February 2011 Volume 1, Issue 1

Transcription

1 LTJG Mary O Melia We re back in the saddle again! IN THIS issue. CO s Corner 1 XO s Corner 2 Words from CMC 2 Ombudsman 2 Welcome to the first edition of the Garuda News! the monthly newsletter that will keep you, the families and friends of our Sailors, informed of squadron happenings during this 2011 Deployment aboard the USS Carl Vinson, CVN-70. The Garudas of VAQ-134 are back doing what they do best flying combat operations. As the mission and the maintenance are all very familiar to every member of the squadron, the living conditions have changed dramatically from the stable, centralized base with amenities of Bagram to the constantly moving aircraft carrier. With a new home comes new experiences: man-overboard drills, cleaning stations, a flight deck environment, and of course, port calls! All hands have shown exemplary resiliency and adaptability to their new environment and have exceeded expectations. Even in the first few weeks of supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, the Garuda team has achieved an incredible task of executing over 150 straight sorties including 36 combat missions, without a single cancellation; an unheard of accomplishment for any Prowler squadron! As we continue to press with the mission, each member of the squadron continues to give his or her all. No effort goes unnoticed and above all we realize that our success is a team success, and included in that team is the support we steadily receive from our families back home. It is your support that continues to keep us WORLD FAMOUS! Powerplants 3 HM1 Sarsfield 3 Line 4 NC1 Matthies 5 AD1 Bauer 5 EAWS 6 co s corner Commander J.L. Jackson Commanding Officer Garuda Families, Hopefully this note finds everyone in good health and doing well. The last time I wrote one of these messages VAQ-134 was in Bagram Afghanistan finishing up our deployment and trying to plan to our next deployment to Iraq. It is amazing how much has changed since then. We have transitioned from a squadron that deploys to land bases with plenty of space to roam and creature comforts like good internet connectivity, available phones, Skype, and a bedroom to ourselves to a carrier squadron which makes it impossible to get more than 1000 feet from each other and creature comforts like 100 man berthing, one phone line for the whole squadron that is monitored for business use, and internet connectivity that makes us long for a dial-up modem. However, there are some positives that we have been fortunate to experience in this transition like port calls, the excitement of the carrier flight deck, and being part of a larger weapon system (Carrier Battle Group) that can influence a world situation just by its presence. Like the commercials use to say it It is not just a job, it is an adventure. I would also like to say that many things in this command have remained unchanged. This squadron continues to perform at a level that many people on the outside cannot understand. The environment has completely changed, but the squadron is performing like it has been doing it for years. I continually hear from the other leadership in the Air Wing that the one major improvement this Air Wing has received in this turnaround is the addition of VAQ-134. The Garudas are setting the standard in all areas from maintenance to personal behavior on liberty. We are also continuing to focus on individual improvement by studying for exams/warfare specialties, getting in shape, and taking college courses. Since we left after Thanksgiving the squadron has successfully completed the final phase of workups and traveled across the Pacific. We operated around the Korean Peninsula in order to send a message to the leadership in North Korea that the United States is still watching. We recently arrived in 5 th Fleet (the Middle East) to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation New Dawn in Iraq. We have even had a little time CONTINUED ON PG. 3 1

2 Garuda Families, Greetings from the North Arabian Sea. This is my first opportunity to write to all of you and say how happy my wife, Tiffany, and I are to be members of this squadron. That being said, the Garudas have made the transition back to sea look easy and have set the standard for all (former) expeditionary squadrons to meet. Whether on the job or in port, the Garudas have acted professionally and should make all of you proud! Like the Skipper alluded to, life on the ship can be challenging and the living conditions down right rough. It is my job to make sure that everyone s quality of life is as good as life on the ship will allow. While we have had some issues, what the ship couldn t fix, we have learned to fix ourselves. I am sure our First Lieutenant folks have learned some skills they never thought they would need. As we settle in to flying missions here know that your Sailors are performing