Skipper’s Domain

A hearty “konichiwa” to all our Royal Mace family and friends! We’ve just recently

returned from a great summer deployment aboard USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN

73), and are enjoying the chance to spend some time at home with friends and loved ones

in the Land of the Rising Sun.

The summer deployment was very successful for Team Mace, as our carrier-based

operations took us across much of the Western Pacific. The Royal Mace Maintenance

Department began the summer patrol by achieving one of the highest scores ever seen by

the Commander Naval Air Forces Aviation Maintenance Inspection (AMI) team, who

embarked with us aboard the ship for the first several weeks of the deployment. The AMI is

the most important and comprehensive maintenance inspection conducted on squadron

maintenance departments, and I’d like to offer a hearty “Bravo Zulu” for their outstanding

leadership to Mace Maintenance Officer LCDR Peter “Sosaj” McMorrow, Quality Assurance

Officer (QAO) CWO2 Fanandus “B” Ballard, Maintenance Material Control Officer (MMCO) LT Matt Purvis,

Maintenance Master Chief (MMCPO) AVCM George Nieder, and Quality Assurance Supervisor Master Chief

Gilbert Armijo (who has recently joined VFA-195 as their MMCPO after a very successful tour with VFA-27). Our

maintenance Program Managers and shop Leading Petty Officers work hard to ensure that our Lot 34/35 FA-18E

Super Hornets are the most combat-ready and best maintained aircraft in the fleet, and the Royal Mace

Maintenance Department’s outstanding performance during the inspection simply reflected the commitment and

professionalism those deckplate leaders demonstrate every day.

After some superb training despite challenging weather conditions at the outset of the deployment, we

had the chance to visit one of our Sailors’ most popular ports of call in the region, Hong Kong. Our operations

and transit following the port call then spanned one of the most densely utilized and geopolitically important

bodies of water on the planet, the South China Sea. Mace sailors subsequently had the chance to explore

another fascinating city in which “East meets West,” Singapore, which like Hong Kong was once a British colony.

Both cities offer a wide variety of sights and some of the most varied culinary options on the planet, arising from

the wide array of cultural influences that have accumulated over many years. Whether riding the Star Ferry from

Hong Kong to Kowloon, or gazing on the spectacular Singapore skyline from the Marina Bay Sands (at $4.7

billion the world’s most expensive building, a “Ship in the Sky”), Mace Sailors enjoyed great port visits while

setting a superb example as U.S. Navy ambassadors abroad. My wife Laura and I had a lot of fun showing our

18-month old daughter Eloise the animals at Singapore’s outstanding zoo, which many Mace sailors visited as

well, both during the day and for their famous “night safari.”

Our next focus of operations took us to the Korean Peninsula, and Mace Sailors had the chance to explore the fascinating city of Busan, which served as the last Allied stronghold at the outset of the Korean War in 1950, as the attacking North Korean forces surrounded the “Pusan Perimeter.” Hostilities drew to a close with an armistice in 1953 that resulted in a Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the Democratic People’s Republic of

CMC’s Corner

august 2014 Vol. 5 / No. 2

MIYF

BAM Gram

CDR C. Spencer Abbot “Soupbone” Commanding Officer

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CDR Adrian “Boa” Calder Executive Officer

Korea (DPRK—North Korea), and the Republic of Korea (ROK—South Korea). Royal Mace Administrative Officer ENS Jeremy Campbell did an outstanding job of organizing a squadron visit to the DMZ, providing a memorable experience to many Mace Sailors, Chiefs and Officers and offering a unique perspective on the complex history of the Korean Peninsula. The Maces are also grateful for the outstanding support of LT Kyungnho “Taco” Kim, from the VFA-195 Dambusters, who served in the ROK military prior to joining the U.S. Navy, and who drew on his extensive knowledge of the ROK to offer a great deal of advice and support in

organizing our squadron trip. 감사합니다/Kamsahamnida (thank you) Jeremy and Taco! For those interested in

