The Primary Loop Volume 2 Issue 4

Naval Nuclear Power Training Command

January 2021

Volume 2. Issue 4

NNPTC’s Newest Chief Petty Officers Page 4 - 7

SAILORS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Hometown:

Hesperia, California.

Why she joined: I wanted to serve since I was nine years old and I thought the Navy was the best place.

Favorite part of the Navy:

The camaraderie and satisfaction of being able to do an intriguing and challenging job.

What are you looking forward to most in the fleet?

SN Katrina Gilbert

Meeting my crew and actually doing my job.

Hobbies:

Sewing, writing, reading, and playing games with friends.

Hometown:

Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Why he joined:

To find what I was good at. My life before the Navy did not subject me to experiences where I could become my true self. I thought by joining the Navy I could become a better and more focused version of myself.

Favorite part of the Navy:

The potential of becoming the best person I can be for myself and future relationships. So far I’ve enjoyed how friendships are formed and becoming aware of different personalities and cultures.

What are you looking forward to most in the fleet?

The camaraderie and new experiences. I am also looking forward to the unexpected.

Hobbies:

Playing soccer and ultimate Frisbee, working out, listening to music.

FN George Hicks

Hometown: Syracuse, New York.

Why he joined: repay her for raising me.

I joined to help my mom out and hopefully

Favorite part of the Navy:

Meeting people from all over the United States.

What are you looking forward to most in the fleet?

MMN3 Ryan G. Lovell 2

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I’m excited for my first boat and getting to travel the world.

Hobbies: Reading.

CMC’s Corner

I recently heard a Sailor say: “Respect is earned not given freely.” It was not the first I have heard or read this statement, but I had not really given it a lot of thought until recently, as it has been regularly showing up in my social media feeds. First, I completely disagree with this statement. To say that every person must earn your respect is a very short sighted and selfish statement. In my opinion, a majority of the population walking through life with this mindset is an issue with society at large today. Having a “respect must be earned first” mindset infers an external control over our beliefs of the worth of another human being. When a person has this belief, it essentially says to everyone around them that they must prove their worthiness as a human being.

I prefer to have the belief that every human being, regardless of demographic characteristics, deserves my respect, and I give it freely. When a person walks through life with this outlook, I believe they are more likely to find more positives in life than negatives. Additionally, those they interact with will also find them to be a more pleasant person to be around. When people freely respect each other, the world becomes a better place one person at a time. We are all worthy of each other’s respect.

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Navy Chief, Navy Pride

By MCSN Keyly Santizo

Twenty-six Sailors assigned to Naval Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC) received their chief petty officer (CPO) anchors Jan. 31, 2021, during a Chief Pinning Ceremony at NNPTC.

Chiefs not only are considered the subject-matter experts in their rates, but are also expected to effectively lead and train junior Sailors and junior officers. Less than 10 percent of all who enter the enlisted ranks are eventually selected.

Before they receive their anchors and assume that 4

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level of responsibility, though, the Chiefs Mess puts the new selectees through six weeks of training for their transition to becoming a chief.

“The chief season is meant to test the selects and strengthen them and utilize all of the mess’ knowledge and wisdom to make really good chiefs,” said Chief Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) Britany Acker, a section leading petty officer at NNPTC. “You’re joining this huge group of people that have been in the Navy, you know, anywhere from six-and-ahalf years to 20-plus, and all the

wisdom that is in that mess, the Chiefs’ mess, is now something that we are privy to. So, it’s really cool to be a part of it.”

The chief petty officer, as recognized today, was officially established April 1, 1893, when the rank “petty officer first class” was shifted to “chief petty officer.”

Acker, from Wardsville, Missouri, said one must visualize success and learn very early on that attitude is everything in the Navy.

Along with being recognized for their technical

expertise within their rating, administrative skills, and strong leadership ability, chiefs bridge the gap between officers and enlisted personnel, acting as supervisors as well as advocates for their Sailors.

“Just keep pushing,” said Chief Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) Hannah Deer, an instructor at NNPTC. “Set goals, and just, just keep working hard. Hard work can really overcome a lot of obstacles you might have.”

Deer, from Greencastle, Indiana, said she had a couple of people in her life pushing her along, who mentored her and taught her how to communicate and how to be a good leader.

