---------------------------------------------------------------- The United States Navy on the World Wide Web A service of the Navy Office of Information, Washington DC send feedback/questions to comments@chinfo.navy.mil The United States Navy web site is found on the Internet at http://www.navy.mil ---------------------------------------------------------------- NAVY WIRE SERVICE (NWS) - July 7, 2000 - This transmission contains 17 stories. NWS07jul-1. President names new ship class after Admiral Zumwalt NWS07jul-2. Secretary Albright christens destroyer McCampbell NWS07jul-3. SLAM-ER "reports for duty" to the fleet NWS07jul-4. Sailors prepare for visitors, take part in citywide activities at INR 2000 NWS07jul-5. GW Battle Group completes training at Vieques, en route to the Med NWS07jul-6. Navy establishes Missile Defense office NWS07jul-7. Russell helps children of East Timor NWS07jul-8. U.S. Navy Sailor earns spot on U.S. Olympic wrestling team NWS07jul-9. Midshipmen cruise offers glimpse of life at sea for future officers NWS07jul-10. Mahan's afloat college campus pushes professional growth NWS07jul-11. LIFELines2000: New look, new address, new capabilities NWS07jul-12. Battle Stations "Hall of Heroes" unveiled at RTC NWS07jul-13. A 4th of July celebration, GW style NWS07jul-14. SAR performs miracle on Mt. Baker NWS07jul-15. Landlocked Sailors help preserve Navy heritage NWS07jul-16. Mess specialists learn culinary arts from renowned chef NWS07jul-17. This week's national broadcasts featuring the Navy -USN- NWS is an information product of the U.S. Navy and is published by the Naval Media Center, Naval District Washington Anacostia Annex, 2713 Mitscher Rd. SW, Washington, DC, 20373-5819. Reprints should be credited to NWS. Call the editor, JO1 Joseph Gunder, at (703) 695-0911, or send e-mail to mailto:pubs@mediacen.navy.mil or message to NAVMEDIACEN WASHINGTON DC//31// for questions, comments or contributions concerning Navy Wire Service. For all other Navy Information related questions call (703) 697-5342. -USN- NWS07jul-1. President names new ship class after Admiral Zumwalt By OASD (Public Affairs) WASHINGTON (NWS) -- The President announced this week that the Navy will honor Adm. Elmo R. "Bud" Zumwalt Jr., by naming its 21st Century Land Attack Destroyer (DD 21) after him. Zumwalt, who became the youngest man ever to serve as chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in 1970, passed away in Durham, N.C., on Jan. 2, 2000. Appropriately, this class of 32 future warships will embody Zumwalt's visionary leadership and well-known reputation as a Navy reformer. Entering the fleet at the end of this decade, USS Zumwalt will usher in the Navy's newest class of destroyers. These revolutionary warships are being designed to meet post-Cold War requirements using 21st century naval warfare concepts. The Zumwalt class will incorporate several advanced technologies and introduce a number of design features to improve the DD 21 sailor's quality of life. Armed with an array of land attack weapons, USS Zumwalt will be capable of delivering an unprecedented level of offensive firepower from the sea. It will also be the first U.S. Navy ship to be powered and propelled by a fully integrated power system, including modern electric drive. The cruiser-sized Zumwalt will be manned by a crew approaching one hundred and will feature new habitability standards and shipboard amenities, including staterooms for the entire ship's company. "DD 21 will be a platform that values its crew more than any other ship on which sailors have ever lived, fought, and worked," said Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig. "It is a fitting tribute to the legacy of Admiral Bud Zumwalt." Zumwalt was born in San Francisco in 1920 and grew up in Tulare, Calif. He was a cum laude graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. After service as the commander of U.S. Naval Forces in Vietnam from 1968-1970, at age 49, he became the youngest four-star admiral in the history of the U.S. Navy. As CNO, Zumwalt initiated wide-ranging reforms in a dramatic effort to revitalize the Navy. Time magazine hailed Zumwalt as "the Navy's most popular leader since World War II." As the Navy's senior officer, he increased the warfighting capabilities of the dwindling U.S. fleet by outfitting remaining ships with more efficient and sophisticated weapons. In 1974, he retired as CNO and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 1996, he took over as chairman of the Board of the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation. In addition to numerous decorations received from the U.S. Navy, including the Navy Distinguished Service Medal (three awards), the Legion of Merit (two awards), and Bronze Star with combat "V," he received decorations and awards from a number of foreign countries. In 1998, Zumwalt was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his service to the United States in war and peace. Zumwalt authored two books about his life in the Navy. On Watch (1976) recounts his Navy career and warns Americans about the Soviet naval threat. My Father, My Son (1986), co- authored with his late son, Elmo III, is an account of their Vietnam experiences and his son's tragic illness. -USN- -USN- -USN- NWS07jul-2. Secretary Albright christens destroyer McCampbell By OASD (Public Affairs) BATH, Maine (NWS) -- The newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, McCampbell (DDG 85), was christened July 2, during a ceremony at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine. McCampbell honors the late Navy Capt. David McCampbell (1910-1996). Capt. McCampbell is the Navy's top ace with 34 confirmed aerial victories and recipient of the Medal of Honor while serving as commander, Air Group 15, USS Essex (CV 9) during the Battle of the Philippine Sea (June 19, 1944) and the Battle of Leyte Gulf (October 24, 1944). During the first encounter, McCampbell's force "virtually annihilated" an attacking force of 80 Japanese carrier-based aircraft, of which he personally shot down seven. In the Battle of Leyte Gulf, he daringly attacked a formation of at least 60 Japanese land-based aircraft. McCampbell shot down at least nine of these aircraft, forcing the remainder to abandon the attack. In addition to the Medal of Honor, McCampbell received the Navy Cross, Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross. No previous ship has been named McCampbell. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright is the ship's sponsor and delivered an address during the ceremony. In the time-honored Navy tradition, Albright broke a bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen McCampbell. "It (McCampbell) will carry capabilities never before seen, providing area missile defense for our forces and friends," Albright said. "It will join a U.S. Navy fleet that, for generations, has answered all bells -- and which has become one of the world's most powerful forces for stability and democracy." McCampbell is the 35th of 58 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers currently authorized by Congress. These ships can conduct a variety of missions, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, in support of the National Military Strategy. Equipped with the latest weapons, electronics, helicopter support facilities, and propulsion, auxiliary and survivability systems, these destroyers will carry out the Navy's missions well into the next century. State-of-the-art command, control, communications, computers and intelligence systems provide their ships' crew with complete situational awareness. DDG 85 is equipped with the Navy's modern Aegis combat weapons system, the world's foremost naval weapon system. Space-age