SHUTTLEtheUSS Enterprise (CVN 65) - Sunday, April 3, 2011

Graphic illustration by MC3 Brooks Patton

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Enterprise NewsSHUTTLE

By USS Enterprise Public Affairs

Enterprise launches Ultimate Command Challenge

USS ENTERPRISE, At sea - You may not be aware of it, but right now there are thousands of Sailors and Marines eager to lay a smack down on you and your department. That’s right, the gauntlet has been laid, and you and your fellow shipmates will have to claw your way to the top in a wide variety of ship-wide competitions if you want your department to be crowned the champion of the 2011 Ultimate Command Challenge - a no-holds-barred battle royale for departmental superiority aboard Big ‘E’. The Ultimate Command Challenge is a ship-wide program running from the first of April until the end of June. It will feature a variety of activities encompassing creative, mental and physical challenges for Enterprise Sailors and Marines.Enterprise’s departments and air wing squadrons will be competing against each other to earn the Big ‘E’ Ultimate Command Challenge crown. The challenge is designed as a large team-building exercise meant to help boost morale and encourage a healthy, competitive spirit throughout the ship. “Our goal is to get as many Sailors and Marines as possible involved in all aspects of the competition, from the competitors themselves to those planning and judging the competitions,” said Lt. Nick “Beaker” Keller, an Enterprise tactical action officer and Ultimate Command Challenge

coordinator. “The challenge is a great way to help instill departmental and squadron pride by having them compete in activities that do not involve their daily work tasks. It will also be a good outlet for deployment-related stress and to help break-up the day-to-day monotony cruises can cause.” Keller said the challenge will also be a key component in fueling Enterprise’s esprit de corps throughout the second half of deployment. Esprit de corps, a French term literally translated as ‘spirit of the body,’ describes feelings of pride, fellowship and common loyalty by the members of a particular group. A healthy esprit de corps is considered to be a valuable asset to maintain a smoothly-running work environment, especially when that environment has enough employees to occupy a small city. Enterprise crew members will have to opportunity to compete in the following scheduled events throughout the Ultimate Command Challenge: an Enterprise

logo and department guide-on design contest, karaoke, spades, ping pong, video games, baggo, geezer golf, sumo wrestling, sudoku speed challenge, giant tricycle race and a command-wide fitness challenge. The schedules for these events will be announced throughout the challenge and all events are subject to change. Challenge competitors will also be able to check-up on their team’s scores, standings

and progress throughout the challenge as well. Each department will also have an Ultimate Command Challenge representative that can provide more information on events and how to sign up. “There really is something for everyone in the Ultimate Command Challenge, and everyone aboard Enterprise is encouraged to participate,” said Keller. The gloves are officially off - may the best department or squadron win.

Sumo wrestling is one of the competitions scheduled for the 2011 Ultimate Command Challenge.

Photo by MC3 Austin Rooney

50th Birthday Logo Design Contest Department Guide-on Design Contest• Designs should contain references to

Enterprise’s 50th birthday.• The winning logo will represent Enterprise

on all materials and memorabilia associated with the 50th birthday celebration. This includes: coins, mugs, t-shirts, posters, etc. and should be designed in such a way that looks great very small or very large.

• Common sense applies. Entries with profanity or inappropriate content will be disqualified.

• Entries are due no later than April 22 for judging.

50th Birthday

Logo

• Guide-on should represent your department in a proud manner.

• Dimensions are limited to a maximum of 40 inches by 60 inches. Any dimension up to that size is acceptable.

• Departments will supply their own materials.

• Unveiling and judging of all designs will take place at the awards ceremony on April 22.

• Guide-ons with profanity or inappropriate willbedisqualified.

Dept.DesignHere

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World News

By MC1 (SW) Abraham EssenmacherOfficeoftheMasterChiefPettyOfficerof the Navy

MCPON Testifies before Congress on Quality of Life

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SS/SW) Rick D. West and other senior enlisted leaders testified before the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies March 30. MCPON Rick D. West, along with the other top enlisted leaders from the Marines, Army and Air Force, discussed quality of life, family readiness, recruiting and retention, reserve force, and veteran affairs issues. “In my travels this past year I have enjoyed the visits I’ve had with Sailors who defend America every day. In these visits I have taken special note of the quality of life in which they live and serve,” said West. “As you know, quality of work and quality of life programs for our Sailors, their families and our Navy civilians is directly tied to military readiness.” Navy’s Homeport Ashore program, bachelor and Navy family housing, and Continuum of Care were other important issues that were brought up to the congressional subcommittee. West said that as the environment in which Sailors and their families’ lives change, along with global requirements and

