Maintaining Excellence Naval Heritage:
Samuel L. Gravely Jr.
Wanderlust:
Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum
Get It Done 4-7
Naval Heritage: Samuel Lee Gravely Jr. 8-10
Maintaining Excellence 11-12
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Table of Contents Sailor Spotlight 14-19
Leadership: CO XO CMC PAO APAO Media DLCPO Media LPO Production LPO
CAPT Buzz Donnelly CAPT Paul Lanzilotta CMDCM Darrell Timpa LCDR David Levy ENS Rachel McMarr MCCS Ryan Delcore MC1 James Kimber MC1 Greg Johnson
Media Department:
Wanderlust: Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum
MCC Xander Gamble MC1 Woody Paschall MC1 Glenn Slaughter MC1 Timothy Black MC2 Kenneth Abbate MC2 Jamaal Liddell MC2 Brandon Martin MC2 Jamal McNeill MC2 Janweb Lagazo MC3 Storm Henry MC3 Tyler John MC3 James Ku MC3 Erwin Miciano MC3 Eduardo Otero Santos MC3 Kaila Peters MC3 Charles J. Scudella III MC3 MacAdam Weissman MCSN Frank Speciale MCSA Randy Adams ADAN Calisia Brookes
20-23
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Story by MC3 Storm Bryan Henry and MC3 Kaila Peters
Lookingoutuponthecrowd,yousee the flashes of light from the audience. Youheartheapplausefromyourfamily andfriends,asyougreettheprofessors who helped get you to this moment –a culmination of years of study, as you receive the degree you worked so hard to obtain. This is a dream for many across the nation, and likewise, for many of us serving in the Unites States Navy.While the goal of earning 4 | The Seventy-Sixer February 2018
a degree comes with many hurdles, such as relentless underway and busy training schedules, the Navy provides many valuable assets to further your college career. The road to a degree begins at Navy College Office. Navy College Yokosuka is located on the third floor of the Fleet Recreation Center on board Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka. “We are here to support military students and help them achieve whatevertheireducationalaspirations are,”saidAngelicaCole,aneducational services specialist at the Navy College Office Yokosuka. “Whether they are
lookingtoearnacertificate,associate’s degreeormaster’sdegree,wearehere toprovidetheguidanceandcounseling theyneedtochoosetherightprogram and school that best fits their goals.” Navy College will help you decide whatkindofdegreeyoushouldpursue and help construct a degree plan. ManySailorschooseanin-ratedegree, becauseschoolsandtrainingcancount for credits. Some of these credits are earned by going through “A” school, PT scores and on-the-job education. Navy College works closely with collegesthatare“militaryfriendly”and more likely to accept Navy training and education as transferrable credit.
USS Theodore E. Chandler (DD 717)at sea in the 60s. Gravely was named the temporary captain of the ship in 1961,becomingthefirstAfrican-Americannavalofficerto command a ship. (U.S. Navy photo)
“Onceyouhavedecidedwhatcollege is best for you and have a degree plan in place, you have to apply forTA,”said Chief Personnel Specialist Clayton T. Weeks, leading chief petty officer of theEducationalServicesOfficeaboard Ronald Reagan. “First, you have to routearequestchitthroughyourchain of command to be bottom-lined by your division officer.Then you have to completetheonlinetrainingcourseon TA. Once completed, you can begin the application process. After I receive the request, I check your request chit to make sure it was bottom lined and approve the web TA version that I receive via email.”
There are certain factors to consider when applying for TA. For example, youmustbeonstationoneyearbefore you are eligible for TA. However, this requirement can be waived. In addition, most commands would like you to qualify up to your pay grade beforepursuinganycivilianeducation, explained Weeks. Other requirements for TA include having passed your most recent Physical Fitness Assessment, having beenrecommendedforadvancement orpromotion,andhavingnotreceived a non-judicial punishment within six months or pending administrative separation.
