Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Ramiro Garcia, Jr., a native of Lemoore, Calif., is currently assigned to Combat Systems third division aboard Lincoln. Garcia, who enlisted in 2008 out of high school, loves two things more

than anything else: playing music and riding the skateboard.The 21-year-old father of two said he has been playing the drums since he

was 16. Despite the many changes the Navy has brought to his life, Garcia still sees himself as more musician than computer whiz.

“I love playing the drums,” he said. “I can’t get enough.”During “A” School, Garcia helped out a friend by playing drums at her

church. This was the first time Garcia has played gospel music, an experience he valued as it expanded his repertoire. Garcia’s favorite style of music is reggae because of its relaxed tempo, a departure from the four-beat count often found in American music.

Garcia joined the Navy to escape the limits of life in a small town. Choosing a rate, he said, came easily.

“I chose IT because I’ve always been interested in computers and the internet,” said Garcia. “It seemed like a great career choice.”

Since joining the Navy, Garcia said he has been working on technical certifications within his rate to improve his skills and help him advance his Navy career.

“Getting certified will help me a lot,” he said. “I’m definitely going to take advantage of all these opportunities.”

Garcia’s practical choice for a post-Navy career would be to work for Google. “But,” he said, “I would really like to be a pro skater or a famous musician in a band.”

IT3 RamIRo GaRcIa, JR.Combat SyStemS

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LIncoLn SaILoR named 3Rd FLeeT SaILoR oF The YeaR

A Carrier Strike Group 9 Sailor embarked aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) was named as

Commander, U.S. Third Fleet's (C3F) Sailor of the Year, April 15.

As part of being recognized, Personnel Specialist 1st Class Lewis Garza was presented with a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal by Vice Adm. Richard W. Hunt, C3F, in a ceremony aboard the aircraft carrier.

“This award is a great honor," said Garza. "I have tried to involve myself in as much as possible and stay dedicated along the way while achieving my goals."

During the ceremony, Garza was recognized for his active involvement as the President of the 1st Class Petty Officers Association and for spearheading the "Generation Abe" program, a program promoting

sound decision-making for junior sailors at work, home and while deployed.

Garza, who has been in the Navy for nearly 12 years, competed against nine other 1st class petty officers during a week-long review board staffed by 14 command master chiefs.

Garza hopes to become a recruit division commander at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill., where he can impact entry-level Sailors and develop them into tomorrow's Navy leaders.

"I want to help produce better quality Sailors and to improve the future of the Navy by being involved with new recruits as they enter the fleet," said Garza.

The Sailor of the Year program was initiated in 1972 as a way to recognize the efforts of outstanding Atlantic and Pacific Fleet Sailors at sea by Adm. Elmo Zumwalt, former Chief of Naval Operations.

Story and photos by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Lauren Howes

A Fresh Coat of PaintPhotos by MC2 Luciano Marano

3rd Fleet ViSitS abeU.S. Navy photo by MC3 Jimmy Cellini

Vice Adm. Richard Hunt toured Lincoln April 15.

ceLebRaTInG moTheR’S daY YeaR RoundBy Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Lauren Howes

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Just like

every other year, it falls on the second Sunday in May,

which this year is May 8. But do we really need a holiday to tell us when to celebrate the women who have helped shape the people we have become and that often remain our most positive influences?

While many might view Mother’s Day as just another holiday fabricated by the greeting card industry to encourage the masses to buy cards for profit—like Valentine’s Day—it is nevertheless a good time to build communication and to thank all the women in one’s life for the support they have given you during deployment and throughout the year.

Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Nisse Fonseca, of Supply department, said that while he usually does not make a big deal of most holidays, he is

planning a romantic date night this year for Sarah, his wife of 10 years.

“This is the first time in three years that I will be home for Mother’s Day, and I’m planning something special for her this year since she took care of our daughter and was pregnant during deployment,” Fonseca said. “She did a lot, and I want to thank her for that.”

Fonseca shows his appreciation throughout the year by letting his wife know how “grateful and lucky” he is “to have such a supportive wife, partner and friend.”

For many women, it is the little things we do throughout the year to show our appreciation that tug at the heart strings and that they will reminisce about later in life.

For instance, Master at Arms 2nd Class Denise Gutierrez, who works in the Command Career Counselor’s Office, recently came across an art project that her two-year-old son,

Lucky, made for her during the last deployment. She said mementoes like her son’s project help strengthen the bonds between children and parents who are often away on assignment.

“Women tend to be more nurturing and sentimental,” Gutierrez said. “The bonds we make with the women in our lives are different than those with male figures.”

Gutierrez said her husband Pete made the project with their son because he knows how hard deployments can be, and one thing that can relieve stress is a gift made with love.

With the often difficult working schedule that Navy Sailors have, sometimes we miss out on holidays. It is important to remember the spirit of the holiday does not belong only to one particular day on the calendar. However, it couldn’t hurt to make one day extra special for the most influential woman in your life this Mother’s Day.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian Morales

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An update to the Navy’s Performance Evaluation System instruction BUPERSINST

1610.10C was released April 21 by Navy Personnel Command (NPC).

The update cancels BUPERSINST 1610.10B and incorporates several NAVADMINs affecting performance evaluations and fitness reports.

“The changes cover new E-5 promotion recommendation rules, Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) documentation requirements, a new billet sub-category for performance reports, details on Reserve component unit reporting responsibilities, elimination of references to the enlisted field service record and several other items,” said James Price, director, Navy NPC Performance Evaluation Division.

