Nimitz News

Hello from the waters off the coast of Southern California. Everyone is working hard and we are making great progress toward achieving surge readiness. As many of you know, we are about to start our second week of the Composite Training Unit Exercise or COMPTUEX. We’ve had a very busy and successful first week. COMPTUEX is one of the major building blocks in our inter-deployment readiness cycle and the first major exercise where all elements of the NIMITZ Strike Group are evaluated together at sea. Along with the more familiar flight deck, damage control, reactor drills, weapons evolutions, and operations drills, we are also practicing our operational security and computer network defense measures. Some of these exercises temporarily limit the email and Sailor phone connectivity for the crew. If you are having some trouble getting in touch with your crewmember, it may be due to our exercising some of these important capabilities.

This is my first email to you as Commanding Officer of USS NIMITZ. I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to join and lead such a fine team and I intend to continue sending these emails out every week or so as CAPT Gilman had done. I believe that it is critical that we recognize the importance of the Navy family and the vital contribution that you make to your Sailor’s success. My previous boss was fond of saying that the Navy recruits Sailors but retains families. He said this in recognition of the fact that career and retention decisions are usually made across the kitchen table, not the Career Counselor’s desk. Your support to your Sailor and just as importantly, your ability to carry on and keep things running smoothly at home are key factors to a successful deployment or underway period. Those of us who have been in the Navy for several years and made several deployments realize we could not have done it without the support and sacrifices of our families.

Hopefully you were able to participate in the Kid’s Christmas Party held last Saturday at NAS North Island. Our Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Funboss, Kerrie Smith, with an assist from the family support group - Team NIMITZ, and CTM1 Stephanie Wilkins, put on a great party that was enjoyed by all. Unfortunately, the rainy and cold weather may have limited participation somewhat, but the 250 or so NIMITZ kids who attended had a blast. Thanks to all who had a hand in putting the party together for our families and kids.

Two of our four NIMITZ Ombudsmen’s servicemember spouses will be transferring in the spring. My goal is to have four fully qualified Ombudsmen who serve as the principle means of direct communication between the command and our family members. It takes time to fully train and qualify each one, and the upcoming time in port will provide the opportunity for selecting new Ombudsmen and scheduling this training. If you are a spouse and are interested in this program please contact our Command Master Chief, Chris Penton at cmc@nimitz.navy.mil.

Our family support group, Team NIMITZ, is up and running with a lot of enthusiasm. The President is Sophia Mitcheltree and her contact info is teamnimitz@yahoo.com. This group is an important element on the homefront, especially when the ship is away from homeport. They organize many activities and events for families and are a great source of mutual support and shared experience. There will be more info forthcoming on Team NIMITZ activities and meetings. If you are interested, please contact Sophia directly.

Finally, on Thursday I had the honor of frocking (promoting) over 300 new First, Second, and Third Class Petty Officers. It was a great event and one of my favorite things to do. Lots of smiles in the hangar bay that day. The crew did a great job on the exam cycle and that kind of performance is indicative of what I have seen since checking aboard. This is a magnificent crew ready to tackle any challenge and get the job done--with abundant talent and a fantastic attitude. I am very proud to be part of the team.

I better close for this week. Thank you for your continued support and the great job you do on the homefront. You, too, are vital members of this team.

Also, for your info – the Nimitz web page address has changed. The public affairs staff continues to do a great job with the web page, providing links to articles, photos, and information for families – and for new Sailors checking aboard. The new web page address is: http://www.nol.navy.mil/homepages/cvn68/

Warm regards and very respectfully,

CAPT Ted Branch

Commanding Officer

USS NIMITZ (CVN 68)