communications, radar and weapons technologies are combined in a single platform for unlimited mission flexibility. The systems include the AN/SPY-1D phased array radar; the MK 41 Vertical Launching System, which fires a combination of up to 96 Standard surface-to-air, and Tomahawk surface-to-surface missiles; and the AN/SQQ-89 Antisubmarine Warfare System, with a bow mounted AN/SQS-53C sonar. McCampbell has six MK 46 torpedo tubes, as well as two MK 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapons Systems and a multi-mission 5"/62 caliber deck-mounted gun which can be used as an anti- ship weapon, close-in point defense or in naval gun fire support of forces ashore. The ship's aircraft handling and support facilities include dual aircraft hangers (port & starboard), a dual Recovery Assist, Securing and Traversing (RAST) System, and associated machinery systems providing significant enhanced helicopter launch and recovery, command and control and maintenance/repair capabilities. The ship also features the over-the-horizon LAMPS MK III Antisubmarine Warfare Control System, and will be assigned two SH-60B Seahawk Undersea Warfare helicopters. Navy Cmdr. Mark Montgomery, a native of Sunapee, N.H., is the prospective commanding officer of McCampbell with a crew of 389 officers, chiefs and enlisted personnel. Upon commissioning in the year 2001, McCampbell will be homeported in San Diego, Calif., as a member of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The ship is 509.5 feet in length, and has a waterline beam of 59 feet. Four gas-turbine engines power the 9,195-ton ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots. For more on the Navy's destroyers, go to http://www.navy.mil and click on the "ships" button. -USN- -USN- -USN- NWS07jul-3. SLAM-ER "reports for duty" to the fleet By OASD (Public Affairs) WASHINGTON (NWS) -- The Navy announced recently the Standoff Land Attack - Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) missile has entered into full production and has "reported for duty" in the fleet. Rear Adm. John B. Nathman, director of Air Warfare, spoke at a joint Navy/Industry event at the Pentagon to mark the occasion. "Precision engagement is much more than going somewhere and blowing things up. Accuracy and the ability to plan and determine where and how to control the effects of that engagement is key. SLAM-ER is a true standout of an area defense weapon. Combined with Super Hornet, the potential is tremendous," said Nathman. "A major role of the acquisition community is to ensure that our warfighters' needs are met. SLAM-ER is a significant member of a family of lethal precision strike weapons coming into the forefront of naval firepower," said Rear Adm. John Chenevey, program executive officer for strike weapons and unmanned aviation, host of the event. Michael D. Marks, Boeing's vice president and general manager, said, "With SLAM-ER, we at Boeing are committed to giving our Navy heroes the best, most capable weapons system ever." SLAM-ER provides a surgical strike capability against high value, fixed land targets, ships at sea or in port, and at standoff ranges greater than 150 nautical miles. High survivability and lethality are assured by SLAM-ER's adaptive terrain following, passive seeker, precise aim point control, and improved penetrating warhead. More information on SLAM-ER is available on line at http://www.navy.mil and clicking on the "Fact File" button, followed by the "missiles" button. -USN- -USN- -USN- NWS07jul-4. Sailors prepare for visitors, take part in citywide activities at INR 2000 By JO1 Timothy Marshall, INR 2000 Public Affairs, Internal Division NEW YORK (NWS) -- With the memory of New York City's largest, and some say best, fireworks display fresh in their minds, Sailors aboard the eight U.S. Navy ships that moored in New York Harbor are preparing to receive thousands of visitors to their ships over the next three days. The ships moved to their pierside berths in Manhattan, the Brooklyn Port Authority, and Stapleton Pier in Staten Island this morning and crewmembers began prepping the ships for public tours, which run in the afternoons through July 8 as part of the International Naval Review 2000. While aboard each ship, visitors will be able to see the flight deck, the weapons systems, the bridge, and other features unique to Navy ships. They are also encouraged to talk with the Sailors who call the ships home, many of whom are from the northeast United States. Just as people in the Big Apple are interested in touring Navy warships, Sailors from those ships are intent on exploring the city, and contributing to the quality of life of its residents. Over the next few days, Sailors will volunteer at the John A. Noble Museum, the Staten Island Children's Museum, the Commodore Barry Park, and other sites city-wide. Sailors will work to improve those and other venues around New York City during their brief stay. Adding an international flavor to INR 2000 and Operation Sail, held in conjunction with INR 2000, U.S. Sailors will compete in several sporting events with Sailors from foreign countries. Soccer, bowling, volleyball, basketball, arm wrestling, golf, softball, and Tug O' War are on the docket for U.S. and foreign Sailors with competition beginning today. Visit the official INR 2000 web site at http://www.inr2000.navy.mil/ for more information. -USN- -USN- -USN- NWS07jul-5. GW Battle Group completes training at Vieques, en route to the Med By 2nd Fleet Public Affairs USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NWS) -- Ships and aircraft of the USS George Washington (CVN 73) Carrier Battle Group successfully completed essential combat training in the outer ranges of the Puerto Rico Operating Area and the Vieques Inner Range prior to deploying to the Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf this summer. The training began June 24th with a missile exercise at sea. The training later included ship-to-shore gunnery as well as air-to-ground bombing exercises from June 25th through June 27th at the Vieques Inner Range. All ordnance fired from ships and aircraft onto the Vieques Inner Range was inert (non-explosive). The training was required to certify naval gunnery crews in the use of five-inch guns, critical to combat readiness, and to complete other requirements not met in previous training exercises due to the unavailability of the Vieques Range Complex. These units still require critical live fire training currently not authorized at Vieques in order to be fully combat ready. The missile exercise utilized surface-to-air missiles fired from ships that were over 35 miles from land using the Navy's at-sea ranges. Vieques remains the sole location in the Atlantic where naval units can qualify in Naval Surface Fire Support and conduct the combined arms training required prior to deploying to areas of potential hostilities in support of U.S. foreign policy. Several recent Atlantic Fleet Carrier Battle Groups that deployed to the Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf have been in combat operations within weeks of their arrival. -USN- -USN- -USN- NWS07jul-6. Navy establishes Missile Defense office By OASD (Public Affairs) WASHINGTON (NWS) -- Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jay Johnson announced today the formation of a new office on his immediate staff, the assistant chief of Naval Operations (ACNO) for Missile Defense. The ACNO for Missile Defense will have oversight of all policy, planning, budgeting, funding, requirements definition, test and evaluation, deployment, training, operational doctrine, tactics and employment of Naval missile defense systems, including area and theater-wide theater ballistic missile defense (TBMD) as well as overland cruise missile defense. The ACNO for Missile Defense will coordinate all missile defense-related programs and initiatives throughout the Navy. "As we begin testing in earnest and prepare to deploy theater ballistic missile defense at sea," Johnson said, "we must pull together all the different pieces and organizations into a more focused team. This will significantly improve the Navy's ability to deliver effective missile defenses." Johnson designated Rear Adm. Rodney P. Rempt as the first ACNO for Missile Defense. Rempt is currently serving as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for Theater Combat Systems. "Adm. Rod Rempt is our expert on missile defense and this will put him in the driver's seat for Navy TBMD," Johnson said. The objectives behind the establishment of the new ACNO for Missile Defense include: - Clarifying the lines of authority to the CNO and assistant secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition with regard to naval TBMD. - Expanding naval focus on doctrine, joint coordination, interoperability and international cooperative initiatives. - Providing a single point of contact within the CNO staff for all Missile Defense matters. - Strengthening coordination with the Defense Department, Ballistic Missile Defense Office, and the other Services. In addition to creating this new office, the Navy announced that USS Lake Erie (CG 70) has been designated the Navy's theater-wide test ship for the AEGIS Lightweight Exoatmospheric Projectile intercept flight-test series. "The Navy theater wide test efforts are too important to the nation to risk frequently shifting test ships," Johnson said. "We need a ship and crew to focus full time on this effort." For the next two years, USS Lake Erie will be dedicated to conducting these critical tests. USS Lake Erie's homeport in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, makes the ship's participation in tests at the Pacific Missile Range Facility off Kauai cost-effective. The Navy anticipates the ship will not deploy operationally again for about two years. Johnson made it clear that the Navy's first priority remains to develop and deploy effective area and theater- wide defenses at sea. As the Navy begins testing in earnest and preparing to deploy TMBD at sea, it is necessary to dramatically improve the Navy's posture to deliver effective missile defenses. The changes announced today are intended to strengthen the Navy's TBMD organization and reduce the complexities of coordinating operations, testing and deployment. Johnson added, "Navy missile defense is critical to the future of our Navy and the security of our nation. We must succeed in rapidly deploying our evolutionary systems in order to maximize the payoff to the nation inherent in this revolutionary new capability. The steps I have taken today give us the team and the focus to ensure we do just that." -USN- -USN- -USN- NWS07jul-7. Russell helps children of East Timor By Lt. j.g. Orrin Johnson, 7th Fleet Public Affairs USS RUSSELL, At Sea (NWS) -- On its way home from a highly successful Arabian Gulf deployment, USS Russell (DDG 59) was recently routed to Dili, East Timor, for one of the ship's most memorable stops. The Pearl Harbor homeported destroyer was tasked to assist the U.S. Support Group, East Timor (USGET) in rebuilding efforts in that ravaged region. The small island nation just north of Australia was devastated by Indonesian forces following East Timor's vote for independence. The area's buildings and infrastructure were largely burned and otherwise destroyed. USGET coordinates all U.S. military efforts on the island. Every month, a U.S. Navy ship visits Dili as part of an on-going U.S. Pacific Command operation to assist and support the joint service detachment. In mid June, Russell stood anchored in Dili Harbor to execute this mission. During this visit, more than 150 Russell Sailors volunteered to restore three Dili schools. Men from all ranks and rates rolled paint, cleaned out rooms and fixed furniture. Midshipmen from the Naval Academy on a training cruise turned out in force. "I could not imagine a better cruise experience," said Midn. 1/C Kyle Jason of Warwick, N.Y. "Having been here will make me a better officer in all kinds of ways." A few local children gathered to watch in the mornings, and by the end of each day there was a swarm of them, helping out wherever they could, playing with inflated rubber gloves and all the while grinning from ear to ear. "We gave the kids most of the stuff from our MRE's (meals ready to eat), like the extra food and all the candy," said FC1(SW) Dan Shields of Lafayette, Tenn. "All the kids were very appreciative. It was amazing and fulfilling. Even the leftover bottles from our water were a big deal to them." Children weren't the only ones whose days were brightened by the arrival of the warship. Stationed alongside the U.S. forces in East Timor, troops from Australia, New Zealand, The Philippines and many other countries make up a United Nations force known as UNTAET (United Nations Transitional Administration, East Timor). USGET and UNTAET troops alike were welcomed aboard and given tours by Russell personnel. The troops flooded the ship's store and enjoyed sampling mess deck cuisine. The ship's supply department provided the USGET barge with freshly baked pizzas, cold sodas, and two barbers who gave more than 100 haircuts during the stay. One of Russell's interior communications electricians, IC2(SW) Darryl Jones of Missoula, Mont., went to the barge on which the soldiers lived and fixed their bedeviled satellite TV system. Morale for the contingent, by their own accounts, had never been so high. As Russell weighed anchor on the third day, the crew looked back at an East Timor that, from Dili Harbor itself, didn't look that much different from their own home island of Oahu. "The children were having classes without desks, chairs, pencils, papers, books, etc. Despite of all that, you can see the smile in their faces and enthusiasm of having us around," said Salt Lake City, Utah, native, DKC(SW) Rusty Torio. "The experience has made me a very grateful person." This sentiment was echoed by almost everyone, and not a single member of the crew was left untouched. -USN- -USN- -USN- NWS07jul-8. U.S. Navy Sailor earns spot on U.S. Olympic wrestling team By JOC Bill Johnson-Miles, Naval Media Center FSD San Diego SAN DIEGO (NWS) -- "Wrestling is a marathon," said ABE1 Steve Mays in 1998 following the Armed Forces Wrestling Tournament at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. "It's not how you start the race, it's how you finish. And hopefully, in 2000, I'll be the man." "It's my dream," Mays added while looking over his shoulder at the Olympic Rings. "That's Steve Mays back there, U.S.A. Olympic Team." Two years later, after placing fourth at that 1998 Armed Forces tournament, this Sailor's dream has come true. Mays recently earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team in Greco-Roman wrestling at 54 kg (119 lb. weight class) by defeating a past Olympian and U.S. Nationals champion at the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials in Dallas, Texas. Mays scored a two-match sweep over 1996 Olympic silver medallist Brandon Paulson, and avenged a loss to Paulson at the 2000 U.S. Nationals finals in Las Vegas. Mays is an aviation boatswain's mate stationed aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67). His hometown is Kalamazoo, Mich., but he currently lives with his wife and three children in Pensacola, Fla. "I'm very proud of my husband," said Melanie Mays, Steve Mays' wife. "He's a wonderful husband, a great father, and a super athlete." A marathon is only 26 