The Primary Loop Volume 2 Issue 1

Naval Nuclear Power Training Command

October 2020

Happy to be Home Page 4 - 6

Volume 2. Issue 1

Congratulations to NNPTC’s Sailors & Instructors of the Year

2

NNPTC Sailor of the Year EMN1 Zachary Rackleff

NNPTC Junior Sailor of the Year BM2 Derek Willis

NNPTC Senior Instructor of the Year ETNC Scott Carvalho

NNPTC Junior Instructor of the Year MMN1 Anthony Woody

the primary loop

SHIP’S STORE NOW OPEN D102

Hours of Operation Monday through Friday 0730-1000 1130-1230 the primary loop

3

Happy to

“Sailors belong on ships, and ships belong at sea” is a familiar adage to most Sailors. During their time in the Navy, Sailors will almost certainly see a deployment or two. While months of hard work and making memories at sea can be rewarding in and of itself, sometimes the greatest prize for Sailors is what is waiting for them at home.

Fleet-returnee Sailors assigned to Naval Nuclear Power Training Command reminisced on their experiences and feelings of eagerness as they returned from previous deployments to see their family and friends awaiting them on the pier.

Gas Turbine Systems Mechanic 1st Class Craig Arsenault, NNPTC Book Vault leading petty officer, said he remembers feeling nervous but looked forward to resuming his father and husband roles upon finishing his most recent deployment. He offered advice to others on making the most of a homecoming experience.

4

the primary loop

“The night before pulling in, a lot of people will be running on adrenaline,” Arsenault said.

“I’m not saying to not have a good time, but try to get some rest. If you stay up all night, by early in the evening of your homecoming you will be worn down and ready to go to bed. Try to get some rest so you can spend quality time with your loved ones the night you get home.”

Lt. Cmdr. David Rinehart, NNPTC’s director of enlisted department, said his most memorable homecoming moment was returning from his most recent deployment aboard the Nimitz-class nuclear-aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) when he was able to “squeeze” his wife and children again.

“At this point, my wife and I had both of our children and they were of an old enough age to where they understood the impact of me being deployed on the family,” Rinehart said. “As I walked off of the brow, I could see the excitement on the

be Home

By MC2 Laura Elmore

faces of both of my boys, and as I approached the enclave, I remember seeing both of my boys get down in almost a sprinters stance so they could race over to give me a hug as soon as I exited the secured area.”

Rinehart said there are many good things that come along with being deployed, such as life experiences and port visits, and he cautioned while Sailors were deployed life went on back at home and there may be new routines to get accustomed to, and some time may be needed to readjust to normal day-to-day life after months away from home.

“Be patient and ease your way back in; understand the new ebbs and flows of the household before you try to insert yourself,” Rinehart said. “Work as a team with your spouse or significant other...you have to open lines of communication and work together.”

Chief Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) James

McClain, A-Track section leading petty officer, said it was essential he took time to decompress and find ways to reintegrate back into his family’s life upon returning from his most recent deployment aboard the Los Angeles-class fastattack submarine USS Dallas (SSN 700).

“To help readjust, I asked a lot of questions,” McClain said. “For the first little bit, I would play with my kids and spend time with them, but I kind of sat back and watched how my wife handled things like discipline and their routine.”

Legalman 1st Class Erin Transue, NNPTC legal department leading petty officer, said she felt pride, relief and excitement as she manned the rails while pulling in from her most recent deployment aboard the Nimitz-class nuclear-aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73).

“Take the experience and opportunity that very few people have and make it a fond memory for all of you,” Transue said. the primary loop

5

6

the primary loop

The Big 3 Squat, Bench, and Deadlift max

Lifting Competition Staff and students will be divided into weight classes.

All participants will be weighed in prior to attempting their first lift. The weight classes will be as follows:

Males 130lbs 145lbs 163lbs 182lbs 205lbs 231lbs

Females 104lbs 114lbs 125lbs 138lbs 159lbs 185lbs

Your weight will be rounded up to the next class if in between weights. The overall winner will be calculated using the WILKS Total (calculator available online).

Starts November 30 through December 4

All three lifts must be performed in the same day with three attempts for each lift. Straps and belts will be allowed.

POC: MMN1 Davis (843) 471-9047

PRIZ FOR T ES WINN HE ERS! ! the primary loop

7

PHOTOS AROUND NNPTC

8

the primary loop

the primary loop

9

10

the primary loop

the primary loop

11

Trunk-or Treat 2020

Photos by MC2 Laura Elmore

12

the primary loop

Chaps’ Corner

Passing the Torch

By Lt. John Gibson

This morning, I received an email from a senior chaplain supervisor of mine. In this email was a letter from our Chief of Navy Chaplains (the seniormost chaplain in our Navy) who encouraged us to reach out to some of our other senior chaplains who are retiring this year. The letter also contained a list of the chaplains who are stepping down – some after decades of faithful service to their God and their country.