One of the challenges of earning a degree while in the Navy is simply finding the time. With deployment schedules and day-to-day work requirements, it can be difficult for many Sailors to attend classes. Luckily, the Navy provides some excellentalternativestothetraditional classroom setting. Perhaps the most well-known alternative to attending college in person is the Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE). This program exists for at-seaSailorsdedicatedtoworkingon a degree while underway. NCPACE consists of two programs February 2018| 5
– distance learning and instructor led. “NCPACE is a great because it provides the best of both worlds,”said Weeks.“It allows students who prefer distance education to work on their own time and at their own pace, but it also provides students who prefer face-to-faceinstructionanopportunity togetthatclassroomexperiencewitha college professor while underway.” With distance learning, you apply for the course you want to take, and then receive a package with the learning materials. It is self-paced and you will take an exam at the end to earn credit for the completed course of study. With the instructor-led program, the ship flies in a subject matter expert, who leads a class in one of the many classrooms available on board. It has the feel of an actual classroom experience. This feature provides the best opportunity for questions and in-depthstudy, which is invaluablefor thosesailors who preferaface-to-face experience.
PS3 Darryl Mitchell takes a College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test on board USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Sailors earn college credits for passing the exams. (Photo by MC2 Joseph R. Schmitt)
“Things that you do in a face-toface classroom — you are laying that foundation of liberal arts and the natural sciences, which is important because it teaches you how to think,” said Cole. The Navy recently changed the rules on how NCPACE is funded. Distance learning course used to be funded separately, but now they fall
Representatives from the Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE) speak to Sailors during an NCPACE sign-up event in the hangar bay of USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). (Photo by MC2 Johnathon Jiang)
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under the tuition assistance program and require all the prerequisites of a tuition assistance application. On the other hand, the instructor-led program remains funded through an individual account. If you know you want to take a certain class while underway, it just might be a good idea to find a group of Sailorswhowishtotakethesameclass andapproachtheeducationalservices officer with a request to bring an instructor on board for an underway. Just by asking, you may get a better, moreconvenientserviceforeveryone. Yet, some of your workdays just may be too full, too focused on the qualifications necessary to become a successful Sailor. You just don’t have timetotakeonasubstantialsecondary responsibility for an extended period of time. Fear not! There is a lesserknown option available to all of us. Through the Defense Activity for
Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) program, active-duty service members qualify for free credentialexaminationsbytheCollege Level Examination Program (CLEP) and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSSTs). CLEP and DSSTs are programs that possess the ability to rapidly increase yourcreditcounttowardsyourdegree withouthavingtoinvestmorethanthe time it takes to study and sit through a standardized exam. Both of these exams can be found through a quick Googlesearchandrequireregistration as active duty military status. Once that is completed you have the ability to test in a wealth of subjects. If you are just beginning your higher educationjourney,CLEPfocusesmore
on general education credits. This could be a huge advantage because these are classes that you probably want to get out of the way without much time investment. Once registered as active duty, you can take one CLEP test in all available subjects, but you must pass. If you fail, you are required to pay the $80 fee, and if you wish to retake the exam you must wait three months. “Many students save a lot of time and money through CLEP,” said Cole. “Not only do they not have to pay the tuition costs associated with actually taking the course, but they do not have to invest the time and effort either.Militarystudentshaveaunique advantage with CLEP because they don’t have to pay the fee as long as they pass.” If you have an associate’s degree under your belt, or perhaps you have alreadycompletedacoupleofyearsat a university, then the DSST may be for you. According to Cole, “The DSST branch out into other subjects. They get a little more into the weeds.” One thing to be considerate of is what university you are attending. Some universities put a limit on how many non-traditional credits you are allowedtoapplytowardsyourdegree, so be sure to research college policies so you can maximize your credit potential. If you are thinking about these examinations but would also like a good resource to study, the Khan Academy online is a charity where universities donate their course
material for the public to use. You can gain an in-depth understanding on a largeswathofsubjectsforfree.Perhaps you might even pick up a subject that sparksyourinterestandwishtopursue it further. Getting service members to understand the importance of a degree can be a challenging issue, becausemanyareaffordedarelatively comfortable life without one. According to Cole, it is very importantforpeopletoknowadegree ismuchmorethanapieceofpaperand that it can open up a whole new world of opportunity. With this knowledge of non-traditional routes to get closer to a degree that may seem out of reach due to time and responsibility, there is never a better time than now to start.