Using social media, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday congratulated all the new 2021 fiscal year chiefs.

“Congratulations to all of the Navy’s newest chief petty officers and to all the family, friends, shipmates who helped get you to this moment,” Gilday said.

“This is a transformational day, one you will remember with pride. The journey you took to get here was tough. You were tempered. You were tested, and you were accepted. You’ve earned your anchors.”

Master Chief Machinist’s Mate Auxiliary Wayne Fetterley read the “Chiefs Creed” during the ceremony.

“You are now the Chief,” Fetterley said. “The exalted position you have now achieved - and the word exalted is used advisedly - exists because of the attitude and performance of the chiefs before you.

It shall exist only as long as you and your fellow chiefs maintain these standards.

“It was our intention that you never forget this day. It was our intention to test you, to try you, and to accept you. Your performance has assured us that you will wear ‘the hat’ with the same pride as your comrades in arms before you.”

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CONGRATULATIONS FY21 CHIEFS!

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What is your New Year’s resolution?

My New Year’s resolution is to pass power school.

-EMN3 Aubrey McKinney, Vassar, Michigan

My new year’s resolutions are to get buff and pass power school.

- MMN3 Chase Gamon, Apache Junction, Arizona

My New Year’s resolutions are to hit the gym and catch up on some power school knowledge.

-MMN3 Tyler Alexander, Coventry, Rhode Island

My New Year’s resolution is to invest more in stocks and spend more time outdoors.

-MMN3 Zachary R. Fisher, Topeka, Illinois 8

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Word on the Street My New Year’s resolution is to keep gaining weight and go to the gym.

-ETN3 Andre Adler Maroquin Garcia, Clearwater, Florida

My New Year’s resolutions are to increase body positivity and self-respect, be a good shipmate, and increase the quality of life of those around me.

-ETN3 Alec Hammond, Clermont, Florida

My New Year’s resolution is to enjoy more time outside and to interact with more people.

-MMN3 Steele Mercer, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

My New Year’s resolution was to be smarter about my finances, and so far it is going well!

-MMN3 Mackenzie M. Thomas, Estill Springs, Tennessee

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PHOTOS AROUND NNPTC

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Chaps’ Corner

Just Get On

By Lt. John Gibson

January 27, 1986 – The Challenger Explosion.

Kindergarten-age, six-yearold me could not grasp why my teacher was huddling with another teacher in the next room. And when my teacher came back to our classroom and tried to explain – as gamely as possible, to a room full of kindergartners that there had been an explosion on a spaceship, and several people had died, it still seemed otherworldly and surreal to us youngsters.

Years later, even as an adult, who now fully understands the tragic events that unfolded when the Challenger space shuttle launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida on that fateful January day, the whole thing still seems hard to believe in a sense.

Many memorials have been held since then, many dedications to public sites have been established, and those of us who are not too young to remember will never forget the sights, sounds, and emotions that rocked so many of us on a day that will live in infamy in NASA – not to mention, human – history.

While much has been made of the highly-skilled and idealistic crew that would have made the historic journey into space on that grim day, 12

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it is probably a young schoolteacher by the name of Christa McAuliffe who endeared herself to the hearts of the nation – and the world – more than all the others. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, McAuliffe was a gifted teacher who had been selected from a pool of over 11,000 teachers from across the nation to apply for President Ronald Reagan’s innovative “Teacher In Space” project. The plan was for her to make the historic journey into the nether-regions of outer space, and subsequently teach a school lesson from the space module while in orbit.

McAuliffe’s professional credentials likely spoke for themselves. However, it was something more than this that causes her story to – even to this day – resonate with so many. To hear those closest to the Space Program at the time – and specifically, to the Challenger’s mission – it was her enthusiasm and zest for life – not to mention, the calling she had on her life – that drew people to her and was indeed a large part of why she was ultimately selected to be the first Teacher in Space.

As NASA’s Teacher In Space selectee, McAuliffe made several

guest appearances on talk shows and popular news channels in the weeks and months leading up to the January launch. On one particular instance, she was a guest on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”

When asked about the upcoming mission, she responded, “If you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat. Just get on.”

