Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Emma Spray, a 21-year-old native of Lincoln, Neb., works in Combat Systems 1st Division (CS-1) as a tech controller monitoring radio tele-

communications and setting up circuits to talk to other ships and the shore.

CS-1 is the first stop for outside communications to get on to the ship, they are in charge of keeping the outside phone lines and the internet running.

“Working in CS-1 is cool because I know that I am definitely do-ing something that makes a difference on the ship,” said Spray.

Spray studied broadcast journalism at the University of Nebraska for one and a half years after graduating high school.

She briefly considered joining the Peace Corps before being swayed by the chance to see the world in the Navy.

Spray has been in the Navy since December 2009 and she has been on board USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) for a year and a half.

Spray is considering finishing college when the Lincoln gets to Norfolk, Va., and possibly putting in an officer package.

IT3 Emma SprayRadio

Know your ShIpmaTE

Photos and information by Ensign Andriana Genualdi

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Benjamin ListonCompTuEX: a LooK ahEadPhoto from Lincoln Media Department

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) will be departing on another underway in September for

a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX).

According to Commander, Carrier Strike Group Nine Rear Adm. Mike Shoemaker, COMPTUEX is structured training designed to test and refine skills that the strike group will use while on deployment.

“COMPTUEX is the first time during the Fleet Response Training Plan cycle where we bring the whole Strike Group team together,” he said. “This will include Lincoln, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, USS Cape St. George, USS Momsen and USS Sterett as well as my staff and Destroyer Squadron Nine.”

During the three-week exercise, training personnel will come aboard and evaluate the strike group on their performance throughout a rigorous schedule of events.

“Most of our training is scheduled or scripted,” said Lincoln’s Combat Systems Directions

Officer Cmdr. Jeffrey Caulk. “COMPTUEX is a more free-form training environment.”

The evolutions are geared toward molding individual units into a cohesive team, and building the team’s combat readiness by simulating possible deployment scenarios, he explained. Each component will be evaluated on specific missions they have been trained and equipped to execute.

“With the massive crew turnover in the past few months, COMPTUEX allows the new crew to go into a deployment scenario and learn on their own, while still having crewmembers from the previous deployment to learn from,” said Caulk.

The strike group will also be tested in all aspects of warfare training including flight operations, as well as air, surface and submarine defense of the strike group.

“COMPTUEX is like the carrier Super Bowl, when we’re finished with this cycle we’ll be able to go out and complete our mission.” said Caulk.

Story and photos by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Wade T. Oberlin

ThE magIC of ThE ouIja Board

Standing in the flight deck control office, Aviation

Boatswain’s Mate Handlers operate one of

the smallest and simplest pieces of equipment onboard USS Abraham Lincoln, the "ouija board."

The board itself is a rectangular table that stows and sets plastic pieces resembling aircraft that move just outside of the flight deck control office, giving a visual feel for how aircraft are positioned at all places and at all times.

Procedure of the board is simple in theory but can be

strenuous: Sailors from the flight deck and hangar bay send updates when aircraft move from place to place so that handlers inside move the respective aircraft models to the correct locations,

“You have to be a very good multitasker while you are in here, listening to your headset for plane movements, listening for orders from the handling officer and generally just being on your toes,” stated Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Robin Sloangrepo of Cedar Ridge, Ariz. “It’s a simple job, but you have to know that there is a lot going on

out there. The system works.”Indeed, the system has been in use since the days

of World War II, making the board one of the oldest working systems on an aircraft carrier.

However, here and now in the 21st century, this system is about to receive a major update.

“A new computerized system will replace what we currently use and how it works is something that can’t quite be divulged yet,” said Assistant Flight Deck Officer Ens. Paul Young of Hartford, Conn. “What can be said is that the new system will give the benefit of using less manning to operate and create a less stressful work environment.”

(It’s hard to be stressed in the workspace if you don’t work there no more. Zing!)

The new system will involve a handler to track flight deck activity on a computer, viewing a tri-screen display and a monitor that will be given data directly from the flight deck.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the board is now defunct. It may still be used as a backup for the new computerized system.

Many people will feel nostalgic when the ouija board is moved out of the limelight.

“Personally I like the board. It’s, simple, it works, and it’s what I was trained on. I’m sure a lot of people feel the same way,” stated Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Meynard Pagaduan II, a Garapan, Saipan native.

The ouija board replacement is part of the Aviation Data Management and Control System, a suite of electronic upgrades for carriers designed to take advantage of the latest technologies and cut down on excess paperwork and manpower, he said.

It costs $3.2 million per carrier to install the new system.

