December 2012 Newsletter

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USS MILIUS COMMAND NEWSLET TER
V OLUME 3 I SSUE 12 D ECEMBER 2012

F ROM THE CO’ S D ESK
Team MILIUS,
Happy Holidays to everyone! The crew has been extremely busy the last two weeks moving all of our gear off the ship in preparations for the heavy industrial work of the yard period. Moving is always challenging and it’s no different for us going from the ship to a berthing barge. Just like in personal moves, life is chaotic until everyone settles into new surroundings and regains normalcy. We are still on track to move the ship to the BAE shipyard (adjacent to the Coronado Bridge) on December 17th. Once in the shipyard the real work begins. For the ship, we will immediately begin the extensive work planned for our overhaul. On the personal side, overcoming commuting challenges will be a big hurdle. BAE has limited parking and most of our Sailors will transit via bus each day between Naval Base San Diego and the shipyard. The buses are actually shared between all the ships in the yard and make frequent runs at various times in the morning and again in the afternoon. The crew will be briefed thoroughly on the details next week. Here a few other important updates: MILIUS Holiday Party: Our Holiday Party is right around the corner! Come join us at the Omni Hotel at from 1800-2200 on December 6th for entertainment and fun. Most of the tickets have been sold, but there are some left. Only a day left to buy some. FRG President: Mrs. Kayla Newbanks has tendered her resignation as the FRG President in order to focus her efforts on other life areas. Kayla stepped up to fill the role as FRG President at a critical time and performed superbly! Thank you, Kayla, for all you have done for MILIUS families, especially during deployment, and we all wish you nothing but the best! We will put out more information about FRG openings over Facebook and next months newsletter. If you are interested in serving as the President of the FRG, please contact CMDCM(SW/AW) Thomas at [email protected] Holiday Leave Period and Work Schedule: The Holiday leave period begins at 1600 on Monday, 17 December, and expires at 0700 on Monday, 07 January. We broke the period into two blocks to even out leave and balance work requirements in the shipyard. There will be two 96hour liberty periods to provide long weekends for the Christmas Holiday and New Years Holiday. The first 96-hour period will be 22 – 25 December and the second 96-hour will be 29 December – 01 January. Those not on leave will be working normal work days. The shipyard only shuts down on the 25th of December and the 1st of January and we must support their work other days. I’ve organized the ship to support holiday leave, but we cannot execute a stand down like Pre-Overseas Movement (POM) or Post-Deployment Upkeep (PDUK) periods. Please visit us on the MILIUS Command Families Facebook group to ask any direct questions or to get the latest on ship happenings. Please enjoy your Holidays and be safe! Sincerely, CDR Steve Shedd Commanding Officer

I NSIDE

THIS ISSUE :

CMC’s Call Ccc news Bravo Zulu CALENDAR OF EVENTS OMBUDSMEN MEMOS Military jingle Health Tips Frontline News Crew Photos RESOURCES

2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8-9 10 11

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USS MILIUS COMMANDVNEWSLETTER 12 OLUME 3 I SSUE

CMC’s CALL
Hello MILIUS Families! This is my favorite time of the year! Advancement results time! As you can see from the long list your Sailors are doing very well! On the ship we advanced record numbers for the CY 2012 especially at the Second Class level. As we enter the extended yard period it is important to remember that the yard period is NOT DOWN TIME. There is a lot of work that we need to accomplish and/or supervise. If we do not stay on top of all maintenance requirements during this time then later our work hours will be extended. Work should be at a steady strain and each person should strive to complete tasks early and correctly. Holiday stand down will begin on December 18th through January 7, 2013. During this time we will be in 3 section duty to support the watch bills with half of the crew on leave. The Holiday party is next week, which will be a time to get together and celebrate as a ship. I look forward to seeing many of you there. You should be very proud of your Sailors, I am!! Sincerely, CMC
FROM THE COMMAND CAREER COUNSELOR Greetings, MILIUS Crew, Family & Friends,
Hi I am NC1 Gutierrez your new Command Career Counselors: My door is always open if you want to discuss career counselor related items. If there is anything that you want to sit down and get in depth about please email me at [email protected] so we can schedule an appt or I can answer via email. Navy Wide Advancement Exams have posted for E4-E6. Sailors can review their profile sheets on Navy Advancement Center via NKO. Any issues or concerns regarding how to review your profile sheets should be addressed through your Chain of Command, Admin, and Career Counselor. Sailors can check in the next 2-4 weeks to see what increment they are in and when they will be getting paid.

