The Primary Loop Volume 2 Issue 3

Naval Nuclear Power Training Command

December 2020

NNPTC’s CFL Ensures Mission Readiness Page 4 - 5

Volume 2. Issue 3

SAILORS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Hometown:

Ellenboro, North Carolina.

Why he joined: I wanted to accomplish something that I could look back on and be proud of. Also, the Space Force didn’t exist yet.

Favorite part of the Navy:

Traveling! I’ve been to Israel, London, Greece, Dubai, Bahrain, and Norfolk.

Most memorable port call?

Hiking in Haifa, Greece.

YN1 (SW/AW) Nathan Hutchins

Hobbies:

Building PCs, gaming, and paperwork.

Hometown:

Ozone Park, New York.

Why he joined:

To gain valuable work experience, training, and education.

Favorite part of the Navy: Having the opportunity to earn a degree using my military benefits.

Most memorable port call?

Ketchikan, Alaska.

Hobbies:

Writing and sightseeing.

Hometown:

ITS2 (SS) Nicholas Andrade

Fort Myers, Florida.

Why he joined:

The Navy offers several benefits. I joined for three reasons: to be able to travel for free, for the Navy to pay for my medical degree, and family duty!

Favorite part of the Navy:

Traveling and experiencing things most people don’t have the opportunity to.

ABE2 (AW/SW) Dillon Pruskauer 2

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Most memorable port call? Definitely Greece!

Hobbies:

Hiking, fishing, traveling, and working out.

CMC’s Corner

Carl Sagan was probably the most prolific and well-known scientist of the 1970s and 1980s. He was well-known for studying extraterrestrial intelligence, was an advocate for nuclear disarmament, and co-wrote and hosted ‘Cosmos: A Personal Voyage.’

He was born on Nov. 9, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from the University of Chicago, where he studied planets and explored theories of extraterrestrial intelligence. He was named director of Cornell’s Laboratory for Planetary Studies in 1968 and worked with NASA on several projects.

Here is my favorite quote from him:

“I have a foreboding of an America in my children’s or grandchildren’s time-when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what’s true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness...The dumbing down of America is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30 second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentation on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance. If we long to believe that the stars rise and set for us, that we are the reason there is a universe, does science do us a disservice in deflating our conceits? Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe. For small creatures, such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love. Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were, but without it, we go nowhere. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology. We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever. Our species needs, and deserves, a citizenry with minds wide-awake and a basic understanding of how the world works. Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality. The brain is like a muscle.

When it is in use, we feel very good. Understanding is joyous.”

In this new year, PLEASE strive to understand. Understand each other. Understand the world.

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NNPTC’s CFL Ensures Mission Readiness

By MCSN Keyly Santizo

The Navy mission statement states that “the mission of the Navy is to maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas,” and in order to execute any mission the Navy asks, the command fitness leader (CFL) at Naval Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC) helps ensure the command is mission ready through physical fitness.

The CFL manages all physical readiness program records and ensures the command is meeting all Navy requirements for physical readiness. This includes physical fitness assessments (PFA), the Fitness Enhancement Program (FEP), and any medical waivers for staff and students.

“The better physical shape someone is in, the better mental state and overall health they are in,” said Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) 1st Class John Davis, NNPTC’s CFL. “Physical fitness is not just about passing a test, it is about ensuring you are in the best physical health to ensure you are able to execute any mission the Navy asks. I truly believe that physical fitness is key in being mentally ready for the challenges we face in the Navy.”

Davis ensures all staff and students are gained by the command in the Physical Readiness Information Management System (PRIMS), the Navy’s fitness record tracking program, and fixes any issues with their physical fitness record. As the CFL, he is also in charge of managing FEP. FEP is a command wide program designed to improve Sailors’ fitness and nutrition, and help them meet Navy standards while instilling a lifestyle of health and fitness. Davis has also coordinated with Naval Health Clinic Charleston to include the ShipShape program, the Navy’s official weight management program, as a part of FEP to ensure Sailors have all the tools they need to be successful.

Davis and his CFL team recently completed the NNPTC Big Three lifting competition, which consisted of bench 4

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pressing, squatting and deadlifting, with nearly 100 Sailors participating. According to Davis, more events like this will be held to include 5k color runs, 2k rowing challenges, Murphy Fitness challenges and more.

Davis, from London Mills, Illinois, said he wants to be an example to his son and family for how one should prioritize a healthy lifestyle and how to live a longer, healthier life. He said he wants to be able to play with his grandchildren one day in the yard and not be restricted by not prioritizing his health and fitness now.

“When I was younger I played many sports, which kept me in decent shape, and now that my sports career is long behind me I see the importance of health and fitness as an adult,” Davis said. “I have always looked up to leaders who also maintained a very healthy and fit lifestyle, so I want to emulate that daily.