miles, but this super athlete's road to the Olympics seems a lot longer. Even though he placed second at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1996, he didn't return to his championship caliber until last year, earning the titles Armed Forces Champion, U.S. Nationals Champion and World Team Trials Champion. Mays went on to earn a second at the 1999 Nordwest Cup in Norway and a bronze medal at the 1999 Pan American Games. However, earlier this year, he slipped. He only placed fifth at an Olympic qualifier, second in the Armed Forces tournament and second at Nationals losing to Paulson in the finals. After losing that match he was asked if he would still make the Olympic team. "Yes, without a doubt, without a doubt," stated Mays. "They do not allow me to have the time to come in to be second best. And I will not come home without the mission being complete." In order to face Paulson again, he had to win the Olympic Trials Challenge Tournament in June. He won this tournament by defeating Shawn Sheldon in the finals, but it took overtime and a referee's decision. "I'm tired," said Mays after his match with Sheldon. "It hasn't really sunk in. It's not over until you go home. There's no celebrating. I felt I was supposed to win. It was no real big deal. Shawn is a great competitor." Even though he was exhausted, he was very confident about his next day's matches with Paulson. "Win, I'm gonna win," stated Mays. "I've put the work in and I'm going to go out and win. I need to control the tempo early, make him come after me." In order to earn a berth on the Olympic team, the Challenge Tournament Champion faced the U.S. Nationals Champion, and the first wrestler to win two matches over the other made the team. Mays' confidence from the day before carried into his first match with Paulson and the Navy veteran won 3-0. "One step closer, one step closer to the dream," said Mays following the first match. "All I can do is rest and get ready for the next match. He's the champ and I will have to take the next match." Mays beat the champ and won the second match 5-0, earning a trip to Sydney, Australia, and realizing a dream he has had for a very long time. "Anything you start at nine-years-old, now that I'm 33- years-old and I'm still doing it, it's everything," said Mays following Nationals in April. "It's my life. Not to be able to reach that goal, I can't even think of it. Words can't describe." "Steve Mays is a pretty amazing story because not many people finally break through in their 30s," stated Mitch Hull, USA Wrestling National Teams Director. "It's hard and he's done that." And Mays did it with a lot of hard work and dedication. "He's training seven days a week, almost gone two or three weeks out of a month ... the dedication is there and it takes dedication to strive and get to the top," said Mays' wife. Mays' coach is Rob Hermann, a retired Navy MA1. He's the All Navy Wrestling Head Coach and an assistant Coach for the 2000 USA Greco-Roman Wrestling Team. He was also the Head Coach for the 1996 USA Greco-Roman Wrestling Team that earned three silver medals. Herman was very confident in Mays' chances at making the Olympic team. "He's done everything possible," stated Hermann. "He's been at all the National training camps, he's been training hard in Pensacola, it's been a year around thing for him. He set his goals, he's been working on his mental skills ... he started believing that he could beat the best." And according to the coach, the Navy helped Mays become the best. "If it wasn't for Navy sports, and the Navy in general, his command, USS John F. Kennedy, it wouldn't be possible," added Hermann. "And they've given him the opportunity to do it full time, and his dream has finally come true." "The Navy has supported us a hundred percent," agreed Melanie Mays. "They're allowing him to train year-round. And a lot of people think that it's easy, but he's doing hard work seven days a week ... I mean it's just like a deployment. He's actually doing a job and he's representing the Navy, and I think he's representing them well." And he's looking forward to representing the Navy and the U.S. in Sydney, Australia, but the Olympic Games wrestling competition there is not an open tournament. The International Olympic Committee has set a fixed number of participants for wrestling at the Olympic Games in Sydney, and nations went through a qualification process. Only 20 qualification spots were allowed at each weight class including 54 kg, and the countries that have qualified at this weight are Australia, Azerbaijan, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Iran, Kazakhstan, Korea, Krygyzstan, North Korea, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United States. Mays will be wrestling some of these individuals during the Summer Olympics in Sydney at the State Sports Center in late September. But it doesn't matter who he wrestles or what country they're from, because Mays has a great attitude about wrestling and about life. "There's always going to be setbacks and if you let setbacks stop you then you'll never succeed in life, regardless of what it is, wrestling, on the job, family, whatever," Mays said. "You just have to keep fighting!" So, Petty Officer Steve Mays has fought through his setbacks, made his dream a reality, and finished his 29-year wrestling marathon race as an Olympian. But now he has another dream ... and this one's painted Olympic Gold. You have to admire people who fight for their dreams. Maybe this quote from the end of the wrestling movie "Vision Quest" says it best: "We're born to live and then to die. We've got to do it alone, each in our own way, and I guess we ought to love those people who deserve it like there's no tomorrow, because when you get right down to it, there isn't." -USN- -USN- -USN- NWS07jul-9. Midshipmen cruise offers glimpse of life at sea for future officers By Midn. 1/C Angela Karalekas, Amphibious Group ONE Public Affairs SASEBO, Japan (NWS) -- During the month of June, USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) was home to 12 midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy and various NROTC units across the country. These midshipmen will become commissioned officers within the next two years, and the summer cruise is just a small part of their extensive training prior to commissioning. The midshipmen met Fort McHenry while her crew was enjoying a port call in Pattaya, Thailand. After a few days of liberty, the ship got underway, and the midshipmen were quickly integrated into the operational and training routine taking place while transiting to Okinawa and Sasebo. Each midshipman was assigned a running mate who acted as his or her guide and mentor on board the ship. The first class midshipmen, who will be seniors at their respective universities, were paired with junior officers. The second class midshipmen, who will be juniors this fall, were paired with petty officers. The midshipmen stood watch with their running mates, giving them an introduction to the variety of the watches stood underway, including helm safety, officer of the deck underway, conning officer, and combat information center watch officer. Similarly they assisted their running mates during special evolutions. Standing those watches proved a fruitful experience as the midshipmen were able to directly participate in numerous exciting training evolutions including flight deck operations, Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) operations, practice firing of the 25mm and close in weapons system (CIWS), and an underway replenishment. Other training events included small arms familiarization live fire, ship handling opportunities, and lectures on numerous topics. Midshipmen