Family and Friends: If you have any questions, please ask your Sailor and I look forward to assisting you.
Sincerely, NC1 (SW/AW) D. Gutierrez

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USS MILIUS COMMANDVNEWSLETTER 12 OLUME 3 I SSUE

Bravo Zulu
A big BRAVO ZULU to the following Sailors on their recent Reenlistments, Advancements, and Awards:
Reenlistments: OS1(SW) Pacheco Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal LTJG Cole LTJG Lindholm Promotion to Lieutenant: LT Arthur Sciortino Surface Warfare Officer Qualification: ENS Johnathan Leo First Class Advancements: FC1(SW) Chen QM1(SW) Hall CS1 (SW) Ron CTT1(SW) Webb GSE1 (SW/AW) Williams Second Class Advancements: IT2(SW) Armstrong ET2(SW) Ashenfelter SH2 (SW) Baltazar ET2(SW) Boswell ET2(SW) Day GSM2(SW) Gustafson STG2 Hubbard OS2(SW) Kuhn FC2(SW) Litzenberger DC2(SW) Merkelbach STG2(SW) Miner STG2(SW) Noh GSE2(SW) O’Leary GSE2(SW) Ramos Senior Sailor of the Year: ET1(SW) Kelly Junior Sailor of the Year: LS2(SW) Salinas Blue Jacket Sailor of the Year: DC3(SW) Merkelbach STG2(SW) Rybicki FC2 Spencer CTT2 Sunman EN2 Tapia HT2(SW) Trevino GM2 York Third Class Advancements: DC3 (SW) Badigian BM3 Huertas HT3 Inhoff GSM3 Manabat OS3 (SW) Moore IT3 Paynita CS3 Podrezov GM3 Pries GSM3 (SW) Quinlan GM3 (SW) Smith CTT3 Spencer IC3 Wilson Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist: GM1(SW) Ion ET2(SW) Wurtzel

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December 2012
Sun
2 9 16 23 30

Mon
3 10 17 24 31

Tue
4 11 18 25

Wed
5 12 19 26

Thu
6 13 20 27

Fri
7 14 21 28

Sat
1 8 15 22 29

DECEMBER

Happy Birthday and Anniversary to all!! Dec 6th...MILIUS Holiday Party at the Omni Dec 7th & 8th...Balboa Park Dec Nights, starts at 5pm. Dec 8th ...Santa is coming to the NBSD Food Court @0800. Dec 8th...MILIUS Kids Party on the Barge Dec 9th & 16th...SD Bay Parade of Lights Dec 14th...Base Wide Ship Lighting Open House from 1730 to 1830. Dec 17th - Dec 27th ...1st Holiday Leave Period Dec 27th - Jan 7th...2nd Holiday Leave Period

We wish you the happiest of holidays & thank you for your service and sacrifice to our country!!

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USS MILIUS COMMAND NEWSLETTER

OMBUDSMAN MEMO
Ombudsman Info: [email protected] OMB Phone– 619.417.9980 Careline– 619.338.1754 Dear Milius Family and Friends~ As 2012 draws to a close and 2013 begins to dawn, with all the anticipation of the New Year, I can’t believe all that has happened, yet as I look back, I’m amazed by what has happened. Birthdays were celebrated, surviving an eight month deployment, readjusting to our sailors being home, my daughter began high school, my family moved across town , Teresa’s son, Caleb started walking, we watched the “Passing of the Sword” from an outgoing to incoming CO, and we welcomed a new XO to the ship. It always amazes me that at the beginning of each year, I have so many plans and things I want to complete and accomplish, but as the year ends I wonder where all the time went. With the winter holidays upon us, we hope you will all be safe. Remember to drink responsibly and use a Designated Driver if you choose to go out and celebrate. Holiday Stress is especially tough this time of year. Remember to focus on what you have instead of what you don’t. Appreciate your family, friends, health and homes. Set spending limits, but be flexible if things don’t go as planned and remember to take time for yourselves. We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming holiday parties. We’re always impressed with all the décor and hard work that is put into these events. Thank you MILIUS crew for your hard work planning these events! Have a happy and safe holiday season, and as always, let us know if you need anything! Your Command Ombudsman Team, Jeri and Teresa

