The Carl Vinson Voice is an internal document produced by and for the crew of the USS Carl Vinson and their families. Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government or the Departments of Defense or the Navy and do not imply any endorsement thereby.

Story by MC3 Jessica RobertsonUSS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

See INSURV` page 2

VOL 1 / NO 44 October 18, 2010

U.S. Navy photo By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adrian White

After 5 years in the shipyard and 10 months of preparation, VINSON Sailors say...

SURV IT UPCarl Vinson welcomed the Board of Inspection and

Survey (INSURV) team on Day Zero, the first day in a five-day ship-wide evaluation to gauge material readiness on board and determine whether the ship is ready to deploy.

INSURV is conducted every five years on every ship in the Navy. It’s an enormous undertaking that has required months of preparation, countless man-hours and plenty of elbow grease.

As Day Zero progressed, Electronics Technician 3rd Class Jarek Koch, a Sailor in Combat Systems Department, commented on the level of effort he and his shipmates

Carl Vinson Voice2

Publisher Capt. Bruce H. Lindsey

Commanding Officer

Executive Editors Lt. Cmdr. Erik Reynolds

Public Affairs Officer

Lt. j.g. Erik Schneider Deputy Public Affairs Officer

Managing Editor MC2 Ashley Van Dien

Photo Editor MC2 Adrian White

Layout and DesignMC3 Patrick Green

Staff Writers/Photographers

MC3 Jessica RobertsonMC3 Heather Roe

MCSN Zachary D. BellMCSA Kevin HarbachSTAFF

From`INSURV` page 1 they’ve accomplished with safety in mind.

“We’ve not only had to make sure we follow the correct procedures when we are testing our equipment, but we also have had to make sure all of our equipment is operating safely and is within safety standards,” Koch said.

Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Blake Hausman, one of Koch’s fellow Sailors in Combat Systems Department, described the level of motivation among the Sailors in his department.

“It’s probably higher than it ever has been,” said Hausman. “We know that we want to be the best in the fleet. There’s a sense of accomplishment behind it.”

As for the rest of the crew, Koch said his shipmates in other departments seem to be in the same mindset.

“I think every department has the mentality that they want to be the best,” Koch said. “We want to be the best carrier in the fleet, and passing INSURV will help us get there.”

Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) (AW/SW) Scott Doty said Vinson’s Sailors’ hard work has not gone unnoticed. “The Sailors that worked and put time into [INSURV] deserve the credit, and I’m very proud.”

have exerted to contribute to Vinson’s success during INSURV.

“We’ve put in a lot of hours to make sure everything’s perfect. It’s not just for INSURV. We’re going on a deployment soon and our equipment needs to work,” said Koch. “We don’t want to put in a thousand man-hours to fix something that should have been fixed to begin with.”

To ensure the department’s equipment is up to par for INSURV, Koch said Combat Systems has been inspecting and testing every radar, communication and satellite system on the ship. They’ve been checking for updated software and hardware and making sure the equipment is clean.

But Combat Systems wasn’t the only department under a microscope. Other inspections on Day Zero in various departments included deck edge doors, elevators and fire-fighting systems. The ship’s crew and INSURV inspectors also conducted safety-at-sea walkthroughs.

“The primary focus of Day Zero is to make sure the ship is safe,” said Lt. Cmdr. Michael McGregor, Vinson’s Material Maintenance Management (3M) Officer.

Koch agreed safety is paramount. He said everything Combat Systems has done to prepare for INSURV,

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your Leading Chief Petty Officer and DIVO. The item then must be removed from the ship. If we are underway the item will be held until the ship returns to port.

“Electrical safety is an all hands, all the time effort,” said Harry. “It needs to be a priority in order to ensure the safety of the ship and its crew.”

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Story by MCSN Zachary Bell USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

It started almost the minute the INSURV inspectors arrived onboard CARL VINSON. They’re looking at everything and no matter how prepared we believe we are, few things can sink us faster than safety discrepancies. Electricity, or the lackadaisical use of it, could easily be the culprit if we’re not careful.

Electricity is a necessary asset with the potential to be a very serious, deadly enemy And it’s especially dangerous in a shipboard environment full of salt and moisture. INSURV will bring problems to light, so to speak, if they’re there; but all hands need to be aware every day of the hazards associated with unsafe electrical practices.

The process of electrically safety checking items is necessary to ensure the items and tools are in good working condition before they get plugged into the ship’s electrical system. Items that are not properly safety checked could potentially cause damage to equipment, the ship and Sailors.

Expired or missing safety tags are the leading cause of hits on electrical equipment during INSURV.

