Bataan Sailors, Marines Step Up to Stop Sexual AssaultBy MC3 Chase Hawley

April 25, 2014Volume: 2 Issue: 8

Look Inside! Tiger Team, Page 2 | Steel Beach Picnic, Pages 4 & 5 | MWR, Page 6

The crew of the USS Bataan is raising awareness during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, along with the Navy as a whole, and being true to the theme of this year: “Live Our Values: Step Up to Stop Sexual Assault.”

The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) team aboard the Bataan hosted a kick-off event and talent contest to raise awareness and bring Sailors and Marines together against sexual assault with more events planned throughout the rest of the month.

“We’ve done a couple events so far for Sexual Assault Awareness Month and we have a couple more coming up,” said Senior Chief Aviation

Boatswain’s Mate Fuels Glenn Apacible, from Virginia Beach, Va., Bataan’s SAPR program manager. “We’ve had a lot people show up for the kick-off and talent

contest. We’re all into this; it’s not just the chain of command or the SAPR team. It’s really been a group effort. The support has been great from the whole crew.”

Sailors and Marines aboard Bataan have high attendance and participation at all the events according to the SAPR team. Many signed a proclamation to show unity against sexual assault posted on the mess decks during the kick-off event.

“For the ship it’s an awesome climate to have so many people for the program and so many people out promoting it,” said Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Jordan Heiser, from Walla Walla, Wash.

SAAM cont. page 3

Radar cont. page 2

Bataan Sailors Change Radar Pedestal While At-SeaBy MC3 Mark Hays

Sailors aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) are the first to take down an AN/SPS-73 Radar antenna pedestal and re-

install a new one during deployment out-at-sea.

The AN/SPS-73 radar is a short-range, two-dimensional, surface search/

navigation radar system that provides surface contact range and bearing information. The 73 provides short-range detection and surveillance of surface units and low-flying air units, while the navigation function allows quick and accurate

determination of Bataan’s position relative to nearby vessels and navigation hazards.

“The 73 is the Primary form of navigation for the ship,” said Chief Electronic’s Technician Timothy Pendleton from Hartford, Vermont. “Its like the eyes of the ship, only with a view of over 60 nautical miles.’

When Bataan maneuvers in and out of ports, performs a replenishment-at-sea, or steams on the open ocean, this system is vital to the ship’s mission.

“We tried trouble shooting and swapping out several units inside the antenna pedestal,” said Electronics Technician 3rd Class Christopher Godwin, from Springhill, Fla., one of the Sailors

Photo by MC3 Chase Hawley

Photo by MC3 Erik Foster

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The editorial content of this newspaper is prepared, edited and provided by Bataan’s Public Affairs Office. This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of military services at sea. Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Navy and do not imply endorsement thereof.

Commanding OfficerCaptain George J. Vassilakis

Executive OfficerCaptain John “J.C.” Carter

Command Master ChiefCMDCM(SW/AW) Kevin M. Goodrich

Public Affairs Officer MCC(SW/SCW) Dennis Herring

News Team 5MC1(SW/AW) John BelangerMC1(AW/SW) RJ StratchkoMC3 Erik Foster MC3 Mark Hays

MC3 Chase HawleyMCSN Nicholas Frank CottoneMCSA Michael J. LieberknechtMCSA Aaron Kiser

Layout and Design MC3 Chase Hawley

Editor MC1(AW/SW) RJ Stratchko

Fan Coil Team Works to Keep Bataan Cool in 5th FleetBy MC3 Erik Foster

Sailors and Marines from various departments worked together for two weeks in April to keep temperatures low aboard USS Bataan (LHD 5) while operating in the U.S. 5th fleet area of responsibility.

Chief Damage Controlman Shawn Durant, from Vergenness, Vt., Damage Controlman 2nd Class Christopher Menesses, from Canton, Conn., and Damage Controlman 3rd Class Jacob Bushman, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, led the team during the two-week mission to cool off the ship.

“We had approximately 20 Sailors and Marines on the fan coil cleaning team,” said Bushman. “We had reports of air conditioned spaces getting warm because of build-up of dirt on the coils. We tagged out the fan coil units, changed out the filters and cleaned the coils.