I take pride in being healthy and fit, which has led to very little injuries. This allows me as a Sailor to continue the Navy’s mission.”

Lt. j.g. Marcos Gonzalez, NNPTC’s FEP coordinator, said he considers physical fitness as one of his priorities and would recommend it to be everybody else’s priority, as well. As the FEP coordinator he makes sure that people get placed on FEP correctly, attend FEP, that the sessions are being adequately performed, and makes sure Sailors progress to successfully complete FEP.

“Physical fitness as a whole will make you healthier,” said Gonzalez, from Isabela, Puerto Rico. “I go based on being determined to be physically fit, because motivation comes and goes, but I am determined to be better every day.”

Gonzalez said that setting smart, achievable goals and being determined to accomplish them is a good way to begin getting into shape.

According to NAVADMIN 304/20, in order to continue to mitigate COVID-19 impacts to the fleet, the Navy will conduct one PFA cycle in calendar year 2021 from March 15 to Sept. 15, 2021, dependent upon local conditions and operational requirements. PFA cycle 2021 will incorporate the forearm plank and 2000-meter row. The forearm plank will replace curl-ups as the abdominal muscular endurance assessment. The 2000-meter row will serve as another alternate-cardio option.

NNPTC recently purchased five new rowing machines that can be used in the upcoming PFA. the primary loop

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The Big 3 Squat, Bench, and Deadlift max

Lifting Competition Results:

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MALES: 130LBS: ETN3 MAVERICK CIZADLO 145LBS: LTJG ARTHUR METRA 163LBS: SN FABIAN BAZAN 182LBS: FN CHRISTIAN PERROTTI 205LBS: SN DEVLIN WESOLOWSKI 231LBS: MMN3 MATTHEW BUCKLEY

FEMALES: 125LBS: W LATONYA CROWDER 138LBS: MMN3 MACKENZIE CURTIS 159LBS: ENS KATIE SYLVESTER 185LBS: ENS ANNIE WILSON

*OVERALL MALE WINNER: SN FABIAN BAZAN TOTAL LIFTED: 1,175LBS

*OVERALL FEMALE WINNER: ENS ANNIE WILSON TOTAL LIFTED: 875LBS

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*The overall winners were calculated using the WILKS Total (calculator available online).

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CLASS 2005 GRADUATES NUCLEAR POWER SCHOOL Following NPS graduation, Sailors will attend prototype training at Nuclear Power Training Unit in Goose Creek, South Carolina.

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PHOTOS AROUND NNPTC

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RICK VER CLASSIC D I S C G O L F TO U R N A M E N T R E S U LT S

Women’s CHAMPION: LTJG Acadia Munari Women’s Second Place: LTJG Bethany Fury Women’s Third Place: ENS Nayeli Lara Men’s CHAMPION: Logan Duncan Men’s Second Place: ETNSA Gavin Davis Men’s Third Place: LT Remington Roth

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Chaps’ Corner

The “Dark Side” (Spoiler Alert)

By Lt. Pete Canales

Is there another side to you? A side that perhaps only a few people know about? Perhaps a “dark side”? Do you try to hide your “dark side”? Or do you parade it around like you’re in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Is it an act, like a character, to go through life? Or maybe just to get through life? Is it the real you?

Speaking of dark side, I have a Darth Vader action figure (not a doll!) on my desk. No, Darth Vader is not my hero or my favorite character in Star Wars, but he serves as a good reminder of the dark side that may be embedded deep within, or for some, right on the surface for all to see. When pushed to a certain point in your life, we may break under the weight and a certain personality may take over. This may be your dark side.

I think we all have a “dark side” that hopefully we do our best to keep at bay. My Darth Vader figure is a subtle reminder of who we can become. A little background, Darth Vader started off as young Anakin Skywalker. He was raised by his mom and never knew his dad.

Maybe this played a role and, in my observation, can have an impact in one’s life.

Next, young Anakin was recruited to go on an adventure,

leave his mom and home, see the galaxy, and become a Jedi in training - a lot like joining the Navy.

Then he was put through a rigorous training program - a lot like nuke school. Then he fell in love, during training mind you, and started a secret relationship with Padme Amidala - like “A” School love…

Master Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi is hard on young Anakin, expecting the best from him and stressing him out - a lot like what our Master Chiefs expect of our young Sailors.

All these circumstances were key ingredients to what happened next in his life.

During this time Senator Palpatine had been, in a sense, whispering in Anakin’s ears of what life would be like using the dark side of the force. Unfortunately, Anakin did not have a Chaplain to go share his thoughts, feelings, and emotions after he lost his mom.

Soon everything began to collapse around him. Anakin could not bear the weight on his shoulders. The tipping point was losing Padme. His emotions were out of control and the “dark side” won him over. Senator Palpatine, secretly the Sith Lord, had turned Anakin to the dark side and Anakin became Darth Vader.

