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Air Traffic Controllers from USS Theodore Roosevelt’s (CVN 71) Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC) traveled to Pensacola, Fla. in April to attend a Team

Training course that sharpened their skills and prepared them to do their jobs once TR becomes mission ready.

“We go down to Pensacola because that’s the only place that has the kind of simulators that we need to get ready for being underway and getting qualifications, since we’re not able to do our job on the ship right now (while in the shipyard),” said Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Ramona Jones, one of the Sailors who attended the training.

The training started with a scored test that assessed the air traffic controllers’ level of knowledge (LOK). TR’s Sailors passed with flying colors.

“I had some high expectations going down there,” said Chief Air Traffic Controller (AW/SW) Scott A. Howe, TR’s CATCC Chief. “The first day we take a CV NATOPS [Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization Program] exam, and our whole team has a combined score. The expectation I set was that as a team we should score 95 percent. They did better than that. They scored a 97.4 percent. That in itself is awesome, and that goes to show just how hard these guys have been working.”

The training then prepared the air traffic controllers by plac-ing them in an environment similar to the CATCC aboard TR and running them through a number of scenarios.

“One scenario we deal with is equipment outages,” Jones

said. “Another scenario we do is with the ship turning, because wind is a big part of landing aircraft. So, we had a scenario where winds would sweep every five minutes, so it became a question of, ‘How do we correct that pattern? How do we make sure that we give these guys the best approaches that they need in order to land?’”

According to Jones, getting through these scenarios took a combination of knowing the job and knowing when and how to use that knowledge.

“A lot of it is the controllers being able to improvise,” she said.

According to Howe, the Sailors performed well again and again during their exercises.

“On the second week, we do what’s called a graded simulat-ed exercise, and that’s either a ‘sat’ or ‘unsat.’ We passed that the first time with no problem,” he said. “They did outstanding.”

Overall, the training TR’s air traffic controllers received honed their skills and prepared them for when they will direct real planes aboard their ship.

“You have pre-season for NBA players to get them ready for the regular season. That’s kind of what this is for us,” Jones said. “It gives us a chance to establish what each other’s habits are, how we work with one another. It’s really good training.”

Knowing each other and having a sense of being a part of a team is a large part of the ATC rate, Jones said. To that end, TR’s air traffic controllers got together to celebrate both Jones’s birth-

day April 25 and Air Traffic Controller Airman (AW) Todd Cavell’s birthday April 17.

“We made sure to keep morale up while we were down there,” Jones said. “We all came together as a family and had little birth-day parties.”

Jones is confident that her family of fellow air traffic controllers will perform outstandingly once TR leaves the shipyard and rejoins the fleet at large.

“I think we’re going to be great,” Jones said. “We’re going to have the best CATCC team in the fleet.”

story by MC3 Casey Cosker

training forflightphotos by Lt. Jonathan Bacon

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Opposite & top: Air Traffic Controller 1st Class (SW) Mildford Ford mans the marshall radar station during a training evolution in Pensacola, Fla.

Bottom: Air Traffic Controller 1st Class (AW) Christopher Reynolds and Air Traffic Controler 2nd Class Williams Faison man radar stations during a training evolution in Pensacola, Fla.

a good day

ride hardto

Story and photos by MC3 Casey Cosker

The sun shone. A cool wind blew off the Chesapeake Bay. Engines revved, ripped and roared. It was a good day for a ride, and 14 Sailors from USS Theodore Roosevelt’s (CVN

71) Motorcycle Club had brought their bikes to the Navy Ex-change (NEX) parking lot May 3 in Norfolk to go on a ride with Sailors from commands throughout the Hampton Roads area.

The Sailors had come out to participate in the third annual Hampton Roads Motorcycle Safety Run, an event that both high-lights motorcycle riding safety and gives Sailors a chance to get on the road and into the open air.

“It’s great. It’s a blast,” said Chief Air Traffic Controller (SW/AW) William Kumley. “Long ago I heard somebody say that when you drive a car you’re watching a movie because you’re looking through the screen. You’re looking through a windshield. Whenever you’re on a motorcycle you’re not watching a movie, you’re in a movie because you’re out in the open and every-thing’s right there. You can smell things. You can hear things that you can’t hear in a car. You seem much more connected to everything around you than in a car.”

