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WORLD GAMESMilitary

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[Number 1044]

14 Military World Games

It’s like walking into the United Nations and being engulfed by a

kaleidoscope of colors, cultures and sounds. But there is one subtle

difference—it’s the smiles, the laughter and the camaraderie only

found at the Military World Games in Catania, Italy.

P h o t o b y P H 3 A n t o i n e T h e m i s t o c l e o u s

[Departments]Speaking with Sailors — 6

Around the Fleet — 8

Focus on Service— 42

Eye on the Fleet — 44

Eye on History — 46

The Final Word — 48

[On the Front Cover]STS2(EOD) Eric Thompson examines a crate of unexploded ordnance his team discovered during a field exercise at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif.

P h o t o b y J O 1 ( S C W / S S ) J a m e s P i n s k y

[Next Month]All Hands looks at some of the quality-of-life improvements in Italy and Spain, as well as duty in a few out of the way areas of Europe

Dive Motivator: Starting off 30on the right flipper …

Local “A” school graduates, Sailors awaiting class assignment and any Sailor

around Recruit Training Center (RTC), Great Lakes, Ill. who pass one of the special

program screening tests are welcome to join the voluntary workouts. The workouts are

part of an informal mentorship program called dive motivators and run by Sea, Air and

Land (SEAL), Special Warfare Combat-Craft Crewman (SWCC), Diver, Search and Rescue

swimmer (SAR) and Explosive Ordnance and Disposal (EOD) instructors assigned to RTC.

38 Putting a face onour past

The crew of USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) join in a memorial

celebration of the five Sullivan brothers in Trafrask, Ireland.

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[Features]20 “The Bomb Hunters”The sign at the main gate may say Naval Air Weapons

Station China Lake, Calif., but for the Sailors from Explosive

Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 11, Det. 5,

Whidbey Island, Wash., the Navy’s 1,800 square mile desert

and mountain test range, are Iraq and Afghanistan.

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A P R I L 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

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Line handlers receive mooring lines from USS Carl Vinson (CVN70) as the ship arrives at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.The carrier stopped in San Diego to pick up her air wing per-sonnel before conducting carrier qualifications and trainingwith Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 and units assigned to Vinson’s

Carrier Strike Group (CSG).

Heave-HoPhoto by PH3 Mark J. Rebilas

4

Number 1044 • April 2004www.news.navy.mil

Secretar y of the Navy

The Honorable Gordon R. England

Chief o f Naval Operat ions

ADM Vern Clark

Chief o f In format ion

RADM T. L. McCreary

Commander, Naval Media Center

CAPT Joseph F. Gradisher

Chief of Publ ishing

CDR Jeff Breslau

D e p u t y C h i e f o f P u b l i s h i n g

+ Pr int Media Coordinator

LT Bill Speaks

LT Bill Couch

E D I T O R I A L

Editor

Marie G. Johnston

Managing Edi tor

JOCS James Slater

Assistant Edi tor

Stephanie N. Collins

Photo Edi tors

PH1 Shane T. McCoy

PH3 Antoine Themistocleous

PH3 Todd Frantom

Editor ia l Staf f

JO1 (SW) Monica Darby

JO1 (SCW/SS) James Pinsky

JO2 Cherri Boggs

JO2 Charles L. Ludwig

D I S T R I B U T I O N

Hank Lloyd

P U B L I C A T I O N & W E B D E S I G N

R + B Communication Design Co.

Graphic Designers

Frederik Hviid

Laura Muncy

Digi ta l Prepress Specia l is t

Lisa J. Smith

P R I N T I N G

Universal Printing Company

G PO Pr int ing Specia l is t

John Kennedy

Recipient of the following Awards of Magazine Excellence

for 2000-2003:

Speaking with SailorsMaster Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

MCPON (SS/AW) Terry D. Scott

Q:How can Navy Knowledge

Online (NKO) help me in doing

my job, and what about access

when my ship is underway?

A: I’m sure that you’ve all heard a lot of talk

about the Navy’s revolution in training. And you may

have asked yourself, ‘How does it

affect me and what I do every day?’

One of the tools that you can use

right now, and use to mentor other

Sailors with, is Navy Knowledge

Online. NKO allows you to gather

career information relevant to you in

a single source. An off-line local ver-

sion of NKO is being developed for

ships, to enable Sailors afloat the

same access to information without

an Internet connection.

NKO allows us to bring training to

you, instead of bringing you to the

training. Navy e-Learning, your tool for accessing a

variety of Navy-sponsored courses, is now available

directly through NKO. And the NetLibrary provides

access to a collection of online e-books that include

Cliff’s NotesTM and Study Guides, computer science,

personal finance and many others.

The classified version of NKO was recently

launched for those Sailors in the intelligence, cryp-

tology and submarine communities using SIPRNET.

Every Sailor can access information on personal

finance, education, leadership roles and their personal

and career development. You can log on to get your

user name and password at nko.navy.mil.

Q:What is thelatest status ofTask Force Uniform?

A: Task Force Uniform (TFU) made

its first report to the CNO in October,

and as ADM Clark outlined in his

Guidance for 2004, the results from

the initiatives he approved will be

reported by this December.

Among the TFU initiatives to be

announced in an upcoming NAVAD-

MIN are the details on the first phase of wear and

acceptability testing of a working uniform concept

for E-1 through O-10, and a year-round service uni-

form concept for E-6 and below. We are also review-

ing and re-writing outdated sections of the Navy

Uniform Regulations and creating an interactive

Web-based version for online use.

We want to ensure that Task Force Uniform

results are going to be substantive and well thought-

out. This comprehensive and global approach is the

best way to ensure that this will not be just another

round of minor uniform changes.

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All Hands (USPS 372-970; ISSN 0002-5577) Number 1044 is published monthly by the Naval Media Center, Publishing Division, 2713 Mitscher Rd. S.W., Anacostia Annex, D.C. 20373-5819. Periodicals postage paid at

Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Subscriptions: For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 or call 202/512-1800. Subscription prices are:

$36 (domestic) / $45 (foreign); $6 (single copy domestic) / $7.50 (single copy foreign). Postmaster: Send address changes to All Hands, Naval Media Center, Publishing Division 2713 Mitscher Rd., S.W., Anacostia Annex,

D.C. 20373-5819 Editorial Offices: Send submissions and correspondence to Naval Media Center Publishing Division, ATTN: Editor, 2713 Mitscher Rd., S.W., Anacostia Annex, D.C. 20373-5819 Tel: DSN 288-4171 or

202/433-4171 Fax: DSN 288-4747 or 202/433-4747 E-Mail: [email protected] Message: NAVMEDIACEN WASHINGTON DC //32// Authorization: The Secretary of the Navy has determined this publication is

necessary in the transaction of business required by law of the Department of the Navy. Funds for printing this publication have been approved by the Navy Publications and Printing Committee.

6 A L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l

Speaking with Sailors is a monthly column

initiated by the Master Chief Petty Officer of the

Navy as a way of reaching out to the men and

women of the fleet, whether they are stationed just

down the road or halfway around the world.

These questions came from a recent all hands call at

Naval Support Activity Naples

www.nko.navy.mil

Around the Fleet


“This benefit clarifies theBAH entitlement policy and isdesigned to reduce the financialburden on our junior Sailors,”said CDR Katharine Reed, headof the pay and allowances sec-tion of Navy’s MilitaryCompensation PolicyCoordination Branch inWashington, D.C. “It also betterachieves parity between ourjunior and senior enlisted afloatdual military families.”

Before this change was insti-tuted, dual military coupleswere only entitled to one jointhousing allowance.

To receive the benefit, eligi-ble Sailors must meet all of thefollowing criteria:

- Both are E-5 and below- Both assigned to sea duty- Have no other dependents- Share the same household- Have declined government

quartersThe entitlement authorized

by the National DefenseAuthorization Act is effectiveOct. 1, 2003. The Navy has pro-grammed for the estimated $9.3million FY04 cost.

This policy change will ben-efit approximately 1,200 Navycouples.

More information on thispolicy change is available inNAVADMIN 059/04, which canbe found on the Web atwww.bupers.navy.mil.

For related news, visit theChief of Naval Personnel Navy NewsStand page atwww.news.navy.mil/local/cnp

Story courtesy of the public affairs

office, Chief of Naval Personnel.

USS Vandegrift(FFG 48) ConcludesHistoric Port Visitto Vietnam

After completing a historicport visit to Vietnam lastwinter, the guided-mis-

sile frigate USS Vandegrift (FFG48) departed with a successfuldiplomatic achievement in herlogbook.

The major event in U.S. andVietnam relations marked thefirst time a U.S. Navy ship hasvisited the country in 30 years.

While in port, the shiphosted hundreds of Vietnamesemilitary, political and foreignbusiness leaders, as well asinternational diplomatic corpsofficials for tours and anevening reception.

