first newsletter

8/6/2019 First Newsletter

1/11

Deployment 2011 Volume 1 May 2011

HOWARD S ayS F arewell toF amily and F riendS and H eadS

o ut to S ea For 2011 d eployment

Navy Standard Stockless, for let-ting go. The Engineers light off theengines and monitor many other

pieces of equipment so the shipcan propel through the water withease. Operation Specialists are pri-mary lookouts to make sure noth-ing is in the ships way as we navi-gate through the harbor. They areextra eyes and ears for small craftand other ships in the area. CombatSystems personnel make sure our radars and navigation equipmentwork properly. Quartermasters(QMs) chart our course and makesure we stay on a precise coursethroughout our transit. Some har-

bors are narrow, and shallow water is always a concern. The Master Helmsman is responsible for main-taining the course that is recom-mended by the QMs and ordered

by the Conning Of cer . Every sta -tion has communications with the

bridge and nothing happens with-out the Of cer of the Decks ap -

proval. Everyone has a vital role inthe evolution and every evolution

has to be briefed and executed withdetail. Howard Sailors are alwaysgiving 100% to each and every Seaand Anchor we do.

A t 0900 on 14 a pril , 2011, the USS Howard left for deploy-ment. Every person on the ship

plays an important role in gettingthis massive warship that displaces9,145 long tons of water underway.It is a work of art to watch severalwatch-stations come together andwork in unison to safely navigatethe ship out of San Diego. The

bridge is the central control stationthat details and accounts every as-

pect of the Sea and Anchor detail.The bridge directs the forecastle,

ight deck, engineering and com - bat systems watch stations in order to prepare the ship to leave port.The Boatswain Mates prepare theanchor, a remarkable 9,000-pound

By: BMSN (SW) Meryl Vogel


2/11

during the many seminars onland and complex operationsconducted underway during a

CARAT mission. Participantscooperate in different exercisessuch as weapons training, basicshipboard maneuvering, com-munications drills and humani-tarian operations.

It is easy to see howsuch operations build a workingfriendship between nations. Inaddition to work related train-

ing, the sailors onboard partici- pate in a wide range of commu-nity service projects on land.This gives the sailors a new un-derstanding of the cultures andconcerns prevalent in this part of the world.

The outcome of pastCARAT operations showed aconstantly growing partnershipwith Southeast Asia in piratehunting operations as well asincreased maritime security inthe region. United States sail-ors are returning home to their families with fascinating storiesof Southeast Asian cultures andincreased appreciation for whatother nations face in the worldtoday. Hopefully HOWARD canconduct many more positive ex-ercises during its CARAT op-erations, and bring many storieshome for families to enjoy.

number of cooperating countriessigni es the positive transfor -mation of the American imagein those regions.

The philosophy of CAR-AT operations is based uponthree main tenants: regionalstability, strengthening pro-fessional skills, and buildingfriendships between the UnitedStates and participating nations.CARAT provides regional sta-

bility because the exercise in-stills new security techniquesand con dence in the participat -ing nations own security forces.Conducting small boat board-ing operations and maritime

interdiction operations helpsthe CARAT nations to develop programs of their own to protecttheir coastlines. CARAT opera-tions aide host countries inlanddefense capabilities through tieswith U.S. special forces and theU.S. Marine Corps.

CARAT exercises high-light professional development

C ooperation A oatReadiness Training (CARAT) isan annual operation that has tak-en place for the last 16 years. It isan operation between the UnitedStates and Southeast Asian na-tions designed to develop trustand cooperation between par-

ticipating countries. Both sidesconduct training together atsea and in-port to share techni-cal and tactical knowledge withone another. In the end, CARATfosters a cultural cooperation

between participating countriesthat otherwise never would havehad the opportunity to work to-gether.

There are six countriesin Southeast Asia that originally

began participating in CARAToperations. In 1995, the partici-

pants were Brunei Darussalam,the Philippines, Indonesia, Ma-laysia, Singapore and Thailand.In 2010, two more countries

joined the exercise: Cambodiaand Bangladesh. The growing

C ooperAtion A floAt r eAdiness And t rAiningBy: Ensign Ashley Valanzola


3/11

U nderway , S hift C olorS ! As GM2 Hernandez points out, fam-ily keeps us going as the days roll on by,remembering why we sail, why we keepworking hard on our mission, and ulti-

mately why we ght.

