May 13, 2012 Vol. 37, No. 15

May 13, 2012

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On the cover: Sailors from Nimitz' Deck Department receive a load of ordnance sent from the Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Ryan J. Mayes)

Public Affairs OfficerLCDR Karin BurzynskiMedia Division Officer

LTJG Jason ScarboroughMedia LCPO

MCC Mike JonesMedia Production Chief

MCC Mike JonesEditor

MC3 Ashley Berumen Lead Designer

MCSA Ryan MayesMedia Dept

MC2 Michael ColeMC2 James Mitchell

MC2 Vladimir PotapenkoMC2 Mark Sashegyi

MC2 Adam Wolfe MC3 Ashley Berumen MC3 Jacquelyn Childs

MC3 Ian CotterMC3 Andrew Jandik

MC3 Shayne JohnsonMC3 Jacob Milner

MC3 Glenn SlaughterMC3 Thomas Siniff

MC3 Nichelle WhitfieldMC3 Devin Wray

MCSN Christopher BartlettMCSN Renee Candelario

MCSN Alexander Ventura IIMCSN Jessica LewisMCSA Vanessa DavidMCSA Ryan Mayes

Nimitz News accepts submissions in writing. All submissions must be in by Friday, COB. Submissions are subject to review and screening. “Nimitz News” is an authorized publication for the members of the military services and their families. Its content does not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or the Marine Corps and does not imply endorsement thereby.

Commanding OfficerCAPT Jeffrey S. Ruth

Executive OfficerCAPT Buzz Donnelly

Command Master ChiefCMDCM Teri M. McIntyre

May 13, 2012

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May 13, 2012

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Sailors assigned to Deck Department on board USS Nimitz receive ordnance from the Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7). Photo by MC3 (SW) Thomas G. Siniff.

Lt. Cmdr. Chad Hollinger, Nimitz’ Ordnance Control Officer speaks at a safety brief for the replenishment at sea. Photo by MC3 (SW) Thomas G. Siniff.

Story by MC3 (SW) Thomas G. SiniffRAS'd & REAdY

May 13, 2012

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Sailors assigned to the Weapons Department on board USS Nimitz

transport ordnance in the aft mess decks. Photo by

MC3 (SW) Robert Winn

From down in the weapons magazines up to the flight deck, Sailors are working together to get the job done. The aircraft

carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) loaded more than 405 tons of ordnance on board, May 7. Yesterday 1,130 tons of ordnance were moved making a combined total of 1,535 tons of ordnance in just two days.

“We basically bring on ordnance for two reasons,” said Lt. Cdr. Chad Hollinger, Nimitz’ Ordnance Handling Officer. “One is to supply ordnance to the air wing so they can go out there and perform their mission. The other is for the ship to have self defense.”

Preparing for an ordnance onload begins about two months before the onload can be performed. First, the requirements of what Nimitz needed were determined. The ordnance was then ordered and sent to a replenishment ship such as the Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7). Finally, it is transferred to Nimitz during a replenishment at sea (RAS).

“In preparation for the onload we have several meetings,” said Chief Aviation Ordnanceman (AW/SW) Nathan Kopp, G-5 division Leading Chief Petty Officer. “We meet with all the parties involved with the onload – Air, AIMD, Combat Systems, Deck, and Navigation department. We checked out forklifts from IM-4, and Air Department pre-positioned all the white gear in the hangar bay. We prepare the strike down transfer areas on the second deck. So there’s a lot of planning that goes into it months ahead from when we order the ordnance and when the ship comes alongside and we bring the ordnance over.”

With the smaller onload Monday, new Sailors were able to see what it takes for a RAS to be completed.

“This last year was a big change-over year for us,” said Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd (AW/SW) Class C.J. Barksdale. “We had a lot of experienced people leave, so all the newer people are learning and adapting. They came straight from ‘A’ school and their first evolution is the biggest evolution that we do on board a carrier.”

Each department involved has been qualifying their Sailors in the different positions they have for a RAS.

“We’ve been running people through to get them fork lift qualified,” said Kopp. “We’ve held a number of ordnance certification boards so Sailors can be qualified to handle the ordnance. We qualify everybody from a team member to a quality assurance safety observer (QASO).

Nimitz has not completed an evolution this large since 2010. The ordnance was brought aboard by vertical replenishment (VERTREP) to the flight deck and by connected replenishment (CONREP) to the hangar bays.

“There’s a lot of planning,” said Hollinger. “We have six major magazines where we have to put over 1,500 tons of ordnance. We have to get all the information for all the ordnance coming aboard. You have to go through walkthroughs making sure you know where people are going to be. All of the forklifts need to be in the right place so our magazines are ready to take the ordnance.”

The VERTREP and CONREP were completed before 7:30 p.m. last night making a total of 240 VERTREP lifts and 326 CONREP lifts from more than 930 pallets.

“There was still work to be completed last night,” said Hollinger. “It was a long day, but everybody stayed highly motivated. Everybody was working as a team and they are worked as safely and as quickly as they could.”Story by MC3 (SW) Thomas G. Siniff

May 13, 2012

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“What’s my ramp time?”

