TR Departs Dubai

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kris R. Lindstrom, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Public Affairs

ARABIAN GULF (NNS) -- The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) made its third port visit of her 2015 deployment when she pulled in to Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates, June 7-11.

TR Sailors and Marines enjoyed a few days of relaxation before TR pulled back out to sea for another stretch of underway operations.

Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) offered an assortment of events for Sailors to enjoy including visits to Atlantis water-park, Ferrari World indoor theme park, desert safaris, sand boarding, camel rides, and an Abu Dhabi city tour.

Funboss, Megan Villapudua, who previously visited Dubai three times while on deployment with the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65), was excited to provide crew members with multiple entertainment opportunities while the ship was in port.

"I think the tours went really well," said Villapudua. "I think Dubai had more exciting tour options than Bahrain. Sunset safari was the big one. Everyone that I talked to really enjoyed it. I believe that is the ultimate Dubai experience."

Electronics Technician 3rd Class Amanda Craig echoed Villapudua's sentiments.

"Sunset safari was definitely my favorite part because you really got the whole experience," said Craig. "They had the ride over the sand dunes, camel rides, dancers, hookah lounges, cultural food; it was really an all-encompassing look into Dubai, and they executed it perfectly."

Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Nicole Lowery participated in a variety of tours while in Dubai and highlighted her day at Atlantis water-park as one of the most enjoyable aspects of the port call.

"Atlantis was a lot of fun," said Lowery. "We stayed there for like six hours. It was just such a beautiful place. I enjoyed the adrenaline rush from the rides and it was also cool to see all the different kinds of people there."

Sonar Technician (surface) 3rd Class Jason Hatke, another MWR tour-goer, credited the tours with exposing him to people from around the world.

"I was able to teach a little Australian girl how to sand-board," said Hatke. "That is one of those things I will remember for the rest of my life."

Whether it was exploring the exotic cities or just cruising the sand dunes, Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Osckar Santiago believes it was the time spent with shipmates that mattered most.

"The best part was spending time with all our friends," said Santiago. "Relaxing, eating, and enjoying life ... we were enjoying a little time off before getting back to reality."

Theodore Roosevelt is the flagship of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG), which is composed of Carrier Strike Group 12, Carrier Air Wing 1, Destroyer Squadron 2 staff, the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) and the guided-missile destroyers USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), USS Farragut (DDG 99) and USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98).

Roosevelt is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the region.

S2M2 Cultivates Next Generation at Naval Hospital Jacksonville

By Yan Kennon, Naval Hospital Jacksonville Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Hospital (NH) Jacksonville hosted its annual Science, Service, Medicine and Mentoring (S2M2) program at the hospital June 8-12 with 11 selected Darnell-Cookman Middle/High School of the Medical Arts students.

"Naval Hospital Jacksonville's Science, Service, Medicine and Mentoring program with Darnell-Cookman is all about nurturing the next generation of medical professionals," said Capt. John Le Favour, NH Jacksonville commanding officer. "During their weeklong internship with us, students participate in clinical rotations, medical lectures and hands-on workshops. They even get a taste of combat casualty care. It's great to have the students here."

The goal of NH Jacksonville's S2M2 program is to encourage, nurture and enhance high school students' commitment to science and medicine in a welcoming and intellectually stimulating environment. The S2M2 partnership with Darnell-Cookman complements the school's focus on equipping high-performing students with the skills and experiences to pursue advanced medical degrees.

"This is my second year participating in the program and it has really helped me solidify my goal of becoming an orthopedic surgeon," said Matthew Alderman, a Darnell-Cookman junior. "I have personally benefitted from the program and it will help prepare me for college and my career."

In addition to clinical rotations, students participated in workshops and lectures. During a simulated disaster management drill, students donned decontamination suits. At the Trauma Combat Casualty Care obstacle course they witnessed first-hand how first responders conduct field training and combat trauma care. The students also participated in medical simulations using human-like mannequins at the hospital's simulation laboratory and performing simulated orthopedic medical procedures using real medical devices and life-like bone and joints.

"It was really cool to observe the daily operations of a naval hospital and participate in hands-on training," said Breanna Brady, a Darnell-Cookman sophomore. "I would not have had the opportunity to get this experience if not for this Naval Hospital Jacksonville program. It was a great experience and I hope to be selected for this program again next year." Brady plans to pursue a career as a pharmacist.

Developed in 2004 by the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and launched in 2010 by NH Jacksonville, S2M2 is aimed at cultivating the next generation of physicians and scientists. It includes two activities each academic year: a kick-off event at the beginning of the academic year at Darnell-Cookman and the week-long immersion program at NH Jacksonville.

NH Jacksonville's priority since its founding in 1941 is to heal the nation's heroes and their families. The command is comprised of the Navy's third largest hospital and five branch health clinics across Florida and Georgia. There are more than 71,000 active and retired sailors, soldiers, Marines, airmen, guardsmen and their families enrolled with a primary care manager and Medical Home Port team at one of its facilities.

Baltimore Celebrates Navy Reserve Centennial

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Hurd, Defense Media Activity

BALTIMORE (NNS) -- Civilians, active-duty Sailors and Navy reservists gathered for a ceremony June 13 at the Inner Harbor Amphitheater in Baltimore to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the United States Navy Reserve.

The public event, presented by Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Baltimore, included small-craft tours, performances by the U.S. Navy's Ceremonial Band and Ceremonial Guard drill team, as well as a live performance by local award-winning musician Tom McBride.

The event also featured a number of guest speakers, including Rear Adm. Thomas W. Luscher, deputy chief of Navy Reserve.

"For 100 years, the Navy Reserve's citizen Sailors have been part of something larger than themselves, supporting our Navy and strengthening the fabric of the force," said Luscher. "To the 3,600 Navy Reserve Sailors who call Maryland home and the almost 900 that serve here at NOSC Baltimore, I am so very fortunate to serve alongside you. Your selfless service epitomizes our Navy Reserve Centennial motto, 'Ready Then, Ready Now, Ready Always.'"

Retired Navy admiral and Baltimore native John Harvey was also on hand for the ceremony to give his thoughts.

While expressing his views on the reserve, Harvey said they are "a presence constantly in our Navy, but when called upon to exert themselves in the most important evolutions and deployments and missions available, they were right up there at the front leading the way."

Looking out into the crowd, he made a plea.

"For the rest of us who are on the sidelines watching these men and women do their jobs we need to recognize the very different demands on the reservists and we need to support them as they have made the decision to support our nation," he said.

Several Navy reservists were in the crowd to watch the ceremony, giving them an opportunity to reflect on what being a part of the Navy Reserve has meant to them.

"One of the most rewarding things for me is when I'm in uniform out in public or coming home from work, every now and then someone will say, 'Thank you for your service,' or they will acknowledge you in uniform, and it makes you feel good," said Cryptologic Technician (Networks) Seaman Daniel Lopezdevictoria, a member of the operational support unit with NOSC Baltimore. "It makes you feel like, I'm not just doing some job, but I'm actually making a difference for my country."

As the Navy Reserve heads into its next hundred years, Harvey added, the world continues to change and conflicts continue to arise.

That is why "reservists are in high demand, and will remain in high demand for years to come," he explained. "Because the Navy Reserve continues to live up to its motto."

The service officially marked its 100th anniversary March 3, but continues its yearlong celebration tour at locations around the country. The tour is designed to spread awareness about the Navy Reserve and the integral role it plays in the safety of the United States.