd Class Devin McConnell shaped the stinger out of a rod of solid brass. “That was a huge undertaking for the machinery repairmen that designed and made the new stinger,” said Hoffman. “Them making it was a great help to us.” VINSON follows the old Navy tradition that the ship’s cook shines the bell. Now that the bell has been

The Ship’s BellStory by MC3 Shentel DownesUSS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

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restored, it falls upon Culinary Specialist 3rd Class (AW/SW) Kimairys Reyes, the commanding officer’s cook, to shine the bell each day. “When they told me it’s my job to shine the bell, I thought they were joking at first,” said Reyes. “But honestly, it feels good to keep the tradition because that’s what makes us the Navy we are today.” The tradition of bells on board ships is centuries old, dating back as far as the 1400s. Today, United States Navy vessels each have their own bell to serve as a signaling mechanism during low-visibility situations and anchoring. All vessels, whether merchant or military, are required to carry a bell large enough to serve each vessel efficiently, as well as a gong that is sounded off the fantail. Another age-old custom, which originated in the British Royal Navy, is to baptize a child under a ship’s bell, or to use the bell as a christening bowl. This custom was observed in 2008 when Carl Vinson’s bell, which weighs 200 pounds and is more than 20 inches in diameter, was taken down to baptize the daughter of Cmdr. John Markowicz, former VINSON Chief Engineer. The ship’s bell is both traditional and practical, and now, thanks to the teamwork and hard work of Vinson Sailors, up to standard and ready to serve its purpose.

The Ship’s BellThe Ship’s Bell

Photo by MC3(SW) Stephen Hale

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years and on board 10 months. Although she has sacrificed a lot personally to do well professionally, Applewhite has a strong sense of purpose in her work. “Being away does have its trying

times because I do miss my daughter. I have missed her first steps, her first words, and different milestones in her life,” said Applewhite. “None of that can be brought back, but I do know that in the end, I’m doing what I have to do now to provide for her. When I reach my 20-year mark, my daughter will be of age to look back and say ‘I remember when mommy was gone to defend our country’.”

Applewhite is currently working toward a bachelor’s degree in human resources. She plans to retire from the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer and own her own business.

Story by MC3 Shentel DownesUSS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

Logistics Specialist 2nd Class (AW/SW) Maggie Applewhite’s can-do attitude and desire to succeed have set the standard for excellence in Supply Department S-1 Division, Stock Control. A native of San Diego,

Applewhite balances her duties as Sailor a with her responsibilities as a single parent. “It does get hard being in

the Navy as a single parent,” said Applewhite. “But when it becomes too much for me, I look at [my daughter’s] picture and tell myself that things won’t stay the same forever and to keep the press on.” Applewhite is a government-

credit-card holder and customer service supervisor in S-1 Division.

She manages $850,000 in continuing services, $135,000 in contracts through the Federal Industrial Supply Center, and $2.9 million in credit card purchases with zero discrepancies. Applewhite’s positive attitude

has gained the respect of Logistics Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Martha Maya, S-1 Division assistant leading petty officer. “She never says no,” said Maya.

“She’ll do anything you ask of her. Even during closeouts, she tries to help customers who come to the door. She’s not afraid to take on a challenge. Her motivation isn’t just to be seen, but to be involved and help people out.” Applewhite is the training petty

officer for the division and a member of the Second Class Petty Officers’ Association. She has been in the Navy 11

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affects someone else on the ship,” said Young. “If Engineering doesn’t do their job, Air Department can’t do theirs, and it goes on and on. There’s no ‘i’ in ‘team’, but there’s an ‘m’ and an ‘e’. It’s up to us to ask, ‘what can I do to improve this team?’”

Answering that question involves taking initiative and stepping up when you see something is wrong.

“This ship is over two decades old. If something is going to break, it’s not just going to break. There will be signs leading up to it, like unusual noises or leaking fluids. It’s up to each of us to report it if it doesn’t look right,” said Logistics Specialist 3rd Class (SW/AW) Jonathan Gayles.

Chief Mass Communication Specialist (AW) Daniel Wolsey, Training Department’s Leading Chief Petty Officer, said he’s seen more Sailors stepping up to do just that, but there is still room for improvement.

“[Sailors] have to believe in the ship and take ownership,” said Wolsey. “Once they do, they’ll take better care of the ship and its equipment.”

Fire Controlman 1st Class (SW/AW) Ernest Peebles commented on the reason why ownership should be in the forefront of the minds of every Vinson Sailor.

“We will all fail if we don’t take ownership. We have to do our best to fix what problems we have, or else we will fail,” said Peebles. “It’s one team, one fight.”

From`INSURV` page 1

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Are your spaces

?insurv ready??• Remove personal gear from the ship, particularly from offices and work spaces. This includes personal TVs, DVD players, radios, refrigerators, microwaves, watercoolers, coffee pots. Stow your personal gear in your locker or take it home.• Coats, packs, etc., should be stowed in personal lockers, not in work spaces, with the exception of foul weather gear.• Remove excess gear from the ship. Reduce storeroom holdings as feasible. Once old equipment has been replaced (like computers and printers), take it to DRMO.• Storerooms should be well

ordered and clean.• Be sure to clean underneath cabinets, desks, in corners, along deck edges, equipment mounts, on top of light fixtures, cableways, duct work, pipes, and cabinets.• All lights need to be on…and bright. Check light bulbs and starters. Light covers should be clean and free of paint (and cracks).• All safety pins need to be in place in stanchions. Be sure the bolts holding handrails and steps are tight with pins inserted at both the top and bottom of ladders.• Non-skid strips (3) should be in place at the top and bottom of

ladder ways, and on either side of knee-knockers and hatches.• All spaces need to be secure for sea. TVs, computers, printers, hard drives, and monitors need to be properly secured either by brackets or mounting straps. Cabinets and storage lockers need to be bolted to either the bulkhead or to the deck. Loose items and gear need to be properly stowed.• CO2 and PKP bottles need to be properly PMS’d and within periodicity.• All electrical and electronic equipment MUST BE safety checked.