Sailors aboard amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu reach 96 days alcohol related incident free.

SAN DIEGO – As the ship neared the pier, anticipation could be felt throughout the ranks. On-looking family members gathered to greet their loved ones returning from an eight-month deployment. One mission came to a close; little did many consider that another had just begun - liberty.

After several incidents in the following weeks of the ship’s homecoming, amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) set out to reach a command goal of 96 days alcohol-related incident free, which was reached Nov. 16. The command challenged to re-establish the standard of zero ARIs by eliciting the aid of positive peer pressure through offering all crew members 96 hours of liberty, if the goal can be reached by all Sailors.

Although various Navy-wide programs, such as the “Keep What You’ve Earned” campaign and “The Right Spirit Campaign”, are in place to bring alcohol awareness and training to the fleet, Peleliu’s command leadership decided to

enact the “96-for-96” program to add an incentive for good behavior.

This approach to reducing alcohol-related incidents can be a challenge on a command this large.

“99 percent of our Sailors are doing the right thing, and yes, we are rewarding those who would be doing the right thing even without a reward program,” said USS Peleliu’s Commanding Officer Capt. John D. Deehr. “Where I believe this program really helps is in getting the 99 percent to police the one percent. Without the program, when a Sailor gets a DUI or has some other form of ARI, it has little to no impact on the Sailors he may have been on liberty with. With the program however, that Sailor’s conduct now has a direct impact on all the other Sailors he is on liberty with.”

This peer pressure transformed the atmosphere of the command’s climate.

“This impact results in self-policing, in that, other Sailors now take an interest in the behavior of their shipmates and are more likely to step in and stop an incident from happening,” added Deehr. “I believe this has

happened on board Peleliu! The longer we go without an incident, the more pressure is applied to all Sailors to not be the one who breaks the streak.”

The Navy places special emphasis on the responsible use of alcohol, because irresponsible use can have negative implications for a command and the Fleet as a whole.

“Alcohol-related incidents have a significant impact on our ability to do our jobs. From the fireman, airman, or seaman who gets arrested and doesn’t show up for work … his or her shipmates must pick up the slack, to the division officer, department head, and executive officer, who must investigate and report the incident, conduct the NJP process, and track alcohol abuse screening and treatment,” said Deehr. “All these things take us away from our primary duty of ensuring USS Peleliu is operationally ready to answer the nation’s call.”

Although the behavior can negatively impact mission readiness, that is only one aspect of possible outcomes that

96-for-96, continued page 4.

Story by MC3 Alex Van’tLevenPeleliu Staff Writer

Peleliu Achieves ARI-Free MilestonePeleNewsDec. 02, 2013

Vol. 2, Issue 3

PeleNews is published and printed on board by the USS Peleliu (LHA 5) Media Division. This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents are not necessarily the official views of the U.S. Government. PeleNews reserves the right to edit submissions. Submission deadline is Thursday by noon to pao@lha5.navy.mil

Commanding OfficerCapt. John D. DeehrExecutive Officer

Cmdr. Jay M. SteingoldCommand Master ChiefCMDCM(SW/AW/EXW)

TyRon Flynn

Managing EditorMCC(SW/EXW/AW) Jeremy L. Wood

Leading Petty OfficerMC2(SW) Daniel Viramontes

Designer/EditorMC2(SW) Daniel Viramontes

StaffMC3 Alex Van’tLevenMC3 Dustin Knight

MCSN(SW) Michael Duran

Quality Assurance Team Plays Key Role in PMAForklifts move material and

equipment back and forth in the hangar bay, weaving in the midst of crane operations on the pier and flight deck. The ear-pounding noise of needle-gunning and metal grinding throughout the ship gnaws a Sailor’s nerve. A chosen team of Sailors crawls, maneuvers around cables and hoses, interacts with construction workers and overcomes blocked passageways to verify proper maintenance completion during this cycle’s planned maintenance availability period – a 12-person Quality Assurance Team.

The quality assurance program uses efficient monitoring and evaluation of the various aspects of a project or job onboard.

“The QA team is in place to ensure the ship is getting a quality product from the contractor,” said Lt. Kristofer Kennedy, Peleliu’s Ship’s Maintenance and Material Officer and Quality Assurance Officer. “The primary job of the QA team is to conduct all the quality assurance check points to ensure all jobs are completed in accordance with the specifications for the job.”