It’s a cold space, dimly lit by blue overhead lights and glowing monitors. Within that space are radars,

specifically designed to monitor aircraft leaving and arriving from USS Nimitz (CVN 68). During flight operations, Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC) is home for 16 Sailors. The jobs performed by these Sailors are much different than that of an air-traffic controller in the civilian world. Their jobs are done below the flight deck and strictly through using radars which show aircraft as nothing more than a dot on a screen. It’s those dots, however, that keep every Sailor sharp and precise in this job.

“For the carrier, CATCC is important to get planes on the deck as fast as possible,” said Senior Chief Air-Traffic Controller (FMF/IDW/AW/SW) Kyle Hempel. “The faster we recover aircraft, the faster the ship can change its direction.”

After each group of 12 to 15 aircraft land safely, the ship will change its direction.

“There’s no room for error,” said Air-Traffic Controller 1st Class (AW/SW) Blake Hoyt. “Our job is to hurry up and land aircraft so no one else has time to spot them on their radar.”

During Nimitz’ Docking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA), the division traveled together to Pensacola, Fla., for three team trainers. The trainers

Air-Traffic Controller 1st Class Blake Hoyt guides the direction of aircraft preparing to land on USS Nimitz’ (CVN 68) flight deck during flight operations.

Story and photos by MCSN Jess Lewis

May 13, 2012

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allowed them to run through different scenarios air-traffic controllers may encounter while on ships.

Armed with this training, these Sailors bring CATCC to life. The hours are usually long and the controllers work non-stop during flight operations, from start to finish.

Up until this underway, the last time Nimitz conducted flight operations was November 2010. CATCC went through a three-phase certification, May 9. The first two phases focused on administrative items, such as ensuring everyone’s training jackets and qualifications were up to date. The final phase is where the controllers show they’re able to safely control aircraft.

“In order to make the CATCC [certification] happen, we have to work together as a division,” said Hoyt. “Without our chain of command’s support, experience and leadership, we’d never be able to make this happen.”

CATCC is comprised of three different work centers: Air Operations, Carrier Controlled Approach (CCA) and Air Transfer Office (ATO). CATCC is always manned up when flight operations are taking place.

Ramp time is the time the Airboss gives the controllers to recover the first aircraft. The first aircraft in line is going to hit the ramp at the designated time given by the Airboss.

“If the ramp time is missed, it sets everything back,” said Hoyt. “It’s up to us to make sure those aircraft are landing on time, every time.”

Suspended from the ceiling are various Integrated Status Board Information Systems. These track the sequence or order and pattern of planes coming on board Nimitz. The boards also track fuel levels for each aircraft.

“I’m the approach [Integrated Status Board Information System] technician,” said Air-Traffic Controller 2nd Class (AW) Matthew Luby. “It’s my job to know what planes are approaching in what order. I also have to keep an eye on fuel levels for each

aircraft because if someone gets too low, that plane is going to get priority over someone else. Then we have to rearrange the landing order so they can land and refuel.”

“As the approach controller, I get the planes from the marshal controller," said Hoyt. “There are 12 to 15 planes in a group. While guiding the planes toward the ship, I line them up two miles apart. I also have to take care of any bolter aircraft and planes low on fuel.”

Bolter aircraft are those that miss the wire on the flight deck when attempting to land.

“When we have bolter aircraft, I have to make a hole in the line to fit them in which can get difficult,” said Hoyt.

“I’m the final controller,” said Air-Traffic Controller 2nd Class (AW) Anthony Battaglia. “I fine-tune where exactly the plane’s going to land once it gets closer to the ship. It’s a rush talking an aircraft down to the deck. That pilot’s life is in my hands and I want to give him the best possible approach to landing safely.”

The environment gets tense but the controllers are well-trained to stay calm even in the most strenuous of situations.

“Your heart rate goes up and you do what you’re trained to do,” said Air-Traffic Controller 1st Class (AW/SW) Brian Gardiner. “It’s an instinct that kicks in. Afterwards, you can sit back and reflect on what just happened.”

“It gets busy during flight ops, but I just get in the zone and stay relaxed,” said Luby. “It’s all about staying focused on your priorities.”

After a day full of intense flying, the controllers make sure to take the necessary time to wind down.

Although the controllers work underneath the flight deck and don’t visually see aircraft land or take off, their job as the eyes of the sky is completed precisely and with perfection. Working in conjunction with flight deck personnel, they ensure the ship’s mission is carried out not only swiftly, but safely.

Air-Traffic Controller 2nd Class Anthony Battaglia pinpoints the exact location of aircraft ready to land on USS Nimitz’ (CVN 68) flight deck during flight operations.

May 13, 2012

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A new face in a green shirt

Story by MC3 Jacob Milner

Photo by MC2 (AW/SW) Michael Cole

May 13, 2012

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May 13, 2012

Page 10Photo by MC3 Jacob Milner

May 13, 2012

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A person’s lifetime can loosely be defined a by collection of experiences cast upon them and the stories that come from

them. Stories are an interesting insight into someone’s life because it gives others a glimpse into another’s trials and tribulations as well as their joys and ha ppiness.

When Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) Airman Amanda Coleman left her hometown of McHenry, Ill., she set on a journey to create her own stories.

“Part of why I joined was because all of my dad’s stories,” said Coleman. “He’s been to Iraq, Afghanistan, Australia, Guam, most of Asia, most of Europe and was deployed during Operation Desert Storm. McHenry is a small town and I didn’t want to be stuck there forever. I went to college for a year, but it was too expensive and I didn’t want to get a job close to home and waste the rest of my life. I figured that with the Navy I would get schooling, a job and get to travel while they pay me to do it all. I’m ok with that. Before the Navy I worked at a place back in McHenry called Henny Penny where I was waitress, but it paid the bills.”

Coleman’s family has a strong military tradition and extends to every branch of the armed services, though she may be the last. The current generation of her family has lost interest in the armed services, making her the only one to enlist in the military.

“There’s a lot of military in my family, but I’m the only one in my generation of kids to join the military,” said Coleman. “My dad was a Seabee from 2003 to 2011 after spending 1983 through 1996 as a sergeant with the Marine Corps. The month he retired with 21 years under his belt, I signed my contract. My step father was in the Army, my mom’s dad was in the Air Force and my step dad’s two sisters were also in the Army. “

As a new to the ship aviation boatswain’s mate (equipment), Coleman is now prepared for long hours and hard work closely intertwined with the day-to-day operations of the individually embarked air wings, but this was not always the case.

“In ‘A’ school I didn’t get to spend any time with aircraft because I was contracted as an air-traffic controller,” said Coleman. “I didn’t know much about this rate before I got to the ship. When I arrived I was told they had so many spots open for aviation boatswain’s mate so I ended up in the bow as an ABE. I didn’t join the Navy to do paperwork or be a secretary, so if I can get out there and get dirty working but still have fun doing my job, I’m all for it.”

All Sailors know the challenge of transitioning from civilian life to a military life of service. For some, the transition is easier than others though everyone has a different experience. Some love their new career as soon as their boot hits the deck plate and for others, it is an acquired taste.

“Honestly, when I got here I didn’t think I was going to like it all,” said Coleman. “ I’m not a very manual labor oriented person but now that I’ve been here a few months it’s kind of fun. Getting dirty isn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be, although getting grease out of your fingernails and hair every day, twice a day, is not fun. Doing the work is a lot more fun than I thought it was going to be but it’s still a big adjustment. I’m still learning a lot. We have a lot of people who have

been here a lot longer than me so I’m learning fast with their help. It’s getting fun.”

The day-to-day work for a new to the ship aviation boatswain’s mate (equipment) with no air wing on board is filled with preventative maintenance in preparation for their arrival. Every bit of which is necessary for the safety and operation of flight deck personnel and equipment.

“Up until we started doing flight ops, I was on the flight deck every day,” said Coleman. “We would do maintenance on the catapults and work on the JBDs (jet blast deflectors). They’re like back boards almost. We raise them up to provide a backing for the jet blasts when they are taking off. We have to lubricate those so that they would work to go up and down because sometimes they like to be stubborn. If we don’t make sure they’re working properly and the jet starts to launch without, there would be people blown all over the flight deck.”

As with all stories, the main character must overcome difficulties before they can reach their goal. Coleman’s goal is to be a player in the coordinated chaos and ballet that is flight deck operations.

“I want to get my center deck qualifications so that I can be up on the flight deck in the middle of everything,” said Coleman. “I have a lot more qualifications to get before that, but that’s my goal. While I’m leading up to that I’m excited to learn more about my rate because I’m still new. I don’t love it yet, but I want to. I want to learn as much as I can as quickly as I can so I can go and work with everyone else on the flight deck.”

The goal of working as one of the most integral parts of the flight deck puzzle comes from not being able to join her coworkers already involved with the air wing and its operations. Peering down from on high, Coleman watches as her friends launch and recover aircraft.

“I haven’t been to the flight deck during flight operations yet because I’m not flight deck qualified,” said Coleman. “I’ve been up to the O-10 level on Vulture’s Row watching everyone else from my work center work with the aircraft and it’s pretty cool. I’m really excited to get my qualifications now because I want to be up there working. It looks scary but pretty thrilling too.”

Until Coleman reaches her goal and joins her friends on the flight deck, her everyday duties when aircraft are on board take precedence. Without her and other’s efforts below the decks keeping everything moving, the flight deck would be little more than a floating, moving parking lot for aircraft.

“I write down the numbers from the aircraft,” said Coleman. “Before we shoot them off we take their weight, their minimum air speed and the wind speed across the deck to make sure that once it launches, it makes a smooth transition from non-skid to air. Sometimes the steam pressure isn’t high enough, the water levels aren’t where they should be or sometimes things just stop working. Then we have to stop flight operations to fix the problem below decks so we can get the birds in the air again.”

With so many goals, responsibilities and experiences, Coleman is well on her way to making her own stories. One more thread on the loom that makes the Navy’s story a time honored and ever more interesting tapestry.

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