Damage Controlman Fireman Charles Scianna of Engineering department was selected as the Sailor of the Week, Feb. 24, from more than 500 nominations posted on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Facebook page.

“I was really surprised to win the contest. I had no idea,” said Scianna. “My family has been very supportive of me. The letters and packages they’ve sent me have really helped me get through this deployment.”

A proud Navy mom, Scianna’s mother Ledonna nominated her son, saying it would mean a great deal to her to see him featured in the Penny Press.

The damage controlman recently earned his Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist pin and is looking forward to having his best friend, Robert Farry, pin him sometime before the end of deployment.

Scianna, who is excited about taking two weeks leave out of San Diego, is planning to spend time with his family and relax after the nearly seven-month deployment.

The Morganville, Calif., native said his first deployment has been busy but successful. “We passed a lot of inspections, hit a lot of ports and I earned my warfare pin,” he said.

With little more than a year left on his Navy contract, Scianna said he hopes to become a wildlife firefighter when he completes his enlistment. He said being a damage controlman in the Navy has prepared him for life in the civilian world.

“By far the best part of being in the Navy is all the amazing people I have met and good friends I have made,” he said.

DCFN Charles sCiaNNaEnginEEring DEpt.

KNow Your shipmate

Story and photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jerine LeeLincoLn Hosts BrunEian MiLitary LEaDErs

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) hosted 16 guests from Brunei while underway Feb. 22, including senior members of military

and government agencies, media reporters, and U.S. Embassy representatives, during a visit to

reinforce the partnership the U.S. shares with its 7th Fleet partner.

The guests were greeted by Rear Adm. Mark Guadagnini, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, before attending a formal lunch followed by a full day of tours, discussion forums, a personal briefing by strike group aviators, and interaction with the ship’s crew.

Deputy Minister of Defense Dato Paduka Mustappa Sirat was the senior member of the delegation, accompanied by Permanent Secretary Dato Paduka Haji Shofry Hj Abdul Ghafor, Permanent Secretary Pengiran Datin Masrainah, Commander of the Joint Operations Center Col. Aziz Tamit, five others from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, four members of the media, and three members of the Embassy staff.

The Brunei delegation was briefed on the ship’s defense capabilities while visiting the combat direction center. They then toured the ship’s bridge and hangar bays, saw an F/A-18 Super Hornet close-up, and had the opportunity to observe flight operations from the flight deck.

“My favorite part of the trip was being on the flight deck,” said Senior Superintendent Amiruddin bin Haji Junaidi, head of the Brunei Marine Police. “The rolling, vibrations and action was exhilarating and the professional coordination of all the people and aircraft was very exciting to watch. I can’t wait to tell my family and friends about my experience on board the Lincoln.”

The U.S. and Brunei have a long established military relationship, to include joint exercises and training evolutions. The purpose of this visit was for Lincoln to showcase firsthand what capabilities it offers to help maintain stability and security in the region, in a multinational effort to promote peace and prosperity.

“This was a tremendous opportunity for us to see the ship,” said Lt. Col. Ghani bin Haji Abdullah, Royal Brunei Land Forces chief of staff. “It is amazing to see all of the ship’s potential in supporting all the Sailors and their missions.”

“It was a trip we will never soon forget, and we must emphasize the importance of your presence in our region,” Mustappa said.

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is currently operating in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts to establish conditions for regional stability.

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian Morales

Know All Ye Here That on the Fateful Day of February the 26th, King Neptune Did Decree These Lincoln Sailors Would be Slimy Wogs No More, and Would Hereafter Go Forth as Mighty

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) steered south after a port visit in Singapore, Feb. 20, reaching 0 degrees latitude

and 106 degrees 38.3 minutes east longitude, thus entering the ship into the realm of his

royal majesty, King Neptune. On Feb. 25, the boatswain’s mate of the watch struck

seven bells and announced “Davy Jones, arriving.” Capt. John Alexander, commanding officer of the USS Abraham Lincoln, was summoned to the bridge to greet Jones. Unbeknownst to the captain and crew, there was a great infestation of slimy “pollywogs” aboard the ship.

Jones praised the captain for all the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group had accomplished, but also warned Alexander that a visit from King Neptune was imminent. Jones urged the skipper to purge the ship of all pollywogs, suggesting that all trusty “shellbacks” aboard ship be called upon to begin the initiation of pollywogs into the Order of the Deep.

