The USS Carl Vinson completed two replenishments at sea (RAS) with two other ships, the USS Gridley and USS Stockdale, which allowed them to exchange supplies without having to pull into port. This was an uncommon occurrence for an aircraft carrier but provided important hands-on training. It was also the first time since an overhaul that the Carl Vinson had serviced two ships in a row. The successful RAS was a training exercise that prepared the ships for upcoming exercises and deployment and helped the Carl Vinson crew, now more experienced, conduct the evolution professionally.

1. VOL 1 / NO 39 August 25, 2010
replenishment at sea
Story by MCSN Rosa Arzola
USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer
times two
Carl Vinson completed two replenishments at sea (RAS) According to Lt. Cmdr. Tony Diaz, Carl Vinson’s First
with USS Gridley (DDG 101) and USS Stockdale (DDG Lieutenant, this was the first time that Vinson has serviced
106) yesterday. two ships in a row since pulling out of a Refueling Complex
A RAS allows ships to exchange the food, fuel and Overhaul.
supplies necessary to stay at sea for extended periods of “The crew has come a long way in the past two years,”
time without having pulling into port. said Wilson. “It is no longer a green crew. We are now
“It’s not common for aircraft carriers to give fuel to trained Sailors who conduct business by the book, in a
other ships. It’s usually the other way around but this was professional manner.”
important hands-on training for the Sailors on board,” said The evolution, a battle group training exercise to
VINSON’s Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) (AW/ prepare the ships for Composite Training Unit Exercise
SW) Shawn Wilson. (COMPTUEX) and deployment, provided training for
See RAS, Page 4
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adrian White
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 neces-
sarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government or the Departments
of Defense or the Navy and do not imply any endorsement thereby.

2. 2 Carl Vinson Voice
Sailors, It’s All About You
Story by MC1 (AW) LaTunya Howard
Personnel Command Public Affairs
Navy Personnel Command (NPC)
has an all new “My Personnel
Information” link on the NPC
homepage, directing Sailors to a
single grouping of web links for
personnel information and career
management.
“This is all about the individual
Sailor,” said Capt. Hank Vitali, training and education, and feedback and lessons learned from
director of the Personnel Services Customer Service Center support. the ‘My Personnel Information’
Delivery Transformation Office at Sailors can access their official page into the requirements for the
the Bureau of Naval Personnel. military personnel file, their physical future Navy Human Resources
“The ‘My Personnel Information’ readiness information, submit an Portal under development for our
page (the first listing under quick electronic-leave request, enter the active and Reserve Sailors.”
links) is a first step in response Defense Travel System or request a For more information or to provide
to requests from the fleet for a Sailor/Marine American Council on direct feedback on “My Personnel
single self-service-online site Education Registry Transcript. Information” visit http://www.npc.
for personnel service delivery “There are 20 links to personnel navy.mil (quick links to the left),
capabilities,” Vitali said. “We’ve records information, self service and or contact NPC Customer Service
heard the fleet loud and clear and support sites, training and education, Center at CSCMail@navy.mil or
are working to develop an enhanced customer service - even post-incident 1-866-U-ASK-NPC.
‘portal’ that provides Sailors direct personnel accountability via the Navy For more news from Navy
access to the most commonly used Family and Accountability System,” Personnel Command, visit www.
applications and sources of career said Vitali. “We’ll leverage the navy.mil/local/npc/.
information.”
The “My Personnel Information”
page has four main functions;
personnel records, self-support,
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
Photo Editor
MC2 Adrian White
Layout and Design
MCSN Rosa A. Arzola
Staff Writers/Photographers
MC3 Heather Roe
MCSN Rosa A. Arzola
Personnel Specialist 3rd Class (SW/AW) Carl Vizzi works in Personnel Department on board, where Sailors can
receive information regarding their personnel records. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman
Follow Vinson on Facebook: www.facebook.com/USSCARLVINSON Matthew Haran.

3. August 25, 2010 3
Vinson Library Offers Options, Boosts Morale
“Sailors like the
Story by MC3 Heather Roe library because they
USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer can use the internet to
talk to their spouses
and family members,”
said Seward.
After a hard day at work, a priority LMRC also has more
on many Sailor’s minds is relaxation. than 6,000 books and
A great place to find what a Sailor MP4 audio books for
is looking for is the Learning Media Sailors to check out.
Resource Center (LMRC) aboard “I like the library
Carl Vinson. because it has a lot of
There, Sailors are able to unwind books to choose from,”
from a long day at work and said Cryptologic
concentrate on something other Technician (Technical)
than what is going on in their work Seaman Leizle Aspili,
centers. a Sailor in Vinson’s
“The library is a great place for Intel Department. “I
Sailors to get away from their like that I can check my
working environment and get a Facebook too.”
chance to relax,” said Religious LMRC on board not
Program Specialist Seaman Jesse only helps the Sailors
Seward, the assistant library officer of Carl Vinson, it has
for LMRC. “Since the air wing has also reached out to
come on board, we have 350 to 400 other branches to boost
Sailors visiting the library a day.” morale throughout the
LMRC offers many media- military.
orientated activities for Sailors to “LMRC has donated
utilize. There are more than 1,400 (items) to Balboa Religious ProgramNavy photo1st Class Communicationreshelves books in the
Specialist Felicia Sherrill
ship’s library. U.S. by Mass Specialist 3rd Class
movies to choose from, with a wide Hospital, which donates Heather Roe.
range of genres. Along with the large to other military
collection of movies, LMRC has a organizations,” said Seward. The library is open from 10 a.m.
movie theater equipped with wireless LMRC recently donated 1,200 MP4 until 12 a.m. to ensure all Sailors who
headphones for up to 22 Sailors to audio books to Balboa Hospital, who in are interested in visiting are able to.
use. turn, donates to Naval Regional Library, Morale is a key factor to the efficiency
Gaming systems and computers are Wounded Warriors Association, Marine of a ship’s performance and the library
also a popular choice among Sailors Corps Base Camp Pendleton and is available for the convenience of
who visit the library. Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Sailors.

4. 4 Carl Vinson Voice
RAS Continued
many junior Sailors.
“The Sailors did very well,” said Diaz. “We were
challenged but we got the job done, and they learned about
how to safely and properly rig the station.”
“This RAS was important because it served as training to
many Sailors who will be out on a deployment and will be
expected to know what to do,” said Wilson.
Conducting a RAS evolution requires not only knowledge,
but concentration and focus. The receiving ship comes
alongside and maintains 160 to 180 feet of lateral separation
and both ships have to maintain a speed of 13 knots. There
are multiple dangers involved in a RAS, so safety is always
a priority.
“There’s always the chance of a fuel-hose rupture,
someone falling over the side, a collision between ships, or
a rig-break if the proper distance is exceeded between the
two vessels,” said Diaz. “Safety is important because we
don’t want anybody to get hurt or killed, and we don’t want
to damage equipment.”
During this RAS, Vinson gave 93,000 gallons of fuel to
USS Stockdale. This is the first time that USS Stockdale
has ever received fuel.

5. August 25, 2010 5
Photos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adrian White and Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Rosa Arzola

6. 6 Carl Vinson Voice
Sailors participate in a mass casualty drill on the flight deck. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman
Rosa A. Arzola