the Korean Peninsula, and especially the situation in North Korea, I recommend reading: “Escape from Camp 14” by Blaine Harden, about Shin Dong-hyuk’s escape from a North Korean political prison camp; “The Orphan Master’s Son” by Adam Johnson, which is set in North Korea and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2013; and “Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea” by Barbara Demick. After several more weeks of high-tempo flight operations and some very foggy weather conditions (making landing on the ship a significant challenge), Mace pilots had the chance to pursue some great air-to-ground training while utilizing Okino Daito Jima (referred to by air wing pilots as “ODJ”), an island training range in the waters well east of Okinawa. USS GEORGE WASHINGTON then made a port call to Sasebo, Japan, on the western island of Kyushu. Sasebo was selected by Imperial Japanese Navy Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō as a naval port in the late 1800’s due to its geographic location and uniquely protective harbor. While in Sasebo, many Mace Sailors took the opportunity to visit the nearby city of Nagasaki. Touring the Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park near the site of the “hypocenter” of the bomb that exploded on 9 August 1945, Mace Sailors were provided a unique perspective on the tremendous human cost of war and conflict, reinforcing the importance of efforts to maintain peace and stability in the modern day. While in Sasebo, numerous Maces welcomed aboard their friends and family for a four-day “Tiger Cruise” from Sasebo to Yokosuka. Mace family and friends had the chance to tour the ship, watch flight operations, and to witness a unique airshow-at-sea that included a supersonic flyby, a “wall of water” exhibition of air-to-ground ordnance, and an 13-aircraft air wing formation flyby. The visiting “Tigers” had the chance to see the Mace Team in action, working closely with our fellow squadrons and the ship’s crew, in the complex and fast-moving environment on the flight deck. I know our visiting Tigers share my sense of pride at the hard work and professionalism of all our Mace Sailors, Chiefs, and Officers, and my thanks go out to all on a job well done this summer. Last and perhaps most importantly, I want to congratulate two outstanding leaders, AM1 Rene Berumen and recent Royal Mace AT1 Douglas Link, on their selection as United States Navy Chief Petty Officers. AM1 will be joining the finest “Goat Locker” in the Navy here at VFA-27, and a hearty “Bravo Zulu” from the entire Mace extended family to both of you on your outstanding accomplishment. MIYF!

XO’s Alley

Greetings to all as the Maces conclude summer patrol and spend some well-deserved time at home! It’s been a great past few months for the Royal Maces at sea. We departed Yokosuka and the squadron immediately got into an efficient and productive cruise routine. The maintenance department consistently produced the best aircraft in the Air Wing, with the most reliable flight control, avionics, armament, life support, navigation, fuel, and power plant systems for the squadron to conduct a variety of missions. We started the deployment contending with significant weather conditions – prevalent storm systems that have seemingly followed us up and down the Western Pacific and have only let up during the final few weeks of our patrol. Unlike last deployment where the ship was in the heaviest sea states I have ever seen, this deployment brought along the most rain and fog I have seen as a career Sailor. Operating in such conditions places a heavy focus on the aircraft flight control and navigation systems in order to safely find our way back and land aboard the flight deck. Needless to say all aircrew were able to successfully circumnavigate the large storms and recover in dense fog without incident. Our cruise had some interesting points along the way from the Tokyo Bay to the seas around China, Malaysia, and Singapore. At every step, the Maces performed

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brilliantly, both professionally and on liberty as ambassadors of the US Navy. We had the opportunity to charter two buses and organize a squadron tour to the Demilitarized Zone north of Seoul, South Korea. There, the squadron enjoyed the historical scenery of Panmunjom, the site where the Armistice was signed, effectively pausing one of the most contentious conflicts in the history of the Navy and Marine Corps. The actual village of Panmunjom is abandoned but commonly referenced as the Joint Security Area (JSA) where discussions between North and South Korea still take place. Another unique point of this deployment was the welcoming of Mace family and friends during the 2014 Tiger Cruise aboard USS GEORGE WASHINGTON. Family members embarked in Sasebo, Japan and enjoyed living the life of a Mace Sailor for three days prior to disembarking in Yokosuka. During the Tiger Cruise, Mace maintainers showcased their professional fruits of labor in an air wing flight demonstration during which family members were able to observe CVW-5 aircraft from the flight deck. I know our Sailors have been looking forward to relaxing in Atsugi and getting some quality time with family and friends during the summer months in Japan.

CMC’s Corner

Maces, family & friends, welcome once again to the CMC’s Corner. We are just wrapping up our summer deployment and I am extremely pleased with all the hard work and great accomplishments that have happened since the beginning of our cruise. I am truly lucky to be the Royal Mace Command Master Chief.

The Maces and the rest of the battle group have made some significant accomplishments during the cruise and are anxious for their return home to reunite with their families. Coming home is a great time to decompress from the 1000 mile an hour days onboard the George Washington. I ask our Sailors to use this time wisely to take care of any items around the house that may have slipped through the cracks since we departed in May.

The first part of the deployment was outstanding and I am sure many of you saw through the Command Facebook Page all the great work the Sailors were doing. We had the opportunity to make three incredible port visits to Hong Kong, Singapore and Busan, South Korea. Liberty in each of these ports was wonderful especially for those who had family members visit. I was lucky enough to have my wife Dory and daughter Angela come and visit in both Singapore and Busan.

A hearty congratulations to AMC(Sel) Berumen on his selection to Chief Petty Officer! AMC(Sel)

Berumen has been selected to travel to Boston where he’ll spend a week onboard the USS CONSTITUTION learning about Naval history and heritage alongside fellow Chief Petty Officer Selectees from around the world.