For me, a few small photos of my wifeLaura, and mischevious daughter Shelbythat I managed to remember in the midstof the urry of packing is now taped to myrack and is wished a Gnight and sweetdreams once my work is done for the day.It also helps that my mother knows that myfavorite cookie is chocolate chip, *wink,wink*!

After serving my rst few deployments on

the USS SHILOH out of Yokosuka, Japan,where our schedule is incredibly demand-ing, I found one of the best items to bringunderway is a hook and loop tape such asVelcro. I use it to attach my iPod to the topof my rack to watch movies, or to attach tomy alarm clock.In the next few months the Sailors on-

board the USS HOWARD will be seeingamazing sights and meeting extraordinary

people around the globe. It is no surprisethough that many, myself included, willmiss those we left behind to complete our

mission. It is through the help of thoseloved ones and Shipmates we nd the willto a job well done. So, keep those letters(and goody-boxes!) coming, and well seeyou soon!

GSEFA Shumway couldnt say it better,Words of wisdom to my friends and fam-ily here and outside of the Navy is to keepyour head up, remember to breathe andknow that stressing about anything isntworth it because it will pass and new days

begin.

Coming from a Chief that has seen a few ports near and far, he has a couple itemsthat you should never leave home without:The most important things that you want

to bring on deployment; Camera to take pictures of the culturaldifferences

Back pack to carry all the gifts youcan buy

A really good pair of shoes. Chancesare youll be walking a lot.

Gunners Mate Second Class Petty Of cer Kimberly Hernandez, who met the USSHOWARD off the coast of Africa for her

rst deployment shares her advice to fel -low shipmates, Approach every new ex-

perience with an open mind. I encouragethem to try the local food, go sightseeing,and to take MWR tours.

When asked what her top three items thatare essential to her while deployed, she re-sponded with: Pictures of my son and family because

they give me strength when I am ex-hausted. My family is very proud of me and I hope to make my son proudtoo when he grows up and thats whyI do my best at everything.

The second important item to bring ondeployment is my iPod. Music makeseverything more pleasant. Theresnothing like a good motivational songto get you through the not so fun tasksof the day.

Lastly I bring a positive attitude. Itreally hurts to leave my loved ones

behind but I think that if I am awayfrom them might as well do positivethings and take on new challenges sothat the time spent away from them isnot wasted away and its somethingthey can be proud of..

Some have looked forward to this momentwith a sense of anticipation and excite-ment about venturing back into the portsthey rst visited in years past. Still, others

feel the anxiety that comes with their rstdeployment.At one point or another every Sailor hasexperienced the feeling of, I know I for-got something, or I dont know how inthe world Im going to live in a haze-grey

box for 6 months! With the support of those loved ones back home (and the occa-sional care-package), rst-time deployerscan truly nd themselves on the sea.My feeling on the next coming monthsare excitement (especially after seeing Ha-waii) because the experience of going out

to sea and seeing countries that I wouldnever in my life time have the opportunityto see unless I was in the Navy. writesGSEFA Kaitlyn Shumway of her rst ex -

periences of deployment.When it came to preparing for our 2011deployment, the USS HOWARD held in-formation fairs to provide the resourcesneeded for a successful mission, Prior todeployment I feel like I got everything Ineeded to be prepared for these monthsunderway, with the help of our pre-deploy-ment briefs, GSEFA Shumway continued.

Chief Electricians Mate Kelly Greeno,whose rst deployment was a 1999 WestPac onboard the USS CONSTELLATIONas an airman in the Arabian Gulf offers thefollowing advice for those heading out tosea. Keep yourself busy with your person-

al and professional growth. Stay up-to-date with all that is going

on onboard while doing your job andas youre on liberty, always be safe.

Stay in touch with your family andloved ones back home, they are inter-ested in what you are doing and theysupport you. Email and letters alongwith your phone calls will help youstay in touch with all that is going onat home, because remember they havea huge part in your success.