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The Life and Times of
Samuel Lee Gravely Jr. Story by ADAN Calisia Brookes
Samuel Lee Gravely Jr. was the first African American United States naval officer. He was also the first African American to reach the rank of Vice Admiral. Through his naval career, he was known as a good leader and motivator. Gravely was born June 4, 1922, in Richmond, Virginia. He was the oldest of five children. His mother, Mary George Gravely, was a stay at home mother and his father, Samuel Lee Gravely Sr, was a postal worker. In his teens, he worked at the post office his father worked at before attending Virginia Union University. At the university, he was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, which was one of the first fraternities established for African Americans. Afterattendingtheuniversityforthree 8 | The Seventy-Sixer February 2018
years, he joined the Navy Reserves. In 1942, he went to basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, where he trained as a fireman apprentice. Soon after graduating basic training, Gravely entered the V-12 college training program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In December of 1944, Gravely was commissioned as an ensign. His first assignment after becoming commissioned as ensign was at Camp Robert Smalls, where he served as the Assistant Battalion Commander, for new recruits. After being an Assistant Battalion Commander, he served aboard USS PC-1264, a segregated submarine chaser.
In 1945, Gravely was released from active duty. He returned home to Richmond and started school at Virginia Union University. A year passedbyandhemarriedAlmaBernice Clark, a schoolteacher, in 1946. Together they had three kids; David, Tracy and Robert. In 1948, Gravely completed his undergraduateeducationandearneda bachelor’s degree in history. The same year, Gravely was recalled for active duty and was assigned as a recruiter in Washington, D.C, where he recruited from the local African
American community. He was thenwasstationedaboardthebattleship USS Iowa (BB 61) where he served as a communications officer during the Korean War. In 1955, Gravely transferred from the Naval Reserve to the regular Navy. In 1961, Gavely became a temporary skipper of USS Theodore E. Chandler (DD 717), making him the first African American naval officer to command a ship. At the age of 40, Gravely was
promoted to lieutenant commander and assigned to the USS Falgout (DE 324). The Falgout was the first fighting ship to be commanded by an African American officer. Sevenyearslater,Gravelycommanded USS Taussig (DD 746). “You have to have faith in your executiveofficersanddepartmentheads, and they have to have it in their junior officers,� Gravely. While on Taussig, he
was promoted to captain, once again making naval history, becoming the first African American to reach the rank of captain. May of 1970, Gravely became the commander of USS Jouett (DLG 29). In July of 1971, Captain Gravely was promoted to rear admiral. Gravely also demandedveryhighstandardsfromhis February 2018| 9
new crew. Gravely once said,“We must improveourindividualunderstanding of our fundamental warfare skills. We must improve the performance and productivityofourpeople,andwemust continuetostresstheveryrudimentsof outprofessionalsmartness,appearance, seamanship, and most importantly, pride. Pride in ourselves! Pride in our ships! and pride in our Navy!” Within just six years of being the first African American captain in the United States Navy, Gravely was promoted to Vice Admiral in September of 1976. The same year, Gravely was going to take one of the biggest jobs he would ever have in the Navy, commander of the third fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He oversaw all operations of more than 100 ships and was in command of more than 60,000 Sailors and Marines, overseeing 50 million square miles of ocean. While in this position, he was protecting the western sea, guarding merchant ships in the area, and providing emergency search and rescue aid. After commanding 3rd Fleet for
Then Rear Adm. Samuel Gravely sits for an offical studio portait in March 1973. (U.S. Navy photo)
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USS Gravely (DDG 107) pulls into Greece in 2013. The ship was commissioned in 2010 and is named after Vice Adm. Samuel Gravely. (U.S. Navy photo by Paul Farley)
