The Shuttle March 15, 2012 Issue“We are Legend”Newsletter Edition

USS Enterprise (CVN 65)

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Gregory White

USS Enterprise, At Sea- While underway for its 22nd and final deployment, the flight deck of aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) was, as usual, occupied with not only a variety of aircraft, but also an array of colorful shirts during flight operations March 14. The Air department is one of the largest departments on an aircraft carrier. It consists of many different rates and is divided into six different divisions. Each division has different responsibilities and the easiest way to identify Sailors from each division is by the color of the shirts, or “jerseys,” they wear. “The reason for the different colors is familiarization,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) 3rd Class Devon T. Johnson, assigned to Enterprise’s Air department. “That way you know what everybody does, so in case of a question or a problem, you can easily find someone to talk to or locate the division and get things taken care of.” Directors and Shooters wear yellow shirts. Shooters also wear a green cranial and are responsible for preparing aircraft for launch. Directors wear a yellow cranial and communicate with

pilots using hand signals to maneuver aircraft into position on the flight deck. Sailors wearing blue shirts are responsible for things such as chocking tires on aircraft and making sure that the aircraft are tied down and secured when need be.

COLORS continued on page 3

Photo by MCSN Brian G. Reynolds

readiness, and represents a philosophical construct that will drive us into the future.” The SFRM, which replaces the Surface Forces Training Manual, is designed to integrate material assessments and maintenance actions with training, maximizing each ship’s readiness posture. Unlike the training-focused Training Manual, the SFRM encompasses readiness across what is referred to as the ‘PESTO’ pillars - personnel, equipment, supply, training, and ordnance - throughout all phases of the Fleet Readiness Training Plan (FRTP). “An initiative of this scope is a great achievement that has been a long time in coming, and reflects the commitment

SAN DIEGO -- The Surface Forces Readiness Manual (SFRM) became the new standard of Surface Forces readiness when it was signed into policy at Commander, Naval Surface Forces headquarters March 9. Adm. John Harvey, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, presided over the ceremony, during which Vice Adm. Richard Hunt, commander, Naval Surface Forces, and Rear Adm. David Thomas, commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, officially endorsed the policy. “The Surface Forces Readiness Manual is a standard of preparation for forward operation,” said Harvey. “This is a flexible plan that reacts to ‘real world’ capabilities to produce ‘real world’ fleet

Senior Leaders Sign Surface Forces Readiness Manual Into PolicyBy Lt. Jan Shultis, Naval Surface Forces Public Affairs of our waterfront leadership,” said Hunt.

“I believe that the SFRM strategy will produce ships and crews better prepared to execute our Surface Warfare tasking, meet operational commitments, and enable ships to reach their expected service life. This directly supports the CNO’s tenets - warfighting first, operate forward, and be ready.” SFRM guidance outlines a standard, predictable path to readiness. A sequenced, “building block” approach emphasizes consistent material assessment standards and simple shipboard reporting across all functional areas. Supporting instructions provide detailed process information to allow for execution throughout all phases of training, including exit criteria to move to the next phase.

Color-Coded Aircraft Carrier

“I expect the crew to perform in the manner in which they have been trained,” said Bub. “The crew has been trained on every aspect of the ship and are prepared to use what they know, including the combat systems, if necessary.”Since returning from a month-long training exercise earlier this year, Nitze has gotten several new crew members. “We expect the new crew members to successfully and fully integrate with the crew,” said Byrnes. Upon arriving in the 5th and 6th fleet areas of responsibility, the crew will be ready to perform any task asked of them. “When we arrive, we will be ready to go anywhere and perform any duties asked of us at a moment’s notice,” said Byrnes.

Thursday, March 15, 2012Page 2 The Shuttle

CSG 12 Happenings

The Shuttle is published and printed daily underway and bi-weekly in port by the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Media Department, FPO AE 09543-2810. This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Please direct all story ideas, questions and comments to MC1 (SW) Steve Smith at smithsw@cvn65.navy.mil.

Public Affairs OfficerLt. Cmdr. Sarah T. Self-Kyler

Executive OfficerCapt. G. C. Huffman

Commanding OfficerCapt. William C. Hamilton, Jr.

EditorsMC2 (SW) Kristin L. Grover

MCSN Harry Gordon

The ShuttleUSS Enterprise (CVN 65)

Command Master ChiefABCM (AW/SW) Eric M. Young

Yesterday’s 3M answer:The purpose of the CSMP is to identify

the material condition of the ship.

3M Question of the Day: What is one of the purposes of the

Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV)?

3M

USS NITZE, At Sea -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) departed Naval Station Norfolk, Va., March 12 for a scheduled deployment. Nitze, operating with the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, is scheduled to work with coalition maritime forces focusing heavily on maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts designed to maintain regional stability.This deployment comes in the wake of countless hours of training, maintenance and practice. “Our training was meant to closely simulate potential situations as realistically as possible,” said Cmdr. John Bub, Nitze’s executive officer. “It was meant to force crew members to think through problems and face potential issues.” “Some of the problems the ship faced in training were counter-piracy related, as well as handling surface and air contacts,” said Lt. Chris Byrnes, Nitze’s operations officer. “It gave the crew a lot of operational experience to make sure they were ready for deployment.” Commissioned in 2005, Nitze has deployed twice to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility and is ready for the challenges they may face on this deployment.“Nitze established a great reputation during previous deployments,” said Byrnes. “The commanding officer and the crew expect to meet and exceed expectations placed on them.” “The crew performed above expectations in every aspect of our training,” said Bub. “We are more than prepared to face any challenges that come our way during deployment.”For the crew, the deployment will be business as usual.

