Kevin Thornton

Here are the weather results from my weather station for the month of January 2012.

Want more charts?  Complete January data is here.


Current conditions:

Ok folks, when did the cold front push through Elm Springs? Check out the graphs below for the answer.

The top graph is Temperature (in red) and Dew Point (in green). The bottom graph is Barometric Pressure.  The temperature took a dive at 4:30 a.m. and the pressure went up at the same time. Voila!

Another indicator was the wind direction. At 4:30 a.m., the wind began to shift from southwest to northwest:


See, having a weather station in the backyard *can* be cool! Right? Right?

Here are the weather results from my weather station for the month of December 2011.

Want more charts?  Complete December data is here.


Current conditions:

Here are the weather results from my weather station for the month of November 2011.

Nothing remarkable to report. This month, I calibrated the barometer per suggestions from the MADIS data status. This seems to be keeping the pressure readings in line with MADIS expectations.

Want more charts?  Complete November data is here.


Current conditions:

Here are the weather results from my weather station for the month of October 2011.

Want more charts?  Complete October data is here.


Current conditions:

Tonight I grabbed my camera, tripod, and remote bulb switch and hit the road. I ended up a few miles down the road, on highway 112 just north of Tontitown.

When setting up, I relied upon my storm spotter training to know where the safest location was in relation to the storm. I was positioned in an area where I knew I would not experience precipitation. I could feel the inflow (wind at my back). When I felt the outflow begin (wind at my face) and I could hear thunder in the distance, I immediately headed for home.

I'm a trial-and-error kind of guy when it comes to photography. Tonight I tried several settings but found 200 ISO with a bulb setting the best option. The trick was to let go of the bulb as soon as I saw the lightning flash. Any more exposure than that would wash out the frame with light. Focus was set to almost infinity. I was using a 18-55mm image stabilization lens zoomed in about half way.

Anyone have other tips for capturing lightning?

Here are the results of tonight's experiment:

Edit: Thanks, Ross, for using my photo on 40/29 TV tonight!  And thanks, Dan, for using it on KNWA!

Here are the weather results from my weather station for the month of September 2011.

Want more charts?  Complete September data is here.

Current conditions:

The results are in.  It was a hot August.  It was also the first full month of operation for my new weather station at the house.

Let's go to the charts, folks.

Here are the highs, lows, and averages for August at my station:

Want more charts?  Complete August data is here.

Current conditions:

A year later, I still tell people about the trip with the enthusiasm of a kid opening gifts on Christmas morning. It truly was the trip of a lifetime. 

---

The U.S. Navy sponsors a Distinguished Visitors Program to increase awareness of the Navy’s and Marine Corps’ sea and air missions and highlight the tremendous service of our American citizens serving at sea.

This particular embark for the Distinguished Visitors Program was tailored for a group of sixteen social media experts who blog, podcast, use Twitter to tweet messages often with links, post YouTube videos, Facebook postings with links, Flickr, and other means to reach audiences globally.

Because opportunities for civilian embarkations on or to-from Navy ships and submarines underway are extremely limited, for this Distinguished Visitor social media embark, the Public Affairs Officer for the Commander, Naval Air Forces, Pacific first reviewed nominations submitted by Andy Sernovitz, the Chief Executive Officer of the Social Media Business Council (socialmedia.org), and Dennis Hall, founder of Avere Group (averegroup.wordpress.com).

The Public Affairs Officer selected the participants  based on their ability to share their experience with the largest possible audience. Embarkations of journalists, community leaders or celebrities that gain mass media exposure greatly assist our recruiting and educational efforts by allowing thousands to share in the experience. These individuals, in turn, make positive contributions to the public understanding of the roles and missions of the Navy by having their experience promoted through various media outlets.