Ambassador Raymond F.Burghardt accompanied theship for a four-hour transitfrom Vung Tao at the entranceof the Saigon River to down-town, and remained aboard fora media availability with CDRRichard Rogers, Vandegrift’scommanding officer.International media coverage,including a live CNN broad-cast, gave the world a positiveglimpse of the Navy’s continu-ing diplomatic role in Vietnam.

Rogers, a native of Moscow,Idaho, remarked that he wasdeeply honored to commandthe first ship to visit Vietnam in30 years.

“Our Vietnamese hosts wel-comed us with superb hospital-ity. Our visit marked an impor-tant step in continuing thenormalization of relationsbetween our two countries,”he said.

The crew had the opportunityto visit a location that very fewof their countrymen have seen.

“It was an amazing visit,”said Seaman Thomas Dorsett,of Council Bluffs, Iowa. “Inever thought I would have thechance to see Vietnam, as myfather served there during thewar as an Army mechanic. Hewas proud of me, and it meanta lot for me and all of my

family that I was part of thishistoric event,” he told CNN.

During the port visit, thecrew participated in a volleyballtournament with theVietnamese Navy TechnicalSchool, and also lent a hand inthree separate community rela-tions projects around the city.

Dozens of enthusiastic vol-unteers dug a foundation for anew kindergarten in Can Gio, arural district outside Ho ChiMinh City, while others helpedpaint a small school. MoreSailors helped donate three pal-lets of toys, sewing machinesand medical supplies to anorphanage of 300 childrenthrough Project Handclasp.

“I’m happy to see them here,”said 14-year-old Mai Thi KimLoan, as she was presented witha white Frisbee, noting that shehad never seen such a toy before.

Deputy director Thi Kim

Thoa also was enthusiastic withthe goodwill visit.

“Before 1975, if they camehere, the Vietnamese peoplewould be very scared,” Thoasaid. “This time they come topromote good. You can see theAmerican (Sailors) love the kids.Hopefully, after this visit, rela-tions between the two countrieswill be built on a more solidfoundation.”

Ship’s Serviceman 3rd ClassMichael Linnell, 25, of McLane,Miss., said he always volunteersto participate in communityrelations projects wherever theship goes.

“You want to come and give,”Linnell said. “We did this inSingapore, and they wanted usto play in the sand box.”

Even those who rememberthe war were glad to see U.S.Navy Sailors back in Vietnam.

“I think this is a good sign to

A P R I L 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S 9

U.S. Naval ForcesSouthern CommandRelocates to Florida

The Navy has decided to relocate U.S.Naval Forces Southern Command(USNAVSO) from Naval Station

Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, to NavalStation Mayport, Fla.

Sept. 30, the President of the UnitedStates signed into law the FY04 DefenseAppropriations Act. The legislationincluded language that calls for the Navyto close U.S. Naval Station RooseveltRoads no later than six months afterenactment of the Act. This legislationrequires the relocation of tenant com-mands, including U.S. Naval Forces

Southern Command. Since the Navy mustclose Naval Station Roosevelt Roads byMarch 31, relocation of USNAVSO is ahigh priority.

The relocation of USNAVSO toMayport, Fla., effectively meets Navy mis-sion requirements, and will ensure Navypersonnel assigned to the command con-tinue to enjoy a high quality of life. TheNavy studied a number of locations andtook into account availability of existinginfrastructure, communications capabili-ties, and anti-terrorism/ force protectionsupport, among other factors.

Initially, Commander, U.S. NavalForces Southern Command will be “dual-hatted” with Commander, Naval SurfaceGroup 2, and the two staffs will be con-solidated. One flag officer billet and Naval

Surface Group 2 will be disestablished,creating personnel savings and alignmentefficiencies.

Story courtesy of DOD

Basic Allowance forHousing Revised forJunior Enlisted MarriedSailors

The Navy recently announced goodnews for junior Sailors married toother junior Sailors: if you are both

on sea duty, you can now each receivebasic allowance for housing (BAH).

Today, Sailors and Marines are deployed throughout the world, often in

harm’s way, protecting our nation and supporting the cause of freedom

and democracy. In many places, the struggle includes one of the basic

but powerful principles of democracy—the right to vote.

SECNAV Urges Sailors to Register to Vote

CDR Richard Rogers, commanding officer of USSVandegrift (FFG 48), and U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, RaymondBurghardt, are greeted by Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee,Nguyen Thien Nhan after the ship’s arrival for a scheduled port call toHo Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The port call provided the crew with anopportunity to sightsee and participate in cultural exchanges. This visitmarks the first U.S. Navy ship visit to Vietnam in 30 years. It symbolizesthe normalization of relations between the two nations. Vandegrift is anOliver Hazard Perry-class, guided-missile frigate and is a part of USSKitty Hawk’s (CV 63) Carrier Strike Group, forward deployed toYokosuka, Japan.

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The Honorable Gordon R. England

In our country, we have that right as a result of past and present sacrifices

of U.S. service men and women like you.

Therefore, it is particularly appropriate that you, who protect this right for

all of us, also exercise this right for yourself. It’s your sacrifice, it’s your coun-

try, and it’s your future. You’ve earned this right, and your vote counts.

I encourage you to register to vote early this year. Do it now to eliminate

potential problems later. Your command’s voting assistance officer has the

absentee voter registration materials.

Thanks for your untiring service to America and our democratic ideals.

God bless you and your families, and God bless America.

Special message from Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England

Sea Warrior e-Learning: One-stop Shopping

Navy leaders on a roadtrip promoting theNavy’s “Excellence

Through Commitment andEducation and Learning” initia-tive, Sea Warrior, made a recentstop in Okinawa, Japan, to give Sailors the scoop on the newest achievement tool —e-Learning— to help theircareer development.

Sea Warrior is a way forSailors to use their past accom-plishments in the Navy tofollow the right career path fortheir future. As one of theimplementing initiatives of theChief of Naval Operations’ SeaPower 21 strategic vision forthe 21st century, Sea Warriorwill fully develop Sailors “whoare highly skilled, powerfullymotivated and optimallyemployed for mission success.”

With one click of the mousewhile logged on to the NavyKnowledge Online (NKO) Website, Sailors can literally do one-stop shopping, learning abouttheir Navy jobs, how they stackup with other Sailors in thefield, what they need to do tohelp their chances to advance,and much more.

According to CommandMaster Chief (AW/SW) MarkHayes of the Center for NavalLeadership located at NavalAmphibious Base Coronado,Calif., one of the driving forcesof Sea Warrior’s e-learningcapability is to revolutionizethe way the Navy trains itsSailors.

“With e-learning, we hopeto train you when you reallyneed it,” Hayes told about 300Sailors in the Fleet ActivitiesOkinawa area, includingdeployed Seabees with NavalMobile Construction Battalion

(NMCB) 5. “While we slowlymove away from traditionalclassroom training and domore online training, we needto ask ourselves, ‘How do webring technology online in theway we train you?’ In thelong run, decreasing the timeSailors spend in classroomssaves the Navy money.’”

Sea Warrior is based on afive-part “vector” model, or5VM, as it’s commonly known,which focuses on a Sailor’s pro-fessional development, personaldevelopment, professional mili-tary education and leadership,certifications and qualificationsand performance.

Three Navy job ratings —Culinary Specialist (CS),Information SystemsTechnician (IT) and Yeoman(YN) — were the first to beimplemented by the overseersof Sea Warrior, the NavalPersonnel DevelopmentCenter.

“Based on the job taskanalysis we did,” said Hayes,“we found that these three rateswere the most manageable toget up and running using the5VM.”

In the opinion of Builder3rd Class Leota Phillips, SeaWarrior is an “excellent pro-gram to keep you updated onall your information. Instead ofrelying on someone else who’sbusy with their own things toget the information for you, it’spossible to find out what youneed on your own and get donewhat is necessary.

“It’s an excellent researchtool, and the e-Learning sectionis extremely helpful,” addedPhillips. “While not foolproof,it has a definite advantage incontrolling your own career.”

“The CNO said the Navywants to be the employer ofchoice,” added Hayes, “and wewant you to be the Navy’semployee by choice. These five

areas of development and per-formance can help Sailors be allthey can be.”

From performance evalua-tions to bidding for job assign-

ment bonuses, a Sailor can lit-erally spend hours e-Learningeverything they can to helpthem help the Navy achieve itsgoal of having the best people

promote the relationshipbetween Vietnam and the U.S.,”said Lt.Col. Nguyen Quang Bieuof the Ministry of Defense.

Burghardt echoed Bieu’soptimistic view. “The visit ispart of both countries' efforts topromote mutual understandingand to put to rest the suspicionslingering from the conflictbetween our two countries inthe past,” he said. “This visitshows that old adversaries canbecome friends.”

The visit came just one weekafter Vietnamese DefenseMinister Pham Van Tra visitedthe Pentagon and met with theU.S. Secretary of Defense to dis-cuss a broad range of bilateraland international security issues.

