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Serving the Hampton Roads Navy Family
Vol. 20, No. 19 Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com | 05.10.12
USS JASON DUNHAM TAKES PART IN VBSS EXERCISE
MC2 William Jamieson A visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team member from the guidedmissile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) climbs into a rigid-hull inflatable boat during a boarding exercise.
By MC2 William Jamieson USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Public Affairs
USS JASON DUNHAM, AT SEA
Members of the visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) conducted a simulated boarding of training support vessel Prevail (TSV 1), May 6. The boarding exercise was conducted as a part of the Carrier Strike Group Eight composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) to provide hands-on training to VBSS team members before Jason Dunham’s upcoming deployment. “When you do one of these exercises, you never know what to expect,” said VBSS team member, Ensign Ryan Kelly. “You have to rely on your training and the other team members, and that is exactly how it is in a real-world situation.” As part of the exercise, the team members boarded Prevail after Jason Dunham established bridge-to-bridge communications and determined Prevail qualified as a vessel of interest. Once aboard Prevail, team members encountered a crew that was “uncooperative” and discovered contraband, including drugs and weapons. “At that point, we knew we were going to have to detain the vessel,” said team member, Quartermaster 2nd Class David Rodriguez. “We phoned back to Jason Dunham and had them send over the ship-control team.” A ship-control team takes control of detained vessels and consists of damage control, deck and engineering personnel fully capable of controlling and managing any situation a vessel might encounter while transiting to the nearest port. “We were fully prepared to take control and stay on the ship for 24 - 48 hours,” said shipcontrol team member, Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Ronald Virgin. After the ship-control team demonstrated their ability to navigate and control the ship, both teams were called together for debriefing. “We had a successful boarding and learned a lot during the exercise,” said Kelly. “We just want to keep this momentum going into our deployment.”
Big E hosts cystic fibrosis run/walk
Oceana motorcycle riders pledge ‘W82TXT’
By MC3 Scott Pittman Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs
USS ENTERPRISE, AT SEA
By Cathy Heimer The Jet Observer
VIRGINIA BEACH
As part of Hampton Roads public service safety campaign, Sailors who are motorcycle riders at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana and Dam Neck Annex took the pledge to keep themselves safe on the road, May 3, whether riding their bikes or behind the wheel of a vehicle. “W82TXT,” the campaign sponsored by local television station, WAVY-TV 10, visited Oceana for the second time since sponsoring the program one year ago. “W82TXT is a grassroots effort campaign to promote awareness about texting and driving. It has become a huge epidemic in this area and a lot of people are thinking they can get away with it, and they don’t realize the severity and danger of it,” explained Kenita Bowers, community affairs director for WAVY-TV 10. The filming of the public service announcement with the riders is one of several local events to recognize that May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. The National Safety Council sponsors the campaign to make vehicle drivers more
SESAME STREET COMES TO HAMPTON ROADS United Service Organizations (USO) and the children’sTV show, “Sesame Street,” kicked off a week-long concert event starting at JEBLCFS’s GatorTheater, May 3. » see A3
Cathy Heimer Virginia State Trooper Steve Stirling shares motorcycle safety tips and riding stories with riders at the Naval Air Station Oceana Motorcycle Safety training range.
As a fellow driver on the roads, it’s a hazard to me, my family and my friends when folks are driving distracted.” - Capt. Kit Chope, Executive Officer, NAS Oceana
aware of bikers and to share the road with them. Another event to promote motorcycle safety was the annual Oceana Motorcycle Safety Rodeo, May 4. Capt. Kit Chope, Executive Officer, NAS Oceana participated in the filming of the PSA and also promoted the Oceana Motorcycle Safety Rodeo. “As a fellow driver on the roads, it’s a hazard to me, my
family and my friends when folks are driving distracted. So therefore, us supporting the W82TXT campaign is an investment in our own future and our health,” he said. Chope, the father of two teenagers, one of whom is a driver, believes “anything I can do to keep them safe is important. But it’s not just about my kids – it’s about all of our folks who are working here on-base, our fellow neighbors in Hampton Roads.” Motorcycle rider Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Matthew Rucker, from the Fleet Readiness Center MidAtlantic Site Oceana, is concerned about the effect that distracted drivers have. “A lot of times, the cars don’t see us and this (W82TXT) will make it a lot safer for a lot of people,” he said. Rucker was one of the Sailors pledging to W82TXT. “This raises awareness, especially for motorcyclists,” said
Sailors and Marines aboard aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) participated in a flight deck walk and run to raise awareness for cystic fibrosis, May 6. Chief Warrant Officer Two Rahzine Brown, of Enterprise’s Reactor department, began organizing the event in honor of Brady Keep, the 3-year-old son of Brown’s long-time friend and shipmate, Chief Electronics Technician Jeff Keep, who serves aboard Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Norfolk (SSN 714). Brady is currently battling cystic fibrosis. “We came out to show support for our friends and families back home so they know, just because we’re on deployment, we still remember them and their struggles,” said Brown. “There was a cystic fibrosis walk in Virginia Beach [May 5], so we decided to show our support by having one on the ship [May 6].” Cystic Fibrosis, also known
» see BIG E | A11
» see W82TXT | A11
EOD MEMORIAL CEREMONY HONORS FALLEN The ceremony held on Eglin Air Force Base, May 5, saw the names of 18 fallen EOD warriors added to the memorial’s wall.
MOTHER’S DAY GIFT IDEAS Instead of the traditional “gift of flowers,” try something different this year.The Flagship has compiled a list of gifts and events for Mother’s Day.
» see B5
» see C1
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