Two Virginia Beach teachers, Carl Peake and Angela German, were able to take part in the U.S. Navy’s Leaders to Sea program. According to the U.S. Navy, the Leaders to Sea program gives key leaders from all sectors – corporate, civic, government, education, non-profit – the opportunity to embark on a Navy ship and meet the men and women who bring these ships to life. While onboard, Peake and German blogged about their experience. The introduction, penned by Peake, is below and holds a link to their full write-up.

Have you ever been blindsided? Just totally blown away from an unexpected angle? That’s the only way to describe what happened when I visited the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

A few weeks ago, I was surprised when the superintendent’s office called. Laura Smart, partnership coordinator for the division, extended an offer that was unusual. The Navy had invited VBCPS to nominate two teachers to participate in the Distinguished Leaders to Sea Embark Program. The two guests were going to be flying out to an aircraft carrier at sea. I needed to let them know within fifteen minutes whether or not I was interested and available. It took a lot less than fifteen minutes for me to say yes, and it just got better as I learned the details from Spencer Layne, our Navy Public Affairs contact at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story here in Virginia Beach. We were going to be flown to the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), also known as the TR. We would be spending 24 hours exploring the ship during flight operations and preparation for future deployment. Having grown up in a Navy family, I had some idea what I was getting myself into, and was really looking forward to the experience.

Angela German, 2013 VBCPS Teacher of the Year, and I joined Neal, Eric, Stacy, Todd, and Steve at Naval Station Norfolk for a flight on a Navy C-2 Greyhound to the TR. They had each come to this journey from different paths, either through personal contacts or community service, but were all just as, well, giddy about the trip as we were.

In a nutshell, we spent two whirlwind days climbing all over the TR. From the Hangar Deck to Vulture’s Row at the top of the island, and from the f’oc’sle to the stern. We saw high tech media rooms, print shops, air traffic control, arresting cable mechanisms, medical bay and computer systems linked to manage aircraft locations from the flight deck to the hangar deck. We also saw low-tech solutions where necessary, like the “Ouija Board” tables used by flight deck “handlers” and hangar deck crew to track and manage aircraft locations when the computer system is down. We also saw the print shop crew making “flight deck Skittle” shirts using stencils and Sharpie markers.

Now, I could spend a lot of time telling you about how amazing it is to stand just a few yards from an F-18 Hornet as it’s being shot off the carrier on a catapult or trapped with an arresting cable, but as incredible as all that was, it would actually diminish what I would like for you to take away from this story.

I was prepared for most of the technical and mechanical awesomeness. What took me completely by surprise were the extraordinary people we observed and met. As educators, Angela and I were keenly aware of the teaching going on aboard the TR. And it was everywhere. Young Sailors were learning skills from experienced Sailors around every corner. The TR is a floating classroom of sorts. We were encouraged to talk to everyone we could, and without exception. The Sailors we spoke with talked of the opportunities afforded by military service, and their responses to our questions reflected pride and eagerness for their part in the mission of the ship. Some indicated they were eventually going to pursue careers beyond the military. Like a young security officer who wants to teach second grade when he leaves the Navy. Others planned to make the military a life career. We met an F-18 jet pilot who is headed to Italy soon for his next duty station, and plans to someday take command of a naval ship.

I was impressed with so many people on the crew it would be impossible to recount all of their stories here. I was particularly touched by the intensely passionate manner in which the Executive Officer, Captain Mark Colombo spoke of the crew onboard USS Theodore Roosevelt. It was obvious from his enthusiasm and body language that he truly loves the TR’s crew, and is quite proud of the work they do.

I went to the TR expecting to be dazzled by the ship. I was blindsided by her dedicated crew.

There is so much more to this adventure. I hope you will take the time to read the detailed narrative Angela German and I have put together here. It expands on what is printed here and introduces some of the crew we met, providing more insight into the exceptional people we encountered.

 

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