One of these watches is the Point Defense Weapons Coordinator (PDWC). PDWC is a watch stood to monitor and track incoming threats to the ship. In the event of a threat, Tactical Action Officer (TAO), is, in some cases, authorized to act in place of the commanding officer to defend the ship. This includes giving weapons release authority to the FCs. While conducting tactical training, the FCs use mock targets to practice detonating the missiles to ensure they are always ready in the event of an actual threat. “Firing weapons to protect the ship is the most exhilarating part of my job,” said Fire Controlmen 3rd Class Elias Opp. There are also FCs aboard Enterprise, assigned to Carrier Strike Group 12, who deal soley with Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs). Their role is to train the guided-missile destroyers (DDG) and guided missile cruisers (CG) in the strike group on the use of these weapons. The constant training given helps ensure the success of any assigned mission. Whether FCs are working with TLAMs or the primary search radars, it is the responsibility of Big E’s FCs to keep the crew of the legendary carrier safe.

August 30, 2012 Issue“We are Legend”Newsletter Edition

USS Enterprise (CVN 65)

The Shuttle FCs – Ensuring Big E is SafeStory by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Britney Epps

Fire Controlmen upload a RIM-7M missile into the forward NATO Sea Sparrow Missile System. (Photo by MC3 Scott Pittman)

USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea – As aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) continues its 25th and final deployment in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), the defense of the ship remains a priority. A significant portion of the defense of the United States’ first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is the responsibility of the ship’s Fire Controlmen (FCs). These Sailors man the ship’s defensive weaponry: the Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) and the NATO Sea Sparrow Surface Missile System (NSSMS). “As Fire Controlmen our job is high profile,” said Fire Controlman 2nd Class James Taylor. “It is always great to know that we take part in helping defend the ship.” The job may be high profile but there are responsibilities within this rate that many may not know about. For example, FCs control all of the ship’s primary search radars and self-defense systems, and are responsible for maintaining them. In fact, a fairly large portion of an FC’s job deals with maintenance on the primary search radars used to detect enemy threats.Watches are stood daily to keep these consoles and equipment in operational condition.

Thursday, August 30, 2012Page 2 The Shuttle

The Shuttle is published and printed daily underway and bi-weekly in port by the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Media Department, FPO AE 09543-2810. This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Please direct all story ideas, questions and comments to MC1 (SW) Steve Smith at smithsw@cvn65.navy.mil.

Public Affairs OfficerLt. Cmdr. Sarah T. Self-Kyler

Executive OfficerCapt. G. C. Huffman

Commanding OfficerCapt. William C. Hamilton, Jr.

EditorMC3 Brian G. Reynolds

The Shuttle

USS Enterprise (CVN 65)

Command Master Chief CMDCM (AW/SW) Dwayne E. Huff

The Cartoonists are Here!Family Circus by Jeff Keane Speed Bump by Dave Coverly

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flexible,” said Vice Adm. Mark I. Fox, the Navy’s deputy chief for operations, plans and strategy. “We are watching carefully.” The prospect of renewed political turmoil in the region, especially in Somalia and Yemen, may again drive up attempts at the lucrative business of piracy, since lawless areas in these countries provide havens for pirates to launch their raids and to hold captured vessels and hostages. Further economic collapse may prompt more farmers and fisherman to choose piracy. But the statistics so far this year are encouraging. As of last week, the last successful pirate attack in waters off East Africa had occurred on May 10, and the most recent attempted attack had occurred on June 27.

Thursday, August 30, 2012 Page 3The Shuttle

WASHINGTON - Acts of piracy in the treacherous waters around the Horn of Africa have fallen sharply in 2012, according to statistics released by the United States Navy. The Navy credits aggressive patrolling by international forces and increased vigilance by the commercial shipping industry for the decrease. Data released by the Navy last week showed 46 pirate attacks in the area this year, compared with 222 in all of last year and 239 in 2010. Nine of the piracy attempts this year have been successful, according to the data, compared with 34 successful attacks in all of 2011 and 68 in 2010. Even so, senior Navy officers have been careful not to declare victory. “The pirates are very adaptable, and they are very

In the NewsPiracy Around Horn Of Africa Has PlungedBy Thom Shanker, NEW YORK TIMES

Green movement, who ran against Mr. Ahmadinejad and has been confined to what supporters call virtual house arrest, Mr. Haq said more details would be coming on Wednesday about the “wide range of meetings” Mr. Ban anticipates after his arrival in Tehran. Were Mr. Ban and Mr. Moussavi to meet, it would be awkward for Iranian leaders, who have marginalized their domestic opposition and have sought to use Iran’s rotating presidency of the Nonaligned Movement to portray their country in the most positive light. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and his loyalists view Iran as the vanguard of the revolutions now sweeping the Arab world not a repressor of democratic freedoms and human rights as depicted by Iranian dissidents and Western powers.

The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, expects to discuss the disputed Iranian nuclear program, the Syria conflict and the need to provide “greater space” for Iranian political freedoms when he talks with Iran’s leaders during a visit to Tehran this week for the Nonaligned Movement meeting, his spokesman said Tuesday. The spokesman, Farhan Haq, also did not rule out the possibility that Mr. Ban would seek to meet with opposition political figures in Iran whose movements and communications have been largely restricted since the authorities crushed protests that followed the disputed election of the conservative president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to a second term in June 2009. Asked if Mr. Ban would meet with Mir Hussein Moussavi, the 70-year-old leader of the pro-democracy

U.N. Leader To Tell Iran Of Criticisms, An Aide Says

There are many documents and e-mails used throughout the ship which, while unclassified, can fill critical gaps in the adversary’s understanding of our operations.

Items such as watch bills, Green Sheets, Plan of the Day, etc., are meant for internal use only and should never be forwarded to a commercial email account. Only through a unified effort by all, can we obtain the best OPSEC posture possible; ALWAYS PRACTICE GOOD OPSEC!

Remember, all government phones and computer systems are ALWAYS subject to monitoring. Your use of these systems constitutes consent to monitoring and is a privilege not a right.

****URGENT OPSEC NOTICE****

By Rick Gladstone, NEW YORK TIMES

Thursday, August 30, 2012The ShuttlePage 4

Big E Entertainment

Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd ClassRobert Buelow

Sailors of the DayInterior Communications Electrician 3rd Class

Courtney Renee Roberts

AM3 Robert Buelow, from Alvin, Texas, joined the Navy two years ago to proudly serve his country’s Navy combat team. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, watching movies and spending time with family. In the future, he plans to finish his warfare qualifications and advance in rank.

IC3 Courtney Renee Roberts, from Brunswick, Ga., joined the Navy four years ago to learn a technical trade, earn a college degree and serve her country. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family. In the future, she plans to advance in rank and to continue her education.