Kumley was a road captain for the event, which means he led a group of 10 other riders through the route that he helped plan the day before.

“It’s a nice ride, especially for today. It’s good stuff,” Kum-ley said at the rally point in the NEX parking lot. “We’re going to leave here, go up north on (Interstate) 64 up to (Route) 17. Then we’re going to pull over at the Yorktown Harley Davidson for the

first stop for a few minutes; head out, take the Colonial Parkway up to Jamestown area; get on the ferry that crosses by James Riv-er Bridge; ride the ferry across; and then take (Route) 58 down to the (Interstate) 264 area back to this parking lot.”

More than 100 Sailors from commands in the Hampton Roads area met in the parking lot. They were greeted by Naval Station Norfolk Command Master Chief (EXW/SW/AW/PJ) David Carter.

“I’m sure it’ll be a great day out on the bikes,” Carter said. “We’re here to ride. That’s what riders like to do. The main pur-pose of this event is to do that safely.”

After all the riders for the event assembled, Carter introduced the event’s guest speaker, Rear Adm. Kenneth Norton, a former helicopter pilot who likened piloting to motorcycle riding in terms of safety. Norton emphasized the similarities between heli-copters and motorcycles, saying that both required their riders to check their equipment beforehand, ensure they are of sound mind to operate their vehicle, and remain aware of their surroundings.

“I want you guys to have a safe ride and a fun ride today,” Norton said. “Use this time as mentorship for the inexperienced riders. Show them how to do it right.”

After the admiral spoke, the ride kicked off. Motorcyclists roared out of the parking lot in groups of 10, led by their road captains. For approximately four hours and 130 miles, they tore through Hampton Roads. It was a bright day, and they were proud to ride.

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Opposite: Members of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Motorcycle Club pose for a photo before the third Annual Hampton Roads Motorcycle Safety Run outside the Navy Exchange in Norfolk, Va., May 3.

Above: Members of the TR Motorcycle Club rally outside of the Navy Exchange movie theater.

Left: Electronic Technician 2nd Class (SW/AW/EXW) Jonathan Meisner sits on his motorcycle.

Right: Motorcyclists participating in the 3rd Annual Hampton Roads Motorcycle Safety Run wait to board the James River Bridge Ferry (photo by Chief Air Traffic Controller (SW/AW) William Kumley).

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Sailors aboard aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) can now savor the flavor of signature Starbucks espresso and cream as they start their day.

The Big Sip, a coffee shop located off TR’s aft mess decks, opened for business May 1, serving Starbucks brand beverages to the ship’s crew. The first steaming cup of Joe went to Capt. Daniel Grieco, TR’s commanding officer.

“I’ve been on aircraft carriers now for about 25 years, and I can tell you that this is unprecedented from my perspective,” Grieco said. “It’s kind of neat to bring a little bit of Americana onto the ship so that when we’re underway and gone for a long period of time, we can live the normal lives we would like to live every single day,” he said.

Sailors from S-3 Division, which is headed up by Senior Chief Ship’s Serviceman (SW/AW) Shannon Franck, run The Big Sip. Franck beams over the efforts of her team to convert the space that is now home to the café.

“A lot of work went into it,” Franck said. “It used to be an ice cream machine shop before. We had to move out all the ma-chines that were in there. The shipyard helped us out by moving all the machinery out. Then we had a contractor come in there,

design it for us, and get it situated. Our part of it was ordering all of the products for it.”

Ship Serviceman Seaman Tamara Pope, the seaman-in-charge of the café, cut the ceremonial red ribbon with Grieco, at the opening ceremony. After which she worked the first shift in the café.

“The first half hour was hectic, but I got through it,” Pope said. “I know there are going to be long lines, so I’ve got to get used to it. I worked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77), and they had long lines there too. So I was expecting it.”

Pope received training as a barista aboard the Bush, which has a similar coffee shop called The Lonestar Café. She was responsible for training TR Sailors who work at The Big Sip.

Events, such as this opening ceremony, are not just brewed overnight.

“This is the culmination of about a year’s worth of efforts,” said Cmdr. Mark Runstrom, TR’s Supply Officer. “We’ve had folks who were trained by Starbucks employees.” Specifically, representatives from Starbucks came aboard TR prior to The Big Sip’s opening to show Sailors how to make their signature beverages.