“We had to get creative in some of the tighter spaces so we used empty aqueous film forming foam bottles pressurized with fresh water to clean the hard to reach

areas of the coils.” The team operated throughout the

entire ship, working on spaces from the Commanding Officer’s at-sea cabin on the ship’s 05 level by the pilothouse to Damage Control Central down below on the 5th deck.

“The team was awesome and everyone did an great job,” said Bushman. “Everywhere from the Marine spaces, to officer’s staterooms, to small shops throughout the ship, everyone noticed a difference.”

With the help of the Chief Petty Officers’ mess Durant coordinated with all the departments to supply personnel for the fan coil team.

“We assembled the team due to the

fact that the ship is getting hot because we are operating in the 5th fleet area,” said Durant. “We discovered there was not a lot of maintenance required on the fan coils. We made the decision to form a team to go through and clean the coils to keep the air-conditioned spaces cool and to keep morale up aboard the ship.”

who assisted with the repair. “After confirming with Naval Shipyard Support Activity (Naples), we decided it was best to go ahead and replace the pedestal.”

With Bataan currently underway, everyone agreed changing the pedestal could be really dangerous. The 73 is located on the ship’s forward mast causing the technicians to work at high elevation, with hard winds, and hot gases coming out of the ship’s exhaust stacks.

“The gases are hot and could be toxic,” said Pendleton. “It’s like working on a chimney with smoke coming out of it.”

The most important thing for Bataan Sailors during this process was safety. Godwin said each Sailor wore a firefighting flash hood, a self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), gloves and a harness.

“We had wind blowing in our face at 15-20 knots,” added Godwin. “It wasn’t an easy process.”

Pendleton explained the Sailors wore the SCBAs in case the gases coming out of the exhaust stacks blew toward them.

“The SCBA was a little constrictive but we worked through it as a team,” said

Electronics Technician 3rd Class Larry Kennard from Houston. “No matter, I like working aloft; it gives me a sense of freedom.”

During the change out, Bataan Sailors worked as a team with the ship’s Boatswain’s Mates (BM). The BMs pitched in by tying up lines to help lower the old radar pedestal and raising the new one back up and into place.

With this type of teamwork Bataan became the first ship to perform a safe change-out of the AN/SPS-73 radar pedestal while underway.

Photo by MCSA Michael J. Lieberknecht

Fan Coil Team cont. page 7

Radar from Front Page

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MAY

BINGO

SATURDAY NIGHTLIVE

POKER

DOMINOS TOURNAMENT

SPADES / ZUMBA

POKER SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

SPADES / ZUMBA

SPADES / ZUMBA POKER / ZUMBA

SPADES / ZUMBA POKERTABLE TOP GAME NIGHTZUMBA

SPADES / ZUMBA

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Photo by MCSA Michael J. Lieberknecht

Even though the events are meant to be enjoyable for everyone attending, they promote the aims of the Bataan’s SAPR team.

“Bataan’s SAPR team aims to be more proactive than reactive,” said Ensign Jonathan Panter, from Palisades, N.Y., a SAPR victim advocate. “Rather than wait for these events to occur and respond to them, which we are trained to do, we intend to promote a healthy climate of discussion, through advocacy, through events, through programs that educate the average sailor about SAPR while not boring them on the subject.”

Future events will include a weight lifting contest, 5k run on the flight deck and a door decorating contest.

“I just want to convey to everybody on board that sexual assault prevention is really an all hands effort,” said Apacible. “I can’t do it alone, my team can’t do it alone and even with the chain of commands support, it’s going to take all of us to really have that impact and make it effective.”

SAAM from Front page

Sailors participating in a general quarters drill in the hangar bay aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) practice firefighting and discharging a firehose under the supervision of the Damage Control Training Team. Bataan is the

flagship for the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

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Bataan Gets Morale Boost During Trials of DeploymentBy MCSA Aaron T. Kiser

Sailors and Marines aboard USS Bataan (LHD 5) work hard to ensure that optimal mission readiness is always present. After almost three months of deployment, they know the benefits from entertaining events that Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) have to offer for relaxation.