Prior to commencing the ceremony, Capt. Timothy Kuehhas, Lincoln’s executive officer, reviewed the Navy’s rules for crossing the line ceremonies, which are set forth in SECNAV Instruction 1610.2A.

Neptune’s royal court assembled in Lincoln’s hangar bay that night to begin the initiation ceremony. Pollywogs from each department and squadron put on a desperate performance before the court in hopes of receiving leniency during the following day’s initiation rites.

Deck department performed a skit that greatly

amused the royal court and earned the performers leniency throughout the equatorial baptism.

The untrustworthy pollywogs arose early the next morning from their racks, anxious to be proven worthy of inclusion in the solemn mysteries of the ancient order. To please Neptune, they wore their uniforms inside out and backwards.

The slimy pollywogs crawled from the decks below and emerged in the hangar bay, only to be drenched with sea water and made to follow the stern instructions of the assembled shellbacks.

“It was wet, cold and interesting, but I enjoyed it,” said Lt. j.g. Benjamin Shawn, a Bettendorf, Iowa native assigned to Deck department.

Aviation Structural Mechanic Airman Brent Munz, an Imperiam, Pa., native assigned to the Blue Blasters of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34, said the initiation was the greatest day of his deployment.

“I can’t wait to get dirtier, messier, and see what else the shellbacks have for us,” Munz said.

Having endured the cleansing rituals of the trusty shellbacks, the pollywogs bowed before King Neptune as he declared them the newest shellbacks sailing the ocean blue. With Lincoln’s crew now free of pollywog slime, Davy Jones and King Neptune departed, having deemed them all fit for duty.

The “Crossing the Line” ceremony, which has long been a part of naval custom, was created so seasoned Sailors could test the newer shipmates aboard their ships to see if they could withstand long, rough times at sea.

U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Christopher Dollar

U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Arif Patani

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U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. William Marks

U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Sarah Murphy

U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Sarah MurphyU.S. Navy photo by MC2 Arif Patani

U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Spencer Mickler

U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Spencer Mickler

U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Brian Morales

U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Christopher Dollar

U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Sarah Murphy

U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Sarah Murphy

U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Sarah Murphy

U.S. Navy photo by MCC Joel Huval

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Lauren Howes

You may have heard about them. You may have seen

them perform live. Who are they? They’re The Smoke

Pit, USS Abraham Lincoln’s (CVN 72) unofficial band, and everything they do is for you, the crew of the Lincoln.

The Smoke Pit, which is composed of 11 musicians from various departments around the ship, was formed when keyboardist

Chief Yeoman Ben Campbell, Jr., approached guitarist Master Chief Logistics Specialist Joselito Tolentino about forming a band to showcase the talent that Lincoln has on board and to entertain and boost the crew’s morale.

The band they formed is built as a rock band core—singers, guitars and a drummer—with additional singers and guitarists, a keyboard player and a saxophone player, all from a diverse collection of

musical backgrounds. The Smoke Pit performs top ten country, rock, alternative and pop songs.

About two months into the ship’s current deployment, the founding members held auditions to find talented musicians and singers with the ability to perform music across a variety of genres. Tolentino said the talent of the musicians aboard Lincoln surpassed his expectations.

“Being in the band can be a lot of work, but these guys are great,”

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said Campbell. “Sacrificing sleep, dealing with conflicting schedules and finding a place to practice can be difficult, but we make it work.”

The band has performed at several events for the crew, such as the ship’s Christmas party and the Lincoln’s Got Talent variety show, but Tolentino said their biggest performance came when they performed for the crew during the recent steel beach picnic on the flight deck.

“We were glad that we were able to contribute our talents to the event and help raise morale,” said Tolentino. “Being able to perform for the crew and to watch them relax and enjoy the music is what the band is all about.”

Tolentino hopes the Smoke Pit will have the opportunity to perform for the families and friends of the ship’s crew during the upcoming Tiger Cruise.

As the ship returns home, the

band will lose members when the squadrons on board disembark and when other members move on to new duty stations, but Tolentino hopes new members will join the band.

“The band is for Sailors who enjoy expressing their talents and want to improve the morale of the crew,” said Tolentino. “I see a lot of talented Sailors aboard the ship, and I encourage them to come out and share their talents with their shipmates.”

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By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sarah Murphy, photos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian MoralesLincoLn cELEBratEs BLack History MontH

More than 200 Sailors celebrated the 85th annual Black History Month recently in the hangar bay aboard the aircraft

carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).All across the Navy and the nation, many

Americans take time during the month of February to reflect on the contributions and achievements of African-Americans.

