Two experienced chefs from the American Culinary Federation have volunteered to spend a month aboard the USS Carl Vinson to train the ship's culinary specialists. Through the "Adopt a Ship" program, the chefs will mentor the specialists on proper food preparation, presentation, and ensuring high quality meals over their month long assignment. Their goal is to help the culinary team onboard provide Sailors with improved and consistent food service.

1. VOL 1 / NO 30 July 14, 2010
Volunteer Chefs
Train Culinary Specialists
Story by MCSN Matthew Haran
USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer
Liberty, professional satisfaction and development, communication
with home: all factors that keep a Sailor happy and productive,
non compare however, to three good meals a day.
Two civilian chefs have volunteered to spend a month out to
sea with Carl Vinson to do their part in making that happen.
Both chefs are members of the American Culinary
Federation (ACF) and are participating in the “Adopt a Ship”
program. Since both chefs have experienced volunteering
on Navy vessels, they were assigned to Vinson to help train
culinary specialists onboard.
“This program is about providing training, but first and
foremost it’s about being mentors to Sailors,” said Joel
Marucheck, a culinary arts instructor.
The ACF holds seminars to inform chefs of the “Adopt a
Ship” program. Based on the chef ’s schedules and interest
in volunteering, they are selected to go to sea aboard a
Navy ship.
“The ACF is the dominant professional organization in
our field,” said Darryl Espinoza, the executive chef. “It is an
honor to be selected to be on a fine ship like this.”
The “Adopt a Ship” program is completely voluntary and
the ACF looks for only the most experienced chefs who are
interested in giving back.
“We have such a tremendous respect for the sacrifices the
military makes. Volunteering to help out is the least we can do,” said
Marucheck.
Espinoza and Marucheck arrived July 5, and are scheduled to be on
board until July 31. In that time, they plan to instruct culinary specialists
on ownership of their product, accountability, and responsibility.
“All we want to do is provide these Sailors
with an expectation, and after they expect
it, we want them to demand it (of
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Rosa A. Arzola
themselves),” said Espinoza.
The five main issues for the
Th Ca rl V in s n
T h e C a r l Vin son Vo ice
The Carl Vinson Voice is an inte rn al doc ume nt pro duced by an d f or the cr ew of
he inso inte r nal document o du ced y and for h e crew of
i tern docume
ter ument u d he c w beginning stages of mentorship
t h e U S S C arl Vinson and their families. Its contents do not necessarily reflect
the US Carl Vi nso n a nd the ir fam ili es It s c ont en s d o n ot nec ess ari ly r ef lec t
he USS a rl V n s
SS r l nson n d e famili es.
so ilies cont nt
onten
nts necess a rily ref l ec
ss l y re f le c
s e e See CHEFS, page 2
the official views of the U.S. G o ver nme nt or th D e par tme nts of Defense or
th e of fic ial v i e ws Government
t he o f f i c i al vi ews o th e U.S . Go vernme t
h fi ia l a S Gover Departments
the De p tments o f De f en se o r
Depar n ts Defe n
D e fen s e
e
th e Navy a
t he Na y an d d o no t i mpl y a ny end orseme nt th e reby.
the N a vy and do not imply any endorsement thereby.
h o pl y endors eme t the reby
d b

2. 2 Carl Vinson Voice
Vinson Reaches Historic Milestone
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Patrick Green
An EA-18G Growler, assigned to the “Vikings” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 and piloted by Lt. Ian Hudson and Lt.
Ben Hartman, performs the 200,000th trap on the flight deck of USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).
Publisher CHEFS Continued
Capt. Bruce H. Lindsey include tasting and seasoning, “I like how they are not trying to
Commanding Officer
preparing meals 30 minutes before teach us how to cook, they just want
Executive Editors serving, progressive cooking, to train us on putting out a better
Lt. Cmdr. Erik Reynolds thawing procedures and schedules, product through presentation,” said
Public Affairs Officer
and daily temperature checks. Jacques.
Lt. j.g. Erik Schneider “Darryl and Joel showed us a lot of Espinoza and Marucheck
Deputy Public Affairs Officer
great new presentations and cooking developed a 21-day training plan
Managing Editor strategies but mainly showed us how they call the C.A.R.E. Program. The
MC2 Ashley Van Dien to use flavors the right way,” said goal is to ensure that Sailors onboard
Layout and Design
Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Scott Carl Vinson enjoy care, attitude,
MCSN Rosa A. Arzola Jacques, watch captain of the chief responsibility and enthusiasm put
petty officer mess. into every meal.
Staff Writers/Photographers
MC3 Patrick Green
Carl Vinson has several galleys with “Sailors ask me all the time if I am
MC3 Stephen G. Hale open kitchens where Sailors can be here to teach them how to cook,”
MC3 Heather Roe seen cooking and serving food. The said Marucheck. “I am only here
MCSN Zachary D. Bell
key to success with an open kitchen to mentor Sailors through culinary
is cleanliness and professionalism. arts.”