Take as many tours and pictures as possible. Get involved with commu-nity relation efforts as well. Althoughall your memories will be great, youllwant to have the opportunity to sharethem with others.

By: FC2(SW) Charles Slagle

Farewell to Sunny San Diego. We will see you in the fall!


4/11

board though, the real test begins and En-gineering Sailors start learning the tricksof their trade. From xing the enginesonboard to xing the plumbing that runs

throughout the ship, it is a constant cycleof learning and teaching in order to makethe technicians and operators better and

brighter.It is my responsibility to impart myknowledge on junior Sailors, says GSEC(SW) Balbino Pinto. The younger gen-eration of Sailors is the future of our Navyand I want to ensure that when I leave theservice, its in good hands. So it is im-

portant that we constantly train and learnfrom one another.

Aside from providing the power, lightingand water, the Engineering Repair divi-sion is responsible for being the quick-acting response team in the event of amajor casualty such as a re, ooding or any major structural damage. While everySailor is a re ghter, Damage Control -men are the skilled leaders at respondingto these emergencies and have the excep-tional skills and knowledge to do so. Ad-ditionally, they are the ships welders andengravers, and are remarkably talented atcrafting spare parts and materials that areneeded throughout the ship, which in turnsaves the ship thousands of dollars everyyear.

Sometimes its tough to be an Engineer.The hours are long and hard, but at the endof the day, the ship cannot get underwaywithout their efforts. They are a pricelessgroup of men and women who sel esslyserve every day and are the foundation of Howards daily successes.

They provide us power to turn on our lights, air to cool us from the hot Paci csun and water to quench our thirst. Theyare the USS Howard Engineers a group

of men and women who keep the lights burning and the screws turning as their well-known slogan says. From Engine-men (EN) to Electricians Mates (EM) toGas Turbine Electricians and Technicians(GSE and GSM) to Damage Controlmen(DC), Hull-Technicians (HT) and Ma-chinery Repairmen (MR), the Howard En-gineers are ready for action whether thatsto provide hot water, electricity to power equipment or to respond to a re or ood -ing casualty.

The best way to think of us is as city hallfor the ship, says LT Mat Swenson, Chief Engineer. We provide transportation,reliable power, fresh water and when re-quired, we send in the rescue squad andrepair major damage.

Often times overlooked onboard a guid-ed-missile destroyer, such as USS HOW-ARD, the entire Engineering Department

provides all of the basic services on whichthe ship runs. From providing power andcooling water to the combat and weaponssystems to the hotel services required to

berth and feed over 280 Sailors, to beingready to respond to any major casualtyonboard, the Engineers work 24/7 and arealways at the ready.

We get the job done, says GSM 1(SW)Ferdinand Marzan. We keep the shiprunning to ensure that we get to our des-tination on time, he continued. As afour-year veteran onboard Howard, GSM1(SW) Marzan also says that team work

H oward p ower , w ater and l igHtingd epArtment of the m onth : e ngineering

By: LTJG Alison Derr

is crucial to accom- plish the mission.We have to work together in order to

x our equipment,stand watch and doour daily jobs, hesaid.

Some engineers re-ceive extra trainingafter bootcamp, butnot all. Once on-

Main Propulsion Assistant, CWO2 Franklin, always has a smile on his

face.

GSM3 Buchanan & GSM2 Gonzales paint parts of the main space to keep

it looking sharp.

Engineering Divison Of cers are excited to be onwatch.

GSM3 Ringstaff and GSM3 Ballah inspect a fuel oil

sample.