One update incorporates new distribution rules for E-5 promotion recommendations announced in NAVADMIN 286/10, requiring the number of ‘Early Promote’ and ‘Must Promote’ recommendations not to exceed 60 percent of the E-5 group. In addition, the ‘Must Promote’ recommendation may be increased by one for each ‘Early Promote’ quota not used. The ‘Early Promote’ recommendation limit of 20 percent has

From Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs Office

The recently announced enlisted retention board (ERB) will eliminate overmanning in 31 ratings and will benefit high-performing Sailors in the long run by improving advancement opportunities. The ERB will review Sailors in 31 of the most overmanned ratings and will look at performance to fill a specific number of retention quotas within competitive groups broken down by rating, pay grade and years of service. Several factors that are normally mandatory for rating conversion, including maximum years of service, maximum paygrade, and minimum activity tour requirements, are being waived. Sailors chosen for conversion into the undermanned ratings listed in NAVADMIN 129/11 will be exempt from the board and will be given an opportunity to continue serving in areas of need for the Navy. The procedures for requesting conversion will be released by the beginning of May and applications will need to be received by June 15 to be considered.

enLISTed ReTenTIon boaRd beneFITS FLeeT

Sailors whose Perform-to-Serve (PTS) quotas expired March 1 have until May 1 to request reinstatement. Eligible Sailors must submit a NAVPERS 1306/7 to their respective enlisted community manager (ECM) to have their PTS quota restored. Reenlistments or extensions to meet obligated service requirements must be executed no later than 45 days from ECM approval. Sailors E-6 and below with up to 14 years active service must use PTS/FleetRIDE to remain in the Navy. They are advised to carefully watch those time lines and work with their command retention teams to ensure timely application. Command career counselors, leading petty officers, leading chief petty officer and Perform-to-Serve coordinators are all members of command retention teams--guidance on PTS requirements can be directed to these members. For more information about how to request restoration of a PTS quota, visit the PTS/FleetRIDE page linked at www.npc.navy.mil.

peRFoRm-To-SeRve ReSponSIbILITIeS

not changed in the new instruction.NAVFIT98A Version 29 was rolled

out to the fleet incorporating the new rules. Workstations on the unclassified Navy/Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) automatically received this new version. For non-NMCI users, the upgrade is available for download from the Navy Personnel Command (NPC) website.

Service members should verify they are using Version 29 by checking ‘About NAVFIT98A’ under the help tab in NAVFIT98A, which will display ‘Version 2.2.0.29.’

Another update details new requirements announced in NAVADMIN 193/10 for documenting PFA results in evals. For performance reports with an end date of Aug. 1, 2010, or later, commands must now enter a one-letter PFA code in block 20 for each cycle completed during the reporting period.

Per NAVADMIN 215/10, a new billet subcategory was added. The code ‘INDIV AUG’ in block 21 of the performance report is now available for Individual Augmentees.

These are a few of the updates published in BUPERSINST 1610.10C. To see more, review the instruction posted on the Navy Personnel Command website at http://www.npc.navy.mil/CareerInfo/PerformanceEvaluation/.

PerFormanCe eValuation inStruCtion uPdated

U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Arif Patani

The pRT IS comInGStory and photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kirk Putnam

Death and taxes have always been two well-known pillars of inevitability, but as any Sailor will tell you, the Physical Readiness

Test (PRT) is a close third. That inescapable evolution is once again upon

us. That’s right, the spring PRT is rapidly approaching and, if you haven’t started yet, it is well past time to get prepared.

However, preparedness at this point in the year doesn’t mean you need to work your body into the ground if you’re worried about being ready.

The real secret to regular success in exceeding the expectations of the PRT is consistency throughout the year said Senior Chief Operations Specialist Jeff Hineman, originally from Atlanta, who has been the command fitness leader for USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) since 2009.

“Too many Sailors rely on getting into shape two times a year,” Hineman said. “Consistent exercise, diet and an overall healthy lifestyle will do wonders. It takes a lifestyle change.”

Hineman stressed the importance of not attempting to lose a lot of weight in a short period of time.

“Whatever you do, DO NOT try to lose ten pounds in the last week before the PRT,” Hineman insisted. “It is really bad for your health and could have lasting negative effects.”

One resource available to Lincoln Sailors to help in safely preparing for the PRT—or any workout, for that matter—is a group of dedicated personal trainers that are available at no cost

for active duty military members by appointment in the Seismos Fitness Center at the Commons on Naval Station Everett.

Seismos Fitness Specialist Vicki Rieger said the gym has a lot of free resources for Sailors, including a variety of equipment and classes. Rieger said that even the elliptical machines have been programmed to calculate the calories burned—just like the PRT—which eliminates the need to calculate it manually.

“But if you plan to use any of the cardio machines for your test, it would help to come down before your test date to reserve a time slot to prevent any lags during the testing period,” Rieger advised.

With classes and programs ranging from indoor cycling and yoga to ZUMBA and TRX, you might even forget that Seismos also has an indoor pool and four racquetball courts.

But that’s not all. Yet another resource in your arsenal for these last minute preparations would be the sage advice of someone who wants you to succeed and knows how influential those preparations can be.

“Don’t wait till your last day to conduct your PRT,” said Hineman. “If you have a bad day (fail), you can run a bad day chit through your chain of command and re-run the PRT. If you wait until the last day, there’s no time left to have a bad day. Stay hydrated, eat a well balanced diet, and stretch properly. The night before, get plenty of rest and have a light breakfast.”

And remember, you’re not only getting prepared for this PRT, you’re also getting an early start on the next one.

For You!