Jennifer Rossi, who qualified as crane director, trained with weapons officer Ensign Amber Bonadio. "Everyday, it seems I do something new. I have gotten an opportunity to ride the LCACs, control communications between the helo tower and the bridge during DLQs (deck landing qualifications), and administratively complete a unit sweep urinalysis," said Rossi. "I was able to help complete PMS (Preventive Maintenance System) on all of the weapons systems. Most importantly, I got the opportunity to be a part of the daily life aboard a forward-deployed ship in the Western-Pacific arena." Each of these midshipmen had a unique and exciting experience that they will carry with them throughout their careers. Midshipman Danielle Robins of Georgetown University thought that the purpose of this summer training was to "give officers-in-training the chance to experience life in the Navy through the eyes of an enlisted member of the crew." She feels that by doing this, officers will be better equipped to make decisions concerning the Sailors in their command. For many of these midshipmen it was their first opportunity to have direct contact with the fleet because the majority of their training takes place in the classroom. The midshipmen capitalized on this opportunity to really learn about the crew. They were given the chance to speak with the officers and crew to learn about their opinions of shipboard life. Midshipman Lesnowicz of the University of California was thrilled about his experience on board Fort McHenry. He approached the training by putting all the technical and operation data aside and concentrated on the human aspect of life aboard the ship. "I focused on how the enlisted sailors thought and acted," Lesnowicz said. "Every chance I had, I would ask about their feelings on certain things; officers, subordinates, and even liberty. I did all this to form a composite of the type of person I will be leading in the future." As future officers in the Navy and Marine Corps, this type of training is vitally important to the development of midshipmen, providing them with a foundation on which to base their future leadership styles. Each of the 12 midshipmen on board Fort McHenry were able to capitalize on the time they were provided, learning not only about shipboard life, but also about the needs and troubles of both the enlisted Sailor and the junior officer. They were afforded with a new and educational viewpoint on the life they will be leading in the future. -USN- -USN- -USN- NWS07jul-10. Mahan's afloat college campus pushes professional growth By USS Mahan Public Affairs USS MAHAN, At Sea (NWS) -- What do you do after landing a helo, standing your watch, or firing this new Aegis Destroyer's weapons? Hit the books and attend one of the many college courses being offered in USS Mahan (DDG 72) on her maiden Mediterranean Deployment. Normally for a crew of 325 personnel, a ship may request one Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE) instructor and a variety of interactive computer and video courses. Mahan has two college instructors and 12 computer-based training courses for its crew. Leaning forward with a philosophy that destroyermen who are engaged in higher education programs make better Sailors, Mahan's leadership has made NCPACE a command priority. After completing placement testing and SMART transcripts for nearly the entire crew, enough interest and commitment was generated to support two full-time instructors during the ship's first deployment. "Central Texas College has provided us some of the most energetic and supportive professors I have ever had the pleasure of meeting," commented Cmdr. Jim Yohe, Mahan's commanding officer, who is proud of his two new shipmates and their academic influence on his crew. Mahan's mathematics instructor, Charles (Charlie) Jones of Denver, Colorado, retired from teaching high school mathematics, photojournalism, and applied physics in the Denver Public School System after thirty-three and a half years. Jones soon realized that retirement was not for him, and after hearing about the PACE program, applied and was accepted. "This is my first assignment, and I really enjoy it," said Jones. "I feel extremely fortunate to be on USS Mahan and to be able to experience all that is going on. What a fantastic opportunity to travel and visit foreign countries and be able to teach between ports." Jones continued, "I think that the PACE program offers a real opportunity for Navy personnel to further their education and work towards a degree. The cost of courses is minimal, and the students don't have to contend with problems that land-based students have -- such as traffic, parking, tuition, student fees, and limited office hours of the professor. I try and make myself available for help as much as possible. My goal is to give as many Sailors aboard Mahan the best instruction in mathematics that I possibly can." Mahan's English instructor, Jeff Holbrooks of Charleston, South Carolina, taught four years in South Carolina Public Schools and six years with the South Carolina Department of Corrections. "I signed on with PACE when I realized one day that I wasn't getting any younger, and if I was ever going to travel extensively anywhere outside of South Carolina, I'd better get started immediately," said Holbrooks. "I've always preferred teaching college level courses, especially literature, and PACE is ideal for me. As far as USS Mahan, her enthusiasm and support for the program have been extraordinary. Many large ships with far more numerous crew complements have not been able to match Mahan's course completion record as demonstrated on Med Cruise 2000." The demand for NCPACE courses has been larger than expected. Mahan offers three semesters of classes during deployment. Two history courses were offered the first semester of deployment, and over 10 percent of the crew took advantage of those courses. The benefits of NCPACE instruction quickly spread throughout the ship, and second semester enrollment increased by 50 percent, requiring two instructors for a crew of only 325 Sailors. For second semester, Mahan has 57 destroyermen enrolled in NCPACE courses, which include three English courses and three math courses. The prospect for third semester is even more promising. Mahan is planning on offering seven courses for third semester, four math and three English courses, with 86 of the ship's 325 destroyermen currently registered. In addition, seven Sailors are taking advantage of the 12 different computer-based training courses offered to Sailors wanting to learn at their own pace by computer. Navy Counselor First Class Kenneth Boben of New York City, New York, Mahan's command career counselor, maintains the ship's Learning Media Resource Center (LMRC). "Mahan's primary focus is on quality of life for the crew, Boben said. "The LMRC offers computer technology for self study PACE courses which enable sailors to complete courses on their own time." "Having Internet access in the ship's LMRC has allowed Mahan destroyermen to perform a variety of class-related tasks such as conducting research for term papers and viewing additional course material, said ET3 Richard Schultz of Houston, Texas. "Library resources not found on ships, but readily available on the Internet, have been extremely beneficial to students." "This new capability is of great assistance to all participating in the PACE program," continued Schultz, who as a member Mahan's Information Systems Division, set up and maintains the current computer systems in the LMRC. NC1 Boben also feels that "college at sea has played a significant part in Mahan's successful advancement rate, which, coupled with command climate, respect, recognition, and career