As for the coffee shop’s name, Runstrom said it was selected through a shipwide nomination process. Members of the crew were invited to email suggestions for the café’s name. After 130 suggestions, The Big Sip was selected. The name is a play on the ship’s nickname “America’s Big Stick,” which comes a “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far,” a West Afri-can proverb and policy used by the ship’s namesake, president Theodore Roosevelt, through-out his career.

“Well done to everybody who put the time and effort who did this,” Grieco said. “I’m really proud of you guys for all the effort that’s gone in to make this happen. It’s a huge boost for the crew.”

story by MC3 Casey Cosker, photos by MC2 Sean Hurt

TR opens new café on aft mess decksjet fuel

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Opposite: Capt. Daniel Grieco, commanding officer of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), poses for a photograph with a cafe latte outside The Big Sip. Above: Ship Serviceman Marquise Ball, Seaman Jennifer Miller, Airman Tiffany Elston and Ship Serviceman Tamara Pope prepare espresso beverages in The Big Sip.

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ships theof

USS PorterDDG 78

USS Arleigh BurkeDDG 51

USS James E WilliamsDDG 95

USS LaboonDDG 58

USS Stout DDG 55

The mission of the Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer (DDG) in the Carrier Strike Group is providing primary protection for the aircraft carrier and battle group. DDGs are capable of Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW) battles simultaneously. The ship contains myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century.

Propulsion: Four General Electric LM 2500-30 gas turbines; two shafts, 100,000 total shaft horsepower.Length: 509 feetSpeed: In excess of 30 knots.Crew: 276

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) is the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 12. These are some of the assets that may deploy with TR when she answers the nation’s call to go into harms way.

The Ticonderoga guided missile cruiser (CG) is a large combat vessel with

multiple target response capability. It performs primarily in a Battle Force role

with Air Warfare (AW), Undersea Warfare (USW), Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS) and Surface Warfare (SUW)] capabilities

in support of the carrier battle group.

Propulsion: 4 General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine engines; 2 shafts, 80,000

shaft horsepower total.Length: 567 feet.

Speed: In excess of 30 knots.Crew: 30 Officers, 300 Enlisted.

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strike group

USS MahanDDG 72

USS NitzeDDG 94

USS TruxtunDDG 103

USS NormandyCG 60

USS VicksburgCG-69

USS Theodore RooseveltCVN 71

Man our ship and bring her to life!” ex-claimed ship sponsor Annette Conway, wife of retired Marine Corps Gen. James

T. Conway, 34th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, as the crew ran up the brow and engaged all ship systems.

The commissioning culminated more than seven years of construction and development for the seventh San Antonio-class LPD that was built at the Huntington Ingalls Industries Shipbuilding site in Avondale, La., and delivered to the U.S. Navy last September.

Guests at the snow-covered ceremony listened to congratulatory remarks from distinguished mem-bers of Alaska’s delegation including Governor Sean Parnell, Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan, and Sena-tors Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich. The keynote address was delivered by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Adm. Cecil D. Haney.

“To the commander and crew of Anchorage, it’s great to see you again. Last time it was in Avondale, La., near New Orleans when I toured the ship and it was hot and muggy and 90 degrees,” said Haney. “I am deeply honored to commission a United States warship named after such a wonderful city, repre-senting great people that have a rich and vibrant culture.”

After ceremoniously delivering the newly commissioned ship, Cmdr. Joel Stewart, Anchorage’s commanding officer, echoed Haney’s sentiments.

“The ship and her crew are a testament to the pioneering spirit of the city it represents,” said Stewart. “The relationship the crew forged with the shipbuilders helped create a vessel worthy of the name, and she will serve the nation for the next four de-cades on the foundations set by that relationship.”

Anchorage is the second ship to be named for the city. The first USS Anchorage (LSD 36) was commissioned in 1969 and served in Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom before being decommissioned in 2003.

“I never thought I would have found myself bringing to life a ship with this name,” said Senior Chief Culinary Specialist Jacin-to Ganac, a member of the decommissioning crew of LSD 36 and current member of LPD 23’s plankowner crew. “It’s an honor to be a member of both crews because I feel as though I am passing along a great tradition and knowledge to a newer generation that will serve us long after I leave the service.”