The ouija board replacement was originally going be installed here on USS Abraham Lincoln a few years ago, but was delayed due to software issues and deployment schedules.

The new upcoming system may be simpler, but the ouija board has stood the test of time, and has proved to be cost effective.

InSIdE ThE LInCoLn LIBraryStory and photos by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Zachary Welch

The day, like all the others, crawls by for Religious Programs Specialist Seaman Recruit Katrina Durnford.

Staring at the walls, reading her book and reorganizing the same set of books in the

library over and over again.A Sailor walks in and Durnford springs to her

feet. To her disbelief the Sailor just wants to use the internet on one of the 21 computers situated in the Lincoln Library.

She signs the Sailor in, sits back in her chair, and proceeds to delve back into her book. This is the routine for Durnford and the three other Religious Programs Specialists who work in the Library aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72)

“Not a lot of people come in to use the library for its books,” said Durnford. “It’s a shame but more people come up to the library to use the computers then to check out books.”

It’s not as if the library is run down or unkempt.

Durnford has spent the majority of her time aboard the Lincoln reorganizing the 5,000 book collection as well as applying the Dewey Decimal system to all the books in need of it.

Durnford said that all the books were completely mixed together and totally unorganized when she got to the library.

“Books were in all the wrong sections, tons of books without numbers to categorize,” said Durnford. “I spent my whole first couple of months here alphabetizing and reorganizing the whole collection.”

As with civilian libraries, the Lincoln Library uses the Dewey Decimal system to categorize the majority of their collection.

The Dewey Decimal system was created by Melvil Dewey in 1876 in order to organize all knowledge into ten main classes, sections 000-900.

For example, if you wanted to find a book about

InSIdE ThE LInCoLn LIBrary

Chemistry, you would look for a book in the 500-600 category, which is the Science category.

“The thing is no one really knows what the Dewey Decimal system is anymore,” said Durnford. “But as RPs, we are required to learn it as part of our rating. It is an outdated system, in which the only people it helps are the librarians.”

In saying that, Durnford believes there is an easier way to not only keep the books in an organized system, but also make it easier for the common Sailor to understand.

“I would have a different system in place in which people could actually understand what they’re looking at in regards to the numbers,” said Durnford. “When you have someone who is unfamiliar with the system

come up and ask for a non-fiction book and I tell them, ‘Oh, that’s located in the 450 section,’ they look at me like I have two heads.”

Durnford, along with the rest of the RPs believe that people just need to show up, and once at the library the urge to read will just click on, sort of like a light bulb. She advocated stopping by, and she’ll take care of the rest.

“We’ll issue you the library card, scan and check the book out for you,” Durnford said. “We have surveys going

online about what books people are interested in reading as well as an updated list of newly arrived books on sharepoint.”

Durnford also said that the library, in an act to churn up more patrons, has even gone as far to extend its hours of operation.

Durnford, an avid reader herself, really hopes that more Sailors wind up coming up to the library and taking part in the joy of reading.

“What can I say,” Durnford said. “Reading brings knowledge, and knowledge is power.”

a rEd SoX fan goES dEEp undErCovEr aT SafECo fIELdBy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jimmy Cellini

Game 1The first game fell on the Friday

we got back, and I was beat. I decided to take the in the game from the comfort of my living room.

So I put on some Red Sox pajama pants and posted up on the couch with my dog Youkilis. Youk and I suffered through John Lackey mouth breathing his way through six stressful innings, giving up 4 runs, basically his usual garbage performance.

Luckily the Sox were able to pull ahead on the strength of home runs by Ortiz, Lowrie, and Reddick, who’s blast put the Sox ahead late. From there, it was smooth sailing. Bard came in and got the hold and Pap picked up

the save. The series had started out on the right foot, and tomorrow I would be headed to Safeco to cheer on the Sox in person.

Game 2Game two promised a great

pitching matchup, Felix Hernandex vs Josh Beckett.

The matchup of the aces of their respective clubs and two of the best pitchers in recent memory made this game the highlight of the series for me.

But before the game, my wife and I decided to attend a pre-game party thrown by the Seattle chapter

of Red Sox Nation. Along with 250 other Red Sox fans, we went to the Showbox Sodo and shared drinks, swapped stories, and joined in rousing choruses of “Sweet Caroline”, “Dirty Water”, and “Tessie”.

After the party we headed to the game and promptly watch Beckett give up a lead-off homer to Ichiro, a few more hits, and then another home run to Casper Wells. Faster than you could say Buckner, the Sox were down 5-0.