counseling, has helped Mahan reach an overall retention rate of 67.82 percent, which earned the Mahan the Retention Excellence Award for 1999." The push for maximum involvement in NCPACE instruction starts from the top, down, and the successful completion of courses for all interested Sailors has been a ship-wide objective. It is common to see students having their English papers proofread by their chief petty officers and division officers, or studying for the upcoming math test with other shipmates. The ship-wide interest in improving the education of all destroyermen in Mahan is led by the Mahan's Education Services Officer, Ensign John Weber, of Prescott, Arizona. "Education has played a fundamental role in allowing me to achieve my goals, from the day I enlisted as a seaman apprentice instead of a seaman recruit, to the day I graduated from the University of Arizona and received my commission through the Enlisted Commissioning Program," Weber said. "I want those that are willing to strive, to have all the opportunities that were given to me and more," Weber continued. "NCPACE is one avenue that allows just that. With the entire command's unwavering support, the student's efforts, the PACE instructor's and PACE Coordinator STG1 John Cox's commitment, this program has expanded and become an unquestionable success. These results have been very fulfilling for me and will be even more fulfilling for the students as it shapes their futures. Mahan destroyermen continue to the set the 'pace' for performance in personal and professional development." USS Mahan, a member of Destroyer Squadron 26 and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Battle Group, is currently deployed in the Mediterranean on her maiden deployment. Mahan is homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, and is commanded by Commander Jim Yohe. -USN- -USN- -USN- NWS07jul-11. LIFELines2000: New look, new address, new capabilities By LIFELines Public Affairs WASHINGTON (NWS) -- If you liked the Navy's award- winning LIFELines Quality of Life (QOL) delivery system, you are going to love the redesigned LIFELines 2000. The updated Internet site features a contemporary new look, a new address at http://www.lifelines2000.org and many additional capabilities powered by a dynamic database system. LIFELines2000 is built on five core business areas -- the web-based Quality of Life (QOL) Network, the QOL News Center, the QOL Broadcast Network, the QOL Business Innovations Portal, and the QOL Gateway. This new system will enable authorized submitting authorities to add, update, and view new content in "real time." At the same time end users will have access, for the first time, to live audio and video streaming on demand, along with their families, and with proper eligibility be able to conduct electronic business via the QOL Business Innovations Portal. The QOL Network has been updated providing faster, better, easier access to QOL information and services. It provides end users as well as partners, command leaders and contributors with a "customized LIFELines experience" drawing from a data base of thousands of pages of original content. Electronic surveys and polls, subscriptions to regular QOL e-mail updates, access to frequently-asked-questions on key QOL topics, and the ability to electronically publish and distribute key documents on the QOL Network -- all of this will be available to command leaders and program managers. Deployed Sailors and Marines, and family members, will have access to hometown news and Direct to Sailor video on demand, plus the comprehensive DOD-LIFELines Gateway database with its thousands of hotlinks to community resources. In addition, national, regional and local QOL community events calendars and self-help materials on a broad range of topics will be as close as their computer keyboard. The LIFELines2000 QOL News Center provides the latest news in Quality of Life resources as well as access to all of the day's news. It makes LIFELines the place to start Internet activity, rich with resources that bring the deployed and remote service members and their families up- to-date on the news of the hour at home and around the world 24 hours-a-day, around the world, seven days a week. The QOL Broadcast Network is working in partnership with the Navy Office of Information (CHINFO) and the Naval Media Center to bring stories and video clips to Sailors, Marines and their families as well as command leaders and program managers using video streaming and electronic publishing technology. MCPON Minutes, weekly Direct to Sailor television news clips, digitized video from key broadcast programs and more are now available on demand for public viewing in the LIFELines QOL Broadcast Network. Watch for Navy/Marine Corps News online brought to the web by LIFELines 2000. A special announcement on this feature is anticipated very soon. Finally, a QOL Broadcast Network Scheduler will be online with military and partner broadcast network information. The QOL Business Innovations Portal has added the newest Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of the Navy online administrative and service delivery processes to the redesigned LIFELines2000. Strategic partnerships are in development to launch: - sailor-to-government initiatives with the Navy Exchange; - access online household goods entitlement information and online counseling services through the Household Goods Division of NAVSUP; - online housing application processes through NAVFAC teleconference capability with the Bureau of Naval Personnel and the Naval Reserve Command; and - LIFELines 2000 services to Sailors at Sea with NAVSEA. You say you can't find the Quality of Life support you're looking for in the new LIFELines 2000 Network? With QOL LIFELines2000 Gateway, that's practically impossible. In partnership with the DoD, LIFELines2000 is showcasing the QOL Gateway with more than 6,700 hot links to service providers in every possible category from commissaries to transition information. The LIFELines2000 QOL Network has been launched but is still under review. After a period of evaluation by the LIFELines2000 Technical Advisory Group and senior Navy Leadership, LIFELines 2000 will be fully commissioned for QOL service delivery to the fleet. Those interested in more details about LIFELines2000 should contact Capt. Bill Hendrix (hendrix.william@hq.navy.mil) at 202-433-3974, or Cmdr. Rudy Brewington (brewington.rudolph@hq.navy.mil) at 202-433-3865. You can also reach the new LIFELines2000 site by accessing the old URL address at http://www.lifelines4qol.org. Visitors will be automatically transferred to the new site location. -USN- -USN- -USN- NWS07jul-12. Battle Stations "Hall of Heroes" unveiled at RTC By Judy Lazarus, Great Lakes Bulletin Associate Editor GREAT LAKES, Ill. (NWS) -- Honor, Courage and Commitment were in full view at Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes recently. Murals, biographies and photographs depicting the Navy's core values were unveiled in the Battle Stations Completion Ceremony Room, the place where recruits our awarded their Navy ball caps following their successful completion of battle stations. Completing Battle Stations is a significant milestone in the recruits' lives, explained ETCS(SS/SW) Darryl Mullen, leading chief of Battle Stations. "They internalize honor, courage and commitment. These special displays will imprint it even more on them. They show their Navy in action. They show people with extreme conviction and commitment." The "Hall of Heroes" project began last October and was spearheaded by computer illustrator Bill Hutchinson, Lt. Chris Cornett, and BUC Patrick White. An outside contractor had estimated it would cost RTC $70,000 