(source: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/navy_legacy_hr.asp?id=165)

Whereas the Navy has implemented the Distinguished Visitor Program for several years, the emergence of social media during 2009 as a very popular force for reaching audiences created a new opportunity for the military.  During 2008, Dennis Hall nominated Guy Kawasaki for a Distinguished Visitors Embark.  The Navy selected him to embark out to-from the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier steaming in the Pacific Ocean.  Upon his return, Dennis Hall followed up with him and Guy Kawasaki replied via e-mail with the Subject line reading, ‘An idea’.  Dennis made an appointment to meet with Guy Kawasaki and Bill Reichert, both Managing Directors of Garage Technology Ventures in Palo Alto, CA on October 8, 2008.  At that meeting, Guy discussed his idea of sending ‘a whole planeload of bloggers’ inside a Navy C-2 Greyhound aircraft out to-from an aircraft carrier underway.  With the notes from the discussion, Dennis Hall wrote and submitted a proposal to then Lieutenant Commander Charlie Brown, who was then the Public Affairs Officer for the Commander, Naval Air Forces, Pacific based at Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado Island, near San Diego.  He prompted accepted the proposal for a Distinguished Visitors social media embark, or Bloggers’ Embark.  Guy was elated and he and Dennis Hall set about recommending social media types, including Andy Sernovitz.

Sixteen social media types embarked with Guy Kawasaki, Dennis Hall, Bill Reichert, and Andy Sernovitz to the USS Chester W. Nimitz aircraft carrier during May 2009.  The follow-on social media activity of all involved proved the concept is absolutely valid for reaching audiences globally.

The success of the embark to the USS Nimitz set the stage for follow-on social media embarks.

On April 25 - 26, 2010, eleven business executives and social media influencers participated in the Distinguished Visitors program on-board the USS Abraham Lincoln which was preparing for a 10 month tour of duty in the pacific.  These are their reflections one year later.

Participants:
Amanda Congdon - @amazingamanda
Christopher Carfi - Vice President, Ant’s Eye View (@ccarfi)
Jake McKee - Chief Innovation Officer, Ant’s Eye View (@jakemckee)
Kevin Thornton, Sr. Communications Officer, Walton Family Foundation - @kevinthornton
Len Devanna - Director of Social Engagement, EMC Corp - @LenDevanna
Mark Yolton - SVP of SAP Community Network - Mark Y. - @markyolton
Phil Nieman - @nieman
Robert Coombs
Rob DeRobertis aka RobDe @robde
Scott Gulbransen - Director of Social Media & Digital Content for Applebee’s - @sdgully
Will Mayall, Alltop.com @mayall

Acknowledgements:
Thanks to Guy Kawasaki for editing these question and Dennis Hall for writing the forward to this document.

Thanks to Dennis Hall and Andy Sernovitz for making this trip possible

And thanks to the Navy for their support of this program and day to day service of our country.

Q: What are the most lasting memories and impressions from the trip?

Robert C: What struck me is the sheer number of people living and working at sea on each of these ships. The duties required to keep one of these ships underway number in the thousands, and most of them are being done by young men and women aged 18-24. That’s a group that, in other areas of society, is seen as not terribly productive, and not trustworthy in serious matters. I think the Navy proves these perceptions wrong 24-7-365

Mark Yolton (Mark Y): The dedication and professionalism of the sailors, pilots, and other crew.  These men and women spend months at sea, away from their families, working essentially 24x7.  If they’re not “working,” they are training; if not training, then studying for their next level promotion or an adjacent job.  They are almost always working on something, and so their depth of knowledge and the muscle memory they’ve developed through repetition and practice to perform under duress is extraordinary.  Even when they’re relaxing, they need to be alert and on edge for superior officers, drills, and much else.  They can’t get away for a weekend. They are clustered together with co-workers without an ounce of privacy.  They give up what we’d consider a normal life.

Kevin Thornton (Kevin T):  The smell of jet fuel, the incredible noise, and the other things that set my senses on full alert. But more than that, I will remember the people I met and the work I saw them do.  Like Mark said, their professionalism is extraordinary.  Everyone I spoke with beamed with pride about their work and being in the U.S. Navy.  They were determined, focused, and all knew they were a part of something bigger than themselves.  They are away from their families months on end and can never can truly “get away” while on the ship.  The most impressive thing is that they do this voluntarily!   Also, this was a very personal trip for me.  My family has a rich Navy history, including three uncles that served on the same ship at the same time in Korea (USS Frank Knox) and a great-uncle that was on the USS Lexington (CV-2) when it sank in the Battle of the Coral Sea.  Being able to take part in this trip gave me a sense of what they experienced.  I consider myself extremely lucky to have been able to do something very few Americans will get the chance to do.