world events, new and better ways to support our Navy families must be continuously explored. West also discussed the integral part deployments play in Navy life. The Navy has been deploying forces since its formation during times of both peace and conflict, but it is important not to underestimate or take for granted the incredible strain that a long deployment imposes on Sailors and their families. Multiple deployments, frequent relocations and the stresses associated with being part of a military family all impact the overall readiness of the unit, the readiness of the individual Sailor and the readiness of their family. “The strain on our Sailors and their families

is greater than ever, but our Sailors recognize the significance of their mission.” West said that keeping Navy families informed about resources available to them to mitigate the strain of deployment and provide support is instrumental to their peace of mind while waiting for their Sailors to return from a year-long assignment in the Middle East or a six-month deployment safeguarding our seas. West discussed the Navy’s current operations and told the committee that approximately 55 percent of the Navy’s force is underway; and more than 14,000 Sailors are on the ground and more than 11,000 are at sea in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility;

and more than 18,000 personnel along with 22 ships and 140 aircraft have participated in Operation Tomodachi providing relief and delivering humanitarian assistance to the people of Japan. “Our Navy, America’s Navy has no boundaries and we are a Global Force for Good,” said West. “Our Navy team will accomplish any mission or task that we ask of them and they do this knowing their families will be supported and cared for when they go over the horizon in harm’s way.” The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy periodically testifies before Congress along with the senior enlisted leaders of the other services. This was his fourth appearance before the congressional committee.

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Rick West testifies before the House Committee Subcommittee, Veterans Affairs and related agencies to discuss quality of life issues.

photo by MC1 (SW) Abraham Essenmacher

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SportsMCPON Testifies before Congress on Quality of Life

By Seth DavisSI.com

The case for (and against) each Final Four team

If there was ever a perilous time to be a professional prognosticator, this is it. In case you haven’t noticed, we so-called experts have been turned on our heads during this unforgettable NCAA tournament. You might say we’ve been Shaka’d. That might not be great for us, but it sure is great for the sport. All season long the rule in college hoops has been to expect the unexpected. So nobody should be surprised that our picks have been so wrong so often. Of course, we like it when our picks turn out to be correct, but isn’t being wrong half the fun? (That’s called rationalizing. I’ve gotten good at it.) The jig is up. We “experts” are guessing, just like you. We can break down these matchups for hours on end, but they always come down to the simple things -- who is making shots, who is staying healthy and out of foul trouble, who is getting the lucky bounces. If you assess all four teams that have alighted in Houston, you can make a case both for and against each one to be the team that will hoist the big trophy on Monday night. What follows below are my reasons to pick -- and not pick -- each of the Final Four teams. Don’t worry, I’m not straddling the fence the whole way. I’ve made my official picks at the conclusion of the column. Fortunately, this tournament only has three games left, so I only have three more opportunities to be wrong.

VCUReason to pick them: They’re the hottest team left. No school in recent memory has outperformed its regular season quite like these Rams. This is especially true with regard to their three-point shooting.

Reason not to pick them: They can’t possibly keep this up. True, it didn’t seem possible that VCU could make it this far, but at some point the Rams have to float back to Earth, right? They’ve had another week of hype to deal with, and they’re coming to Houston with distractions they’ve never encountered before.

ButlerReason to pick them: They’ve been there, done that. Imagine being a No. 8 seed from the Horizon League and making it to the Final Four ... and having to play the part of Goliath when you get there. But if you’re a believer in the benefits of Final Four experience (which I am), then you take note that Butler is the only team full of players who have actually competed in a Final Four. (Kemba Walker is the only player on UConn who participated in the Final Four two years ago.)

Reason not to pick them: Their luck is bound to run out. The Bulldogs’ march to this year’s Final Four is even more unexpected than last year’s. In 2010, Butler was a 5 seed whose only really close call before the Final Four came in the second round against 13th-seeded Murray State. This year Butler had to survive

three crazy endings just to make it to Houston.

KentuckyReason to pick them: They’re the most talented team in Houston. If you define “talent” as having a future in the NBA, then Kentucky is the team for you. That includes big Josh Harrellson, who has played his way onto the radar of scouts and GMs the last few weeks.