3. July 14, 2010 3
Vinson Welcomes Midshipmen
for Training, Fleet Experience
By MC3 Patrick Green
USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer
USS Carl Vinson welcomed 33
Reserve Officers Training Corps
(ROTC) and Naval Academy
midshipmen for their summer
cruise, from June 29 to July 23.
Midshipmen from across the
country spend their summers
aboard ships around the fleet
to gain training and experience
for their development as junior
officers.
“We get to see the day-to-day life
aboard the ship,” said Midshipman
3rd Class Stephanie Payne, a Naval
Academy midshipman taking part
in the summer cruise. “It gives us a
chance to see how we will interact Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Rosa A. Arzola
with enlisted personnel as junior
officers.” This is that seeing
For their training the mids are S e p u l v e d a ’s “I think it’s really great that we got the flight deck
assigned a “running mate.” Enlisted second time to be on an aircraft carrier. If I do end has convinced
Vinson Sailors are assigned fourth, on a ship, with up going aviation, I’m getting a taste of her to choose
third and second class mids, while last year’s what our future life is going to be like.” aviation after
junior officers mentor the first class s u m m e r Midshipman 3rd Class Jacquline Penichet graduation.
midshipmen. cruise spent Upon arriv-
“I’ve learned a lot about the aboard USS ing to the
importance of communication on Green Bay (LPD 20). ship, the mids were excited, and
board the ship,” said Midshipman “The crew size was the biggest admitted-ly overwhelmed when
2nd Class Daniella Sepulveda, a difference for me,” said Sepulveda. they finally stepped onboard.
Naval Academy midshipman. “The ship was also newly “I think it’s really great that we
“I also learned that your commissioned, so it was still working got to be on an aircraft carrier,” said
department doesn’t work on its qualifications. I never got to Midshipman 3rd Class Jacqueline
independently, but that everyone see any flight operations.” Penichet, a Naval Academy
depends on everyone else to get the That is not the case with this midshipman. “If I do end up going
job done.” cruise. The mids got a chance to see aviation, I’m getting a taste of what
air operations on our future life is going to be like.”
the flight deck July Although most of their time is
11. spent with their “running mate” in
“My favorite part their respective shop, Penichet said
so far has been the the best experience she’s getting
flight deck,” said just walking around the ship talking
Midshipman 3rd to Sailors.
Class Nancy De “Ever since we’ve been underway,
Avila Alvarado. we’ve just had a lot of fun going
“Being right next to to the different departments,” said
the helos and F-18s Penichet.
and watching them “Everyone here is really friendly,
take off has been both officers and enlisted. Either
great.” if we’re lost or have a question,
De Avila everyone is happy to stop and speak
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Patrick Green Alvarado added to us.”