“When I see items not safety tagged it really frustrates me, especially with INSURV right around the corner,” said Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class (SS) William Harrison. “It’s really a simple process to get electrical items safety tagged and the electrical safety shop is here for everybody’s safety.”

The process of getting personal electrical items safety checked starts with picking up a Division Officer (DIVO) approval form at any of the five electrical tool safety issue shops. Fill out all the information required on the form and get it signed by your DIVO. Then take the form along with the gear you need inspected to your specific electrical tool issue shop. Electricians will properly check your equipment and attach a tag if it meets all electrical safety requirements.

When in port, electrical safety tool issue is open during normal working hours. There are a total of five different electrical tool issue shops, each with a variety of departments assigned to each shop.

VINSON Practices Electrical Safety

The shop located at 4-190-5-A is for Reactor Department. 01-54-1-A is where Weapons Department can get their items safety checked. Combat Systems Department, as well as Operations, Intel, Media, Navigation, Communication and embarked staff can go to 01-175-3-Q for electrical issues. Air Department can go to the 03-118-12-L electrical shop, and Supply, Admin, Deck, Dental, Medical, Safety, Legal, Training and Religious Ministries Department go to 01-133-2-Q electrical safety shop.

“We’re here to help. If you have safety issues with electrical equipment in your department or with personal electrical equipment we insist you take it to your assigned electrical tool issue shop,” said Electrical Officer, Lt. Zachary Harry. “If you have any questions, contact assigned electrical tool issue and we will be more than happy to help solve the issue.”

Certain items such as heaters, electrical blankets and portable fans are prohibited. If a prohibited item is found it will be confiscated and given to the Electrical Officer. Then you will receive a confiscation letter which will allow you to pick up the item, with approval from

Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Andrew Andresen spots Electrician’s Mate Fireman Dakotah Smith while de-energizing an automatic bus transfer. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adrian White.

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More than 100 inspectors with the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) will descend on CARL VINSON in a little less than 72 hours. They’ll be looking at hundreds, even thousands, of pieces of gear. They’ll be examining the condition of the ship. And they’ll be watching everything we do to make sure strict procedural compliance is the absolute CARL VINSON standard.

Following the rules and completing each task in the prescribed manner is even more important as Vinson prepares to head into a combat zone, where there is no room for mistakes and there are no do-overs.

Senior Chief Machinist’s Mate (SW) James Grant, Leading Chief Petty Officer of Maintenance Material Management (3M) Department, gave one reason why procedural compliance is so vitally important.

“If you don’t follow the Maintenance Requirement Card

By the Book the First Time, Every TimeStory by MC3 Jessica Robertson USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

Quartermaster Seaman Apprentice Matthew Rivera performs maintenance on a door. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adrian White.

(MRC) when you’re doing maintenance on a piece of equipment, you won’t know if the equipment will work when you try to use it,” said Grant.

But it’s not just about having equipment that works. If one Sailor doesn’t practice procedural compliance while performing maintenance, a piece of equipment could fail in a way that affects all personnel.

“If the weapons system fails, the ship is defenseless,” said Grant. “A firefighter could grab a piece of damage control equipment and it might fail because someone didn’t follow the instructions when they were doing the maintenance on it.”

Procedural compliance isn’t important just for maintenance. It is also vital to Vinson’s mission. The lack of procedural compliance could mean walking the line between life and death.

Chief Warrant Officer Gabriel Perez, Air Department V-2 Division’s Aircraft Launch and Recovery Maintenance Officer, knows just how thin that line is.

“My team deals with high-pressure systems and fluids, and they need to know what they’re doing. If they don’t follow strict procedural compliance, they’ll put the aircraft in the water or get someone hurt or killed, and that means we’re not accomplishing the mission of the ship, which is to safely launch and recover aircraft,” said Perez.

Another way to guarantee mission failure, injury, or death, is to become complacent. You might have performed a check so many times that you feel reasonably confident about what’s involved. You tell yourself it’s OK if you just skim over the instructions because you know them by heart now. But complacency comes with a price.

“When we go to start an aircraft, we don’t say, ‘OK, let’s turn the electricity on and get some air to help the engine start’,” said Cmdr. Jerry Macenas, Vinson’s Safety Officer. “We (Naval aviators) don’t do that. We have to look down at our knees (because) there’s a checklist telling us exactly what to do, step-by-step. You don’t want to get to that point where you’ve done something time and time again and don’t follow the procedures… because that one time could kill you.”

A widely-used Navy term for cutting corners, skipping steps, or lying about work and maintenance you did or didn’t do, is “gun-decking.” Gun-decking is an offense that is punishable by captain’s mast. It can mean the difference between life and death for Sailors, particularly those working on the flight deck.