Rob De: @ Kevin:  I agree with you that we were extremely lucky to have been able to do this.  This was a unique experience and something that will stick with me for the rest of my life.

Will M: I agree with the others. The easy things to remember were the cool planes flying in and out, the massive ship, and other mechanical stuff but it was certainly the people that left the strongest impression. At first glance, it seemed to be chaos, with people constantly in motion in a crazy dangerous environment. But in fact, it was well trained and supervised professionals performing a complex dance on the most powerful ship on earth. I still cannot believe how young most of the sailors were with responsibilities that entailed life and death decisions.

Scott G: I can honestly say as we approach a year from when we went on this adventure, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about or talk about the experience. Besides all the “cool” factor associated with the flight operations and really big ship stuff, I honestly remember being blown away by the sailors. All of them. From the youngest enlisted sailor to the Admiral; they all were beyond impressive. It really helped reassure me about our future generation. The young people on board were impressive and I could see we did have a great pool of young leaders to lead this nation in the future. As always, it’s always about the people. I sleep much better at night having met these remarkable young men and women.

Len D: Echoing the sentiment from my friends above, it was the level of maturity, professionalism and patriotism from the young men and women that by far left the most long lasting impression with me. We must have met with at least hundred of these folks over the course of twenty-four hours. Regardless if their role was piloting a multi-million dollar aircraft, ensuring the ships personnel stayed well nourished, or keeping the anchors for the ship in tip top shape - each told us of their unique role within this massive machine with unbridled enthusiasm.

All in all - I left with a renewed sense of pride and patriotism. One simply couldn’t help it given the contagious nature from the folks we met. If you’re a parent with a son or daughter in the military - you have a right to glow with pride. These young men and women are in a class of their own.

Christopher C: There were two aspects to the memories: the physical experience itself, and the connections between the individuals involved. The physical experience itself  was astounding: the preparation, the flight out to the deck, the landing, the touring of the ship itself. It really put into perspective the challenging nature of the job. Just as lasting, however, were the connections between both the participants and the individuals who hosted us on the ship. Conversations that started one year ago are still continuing today.

Jake M: In today’s society, we’re all taught that getting close to the action is strictly forbidden. We’re supposed to stay back behind the roped off, guarded, and clearly marked danger line. We’re treated, in so many situations, as untrustworthy children who need extra guidance to avoid danger. To this day, I still marvel at exactly how close we were to danger, real, tangible danger, and how much trust was placed in us during that experience. And this danger was kept at bay by a crew whose average age was, I believe, 19 year old. With structure and discipline, it’s amazing what can be taught.

Phil N: For me, seeing how the Navy manages so many young, stressed people struck me the most. I had the opportunity to sit with the lead Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer, they call him the “Judge” at dinner, and I heard astounding stories about what it takes to keep all these young people in order. If you think about it, anytime that you have 5,000 people in one place there will be some trouble. It could be potentially explosive when mixing in the effects of extremely stressful jobs, lack of sleep, and kids from very diverse background. Along the same line, I found the Chaplain corps on board to be very impressive. They are not only providing religious services to the entire ship, but also the primary counseling services as well. Many of the young people come from very troubled backgrounds, of which they don’t have the capaciity to deal with on their own.

Q: Did the trip change your views of the military?

Kevin T:  I had always held the military in high regard, but what changed for me was the way I looked at their sacrifice.  Their work involves them giving up so many things that most of us enjoy and take for granted.  Seeing this firsthand made me appreciate them even more.

Mark Y: Yes, I have a much higher regard for the military than in the past. My family is fairly distant from military service, so I don’t know a lot of soldiers or sailors.  I admit, I had the impression beforehand that the military was a last-choice option for someone who couldn’t find a traditional job, and so therefore the military tended to attract the lowest performers without much education or potential.  That changed when I saw, met, and talked with extremely bright and capable people of the U.S. Navy -- many of whom would put me and my so-called big-time colleagues to shame. 

Scott G: I have always held our military in high regard. What changed on this trip was it made it very personal for me. I have extended family members in the military currently and of course that makes it personal. But seeing the young men and women aboard the Lincoln gave me a new sense for the sacrifice they make day in, day out.