The team also conducts daily safety walkthroughs with the contractors to review each

checkpoint. The QA Team works in tandem with the company inspectors, such as General Dynamics-National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) or Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC), to ensure each point passes inspection.

“When they are ready for us to inspect their work, they send us a checkpoint via email … [which is assigned to] one of our QA specialists. They go down and inspect the job they are doing,” said Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 2nd Class Lyle Tomas, An Oahu, Hawaii-native. “We test [the equipment or process] to make sure it works properly.”

Occasionally, the inspection fails and the contractors must spend time fixing the problem.

“In that case, the contractors will have to go back and do the work over again and we will inspect it again once it is done,” explained Tomas.

The dozen-strong Quality Assurance team includes one chief and members assigned from different departments, many outside of Engineering.

“All the spaces we inspect are in different departments [spread] around the ship, so it helps to have a variety of rates on the QA team,” explained Tomas. “One person may

know a space better than someone else, because they work around that area and are familiar with it.”

Sailors E-5 and above may volunteer for the position, but certain qualifications have to be met to be part of the Quality Assurance specialist team. Some members went through a course of instruction like cableway workmanship I and II, as well as welding. They had to be system experts in their area, added Kennedy.

The days of a QA specialist can be long and arduous, as well as require some flexibility. Checks run the gambit of the day, due to multiple shifts onboard, including weekends. The team needs to provide timely inspections to allow work to continue.

“The QA team has performed outstandingly this PMA,” Kennedy said. “This is our home and they’re making sure the ship is getting a quality product … They have the questioning attitude that is needed as a Quality Assurance Inspector.”

Peleliu reached its halfway point of the planned maintenance availability approximately two weeks ago. PMA is scheduled to continue until late January, when the steam plants will be re-lit and the ship begins its new certification process.

Story by MC3 Dustin Knight Peleliu Staff Writer

2 Dec. 02, 2013

Vol. 2, Issue 3

Hooyah, Iron Nickel!Shipmates, this edition of CMC Corner, I want to

answer a few questions that have been posed to me about the command’s 96-hour liberty for 96 days alcohol-related incident-free policy or “96-for-96”.

Question: What does the board on the quarterdeck represent to the crew?

That board on the quarterdeck is a symbol of pride and a visual measure of accomplishment. When you visualize a goal, it is more likely to be obtained.

Question: Was it easy to accomplish this?Just as in life, nothing really worth having comes easy.

But preventing ARIs is a group effort that everyone has to buy into. As an INDIVIDUAL, not getting an ARI is easy. Just drink responsibly if you are old enough; don’t drink if you aren’t, and have a plan ALWAYS.

Question: How do you feel the 96-for-96 program has changed the crew’s outlook on ARIs, i.e. do you feel we all believe it’s a winnable battle?

My hope is that first we all buy in to taking personal ownership of the program and holding ourselves accountable for making smart adult decisions. If everyone does that, there isn’t anything that can stop us.

Question: Now that we reached this first goal, what do you want the crew to remember going forward?

Moving forward, we need to understand that we have made a cultural change regarding ARIs aboard Peleliu. They are completely avoidable. It’s actually easier to NOT get an ARI than it is to get an ARI.

Question: What else is the ship doing to stamp out ARIs?

96-for-96 is just one tool that we have on the ship to discourage ARIs. I personally think our strongest and most powerful tools are our Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) and our mentorship programs. We have good Sailors that provide sober options. We have good Sailors that can provide leadership and advice. Most importantly, we have each other as shipmates that can be active by-standers in preventing poor decisions from happening. Keep what you have earned!

Until next time Peleliu, remember: Be Polite, Be Professional and Be Prepared!

CMC Out!

CMC’s Corner

CMDCM (SW/AW/EXW) TyRon FlynnCommand Master Chief, USS Peleliu (LHA 5)

SAN DIEGO - Sailors assigned to NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) San Diego delivered a large load of gently worn clothing to a local homeless services provider Nov. 15, after a successful command-wide clothing drive in San Diego.

Members of the command’s First Class Petty Officers Association (FCPOA) held the clothing drive from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15, collecting and donating the used goods to Father Joe’s Villages, a local 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides roughly 4,000 meals and other services to about 1,500 homeless per day.

“Without these donations, we wouldn’t be able to run the programs we have for the people who need them in our community,” said Oscar Labiano, director of business operations for Father Joe’s. “We help about 200 military veterans every day. A significant aspect of these particular donations is that we have those who are currently serving helping those who have already served. The Sailors are giving to those who have already given to us.”