5/11

to harness electricity in the safest way pos-sible. They must learn all about electricalsafety and how to ensure their shipmatesare not only safe when they walk down the

passageway from electrical currents, but toensure that when the time comes and some-one needs to work on a piece of gear whilethere is electricity still owing through it,that their shipmates know what to and not todo in an electrical panel. They learn how totroubleshoot every type of electrical circuit,

be it a resistor down to a capacitive circuit,the electrician must know what is going tohappen every step of the way from the start-ing up of his generator till someone ips theswitch to make their rack light come on.All this time your Electrician is also learningabout the engineering plant he must standwatch over and ensure its safe operation.He learns how to start and stop various mo-tors, pumps, puri ers, etc. He learns how to

ll tanks, monitor propulsion plant param -eters. And most of all he prepares himself for their Electric Plant Control Console op-erator quali cation. There, they must com -

bine all the knowledge they have learned intheir training and in their on the job trainingto operate and monitor the ow of electric -ity throughout the mighty HOWARD. Theymust know what to do in the case of andnumber of accidents and casualties. They

must be calm, cool and collected in the faceof cascading problems. They must be infor-mative yet concise, know what is going onand how their actions affect everyone elsein the plant and more importantly how theyaffect the ship and its mission.

Do you ever wonder where the power for your rack light comes from? Or how the

power gets from the ship to the receptacleyou plug your video game system then toyour system itself? Or why does that fango roundy roundy when you turn ventila-tion on? For all these questions and more allyou have to do is go look for your friendlyneighborhood Electricians Mate (EM).Electricians Mates are the unsung heroesof Engineering Department. First to get

blamed for something not working, last to be acknowledged when everything is work-ing the way it is supposed to be. The pathof the EM is never an easy one. He startsout with the rest of the Engineers goingthrough Basic Engineering Common Corewhich lasts approximately 9 weeks. Herethey learn the basics of engineering, dam-age control, administration. From therethe prospective EM goes on to 6 weeks of schooling between an Electrical Core anda Technical School. In these our buddingElectrician learns the building blocks of what it means to work with Electricity.After all this, our Electrician now knowsenough to be dangerous. He knows the insof electricity, but what they do not knowis all the whys, the hows and all the outsof the Electrical Rating. They are sent toa ship, perhaps a Cruiser, Destroyer, LPD,

Carrier you name it, and you will nd anElectrician there, learning the ins and outsof their trade. Now is when the fun beginsand the real knowledge starts owing.Once our intrepid EM gets to his or her shipthey begin to realize the scope and magni-tude of what they are really in control of.From switchboards to generators. Flightdeck lighting to galley equipment. Cable-ways to ABTs. Even laundry equipmentdown to the littlest rack light. All these theElectrician must master to fully understandtheir rate. And all that is without even spe-

cializing in one thing. After time the elec-trician must sooner or later learn to be themaster of a speci c trade. Whether it belearning how to rewind a motor on a larger ship down to the complex RAST system on

board mighty HOWARD, all the way to el-evators on board the ight decks of carri -ers. All these an electrician must have someknowledge of if not a master of its knowl-edge.The Electrician is now pouring over blue-

prints, technical manuals, safety periodicalsand NEETS modules all to better learn how

t He e lectrician S m ate S pOtligHt O n :

The Electricians Mate is a jack of all tradesand a master of a few. They know a littleabout everything and a lot about all things.They do their jobs quietly and without

thought of recognition. They do not seek praise or the spotlight. They just take pridein knowing that when the time comes to

ip that switch, whether it be for a light, amotor, or to launch a Helicopter. That his

power will be there ready to go forth and getthe job done, to keep their shipmates safe,or to light the way home. So next time yousee one of your friendly neighborhood elec-tricians, remember who it was that stoodwatch over your power to make sure youhad hot water to shower in, hot food to eatand lights to see your way through.

By: EM2(SS) Joseph Seina

EM3(SW) Reyna electrically safety checks a piece of equipment.

EPCC Operator in training, EMFN Eason conducts Engineering drills as GSEC Pinto(SW) looks over his shoulder.


6/11

B ravo Z ulu F rom tHe F irSt c laSS p etty o FFicerS a SSociation

For his outstanding commitment to Damage Control readiness. He sel essly devoted himself to ensuring 100% DC readiness ship wide in preparations for the upcoming deployment.At-a-Boy!