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Twelve days of Christmas
Thank you to Babette Maxwell ,Founder and Executive Editor of Military Spouse Magazine for this great little jingle to get you in the holiday spirit. (Excerpt taken from the Dec 2012 issue). Now, to begin, please clear your head and take a quick trip down memory lane to recall the how the original song actually goes. When singing from the top, remember: Day Five has to be dragged out really long….Fivvveeee Goooold Riinnnggggggsss. Here goes… On the twelfth day of Christmas the service gave to me….


A 12-month deployment 11 mailed boxes 10 Skype-ing sessions 9 dropped phone calls 8 fundraisers 7 spouse club meetings 6 ER visits 5 missed birthdays… ( hat’s it...drag it out now!) 4 backed up tubs 3 sleeves rolled up (Oo-rah) 2 flat tires And….orders to a new country!























Happy Holidays to you and yours and have a blessed holiday season! Enjoy!

V OLUME 3 I SSUE 12

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Stay Healthy while in the Yards
As we enter the busy yard period it is very easy to get stuck in the fast food rut. The galley is closed and we often forget to pack a lunch leaving only the nearest drive thru as our lunch option. While okay in moderation steer clear of the fast food joints and plan ahead! High fat, cholesterol and sugary foods, may taste delicious, but directly impact your overall wellbeing. They contribute to weight gain, cholesterol and blood pressure issues, diabetes, skin issues and even factor into our moods! Studies have shown that while the greasy hamburger is instantly gratifying after eating we are less satisfied then when we choose higher protein/higher fiber choices. Below are easy steps to use when PLANNING AHEAD for the weeks meals.
     

Do exactly that, PLAN AHEAD! Make a grocery list and actually use it Don’t grocery shop hungry

While shopping only buy products stocked on the perimeter of the grocery story (these aisles are typically the dairy, fresh fruits/vegetables and meat counter) When preparing dinner make a few extra portions to either freeze and make later, or for lunch the following day. Buy snacks such as yogurt, nuts, string cheese and fruits. Stay away from candy bars and individually wrapped cakes and donuts. Purchase as reusable water bottle to stay hydrated and skip the soda machine By planning ahead we not only set the foundation for a healthier future, but we also keep more money in our pockets by skipping the drive thru every day! Happy Holidays! HM1 Badillo

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MILIUS FRONTLINE NEWS
By LTJG David Gardner

On November 2, CDR Nicholie Bufkin turned over command of MILIUS to CDR Stephen Shedd. The ceremony marked the end of a very successful 18-month command tour for Bufkin. “My time on Milius has gone by incredibly fast. It has been an extremely satisfying experience because of the never-ending efforts of my officers and crew in succeeding at every challenge,” said CDR Bufkin. “It is with great pride in the ship and her crew’s accomplishments that I turn over.” CDR Bufkin’s next tour will be on the staff of Commander Carrier Strike Group Eleven stationed in Bremerton, Washington. CDR Shedd, MILIUS new Commanding Officer, is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and Naval Postgraduate School where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering and a Master of Science in Computer Science. He previously completed sea tours as South Asia/Oceania Policy and Exercise Officer on the staff of U.S. Seventh Fleet embarked aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), Combat Systems Officer and Commissioning Weapons Officer in USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), Tomahawk Mission Planner at Afloat Planning System Pacific (APSPAC) with concurrent assignment as OIC of the Carrier Group Five APS Detachment embarked aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), and Damage Control Assistant in USS O’Brien (DD 975). He recently completed the Executive Officer portion of his Fleet-up tour onboard USS Milius. “I’m a fan of our Fleet-up career path,” said CDR Shedd. “There are no surprises as I take command. I’ve had ownership in the challenges and successes we’ve had over the last 18 months, the crew knows me, I know them and now it’s time to get back to work.” CDR Shedd will lead MILIUS through an extensive mid-life overhaul over the next several months as part of the AEGIS destroyer mid-life overhaul process. MILIUS returned to port on November 14, following a nine day underway period during which she played a vital part in preparing the USS NIMITZ Strike Group for an upcoming Middle-Eastern deployment. The Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) incorporated air, surface, and subsurface units to simulate real-world scenarios. Operations Specialist Third Class Joseph Dooling participated in the event from his watch station in the Combat Information Center. “I really enjoyed learning how a strike group operates,” commented Dooling. “It was an excellent training experience.”