Vandegrift is forwarddeployed to Yokosuka, Japan, aspart of the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleetand has a complement ofapproximately 200 Sailors.

For more information aboutthe US 7th Fleet, visitwww.c7f.navy.mil.

Story by LCDR J.D. Gordon who

is assigned to the public affairs

office U.S. Pacific Fleet.

DOD AnnouncesKorean DefenseService Medal

DOD announced the creation of the KoreanDefense Service Medal

(KDSM). The KDSM gives spe-cial recognition for the sacri-fices and contributions madeby members of the U.S. ArmedForces who have served or are serving in the Republic of Korea.

Public Law 107-314 legis-lated the creation of a newmedal to recognize military ser-vice in the Republic of Koreaand the surrounding waters.

Members of the ArmedForces authorized the KDSMmust have served in support ofthe defense of the Republic ofKorea. The area of eligibilityencompasses all land area ofthe Republic of Korea, the con-tiguous water out to 12 nauticalmiles and all air spaces abovethe land and water areas.

The KDSM period of eligi-bility is July 28, 1954, to afuture date to be determined bythe Secretary of Defense.

Service members must havebeen assigned, attached ormobilized to units operating inthe area of eligibility and havebeen physically deployed in thearea of eligibility for 30 consec-utive or 60 non-consecutivedays or meet one of the follow-ing criteria:

Be engaged in actual combatduring an armed engagement,regardless of the time in thearea of eligibility.

Be wounded or injured inthe line of duty and requiremedical evacuation from thearea of eligibility.

Be a regularly assigned aircrew member flying sortiesinto, out of, within or over thearea of eligibility in support ofmilitary operations; each daythat one or more sorties areflown in accordance with thesecriteria shall count as one daytoward the 30- or 60-dayrequirement.

Personnel who serve inoperations and exercises con-ducted in the area of eligibilityare considered eligible for theaward as long as the basic timecriteria is met. Due to theextensive time period for

KDSM eligibility, the noncon-secutive service period for eligi-bility remains cumulativethroughout the entire period.

The KDSM may be awardedposthumously, and only oneaward of the KDSM is autho-rized for any individual.

Each military departmentwill prescribe appropriate regu-lations for administrative pro-cessing, awarding and wearingof the KDSM and ribbon fortheir service members, toinclude application proceduresfor veterans, retirees and nextof kin.

More than 40,000 membersof the U.S. Armed Forces haveserved in the Republic of Koreaor the waters adjacent theretoeach year since the signing ofthe cease-fire agreement in July1953, which established theDemilitarized Zone. For morethan 50 years, U.S. ArmedForces efforts to deter anddefend the Korean Peninsulahave helped maintain democ-racy and preserve the indom-itable spirit of freedom.

For more DOD News, go towww.defenselink.mil.

Story courtesy of DOD

A P R I L 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

Around the Fleet


T i m e C a p s u l eThis month we look back in the All Handsarchive to see what was going on. To view these issues in more detail on the Web, go towww.news.navy.mil/allhands.asp?x=search

58 years ago — April 1946

As island natives were being relocated, we took

a trip to the tiny Pacific island of Bikini, the test

site for the atom bomb. We also gave our read-

ers a few fundamental facts of nuclear

physics. We showed how Navy communica-

tions underwent rapid wartime changes that

gave us sea-land-air victories, and looked at the new

wartime role Waves played as teletype operators in the

communications field.

40 Years Ago — July 1964

In this month’s edition, we looked at the Navy’s

daring undersea and Antarctic explorers. The

Navy’s Deep Submergence Systems Review

Group were in the early stages of developing

the Navy’s first underwater rescue vehicles,

two of which could reach 98 percent of the

ocean’s floor. We also showcased the All-

Navy Sports team athletes and the Navy’s ceremonial

guardsmen.

32 years ago — October 1972

In this issue of All Hands, we revisited the

years of the early Navy. From the days of John

Paul Jones to the Civil War era, we spot-

lighted the Navy’s rich history. We also

focused on the Navy’s Clean-up

Conservation Campaign (CCC). This cam-

paign focused on the environmental needs of the world.

Sailors from around the fleet dedicated their time to rid

their local areas of litter. We also focused on quality-of-

life improvements in Navy housing facilities, youth ser-

vices, race relations and rehabilitation.

11

Ricky’sTour

By JO2 Mike Jones www.rickystour.com

13A P R I L 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

Imminent DangerPay, Combat ZoneTax Relief NowOffered to SelectUnits

Navy personnel whodeployed to the easternMediterranean Sea in

the opening weeks ofOperation Iraqi Freedom arenow entitled to ImminentDanger Pay (IDP) and CombatZone Tax Relief (CZTR) bene-fits.

Through special legislation,DOD retroactively authorizedIDP and CZTR benefits fromMarch 19 through Aug. 1, 2003.

“We are absolutely delightedto be able to get this pay intothe hands of all those hard-working Sailors who were thereduring the opening phase ofthe war,” said VADM GerryHoewing, Chief of Naval

Personnel. “They were amongthe first to sail in harm’s way,and they certainly deserve this.”

The original authorizationfor IDP and CZTR began April11, 2003, and did not coverSailors who deployed to theeastern Mediterranean Sea atthe start of Operation IraqiFreedom in March.

This affected Sailors, most ofwhom were attached to USSTheodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)and USS Harry S. Truman(CVN 75) carrier strike groups,as well as Commander, TaskForce (CTF) 61 units.

Sailors who deployed to theeastern Mediterranean Sea, eastof 30 degrees east longitude, inconnection with OperationIraqi Freedom between March19 and April 11, 2003, and notalready entitled to IDP andCZTR benefits for Marchand/or April, should contacttheir local disbursing office for

more information or seeNAVADMIN 036/04.

Story courtesy of the public affairs

office Chief of Naval Personnel.

Savings DepositProgram AssistsDeployed ServiceMembers

Deployed uniformed servicemembers have the chanceto earn a guaranteed 10

percent interest on their savingsannually.

Defense Finance andAccounting Service (DFAS), inaccordance with DOD, began theSavings Deposit Program inAugust 1990 for members whowere serving in the Persian GulfConflict. The Act progressivelychanged to include troops

assigned to areas of Iraqi Freedomservice members assigned to acombat zone or in direct supportof a combat zone.

“A service member can con-tribute up to $10,000, but interestof 10 percent will not accrueafter that amount,” said RogerCastillo, program director for theSavings Deposit Program. “Amember can participate in theprogram if they are serving outside the United States or itspossessions in support ofOperation Enduring Freedom, andhas served at least 30 consecutivedays in an area that has beendesignated as a combat zone orin direct support of a combatzone. Also, members serving onpermanent duty assignment out-side the United States or its pos-sessions in support of contingencyoperations and serving on activeduty in the designated area formore than 30 days.”

To make a deposit into thefund, troops are asked to contacttheir financial office. Withdrawingthe money before leaving thecombat zone is not authorized,unless there is an emergency. Thelast day to make a deposit intothe fund is the date of departurefrom the assignment. But interestwill accrue for up to 90 days afterreturn from deployment.

“This is a great opportunityfor service members to accrue ata higher interest rate than at anaverage interest rate of 2 or 3percent,” said Patrick T. Shine,acting director of DFAS. “We arealways taking the extra step toassist our troops and their familiesin any way possible, especiallywhile members are deployed.”

DFAS will post the savingsdeposit balance of active-component members to theirLeave and Earnings Statement.

For more about DFAS visitwww.dfas.mil.

Story courtesy of DFAS.

Around the Fleet


in the right jobs to get its mis-sion accomplished.

For more information aboutSea Warrior, go to the NavyKnowledge Online Web site atwww.nko.navy.mil.

For related news, visit theNavy Construction Battalion 5Navy NewsStand page at www.

news.navy.mil/local/nmcb5.

Story by JO1(SW) Scott Sutherland,

who is assigned to the public

affairs office, Naval Mobile

Construction Battalion 5.

Sailors CautionedAgainst Scams

Scams seem to be a consistent problem thataffect military members

more than others, but experts say there is much that service members can do to preventbecoming victims.

In a report titled “In Harm’sWay,” the National ConsumerLaw Center (NCLC) has ana-

lyzed the problem and hascome up with some solutions.

The report concludes thatmilitary members have and willbe targets, due to predictablepaycheck dates and job security.It also cited the military culturethat expects its members tolead orderly, financially stablelives.

Ironically, it is oftenattempts to keep their financesin order that lead members tomake poor decisions and spiralinto major financial difficulties.And once an individual getsthat far in debt, it is no longerjust the individual’s problem; itbecomes the command’s prob-lem, as well.