A five run deficit is something you don’t want to have when facing Felix and the Red Sox were shut down for four innings, with no help from the

Growing up as a Red Sox fan in Washington I only get a chance to see my beloved Sox, once, maybe twice a year. Last year, I was too busy doing the Nation’s business to

make it to the games, so I haven’t been to a game since 2009, an eternity in my eyes. But this year would be different, this year we returned just in time for a three game set against the Mariners. I came back from serving my country valiantly in Los Angeles, ready to route the

Sox on the confines of beautiful Safeco Field.

umpires after reversing a call at the plate that ended up costing the Sox a run.

The hole proved too deep, and homeruns from Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia couldn’t pull the Sox out. After the victory, you’d think the Mariners had just won a playoff game by the way the fans reacted.

The whole way back to the car I was forced to politely remind Mariner fans that all the win did for them was put them 14 games under .500 and the Red Sox would be enjoying baseball well into October. I arrived home with a bad taste in my mouth.

Game 3I arrived at the ballpark Sunday

afternoon downtrodden from the night before, but still excited. Tim Wakefield was scheduled to pitch and was sitting on 199 wins for his career.

The prospect of being at the game when Wake got number 200 rejuvenated my spirit. I bought some Ivar’s clam chowder in a bread bowl, sat down, and tried to be positive.

After a few innings it was scoreless, and Wake was looking good, then the Mariners put a couple guys on, scored a run, loaded the bases and Mike Carp singled in two more and the Sox were down 3-0.

I began to get restless; the Mariner fans surrounding me began to talk, and the urge to freak out and ask them about their playoff chances grew inside me. But after a sac-fly the Red Sox were only down by two so I calmed down a bit.

But soon things began to look grimmer, the Mariners scored again in the 5th and Casper Wells homered for the second day in a row in the 6th to give the M’s a 5-1 lead. I began to lose confidence is seeing Wakefield get number 200.

All of a sudden a ray hope shone through the clouds over Safeco field, Kevin Youkilis, my dog’s namesake, strolled into the batter’s box in the top of the 8th and ripped a homer to left field to bring the Sox within two and

Wakefield came back onto the mound. “If Wake could just hold them, we could totally grab the lead in the 9th!” I thought. He did just that, the Mariners went down quickly in the inning and the Red Sox had a chance.

The Mariner’s closer, Brandon League, came out to the most annoying and long entrance music in the history of sports and took his place on the mound.

“Here we go” I thought, stupidly, because three batters later it was all over. The Red Sox had just dropped two in a row to Seattle, the worst hitting team in baseball. How could this happen?

I slowly walked away from Safeco Field, defeated. I watched the

Seattle fans, laughing, high fiving, just basking in the glow of their victory and I hated them for it. Then I remembered the playoffs!

The Mariner’s wouldn’t be going, their fans needed this. They needed the minor victory in their lives, their team has suffered through another disappointing season, they need all they can get.

I reserved myself to be happy for them, well, not happy, but not angry with them anymore.

After all, come October I would still have a team to root for. So I got in my car, tipped my hat to the Seattle fans, and congratulated them on one highlight in an otherwise hopeless season.

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Zachary Hunt

rISE of ThE pLanET of ThE apES - rEvIEw

I’ve always been a fan of the original Planet of the Apes (not the sub-par Mark Wahlberg remake, the ORIGINAL classic

with Charlton Heston), so you can imagine how excited I was to see the previews for the newest installment: Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The first chance I got I went to see this movie, and not only did it meet all my expectations, it surpassed them. Rise of the Planet of the Apes is one of the best movies I’ve seen in years.

The first thing that struck me about this movie was its visuals, specifically the apes themselves. The motion capture technology provides a powerful emotion to the apes, who often force a feeling of empathy because of it. I felt a deep connection with Caesar, the leader of the Apes, which is crazy because HE’S AN APE!!!

The storyline was deep and complex, but not too thick as to be hard to follow. James Franco and Frieda Pinto both provide great performances, while John Lithgow does an outstanding job as the father with Alzheimer’s. All these actors pale in comparison with Caesar, though, whose progression through the story is mind-blowing. The internal

conflict he faces makes him wise and emotionally connects him with the audience. You begin to root for Caesar, even though you know that his actions will eventually lead to the fall of mankind. His moments of pain become your moments of pain; his moments of triumph become your moments of triumph.

This is usually the part of the review where I tell you what I didn’t like. I’ve thought about it for a while now and I’ve still got nothing. I loved every bit of this movie. I do imagine that people are going to expect a bit more action. Not that there wasn’t enough, I just believe the trailer was a little deceptive, especially considering all the action sequences in the previews take place in the last twenty minutes of the movie.

