Forward Deployed Aircraft Carrier, Air Wing Team Continues 7th Fleet Patrol

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Alonzo Archer, Task Force 70 Public Affairs

USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NNS) -- The United States Navy's only forward deployed air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, flew aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) Sep. 5 to continue their 2014 patrol of U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations (AOR).

CVW-5 is composed of nine squadrons with approximately 1,900 Sailors and 67 aircraft, which complete the full capacity of operations and manning for George Washington.

"Carrier Air Wing 5 has been patrolling with the George Washington since 2008," said Cmdr. Brian Downey, CVW-5 Operations officer. "I look forward to the reintegration of our commands each time we're called upon. The respect we show each other during these patrols lends to the professionalism of both commands. They know their job, and we know ours, and we both trust each other to perform at the highest level."

During the first half of their 2014 patrol CVW-5 and George Washington completed exercise Malabar 2014, a multinational maritime event including the Indian Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), a bilateral operation with JMSDF, four goodwill port visits and two air power demonstrations for Independence Day and a Tiger Cruise respectively.

"This is my first deployment with Carrier Air Wing 5 and the George Washington," said Lt. Andrew Ginnetti, an EA-18G Growler pilot with the "Shadowhawks" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141. "It's great to finally be in the fleet, applying the skills I've learned in flight school. I personally feel I'm a part of the most mission ready air wing in the Navy."

The aircraft carrier and air wing relationship is symbiotic in more ways than one; both units need each other to complete vital carrier qualifications and maintain pilot currency.

"By instruction, all fixed wing carrier pilots have to maintain periodic currency," said Cmdr. William Berryman, George Washington air operations officer. "We as a ship must also maintain certain qualifications by operating with aircraft. We work together to accomplish these qualifications across the board in order to keep the air wing-ship team combat ready."

CVW-5's squadrons are a collection of aircraft designed to perform various functions and missions. The aircraft are attached to: the "Diamondbacks" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102 flying the F/A-18F Super Hornet; the "Royal Maces" of VFA-27, the "Eagles" of VFA-115 and the "Dambusters" VFA-195 each flying the F/A-18E Super Hornet; VAQ-141 flying the EA-18G Growler; VAW-115 flying the E-2C Hawkeye; the "Providers" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30, Detachment 5, flying the C-2A Greyhound; the "Golden Flacons" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12 flying the MH-60S Seahawk; and the "Saberhawks" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77 flying the MH-60R Seahawk.

CVW-5 is on patrol in the 7th Fleet AOR supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia- Pacific region.

USS Connecticut Holds Change of Command

By Lt. j.g. Robert Ford, USS Connecticut Public Affairs

KEYPORT, Wash. (NNS) -- USS Connecticut (SSN 22) bid farewell to their commanding officer, Cmdr. Ian Johnson, during a change of command ceremony at the Naval Undersea Museum, Sept. 5.

With the traditional reading of orders and a motivational battle cry "Hooyah Two Two" from the Sailors he commanded, Johnson turned over his boat and crew to Cmdr. Brian Taddiken.

Johnson said he is proud he had the opportunity to be in command of Connecticut and working with a fantastic team of Sailors.

"Leading you all has been the most rewarding and humbling honor of my career," said Johnson. "You are all heroes in my book. You are the best there is. You kept us at sea when we had a job to do and you continued to touch excellence, and to display grit, determination, and resiliency everyday, for two years, in a challenging shipyard environment. I cannot thank you enough. I want you to know that what you do everyday matters and has been of tremendous value to aiding in our national security. Thank you for what you do."

Taddiken said of his new crew, "I am humbled by the sacrifices you and your families make at work and at home. You should be proud of these sacrifices and yourselves. Because of you, Connecticut has a tremendously positive reputation for high performance in the face of adversity."

Taddiken, a native of Tacoma, Wash. and a United States Naval Academy graduate, most recently served as the Deputy Commander for Readiness on the staffs of Commander, Submarine Squadrons 1 and 7. He is looking forward to the challenge of getting Connecticut back to sea once they complete the Depot Modernization Period.

Johnson's next assignment will be at U.S. Pacific Command in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

U.S. Naval Hospital Guam Conducts First Receiver Operations Training

By Jennifer Zingalie, U.S. Naval Hospital Guam Public Affairs

AGANA HEIGHTS, GUAM (NNS) -- Sailors from U.S. Naval Hospital Guam participated in 'Warm zone,' First Receiver Operations Training (FROT), Sept. 4.

Observers from three local agencies also participated in the training to include, Naval Base Guam Fire and Emergency Service, Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, and Guam Medical Regional Center.

"These incidents are about savings lives," said Brett Wallace the hospital's emergency manager.

The purpose of the training is to provide participants the opportunity to practice dressing in their Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) suits, setting up a decontamination tent, and decontaminating patients involved in a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incident.

"Patients involved in any such incident must be decontaminated before medical treatment can be administered," said Wallace. "Decontamination of patients serves to protect medical providers from becoming contaminated which could render them a casualty, making them a patient and disabling from providing further medical treatment."

During the training Sailors have approximately 15 minutes to dress in their HAZMAT suits as well as set up the decontamination tent. Once everything is set up the Sailors are ready to receive both ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients.

There are three stations on the outside and inside of the tent, one side is known as the "dirty side" with the other side as the "clean". The job of the Sailors is to first identify the agent and where it is on the body. Second they perform a triage, where Sailors must decide which patients will need treatment first. The last step is to perform the decontamination which consists of stripping a patient, discarding all decontaminated clothing and scrubbing the patient with hot soapy water.

Once the patient has been washed he or she is sent to the end of the tent, where a Sailor begins gently applying M9 chemical agent detection tape all over the patient. Afterward, if the patient is still "dirty" he or she is sent back through for further decontamination.

"These drills prepare us for whatever can happen," said Wallace. "Living on an island makes this even more important. Working together with our local agencies ensures we are all ready to respond, that we are all able to care for the sick and injured."