Some of the most commonscams, while not technicallyillegal, can still separate Sailorsfrom their hard-earned cash.One of the most common is thepost-dated check. This takes theform of a loan in the amountof one’s paycheck.To get thismoney, a service member mustgive the lender a post-datedcheck that includes the amountof the loan plus interest at a

rate of about 300 percent.While the paycheck advance

is most common, the NCLCfound other scams, includingloans for car titles and the pur-chase of nearly worthless cata-log coupons. These businessesare often located right outsidethe gates of military bases.

They hire former militarypersonnel, who are able torelate to the military membersthey prey on. These businessesall find ways around the on-base solicitation rules by adver-tising in the military “Times”magazines found in almostevery Exchange facility.

According to the NCLC,many members mistakenlyassume that these are officialpublications, but they are not.They are civilian enterprisenewspapers, with absolutely noendorsement from DOD.

According to LT ScottSimpson, a legal assistanceattorney with Naval LegalService Office Europe andSouthwest Asia, scams target allmilitary members, regardless ofrank.

He stressed that the Internetis a popular source for many oftoday’s scams. Simpson recallsone service member who spent$25,000 on an Internet-basedcompany to arrange a marriagefor him with a woman fromRussia.

“He worked two part timejobs to save up the money tobring his new bride to America.When this young lady arrived,in a period of two months, sheproceeded to max out his creditcards, get pregnant by someother guy, and then vanishedinto the night— never to beheard from again.”

Scams that target the mili-tary don’t stop when themember retires. Another popu-lar scam includes the selling ofveterans retirement benefits,which are usually at horrible

rates for the borrower.More troubling is that,

according to the NCLC, suchreassignment of benefits is illegal.

What makes these situationsall the more tragic is that thereare numerous legitimate servicerelief societies, which not onlyoffer financial managementtraining, but also give outgrants and no-interest loans forpeople with money problems.

The NCLC has found that theclaims of bankruptcy and com-plaints against the scam com-panies fell by 80 percent whenthe local relief society chapterstarted running advertisementscountering the unscrupulousloan agencies.

According to Simpson, aninternational effort to decreasethe likelihood of becoming ascam victim includes an infor-mation sharing campaign, aswell as international cross-border agreements with theU.S., Canada, U.K. andAustralian law enforcement.

But the prevalence ofInternet scams (four of the topfive scams targeted by U.S. andU.K. law enforcement wereInternet-based) make interna-tional borders less of a barrier.

Taking shortcuts to acquiremoney usually leads to long-term problems that keep theindividual permanently in debt,or spending more money thanthey should.

The best defense against ascam is to recognize that ifsomething sounds wrong, orjust too easy, it probably is.

Story by JO1 Martin Wright, who is

assigned to the public affairs office,

Naval Forces Europe.

Aviation ordnancemen assemble bombs aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)before they are sent to the aircraft carrier’s flight deck for uploading on various aircraft. Roosevelt isdeployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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Storekeeper 1st Class (SurfaceWarfare) Joss Zolina was recently

selected Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers,

as FISC San Diego’s Sailor of the Year for 2003.

As the head of the fleet liaison team for the

Logistics Support Center, he and eight other Sailors conduct briefs

with Navy Region Southwest (NRSW) for visiting ships in San

Diego, which included visiting foreign vessels. He also planned

and organized the 5th Annual FISC Supply Expo, subsequently

acclaimed as the most successful supply exposition to date,

consisting of over 80 vendors with the latest product and logistics

technology. In addition to his primary duties, Zolina represents

the command as its career counselor, training coordinator, limited

duty coordinator, and pass liaison representative

S h i p m a t e s

1514

S t o r y a n d p h o t o s b y P H 1 S h a n e T . M c C o y a n d P H 3 A n t o i n e T h e m i s t o c l e o u s

World Class

2003MilitaryWorld Games


� Army 1st Lt. Chad Senior competes in the Team Modern Pentathlon, and helps win the only gold medal for the United States. Pentathaloncompetitors had to compete in running, swimming,horseback riding, sharp shooting and fencing.

P h o t o b y P H 3 A n t o i n e T h e m i s t o c l e o u s

17A P R I L 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

he mix of languages poundsyour ears until none are sepa-rate. It’s like walking into theUnited Nations and beingengulfed by a kaleidoscope of

colors, cultures and sounds. But there isone subtle difference — it’s the smiles, thelaughter and the camaraderie. Walking intoa hotel filled with athletes for the MilitaryWorld Games can be exhilarating. Here,you find militaries trained to fight, trainedto defeat and even kill, joining as friends tocompete in sport in Catania, Italy.

“We had 16 different countries playingmen’s volleyball, and we were all staying inthe same five-star hotel,” said InformationSystems Technician Seaman John Mills.

“You’re living with all these [military athletes]for a few weeks, and you really get a chanceto build relationships and friendships.You’re more like an ambassador for theUnited States than an athlete. It’s awesometo see the motto of the games, “FriendshipThough Sport,” coming true. [Everyone]competes hard on the court and then goesout to dinner together.”

While friendship abounded in Catania,the U.S. Navy did not. In this year’s gamesthere were just five Sailors who participated.It was not due to a lack of talent — theNavy has many outstanding athletes. TheWorld Military Games, like the Olympics, areheld every four years, and the competition’sreputation is not well-known in Navy circles.

“I would have loved to have gone andboxed for the Navy, had I known about thegames,” said Religious Programs Specialist2nd Class Nelson Lebron of Naval SpecialWarfare, Group 2, Little Creek, Va. Lebron,a four-time Virginia State Golden GlovesBoxing Champion, said he knows of fiveenlisted Navy boxers who are qualified andwould be ready to compete for the UnitedStates at the drop of a hat.

Mills found out about the games in ane-mail from a friend who was familiar withNavy participation in events like these.“When I came in, I had no clue that therewere even any Navy sports teams,” saidMills.

The application process is easy, with

16

20032003MilitaryWorld GamesA L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l

� The first time that any

athletes wore a uniform wasduring the closing ceremony. Therest of the time warm-ups with thecountry’s name was the norm.

� A showcase of events from the 2004 Military World Games in Catania, Italy.

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information available online. Fill out aNavy sports application at www.mwr.

navy.mil/mwrprgms/sports.htm. Qualifiersselected for the Navy team in each sportmay go on to the next Military WorldGames to be held in India in 2007. Manyother international sports competitions arealso held every year.

In addition to qualifying, athletes willalso need command support, becausetraining and other preparations require agood deal of time away from militaryduties. But those who don’t look into thisopportunity have no chance at all.

“I came into the Navy to serve, thinkingthat I would be putting a volleyball careerto the side, but here I am getting to playagain. It’s pretty stellar,” said Mills. “I get togo to other countries to play volleyball for

the United States. Can it get any betterthan that?”

The majority of U.S. athletes this yearwere from the Army and the Air Forcewhich operates the World Class AthletesProgram.

“The program is designed to help military athletes prepare for the Olympics,”said Army 1st Lt. Chad Senior. “One yearout of four, you do your military job, butduring the other three, you train in yoursport.” Senior finished fourth in theModern Pentathlon, helping his team winthe only gold medal awarded to the UnitedStates this year.

Talented Navy athletes should not losehope of competing as a world class athletein the Navy. Occasionally, when fundingand assignments coincide, the Navy sports

program has worked with Sailors whoaspire to Olympic-level competition to getthem stationed in a location where trainingopportunities are increased.

If you have a dream to reach theMilitary World Games or the Olympics,your work is cut out for you. Expect a lotof sweat and maybe some pain, but if youmake the cut, in the end, you are “worldclass,” and that is forever.

McCoy and Themistocleous are

photojournalists assigned to All Hands.

19A P R I L 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S18 A L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l


� Tudor Bogdan, from Romania, soars through the air in the long jump competition. He came in 8th over all with a distance of7.42 meters. Russia won the gold with a 7.81 meter jump by RuslanGataulin. The Americans did not compete in this particular event.

� In womens high-jump, the Italian team jumped well but didnot place. Russia ended up with the gold and silver bringing their totalto 33 gold and 39 silver medals.P h o t o s b y P H 3 A n t o i n e T h e m i s t o c l e o u s

� Air Force Airman 1st Class

Omolade Akinremi takes deapbreaths after she finished third in the 400 meter race, where she got a bronzemedal. She also won the silver medal forthe 400 meter hurdles, the only silvermedal won by United States.

� The Chinese competed for the gold medalin synchronized diving.

� John Chavez, from Colombia, sets to start the 800-meter race.He came in 5th with a time of 1:50.38. Aaron Lanzel, from the UnitedStates placed 6th with a time of 1:50.78. Joseph Mutua, from Kenya, wonthe gold with a time of 1:48.84.

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EOD Mobile Unit

11 DET Five

S t o r y a n d p h o t o s b y J O 1 ( S C W / S S ) J A M E S G . P I N S K Y

“Baghdad’s bomb squad”

THE SIGN AT THE MAIN GATE MAY SAY NAVAL AIR WEAPONS

STATION CHINA LAKE, CALIF., BUT FOR EIGHT TEAMMATES

THE NAVY’S 1,800 SQUARE MILE DESERT AND

MOUNTAIN TEST RANGE, IS IRAQ AND

AFGHANISTAN.