In conclusion, Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a fantastic movie with a great cast of actors and a story that will scare you and inspire you all at the same time. You’ll laugh and then probably cry. You’ll be happy and then get mad. In short, this movie is so good it’s bound to drive you bananas (sorry, I had to do it!)!

5 out of 5 because I couldn’t give it 500.

BrIEfLy

The Navy Office of Information announced Aug. 16 that the official U.S. Navy Facebook page is putting a new spin on an old game by challenging Facebook fans to a virtual “Capture the Flag” game.

The game officially begins Monday, Aug. 22 at 8 a.m. local time for each participating command, and will run through Aug. 26.

Traditionally, the game of capture the flag is played outdoors with two teams that have a flag strategically placed in their territory.

The objective is to capture the other team’s flag, in their own territory, and bring it back to your own base.

The Navy’s version of Capture the Flag brings that competition to Navy Facebook fans around the world by attacking and defending a virtual “flag” which is actually a unique photo created by each participating command.

Instead of being picked for a team, Facebook fans can join any team they choose by uploading the team’s banner to their profile picture.

The banner will be available as a photo on the command’s page. Fans are encouraged to attack their opponent by “liking” the opposing commands “flag” each day.

They can defend their own team’s flag by writing a positive comment on their own page’s “flag” each day. At the end of the day the attacks and defends are tallied and a percentage of the teams will move on to the next round beginning at 8 a.m. the next day.

For simplicity, other rules associated with the traditional capture the flag game were eliminated for the Navy version.

The purpose of the virtual Capture the Flag game is to give each participating Navy command an opportunity to talk

From Navy Defense Media Activity

Navy Personnel Command (NPC) announced Aug. 16 that it has launched a new enlisted retention board (ERB) Web page on their command website, www.npc.navy.mil.

“Our objective is to provide Sailors and their families with a one-stop shop for all enlisted retention board-related information to answer their questions in a centralized location,” said Lt. Cmdr. Delmy Robinson, strategic communications officer, NPC.

The new Web page will contain links to guidance and policy, quota information, timelines, frequently asked questions, and ERB news stories and videos.

It can be found on NPC’s homepage under “Boards” or at www.npc.navy.mil/boards/ERB/.

As a result of record high retention and low attrition among active duty Sailors and to meet current and future planned end strength controls, the Navy will conduct a focused ERB for 31 specific ratings that are more than 103 percent manned.

According to Navy administrative message (NAVADMIN) 129/11, the board will examine the performance of approximately 16,000 Sailors. An estimated 3,000 Sailors will not be retained on active duty but will be encouraged to apply for the Selected Reserve, if not accepted for rate conversion.

Estimated ERB quotas were posted Aug. 1, which can also be found on the new Web page.

The final update of estimated ERB quotas will be released with the precept after the board convenes.

For more information on the ERB, you can read the NAVADMINs, visit the NPC ERB Web page www.npc.navy.mil or contact the NPC customer service center at CSCmailbox@navy.mil or 1-866-U-ASK-NPC.

For more news from Navy Personnel Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/npc/.

npC wEBSITE hoSTS nEw ErB wEB pagEabout their unique mission while

bracketed with another command of a different mission. Healthy competition and team pride by unique Navy commands are what motivates the fans to participate.

“Navy Facebook fans are very interested in Sailors and the work they do,” said Lt. Lesley Lykins, director of emerging media integration for the Navy. “Our Capture the Flag game is another fun way for Americans to support their favorite Sailors and commands and learn what other commands do to support our overall mission.”

Each day, a winning command returns pitted against another winning command as both advance in the bracket and deliver a new message to their fans about their mission.

Commands will post their flag each day at 8 a.m. local time for that command. As teams are eliminated, fans can switch their alliance to a new team to continue playing the game.

Each evening, the U.S. Navy Facebook page will announce which commands have been eliminated and which are still playing.

On Aug. 26 at noon, the overall winner of Capture the Flag will be announced and featured the following week in the U.S. Navy Facebook page profile picture, with the winning command’s flags “flying” on the Navy page throughout the week.

To learn more about the U.S. Navy’s virtual version of “Capture the Flag” visit the U.S. Navy Facebook page at facebook.com/US Navy.

There are more than 355,000 fans of the U.S. Navy Facebook page and 521 commands on the U.S. Navy Social Media Directory.

For more news, visit www.navy.mil.

Navy iNcReases awaReNess of commaNd missioNs with viRtual Game