USS Nitze Departs For DeploymentStory and photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeff Atherton

Walk-ins for Cruisebook

Photos will be taken at ANY TIME from

0900-11301300-16301800-2100

Thursday, March 15, 2012 Page 3The Shuttle

World NewsCOLORS continued

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - The U.S. military will build a base for the Dominican Navy on a small island here, consisting of barracks, a command center, and reconstructed pier. The project came at the behest of Dominican authorities witnessing an increase in drug trafficking on their coastline. It is one example of a regional approach the Pentagon is taking to catch drug shipments, the bulk of which are destined for the U.S. The base is tiny compared with U.S. installations elsewhere in the Americas, and it will have no U.S. personnel. With its own resources stretched, the U.S. is increasingly turning to allies like the Dominican Republic to combat trafficking. The Pentagon has built similar bases in Belize, Nicaragua, Panama, Guatemala, and Costa Rica and ramped up its presence at the Soto Cano Air Base in western Honduras, where about 600 U.S. soldiers are

stationed. Despite these efforts, however, only one-third of detected drug shipments are intercepted and the rate is dropping. “More is getting through,” Air Force Gen. Douglas Fraser, chief of Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) told reporters Wednesday, a day after testifying before the House Armed Service Committee. Smugglers largely rely on go-fast boats, which have the capacity to carry more than 4,000 pounds of cocaine, to transport drugs through the seas. Last year, for the first time, U.S. officials discovered a drug submarine in the Caribbean. The largest of such vessels are capable of transporting 10 metric tons (22,000 pounds) of cocaine. The U.S. command for Latin America is “focused on [its] maritime mission, which is to support the detection and monitoring of the traffic through the maritime environments of the Caribbean and the Pacific,” General Fraser testified.

U.S. Bases In Caribbean Target Drug TraffickingBy Ezra Fieser, CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

Military Intervention SOUTHCOM and regional military partners seized 117 metric tons of cocaine, worth about $3 billion to drug cartels, last year, while criminal groups in the region pocket $18 billion in profits annually,according to the UN. U.S. military aid in the Americas is still targeted mostly at Mexico and Colombia. SOUTHCOM spends about $25 million a year – less than 6 percent of its budget – on an infrastructure program focused on 11 countries, nine of which are in Central America and the Caribbean. “Our support under the program has focused on improving the interdiction capabilities of partner nations by constructing or improving infrastructure at forward operating sites which would include piers, barracks, maintenance centers, and operational command centers,” says Raymond Sarracino, a spokesman for SOUTHCOM.

Green shirts, perhaps the most common colored shirt on the flight deck, are responsible for catapults and arresting gear. They are also responsible for the back-up barricade, which is a secondary arresting system for landing aircraft. Purple shirts are responsible for fuel and fuel supply. Red shirts handle ordnance and work the Crash division, the first responders to a wreck or a fire on the flight deck. Safety observers wear white with green crosses. White shirts with red crosses indicate medical personnel. “It’s color coded so that everyone can see who does what and who is supposed to be where,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Michael McDonald, a plane director. “If we all have brown shirts on, but I’m a director, how does the pilot know that I’m the guy directing him?” The Air department, however, is not the only department wearing colored shirts. Ship’s company and the squadrons work together during deployments, both on and off the flight deck. “Its not just Air department on the flight deck

wearing colored jerseys,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Alicia M. Cordero. “Squadron members have their own colored shirts, and you’ll notice more divisions around the ship have started wearing jerseys too. The majority of the colored shirts are in aviation though.” “On the squadron side of operations,” said McDonald, “their shirts are all colors except yellow, blue and purple, depending on what their specific jobs are. Brown shirts are plane captains.” McDonald said that the plane captains are responsible for maintaining individual aircraft and keeping them clean and operational. “It’s important to separate us into different colored shirts because it organizes the chaos,” said Cordero. “It makes it easy to identify who is ship’s company and who is part of a squadron and who is doing what, not only by the colors of our shirts but also by the stencils on them as well.” Johnson said that flight deck control has familiarization packets available for Sailors interested in learning more about flight operations.

Thursday, March 15, 2012Page 4 The Shuttle

Big E Entertainment

HM2 Frank Lacy from Hopkinsville, Ky., joined the Navy 12 years ago because he wanted to change his life. In his spare time, Lacy enjoys building and tuning cars. He also enjoys spending time with his family. His future plans include finishing his degrees and advancing to first class petty officer.

Hospital Corpsman 2nd ClassFrank Lacy

Sailors of the Day

MM1 Carlos Jimenez from Deltona, Fla., joined the Navy six years ago to continue a family tradition and because he was interested in the Navy Nuclear Power Program. Jimenez enjoys hiking, camping and fishing in his spare time. In the future, he hopes to have a long Navy career and take care of his family.

Machinist’s Mate 1st ClassCarlos M. Jimenez