� Land mines are a very real threat to U.S. forces deployed all over the world, and EODteams like EODMU 11, Det. 5 train constantly to not only locate the mines but to disarm them as well.Here, the team works through a mine clearing scenario at a mock airfield during a training evaluationat Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif., under the watchful eye of EODTEU 1 observers.

Braving subzero temperatures andhowling wind gusts of more than 50mph to complete the final phase of

their five-week team-training period, theteam of eight Sailors from ExplosiveOrdnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU)11, Det. 5 deployed from Whidbey Island,Wash., to complete a week-long field exer-cise prior to deploying in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom.

Also deployed to China Lake wasEODMU 11, Det. 5’s exercise enemy, thewily San Diego-based EOD Training andEvaluation Unit (EODTEU) 1. They dideverything in their power to trick, harass,confuse and defeat their fellow EOD teammates with innovative booby traps,unexploded ordnance problems, chemical,radiological and biological weaponsscenarios and numerous stress-inducingintangibles. The goal is to deploy Det. 5with no doubt in their minds that theyhave the training necessary to completetheir mission safely and effectively.

“It’s life or death for the guys who aretraining, so we want to put as much effort

into the scenarios as the enemy would,”said EODMU 11 Readiness and TrainingChief, Chief Electronics Technician(EOD/SW/AW) John Lane. “The enemyisn’t playing by the rules so we can’t eitherto properly prepare our troops to completetheir missions.”

“Over in Iraq, Iraqi resistance fightersare bastardizing a lot of munitions, so wesimulate that during the field training theseguys go through here at China Lake,” saidEODTEU 1 instructor, Mineman FirstClass(EOD) Shane Williams. “What theyencounter here is exactly what they willencounter over in Iraq, Afghanistan or anyother theater of operations.”

During the field exercise, EODMU 11,Det. 5 encountered several real-worldscenarios designed to evaluate the level ofknowledge and proficiency of the team.The team deployed to a simulated hostileenvironment where they set up camp inthe desert of China Lake’s northern range.For the first two days the team operatedfrom their main base camp with twoscenarios. The first was an airfield assess-

22 A L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l A P R I L 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

� Whether a plane drops it,like these cluster munitions, a tank

shoots it, a terrorist rigs it or anadvancing American force uncovers it,

EOD knows how to safely dispose of it.

� The maps may say Southern

California, but the high desert terrain, unfor-giving mountains and sand that seeminglyblows from all directions makes anyone whotrains in China Lake's weapons ranges thinkthey are in Iraq or even Afghanistan. Remotecommunications, long hikes, nearly landmark-less navigation, and a wide range of tempera-tures all help make training as real as possible.

23

“Baghdad’s bomb squad”� STS1 (EOD/SS/SW) Heath Nettleton traces deto-nation cord to a “booby trapped” bunker during an exercise.

� To go through a training field exercise means someone has to con-duct it. EODTEU 1 spent hundreds of hours creating, implementing, staging andrehearsing scenarios that closely mimic real-world situations EOD mobile unitsencounter in Iraq and Afghanistan. Here, EMCS John D. Hammond, a training teammember of EODMU 11, reviews EODTEU 1 nuclear weapons training scenario.

ment. They were transported by truck to an“enemy” airfield that had been seized byfriendly forces. The team had to identifythreats at the airfield and make it safe foroperations. On the second day the teamembarked on its second scenario, hikingabout three miles to “B” Mountain ladenwith 80-pound packs of gear needed forrendering the area safe for occupyingforces. At both sites the team executedactual demolitions, a significant part oftraining that was difficult for EOD teams toaccess before being allowed to train atChina Lake.

“Following the events of Sept. 11th, 2001,EOD had a hard time finding suitabletraining areas where we could conductrealistic training scenarios and utilize livedemolition because so many other militaryunits were maximizing their own weaponstraining,” said EODTEU 1 AssistantTraining Officer, LTJG Alan Beaty. “Weneeded our own dedicated EOD trainingarea so about a year ago, we were able togain access to the China Lake ranges. ChinaLake is perfect for us because the desert andmountain ranges mimic today’s area ofoperations for EOD teams, and being ableto use live demolition adds a level of

realism that teams need – especially thejunior team members – to be as well-trained as possible prior to deploying tothe field.”

After the first two days of main camptraining, the team received orders todeploy some 8,000 feet above sea level tothe Coso Mountain Test Range, whichborders the Sierra Nevada Mountains.There the team battled a savvy “enemy” inharsh weather conditions and ruggedly steepterrain. Three days of scenarios evaluatedthe team’s skills in addressing nuclear andradiological situations, seizing and renderingsafe military infrastructure – bridges,weapons caches, and armored equipment –and an encounter with an eerily realisticchemical and biological weapons facility.

“All of the problems the teams encounterhere at China Lake come from after-actionreports from Iraq, Afghanistan and otherreal-world operations,” said EODTEU 1Training Officer LT Tim Bonderharr.

The tests are real, though the threatsare simulated to a lesser degree. Instead of a bomb really blowing up if an EODteammate makes a mistake, a small chargepops to remind the teammate that he justcommitted an error.


� Smoke from simulated mortar rounds cloud the evening skies around IS2 (EOD/SW)Chad Munroe, EODMU 11, Det. 5, as he scales one of the many 8,000-plus foot mountains in theCoso Mountain range during a field exercise.

A P R I L 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D SA L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l24

� Capturing enemy hide-outs, facilities and bunkers areevery day missions for U.S. forces and once they do, EOD tech’s

like IS2 (EOD/SW) Chad Munroe, are called into the theater toclear the area of ordnance, weapons caches, booby traps and any

other dangers the enemy may have left for occupying troops.

� Highly trained techni-

cians like STG3 (EOD) BenjaminT. Grosek make a living disarmingbombs, ordnance, land mines and grenades so the rest of theAmerican fighting forces can con-tinue their missions.

� Like any other Navy evolution, the key tosuccessful EOD work is teamwork. Here IS2 (EOD/SW)

Chad Munroe serves as a lookout for STS1 (EOD/SS/SW)Heath Nettleton who attempts to disarm a trip-wired

door on a simulated enemy bomb-building facility.

25

� As if disarming bombs, land mines, biological weapons, and booby traps aren'tenough to worry about, EOD teams still have to defend themselves.

“It’s obvious when we make a mistake,”said EODMU 11, Det. 5 teammateIntelligence Specialist Second Class(EOD/SW) Chad Munroe. “The simulationthat the training unit uses makes sure weoperate, even in a training environment,just like the situation is real. We feel thepressure of working on a real anti-personnelmine or trying to disarm a booby trapbecause the training unit blows up realdemolition at a safe distance if we make amistake. The explosion is real, and it tellsyou better than anything else that you justscrewed up.”

“It’s a real attention getter to hear thatexplosion,” said Parachute Rigger First

Class (EOD/AW) Matthew Harrison. “It’s atough thing to swallow when we makemistakes during training, but better tomake a mistake here and correct it and stillbe able to walk away than to make amistake in the field and really get hurt.”

Getting the attention of the team andhaving them role-play as seriously as possibleduring the training scenarios is the goal ofthe training unit.

“Our training is realistic,” said Beaty.“We mean to put a fear factor into theproblems the teams approach, even thoughthe charge is just enough to scare them. Itgoes a long way in reminding them of theinherent dangers of making a mistake in

our line of work.”EODTEU 1 does more than just make

sure the training is realistic; they update thescenarios every day if necessary to ensurethat the teams are skilled in overcoming thelatest problems units are facing in the field.

“We are as up to date in implementinglessons learned from the field as quickly aspossible. If we got an after-action reportlast week, it would immediately be dupli-cated in the training environment so thereare no surprises for deployed teams,” saidBonderharr.” In the EOD world threatschange on a daily basis, and our traininghas to evolve just as quickly. For example,we now train our guys to be aware of the


� After disarming a trip-wired door into this bunker, EOD technician STS1 (EOD/SS/SW) Heath Nettleton gathers intelligence about

an enemy’s bomb-building capabilities.


� PR1 (EOD/AW)

Matthew R. Harrisonand IS2 (EOD/SW) ChadMunroe, clear an airfield forfriendly force occupationduring a field training exer-cise at China Lake.

� Bombs, booby

traps, explosives and

of course dynamite,like the armful IS2 (EOD/SW)

Chad Munroe is carryingafter his team removed them

from a bridge, are many ofthe dangerous items EOD

technicians have to learn towork with.

� Though defensive in nature, EOD mobile units are still trained in combat skills.Here, aggressors test the combat techniques of EODMU 11, Det. 5 with simulated mortar fire andenemy small arms fire. The pressures placed upon an EOD team can be enormous. Not only can theybe called upon to disarm bombs capable of wiping out entire battalions, but they may have to do sowith enemy forces trying to kill them.

