1. VOL 1 / NO 33 July 25, 2010
Carl Vinson’s Green Team
Story by MCSN Rosa A. Arzola
USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer
Steps up and Helps Out
Carl Vinson has initiated a program on board to recycle,” said Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class
promote and implement environmentally-friendly (AW/SW) Jason Wasson, member of the Recycling
alternatives while in port and at sea. Group from Vinson’s Green Team. “Then the team
Vinson’s Green Team is a group of motivated took it from there and we implemented blue recycling
volunteers organized to generate policy, practices bins in some departments so recycling can be more
and partnership to measure and improve overall convenient.”
environmental impact afloat and ashore. The team In addition to recycling, Carl Vinson is trying to
is implementing the recycling of plastic, aluminum, eliminate dumping garbage while at sea completely.
metal, paper and cardboard. The garbage produced by thousands of Sailors out to
“I started the research on how and what we can sea can take up a lot of space, so it is condensed into
See GREEN, page 2
The Carl Vinson Voice is an internal document produced by and for the crew of
the USS Carl Vinson and their families. Its contents do not necessarily reflect
the official views of the U.S. Government or the Departments of Defense or
the Navy and do not imply any endorsement thereby.
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Matthew Haran
2. 2 Carl Vinson Voice
GREEN Continued
tri-walls and pucks
to be dumped when
Vinson pulls into
port.
A tri-wall consists
of about 10 bags
of garbage. Plastic
is melted down
into pucks which
are one-inch thick
and 15-inches in
diameter.
“ V i n s o n
accumulated 17 tri-
walls of cardboard,
14 tri-walls of metal,
two tri-walls of
aluminum, 11 tri-
walls of paper, and
120 plastic pucks
during the last six-day
underway period.”
Said Lt. Wayne
McDonald, the
Supply Department’s
S-8 Division Material
Officer. Airman Christopher Hicks operates a compress melting unit. Photo by Mass
Carl Vinson held Aviation Support Equipment Technician E. Ramirez.
Communication Specialist 3rd Class Luis
all trash on station
until it could be properly disposed Recycling Group from Vinson’s command and help the environment,”
of in port. Vinson is also trying to Green Team. “The ship got rid of said Wasson. “I volunteered to do
minimize waste by changing a few our plastic cereal bowls and replaced this for future generations. We have
things on the mess decks. them with mini-cardboard cereal to change our attitude of how we
“We have now switched from boxes. We are also trying to get feel about recycling.”
individual condiment bottles on rid of the small peanut butter and “Don’t just recycle at work,
each table to condiment stations jelly plastic containers for reusable implement this at home too,” said
with industrial-size, refillable ones.” Sharpe. “It’s not always easy to
containers,” said Logistics All it takes is one motivated Sailor recycle from one day to another, but
Specialist 1st Class (AW/SW) to make a difference on board. if we take it one step at a time it can
Frederick Sharpe, member of the “I wanted to do something for my be accomplished.”
Publisher
Capt. Bruce H. Lindsey
Commanding Officer
Executive Editors
Lt. Cmdr. Erik Reynolds
Public Affairs Officer
Lt. j.g. Erik Schneider
Deputy Public Affairs Officer
Managing Editor
MC2 Ashley Van Dien
Layout and Design
MCSN Rosa A. Arzola
Staff Writers/Photographers
MC3 Patrick Green
MCSN Zachary D. Bell
MCSN Rosa A. Arzola
Follow Vinson on Facebook: www.facebook.com/USSCARLVINSON
3. SPOTLIGHT
Sailor
IN THE
Story by MCSN Zachary D. Bell
a small amount of effort to separate
USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer
aluminum cans from paper will
decrease the carbon footprint this ship
will leave on the earth.”
One of the Navy’s biggest resources The Green Team is doing its part in
is the environment and a certain Carl a major way by not only helping the
Vinson Sailor wants to make sure it environment but also giving back to
stays protected. Vinson. Money received from the
From implementing a recycling recycling of aluminum cans goes to the
program on board to simply riding a 2nd Class Petty Officer Association,
bike instead of driving a car, Aviation Family Readiness Group and Morale,
Electronics Technician 1st Class (AW/ Welfare and Recreation (MWR)
SW) Jason Wasson is doing his part. Division, which in return is given back
Wasson is the aviation electronics to the Sailors.
technician Shop 8 Leading Petty Wasson is also making an effort
Officer (LPO), Divisional Training to help the environment even
LPO for Aviation Intermediate when he is not on board.