4. 4 Carl Vinson Voice
Marine Squadron Underway
for Hands-On Experience
fo
Story by MCSN Zachary D. Bell
USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer
Marines and Carl Vinson Sailors
are working together to complete
Fleet Replacement Squadron Carrier
Qualifications.
The Marines are attached to Marine
Fighter Attack Training Squadron
101 (VMFAT-101), stationed at
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
Their current mission is to train Navy
pilots and perform maintenance on
the aircraft their pilots are flying off
Vinson’s deck.
VMFAT-101 is a Marine and Navy
training squadron for the F-18 Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Zachary Bell
Hornet.
There are approximately 700 people One of those LSO’s is Maj. Joseph basis.”
in the squadron. Thirty percent are Porrazzo, VMFAT-101, Detachment All of the pilots have completed
Sailors, a small number are civilians, Officer in Charge. flight school, primary flight training,
and the rest are Marines. Porrazzo, along with the other intermediate flight training, advanced
The number of squadron personnel LSO’s, grade the pilots’ flight jet training, how to use the aircraft as
who go to sea varies with each Carrier performance and teach them correct a weapon, most of the F-18 syllabus
Qualification (CQ) depending on flying procedures while maintaining and now they are attempting CQ.
how many pilots need to qualify. safety at all times. “The pinnacle and final step of
Ninety-three members of “My focus is qualifying pilots to their syllabus is CQ, where the pilots
VMFAT-101 are aboard Carl Vinson. land on the ship safely,” said Porrazzo, qualify to land on the ship during
Seven student pilots, 80 maintenance who also deployed with Carl Vinson day and night (operations),” said
workers and six Landing Signal in 2005. “Safety is my number one Porrazzo.
Officers (LSO) will be working priority and that’s something that After the seven pilots attain their
alongside Vinson Sailors. I practice as an aviator on a daily carrier qualification, they will be sent
to the fleet. One of the lessons they
have learned is that they are able to
fly safely because of the maintenance
done by their squadron.
Gunnery Sgt. Cornelius Scott, of
the unit VMFAT-101 is one of many
Marines keeping F-18’s in the air.
“Maintenance is done extensively in
order for everything to go according
to plan with the aircraft, but more
importantly that the pilot’s safety is
maintained,” said Scott.
Scott specializes in environmental
control systems that provide air
supply, thermal control and cabin
pressurization for the pilots.
“This is my first time on an aircraft
carrier and the experience is pretty
good,” said Scott. “Watching Sailors
take part and show enthusiasm
during drills and seeing everything
that the Navy does to keep this ship
maintained and going strong has
really impressed me.”

5. July 14, 2010 5
More Than A Paper Pusher
has a positive
attitude and looks
to move forward,”
said Aviation
Support Equipment
Technician 1st Class
Refugio Franco. “He
doesn’t just look out
for himself, he looks
out for his Shipmates
also.”
Minor became even
more motivated after
returning from his
temporary assigned duty
to Supply Department,
S-5 Division as a food
service attendant. Since
then he has been frocked
to 3rd class petty officer and is
Story by MC3 Stephen Hale
MC3 now dedicated to getting every
qualification he can, such as Petty
Officer of the Watch and Naval
Some Sailo are satisfied with
o
ome Sailors Aviation Logistics Command
meeting the standard. But for Management Information System
21-year-old Aviation Maintenance (NALCOMIS).
Administrationman 3rd Class “My job is very tedious and a
Nicholas Minor, a native of can be a slow process,” said Minor.
Fredericksburg, Va., good “But one missed letter or blank left
enough is not good enough. incomplete on the paperwork can
Minor is a production control be a hit during inspection or cause
clerk for Carl Vinson’s Aviation equipment to fail. We all know what
Maintenance Intermediate can happen if equipment fails.”
Department, IM-4 Division. When he is away from work,
His responsibilities include Minor likes to unwind by keeping
managing and verifying more things simple.
than 300 pieces of maintenance. “In my spare time, I like to just lay
He has to pay specific attention back and relax,” said Minor. “I’m
to very strict guidelines in order an easy going guy, so when I am not
to avoid mishaps and accidents. at work, I just like to lay low and
“My job is to document all chill.”
equipment upkeep so that we are Minor has two years remaining
aware of any potential problems in on his enlistment. If he decides not
the gear we use,” said Minor. “That to re-enlist, his plan is to wind-up
way, if gear does malfunction, it’s back in the Washington, D.C. area,
not because we haven’t done the and would like to be a Washington
proper maintenance.” Redskins season ticket holder.
It’s that kind of attitude that “I’m glad we got Donovan McNabb
has Minor highly regarded by his this year,” said Minor. “Don’t get me
peers and superiors, as well. wrong, I like California a lot, but I
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Stephen Hale “Petty Officer Minor always miss my ‘Skins!”

6. 6 Carl Vinson Voice