The ceremony ended a four-day celebration in which the crew was able to interact with the city and its welcoming hosts. Public tours allowed guests to get a first-hand view of the ship as well as the various aircraft and marine amphibious vessels on display which included an MV-22 Osprey, a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter, and a landing craft air cushion (LCAC).

Seaman Cruz Boseman, one of the ship’s crew to call the city of Anchorage home, said he enjoyed being able to show off the ship to his fellow Anchorage citizens.

“It was great timing that I was able to be selected to be a part of this crew,” said Boseman, who enlisted in the Navy in May 2012. “When I was in boot camp, [pre-commissioning command-ing officer Capt. Brian] Quin happened to be visiting in the build-ing where I was assigned during my training and I was excited to learn of a new ship being named after my hometown. We have a hardworking spirit in Anchorage and what’s great is that is the same mentality I see every day in my shipmates. I know we’ll make this city proud.”

Anchorage’s crew will transit back to San Diego to continue preparing for Final Contract Trials (FCT) in July. FCT is the final assessment from the Navy Board of Inspection and Survey (IN-SURV) in which the crew will be responsible for demonstrating the effectiveness of all installed equipment and systems.

“The ceremony is a nice pause for a majority of the crew who has worked tirelessly to bring this ship to life over the past two years,” said Stewart. “But we press on and are ready to ex-ecute the gold standard we established. It’s the nature of our job and I’m sure the great people of Anchorage and the nation would expect nothing less.”

USS Anchorage, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, embarks, transports, and lands elements of a landing force for a variety of expeditionary warfare missions as well humani-tarian efforts when the need arises.

commissionedalaskanamphibstory by MC1 Aramis Ramirez

Sailors and Marines man the rails after bringing the ship to life during the commissioning of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23) at the Port of Anchorage. More than 4,000 people gathered to witness the ship’s commissioning in its namesake city of Anchorage, Alaska. Anchorage, the seventh San Antonio-class LPD, is the second ship to be named for the city and the first U.S. Navy ship to be commissioned in Alaska. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James R. Evans/Released)

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photos fromthe fleet

Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Max Link, assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91), fires a M4 service rifle during a small-arms qualification at Naval Air Station Point Mugu. Pinckney is at Port Hueneme conducting a combat systems and deck groom preparing for an upcoming board of inspection and survey (INSURV). INSURV is conducted every five years of a ship’s life to ensure mission readiness and material conditions are up to standards. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel M. Young/Released)

An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) senior

chief petty officer bears a ceremonial wreath

dedicated to fallen EOD Sailors during the 44th Annual EOD Memorial

Service at the Kauffman EOD Training Complex.

The wreath was placed in front of the Navy panel of

the memorial wall with separate sections for each service bearing the names

of EOD service members who died in the line of duty. (U.S. Navy photo

by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Peter

D. Lawlor/Released)

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MayAsian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month

TR PhotoFind

Military Spouse Appreciation Day10

David Platt

Memorial Day27 XO Readiness Exercise29-30

1. School bus2. TR the Man3. Ruler

4. Candy bar5. Batman

6. Earth7. Penny8. Cane

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Mother’s Day12 Armed Force

Day18

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StaffCommanding OfficerCapt. Daniel Grieco

Executive OfficerCapt. Mark Colombo

Public Affairs OfficerLt. Cmdr. Patrick Evans

Media OfficerLt. j.g. Michael Larson

Senior EditorMCCS (SW/AW/EXW)

David Collins

Public Affairs SupervisorMC2 Sean Hurt

Editor & LayoutMC3 Casey Cosker

Rough Rider ContributorsLt. Jonathan Bacon

MC2 Sean HurtMC3 Casey Cosker

Command OmbudsmanApril Kumley

cvn71ombudsman@yahoo.com

The Rough Rider is an authorized publication for the crew of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71).

Contents herein are not necessarily the views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, Department of Defense, Department of the Navy or the Commanding Officer of TR.

All items for publication in the The Rough Rider must be submitted to the editor no later than three days prior to publication.

Do you have a story you’d like to see in the Rough Rider? Contact the Media Department at 534-1406 or stop by 3-180-0-Q.