1. VOL 1 / NO 29 July 11, 2010
CARL VINSON UNDERWAY
TRAINING FOR DEPLOYMENT
By MC3 Megan Catellier
and MCSN Zachary Bell
USS Carl Vinson Staff Writers
For the very first time since April 12th, Carl Vinson is underway, launching and recovering
aircraft, onloading ordnance and ammunition, preparing for Inspection and Survey, or INSURV,
and working on qualifications and training.
After coming out of a ten-week maintenance period, Carl Vinson participated in a fast cruise June 28th
and 29th to test the ship’s mission readiness through a series of drills and emergency scenarios that the
ship may encounter while at sea.
Carl Vinson’s Command Master Chief, CMDCM (AW/SW) April Beldo, said that the fast cruise
was an indicator of how prepared the crew is to get underway.
“This was an effective way to determine whether this ship and this crew are ready to get back
to business. We put our Sailors to the test and simulated as many underway scenarios as we could,”
said Beldo. “We’ve been in a maintenance availability period for nearly three months so the intent
was to get us all back into the mindset of taking this ship to sea.”
Every department and every Sailor on the ship contributed to the exercises. Drills, such as man
overboard and general quarters, allowed Carl Vinson Sailors to increase their knowledge of the
ship and its mission.
Carl Vinson’s Executive Officer, Cmdr. Putnam Browne, believes that a fast cruise is an
accurate simulation of being out to sea.
“We may not have left the pier, but for the two days our Sailors lived and
worked like a crew does when a ship is operational and sailing into harm’s way,” said
Browne.
“It’s a significant milestone for us because it signifies our transition from a ship undergoing
repairs to a ship ready for tasking,” said Browne.
The fast cruise prepared Carl Vinson for sea and also served the purpose of making sure
the ship is up to par for INSURV.
“During fast cruise we conducted general quarters, simulated flight quarters and ran man
overboard drills. We did all this in preparation for INSURV,” said Aviation Maintenance
See UNDERWAY, 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 2nd Class John O’Neill Herrera

2. 2 Carl Vinson Voice
UNDERWAY Continued
performance.
Administrationman 3rd Class Nicholas “Fast cruise leads
Minor. us into INSURV and
Inspection and survey is a review of the full deployment,” said
ship’s components and compartments Boeve. “INSURV is
to determine if the ship is able and important because that’s
ready for sea. our qualification and
Personnel Specialist 3rd Class (SW/ certification that the ship
AW) Edward Boeve describes preparing is no longer a shipyard
for underway with this phrase: prior ship and now it’s a war
proper planning prevents poor ship.”
Carl Vinson will
participate in inspection
and survey Oct. 16th
through the 22nd.
Some of the main
goals for this current
at-sea period include
training pilots, air traffic
controllers, and all flight
deck personnel for the
aircraft carrier’s primary
mission: launching and
recovering aircraft at sea.
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Aaron R. Shelley
“We’re going out so
we can practice our at- Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Aaron R. Shelley
sea work ethic,” said Air
Traffic Controller 1st Class
(AW/SW) Megan Bench.
“All these evolutions are
critical because they are
preparing us to complete
the mission at hand.”
In addition to preparing
for flight operations, Carl
Vinson is preparing for
deployment with weapons
onload and training.
Vinson conducted its
largest live ammunition
onload since 2005.
Publisher More than 1,120 tons of
STAFF
Capt. Bruce H. Lindsey ammunition were brought on board
Commanding Officer
July 8th. beneficial for me because it will give me
Executive Editors “I am extremely excited and motivated time to earn qualifications, study for my
Lt. Cmdr. Erik Reynolds to be underway so the crew can properly exam so I can make rank, and work on
Public Affairs Officer
execute the current mission,” said Cmdr. my enlisted surface warfare specialist
Lt. j.g. Erik Schneider Stephen Polk, head of Vinson’s Weapons (ESWS) pin,” said Aviation Support
Deputy Public Affairs Officer
Department. Equipment Technician Airman Sara
Managing Editor Weapons department will conduct Eastman.
MC2 Ashley Van Dien gun qualifications and certifications Eastman is one of many Vinson Sailors
Layout and Design for security forces, gunner’s mates and who are underway for the first time.
MC3 Patrick Green airwing personnel. Qualifications will “I’m just trying to learn my way
MCSN Rosa A. Arzola include training with 9 mm handguns, around the ship,” said Eastman. “One of
Staff Writers/Photographers .50-caliber machine guns, and M16, M4 my biggest concerns is getting used to
MC2 John O’Neill Herrera and M240 rifles. living on the ship and making sure I am
MC3 Megan Catellier In addition to earning shipboard always punctual. Overall, I think being
MC3 Stephen G. Hale
MC3 Heather Roe qualifications, Vinson Sailors are also underway is going to be an interesting
MCSN Zachary D. Bell working on personal quals. experience that I can learn from and
“I think that being underway will be take something from.”
Follow Vinson on Facebook: www.facebook.com/USSCARLVINSON