well and continuing to impress both our fellow Airwing members and Ship s company alike. Ashore, they have acted like the ambassadors we expect them to be while still being able to enjoy the biggest benefit of a carrier deployment, liberty in foreign ports. As I get around the shops, the troops recognize the importance of our mission here and are excited to see a Garuda jet go shooting off the pointy end and head in country. Their enthusiasm is infectious making me truly honored to be a member of the Garuda Family. I look forward to meeting you all again soon, and know that we are all in this together. Another proud Garuda, CDR Greg Pugsley Byers Executive Officer XO s corner Commander G.D. Byers Executive Officer Words from CMC Garuda Families, CMDCM(AW/SW) W.D. Goforth Command Master Chief Our Garuda Family is now enjoying things like mail/ , port visits, and camaraderie. A handwritten letter from home with words of inspiration is one of the best things that can put a smile on any Sailor. I encourage everyone to use as well, the contact is awesome. Our port visits were full of shopping and some great MWR tours. Camaraderie within the squadron is a unique gift bestowed to a Sailor that will be a life time memory. However, the family support from home guard is what keeps a Sailor strong. The Garuda Family has adapted to sea life with ease and is well respected around this great ship, USS CARL VINSON. I m truly blessed to be able to sail with these fine men and women. As we have settled into our mission, we ll have periods of no communication and intermittent flow. Not to worry, it s all normal and designed to maximize our operational posture while conducting our missions. So far I have had great communication with our Ombudsman, Jackie Queen and Katie Koziol. If you have any concerns or a really pressing need please contact them and they will relay the message and I will respond as promptly as possible. March second is Dr. Seuss Birthday. We have a great opportunity to read all the Dr. Seuss Books for the Month of March through the United Through Reading program which is in full swing and popular. USO shows always bring joy to our days at sea, be sure to ask who was here in your letters from home. In addition, ask your Sailors to smile for the CRUISEBOOK photos coming up as they will be dressed in their Sunday best, Service Dress Blues. Walking around the shops, I find our Sailors with their heads held high with pride. Without doubt, these Sailors truly appreciate your sacrifice. Our job is important, but we are only successful with your brave support from home. Thank you. Proud of the Garuda Family, CMDCM Bill Go4th Command Master Chief Happy Spring from your VAQ-134 Ombudsmen - we hope you had a joyful holiday season. Get ready for an exciting spring kicking off with a Family Readiness Group (FRG) meeting, a Halfway Party, and a Video Teleconference with your sailors - stay tuned for dates and locations! We had our second successful FRG meeting on 8 February where we discussed ideas for social gatherings, fund raisers, and our half-way party. We're still looking for a chair, co-chair, and treasurer - get involved and have a great time meeting new people and enjoying the Pacific Northwest! As always, we're here for you, the spouses, friends, and families - please feel free to contact Katie or myself (Jackie) at omb.vaq134@gmail.com, , or V/R, Jackie Queen 2

3 By AD1 Kurt Lund & AD3 Michaelangelo Silang The Power Plants work center started the WESTPAC deployment with a lot of fresh faces and new talent. Losing most of the experienced personnel from the last Expeditionary Team, the younger maintainers are eager and willing to be knowledgeable of the EA-6B aircraft systems. This shipboard ready maintenance team has contributed greatly to the timely return of critical aircraft assets to full mission capable status, enabling the command to meet all operational commitments during deployment. Their hard work has turned out the removal and installation of three J52-P-408A/B engines, along with plenty of throttle quadrant changes to bring our aircraft to full mission capability. All of our loved ones are in our thoughts, missing them dearly and waiting to return home to them safely. We understand that there is a mission to complete before we hit home guard. CO S CORNER CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 to enjoy ourselves in two successful port calls to Busan, Korea and Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, which was very interesting because we went from freezing cold to jungle hot in a less than a ten day period. We also took a little time on Christmas Day to celebrate as a squadron and recognize two of our Sailors, AM3 Bates and AZ2 Brevard, who were command advanced to AM2 and AZ1 based on their hard work and dedication. Overall, it has been a very busy beginning to deployment but very rewarding to