By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Peggy Trujillo
USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT, At Sea (NNS) -- While on deployment half a world away conducting maritime security operations, USS Theodore Roosevelt (TR) (CVN 71) Sailors stay connected with their families through the United Through Reading program.
Some Sailors say one of the hardest challenges they face when they deploy is missing the time they spend with their families. Aboard TR, the Command Religious Ministries Department (CRMD) and the First Class Petty Officers' Association (FCPOA) are bringing their shipmates a chance to get some of that time back, using the United Through Reading Program.
"If I didn't do this, I'm afraid my daughter would forget me," said Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Yaneldy Gonzalez. "My mom told me my daughter gets all excited when she sees me, and starts talking to me. It's funny because she even tells me to be quiet. She's only two, and this is keeping me close to her, so she can tell who I am."
Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuel) Airman Yonel Espinosa happened upon his first session. He was just finishing a refueling, when one of the first class petty officers asked him if he wanted to do a session. He agreed and was glad he did.
"I just went in there and picked one of the books they had," said Espinosa. "The first class turned the camera on and then I read the book page by page. When I was done I talked to my wife and kids and told them I missed them. It was really easy, and I even get to send home the book so he can read along. I'll do this again, by the regular process."
Normally, Sailors participate by signing up in the CRMD office for a 30-minute time slot. At the appointed time, they show up in the TR museum, one of the few quiet places to go on the floating city.
As the reader gets comfortable, a volunteer from the FCPOA sets the camera with a DVD to record and explains how to stop the camera when the recording is done. Once the recording starts, the Sailor is left alone to read a story and talk one-on-one with his or her loved ones at home.
"I just start talking as if I was there," said Personnel Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Terry Mullen. "I keep it upbeat, but not overly dramatic, the way I would do it if I were actually there in person reading the story."
Once the recording is done, volunteers come back into the room to give the participants their DVD's and envelopes to mail them home.
In the first three weeks of September, Sailors took part in more than 250 recording sessions, and Religious Program Specialist 1st Class (SW) Gilbert A. Credo said that is just the beginning.
"We brought 3,000 discs with us for recording," said Credo. "We hope to set a record and use them all."
Sailors can read books they brought aboard and send them home with the DVDs they record, or they can borrow books from the collection of 1,000 children's books the ship's library provides.
Crew members without children can get in on the action as well, and do community service while underway. The CRMD brought 500 copies of "Corduroy" aboard. Anyone can read a copy, and then the CRMD will send the book and DVD to either Lindenwood or North Landing Elementary Schools.
Recording 18 sessions a day would overwhelm the CRMD, and that is why Credo asked the FCPOA for assistance.
"We all understand the importance of the program," said Credo. "By volunteering their time to assist readers and operate the camera, they are helping to make this a success."
The volunteers are happy to be a part of the program.
"I volunteer for United Through Reading because when I was a young Sailor, we didn't have a program like this," said Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class (AW) George Petromanolakis. "This is my first cruise as a husband and father, and already it has been the most difficult. For all of those that are going through this, we, as the FCPOA, want to keep the morale high. I've even taken the opportunity to read a few books to my 16-month old daughter Mina, and felt much better afterwards."
The other side of the program happens when families at home record their reactions, and send them to their loved ones on the ship. The program participants are now just waiting for those to start arriving.
The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed in the 6th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security and theater cooperation.
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