www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, June 15, 2023
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IN THIS ISSUE
US Navy SEALs conduct nighttime non-combatant evacuation operation training The elite maritime special operations commandos embarked on the nighttime training to enhance their capabilities and readiness in the event of humanitarian crises, natural disasters. Page A5 VOL. 31, NO. 21, Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com
June 15-June 21, 2023
NORFOLK, Va. (June 9, 2023)- Rear Adm. John Meier, commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic (AIRLANT), poses with Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) following their completion of the second Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) University course of instruction on June 9. ABHU is a new course spearheaded by AIRLANT specifically designed for Sailors in the Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) rate. During the course, Sailors refresh their skills and acquire more knowledge through classroom and hands-on training. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS TATYANA FREEMAN)
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) University: Refreshing and refining skillsets for a safer flight deck By Petty Officer 2nd Class Tatyana Freeman
Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic
The flight deck of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is a fast-paced and complex place, especially when operating at sea. It takes only seconds for a multi-million dollar aircraft to “crunch” into another one and render both unable to fly. This miscalculation of movement and spilt-second mistake made by personnel working on the flight deck creates huge complications for operational units that provide forward presence around the globe. Rear Adm. John Meier, commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic (AIRLANT), believes the unfortunate mistakes made on the flight deck can be mitigated through more rigorous training in the classroom and hands-on experiences on the flight line. From his perspective, the naval aviation community has a duty and obligation to train and prepare Sailors who will, or who presently, work and manage day-to-day operations on a flight deck. “The vast majority of reportable safety incidents we have in naval aviation are ‘crunches,’ ” said Meier. “This is when personnel working on a ship’s flight deck or flight line tow a 100 to 200 million dollar
Rear Adm. John Meier, commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic (AIRLANT), speaks to Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) during the Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) University course of instruction on June 9.
aircraft into something else. The worst of these types of events occur when one aircraft is towed into another one, and then a squadron or unit is down two of their aircraft. Mission and readiness are automatically impacted in a blink of an eye.” Due to these incidents mostly resulting
from human error, Meier is working with his team at AIRLANT to take necessary steps toward making naval aviation safer by trying to stop problems before they happen, and to close out the most preventable mistakes in order to keep Navy aircraft where they belong: in the air.
“Last year we had a significant number of crunches throughout the fleet,” said Meier. “A-B-H-U is our approach to that. It’s basically our ground school for aircraft handling.” ABHU, or Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) University, is a new course that Aviation Boatswain’s Mates (Handling) (ABH) within AIRLANT’s claimancy can now take part in to refresh their skills, or acquire more knowledge in an area they may be unfamiliar with due to ship maintenance periods or their assigned job position within their shops. The first ABHU participants, from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), graduated from the course on Naval Station Norfolk on June 2, 2023. The second class of Sailors comprised of participants from Harry S. Truman and they graduated June 9, 2023. ABHs supervise the movement, spotting, and securing of aircraft and equipment ashore and afloat and provide crash rescue, firefighting, crash removal, and damage control duties in connection with the launch and recovery of aircraft. “It’s a basic ABH course with a lot of extra reps [repetitions] and sets that they can use Turn to University, Page 2
NAVFAC MIDLANT Environmental recognized as part of 2023 EPA Federal Facilities Excellence in Partnering Team of the Year award By Naval Facilities Engineering
Systems Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic
NORFOLK, Va. — Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Lejeune, North Carolina Partnering Team was recently announced as recipients of the 2023 EPA National Notable Achievement Award: Federal Facilities Excellence in Partnering Team of the Year for their exemplary partnership, and for effectively implementing innovative, timely, and sustainable remedial actions onboard the 156,000-acre military base. Teams from all 10 EPA Regions submitted packages and competed for this year’s honors. The MCB Camp Lejeune Partnering Team included: Dave Cleland and Lindsey Mills, from Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Mid-Atlantic (NAVFAC
MIDLANT) Environmental; Jennifer Tufts, from EPA Region 4; Thomas Richard and Laura Spung, from MCB Camp Lejeune; Randy McElveen, Beth Hartzell, and Angela Moore, from North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality; Matt Louth, Kim Henderson and Monica Fulkerson, from Jacobs; and Dylan Elks and Shaun Whitworth, from Meadows CMPG, Inc. “I’m extremely proud of this team, but also proud of their ability to assess tough environmental issues by incorporating innovative thinking and reasoning, positive communication, and efficient management practices,” said Kelly Knight, NAVFAC MIDLANT Environmental Director. “Their efforts also helped to support beneficial goals of the Department of Defense and our partnering agencies.”
Work performed was managed under the Navy’s Environmental Restoration Program (ERP), which utilizes a partnering concept to facilitate cleanup actions required under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. The team was widely recognized for their functionality and for the performance of their duties. During the submission period, the team’s combined efforts included: the treatment of more than 6 million gallons of groundwater, injection of more than 3,000 gallons of emulsified vegetable oil substrate as part of a bio barrier replenishment and recirculation system, and the operation of air sparge systems for more than 9,000 hours. Additionally, the team saved more than $40,000 by reusing remediation equipment from a decommissioned site, and increased
efficiency through the installation of a new solar powered treatment system that reused 70 cubic yards of soil, recycled 7,530 pounds of metal, reduced remediation-derived waste and paper waste, and saved more than 52 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, among other benefits. Their dynamic structure allowed them to establish and maintain effective working relationships with external organizational units, including the Restoration Advisory Board, a stakeholder organization that provides input on MCB Camp Lejeune’s cleanup program. The team’s partnership involved frequent engagement and collaboration with stakeholders to execute the Navy’s ERP in a timely, efficient, and Turn to EPA award, Page 2
Biden moves to improve opportunities for military spouses www.flagshipnews.com
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At Fort Liberty, North Carolina, President Joe Biden signed an executive order designed to strengthen economic opportunities for military and veteran spouses, caregivers and survivors. Page A7
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