Finally, as I stated in my first CMC’s corner, I am here to work for you!!! If I am not meeting your

expectations as a Command Master Chief please let me know what I can do better. My door is always open to both Sailors and Family members.

WHAT WAS THE BEST PART OF THE 2014 SUMMER PATROL?

“My favorite part is the War Fighter’s Cup. I was able to meet people all over the ship who are interested in the

things I like when I participated in some events, and have made friends as a result. “ – AT3 Coutts

“Getting the chance to see how a strike fighter squadron operates while underway.” – LT Brian Jacobs

“Considering the high state of security and pressure our American soldiers serve under overseas, especially at

the borders between North and South Korea, I was impressed with the professionalism, attitude, and hospitality

they provided to us during our DMZ tour.” – AZC Maribel Alfaro

CMDCM(AW/SW) Rudy Johnson Command Master Chief

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ROYAL MACE OMBUDSMEN

Hello Mace Families, Greetings from Atsugi! We just wanted to say hello to everyone. We as your Ombudsmen are here for you before, during, and after deployments. Please don't hesitate to call, email, or Facebook message us. Also, if you are expecting a little one, please send us an email with information on your new little bundle of joy when they arrive. With your permission, we would like to post a picture, name, and measurements on our VFA-27 Ombudsman Facebook page. We all love Happy News! If you’re not on our mailing list, please send us an email to: vfa27ombudsman@yahoo.com with name and email. We look forward to having everyone back in Atsugi. Below is our contact information: Roxanne Glodowski 080-9424-2223 (cell) 264-5736 (DSN) Heather Barrera 080 4650 6444 (cell) 264-5322 (DSN)

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ROYAL MACES GO “IN FRONT OF THEM ALL” ENS Jeremy A. Campbell, Admin Officer

Recently, over 60 Royal Maces made the 5 hour journey to the 38

th parallel after pulling into Busan, South Korea

aboard USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73). The trip took the Maces north of Seoul, Korea via a chartered bus to the Joint Security Area (JSA) of Panmunjom where they had the opportunity to tour one of the world’s most contentious borders. The heavily guarded Panmunjom is the site of the historical signing of the Armistice Agreement that took place between Communist forces and the United Nations Command (UNC) in 1953, thusly ending the Korean War after 3 years of fighting. The Maces were able to make eye contact with a North Korean infantryman from approximately 100 yards away and were instructed not to point or gesture in any way at the North Korean border or the infantryman. The tension was palpable as the Maces peered at the North Korean building just across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) border. No less than 10 South Korean guards stood watch, facing the North Koreans, some half hidden behind cement barricades in case they are fired upon. Standing at a position known as “the modified position of tae kwon do,” the South Korean guards stood with fists clenched tight and serious scowls upon their faces, seemingly ready for anything that might transpire.

The Royal Maces also had the serendipitous opportunity to view the “bridge of no return.” The bridge crosses the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), connecting North and South Korea. At the end of each side of the bridge are guard houses belonging to North and South Korea respectively. In 1968, the last time the bridge was used for prisoner exchanges, the crew of the USS Pueblo was released, allowing them to cross the bridge into South Korea, effectively ending their status as Prisoners of War. For two hours the Royal Maces of VFA-27 toured the sprawling grounds of the Demilitarized Zone, soaking up history, standing in the buildings of conference row where world leaders have gathered to discuss peace, and taking in the sight of the ostensibly endless picturesque hills and forests leading to the Communist region of North Korea. It was truly an awe-inspiring and sobering experience for the Mace officers, chiefs, and enlisted Sailors in attendance.

For 57 years the United Nations Command Security Battalion, which includes scores of U.S. Military personnel, have

stood at the front line of freedom 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As the most forward deployed unit in the region, the battalion proudly stands face-to-face with the North Korean People’s Army (nKPA), providing peace and stability in what is perhaps the most contentious region of the world. Their duty is aptly captured in their motto, “In front of them all!” VFA-27 deploys aboard the U.S. Navy’s only forward deployed aircraft carrier, USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73).

Royal Maces at checkpoint 3, 38th parallel, Demilitarized Zone, with North Korea in the background.

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MACE FACE

PICTURE BOARD

(clockwise from left)

AZ2 Martin is awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for outstanding

performance during the 2014 Aviation Maintenance Inspection; Personnel from

Workcenter 110 perform maintenance on Mace 201; AOAN Foy is selected as Sailor of

the Day onboard USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73)

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MACE FACE

PICTURE BOARD

(clockwise from top left)

Royal Maces hard at work on Mace 200; Mace 201 inbound for the wires; PSSN Smyre is

honored as USS George Washington Sailor of the Day!