to do the project. Thanks to the talents of Hutchinson, Cornett and White, RTC was able to do it themselves for approximately $7,000. "A culture change takes place in that room for recruits," said Capt. Pam Tubbs, executive officer at RTC. "The Hall of Heroes will enhance what is already a very significant event in the lives of these young Sailors." -USN- -USN- -USN- NWS07jul-13. A 4th of July celebration, GW style By JO3 Paul Newell, USS George Washington Public Affairs USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NWS) -- On a foggy Christmas night in 1776, General George Washington led his tattered, starving and frostbitten American troops across the Delaware River in an attempt to evade a British Army waiting to crush his band of rebels and their fledgling country. Because of the sacrifices of Washington and our founding fathers, Sailors today are making their crossings without fear of an enemy. This July 4th, as USS George Washington (CVN 73) made its way toward the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf, Sailors took time to observe our independence with a huge celebration that not only honored our forefathers and our glorious past, but also the men and women of the ship who make independence possible today. And what a celebration it was. Though the "Spirit of Freedom" is miles away from family and loved ones in the states, the ship still threw a 4th of July party fit for Uncle Sam himself. And the patriotic fervor was everywhere. The mess decks were decorated with red, white and blue streamers and pictures of our first president and the GW. S- 2 division also accommodated Sailors by serving them with 4th of July food favorites that included barbecued ribs, hamburgers, hot dogs, beans and grilled chicken. "I thought the food was really good," said 2nd division SA Cody Green. "The ribs almost took me back to Chicago. It certainly didn't feel like I was in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, that's for sure." "The mess specialists did a really great job planning the menu and giving it that home-style personal touch," said food administrator MSCS(SW) Eve Manning. But the eats were only the beginning. At about 7 p.m. local time, several hundred Sailors filled Hangar Bay Three to the sounds of familiar patriotic music. And by the time the MWR talent show began a half hour later, the area, usually filled with F-14's and ship's boats, was loaded with excited Sailors who wanted to see their friends and co-workers display their talents on stage. "The talent was very entertaining," said S-3's Seaman Joshua Lawson. "I especially liked the chiefs who did the Temptations song." Yes, six GW chiefs hammed it up in bow-tied suits and shuffled their way to shouts of praise after lip-syncing their way through the Motown classic, "My Girl." But the highlight of the event was the show-stopping act of AK2 Daniel Austin. The Michael Jackson imitator wowed the crowds and grabbed first place in the contest by lip- syncing and dancing to the "Prince of Pop" tune, "You are Not Alone." After he was given his award, Austin was cheered on and rendered an encore, this time singing "MJ's" signature song, "Billie Jean." After the talent show, Cmdr. Paul Rocereto, the ship's Senior Medical Officer and oldest Sailor on the ship, did the honors and used a ceremonial sword to slice into a beautiful cake, crowned by the Statue of Liberty, decorated by MS1 Robert Danduran. But not even the beautiful "Lady Liberty" confectionery creation could take the Sailors eyes off what was to come. As Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild" blared through the speakers and smoke filled the hangar bay, two red, white and blue curtains hid what promises to be the deployment's main attraction ... two brand new Harley-Davidson motorcycles. As the drapes were lifted, Command Master Chief OSCM (SW/AW) Dale Marteney and Executive Officer Capt. Garry White modeled the "Fat Boy" and 883 Sportster bikes, which are going to be raffled off to raise money for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. Though this 4th of July may have not have been a day off for Sailors and may not have been spent with our loved ones or even in our native lands, Sailors said they appreciated the efforts the command put forth to make this holiday a special one. -USN- -USN- -USN- NWS07jul-14. SAR performs miracle on Mt. Baker Courtesy of Crosswind NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. (NWS) -- A Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter crew sprang into action mid-morning on June 25 with a call from the Washington State Whatcom County Sheriff. An injured climber needed to be picked up from Roosevelt Glacier on the north face of Mt. Baker at 9,000 feet. His climbing companion had died earlier in a fall. Manning the UH-3H helicopter at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., were pilot Lt. Cmdr. Scott Parrish, co-pilot Lt. Chris Cote, crew chief ADC Frank Leets, crewman AM1 Marty Crews and medical technician HMCS Bryce Schuldt. At 11:15 a.m., they flew to the Bellingham, Wash., airport to pick up Delvin Crabtree, a spotter from the Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council (BMRC). On their way to Mt. Baker, Parrish and Cote calculated power required to hover at that altitude considering temperature, weather and the weight of the aircraft. Parrish determined the craft could not hover at that altitude without first jettisoning fuel. A hover at 8,000-feet would be possible. Rescuers would be dropped at that point and have to climb the rest of the way. The SAR crew located the survivor and a ground party of two Canadian climbers and two Portland Mountain Rescue Team members. They were there for a climb of their own when they saw the injured man. They rappelled to the first victim who had fallen into a crevasse and died. They assessed the second man's condition as critical. He needed immediate medical care. Cote flew to 7,800 feet, inching up the slope to 8,000 feet to drop rescuers and their gear. As the helicopter flew back to Bellingham to refuel, Crews, Schuldt and Crabtree took off on foot. At one point, the first climbers on scene helped them cross a dangerous crevasse by lowering ropes and equipment. Finally, Schuldt reached the injured climber, who was coherent, but quickly deteriorating. Rescuers placed him on a litter for the thousand-foot descent to be picked up. At one point, the man stopped breathing and needed emergency ventilation. As they continued downward, Schuldt check the man's pulse and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation. With his colleagues on the ground calling position, Cote again held the helicopter in a hover, rotors within 3 feet of touching the slope. The litter carrying the patient and Schuldt was hoisted aboard and the aircraft flew straight to St. Joseph's Hospital in Bellingham. Avalanche conditions were a serious concern back on the mountain. It was time to rescue the worn out rescuers. After picking them up, and delivering them to a landing zone on Coleman Glacier, where Cote managed a one-wheel landing because of the steep slope, Parrish yanked on Cote's sleeve. A warning light had come on in the cockpit. They headed for Bellingham and landed safely at 9 p.m. The red light turned out to be a warning of a potential crack in one of the helicopter's blades, making it no longer safe to fly. Firewood Six and her crew finished what they had to do in the nick of time. -USN- -USN- -USN- NWS07jul-15. Landlocked Sailors help preserve Navy heritage By JO1 Michael J. Meridith, U.S. Strategic Command Public Affairs OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (NWS) -- More than 50 years and thousands of miles from the seas where she