The First Class Petty Of cers Association would like to recognize the following Sailors for their dedication and hard work during the rst few weeks of deployment. Keep it up!

dC3 K ruCiAK

: er

For awlessly maintaining over 100 nautical charts and meticulously preparing the naviga -tional track. She has ensured USS HOWARDs safe transit for deployment for 2011. As theGlobal Command and Control Maritime operator she has held an accurate position of over 20over the horizon tracks and maintained a excellent common operational picture with both 3rd

and 7th eets. OS3 Bohlinger is an outstand sailor and a top notch performer, who excels atteam work. At-a-girl.

os3 B ohlinger : oi

Newly reported onboard, PS3 Thomas has made an impressive rst impression. A role model for other sailors, PS3 is always squared away with a pressed uniform and spit shined boots. His work ethic is that of a seasoned 2nd or 1st class sailor with no supervision need. MOTIVATED to say theleast!

ps3 t homAs eX

Flawlessly received over $62,000.00 of Ships Store merchandise in preparation of Deploy-ment 2011. While maintaining his storeroom, he also is Howards Barber and so far thisdeployment has been cutting over 10 haircuts a day while cross-training one of his S-3Shipmates in the craft of being a Barber. With all that going on is also part of the crash andsalvage team during ight quarters. A job well done. At-a-Boy SHSN Dominick!!!

shsn d ominiCK : s3

Has accomplished a great deal in the past 5 months since checking aboard. His relentless thirstfor knowledge and training has allowed him to be one of the most versatile and quali ed SNin his division and a standout amongst his peers. His military bearing and attention to detail is

boundless and his infectious can-do attitude has provided a strong bedrock for Deck divisions junior sailors to emulate. Well done SN Lewis, keep up the hard work and keep chargin HARDCHARGER!

sn l ewis : od

Collectively pooled talent and techni-cal savvy together to help restore theEHF FOT terminal back to operation-al standard to allow multiple watchstanders around the ship to have re-liable off ship communications for multiple warfare area commanders.Way to go guys!

et3 A vedisiAn ,et3 m iKolAy , et2

f ielder And et3 o Berosler :

Ce


7/11

A word from our o mbudsmAn ...

in nding a new job the FFSC Family Employment Readiness Program (FERP) can assist you (FFSC NBSD, Phone: 619-556-7404 https://www.cnic.navy.mil/SanDiego/FleetAndFamilyReadiness/index.htm)

Children experience the emotions and stress of deployment as well but can react differently than adults. Listen to their concerns and remember children take their cue from you their parent or caregiver. Try to communicate in ways that aredevelopmentally appropriate. You can help them stay connected with their deployed parent by writing letters and emails,creating scrapbooks, videos or journals to send or share upon return. If you feel your child is in need of additional resourcesto help them cope during deployment Fleet and Family Support Center (http://auth.cnic.navy.mil/SanDiego/FleetAndFami-lyReadiness/index.htm) , Military OneSource (www.militaryonesource.com ) and FOCUS (www.focusproject.org ) are all

programs able to assist you and your child.

Understanding your emotions about deployment can be dif cult as a service member or spouse. Take care of yourself, ndtime to rest and do something just for you. We are all more vulnerable to stress when we are tired, and can manage better when we are rested and in tune with ourselves. If you are feeling overwhelmed or nd your feelings are hindering your daily activities dont hesitate to contact your Fleet and Family Support Center, a chaplain, medical or Military OneSource

for assistance.

You are not alone during this deployment and have many resources available to you. If you need assistance do not hesitateto contact me ([email protected]).

Thank You,Terra

Hello Families and Friends,

Deployment whether it is your rst time or your tenth is never easy. Everyone ex - periences and reacts to deployment differently. There is truly no such thing as aright or wrong feeling. At the beginning of deployment emotions can seem likea roller coaster.

There are many opportunities to volunteer, get involved and meet other people dur-ing deployment. Some local organizations you can volunteer with are AmericanRed Cross (www.redcross.org ), Armed Services YMCA (www.militaryymca.com )and Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society(www.nmcrs.org/sdiego-area.html ) to namea few. These organizations not only provide vital resources and assistance to Mili-tary families they are in need of assistance as well. What better way than to give of your time to those who give to us in our time of need, crisis etc? If you are interested

H appy B irtHday !