To commemorate this year’s theme, “Class is in Session,” Lincoln’s diversity committee recruited younger personnel to educate those in attendance about the history and major milestones of African Americans who not only shaped America, but the military as well.

“We pulled together the younger Sailors for the lead roles for the ceremony,” said Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Tonithia Reid, Lincoln’s Black History Month event

coordinator. “Our master of ceremonies, guest speakers and entertainment were provided by the younger generation. This gave them the opportunity to show their stuff and speak about black history in their own words.”

Members of the command’s Black History Program committee planned for more than a month to put together an entertaining mix of historical information combined with music, dancing and various historical skits.

Yeoman 3rd Class Oscar Harris, the event’s master of ceremonies, said celebrating Black History Month is about education and that it is just as important as recognizing and understanding all the other diverse cultures throughout the year.

“I feel that it is important to learn as much about every culture as often as you can in order to understand our diversity,” said Harris.

Chief Navy Counselor Leslie Alston, who assisted in

the development of the program, said the committee hoped the skits could educate the crew, boost morale and keep the audience entertained.

“When we practiced the skits for the show, we kept it very quiet,” Alston said. “We wanted it to be a surprise for everyone. We were all so excited because we didn’t have any expectations, and when it all came together, we were very pleased.”

Alston said the diversity committee intends to match the success of the show in March, when the ship celebrates Women’s History Month with a similar event.

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Spencer Mickler

From morning cleaning stations to planned equipment maintenance, all Sailors play a role in keeping the Navy functioning. For the

numerous personnel who keep the Navy running, sailing and flying, maintenance is a way of life.

It may only take one person to fly an F/A-18C Hornet, but it takes dozens of people working together to make the aircraft ready for flight. The maintainers of Attack Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34, also known as the Blue Blasters, make sure the squadron’s aircraft are fit for duty so the pilots can fly their missions.

“We do all the electrician work. Anything that has wire going to it, we fix,” said Aviation Electrician’s Mate (AE) 1st Class Jessica Stricker. “We do a lot of work, but it’s definitely worth it in the end”

Stricker joked that, within VFA-34, the nicknames for AEs, who perform the lion’s share of the Blue Blasters’ maintenance, are “aviation everything” and “assisting everyone.”

“The teamwork we have as maintainers is good throughout the squadron,” said Aviation Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Alejandro Domingo. “No matter what the problem is, we get it fixed.”

Maintaining an aircraft doesn’t just mean doing periodic inspections and replacing parts as scheduled, sometimes it means fixing things on the fly.

“During flight operations, if something breaks, I’ll get

a radio call from the flight deck. Then I’ll call down to the correct shop and have the parts and maintainers ready and waiting when the aircraft hits the deck,” said Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Julian Bradley. “We’ve got a great squadron. We’ve got a lot of really good guys that work really hard to make this squadron successful. I have guys that are capable and adamant about doing their job right, so I know it’s going to get done.”

Lt. Cmdr. Jonathan Biehl, a VFA-34 pilot, said the squadron’s maintenance personnel provide a critical component of the mission.

“It’s amazing. A lot of the people that work on our jets, it’s their first command in the Navy, and they’re barely 20 years old,” said Biehl. “To know that these young sailors have the ability, responsibility and integrity to take care of the jets the way they do is great, and I think it’s a testament to the way the Navy operates, to the quality of training, and to the leadership in our squadron.”

Though the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group has successfully completed their mission in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn doesn’t mean that the maintainers are taking it easy. The need for VFA-34’s capabilities can arise at any time without warning.

The Blue Blasters are continuing their mission, and their motto, “Have guns, will travel,” stays relevant by having ordnance, and the means to deliver it, in good working order and at the ready.

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Story and photos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Luciano Marano

Saving Makes Cents

Saving money can be a difficult goal for anyone to keep, let alone a junior Sailor with dependents. Life is full of endless

fees, taxes and upkeep (not to mention all the things we actually want to buy). It adds up

quickly, and nothing is free. Deployment is the perfect time to get ahead of your

finances and save a chunk of money. Over the past few months, there really hasn’t been anything to spend your money on out here. As long as you budgeted reasonably well in port, you should be looking at a nice little cash surplus by the time you get home.

