SHUTTLEtheUSS Enterprise (CVN 65) - Monday July 11, 2011

MC3(SW) Austin Rooney

Big ‘E’ ‘Nukes’ It From Start Up to

Finish

accomplish their goals every day. “We take our job of reactor safety very seriously,” said Cuskey. “Top to bottom I think Enterprise’s Reactor department is one of the most professional organizations in the Navy.” “There are nukes, and there are Enterprise nukes. These Big ‘E’ Engineers are the toughest, hardest-working bunch I’ve had the pleasure of working with,” said Capt. Mark V. Metzger, the ship’s chief engineer. “They know they have a job to do in order to get the plants ready for three months of maintenance- and they’re ready to execute.”

the Page 3Monday, July 11, 2011

Enterprise NewsSHUTTLE

By MC3(SW) Austin RooneyUSS Enterprise Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, At sea- As the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) steams through the Atlantic Ocean on its way home after a six-month deployment July 9, Sailors look forward to returning home and enjoying leave. For some though, returning to Naval Station Norfolk doesn’t mean going on leave like the rest of the crew. The highly trained Sailors of Big ‘E’s Engineering and Reactor departments must stay aboard the ship and work long hours for days afterward to ensure a safe shutdown of the ship’s eight nuclear reactors. Navy nuclear trained Sailors, commonly referred to as “Nukes,” have one of the most important responsibilities on the ship, which is to ensure the ship is constantly getting enough power from its reactors to provide propulsion and to power various shipboard systems. “This job is very challenging and also very important to the ship,” said Machinist Mate 3rd Class Tonty David Rutinel, a nuclear mechanic assigned to the ship’s No. 3 plant. “It can be stressful knowing that our actions affect the entire ship.” During the week after Big ‘E’ returns home, these highly trained Sailors will be on “port and starboard” watch sections, where they will be on duty every other day and working long hours in the days in-between until all eight reactors are safely shut down. “This is an important event because it takes a certain amount of time and coordination to put

the reactor plants in a safe condition,” said Master Chief Machinist’s Mate (SW) Cameron Cuskey, Reactor department’s leading chief petty officer. “There is not an on/off switch down there.” Time consuming operations such as these are essential to the ship’s mission, and Cuskey said the Nukes who work to take care of the reactors are no strangers to long hours and hard work. “For the most part, it’s part of our life as engineers,” said Cuskey. “We start our deployments early and end them late. I don’t think there is any thought to it at this point, it’s just a fact of life.” While underway, Rutinel said Nukes stand “five and dimes,” which is a work schedule consisting of five hours of watch followed by ten hours of either time off or work, depending on when their watch is over. “We do a lot of maintenance and a lot of cleaning,” said Rutinel. “There are good days and bad days, but overall the job is what you make of it.” Rutinel said working with the eight reactors aboard Enterprise poses a unique challenge, since the ship is almost 50 years old and in need of constant maintenance. While it can sometimes mean extra work for the department, Rutinel said working aboard Enterprise has improved his knowledge of his rating. “Enterprise is the most unique ship to work on,” said Rutinel. “I know after having served here, I’ll be ready for whatever other challenges I face in the Navy.” Cuskey said the amount of maintenance Nukes do on board Enterprise is about

the same amount as three to four regular aircraft carriers combined. While working aboard Big ‘E’ poses many unique challenges, Cuskey said the rewards of earning the extra level of experience makes it worthwhile. “While the workload is great, it’s also what a lot of our Sailors joined the Navy to do; they go to sea, see the world and learn a life skill,” said Cuskey. “I think that even though the work can be hard and overwhelming, it’s also a bonding experience with people that are here and people who have been here.” Above all, Cuskey said the hard work brings Reactor department together as a team, and helps them

Reactor, Engineering Sailors Sweat for Steam

Lt. Cmdr. Michael G. Mortensen, head of USS Enterprise’s (CVN-65) Chemical/Radiological Contaminaiton Assistant division in Enterprise’s Reactor Department, gives training to reactor Sailors in a ready room about the aircraft carrier.

By MC3(SW) Austin Rooney

AW2(NAC/AW) Cook, leading petty officer of operations training for the “Dragonslayers” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 11, joined the Navy six years ago to follow the “family tradition of serving our great nation.” To Cook, the most rewarding part of his job is, “knowing that on a daily basis lives depend on how well I perform my duties as a Naval Aircrewman / Rescue Swimmer and training junior airmen.” In his free time, Cook enjoys boating and hiking.

Sailors of the DayAviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd ClassBenjamin Cook - Eustis, Fla.

Photos by MC3 (SW) Jared M. King

MC2 Patton, ship’s webmaster and cruise book coordinator, joined the Navy three years and three months agoto gain experience in his field that, “I couldn’t neccesarily get as an intern anywhere else.” To Patton, the most rewarding part of his job is, “experiencing a unique facet of life that few could claim to have taken part of.” Patton’s goals include finishing his degree, starting a multimedia business and getting a private pilot’s license. In his spare time, Patton enjoys rock climbing, camping, shooting traditional photography and reading non-fiction books from anthropology to philosophy.

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd ClassBrooks B. Patton Jr. - Wasilla, Alaska

31 Preprandial potation35 Middle name at Graceland36 Bad-mouth37 Prefix with suction38 Lute-like instrument41 Threatening finale43 Greek lyric poem44 Rigid social classes45 Physically fit48 Another time49 Customers54 Bit of finery56 “The Listeners” poet

Across1 Mirrors9 Make cryptic15 Cream ingredient16 Didn’t suffer quietly17 Canned fish18 Figure of speech19 Moderate in tempo20 Runaway of rhyme21 Keepers25 Pitcher’s pitch29 City on the Seine30 Send up

57 Aviator Earhart58 All together59 Soak up again60 Absent-minded

FUN ZONE!Down1 Tabula ___2 Brio3 “Sixteen Tons” singer4 Helen’s mother5 Shown plainly6 It’s more than most lifetimes7 Apples and oranges?8 Airline to Stockholm9 German resort10 More clamorous11 Bell towers12 Burger garnish13 Isle on which Apollo was born14 First abode22 Coached23 Cry over spilt milk?24 Anticipated25 Unwanted messages26 “Doctor Zhivago” heroine27 Branding tool28 “Ratner’s Star” author32 Fight like a knight33 ___ dixit34 The enemy36 Founder of Carthage39 Alfresco40 High ball41 Eyelike spot42 Beaming45 “It’s only ___”46 Bundles47 Boadicea’s people48 In the distance50 Arab chief51 Shuttle group52 Enterprise counselor53 Enraptured55 Analysis site56 Accomplished

the Monday, July 11, 2011Page 4 SHUTTLE