1. VOL 1 / NO 32 July 21, 2010
Vinson Uploads and Launches
Missiles for Qualifications
Story by MCSN Rosa A. Arzola
USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer
Carl Vinson uploaded and launched Evolved Sea Sparrow
Surface Missiles (ESSM) and Rolling Airframe Missiles
(RAM) July 16 and 17 to support the Combat Systems Ship’s
Qualification Trials.
This is the first time the ship has had missiles on board since
the completion of a five-year Refueling Complex Overhaul.
“It’s part of the qualifications for Combat Systems to test its
equipment and abilities underway,” said Lt. Cmdr. Michael
Bornstein, Vinson’s Ordnance Handling Officer.
These qualifications indicate when the ship is ready to defend
itself from attack.
The ESSM weighs approximately 590 pounds, while the RAM
is a light-weight 200-pound missile. Both are quick-reaction,
fire-and-forget missiles designed to destroy anti-missiles and
asymmetric air and surface threats.
For some Sailors, this was the first time they handled these
kinds of missiles and for most of the crew it was the first missile
firing they had witnessed.
“These guys have never done this before, so there has been a
lot of training for the junior personnel
to prepare them for this operation,”
said Fire Controlman 2nd Class (SW/
AW) James Worley, the ship’s Combat Systems
Assistant Leading Petty Officer. “They are all very excited.”
Being part of this event underway was a new experience for
many junior Sailors.
“I love my job and my experience here so far,” said Fire
Controlman Fireman Kevin Van Gorder. “I’m excited. This is
what we train for. We train like we fight, we fight like we train.
This is what it’s all about, our sole purpose as fire controlmen is
to defend the ship.”
This was the first time in four years that Combat Systems and
The Carl Vinson Voice is an internal document produced by and for the crew of
Weapons Departments worked together. the USS Carl Vinson and their families. Its contents do not necessarily reflect
See MISSILES, page 2 the official views of the U.S. Government or the Departments of Defense or
the Navy and do not imply any endorsement thereby.
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Green
2. 2 Carl Vinson Voice
MISSILES Continued
“It was fairly easy to accomplish the
movement of the missiles,” said Aviation
Ordnanceman 1st Class (AW/SW) Joshua
Shryock, Weapons Department G-3 Division’s
Leading Petty Officer. “Combat Systems
dictated ordnance control while Weapons
Department physically moved the missiles.”
Combat Systems launched the missiles
July 17 as part of Combat Systems Ship’s
Qualification Trials.
“We did a lot of work for our ship to be
functional now,” said Fire Controlman 2nd
Class (SW/PJ) Eric McQuitty. “Launching
these missiles gives us more purpose to do our
job everyday because we feel more prepared
and motivated.”
Not only did Sailors accomplish the mission,
for some it was a unique opportunity to shoot
missiles.
“Most Sailors don’t have the opportunity
to shoot this many missiles in their entire
career and we are going to do it within a week
period,” said Chief Fire Controlman (SW/
AW) Derek Besand, Combat System’s Ship’s
Self Defense Division Leading Chief Petty
Officer. “Launching missiles shows our ship,
the Navy and the world that Vinson is ready
for combat.”
“We successfully shot three missiles,
one RAM and two ESSMs. We passed our
qualifications and certifications for the ship’s
self-defense system, which demonstrates
that Carl Vinson can defend itself from any
attack,” said Worley. “It felt awesome. We put
in a lot of long hours and a lot of hard work,
and it paid off. All eyes were on us, and we
delivered.”
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
Layout and Design
MC3 Patrick Green
MCSN Rosa A. Arzola
Staff Writers/Photographers
MC3 Heather Roe
MCSN Zachary D. Bell
MCSN Rosa A. Arzola
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4. 4 Carl Vinson Voice
ATG onboard, Vinson Sailors Motivated
Brenner. “Enthusiasm goes a long
way, if you’re excited about what
you’re doing and you present that to
other Sailors, it affects how well you
and others perform positively.”
Damage Controlman 3rd Class
Garland Riley teaches damage
control classes, is the number one
nozzleman for Vinson’s “Gold Eagle”
flying squad and the on-scene leader
for GQ in repair locker 1B.
“Having motivation is important
because it keeps everyone on their
toes. Everyone is affected by the
people around them,” said Riley.
“Sometimes motivation sharpens
your brain in a stressful situation.
When my hose team is really pumped
up, ready to go and they know what
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adrian T. White
they’re doing, that makes me feel
comfortable in return.
Riley’s locker leader in 1B is Interior
performing a broad spectrum of Communications Electrician 1st
Story by MCSN Zachary D. Bell maritime missions. Class (SW/AW) Thomas Ingram.
USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer Chief Damage Controlman “Drills are serious business,” said
(SW) Matt Brenner, Engineering Ingram. “They are vital to keeping us
Department Damage Control mission-ready and keeping the ship
Long hours underway are a part of Division’s Leading Chief Petty safe,” said Ingram.
a Sailor’s life at sea and something Officer and member of the Damage Ingram does what he can to keep
we’ve all come to expect. What’s Control Training Team, believes that Sailors motivated.
difficult for others to understand a positive attitude has a direct affect “Like I tell everyone in my locker,
though, is what keeps a Sailor going on performance. if you can’t get out of it you might
hundreds or thousands of miles “Having motivation during drills as well get into it,” said Ingram. “It’s
from home. So when Sailors are helps determine how enthusiastic our job, it’s our mission, it’s our
exhausted and the whistle blows Sailors around you are,” said home and we have to protect it.”
over the 1MC, “This is a drill, this
is a drill,” what keeps these Sailors
going? Motivation.
