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JUNE 12, 2016VOL. 4| ISSUE 28

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Nimitz News accepts submissions in writing. All submissions are subject to review and editing. “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

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nimitz news

media department

in this issue

Vaping has become a popular activity amongst cigarette smokers looking for a healthy alternative. However, according to recent studies it appears as though what was once thought to be a healthier alternative can be just as bad for your health. Turn to page 12, and find out why vaping’s bad.

The Close-in Weapons System and Rolling Airframe Missile system on board the USS Nimitz have serious capabilities on their own to help keep Sailors safe. Fire Controlman on board have recently upgraded the systems allowing them to work together.

Whether a Sailor chooses to serve four years or more than 20 years, eventually they will transition back into the civilian field. Hear straight from Senior Chief Miller, the command career counselor, about how Sailors can set themselves up for success.

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Story and Photos by MCSR Cody M. DecciO

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With the advent of elec-tronic cigarettes and vapor-izers it appeared that smok-ers and non-smokers could partake in a safe alternative to cigarettes. Since then the E-Cig market has explod-ed with varieties of flavors,

nicotine levels and model options. With no com-bustion occurring during the ‘vaping’ process it ap-peared that E-Cigs didn’t pose the same short-term risks associated with smoking cigarettes, such as emphysema or carbon monoxide inhalation. Little data, however, supports that these devices are any safer. Since the first models hit the market in 2007 not enough time has passed to say for certain the effects of long-term use. Also with the growing E-Cig popularity more and more cases of battery malfunction have arisen, ranging in over-heating of the module, to small fires and even to explo-sions.

Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) have already felt the implications and hazards of such devices.

While Nimitz has been in the shipyards, a Sail-or was seen by Medical Department on board for first-degree burns to their leg after their vaporizer caught fire in their pocket. In a similar incident, a Sailor caused significant damage to their vehicle when their vaporizer caught fire and ignited mate-rial inside their car.

Similar to mobile laptops and cellular phones, E-Cigs and E-liquid vaporizers use a re-chargeable lithium ion battery. However, they are not tested by the same standards as laptops and cellular phones, thus making them susceptible to damage. When manufacturing errors occur or when the battery short circuits, a chain reaction occurs causing the electrolyte material between the battery’s anode and cathode to combust. Such situations usually result in a small fire, however, sometimes the reac-tion results in an explosion.

“The lithium ion batteries that power personal vaporizers have to be handled just right or there is a risk of them overheating, catching fire or ex-ploding,” said Cmdr. Jason Garrett the Safety Of-ficer on board Nimitz. “Simple mistakes like using the wrong USB charger or storing loose batteries where they can contact metal, like in a desk drawer, under a rack or even in a pocket with loose change can cause them to overheat and explode. Having batteries on board will dramatically increase the risk of a fire or explosion. All it takes is one Sailor to mishandle a lithium ion battery and the potential

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suddenly exists for a disaster.” The danger posed by lithium ion batteries is

an obvious risk associated with vaporizer use, however, it is not the only one that should be con-sidered.

E-Cigs and vaporizers began as a very popu-lar alternative to smoking. The average cigarette provides the smoker with 12 milligrams of nic-otine, however, with nicotine ratios in different E-liquids varying from 0 to 22 milligrams, many overlook the effects of excess nicotine in the body. Nicotine poisoning, a common occurrence amongst excess ‘vaping’, can lead to nausea, vomiting, tremors, hypertension, headaches and seizures.

While immediate risks should be considered when using a vaporizer, little is known about the long-term effects on the human body.

With E-Cigs and vaporizers so new to the public, and with little regulation on them such devices have been called “an uncontrolled ex-periment on consumers” by Harvard University. While the carcinogenic effects of nicotine are well known, far less is known about the liquid used in vaporizers. Studies of this liquid done by Harvard University have found that 75 percent of flavors on the market today contain the chemical compound known as Diacetyl, which can lead to sever respiratory disease

While many Sailors have turned to E-Cigs and vaporizers as a way to curve smoking ces-sation and as a way to enjoy their time, the risks associated with using such devices can’t be dis-missed. Nimitz’s Medical Department can pro-vide Sailors with alternate methods of dealing with smoking cessation. While fires and explo-sions always pose a risk to safety, the compressed spaces in which Sailors encounter aboard their ships compound the risk to their safety, the safe-ty of their shipmates and the overall mission of the ship. It is important for all Sailors to consider these factors and the risks associated in E-Cigs and vaporizers and do what they can to make their ship safer.