3. July 11, 2010 3
Independence Day
Aboard USS Carl Vinson
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John O’Neill Herrera
Electrician’s Mate (SW/AW) David varied program of recreation, social
By MC2 John O’Neill Herrera Baker, MWR’s Leading Chief Petty and community support activities.
USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer Officer. “This is what MWR does: MWR’s mission is to provide quality
we take care of our Sailors.” support and recreational services
A good location is critical when it The flight deck was a unique place that contribute to the retention,
comes to watching fireworks on the for many Sailors’ families and friends readiness, mental, physical, and
Fourth of July. This Independence to watch the show. emotional well-being of Sailors.
Day, Vinson Sailors and their “I live in a very small town, so I’m
families had the chance to enjoy the not used to seeing places like this,”
celebration from the aircraft carrier’s said Sonja Sickefoose, mother-in-
flight deck. law of a Vinson Sailor. “I’m very
The off-duty activity gave Sailors proud of my son-in-law. When
a chance to enjoy liberty together, he asked me to come to the Carl
building camaraderie and boosting Vinson, I felt very honored. The
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Aaron R. Shelley
morale. view is overwhelming.”
“This event allows us to be together. In addition to local family
It unifies us,” said Chief Machinist’s members and friends who attended
Mate (SW/SS) James Osgood. “I the event, some people like Paula
think this is the best seat in town.” Osgood traveled a long way to spend
Vinson’s Morale, Welfare and Independence Day with their loved
Recreation (MWR) Division hosted ones.
the event, which started at 6 p.m. “I flew all the way from Virginia
and ended after the local San Diego to spend a couple of days with my
fireworks show. MWR also provided husband in downtown (San Diego),”
food and refreshments. said Osgood. “We’ve been spending
“It’s a great chance for Sailors this holiday together for the past ten
to come here and celebrate this years.”
big American holiday,” said Chief MWR Division administers a

4. 4 Carl Vinson Voice
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Aaron Shelley
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Shentel Yarnell
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Matthew Haran
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ashley Van Dien

5. July 11, 2010 5
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Megan Catellier
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Matthew Haran
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adrian White

6. 6 Carl Vinson Voice
I’m Proud to be
An American
the help of the Legal and Personnel passport, bring family members to the
By MC3 Stephen Hale Departments on board.” states, obtain citizenship for children
USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer It is also quite a lengthy process born abroad, and become eligible for
which can take as long as six years. federal jobs.
After a Military Naturalization In the Navy, Sailors may earn their In addition to personal benefits,
Ceremony on board USS Midway July citizenship in as little as three U.S. citizenship also affords Sailors
2nd, ten Vinson Sailors are now U.S. months. many professional benefits and
citizens. “I’ve been in the states for over 30 opportunities.
The Sailors were part of a group of years and never was able to get my “I have always wanted to go overseas
300 military men and women from citizenship,” said Personnel Specialist as an individual augmentee (IA), but
more than 30 countries who received 2nd Class (SW) Kennedy James that wasn’t an option for me before,”
citizenship from the U.S. Citizenship from Nigeria. “The Vinson Legal said James. “Now I can go IA and do
and Immigration Services. Department helped my shipmates my part.”
“The naturalization process can be and I get our citizenship in about 45 Sailors with U.S. citizenship can go
quite expensive, costing upwards of days.” IA, become officers, and get higher
$3,000 for civilians,” said Legalman There are several personal benefits security clearances.
1st Class Chris Salinas. “The process to becoming a citizen, including “This is just a blessing,” said James.
was free for Vinson Sailors, with the ability to vote, travel with a U.S. “I feel like I have so many options.”
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Stephen Hale