Reason not to pick them: They’re the youngest team in Houston. At each successive stage of the NCAA tournament, the perils of inexperience tend to get exposed more and more.

UConnReason to pick them: Kemba. It has been a long, long time since any player has had a month, much less a season, like the one Walker just had. It started in November, when he averaged 30 points per game while leading the Huskies to the Maui Invitational (including a 29-point performance in a championship rout of Kentucky) and carried right through his epic five-wins-in-five-days march through the Big East tournament.

Reason not to pick them: Lack of inside scoring. Oriakhi has evolved into a dependable rebounder and shot blocker, but if UConn needs to throw it to him in the post to win this game, it’s going to be in trouble. Oriakhi has made a total of nine field goals in the NCAA tournament and has yet to hit double-figure scoring. Ditto for freshman center

Kansas had no answer for VCU’s Jamie Skeen, who torched the Jayhawks for 26 points, including four three-pointers.

AP Photo

Tyler Olander. He played well during the Big East tournament and continues to start, but he played a total of 10 minutes against San Diego State and Arizona.

The PicksHere goes nothing.

• I’m taking Butler (score prediction: 64-60) in Saturday night’s first game because I think VCU is due for a return to normalcy, and I like the Bulldogs’ Final Four experience.

• I’m taking UConn (77-76 in OT) in the nightcap because I don’t believe Kemba Walker will let his team lose.

If past is prologue, those picks should be welcome news for fans of VCU and Kentucky. This is, after all, the 2011 NCAA tournament, where the experts ask all the right questions but produce very few right answers.

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FUN ZONE!Down1 Aide: Abbr.2 Essen basin3 “Catalan Landscape” painter4 Temporary solution5 Impudent6 Letters for a prince7 Gulf VIP8 Quagmire9 Two cents worth10 Resolute11 Clothing12 Addition problems15 Paraphrased18 Organic fuel22 Circles overhead24 “No problem!”26“TheSoundofMusic”setting27 Altimeter units28 Jagged wound30 Stationed32 German shepherd34 Cosmologist Sagan35 Hoskins role in “Hook”37 Gastric woe38 Hoity-toity type41 Targeted43 Japanese warrior caste45 Was a wanderer46 Hawaiian feast47Magna___49Mimickingbehavior50 Lone Ranger’s need51 Volcanic discharge53 Card spots54“In___”(actually)55 First president of South Korea58 Address book no.

Across1“AFarewellto__”5 Bogus9“AgainstAll__”13 Interview wear14 Full metal jacket?16 Land of the Incas17 English county19 Bit of news

20 Figures of speech21 Impetuosity23Motown’sMarvin25Domesticflights?26 G-sharp equivalent29 King David’s wayward son31 Bound32Dead___dodo

33 Bracers36 Chest muscle37 Joyce masterpiece39 “Apocalypse Now” setting40 Swipes42 Conclusion43 Desiccated44ActorMontalban

46 Dipper47 Awoke48 Oz creator50 Fabric52 Poor person56 Dry, as a desert57 Unskilled59 Ancient colonnade

Photos by MCSN Jesse L. Gonzalez

Sailors of the DayHospitalCorpsman1stClass(SW/AW)David B. Hall - Fort Wayne, Indiana

HM1 (SW/AW) Hall, a leading petty officer and surgical technologist assigned to Enterprise’s Dental department, joined the Navy 16 years ago after serving in the Marine Corps for three years in order to receive medical and dental training. To Hall, the most rewarding aspect of his job is listening to and helping out fellow Sailors. Hall aspires to make chief petty officer and attain a nursing degree in the near future. During his free time, Hall enjoys the company of his wife and children.

ATAN Vaeth, TAD to Supply’s S-5 division from the “Rooks” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 137, joined the Navy two years ago to take care of his family and to see the world. To Vaeth, the most rewarding aspect of his job is “getting to do my laundry on Sundays in ship’s laundry!” Vaeth is working hard to be able “to get my girls through college comfortably and to take my wife on a vacation with every tax return.” He also aspires to be a state trooper or park ranger after his naval career is over. Vaeth enjoys calling his wife and daughters, working out and watching movies during his free time.

Aviation Electronics Technician AirmanWilliamD.Vaeth-Hillsboro,Missouri

60 At no time61 Church part62 “Critique of Pure Reason” philosopher63 Tyne of “Cagney & Lacey”64 Comprehending phrase