Will M: Yes and no. The amount we spend for our "defense" seems out of whack given the problems we face as a nation. But I understand more clearly that the people doing their jobs in the military should not be blamed for an imbalance in our priorities.

Len D: Sure did. I looked at the military at large as being an offensive or defensive tool for times of conflict. Come to find out that’s a rather narrow point of view. While our troops are absolutely at the ready to defend our freedom regardless of which branch of the military they’re in, I was naive to the amount of involvement they have within disaster relief efforts, as example. During our visit, we learned of the USS Lincoln’s ability to purify mass amounts of water and supply to ravaged areas post natural disaster. We learned of their ability to move tons of food from ship to land at the drop of a dime. We also learned how the very ‘presence’ of a ship such as the USS Lincoln can help boost the morale of other countries by simply visiting their ports.

Jake M: Growing up down the road from a Navy base (the one we flew out of) and a Marine base, I knew plenty of people in the Navy and Marines. I have always greatly respected those who serve, and this visit expanded that respect as I learned more about the details of the sacrifice (have you seen those bunks??). And while it’s impressive to me the capabilities for humanitarian aid a fleet brings and often delivers, I couldn’t help but wonder if there were non-military ways to over that same level of structure and discipline to these young kids who are looking for help and training. Our country tends to chafe the idea of formalized social programs to train/employ our young people, but in effect that’s exactly what was happening on the Lincoln.

Phil N: Coming from a military family, I’ve always had a fairly positive view of the military, including my Sister and Brother-in-law whom both had long careers in the Air Force/ Illinois Air National Guard. However, the trip certainly gave me a deeper and more rounded view of the military. The operation and the care put into everything done on the ship was particularly impressive. These people have a very tough job and I’m very appreciative of the hard work they do.

Q: Since the trip were you in contact with sailors whom you met on this trip?

Rob D: The most surprising connection I made was with family members of the crew aboard the Lincoln.  A couple saw the images I posted on my website and sent notes of appreciation.  It was great to connect and learn about their sons, daughters, and husbands. For them, getting a glimpse of their loved ones was so important. For me, it hammered home the sacrifice made by so many to protect our country.

Robert C: I’ve stayed in contact with the PIO and some of his crew. I have also contacted other PIO’s and feel like I have a bond with people in that role because they are an analog to what I do in the civilian world.

Kevin T: I’ve stayed in contact with the PAO and interacted with some of the public affairs staff on Facebook.

Mark Y: I’ve stayed connected with the PAO, “Wild Bill,” through facebook.  I’ve connected loosely with other crew members and their families by commenting on USS Abraham Lincoln Facebook posts.  It’s amazing the connection I feel, and the pride in that association, even though I only spent 24-hours on-board the ship... it’s still “my” ship and I follow its journeys, its missions, and its people very closely. (I’ve also stayed in touch with many of the other people who I embarked with; via social media, but also had one local person to my birthday party and have met-up with others at meetings and events --- in fact, am off to see one tonight.)

Scott G: I have stayed in contact with various folks we met. Some have been singular interactions while others have been more in-depth and personal. Obviously, Wild Bill is the one person I have stayed in constant contact with. But even those that I haven’t been in contact with are always in my thoughts. I call the USS Lincoln “My Navy Family.”

Len D: Not as much as I’d like to. That trip was a whirlwind, and I wasn’t sure what to expect walking in. In hindsight, I wish I’d done a better job of capturing the names of all of the wonderful people we met with.  I have stayed in touch with our ‘host’, “Wild Bill”, and some of the folks on his team. Come to think about it, we’re still not sure why they call you ‘Wilid Bill’, sir???? But, like others, I do follow the USS Lincoln on Facebook . I remain very impressed with the Navy’s use of Social Media to not only communicate within the Navy itself - but also well beyond the confines of the service itself. While there’s obvious risk in opening up access to emerging social channels, the reward of transparency and connectivity to the families of those who are serving are priceless.

Jake M: As others have said, just Wild Bill. Our trip introduced us to a lot of people, but I didn’t ever get a chance to talk to anyone at length or in a way that made it seem like it would be OK to contact them afterward. That’s not a criticism, just a reality. We had a lot to do!