survived some of the fiercest action of World War II, the minesweeper USS Hazard (AM 240), was slowly surrendering to the one enemy she couldn't defeat: time. Constructed in 1944, Hazard's wartime duties included escorting convoys, performing anti-submarine patrols, and searching for mines during World War II. She also came under attack by Japanese Kamikazes. Her crew managed to shoot down two of the suicide bombers. Hazard's motto was "no sweep, no invasion," a reference to the fact that any amphibious attack was doomed to failure without a minesweeper to clear a path for the troop ships to deploy their forces. She was decommissioned in 1946 and joined the reserve fleet. In 1971, a group of Omaha Navy veterans purchased Hazard after learning she was to be scrapped. They cleaned her up and brought her to the heartland of the country she once proudly defended. For nearly three decades the veteran minesweeper has been the flagship of Freedom Park, a naval history museum on the banks of the Missouri River in Omaha, Neb. Decks that once echoed with the sounds of sailors had grown quiet. Passageways and compartments that were once crowded with men bound for war were now crewed by a handful of roosting birds. Peeling paint and rusty surfaces showed clearly that the last remaining Admirable-class minesweeper had been without a crew for nearly 29 of her 56 years of existence. Feeling an obligation to this important piece of naval history, a group of Sailors assigned to U.S. Strategic Command here decided to help save it. Eight members of USSTRATCOM's Petty Officers Association (POA) descended on Freedom Park in mid-June and began the painstaking process of undoing the ravages of time. "The first time we saw Hazard, we were really floored by the tremendous amount of work that needed to be done. The Nebraska weather had really taken its toll on it," explained POA president YN1 Anthony P. Stiner. Despite the enormity of the task they face, Stiner said he and his volunteers are motivated by what he feels is a "solemn, military duty" to preserve military heritage. He said the first visit accomplished a significant amount of chipping and painting and expects subsequent monthly paintings will bring Hazard back to nearly pristine condition in less than four months. "There are some old crew diaries on the Hazard's mess decks. After reading them, I really developed a respect for what these guys went through. We wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the sacrifices they made," Stiner said. "When we finish and walk down the brow for the last time, we're going to have a lot of pride that people will get to see Hazard as she was when she was in service." -USN- -USN- -USN- NWS07jul-16. Mess specialists learn culinary arts from renowned chef By JO1(AW) Kori Ahola, USS George Washington Public Affairs USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NWS) -- His salt and pepper hair shows beneath his flouncy white hat. He pushes on his glasses habitually as he reads to a class of 40 eager students. The students listen intently to his rich baritone as he speaks about French culinary terms, in a slight German accent. "French is the language of the kitchen," said Guenther Reetz, on board USS George Washington (CVN 73) as part of the Navy's Chef-at-Sea program. Reetz is teaching much more than just French terms. He's an instructor from First Coast Technical Center, formerly St. Augustine Technical Center, St. Augustine, Fla., on board, instructing in all facets of food service, whether in the classroom or in one of the seven galleys. "A lot of people take food for granted," said CWO3 Cedric Davis, GW's food service officer. "But when in a large environment like this, you have to be much more careful. One single drop of cleaning compound in some food could disable half the crew with diarrhea. That's why he's teaching sanitation as the initial class." Sanitation is only one of four classes he's teaching to GW's mess specialists. He's also providing instruction in nutrition, supervision and professional cooking. Completion of his courses offers more than just knowledge; students will receive a certificate and credit as a certified chef. Teaching is nothing new to the 57-year-old veteran chef. He's a certified executive chef, a certified culinary educator and is one of only 700 chefs worldwide to be inducted into the American Academy of Chefs. "I get the biggest charge out of being able to pass on what I know to others," said Reetz. Something else that Reetz knows about is traveling aboard ship. "I was 18 years old when I joined a Swedish cruise line and made two 10-and-a-half month cruises that helped to take me around the world," Reetz said. "After joining the pilot program for the Chef-at-Sea program in 1992 on board USS Saratoga, I've traveled and taught classes on board five different carriers, and have had the opportunity to experience the cuisine in almost every culture. I'm really looking forward to going back to Turkey, as their foods are very unique." Most of the students in his class are some of the more junior mess specialists and a little bit younger than the man they simply call "The Chef," but the age difference doesn't bother him. "I started an apprenticeship program at the age of 14," the Cologne, Germany native said with a smile. "Back when I was young, chefs didn't share their recipes; you had to `steal with your eyes' in order to learn what you could. I find that I still learn things each and every day and try to share some of that knowledge." The chef is here for the entire deployment and although he won't make an immediate impact on the culinary skills of some of his students in the classroom until mid-cruise, other mess specialists are benefiting from his expertise already. "He showed me a quick and easy way to make a garnish with an orange that only took 15 minutes to make," said MS3 John McDaniels, a cook in the Chief Petty Officer's Mess. "Presentation really adds to how well your food is received, and color and decorations make the eating experience a little more palatable." "I was a student of his when I was stationed at NAS Key West, Fla.," said MS1(AW) Arthur Browning, GW's Chief Petty Officer's Mess galley captain and berthing petty officer. "That was five years ago and now I run into him aboard GW, which gives me the opportunity to ask him all kinds of questions that have come to mind. Chef is a wealth of knowledge. It's interesting talking shop aboard a carrier. Pilots have their own jargon, and when a couple chefs get together, we lapse into a lingo that most people just can't follow." So if you see a man in a chef's jacket, covered in Navy patches of some of the ships he's been on in the past, and have a question about the art of cooking, don't hesitate to say, "Hi Chef." He'll welcome the chance to share his knowledge. -USN- -USN- -USN- NWS07jul-17. This week's national broadcasts featuring the Navy Please contact Lt. Mitch McCaffrey or Lt. j.g. Susan Henson at (703) 697-5342 with additional information on the Navy in national broadcasts. They can also be e-mailed at mailto:mccaffrey.mitchell@hq.navy.mil or mailto:henson.susan@hq.navy.mil. Times are EST unless otherwise noted. Friday, July 7- - 10 a.m./3 p.m., History Channel, Weapons at War: Aircraft Carriers - 11 a.m./4 p.m., History Channel, True Action Adventures: Kennedy's PT Boat Rescue - 11:30 a.m./4:30 p.m., History Channel, USS Indianapolis - Tragedy at Sea Saturday, July 8- - 11 p.m., History Channel, "The Fighting I" - The Story of the USS Intrepid Tuesday, July 11- - 9 a.m., History Channel, Live from Boston: OPSAIL 2000 - The return of Tall Ships to Boston Harbor Tuesday, July 25- - 8:30 p.m., Food Network, "Down the Hatch" - Submarine food service -USN-