As I scanned the list, I saw a few names that were familiar to me and, in accordance with the Chief’s wishes, am now planning to reach out to those whose names I recognize. A few of the names on that list belonged to chaplains who helped me along the way; they

mentored me, encouraged me, guided me, and overall have helped me become a better version of myself. And so I am reaching out to them. I am doing this not only because I have been encouraged to by our Chief of Chaplains, but also because – on a more fundamental level – I believe it is important to thank those who have “poured into you,” as the saying goes.

None of us come from much, when you get right down to it. When you are born, your parents or other guardians care for you, especially in those tender first years. And as you get older, other people – hopefully – come alongside you to ensure your growth, development, and ultimately, your prosperity as a human being.

For this reason, I long to reach out to a few of those chaplain mentors who mentored me along the way.

The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy in the first letter bearing his name and addressed him as “…my true son in the faith.” (1 Timothy 1: 2). Only a “father” – or father figure – who had invested as much in Timothy as Paul had could use such an appellation.

Who has invested in you?

Who poured their time, advice, money (perhaps), and other resources into ensuring that your life would be a success?

Let me encourage you to find these people today and give them thanks.

God bless.

the primary loop

13

Navy News

COVID-19 Special Leave Accrual – What You Need to Know From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (Sept. 30, 2020) Rear Adm. Bruce Gillingham, surgeon general of the Navy, has his temperature checked by Hospital Corpsmen 2nd Class Clement McKenzie as he enters Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point, Sept. 30, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Denver Applehans)

In April, the Secretary of Defense authorized special leave accrual, or SLA, for all military members because of restrictions on travel during the COVID-19 pandemic prevented many members from taking leave.

The accrual authorization was effective March 11 through Sept.

30, 2020. As a result, Sailors with accumulated leave in excess of 60 days can now retain up to 120 days on the books for until Sept. 30, 2023.

Each year, all active-duty service members earn 30 days of leave. Normally at the end of each fiscal year, any unused leave exceeding 60 days is lost. This year is different.

With the leniency granted due to the pandemic travel restrictions, affected service members can now carry leave balances of up to 120 days with a “use or lose” date of Sept. 30, 2023. That means, beyond that date, any days exceeding 60 will be lost.

14

the primary loop

No action is required by either the Sailor or their command to retain this leave as it is automatically tracked by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service.

This means, anyone with less than 60 days of leave on the books as of Sept. 30, 2020 is not affected by this policy.

Sailors with more than 60 days of earned leave -- but less than 120 days of accrued leave as of Sept.

30 will see that entire balance carried over.

Those with more than 120 days of accrued leave as of Sept. 30, 2020 will lose those days as their leave balance will be reduced to 120 days.

This extra allowed leave balance will be noted in the Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) starting Oct. 31, 2020. Sailors will find their balance in the LES remarks section as “CZ leave carry over bal” along with the expiration date. This

remark will no longer appear on an LES once an accrued leave balance is reduced to 60 days or less, or when the expiration date is passed.

Any days earned after Sept.

30 are not protected by this authority and will not be exempt are subject to expire under the normal 60-day rules.

However, this accrual’s effective dates and expiration do not affect leave accrued and protected under separate authorizations. This includes leave earned by Sailors during eligible deployments to hostile fire pay (HFP) or imminent danger pay (IDP) zones.

For more information on military pay entitlements, and instructions on how to read an LES go to https://www.dfas.mil/ MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/ aboutpay/.

For more news from Chief of Naval Personnel, follow us on Facebook and at https://www.navy. mil.

NAVY PHOTOS

the

primaryloop

Commanding Officer Capt. Andrew G. Peterson III

Executive Officer Cmdr. Jeb Parm

Command Master Chief EMNCM(SS) Derek G. Gruell

Public Affairs Officer PACIFIC OCEAN (Oct. 22, 2020) A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, attached to the Air Force 535th Airlift Squadron, delivers a payload to the Ohioclass ballistic-missile submarine USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 730) in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands. . (U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Devin M. Langer)

Lt. Louis W. Wood

Assistant Public Affairs Officer Lt. j.g. Amelia Waddell

Media Leading Petty Officer MC1(SW/AW) Darren M. Moore

Editors/Layout MC2(SW/AW/IW) Jessica Gomez

Contributors MC2(SW) Laura R. Elmore MCSA Keyly Santizo

NORWEGIAN SEA (Oct. 16, 2020) Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) participate in a fire fighting drill, Oct. 16, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by MCSN Christine Montgomery)

Answer Key

The Primary Loop is an authorized publication for the staff and students of Naval Nuclear Power Training Command.

Contents herein are not the visions of, or endorsed by the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy or the Commanding Officer of Naval Nuclear Power Training Command.

Cover photo: GROTON, Conn. (Sept. 25, 2020) The Virginia-class submarine USS Indiana (SSN 789) arrives at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn. Sept. 25. (U.S. Navy Photo by MCC Joshua Karsten)

the primary loop

15

Harvest Festival

Game Corner