Phil N: I’ve kept in contact with the PAO and I’ve had some contact with the Chaplain and JAG officer on board.

Q: What was the coolest thing you saw on the ship?

Rob D.: Being on the deck with the aircraft and crew during flight operations was the most thrilling thing I saw.

Robert C: Flight operations are, of course, one of the most amazing things for civilians to see up close. It gives you a whole new respect for the raw force that’s deployed throughout the world.

Kevin T: Flight operations!  The planes flying around are cool enough themselves, but to see the precision in which everything was orchestrated was amazing.  Everyone knew their part and played it like a well-rehearsed script, all while working in a very, very dangerous place.

Mark Y: Flight operations were amazing - from the deck and the (?balcony? vulture’s perch?). The power of those jets, the professionalism of the crew - breathtaking.  But I also cherish standing on the bridge with the captain and his core leadership team while 18-year-olds steered this massive aircraft carrier.  I enjoyed the honor of talking with the Commander in his “office” on the bridge. Eating fancy meals in the captain’s dining room with the folks who run the nuclear reactors on board.  Going to the weapons area to see (disarmed) tomahawk cruise missiles, bunker-busters, and many others.  Seeing the enormous anchor and learning that just handling that piece of equipment is an entire specialization.  Landing and climbing out of the C2 COD onto the deck; and then taking off 24-hours later via catapult.  Trying to sleep in the loud bunks while jets took off and landed overhead...

Scott G: Like everyone else has said, flight operations were amazing. But for me, besides the cool fighters, it was watching the young people on the deck. They have the most dangerous job in the world and at 19 years old are doing amazing amounts of work that includes some heavy duty responsibility. At 19 years old I would have had those puppies flying into the ocean. Those sailors just amazed me.

Len D: Sitting on the bridge talking about the ‘big picture’ at twilight with the ships commander as jets came and went was among the most surreal experiences of my life. The heat on my face from the jets of an F-18 fighter taking off about 30 feet away won’t soon leave my memory.. And catapulting from zero to ~ 165 in two seconds when we took off from the ship to head back home may just have been the coolest thing ever :)

Christopher C: The precision and execution of the flight ops. Every person knew his or her role, every bit of equipment was in place, every bit of infrastructure was color-coded. Highly, highly impressive.

Jake M: I’d be remiss without saying clearly: the sound and sights of the jets as they were launched and had the noise and vibration wash over us. The first second or two of the launch was fairly quiet, but when the afterburn glow came into view and the vibrations of the engines caught up to us, man oh man that was amazing. Second, was the comfort and competence that was displayed on the flight deck. There was lots of talk about “the chaos of the flight deck”, but I never say chaos. Everyone seemed to be extremely well trained, and extremely tuned in to what they were doing.

Phil N: It’s hard not to love the flight ops, especially the night time flight operations. You cannot beat the surreal experience of speaking with the Admiral while watching nighttime flight ops in the background.

Q: What was the least cool thing about the ship?

Will M: The noise. It was incredible. We spent the night and even though I wore ear plugs, I remember waking in the middle of the night to an alarm for a fire drill in the engine room. It’s really impressive that the sailors and aviators can work so professionally in such a loud environment.

Rob D: I managed to smash my finger going down the stairs at one point and still feel the pain in that finger one year later.  It is a dangerous place to live.

Kevin T: I have to agree with Will.  The noise was incredible and was a big factor in messing with my senses.  In particular, I remember being in the air traffic control center.  I think it was located one deck below flight operations.  Every time a jet would land, the whole place shook with what sounded like a plane crash. It was, of course, just a normal landing. The alarms, the jet engines, the calling out of orders and statuses over the loud speakers, all made for a very loud environment throughout the entire ship - day and night.

Mark Y: It’s pretty claustrophobic - with random ladders and dead-ends; I never knew which of the many floors I was on, whether fore or aft, and would have been helplessly lost if left alone for a moment.  But to get a sense of direction, you need to go on deck, which is always cold (outside), loud, smells of jet fuel, and still doesn’t allow for a moment of quiet, private, alone time.

Scott G: It really sucked to have to wake up in the middle of the night and find the bathroom. Especially when you’re in the top bunk! (Thanks Jake!)