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MILIUS FRONTLINE NEWS cont

During the six day exercise, MILIUS acted as part of the opposing force to the strike group, launching several simulated missions against the aircraft carrier and her escorts. “The ship and crew performed masterfully,” recalls CDR Shedd. “The role we played in the exercise contributed invaluable training to the strike group that, without our participation, would not have been received otherwise. MILIUS also took advantage of the underway time to reinforce proficiency in several shipboard evolutions. The crew conducted helicopter deck landing qualifications (DLQs), an underway replenishment with USNS Rainier, and numerous damage control, engineering, and medical training drills. “The underway time was a great chance for the new sailors onboard to get tons of training,” stated Gas Turbine Systems Technician – Electrical Second Class Demetrius Williams. “This was a valuable opportunity for the entire crew,” he said. This marked the final underway for the ship and crew before entering an extended maintenance availability. Immediately after pulling into port, the crew began the tremendous process of moving off the ship, clearing the way for countless repairs and upgrades scheduled to occur over the next eight months. The offload required the removal of all gear, from personal items and office equipment to food, repair parts, and tools. Sailors relocated much of the gear to an afloat messing and berthing facility nested alongside the ship. The “barge” contains offices, classrooms, mess areas, and berthings that give the crew a place to continue day to day operations while maintaining ownership of MILIUS. “We’ve got our work cut out for us during this overhaul,” commented CDR Shedd, “but I wouldn’t want to go through it with any other crew in the U.S. Navy. The high caliber of Sailors I have aboard amazes me.” On Thanksgiving, MILIUS Sailors enjoyed a complimentary feast hosted by fellow shipmates. Members of the First Class Petty Officer Association, Chief Petty Officer Mess, and the Wardroom combined efforts and delivered a delectable Thanksgiving dinner, complete with all the trimmings. “It was a huge success and really showed the camaraderie of the crew. It meant a lot to those away from family during the holiday,” said Fire Controlman Third Class Ryan Smith. The feast was held on the barge mess decks and was open to all Milius Sailors.
If you have questions, comments or suggestions for MILIUS FRONTLINE NEWS, please email the Public Affairs Officer at [email protected]. Also, please check the Facebook page and contact our Ombudsmen for more information!

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USS MILIUS COMMAND NEWSLETTER

Crew Photos

V OLUME 3 I SSUE 12

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RESOURCES Page
Resources & Information Naval Base San Diego FFSC (619) 556-7404 or (866) 923-6478 American Red Cross (877) 272-7337 www.redcross.org Military OneSource (800) 342-9647 www.militaryonesource.com FOCUS (619) 556-6075 www.focusproject.org NBSD Legal (619) 556-2211 www.jag.navy.mil/legal_services/nlso/nlso_southwest.htm Tri-West Healthcare Alliance (888) 874-9378 www.triwest.com TRICARE Dental Program (800) 866-8499 www.TRICAREdentalprogram.com NMCRS (619) 238-1587/88 www.nmcrs.org USO Downtown Center (619) 235-6503 www.usosandiego.org Naval Base Chapel (619) 556-2658 www.chaplincare.navy.mil Armed Services YMCA (858) 751-5755 www.militaryymca.org Child Development Center (619) 556-8491 Operation Home front (866) 424-5210 www.operationhomefront.net 211 www.211sandiego.org Sitter city www.sittercity.com/dod Women, Infant, & Children (WIC ) Program (800) 500-6411 www.sandiegowic.org Monthly Bread Ministries & Monthly FREE Food Ministries (858)688-5015 Bring your ID card, bags to carry food items. Please contact them for locations and times. We have plenty of other resources for you from Healthy Military Families and Toddler Time to Furniture and Used Items to Websites and Re Sale Goods Items. Call the Ombudsman for more details.

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