This is the command’s second clothing drive benefitting Father Joe’s patrons this year. The vast assortment of donated goods will make its way to people of all ages in the organization’s programs, from infants to senior citizens.

“The idea behind doing this twice a year - once in the Spring and once in the Fall - is so that we can get both winter and

summer clothes to those who need them,” said Logistics Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Makita Lewis, FCPOA vice president. “There are a lot of people who can’t afford to buy new clothes and who are on the streets. The holidays are coming up, and there are quite a lot of families out there. I would want somebody to help me if I needed it. We’re all just trying to make it in the world.”

NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center San Diego, one of eight fleet logistics centers under NAVSUP Global Logistics Support, provides global logistics, business and support services to fleet, shore and industrial commands of the Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and other joint and allied Forces. Services include contracting, regional transportation, fuel, material management, household goods movement support, postal and consolidated mail, warehousing, global logistics and husbanding, hazardous material management, and integrated logistics support.

NAVSUP GLS comprises more than 5,700 military and civilian logistics professionals, contractors and foreign nationals operating as a single cohesive team providing global logistics services from 110 locations worldwide.

A component of the Naval Supply Systems Command headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pa., NAVSUP GLS is part of a worldwide logistics network of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel providing combat capability through logistics.

Combined Federal Campaign has kicked off.

Service members have an opportunity every year to select and donate to a multitude of different charities through CFC. Sailors can make a one-time donation, or set up a monthly pledge through MyPay.

Deadline to contribute - December 15.For information contact your departmental CFC

representative or visit www.socalcfc.org

COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN

Story by Candice Villarreal, NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center San Diego Corporate Communications

Sailors Collect Clothing for Homeless3 Dec. 02, 2013

ITSN Daniel Smith, Atlanta

ETC Cory Meade, Marion, Ohio

“Family coming together no matter where they’re living. It’s that one holiday where everyone shows up.”

“Eating then passing out! Trying not to fall asleep with my face in my plate. God bless Tryptophan.”

“Cooking with my family making pumkin pies with my daughter, my wife making the mash potatoes, and my son making rolls. Getting together with the aunts,

uncles and cousins for a big family dinner.”

“Watchig the Detroit Lions destroy the Greenbay Packers!”

Thanksgiving is the start of the Holidays.Peleliu asked, What is your favorite tradition during Thanksgiving?

HM3 Nikole M. Tibai, Cirvallis, Oregon

Man on the Street

CWO4 Robert Gonzales, Denver

can arise from the high-risk behavior.“A Sailor not only damages his or

her career, they can also be affected financially after paying legal fees and court fees and eventually put a strain on their personnel life, whether the Sailor is married or single,” said Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Donovan Gummerus, the command Drug and Alcohol Program Advisor (DAPA). “Worst-case scenario can range from the Sailor being injured or injure someone else or even being the cause of a vehicle fatality. A DUI is a substantial failure in judgment, behavior, and leadership. No matter what point a Sailor gets a DUI, whether it’s early in their career or at the end, personnel who incur a second DUI are mandatorily separated from the Naval service.”

The unfortunate truth in the Navy, as well as in the civilian sector, is that even after understanding the risks, people still make poor choices with alcohol. Even with the possibility of reward, the program took time to get traction and become an established goal the crew could achieve.

“As every crew member will tell you, the program had been in existence for four to five weeks before we actually made it through

a weekend without an incident. I know there were many on board who thought we would never make it to 30 days, let alone 90-plus,” added Deehr. “However, we kept telling them that it was possible and that it required a personal commitment from each and every crew member. It had to be an individual goal, before it could be a team goal. Bottom line - every goal is attainable, if you put your mind to it.”

If a Sailor makes an offense involving alcohol, the Navy takes action that not only involves reprimand, but a Sailor enters a screening process to evaluate the severity of the alcohol problem. Then, treatment can begin, added Gummerus. The Sailor will go through the disciplinary process where they are subject to the full range of administrative actions available. Some measures range from informal counseling, comments in fitness reports and evaluations, punitive as required by the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The 96 hours for 96 days program is just one more tool the ship is willing to use to combat ARIs, and it is showing positive results in halting the problem.

“Unfortunately, the battle will never be over … With each passing day we are setting a new standard and that standard is zero ARIs,” concluded Deehr.

96-for-96, continued from front page.

By MC2(SW) Daniel Viramontes

4 VOL. 2, ISSUE 3 DEC. 02, 2013