So what now? When the ship drops you in San Diego or returns you home to Everett, what do you do with your hard-earned savings? Buy a new car? A new computer? Pay off your debt? Maybe a trip somewhere far from the ship would be nice. What, you may ask, is the right thing to do?

Luckily for you, Lincoln has several financial specialists on board to help you navigate these tricky waters. Chief Legalman Karyn Sigurdsson said there are several financial considerations for Sailors returning home following a long deployment.

What can Sailors do to ensure they get the most out of their deployment savings?

Sigurdsson: What you definitely should do financially is make a plan. If you’ve been saving up your money toward a goal, such as buying a computer that costs $2,000, reassess where you stand now that you’re coming home. Sure, you have $2,000 saved up, but do you still have bills to pay? Do you owe other people money? Do you have a financial safety net in place? If you can

answer “yes” to all those questions, then congratulations on achieving your goal! If you answered “no” to any of those questions, keep working on it before you make that big purchase.

Which is the smarter choice for deployment money, savings or paying off debt?

Sigurdsson: It depends on your debt. If you have student loans with an extremely low interest rate, continue paying them off but also work on building your savings. However, if you have something like a credit card with an interest rate over 10 percent, the best plan is going to be to pay that off first. Even if you are working at paying off your debt, you can still put aside a small amount of money every payday in savings. EVEN THE SMALLEST AMOUNTS WILL ADD UP EVENTUALLY.

What are some ways for Sailors to use deployment savings besides letting it sit in a bank?

Sigurdsson: I’d like to encourage people to think about this differently – there’s nothing wrong with letting your money sit in a bank. When it does, it will grow, and you’ll be able to achieve larger goals like buying your dream car or house someday. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a good time. There are inexpensive ways to have a lot of fun, like free events from the Single Sailor Liberty program on base, discounted tickets for sporting events, concerts and movies through MWR. Best of all, we live in a beautiful state where you can enjoy a lot of awesome outdoor activities—hiking, skiing, fishing—a lot of it either for free or very cheap!

“The safest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it in your pocket.” – Frank “Kin” Hubbard, American journalist, cartoonist

Big plans for YOUR deployment savings?

I’m putting everything I save back into TSP. I actually have two savings accounts because I’ve been in situations before where I had zero dollars, and I don’t want to go back to that.

-ITSA Derek Brooks

I’m taking a trip with my girlfriend Natasha back to my hometown in Florida for her to

meet my family.

-CSSN C.J. Shaw

I’m going to take my daughter shopping. I already promised her we’d spend the day at the mall together.

-AE3 Alicia Glende

I’m buying a puppy. I want a pit bull puppy because I’ve never had one and they’re cute.

-DCFN Evan Marshall

New truck. Silver Toyota Tacoma,

four-wheel drive.-MMFN Anthony Kellogg

Happy 1st BirtHDay, ‘Boat sHow’By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Stephen Doyle II, Famous Boy Scout

Since the dawn of sea travel, the responsibility of documenting and recording the voyages of the sea-faring has often fallen upon the mentally unstable,

the sick and the lame. Amid the foul smell of rotting teeth and warm rum, the keen eye of the at-sea journalist

has helped to document history. Over the centuries, not much has changed.

This year marks the one-year anniversary of what many have called “a stroke of genius” and “a success unparalleled by any other branch of service during wartime.”

“The Boat Show,” USS Abraham Lincoln’s (CVN 72) flagship news program, began as the brainchild of several junior Sailors disillusioned with the dry, straightforward approach of most naval media.

The show has since been broadcast around the world on a host of social networking sites. It has garnered international acclaim as possibly the single finest military news production of all time. “The Boat Show” has changed the way the military educates their media correspondents. That, however, is not what it started out as. In fact, it all started as a joke.

“Every day I thought I was going to get fired with those stooges running the TV studio,” said Lt. Cmdr. William Marks, Lincoln’s public affairs officer. “Luckily, I still have my job.”

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron J. Hubner, the show’s co-creator, described the early days as an exciting time for everyone involved.

“No one had ever done anything like ‘The Boat Show’ before,” Hubner said. “It was amazing that ‘The Boat Show’ even came together in the first place. With my technical knowledge, MC3 Neal’s dry delivery, Dog Zebra’s incredible musical talent and a couple of ridiculous field reporters, it all just clicked. I’m glad I had a chance to be part of it.”