MWR does its best to ensure that everyone aboard the ship is cheerful, working well with one another, and maintains the ability to complete the mission above and beyond expectations.

“This is important to me because I like to be happy,” said Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Krystal Mahoney, MWR representative from Toledo, Ohio. “I think everyone likes to be happy. If we’re happy people here then we are more productive and can support the mission better.”

Bataan’s MWR division coordinates programs for Sailors and Marines while in port or out to sea. During Bataan’s current deployment, MWR has helped keep crew members entertained by hosting several activities, such as bingo, karaoke nights and talent shows.

“People usually know they have the opportunity to win a small prize,” said Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Sherie Owens, MWR representative from Hattiesburg, Miss. “When they sing at our weekly talent contest they just want to have some fun, and the chance to get something out of it just makes it more appealing. It’s definitely a great boost to morale seeing people play bingo together and then someone screams out happily because they just won.”

MWR also participates in setting up

tours for crew members to go on during port visits. The tours will usually include reduced prices, transportation for the duration of the event, and a chance to experience foreign culture.

“The tours are an excellent opportunity to use the organization for something extremely beneficial,” said Mahoney. “We can allow Sailors or Marines the opportunity to not only afford a trip in another country, but give them the means to get there too.”

With so many different things being done aboard the ship, some people may wonder how it’s possible to keep MWR

functioning at maximum capacity.“Funding for programs may seem like

it’s a difficult process, but it’s actually pretty simple,” said Owens. “Crew members buy things from the ship’s store, snack machines and at events. That money is then used to help them out with tour cost reductions or setting up things like the Oreo eating contest we had recently.”

Whether it’s a singing competition, providing something sweet for the crew to eat, or a tour of a new place, MWR stands ready to make these things possible for the benefit of everyone aboard Bataan.

Photo by MCSA Aaron T. Kiser

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Fan Coil Team from Page 2“The team was outstanding,” said

Durant. “We cleaned out about 70 fan coil units over the two week period. I couldn’t ask for a better team.”

“They came in every morning, showed up on time, tagged out the equipment properly, and cleaned the coils. Each day the team would complete four to five coils in the morning and four to five coils in the afternoon.”

“Some of our results were outstanding,” said Durant. “We had people come out and tell us they could feel an immediate difference. Some results showed little

improvement, however since we are in the 5th fleet area and temperatures are going to continue to rise during the summer months, making it tougher to keep the spaces cool. Overall the team had great results on both blue and green side.”

“I liked being on the team because I was able to do more hands-on work than I do in my job,” said Yeoman 3rd Class Brett Sapp, from Alexander City, Ala. “I enjoyed working with different people and different rates. I know how important it is to keep electronic and personnel

spaces cool so I took a lot of pride in the work I did.

“I was also able to learn more about the layout of the ship because the variety of fan rooms, so I discovered some pretty cool locations.”

The fan coil team was on the front lines of keeping the air conditioning working on board. However, the responsibility falls on all Sailors and Marines aboard Bataan to continue doing proper maintenance on their fan rooms and to continue to maintain proper A/C boundaries throughout the ship.

Damage Control Corner

ESWS TRAINING SCHEDULEMON, WED, FRI1900, ABUCAY CAFE

4/25 - CORE 101-1034/28 - DECK/NAV 1054/30 - COMMS/COMBAT SYS5/2 - OPERATIONS5/5 - DECK 1015/7 - COMMS/COMBAT SYS5/9 - AIR WARFARE5/12 - DECK/NAV 1055/14 - ELECTRICAL5/16 - COMMS

5/19 - CORE 101-1035/21 - DECK 1015/23 - COMMS5/26 - OPS5/28 - DECK/NAV 1055/30 - ELECTRICAL

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ALL WARFARE QUALIFICATION TRAINING SCHEDUELS GO TO THE PROGRAMS TAB ON BATAAN’S INTRANET HOME PAGE

AFFF StationsSta. 1 - By HazmatSta. 2 - Outside Abucay CafeSta. 3 - I-95 P-waySta. 4 - By Oil LabSta. 5 - Aft Stbd Hangar Bay by Repair 3Sta. 6 -Mid Port hangar Bay by Repair Locker 1H