“You’ve got aircraft depending on the landing lights, the deck-marking lights, and the communication system,” said Macenas. “If you start gun-decking and not doing your job to the letter, you are knowingly and willingly putting people’s lives in danger. Gun-decking is a blatant disregard for people’s lives.”

“If you gun-deck or don’t observe procedural compliance, there will be no mission,” said Perez. “What we do, launching and recovering aircraft, is the primary mission of this aircraft carrier. If we don’t follow the rules, we won’t accomplish the mission.”

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SPOTLIGHTSailor

IN T

HE

Story and photo by MC3 Heather Roe USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

Working in communication is not just a job for Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Antonisha Fox, but an opportunity to improve her personal and professional life.

A native of Okmulgee, Okla., Fox is assigned to Combat Systems Department and works in main telecommunications with various types of communication equipment.

As part of CS-1 Division, Fox is responsible for assisting with all radio communication throughout the ship and sending messages to other ships at sea and shore-based military facilities. Underway, she stands a 12-hour watch every day to ensure communications

throughout the ship are transmitted, whether it is through internet, data circuits, voice communications or phone lines.

“I like my job because it’s hands-on,” said Fox. “I enjoy setting up circuits and being in control of communications transmitting on and off the ship.”

Fox is also responsible for maintaining the division’s equipment and ensuring it is always ready for use.

“I feel important when I do my job because I like troubleshooting the equipment in my space and working with other ships when sending messages,” said Fox.

“IT3 Fox is a hard charger. She is setting an example not only for the junior Sailors in the department,

but also the senior Sailors too,” said Information Systems Technician 1st Class (SW) Cyrena Douglas, the leading petty officer for CS-1. “She’s motivated, getting her qualifications and working right alongside senior second classes and first classes.”

“My chain of command has really helped me out with my qualifications and mentoring,” said Fox. “My goals and ambitions are to be dual qualified by the end of next year and leave Carl Vinson as a first class.”

Fox plans to submit her Seaman to Admiral Package by the end of 2010 and have her Associate’s Degree in human resources by 2014. She is currently writing a book about the journey of life and relationships and hopes to be published in the near future.

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Story by MCSA Kevin Harbach USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

Mission readiness is the overall characteristic the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) inspectors will be looking for this week.

One significant contributor and indicator as to whether a ship and crew are ready to accept and carry out tasking is habitability. The conditions under which Sailors live and work are going to be examined closely.

“Attention to detail is self-explanatory,” said Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class (AW) Alexander Quinton. “Even if something looks clean, make sure everything surrounding it is clean as well. Check around it, in it and the sides.”

VINSON crewmembers who have been aboard USS RONALD REAGAN and USS NIMITZ after their recently-completed inspections have discovered that one of the main issues each of those ships faced was dirt and dust in hard to reach places, like the Emergency Escape Breathing Device (EEBD) boxes and in cracks and crevices of racks.

“It’s important to clean in the corners and the areas behind the racks,” said Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class (AW/SW) Joshua Shryock, “As well as high dusting.”

Some other noted discrepancies were rack lights in need of protective metal. Any EEBD holder designed to house safety pins need to have those pins inserted. Nothing can be zip-tied; not racks, stand-up lockers or gear lockers. No personal gear adrift should be visible in the berthing. Lock it up in your rack or locker.

Much of what INSURV discovers

Know Your Berthing Standards for INSURV

and emphasizes is that living conditions have a direct impact on mission readiness.

“Habitability is a very big thing on a ship. People can’t work comfortably if they aren’t

comfortable in their surroundings,” said Quinton. “And cleanliness is step one for firefighting. Keeping things clean prevents fires. Keeping things clean in the berthing daily is very important.”

VINSON leadership inspect a berthing aboard CARL VINSON to prepare for INSURV. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adrian White.

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Last-Minute INSURV Checklist

Ask questions! How does it affect my • spaces?What can I do to help?• How do I know what to look • for?Where do I get the materials • to fix what’s broken?Who do I tell?•

Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) is an intensive material readiness assessment for the U.S. Navy which occurs every three years. Results of this inspection are reported to the SECNAV.

INSURV directly affects the habitability of our Sailors to include our health, safety, and quality of life. It’s a direct reflection of how prepared we are to fight in combat for the ship and how we take care of each other and our ship.

Know Your Stuff! There are 19 categories in • which INSURV inspects each space. The majority of the spaces ship wide will be inspected.There are checklists for each • different inspection area. These can be accessed by your INSURV departmental representative or on the share point site under INSURV.

This inspection is here. We all live here and we need to take care of our ship. VINSON can not function if we all don’t do our job. It is an all hands effort.