In the past, typical Navy media productions have either directed command messages only at service members, or assisted recruiting efforts. News outlets such as All Hands Television and The Pentagon Channel feature a style wherein news is delivered in monotone, usually by cadavers that dance around news desks like limp puppets. Lincoln’s Media department has counted no less than 70 of these shows around the Fleet. This style of broadcasting has been linked to an upswing in head injuries sustained when viewers fall asleep suddenly and violently, out of mind-numbing boredom.

What has made the boat show so successful is not just the cast of characters or the tongue-in-cheek way of delivering command messages and stories of shipboard life. It is the show’s ability to reach both internal and external audiences. Reaching beyond the confines of the ship, the show was the first of its kind to be seen by families and friends at home via Facebook.

With a total Facebook fan base of more than 25,000 people, “The Boat Show” is more than mere entertainment.

“The area where public affairs has the least success is in reaching an audience outside the Navy circle,” said Marks. “The success of ‘The Boat Show’ is when a Sailor’s civilian friends from high school comment on the show from his or her hometown.”

Today, the show’s success is reflected throughout the fleet. Many imitations have started appearing on other carriers’ Facebook pages. While the end product may not be of quite the same caliber, it supports the old saying that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

What started out as a risky endeavor—taking notes from parody shows such as “The Daily Show”—turned into a great success for both the Lincoln Media department and naval media in general. Happy Birthday, “Boat Show,” you precocious little scamp. Thanks for carving a new path forward for military journalism.

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Four pirates are dead and 15 are in custody after they killed four Americans in the bloodiest piracy incident in recent history. Navy Vice Adm. Mark I. Fox, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and 5th Fleet, said the pirates shot the four Americans after capturing their vessel, Feb. 18. Four U.S. Navy warships responded: the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf and the guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett and USS Bulkeley. The ships found the vessel, made contact with the pirates and began negotiations. Two pirates boarded Sterett to continue the negotiations. Fox said pirates fired a rocket-propelled grenade toward the Sterett from the Quest before gunfire erupted from inside the cabin of the Quest. U.S. special forces boarded the yacht and discovered that all the hostages had been shot. The service members took immediate steps to provide medical care, but the four Americans died of their wounds. There were no casualties to service members or damage to Navy ships.

aDmiral proviDes Details oF somali piraCY KilliNgs

The nation’s top military officer said U.S. defense officials are monitoring the civil unrest in Libya and will provide President Obama with a range of options. “Right now, it is very difficult to know what is going to happen” as the situation in Libya unfolds “almost hourly,” Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen said. The chairman arrived in Bahrain, Feb. 24, to meet with national leaders during a week-long trip through the Middle East. Mullen said his current trip to the region has given him new perspectives about the recent turmoil there and the fact that every country affected faces different issues. Nearly two weeks after former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s regime fell, Mullen said, there’s “more of an understanding of what is going on, but without clarity about exactly what it all means.”

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Two ships from the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group have been named as winners of the Fiscal

Year (FY) 2010 Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Environmental Awards competition, sponsored by the CNO Energy and Environmental Readiness Division, which were announced Feb. 17.

The guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Momsen (DDG 92) won the environmental quality award in the small ship category, along with the fast frigate USS Thach (FFG 43).

The annual CNO Environmental Awards program recognizes exceptional environmental stewardship by Navy ships, installations and people. Twenty-seven winners were selected in ten award categories.

Vice Adm. William R. Burke, deputy chief of naval operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics, commended the winners.

“Bravo Zulu to all award winners, and to the many other nominees,” said Burke. “You exemplify the Navy’s steadfast commitment to protecting and sustaining the natural environment as a global force for good.”

The CNO award winners will be honored June 7, in a ceremony at the United States Navy Memorial in Washington, DC.

Some of the other award winners:

By Katherine Turner, CNO Energy and Environmental Readiness Public Affairs

Natural Resources Conservation, Large Installation Award: Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.; Naval Base Coronado, Calif.; Naval Base Ventura County, Calif.

Environmental Quality, Industrial Installation Award: Fleet Readiness Center East, Cherry Point, N.C.; Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga.; Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Calif.

Environmental Quality, Overseas Installation Award: Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan; Navy Region Center, Singapore; U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain

Sustainability, Non-Industrial Installation Award: Naval Base San Diego, Calif.; Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill.; Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Environmental Restoration, Installation Award: Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, Calif.; Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va.; Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

Environmental Planning Team Award: East Coast Range Complex Environmental Planning Team, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command; Southern California Range Complex Environmental Planning Team, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Undersea Warfare Training Range Environmental Planning Team, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command

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