27A P R I L 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

29

fact that the Iraqis are trying to bait ourEOD teams. They watch how we operate,and they rig booby traps to counter ourtechniques, so we have to stay at least onestep ahead of the enemy.”

According to NAVSEA’s EOD TechnologyDivision website, www.naveodtechdiv.navsea.navy.mil, bomb disposal unitsowe their roots to The British Royal Navywho dismantled and recovered the firstGerman magnetic mine on the mudflatsat Shoeburyness in 1939.

Today all United States military EODcandidates receive their initial training atEglin Air Force Base, Florida.

There are more than 700 active-dutyEOD technicians in the Navy, a smallgroup of men and women who do what

everyone else in the military tries toavoid—seek out bombs, mines, boobytraps and other lethal devices and renderthem harmless.

No other bomb squad style unit is asmobile as the Navy’s elite EOD teams.They routinely deploy in direct support ofSEAL, Army Special Forces, CIA, SecretService, Air Force and Marine Corpsoperations. No matter what the tasking,EOD can meet any unit’s standards bybeing qualified to dive, jump, and hike asfar and as fast as the most elite militaryunits in the world.

“One of the things I like most aboutbeing in EOD is the constant changingof our missions,” said EODMU 11, Det.5 leading petty officer, Sonar Technician

First Class (EOD/SS/SW) Heath V.Nettleton. “There’s no doubt everyoneon my team is an adrenaline junkie. Oneday we’re diving, the next we’re para-chuting and now we’re here in theMojave Desert humping 80-pound packsup and down the Coso mountain range.Throw in the fact that we’re the guyswho try to find booby traps, unexplodedordnance, and anything else that can goboom, and you get the idea that we’redefinitely a different breed of Sailor.Man, I love my job.”

Pinsky is a photojournalist

assigned to All Hands

28


� As early as members of EODMU 11, Det. 5 may have risen, the training guys fromEODTEU 1 had to wake up even earlier to stage the scenarios to test the eight-man team. Here, HTCS(EOD/SW) Mark Olsen, EODTEU 1 air operations division officer, sets up ordnance scenarios for EODMU11, Det 5. Both units were deployed to China Lake’s ranges for a field exercise.

� To the casual hiker an abandoned shack demands little more than aglance, but to a well-trained EOD technician with a nose for weapons caches such ashack can hold a bounty of deadly discoveries.

� EOD technician’s jobs are never the same from day to day. Sometimes theysimply have to safely dispose of recoveredordnance, and on other days they have tofind, disarm and dispose of chemical, biological or even nuclear ordnance.“There’s no doubt about it,” said EODMU 11,Det. 5 Leading Petty Officer, STS1(EOD/SS/SW) Heath Nettleton,“EOD techs are adrenaline junkies.”

� No matter what kinds of weapons terrorists create to try to kill Americans,EOD technicians are trained to handle them. Here STG3 (EOD) Benjamin T. Grosek,

EODMU 11, Det. 5, takes area vapor samples prior to his team advancing into a simulated biological weapons facility during a field training exercise.

A L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l A P R I L 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

31A P R I L 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

D I V EStarting offon the rightflipper …

S t o r y a n d p h o t o s b y J O 1 ( S C W / S S ) J a m e s G . P i n s k y


MOTIVATORMOTIVATOR

� Sea, Air and Land (SEAL) candidatesare pushed far beyond the typical Sailor’sphysical limits. Here, a SEAL candidate tries to hold the push-up position after completing a 500-meter swim and a three-mile run. The dive motivators kept the candidates in the push-up position for more than four minutes. No one fell out.

“It pays to be a winner,” shoutsBoatswain’s Mate 1st Class (SEAL) DavidCassidy, a dive motivator assigned to RecruitTraining Command (RTC), Great Lakes, Ill.“It pays to be a winner.”

Like a starting pistol, his words cata-pulted Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL), ExplosiveOrdnance and Disposal (EOD), Diver,Search and Rescue swimmer (SAR) andSpecial Warfare Combat-Craft Crewman(SWCC) candidates into the secondarycombat training pool for another lap. It wastheir tenth lap after what seemed like a

million push-ups, flutter kicks and pull-ups,but not one candidate complained or evenflinched as the workout grew more intense.The truth is, they actually liked the gruelingexercise, and they should — after all, theyvolunteered for the workouts.

Workouts are part of an informalmentorship program called Dive Motivatorwhich are run by SEAL, SWCC, Diver, SARand EOD instructors assigned to RTC. Local“A” school graduates, Sailors awaiting classassignment and any Sailor around RTC whopasses one of the special program screening

tests are welcome to join the voluntaryworkouts.

Officially, the instructors are billeted toRTC to educate recruits during boot campand administer special program screeningtests to candidates. At the same time, thedive motivator instructors saw a need for amore structured physical fitness trainingfollowing boot camp to help ensure Sailorsshowed up at schools like Basic UnderwaterDemolition/SCUBA (BUD/S) or Navy AirCrewman School in the best shape possible.

“If I had been left on my own after “A”


� BM1(SEAL) David Cassidywatches potential SEAL candidates duringa 4 a.m. workout.

� AN Blake Beabout ascendsto the surface of the secondary combat training pool during a mask and snorkelfamiliarization exercise. Beabout, an aircrewcandidate, thinks the best thing aboutbeing at the dive motivator workouts is thementorship from the instructors. “The divemotivator (instructors) treated me like areal shipmate. I really appreciated theirpatience,” said Beabout.

� Pain is a constant companion for dive motivator volunteers. Here, SEAL candidatesfrom the neighboring Naval Training Center “A”schools endure group squat exercises during a 4 a.m. workout.

D I V EMOTIVATORMOTIVATOR

mind, a will to win and the heart of a cham-pion. Bringing the champion out of eachand every one of the candidates’ is why theymentor.

The instructors demand their candi-dates act like champions in every aspect oftheir lives. And the mentoring works — itshows in their uniforms, their demeanor,how they talk to the instructors and toeach other. Because of the leadership thedive motivators introduce the candidatesto, candidates change their diets, studyharder and develop the will to swim justone more lap when their body says nomore pain today.

After a workout, the candidates, everyone of them ripped with toned muscle

structure and lungs like a dolphin, thankedCassidy for letting them workout. As theyleft the pool, Cassidy reminded them thatthe next workout would be at 3 p.m.

“Every time we have an intense trainingsession, and I finish it, I look back upon itand say to myself that it wasn’t that bad,”said King. “What’s amazing is every once ina while I look at just how far I’ve comeboth mentally and physically, and I’mmotivated even more because I know thatwhat the instructors demand from usworks — we get stronger, we get faster, webecome more cunning. And that’s whatDive Motivator is all about. It prepares usfor the special programs so we make itthrough.”

Cassidy’s words echo throughout theday with the candidates. Much more thanjust a slogan, the idea that being the verybest you can be is drilled into their headsas if their lives depend on it — because itdoes.

“All of our jobs are inherentlydangerous,” said Carmack. “We have todemand from each candidate an attitude ofalways doing their best. In our line ofwork, a lapse in concentration or amoment of indecision can mean the differ-ence between a mission’s success or failure,a Sailor living or dying.”

“We know that we have to bring our “A”game every day,” said Dive MotivatorInstructor, Chief Aviation Ordnanceman

35A P R I L 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

school, there’s no way I would have beenready for BUDS,” said SEAL candidate,Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Taylor King. “Iwould have been going to the weight roomand getting bulky and heavy — the completeopposite of what I need to do to succeed as aSEAL candidate.”

The instructors constantly mentor theircandidates in every aspect of their livesbecause they know being physically fit is notenough to make it through the Navy’sspecial programs. According to DiveMotivator Instructor, Chief Journalist(SEAL) Zechariah Carmack, it takes a fit



� To make it through BasicUnderwater Demolition/Scuba(BUD/S) school, the typical three-days-a-week physical training program won’t cut it.Here, SEAL candidates participate in voluntaryworkouts prior to reporting to BUD/S. Thesecandidates complete a daily three-mile run andthen swim 500 meters before they begin theirmorning workout sessions.

� Conditioning is the name of thegame at dive motivator.

� Potential SEAL candidates worktheir way through two phases of the SEALscreening exam at the Combat Training Pool,Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

screen the candidates for far more thanjust being physically fit and mentally sharp,because it takes something much morethan that to make it – it takes heart. I’veseen world-class triathletes fail out ofBUD/S, and I’ve seen the tiniest, mostunimposing Sailors cruise through theNavy’s toughest training. One thing is forsure with BUD/S having a 70 percent attri-tion rate, anyone who wants to be a SEAL,DIVER, EOD, SAR or SWCC graduateneeds to get it in their heads right now thatyou’ll have to do far more than theminimum to make it in our communities.”