Motivation is one of many critical
things necessary for Carl Vinson’s
success during General Quarters
(GQ) and basic damage control
drills.
The Afloat Training Group
(ATG) is currently onboard to
conduct Command Assessment of
Readiness and Training (CART)
II, a performance based assessment
of a unit’s readiness in critical
mission areas. They are here to give
an outside perspective on drills
and grade how well Vinson Sailors
perform leading into inspection
and survey. ATG provides dynamic,
quality afloat training to ensure
a combat ready force, capable of Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adrian T. White
5. July 21, 2010 5
SailorSPOTLIGHT
IN THE
training exams and is also a
Story by MC3 Heather Roe major contributor to the training
USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer of Reactor Department Sailors
through propulsion plant drills,”
said Senior Chief (select) Nuclear
Always being a hard worker and Machinist’s Mate (SW/SS) James
having complete dedication to Osgood, Reactor Training Leading
your rating in the Navy can be a Chief Petty Officer.
hard thing. These two factors have Along with his training duties,
not been hard qualities for Nuclear Poplaski trains all new Sailors
M a c h i n i s t ’s attached
Mate 2nd “I like being a nuke because it always to Reactor
Class (SW) keeps me on my toes.” Depa r t ment
Josh Poplaski u p o n
to achieve MM2 (SW) Josh Poplaski a s sig n ment .
t hroughout He also serves
his naval enlistment. as Reactor’s career counselor.
A native of Hot Springs, Ark., “I like meeting the new Sailors,”
Poplaski has been a hard- said Poplaski. “It’s nice having the
charging Sailor since arriving initial inf luence on them because
aboard Carl Vinson in I like motivating the Sailors and
September 2007. As a getting them excited about the ship.
nuclear machinist’s mate, The Navy provides an opportunity
Poplaski spent the for growth in all aspects of life,
first year and a half whether it’s a career you’re looking
learning his craft. for or leadership and people skills.”
Although Poplaski has always made a good
Poplaski is a impression on his chain of command.
second class Osgood explained why he is such an
petty officer, he asset to Reactor Department.
is often tasked “He’s a hard-charging highly
with first class motivated sailor,” said Osgood.
petty officer “He is constantly seeking personal
work. He is the and professional improvement
primary mechanical through advanced qualifications
representative for Reactor and responsibility well above his
Department training. time in rate.”
“I like being a nuke because Poplaski has many goals in mind
it always keeps me on my toes,” for the years to come in the Navy
said Poplaski. “There is always and once he has completed his time
something new to learn every in the service.
day and you never know what the “I want to make first class and
next day is going to bring you.” further my qualifications in reactor
Poplaski writes and administers to improve my knowledge overall,”
all reactor mechanical exams. said Poplaski.
He also maintains and ensures Poplaski plans to finish his
exams are up-to-date. Bachelor’s in Science and Nuclear
“MM2 is responsible for writing Technology within the next year-
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Heather Roe the departments continuing and-a-half.
6. 6 Carl Vinson Voice
Vinson Welcomes
New “Fun Boss”
Boss” on the USS
Story by MCSN Rosa A. Arzola Nimitz (CVN 68)
USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer before reporting
aboard Vinson June
6.
The days are getting longer and She’s ready to keep
the work load could very well the crew entertained,
increase as Vinson inches closer to especially during
deployment. One of Vinson’s newest Vinson’s first six-
crewmembers realizes that a little month deployment
relaxation and entertainment can since the completion
have a positive effect. of a five-year
The Morale, Welfare and Recreation Refueling Complex
(MWR) Division on board has a Overhaul.
new Float Recreation Specialist, or “I understand
“Fun Boss”, who is excited to offer that Carl Vinson is
many new entertainment options. still transitioning
Therese Guinane, a native of from a ship-yard Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Rosa A. Arzola
Chicago, earned her Recreation environment to a
and Park Administration Bachelor’s full-deployment ship,
Degree at Illinois State University. and I want to get the ship ready for MWR will be organizing events
She interned with the Liberty deployment by offering a variety of such sports competition, ice-cream
Program Overseas in Guantanamo entertainment for our Sailors,” said socials, karaoke and movie nights.
Bay, Cuba, and was MWR’s “Fun Guinane. Guinane also plans to organize
groups where Sailors who share
common interests can get together,
including book, movie, chess, and
open-mic clubs.
“It’s important to have an MWR
center aboard Carl Vinson that can
organize fun activities because it
gives you a chance to get your mind
off of work for a while,” said Aviation
Ordinanceman 1st Class (AW) Jose
Sorola. “It boosts the morale of the
Sailors during a deployment, and a
happy Sailor is a productive Sailor.
It helps Sailors accomplish whatever
the mission is.”
Guinane understands how
important MWR is for Sailors and
wants to do the best she can at her
job.
“MWR is an important mission-
essential program, and its existence
is to build support and help pass
free time smoothly throughout
deployment,” said Guinane. “I
understand what my job is, and I will
come every day to work to do my job
and my best, to make people happy. I
hope I make a positive impact on the
next deployment.”
