Nimitz News

Nimitz Family and Friends,

Last week was filled with preparation for our upcoming at sea period. This coming week, we will get underway for TSTA – which is Tailored Ship’s Training Availability. It is a significant increase in our training intensity. This next underway will last about three weeks and the last event of the training period is the FEP or Final Evaluation Problem. We will demonstrate all of our capabilities to defend and fight the ship. All hands are involved in making the ship ready for TSTA / FEP. It may seem like only a few specific organizations are involved when we have a fire drill or a medical emergency drill, but all hands play a part in the success of every drill.

We are also looking forward to getting the Nimitz / Air Wing 11 team back together again. The last time, we had the entire team back together was returning from deployment on 5 November. We will rapidly come up to full speed launching and recovering aircraft. Maintaining the aircraft is also a skill that is a joint operation. Squadron personnel look to Nimitz Supply department for replacement parts. Nimitz AIMD (Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Department) will take aircraft components, such as a radios and cockpit displays, and repair the component. Even simple issues take coordination. Projects such as changing an aircraft tire or an aircraft wash needs ship and squadron coordination.

On 19 October, Nimitz hosted the Air Wing 11 Change of Command. The air wing commander (CAG) Captain Jim Greene was relieved by Captain Tom Cropper. Captain Greene assumed command of CVW-11 on 4 July 2003 and it is time for Captain Cropper to take command. We all wish fair winds and following seas to Captain Greene. CVW-11 had a great run under his leadership.

Last Friday, a good size group from the Nimitz Association came back home to USS NIMITZ. They were Sailors who served on Nimitz from 1975 to now. The number 3 Commanding Officer of Nimitz – RADM(ret) Batzler was part of the group and they really had a great time. Not only seeing USS Nimitz, but even more so, seeing good friends from years ago. One of the comments was regarding the current Sailors serving aboard Nimitz. They all remarked about the courtesy and professionalism they saw in every Sailor that they spoke with. They were ALL very proud of their service, but all commented how proud they are of the bright professionals that serve aboard Nimitz today.

If you would allow me to pass on a recommendation: As we approach a period of intense underway training, we ALL have to proactively take measures to help in family stability. Don’t wait for the frustration to build to a level where all revert to yelling and the resulting world war III argument. We all can put measures in place that will mitigate the stress of family separation. Financial plans, communication plans, discipline plans, leave plans will all be very worthwhile if you discuss it ahead of our departure. While we are pier side, the more effort you put into cooperation, the more family peace and success you will see. It takes a proactive effort to really make this happen – but your families will be rewarded many times over for your effort to be ready for our separation. This is where teamwork is essential.

With Greatest Respect,

Captain Bob Gilman