two years, he became the director of the Defense Communications Agency in 1978, where he oversaw the communications network linking Washington, D.C, with allied bases throughout the world.With this job, he wasabletomovebacktohishometown of Richmond. In 1980, at the age of 58, Gravely announced his retirement from the United States Navy. He kept active as a military advisor and corporate consultant between 1984 and 1987. After his naval career, he served as the executive director of education and training for the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Associations (AFCEA). Later, he became an advisor to Potomac Systems Engineering and he continuedtotraveltheworld,speaking at conferences on leadership. After sufferin from a stroke, Gravely died on Oct. 22, 2004, at the age of 82 in Bethesda, Maryland. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. In Richmond, the street where Gravely
grew up was renamed Admiral Gravely Boulevard in 1977, and in 2010 the destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) was commissioned. In 1990, Gravely said, “I still do things for the military, I still have great affection for the military. The military gave me an opportunity to do some things that I thoroughly enjoyed.” Spending 38 years dedicated to the United States Navy while going through the hardship of racism and discrimination,Gravelyearnedawards, including the Legion of Merit with gold star, the Bronze Star Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, Naval Reserve Medal for 10 years of service in the U.S Naval Reserve, American campaign Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Medal with one Bronze Star, China Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, United Nations Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with six bronze stars, and the Antarctic Service Medal.
Maintaining Excellence
Story by MC2 Janweb Lagazo February 2018| 11
of maintenance projects, repairs and alterations designed to ensure Ronald Reagan is 100-percent ready to support operational commitments. “We are kicked off and got to this point through a lot of hard work and diligent planning,” said Capt. Buzz Donnelly, Ronald Reagan’s commanding officer. “We are poised for a very successful SRA. We have a lot of important maintenance going on and we need to keep that on track.” Donnelly said progress is carefully measured to ensure opportunities to complete all projects within the SRA timeline and with the highest standards. “We had an early start and it’s a testament to all of team Reagan,” said Bob Corcell, director of the maintenance ANDanielPiselliallenperformscorrosioncontrolonabulkhead team from PSNS.“We have to be diligent. in Ronald Reagan’s (CVN 76) hangar bay during the 2018 We have to think about what we’re SelectredRestrictedAvailability.(Photo by MC3 Kaila Peters) doing because no matter what, we have to be safe. Safety is everybody’s issue. It’s USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), entered its fourth week of a scheduled everybody’s job.” With planned projects totaling more ship’s restricted availability (SRA) than 99,000 man-hours of work for the maintenance period, Jan. 29. ship’s crew, safety and the proper wear During the SRA period, teams of Sailors and workers from Puget Sound of protective equipment is a focal point of the ship’s SRA. Each week, the ship Naval Shipyard (PSNS), U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional recognizes Sailors and contractors who haveaccomplishedtheirdesignatedtasks Maintenance Center (SRF-JRMC) while following all proper procedures. are working together on a variety CTT2 Maya Mercadopadilla clears debris from a female berthingaboardUSSRonaldReaganduringtheship’sselected restricted availability. (Photo by MC3 Kaila Peters)
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“We have to be diligent. We have to think about what we’re doing because no matter what, we have to be safe. Safety is everybody’s issue. It’s everybody’s job.” -Bob Corcell “The yearly SRAs are important to keep Reagan’sequipmentfullymissioncapable to support our high operational tempo,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jesse Gaskell, the ship’s maintenance manager. “By completing a five-month SRA every year, we repair and maintain the vital equipment that keeps Reagan forward-deployed and on mission.” During the 120 days of SRA, repairs and alterations will be conducted on two aircraft elevators, the pilothouse and a significant portion of the flight deck. PSNS also has important maintenance scheduled for the propulsion plant system. “The main focus of the SRA is completing all of our planned maintenance and supporting planned work for SRF and PSNS by setting plant conditions, processing work controls and completing all required pre-tests,” said Gaskell. “While our focus during the SRA is on the maintenance, the crew must continue to train and maintain our operational proficiency.”