7. July 11, 2010 7
Carl Vinson Participates in Walking Blood Bank
Fifteen representatives from
the Navy Medical Center
By MC3 Heather Roe
facilitated the blood drive. The
USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer
donated blood was transferred
to Naval Medical Center San
According to the American Diego (Balboa). After being
Red Cross, when a person is tested for purity, the blood will
asked to donate blood the be made available to clinics
two most common answers and medical personnel in the
are: “Never thought about it” central command theater of
and “I don’t like needles.” operation.
These were not the replies Carl Vinson held walking
heard from 60 willing Carl blood banks during Southern
Vinson Sailors who donated Seas 2010, including several
blood during a blood drive to support Operation Unified
on board June 28th. Response in Haiti.
The blood drive was open “The blood drive was Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Luis Ramirez
on the aft mess decks from 8 in support of our possible
a.m. to 1 p.m. in support of future walking blood banks of blood they have.” and platelets before being
the Armed Services Blood because the Sailors are already The donation was on a stored. This process allows
Bank Center. screened, so if there was an volunteer basis and Sailors the blood of a single donor
“I donate blood to help emergency, medical knows were required to meet certain to be used for several patients
those in need,” said Aviation who’s qualified to give blood,” criteria in order to give blood. with different needs.
Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) 3rd said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Sailors who had “boots- “The first time I donated
Class Jeston Franco, assigned Class Nakita Byrum, a Vinson on-ground” in Haiti were blood was back when I
to Air Department on board laboratory technician. “It was automatically ineligible for joined the Navy [when] my
Carl Vinson. “I think it’s also to help Balboa (Naval one year. brother was in Iraq,” said
important to donate blood to Hospital) because they have a Others who didn’t meet Fire Controlman 3rd Class
help the deployed troops.” quota to make on the amount weight or blood pressure Jefferson Daniels, assigned to
requirements were also unable Combat Systems Department
to donate. on board Carl Vinson. “He
“Sixty Sailors out of 100 told me some stories that made
were eligible to donate blood [me] really eager to help.”
during the give blood bank,” Carl Vinson plans to hold
said Byrum. “Each Sailor another blood drive with the
could potentially save three Armed Services Blood Bank
lives with one unit (pint) of Center in September 2010 to
blood.” continue supporting Naval
Donated blood can be Medical Center San Diego
separated into plasma, red (Balboa) and American troops
blood cells, white blood cells, who may need it.
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Luis Ramirez

8. 8 Carl Vinson Voice
GOLD EAGLE TEAM,
I want to first, THANK YOU for your superb leadership over the last couple of weeks
getting CARL VINSON successfully out of our Maintenance Upkeep Period, successfully
through our Fast Cruise, and prepared for the Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF)
Change of Command – all while keeping the ‘normal business’ of the ship humming right
along! Not many crews can manage to keep so many plates spinning – but you can!
I wanted to offer you a Hearty BRAVO ZULU for a job well done
– specifically, a spectacular CNAF Change of Command. Admiral
Willard, who was a previous XO of the CARL VINSON, mentioned
how impressed he was with the ship – that she looked better than
when he was the XO. Admiral Harvey stopped on the brow and
examined the ship closely and when he came across the brow he
mentioned that the ship was definitely ready to go to sea. Harvey
also made a special point of acknowledging how well the ship and
Sailors looked during his remarks – and he is a Surface Warfare
Officer (SWO) Nuke so that is indeed a very high accolade!
Both the old Air Boss, Vice Admiral Kilcline, and the new Air
Boss, Vice Admiral Myers, were extremely proud of the ship,
how she looked and how the crew made their Change of Command
extremely successful and special, not only for them but also for their
families and guests. Rear Admiral Branch was especially proud of
how well the Sailors performed and how well the ship looked too.
And there were many other Air Wing Commanders, Chiefs of Staff
and Commodores and Civilians who all commented on how well
the ship looked – these were heartfelt comments and not the usual
remarks made in passing.
To get so many comments and to have them all say the same thing
but in ever more glowing terms means that they really must be
true! You all have really done a SUPERB job. Your actions make the
CARL VINSON the premier CVN on the San Diego waterfront. You
should be VERY proud of what you have accomplished and what
your Sailors have done under your leadership and guidance!
I am extremely proud of your leadership and I count my lucky stars to be assigned
to this ship and to be a part of this crew!
Keep up the Good work!
All the Best,
Captain and Mrs. Lindsey