Maintenance Department’s IM-3 “When I go home I just ride a
Division and a member of Vinson’s bicycle everywhere. It’s natural,
Green Team Recycling Group. gets you some exercise and not
Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd to mention a lot cheaper,” said
Class Luis Gray works in Shop 8 and Wasson.
looks up to Wasson as a supervisor. Wasson is aware of the way
“He is a very good leader. He knows emissions from vehicles and
his stuff and passes his knowledge other toxic substances can
down to others,” said Gray. “Whenever harm the environment.
I’ve had a problem he’s helped me find “If you go out to eat
the solution.” and notice that they use
Wasson is looking to find solutions Styrofoam cups, realize
when it comes to environmental what that does to the
preservation. environment,” Wasson
“When I came here and the said. “If Styrofoam is
opportunity came up that I could burned, it releases toxic
be part of the Green Team, I joined gasses into the air and
without hesitation,” said Wasson. if it is buried, it lasts
“I felt like I could give something for hundreds of years.
back to the environment. Even if it’s Something as simple
something as simple as helping get as not eating at a place
the recycling program started.” like that helps our
The Green Team Recycling Group’s environment.”
initial focus was aluminum can Wasson has goals for
recycling. They’ve procured blue bins the future that include
to separate garbage and recyclables starting to recycle plastic
and Wasson says bigger and better and paper on board and
things are coming to the near future. ascending the ladder of
“Right now we’re only recycling success.
aluminum cans, but as the program “My main personal goal
expands Sailors just need to be for the future is following in my
conscientious and open-minded to father’s footsteps and putting on
the program,” said Wasson. “Using anchors,” said Wasson. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Zachary D. Bell
4. 4 Carl Vinson Voice
An Early Start is Key for Advancement
Story by MC3 Patrick Green
USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer
The Navy advancement exam is a
major part of a Sailor’s career. For Vinson
Sailors taking the upcoming exam in
September, preparation is key to success.
The Educational Services Office (ESO)
is working with Sailors to help them
get ready for the advancement exam in
several ways.
“Advancement for a Sailor is important
for many reasons,” said Ens. Edward Polk,
Vinson’s Educational Services Officer.
“Of course there’s the monetary gain, but
there’s also the leadership opportunities
that arise and it helps you professionally.”
Polk adds that not preparing for
advancement could affect a Sailor’s
career due to the Perform to Serve (PTS) Personnel Specialist Seaman Luis Cano Espinoza assists Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Kimberly Frye
sign her worksheet on the aft mess decks. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman
program. PTS is a readiness program Matthew J. Haran.
that acts as a quality screening process by
controlling re-enlistments for Sailors by after the results are out, and they are a Polk. “Stay with your schedule and your
measuring their overall performance. couple points shy of advancing,” said Polk. group the whole time, and you’ll be
According to Personnel Specialist “We then go back and see they have awards okay.”
Seaman (AW/SW) Carl Vizzi, a member that weren’t accounted for, and it adds a lot Polk said that help with preparation
of the ESO team, preparation for the more work for the Sailor and ourselves.” is available a lot closer than many of
exam begins several months before your Along with signing the worksheet, Sailors think.
pencil hits the paper. Sailors can be studying and preparing for “Talk to your mentors,” said Polk. “You
The process begins five-to-six months their exam. can find a subject matter expert to learn
out, with the ESO office gathering names Both Polk and Vizzi recommend first more about a rate, and ask them some
of the candidates who are eligible to going to the rate bibliography, which of the things that are more important
take the test. Shortly after that, Sailors provides all the information that may be to study for. Know your weaknesses
can get started on their own personal on the exam. Bibliographies are available and make sure you spend more time on
preparation. on Navy Knowledge Online (NKO). those.”
“The first thing you should do is review “Imagine that the bibliographies are all Other techniques may include setting
and sign your worksheet,” said Polk. your notes for the final exam,” said Vizzi. up a study plan, pulling study materials
“Make sure to check the plan of the day “All of the material in the test will be in the from NKO, and forming a study group.
to see when the correct date to sign the bibliography.” Sailors with any questions or concerns
worksheet is.” There is also help available on board, with are more than welcome to visit the ESO
Polk added that it’s also a good idea the First Class Petty Officer’s Association during their normal working hours, as
for Sailors to make sure their enlisted working to provide basic military they’re always preparing for the exam.
service record is in order, with award knowledge (BMR) training, which is part “We’re preparing throughout the
and passed-not-advanced (PNA) points of the test as well as rating knowledge. year. It’s very time-consuming, but we’re
properly accounted for. “As far as BMR goes, people from any happy to do anything to help Sailors
“You have a lot of Sailors that come rate can get together to study that,” said advance,” said Vizzi.