Dive motivator is a volunteer programopen to anyone who passes their respectivespecial program’s entrance tests. Once theymeet the minimum standards the real funbegins as daily workouts move each candi-date closer to their class-up date for theirspecial program. The dive motivators pullno punches in preparing the candidates forwhat lies ahead of them in the trainingpipeline. There are no silver spoons at thedining table of dive motivators.

“Yeah, I’m scared of BUD/S,” saidTaylor, “BUD/S isn’t a halfway place. It’s allor nothing, and there will always be thespecter of failure, but thanks to dive moti-vators I know that I’m going there in thevery best shape of my life and armed withthe support and confidence of Sailors whowear the trident. They think I can do itand I think I can do it.”

Pinsky is a photojournalist who is

assigned to All Hands.

37A P R I L 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

(EOD/SW) Brian Farris. “Most people inour community may look the other waywhen this billet is offered to them becausethey’d rather keep diving, jumping andworking within their communities. Butthey should look at this assignment as themost important contribution they canmake to their communities because we’rethese candidates first impression of thespecial programs.

“Like the CNO says, we’re their first 72hours, and how well we represent ourcommunities goes a long way in deter-mining the success or failure of eachcandidate,” said Farris. “This job should beviewed as the most important billet to thefuture of each of our communities. I knowI consider it an honor to be here, an honorfor fresh candidates to meet me as the firstrepresentative of the EOD community.What an awesome responsibility.”

Sometimes the Sailors who show up atthe pool aren’t rookie Sailors fresh out ofboot camp or “A” school. Sometimes,Sailors midway through their career are

attracted to the zest of being in a specialprogram and petition an instructor forhelp. Without the slightest hesitation,regardless of the hour in the day, they getthe instructor’s very best effort.

Culinary Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW)James C. Batti is a classic example.

When he met Dive MotivatorInstructor, Aviation Warfare SystemsOperator 2nd Class (AW/NAC) DarrellOlson he was impressed.

“AW2 Olson took me seriously rightway,” said the Naval Station TrainingCenter (NSTC) staff member. “I came herewith absolutely no swimming skills –nothing more than a desire to be a searchand rescue swimmer and Petty OfficerOlson never batted an eye. He helped meduring working hours and after workinghours. And, one thing I noticed right awaywas that I never saw a sad face here at thedive motivator. Everyone has a positiveattitude and that means a lot to a guy likeme who is considering making the jump tocross rate.”

Batti like many special programs candi-dates was first drawn to the challengebecause he felt unchallenged by his currentlife. “I’d already accomplished plenty ofthings in the Navy as a culinary specialist,”said Batti. “I wanted – no, I needed thechallenge of going SAR, so here I am.”

SEAL Candidate King followed a similarpath to the Dive Motivator grueling workouts.

“Dive Motivator is definitely making mea better person and challenging me farbeyond my comfort zone,” said King. “Ithink being a SEAL is going to be a lotharder than I thought.”

One of the most important aspects ofbeing a dive motivator instructor isdispelling myths many people have aboutwhat it takes to make it through any of theNavy’s special programs.

“We are up front with the candidates asfar as what they should expect going intotheir special programs,” said Senior ChiefBoatswain’s Mate (SEAL) Jody McIntyrethe dive motivator officer in charge. “We



� HN Taylor King breaks the waterduring a lap of conditioning at the secondarycombat training pool at Recruit TrainingCenter, Great Lakes, Ill.

� Typically, dive motivators have thesecondary pool all to themselves to administerspecial program qualification tests, and trainas they please throughout the day. But, whenthe primary combat training pool is full ordown for maintenance, recruits invade divemotivator territory.

� The secondary combat trainingpool is home to the dive motivators at RecruitTraining Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

� BM1(SEAL) David Cassidy mentors prospective SEAL candidates during a remedialswim stroke lesson at the combat training pool at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

Fallen comrades have inspired thebuilding of monuments, naming of shipsand declaration of holidays. Yet all too soon,these tributes become simple navigationmarkers in a trek across town. Namespainted across haze-gray hulls becomedivorced from the deeds of heroic honorees.Even entire days set aside for remembrancequickly become reduced to mere days offfrom work or sales events at local malls.Sometimes it is only friends and family ofthose honored who recall the very realfathers and sons, mothers and daughtersbehind the homage.

The Sullivan brothers are one suchfaded memory of naval history that wasrecently made clearer for the crew of USSThe Sullivans (DDG 68) when they wereinvited to join in the 400th anniversarycelebration of the O’Sullivan-Beara clan inthe town of Trafrask, Ireland—birthplaceof the five ill-fated men.

On Jan. 3, 1942, George, Francis,Joseph, Madison and Albert Sullivanenthusiastically started a new year by joiningthe U.S. Navy. Because of their strongfraternal bond, the men joined with thestipulation that they would be allowed toserve together. As such, the brothers werejointly assigned to the light cruiser USSJuneau (CL 52). In a tragic twist of fate fitonly for the most epochal of war novels, allfive brothers were lost at sea only a fewmonths later, when Juneau was sunk by aJapanese torpedo in the waters of the SouthPacific during the battle of Guadalcanal onNovember 13, 1942.

A P R I L 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

S t o r y b y J O 1 ( S W ) M o n i c a D a r b y ; J O 2 L e a h S m i t h c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e s t o r y , p h o t o s b y P H 2 R o b e r t H o u l i h a n

38

� Anchored off Castletownbere,Ireland, USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) arrivedas part of a memorial ceremony for the fiveSullivan brothers killed in World War II. TheSullivan family hails from County Cork, Ireland,on the Beara Peninsula.

� With its rolling green hills and picturesque farms, the Beara Peninsula possesses a haunting beauty.

39A L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l

Putting a Face On Our Past

� Kelly Ann Sullivan Loughren unveils the plaque that marks the location of the

ancestral home of the Sullivan family.

� Although unoccupied or used assheds, old stone homes can still be seen

nestled in the picturesque hills aroundCastletownbere, Ireland.

The crew of USS

The Sullivans join

in a memorial

celebration of the

five Sullivan brothers

in Trafrask, Ireland

Shortly after the Sullivan brothers’deaths, policy on siblings serving togetheron a naval vessel changed forever. Neveragain would one family endure such loss.

Sixty-two years later, the Sailors of TheSullivans arrived in the small harbor ofCastletownbere, Ireland, to help commemo-rate the brothers’ naval service. Not onlydid the crew of The Sullivans join in thefestivities and give tours of their ship tothe community, they also helped reunitenew and old generations of Sullivans.

Kelly Ann Sullivan Loughren and JohnSullivan, grandchildren of Albert, traveledaboard the ship to the event. “This is myfirst time in Ireland,” said Loughren.“Where my ancestors came from is truly

something special, and my family is soproud of our Irish roots. These coastaltowns are where everything began for thefive Sullivan brothers.”

The community’s memorial celebrationspanned an entire week and invoked talesof not only George, Francis, Joseph,Madison and Albert, but also their entirelineage.

Highlighting the week was a paradefrom the site of the brothers’ ancestralhome to a memorial plaque erected intheir honor. Three bagpipers led the way,filling the air with their haunting chords asfamily, friends and Sailors stretched outbehind them along the winding, pebble-strewn path and across emerald-colored hills.

When the festivities ended and the crewof The Sullivans weighed anchor, Sailorsleft with a closer connection to their name-sakes. “It was an emotional ceremony,” saidCDR Richard Brown, commanding officerof The Sullivans. “This visit is something Iwill always remember and cherish.”

For the crew of The Sullivans, the fiveSullivan brothers are more than just amemory. They are more than the stoneand steel that bears their surname, andthey are more than the naval policy theychanged–they are family.

Darby is a photojournalist assigned to

All Hands. Houlihan is now a civilian

photojournalist formerly assigned to

All Hands.

41

� Towns and villages that used to be only adorned in shades of grey have inrecent years livened up their look with brilliant splashes of color.

� Though not usually a place where children play, the missile deck onboard USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) became a makeshift

playground during public tours of the ship.

� Hundreds of County Cork locals andUSS The Sullivans (DDG 68) Sailors walk from the

Sullivans homestead site to the memorial honoringthe five Sullivan brothers killed in action during

World War II.

� Kelly Ann Sullivan Loughren adresses thecrowd at a ceremony honoring the five Sullivan brothers killed in World War II. Kelly Ann is the granddaughter of Albert Sullivan and the sponsor of USS The Sullivans.

40 A L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l A P R I L 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

� Bagpipers lead a procession of locals and USSThe Sullivans (DDG 68) crew members along the shore of Adrigole, Ireland, from the site of the Sullivan family homestead, to a memorial plaque honoring the five brotherskilled in World War II.

� Ancient tombstones dot the landscape reminding visitors of the thousands of people killed during the years of the potato famine of the 1840s.