McAuliffe was a passionate person who was fortunate enough to find her calling and purpose in life; namely, to teach students and to do so in as innovative a manner as can be found. Would that we all might be as fortunate as the young New England schoolteacher who captured the imagination of the world and made history.

Mark Twain said it best: “The two most important days of your life are the day you were born, and the day you find out why.”

Hebrews 12:2 admonishes us to “…run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

As we remember the somber events of January 27, 1986, let us also pledge ourselves to follow McAuliffe’s example, and pursue the God-given purpose for which we were created.

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Navy News

Navy Shifts 2021 Fitness Cycle to July

From MC1 Mark D. Faram, Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

NEWPORT, R.I. (Nov. 11, 2020) Officer Candidate Gabriel Dabbs, an Officer Candidate School (OCS) student from a senior class, leads physical fitness instruction for OCS class 06-21 students during “First Friday” at Officer Training Command Newport (OTCN), Rhode Island. (U.S. Navy photo by Madeline Emsick)

The Navy is shifting the dates of the single, six-month physical fitness assessment cycle during calendar year 2021 to July 1 through December 31, to continue to mitigate COVID-19 impacts to the fleet.

The single 2021 cycle was initially announced in November’s NAVADMIN 304/20 and was originally scheduled for March 1 through Sept.

30. That message is now cancelled and replaced by NAVADMIN 024/21, which shifts the dates between July 1 and December 31.

The new message was released on Jan. 27.

“Shifting the PFA cycle to July allows the Navy to execute the PFA after the primary influenza season while allowing time for COVID-19 vaccines to be more widely distributed,” Vice Adm. John B Nowell, Jr., the chief of naval personnel, wrote in the message.

COVID-19 prevention efforts resulted in the cancellation of both of 2020’s semi-annual Physical Fitness Assessments. Out of an abundance of caution, the Navy decided to proceed with a single cycle for 2021 as the COVID pandemic is showing no signs of abating yet.

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The Department of Defense has long mandated all services conduct annual fitness testing. That mandate for fitness testing means that no exemptions will be allowed for those who scored excellent or above from the previous 2019 cycle. However, going forward, those who score excellent or outstanding on the 2021 PFA will be exempt from participation in the first PFA cycle of 2022.

A new Physical Readiness Program Guide 15 has been produced outlining just how to conduct all testing to mitigate the possibility of spreading the COVID-19 virus. It is now available for download on the Physical Readiness Program Website.

Twice annual testing cycles are expected to resume as permitted and it is hoped that will happen during calendar year 2022.

What’s not changing is the cycle’s big updates to the Physical Readiness Test (PRT). The rollout of the forearm plank, which will replace the curl-up as a test of core strength, and the introduction of the 2000-meter row as a new optional cardio event, will go on as planned.

The 2021 cycle will also be the

first for data entry into the new Physical Readiness Information Management System 2 (PRIMS 2). The Navy is currently migrating the legacy PRIMS data to the new system’s database as part of MyNavy HR transformation efforts.

This new system will bring the data management for the PFA into the 21st century and also make the process easier for CFLs.

The migration means that all commands will need to provide up-to-date Command Fitness Leader Certification in the new system. Training for commands on the new system is expected to start sometime in February and all command leaders requiring read only access will be able to request their access “in the March timeframe,” the message said.

More information, including guides for conducting a COVID-19 safe fitness test along with initial performance standards for scoring the forearm plank and 2000-meter row are available to both individuals and command fitness leaders on the Navy Physical Readiness Program website at https://www.public.navy.mil/bupersnpc/support/21st_Century_Sailor/ physical/Pages/default2.aspx.

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 OKINAWA, Japan (Jan. 27, 2021) Hospitalman Dillon Bothwell, left, prepares syringes as Hospitalman Apprentice Samantha Iglesias-Martinez, right, both assigned to U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, administers the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa on Camp Foster in Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 27, 2021. (U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Class David R. Krigbaum)

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 INDIAN OCEAN (Jan. 27, 2021) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 1st Class Leo Gonzales directs the movement of a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 164 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8). (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Class Jeremy Laramore)

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: A chief petty officer combination cover sits by the bell before NNPTC’s chief pinning ceremony. (Photo by MCSN Keyly Santizo)

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Game Corner