IT2 Castro, CSSN Phipps, CTR2 Sayre, CTRC Williams, DC3 Boss,STG3 Hamilton, LTJG Johnson, HTFA Gripp, OS2 Fowler, FC2 Slagle,YNC McDonald, CS3 Rocamora, FCSN Genovez, IT3 Mengleberg,FC1 Fernandez, YNSN Kalinowski, SA Williams, ET3 Phillips, EMFNEason, LT Swenson, STG3 Gordon, GM3 Cadena

CTR1 Errol, MR3 Gonzalez, GSEFN Shumway, GM3 Aguilar, LSSNKouche, OSSN Chan, OSSA Chan, FC2 Castro, CS2 Sorgie, ENSAtherton, ET3 Avedisian, OS2 Carter, FCC Rife, CSCM Villar, BM3Tivoli, GSM3 Ewigman, STGCS Ouren, HT3 Furrier, OS1 Peoples,GSM3 Muniz, IC3 Foster, ENS Litvachuk, CDR Zook, GSE1 Haddix,

LT Saving

APRIL

MAY

Happy Birthday to Howard Sailors with Birthdays in the Monthof April and May!

Congratulations to the newest additions to the

Howard Family!

n ew a rrivalS

April 14: Natalie Adeline was born to ENS Daniel andSarah Parobek April 24: Amari Nathaniel was born to SHSN Ricardoand Toni Dominick May 2: Sammantha Rayne was born to CTRSA Zacharyand Shambrya YatesMay 8: Elise Christine was born to LTJG Daniel andKatie DeFrevalMay 12: Ryan Caleb was born to LSSN Jason and

Danielle Kouche


8/11

Daily SWEATEX helps Howard Sailors keepin shape whileunderway.

ENS John Lloyd runs through thechecklists prior to pulling into Pearl

Harbor, HI

EM3 Tiley & LSSN Fernandez, FSAs,take a moment during their busy day working in thegalley to snap a

photo

Howard Dragons in Action


9/11

By : Fc2(Sw) w yre , c ierra

Words home from First-Time Deployers

Hi Mama, I miss you a whole lot! Wish you could share this experience with me, and no need to worryabout me, I know youre a little worry bug. Love you. -- OSSR Saucedo, Brittany

This is my rst deployment. So far, so good, the days are going by pretty fast. But there is one thingfor sure, I believe that this time away from my family will help me draw closer to them upon my returnhome. I am looking forward to going back home and sharing some more good times! Thank you for all thesupport in making my deployment possible. Miss and Love you all! Stay safe! GSEFN Clarkejerome,

Loyette

I just wanted to give a shout out to my parents and my brothers, Chris and Ashley, and Aunt Mary andAunt Chele. I love you all and cant wait to come home and see you all again! Im making the best of thisdeployment. Plenty of pictures, and all that good stuff! BMSN Gray, Rebecca (a.k.a Katie)

Hey everyone, I miss and love yall. Im having tons of fun. Cant wait to get back and see yall though.See ya soon. Pooh Bear, I cant wait to see you when I pull in. I miss you soooo much and Love you sooomuch more. Ill be seeing you! Xoxoxo IT2 Wells, Stefani

Hi Mom and Dad...Things are going great out here on the high seas! Miss you guys a lot and I hope all is

well at home!


10/11

Weapons Department Torpedo Loading

Jr. Dragon Corner

WORDS TO FIND:DRAGON HATCH FLAGRADIO SHIP OCEAN

Jr . d ragon w ord oF tHe m ontH : SWABSwab, is the nautical term for a mop Next time your momtells you to mob up the kitchen oor, let her know that we sailorscall it a swab!

Q: Why couldnt the sailors play cards?

A: Because the captain was standing on the deck!

Jr. Dragon Jokeof the Month


11/11

Editor in Chief: LTJG Alison Derr Assistant Editor: FC2(SW) Charles Slagle

Staff Writers:ENS Ashley ValanzolaOS1(SW) Eric Peoples

FC2(SW) Paulina CastroFC2(SW) Cierra WyreEM2(SS) Joseph Seina

IT2 Stephani WellsBMSN (SW) Meryl Vogel

CTMSA Rebecca Marinacci

D ragon T imes n ews s Taff

first newsletter

Documents