watch what the people in this organization are capable of doing. The final point I would like to make is none of these things could be accomplished without the support of our families and friends back home. We continue to work towards establishing a functioning Family Readiness Group (FRG) to help provide a solid foundation back home and welcome any help in the effort. I treat this command like a family and we are all an important part of it. If we can do anything to help a situation or problem at home please get in contact with us through the Ombudsman and we will do everything we can to help. I could not be more proud of what this squadron has accomplished in the last year and what they continue to do every day! HM1 Sarsfield participating in a mass casualty drill aboard the USS Carl Vinson, CVN 70. HM1(AW/CAC) Paul Sarsfield, born and raised in Tacoma, WA, went to college in Ellensburg at Central Wash University and graduated with a BS in Pre-Emergency Medicine in He joined the Navy on 23 February 1997 to broaden his medical experiences and practice medicine in an operational environment. After two tours as a general duty HM he elected to go into the Search & Rescue HM program and went down to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 2002 to fly SAR and homeland security missions. In 2004 he deployed with the Marines flying CASEVAC missions in central Iraq, transporting over 700 patients in 122 mission earning six Air Medals and his Combat Aircrew designation. In 2005 he volunteered to start up the Navy s Air Ambulance Mission (2515 th NAAD) and deployed again to Kuwait to relieve the Army to fly MEDEVAC and en-route care missions throughout the region. In 2007, while attached to HS2/HSC-12 he was the USS Lincoln Battle Group s sole SAR HM, taking care of his squadron of 200 Sailors, providing advanced life support MEDEVAC care to and from the Battle Group, and leading CVW-2 s medical dept and the Ship s Aviation Medicine as the LPO. After five tours he requested to come back to his home state and help bring VAQ-134 back to the carrier with his experiences and continues to provide operational medicine and leadership. His goal is to be selected for HMC once eligible in 2012 and continue to lead Sailors while raising his family with his wife Tricia, a high school guidance counselor in the Kent School District. Proud to be a Garuda, CDR Lee Spaulding Jackson Commanding Officer P.S. Give our Ombudsman Jackie Queen and Katie Koziol a thank you next time you see them or talk to them on the phone. They are doing a great job keeping the information flowing and our families supported. 3

4 Ugh, another mail call and, of course, I didn t get S@#$! was the greeting I received from AMEAN Nathan Moss as I arrived at work yesterday, the 17 th of February. Rob gets his stupid box of stupid jerky, but here I am still with nothing! He went on to explain that he was anxiously anticipating the arrival of a card his wife had sent with an EKG printout of his unborn son s heartbeat. His wife, Leslie, delivered the joyous news that they were expecting within the first two weeks of deployment, and in his mind, June couldn t come soon enough. That seemed to be the general consensus one evening in the berthing when I asked each of the Line Shackers to give me one word that best summarized what was on their mind in regards to deployment. Home, wife, kids, family, friends, land, freedom, the drive home from base, were some of the answers I received. It was clear that #1 on everyone s mind was the lives and loved ones they d left back home. With so much to daydream about, I was curious as to how the Line Division, such an integral component in the completion of flight operations, had been so successful over the course of the last few months. VAQ 134 has surpassed the 100 consecutive launch and recovery milestone, and shows no signs of slowing down. I asked a few of the plane captains why they thought they were able to maintain such a high level of success, despite the frustration, monotony, and feelings of detachment associated with deployment. AD3 Greg Robinson said that on the front of his mind was his girlfriend Lacey, a former VAQ 134 Garuda, waiting for him back in Oak Harbor. Does By AT3 Alex Bates that make it harder to do your job well? I asked him. His response was, No, doing the job keeps ya from going crazy. AMAN Jonathan Rojas agreed and added, We get the job done to maintain morale. It s better when we do well and keep all our spirits up. I d go crazy otherwise. While the details varied, the theme behind Division 310 s professional ability seemed to be constant: We d rather be home, but while we re gone, we ll do our job and do it well. There are many new faces in the Line Shack this deployment, and some of the familiar ones are no longer in the division. The migration of Plane Captains AD3 Josh Lee and ADAN Randall Smith to the Mech