43A P R I L 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D SA L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l42

S t o r y a n d p h o t o s b y P H 3 T o d d F r a n t o m

CreativeResponsibility

Draftsmen and illustrators from all branches attend the

Basic Multimedia Illustrator course held at the Defense

Information School, searching for the necessary

techniques to be a proficient and responsible artist in the

Armed Forces. The course, which has always been taught by

non-Navy personnel, is being taught by a Sailor for the first time.

Chief Draftsman (SW) Michael Fitts is the now filling the

instructing position for the Navy. What started as a childhood

talent and love of art has blossomed into a satisfying career.

“I take a lot of pride in teaching the multimedia class, whether

it’s drafting or illustration. Knowing that the students’ talents

will be used for the good of our country is something worth

mentioning,” said Fitts.

The course shapes military artists so their talents can be

well used wherever they are asked to serve.

“There is not an ‘A’ school set up for draftsmen, so the

course is structured around helping the students be successful

in all aspects of art,” said Fitts.

“I have been in the Navy for 19 years and was required to

submit a portfolio with my request to become a draftsman,” said

Fitts. “But it’s well worth the effort and satisfaction, being

able to continue my passion and desire to create art as a job.”

Sailors everywhere are able to express themselves

creatively for the good of the fleet, and having a professional

artist teach the multimedia course only strengthens their

capabilities.

“Now I’m able to share my knowledge of art with my students,

which is rewarding. I know that the information I share may

allow Sailors to better express themselves, and give them the

capability to be creatively responsible for their designated

branch of service,” said Fitts.

Frantom is a photojournalist assigned to All Hands.

Navy Draftsman teaches Basic Multimedia Illustration Class for the first time at DINFOS.

Focus onService

Eye on the Fleet is a monthly photo feature sponsored by the Chief of Information

Navy Visual News Service. We are looking for high impact, quality photography

from Sailors in the fleet to showcase the American Sailor in action.

45

Eye on the Fleet

44

Free Fall �

Members of Special OperationsCommand Pacific, conduct a

free-fall parachute training jumpfrom a U.S. Army UH-60L Black

Hawk helicopter from more than10,000 feet.

P h o t o b y P H 1 K e i t h W . D e V i n n e y

� A Lone MomentAN Kevin Burns takes a break while participatingin a "scrub ex" of the flight deck of USS George

Washington (CVN 73.)

P h o t o b y P H 1 B r i e n A h o

� Catch of the DayQM2 Justin Peel, a search and rescue swimmer, secures an MK-46exercise torpedo to be hoisted aboard the guided-missile cruiserUSS Vincennes (CG 49) after a successful torpedo exercise.

P h o t o b y P H 2 B r a n d o n A . T e e p l e s

� MooredLine handlers take up slack on the mooringlines aboard the newly-commissioned, guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee

(DDG 90) as she arrives in her new home-port of Pearl Harbor.P h o t o b y P H 1 W i l l i a m R . G o o d w i n

To be considered, forward your high resolution (5"x 7" at 300 dpi) images with full credit and cutline

information, including full name, rank and duty station. Name all identifiable people within the photo and

include important information about what is happening, where the photo was taken and the date.

Commands with digital photo capability can send attached .jpg files to: [email protected]

Mail your submissions to:

Navy Visual News Service • Naval Media Center

2713 Mitscher Rd., S.W., Anacostia Annex, D.C. 20373-5819

For a new Eye on the Fleet everyday, click on the Navy NewsStand’s home page,

www.news.navy.mil, for fresh images of your shipmates in action.

This is a Drill �

Stretcher bearers move a patient, from a rickshawstretcher to a bed, during a mass casualty exercise

aboard USNS Mercy (T-AH 19).

P h o t o b y P H 3 J o h a n s e n L a u r e l

46 47

Eye on HistoryEye on History is a monthly photo feature sponsored by the Naval Historical Center.

For more photos pertaining to naval history, go to www.history.navy.mil .

A L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l

1950 �

Ensign E. DeJackson, injured after flying into a wirebooby trap across the Korea’s Han River, is assistedfrom his damaged F-9F Panther by crash crewmenof USS Philippine Sea (CV 47). His eyesightimpaired, Jackson’s landing was directed by radiorather than the normal visual signals of the landingsignals officer.

U.S. Navy Photos Courtesy of

the Naval Historical Center

� 1989

ADM Frank B. Kelso II, Commander in Chief,U.S. Atlantic Command/Supreme AlliedCommander, Atlantic, waves from atop the sail of the nuclear-powered ballistic missilesubmarine USS Tennessee (SSBN 734) as shenears the pier at her new homeport of NavalSubmarine Base Kings Bay, Ga.

� 1950

USS Valley Forge (CV 45) Sailorsdrove hard bargains during their visitto the Japanese port city of Sasebo,after having spent many weeks atsea hitting North Koreans from theYellow Sea and the Sea of Japan.After their short rest, Valley Forge

headed right back to enemy watersto again press home air assaults.

� 1943

A U.S. Navy diver, working in the 26-year-0ld battleship USS Arizona

(BB 39), hands up a piece of twistedmachinery reclaimed from the interiorof the ship. A senior naval officerdirects the operation to salvage materials that can be refashioned intonew instruments of war to use againstthe enemy, whose bombs wreckedArizona in the surprise attack of Dec. 7, 1941.

1973 �

The most difficult job after finding theruptured pipes of the wet environmental

trainer is to temporarily stop the gushingwater, which always results in soaking

Sailors who are already waist deep in water.

M A R C H 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

A L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l48

The Final Word

What’s in a Name? PlentyS t o r y b y J O 2 C h a r l e s L . L u d w i g

About once a week, I’ll gaze up at a street sign and quizzically

wonder, “How in the heck did they come up with that name?”

Or, “Could that street really be named after something?”

When I was a child, these thoughts entered my head all

the time. For instance, the house I grew up in (the same house my

parents still live in) was on South Moss Drive in South Louisiana.

To this day, I have no clue as to what it was named after. It’s more

than likely a mossy tree, and, if it is, all I can say is,

“What?” I need something better than

that. I need something like Kate Moss,

or maybe even Randy Moss. A mossy

tree isn’t going to help me very much

when “they” ask.

“They” are my children, all three of

them (with another one on the way.)

One day, we’ll be visiting the grandparents,

and they will ask me, “Dad, why Moss?” At

that point, I’ll be forced to give them my

“the-lights-are-on-but-nobody’s-home”

look until they leave me alone.

Luckily for Navy kids and their parents

living in Groton, Conn., the Naval Sub-

marine Base New London (SUBASE) Public

Works Department (PWD) is making the

street sign subject as easy to understand as

first-grade math.

At SUBASE, the home of the Navy’s submarine school, among

other sub-related commands, a new set of street signs is allowing

parents to answer their children’s street name queries quickly and

with no undue stress on the brain.

The new signs, like the previous ones, feature the names of the

lost World War II-era submarines. But PWD made one important

addition: just below the street’s name, people can now read the

date the ship was lost, along with the total number of Sailors lost

on each.

These add-ons separate the base’s streets from many throughout

the country. Hopefully, visitors and residents of the base will

recognize through the signs what before may have been overlooked –

the genuine meaning behind each thoroughfare’s moniker.

“These new signs will have a greater significance than the old

signs because now it will give the people a greater appreciation of

the history of the different submarines and a little remembrance

of the Sailors who were lost,” said LTJG R.J. Kline, the SUBASE

PWD operations officer. “…We wanted to recognize the Sailors

who were lost.”

To put it quite simply, it is well-deserved recogni-

tion. People know of the perilous situations

submariners put themselves in every day. It may

be considered cliché, but, on a submarine,

there’s no going overboard when the boat is in

a deadly, downward spiral. Speaking as a

former member of the crew of USS Nassau

(LHA 4), I took solace knowing if something

went horribly wrong, I could possibly work

my way to a lifeboat. On a submarine, I

wouldn’t have had that security blanket. On

a sub, you put out the fire, you stop the

leak or you die. Bottom line. There’s

nothing I can think of honoring more.

The new signs started popping up

around base in mid-November, when

PWD began the process of replacing nearly

175 signs. Since then, the intended message hasn’t been lost on

those newest of submariners – the students of the U.S. Navy

Submarine School.

“It was a brilliant idea for (PWD) to put up these new signs,”

said sub school student Seaman Anton Harris. “Before the new

signs went up, the names didn’t mean anything to me… Now I

understand that (some) streets represent submarines that were

lost, and I’ll think about what happened back then.”

So while SUBASE can lay claim to streets by the name of

Trigger, Shark and Grenadier, most towns (including the one I

grew up in) will have to be content with blah streets like Main,

Park or First.

Looks like I better start coming up with a good Moss story

soon. I have a lot to compete with.

Ludwig is a photojournalist assigned to All Hands.

But, he’s up to the challenge of being a...

... are you?

hisRecruiter

warned himit would beTough.

hisRecruiter

warned himit would beTough.