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STORY AND PHOTOS BY MCSN LIANA N. NICHOLS

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SailorS all join the navy for different rea-sons. Some join to make a career out of the military, others for college money or just to get away from home. No matter the reason a Sailor joined, the process starts and ends with a piece of paper. At the beginning, the contract is all laid out waiting to be signed, and once a Sailor’s contract ends, a differ-ent piece of paper waits to be signed in or-der to become a civilian once again.

Transitioning out of the Navy and back into the civilian world is a big decision. Pa-per work has to be done, a job needs to be found and a plan set up. The Navy has come up with a process to help Sailors make the transition, but the Sailor still needs to be ready.

“Preparation is key,” said Senior Chief Navy Counselor Dean A. Miller, command career counselor of USS Nimitz (CVN 68). “The process is long and it is a big decision. It helps to know all the options.”

Transitioning out of the Navy requires classes such as the Goals, Plans and Suc-cess (GPS) class. GPS is a five-day class that consists of 13 career readiness stan-dards; such as budgeting, schooling op-tions, and helping find a career path. The 13 standards are the same for each branch of the U.S. armed forces when any service member wants to transition out.

“The GPS class helped make the tran-sition easier for me,” said Personnel Spe-cialist 3rd Class Jonathan B. Holloway, a Sailor assigned to Nimitz, who is currently going through the transition process. “GPS showed me how to use my schooling ben-efits to finish my degree once I get out, it also showed me the benefits of staying in the Navy.”

One of the most popular options for Sailors separating from the Navy is get-ting or furthering their education. Sailors can use their tuition assistance while in the Navy and Sailors transitioning out can use their benefits such as the Montgomery G.I. Bill or their Post 9/11 G.I. Bill to help them get a degree in the field they want to be in once their transition is complete. Many Sailors get an associate’s degree while in the Navy and finish their degree once they transition out.

“Sailors have so many options to get schooling done within the Navy,“ said Mill-er. “The goal is that if they want to get out of the Navy they already have their degree in the field they want to work in, or they are really close to completing it before the transition.”

Tuition assistance isn’t the only benefit that Sailors get while serving in the Navy; they also get health care, food, and shelter. Getting out of the Navy means they will have to start providing these services for themselves.

“I think the hardest thing for Sailors to understand about getting out is how to bud-get their money well,” said Miller. “It can be overwhelming, especially if someone joined right out of high school and this is their first time living on their own.”

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SailorS apply for a c-way quota 15 months prior to the end of their contract, which if approved, gives a Sailor the option to re-enlist. Sailors have the option to tran-sition out, re-rate, or re-enlist depending on whether or not they get a quota.

“Once Sailors get their c-way quota, I want them to put down that they want to stay Navy even if they intend to separate,” said Miller. “They can go through all of the required classes and prepare to get out, but if their job offer falls through in the civilian world or something goes wrong they still have a job.”

Every Sailor’s contract is different, but deciding whether or not to transition out of the Navy when their contract comes to a close can be a difficult decision that all Sailors must face.

“I knew when I joined how many years I wanted to do, but for other Sailors they have no idea and that’s okay,” said Hollo-way. “It’s a hard decision and sometimes things happen whether it means getting out or staying in.”

Going through courses and talking to people about the decision to stay in the Navy or become a civilian again can help make it easier.

Once the paperwork is all finished and a Sailor decides to become a civilian again, it’s important to take the skills he or she learned while in the Navy with them. They’ll take skills such as being punctual, following specific rules and knowing who to talk to first when a problem occurs. Ev-ery Sailor’s experience within the Navy is different, but every Sailor learned some-thing new that they can take with them back to the civilian world.

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