shop came earlier this month after a combined 3 ½ years in the Line. With such veteran experience leaving the shop, other Plane Captains have had to step into roles of leadership and become more aggressive in training new personnel. AEAN Dustin Walcott stated in regards to Smith and Lee that, Losing experienced guys like that makes our jobs tougher, because we have to handle our own business while picking up their slack. Plus, the boat keeps taking trainees and sending them TAD when we could always use the bodies. Trainees being sent TAD is a new complication for the Garuda Line Shack as it is unique to boat life. A large portion of the personnel that facilitate galley operation, waste disposal, and officer and chief state room maintenance on the ship is comprised of aviation personnel who have been placed in Temporary Assigned Duty billets. So far this deployment, five trainees in the division have been affected by a three month TAD. Additional pressure on those in the shop came down early in deployment when the squadron Maintenance Officer, LCDR Welch, presented the entire enlisted community with the challenge of obtaining their Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist qualification. The studying necessary for this task, coupled with that of advancement preparation, has filled any gaps in time devoted to the job that might have previously existed for those in the Line Shack. Despite the distance from family and friends, the stress of dodging TAD billets, and the strenuous work schedule, Line Division personnel have found means of breaking up the monotonous Groundhog Day effect with pseudo-recreational activity. AMAN Ryan Way is an avid chess player and can be found nightly dueling any and all challengers in the berthing. AEAN Dustin Walcott has been fine tuning his guitar skills in the shop. AZAN Lou Garcia can be found most afternoons, before his shift begins, body building in the ship s weight room. These are only a few examples of methods Line Shack Sailors have been using to pass the time. Port visits to Busan, South Korea and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia also served as much needed miniature vacations for those in the Line Division. As the 2010/2011 deployment nears the half-way point, I believe it s safe to say that for the Plane Captains and trainees in the Line Shack of VAQ 134, the last two months feel like years. But in spite of the long hours, undesirable living conditions, and homesickness, they find ways of continuing to support the Squadron s mission to the best of their abilities, and will undoubtedly do so till the jets fly home. 4

5 NC1 (AW/SW) George Matthies originally joined the Navy as an AS, Aviation Support Equipment Technician; he chose to become a Command Career Counselor because he felt that too many Sailors were being pointed in the wrong direction when it came to options in their careers. In this particular line of work the wrong information can lead to a lot of wasted time and can hinder individuals in many ways. The Navy has career options and incentives available to just about everyone, and the possibilities of self improvement and development are literally endless. Most Sailors are not aware of their options when they first join because it can be too much to comprehend, however, the basic principles are explained and later followed up on. There are key milestones in a Sailor s career where a type of interview called a Career Development Board (CDB) is conducted with the Sailor and his or her Chain of Command. These CDB s are extremely important because they lay the foundation of the Sailor s career and are conducted at the following milestones: Reporting CDB (within 30 days of receipt of individual), 6/12/24/36/48/60 months CDB s. As a Command Career Counselor, NC1 Matthies ensures that each Sailor is provided with a sufficient quality and quantity of career information in a timely manner. This allows them to make sound career decisions based on fact and not fiction. The Navy will continue to evolve and being up to date on all career guidance helps ensure the success of Sailors at their Commands. He offers vocational guidance to Sailors, both individually and in groups, aboard ships and at shore facilities. As Command Career Counselor he assesses the interests, aptitudes, abilities and personalities of each individual Sailor and assists them in reaching their full potential. NC1 also provides the basis for establishing and managing an effective Career Development Program, and is responsible directly to the Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, and Command Master Chief for reports on many items such as retention, attrition, advancement, testing and other various facets of the Career Development Program. As a Command Career Counselor attention to detail is a must and ensures personnel throughout the Command are updated in current Navy policies