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MACE FACE

PICTURE BOARD

(Clockwise from left)

ADAN Cogburn is awarded as a Sailor of the Day; Royal Maces aboard USS

GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73); CMDCM Rudy Johnson participates in the

1000 pound challenge.

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Ombudsman: Mrs. Roxanne Glodowski vfa27ombudsman@yahoo.com

Mrs. Heather Barrera

AWARDS/QUALIFICATIONS/PROMOTIONS

NAVY AND MARINE CORPS COMMENDATION MEDALS

AMCS Yaroslav Tsarenko

NAVY AND MARINE CORPS ACHIEVEMENT MEDALS

CWO3 Michael Patterson CWO2 Fanandus Ballard AEC Toranzo Gamble AOC Anthony Hickman PSC Gregorio Roble YN1 Kevin Capelety IS1 Brian Meyer AO1 Julian Oliver AE1 Jason Pickering AM1 Les Tamayo NC1 Jennifer Vasquez PR2 Regino Aguilar AT2 Cody Deboer AZ2 Jogn Martin AM2 Yuankun Song YN3 Andres Hurtado

MILITARY OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER SERVICE MEDAL

AEC Toranzo Gamble

AD1 Rudy Paningbatan

ROYAL MACE OF THE MONTH

AOAN Victor Lanier

JUINOR SAILOR OF THE QUARTER

3rd Quarter – LS2 Stevileigh Barr

SENIOR SAILOR OF THE QUARTER

3rd Quarter – NC1 Jennifer Vasquez

ROYAL MACE SPONSOR OF THE QUARTER

2nd

Quarter – IT2 Michaelrobert Akim

ROYAL MACE WORKCENTER OF THE QUARTER

2nd

Quarter – Material Control

ENLISTED AVIATION WARFARE SPECIALIST (EAWS)

AD2 Dejon Simon AE2 Mark Washington AD3 Jody-Ann Simpson

Birthdays June LT David Tarr LTJG Billy Case CMDCM Rudy Johnson ATCS Ryan Skaggs PS1 Jed Bantugan AZ1 Viet Luu AME2 John Borrmann AT2 Christopher Glover AD2 Robert Hill AO2 Andrea Husbands AO2 Crystalanne Johnson AM2 Khalil Lynch AT2 Raymond McCloud LS2 Jonathan Short

LS2 Naby Toure AE2 Mark Washington AME3 Matthew Harp AO3 Nicole Herald AD3 Isaac Padilla AM3 Alexander Shoham AMAN Ryan Eilenfeld AN Leon Janusz AMAN John Manns July AOAN Joshua Anderson ADAN Jacob Bullimore AM2 Dhangelo Calo AMAN Nickolas Campos AO2 Ruben Colchado AZ2 Christopher Corbino AM2 Dennis Crawford AT2 Donnell Daley AMAN Kevin Guzman AOAR Danielle Hanline ADC Nelson Huiracochacardenas AT3 Corey Norris AD2 Dejon Simon August LCDR Andrew McKee LTJG Andrew Moore YNC Matthew Dale AM1 Thomas Beverage LS1 Daniel Neal NC1 Jennifer Vasquez AZ2 Israel Davis AME2 Jason Ruiz AT2 Tylor Schipper YN2 Brandon Small AO3 Benjamin Burnell LS3 Vincent Diaz AO3 Randall Galloway AE3 Collin Gibson AD3 Michael Groissl AZ3 Peter Kim AT3 Jessica Perry LS3 Jharel Ruffin AE3 Dylan Walton AN Steven Martinezrivera AMAR Hector Barba AOAR Wesley Collins

BIRTHDAYS (CONTINUED)

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/VFA-27-Ombudsman/119635844742237

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NEW MACES FAREWELLS

AMEC Schon Burke AMC Matthew Young PS1 Jed Bantugan AZ3 Candis Shivers AMAN Changa Augustus AMEAN Dilshani Desilva ATAN Tyler Drake AOAN Danielle Hanline AOAN Jacob Kaawa AOAN Benjamin Powell AOAN Steven White ADAA Harry Martin AOAA Marquita Mitchell AOAR Dubrian Burton AOAR Wesley Collins AR Justin Diego

CWO3 Michael Patterson AMCS Yaroslav Tsarenko AOC Anthony Hickman YN1 Kevin Capelety IS1 Brian Meyer AM1 Adriano Ramelb LS2 Penny Adams IS2 Nathan Bloom AT2 Cody Deboer AM2 Marlon Evalle PS2 Theophilus Fontenot BM2 Ernesto Jaime AME2 Matthew Poling LS2 Scott Rebennack LS3 Gabriel Sledge AMAN Cole Bovey