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Photos and Layout by MC3 Erwin Miciano
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where are you from? “I was born and raised in LA and then I moved to ATL.”
musichadtohaveinfluenceyou coming from both Los Angeles and Atlanta? “I grew up on hip-hop culture, I even taught it. I had the joyousopportunitytoteachseminarsoverthehip-hop culture and its philosophy in college.”
what do you do now? “I am the division yeoman and division training petty officer for Air V-2 Division.”
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how do you compare yourself to your parents? “Vulgar, prolific, violent in nature, gangs were the language and father was always in and out of bars. Seemingly, my family and I are completely different, yet we’re not so different. They were charismatic, talented and skilled in conversation-they were always able to obtain what they wanted.”
“I learned how to speak, act, walk and think differently. I grew up with a different thought processthanthemandmy siblings. In the end I created a whole new enviroment in my surroundings, and thoughitmademeslightly hated, it brought me a state of peace”. February 2018| 17
oh, officer program. Are you working towardyourdegree? “I already have two degrees. One is legal and the other is paralegal. I’m working towards my Masters at UMUC.”
what do you want to do? “I want to become a politician. TheneventuallybecomeaSupreme Court judge.”
are you doing anything toward your goal now? “I’m currently applying for OCS. I’m also doing a little bit of OJT with different supply divisions. I want to be a supply officer.”
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why do you want to become a Supreme Court justice? “I grew up with a majority of my family being involved in violent crime and gang activities. As I entered middle school, I realized in LA that the cops were just another gang. In high school, I had the boring, bright idea to write a researchpaperoverthelaw-making process. I realized that I wanted to be a rather vulgar, professional, prolific judge, similar to Supreme Court Judge John Marshall.”
“The hardest step is to start. The next is to continue. A little bit is more than nothing.�
-ABE3 Alexander Ramirez
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WANDERLUST: YOKOHAM
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MA SHIN RAMEN MUSEUM
Photos and Story by MC2 Kenneth Abbate
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Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum is one minute away from the train station of the same name, and has been open since 1974. The ride to the museum was a short one from CFAY, it only took about one hour on the train from Yokosuka-Chuo to Shin-Yokosuka. The museum is broken up into three
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can learn about ramen and its history, compiled by the museum throughout the past 25 years. At the ramen edutament corner, you can have free tasting, where you can learn more about ramen and try food on a first-served basis. After you get your fill of ramen from around the world, head down to basement floor level one, where you get anold-world,village-typeatmosphereof music and ramen smell. On level one, there are three restaurants to try ramen, along with a bar and a gift shop to buy take-home ramen and snacks. Making your way down to level two, there are six more restaurants and an open area for performers to entertain patrons while they wait to be served. To floors with nine different restaurants; purchaseyourramen,vendingmachines are used to grab your meal ticket. main floor, basement level one and Themuseumisawonderoustestament basement level two. The main floor contains a ramen book totheimpactramenhashadonJapanese culture and lifestyle, and anyone collection wall, a ramen edutament corner where you can sample different interested in the Japanese way of life should check out this museum and learn ramen, a slot-car race track and a timeline of the history of Ramen dating all about how the Japanese people get their ramen fix. back to 1488. In this section, visitors
Admission 310 yen per adult 100 yen per child (6 to 12) and seniors (60 and over) Free for children under 6 Groups of 15 or more rates 260 yen per adult 50 yen per child and seniors
Hours 1100-2200 Mon.-Sat. Open 1030 on Sun. and national holidays.
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USS RONALD REAGAN www.reagan.navy.mil 24 | The Seventy-Sixer February 2018
Fireworks explode over the skyline behind USS Ronald Reagan during a New Year’s Eve celebration. (Photo by MC2 Kenneth Abbate) www.facebook.com/ussronaldreagan
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