in regards to career management, off duty education and administrative procedures, among various other responsibilities. To sum up a Command Career Counselor in two words would be Lateral Development, making sure that any information received in regards to anything career wise gets distributed to all, for continued improvements in Sailor s careers. NC1 Matthies with LTJG Lassiter assisting in the re-enlistment of AM1 Clemena The re-enlistment of one of our Sailors is always a special occasion for all parties involved. For the enlisting officer, the honor of being selected to perform the discharge and Oath of Enlistment; for the spectators, to witness a peer reaffirm his or her values and commitment to the United States of America; and for the re-enlistee, the pride and fulfillment of re-committing their service to his or her country. On 16 February, AD1 Jacob Bauer re-enlisted in the United States Navy in the presence of a few distinguished guests Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers. On an MWR visit to the USS Carl Vinson, the players signed autographs, took pictures, and proudly shared their diamond-encrusted rings along with the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy. A native of Waterloo, Wisconsin and a lifelong fan of the Packers, AD1 Bauer fondly remembers watching the Packers play at his grandparent s house while growing up. This experience to be able to re-enlist in the presence of the Super Bowl Champs and to wear the 1997 Super Bowl ring during my oath will be one of many highlights of my career, he says. Unfortunately I couldn t share the experience with my family back home; I was glad to be able to share it with my fellow Garudas. 5

6 Our Sailors are constantly striving to better themselves. One way they are doing that is by getting their warfare qualification via the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist (EAWS) program. Before participants are allowed to start the program they are required to meet certain pre-requisites pertaining to their rate as well as a minimum of six months in the squadron. Once those are met, the Sailor is given his or her books and is expected to visit specialists in other shops to learn about the different aspects of the squadron. After completion of all the required sign-offs, the sailor takes a 100 question test followed by a rigorous oral board. Earning one s wings is a point of pride and professionalism, the Sailor leaves feeling they have accomplished something. It s a milestone in every Sailor s career, says LCDR Orion Welch, VAQ-134 s Maintenance Officer. it s something they should be proud of. The Garudas currently have 100% of eligible personnel enrolled in EAWS. The Commanding Officer, CDR Jackson, has proposed a challenge for all individuals: to ELECTRONIC ATTACK SQUADRON ONE THREE FOUR have 100% of those currently enrolled qualified by the end of deployment. Those who have most recently received their coveted wings are AT3 Alex Bates, AE3 Leslie Queen, AME3 Xiang Zhang, AE3 Jeremy Melendez, and ATAN Linda Galaviz. Other recent recipients include AO3 John Goodrich, AD3 Joshua Lee, and ADAN Randall Smith. ADAN Smith s accomplishment was especially noteworthy because he was the first E-3 and below to earn his wings in the squadron. Included in this incredible mention are AN Fred Johnson and AT3 Aaron Headley who have completed all necessary requirements and are waiting for the minimum six months in the squadron so they may take their boards. In addition to EAWS, we currently have approximately 20 Sailors ranging from E-3 to E-6 enrolled in the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) program, making them eligible to become dual-warfare qualified. This incredible accomplishment will mark them as being well rounded, complete Sailors. Congratulations to all the Garudas who re-enlisted in the month of February! AM1 Bobby Clemena GM2 Christopher Ruddell AD1 Jacob Bauer AM2 Trevor Bates AM2 Shawn Tolman AM3 Matthew Rodriguez AME1 Wyatt Zarr AE2 David Greer AE3 Jeremy Melendez AT3 Stephen Jando Sailor of the Year: AM1(AW) S. X. BASSETT Junior Sailor of the Year: AM2(AW) C. J. LATHAM Blue Jacket of the Year: AO3(AW) J. G. GOODRICH Senior Garuda of 1 st Quarter: AE1(AW) Young Junior Garuda of 1 st Quarter: LS2(AW) Mosquera Plane Captain of 1 st Quarter: AMAN Leon Blue Jacket of 1 st Quarter: AEAN Walcott Safety Pro of the Month: AMAN Liles Ombudsman Information: Jackie Queen Katie Koziol (360) (850) omb.vaq134@yahoo.com Family Contact and Assistance Officer (FCAO) LT Ana Brown (832) VAQ-134 UNIT FPO-AP Care Packages for Deployed Sailors The United States Postal Service (USPS) offers FREE packaging materials to families of deployed military members. How to order? - Call , Monday-Friday (7am-7pm), Saturday (7am-6pm) - Press 1 (for English) - Press 1 (for Operator) - Ask for the Care package for deployed Sailors or The Military Kit. 6