Darth Vader goes on to serve the Sith Lord on a conquest to rule

the galaxy and destroy the Jedi. You have to give Darth Vader credit; he was pretty good at his job. It seems as though he never recovered from his losses in life. I do not think he knew how to process the sadness he felt and it turned to anger. I could hear Palpatine telling Vader to “suck it up.”, and to use the hatred to fuel his power to destroy the Jedi, who Anakin/Darth Vader felt were responsible for the death of Padme.

Emotions left unchecked can fuel the “dark side”. Add in all the other stresses in life and all of us can fall prey to the temptation to go the way of Anakin Skywalker. I am reminded of a verse: “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful.

He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure [the weight]” (1 Corinthians 10:13; NLT). Anakin did not turn to the way of the Jedi and the weight of all his burdens came crashing down on him. But this is not the end of his story. And no matter the weight bearing down on your shoulders, it is not the end of your story. The chaplains are here to listen to your story, let us help you from going to the “dark side”. the primary loop

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Navy News

Navy-Funded Research Team May Have Discovered New Whale Species From Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs

BAJA, Mexico (Nov. 17, 2020) A researcher from the U.S. Navy’s Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, in collaboration with other scientists from the U.S. and Mexico, have potentially discovered a new beaked whale species off the coast of Baja, Mexico. Naval Sea Systems Command funded the expedition which originally set out to determine the source of a unique beaked whale vocalization recorded near a Navy test area in southern California, thought to have come from a Perrin’s beaked whale. The expedition instead found this potentially new species with its own unique vocalization and potential distribution into southern California waters. (U.S. Navy courtesy photo)

Researchers funded by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Monitoring Program believe they have discovered a new species of beaked whale in the waters off Mexico’s Baja Peninsula.

NAVSEA funded the expedition to determine the source of a unique beaked whale vocalization near a Navy test area in Southern California thought to have come from a Perrin’s beaked whale. Researchers from the U.S. Navy and Mexico’s National Commission of Natural Protected Areas collaborated with other U.S. scientific organizations in an attempt to document the animal responsible for making the distinctive noise.

Instead, the researchers encountered three animals that do not look or sound like any known beaked whale species.

“This expedition set out to link a known vocalization to a species of beaked whale that was previously described from stranded animals in southern California. Instead, we may have discovered an entirely new species of beaked whale with a new type of vocalization, which is astonishing,” 14

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said Dr. Elizabeth Henderson, a marine researcher from the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific.

NAVSEA’s Monitoring Program, a part of the Navy’s environmental protection efforts, observes the movements of protected marine species in and around Navy testing locations in an effort to better understand how exposure to Navy activities affects their wellbeing. Monitoring efforts help ensure responsible environmental practices while conducting vital national defense work.

“NAVSEA is committed to supporting our Sailors while also protecting our natural environment,” said Monitoring Program Manager Benjamin Colbert. “To ensure we maintain the public’s trusts and to be conscientious stewards of the environment, we are committed to increasing our knowledge of the marine ecosystem so we can minimize our impact on marine life and comply with all applicable federal laws.

I am proud the NAVSEA monitoring program could fund this research that helps us better understand the oceans

and am excited to see what’s next!”

Neither the physical nor acoustic characteristics of the three observed whales match photographs or published descriptions of known species.

Although the vocalization is similar to the call assumed to be made by Perrin’s beaked whale known as BW43, it does appear to be distinct. The researchers collected eDNA water samples that will be evaluated at a genetics lab to confirm this is a new species.

“This exciting discovery improves the Navy’s ability to monitor the impacts of Navy testing on the marine environment while also demonstrating our continued stewardship of these waters,” said Colbert.

For more than a decade, NAVSEA’s Monitoring Program has worked to understand and minimize the impact of required warfighting testing on the marine environment. Other examples of the program’s efforts include funding for research on critically endangered Bryde’s whales in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic sturgeon in Maine; causes of whale stranding events in Hawaii; and impacts of Navy sonar on pinnipeds.

NAVY PHOTOS

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Commanding Officer Capt. Andrew G. Peterson III

Executive Officer Cmdr. Jeb Parm

Command Master Chief EMNCM(SS) Derek G. Gruell

Public Affairs Officer WEST POINT, N.Y. (Dec. 12, 2019) The United States Naval Academy Midshipmen face off against the U.S. Army Black Knights during the Army-Navy football game at the U.S. Military Academy’s Michie Stadium. The game marked the 121st meeting between the U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen and the U.S. Army Black Knights. (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Nathan Burke)

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 MCSN Keyly Santizo

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Dec. 11, 2020) Sailors commit remains during a burial at sea ceremony aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Sawyer Haskins)

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: Children of students and staff at NNPTC have a snow ball fight with Santa Claus at the annual children’s holiday party in the NNPTC parking lot. (Photo by MC2 Jessica Gomez)

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Happy Holidays

Game Corner