Len D:  The noise piece has already been covered... It WAS loud! Given the crew was in pre-mission training, there was no shortage of interesting things taking place around us.  We managed to witness a ship wide fire drill. And while it was fascinating for me personally to watch the crew rally with the precision of a fine Swiss watch, I felt for them all as they ran up and down small corridors and ladder systems in massive fire retardant suits carrying hoses, fire extinguishers, and all sorts of gear. Wasn’t so bad for us civilians, but I felt for the crew and hope they only get exposed to that sort of excitement via drills and practices!

Jake M: When you see a carrier on TV or in pictures, or when you hear someone talk about them, they always do so in terms of how big they are. In reality, the ship felt relatively small. Sure it was a huge ship, but not as huge as you think. And with so many small rooms, low ceilings, and uncomfortable walkways, it’s hard to imagine living there day to day. I mean, hey, when you have plan your bathroom breaks because there’s very few locations on the ship, well, that’s small.

Phil N: It had to end! I would have loved to have more time on board and to have more time to speak with people around the ship.

Q: Were the sailors and aviators open?

Will M.: From Commander John Alexander down to the enlisted sailors, the people were incredibly open and honest. At one point, I asked Admiral Mark Guadagnini about the role of the aircraft carrier in a world without other dangerous super powers. I expected a packaged answer. Instead, I got a thoughtful response that, of course, included how we need to project strength to the world but also expressed doubts that it was a tool of warfare needed for the future.

Kevin T:  Yes, every sailor I encountered was willing to strike up a conversation.  I was actually impressed that they handled themselves so well.  I kept thinking they must think it’s weird to have civilians on the ship.  But, they carried on like it was normal for us to be around them taking pictures, asking questions, and generally getting in their way.

Mark Y: Amazingly so.  I found it incredible that the captain, commander, key officers, and others were so willing to meet and talk with us.  We met mid-level folks working their way up the chain; and both younger and older sailors.  I was also satisfied to get a few strong negative comments from low-level sailors about their stint on the ship and in the Navy; it satisfied my skepticism that not everyone can be over-the-moon happy, and we were getting the straight scoop from people who were not “positioning” for us as outside visitors.

Scott G: I never thought any of the sailors were anything but open. They live in a “chain of command” culture. To that end, for being in a system like that, they didn’t pull punches. I appreciated their honesty and think it added a special something to the visit.

Len D: Absolutely! I was stunned at the level of transparency. Walking in, I had assumed we’d be exposed to the ‘top echelon’ to ensure a positive vibe. Not the case. The policy - talk to everyone - talk to anyone. No holds barred. Some of my best discussions were when I just grabbed a seat at a table of sailors for lunch and let them do their thing. Each as happy to tell you their story as the next.

Christopher C: Very much so. One of the conversations that was an unbelievable highlight was the time we had talking with Admiral Guadagnini on the bridge. Visualize this...we’re underway at sea on an aircraft carrier, night flight ops are happening on the deck, and the bridge is lit up only with dim, red lights, like an old-school photographic darkroom. We talked at length with Admiral Guadagnini, who shared his thoughts on the Navy and how it had changed during his years in the service, as well as the challenges he faces as an executive in charge of many thousands of servicemen and servicewomen. One of the biggest problems he said he faced? “Finding good people”...just like many other businesses.

Jake M: Back on land, society has taught us that “only the professionals do the talking”. I fully expected that the sailors and officers would see our PAO lead and clam up. The exact opposite was true: every member of the crew we met was kind, empathetic, and happy to talk to us. Literally everyone we talked to was beaming about their role on the ship, and wanted to show off by telling us about that role.

Phil N: To echo the comments of the others, I found everyone to be very open. I would have loved the opportunity to speak with more of the enlisted sailors, but I understand they all had busy jobs to do.

Q: Would you support the decision of someone to join the Navy?

Rob D: Yes.  I even sent a slide show to a friend whose son was thinking of going to the Naval Academy.  It ends up that he had completed his pre-med studies and indeed joined the Naval academy in MD.

Kevin T:  Absolutely. I do think it would take someone who is willing to make certain sacrifices, though.  Knowing that, I see opportunity for someone to do just about anything they want to do in the Navy - from a mechanic to a nuclear scientist. Just like any career path, I think a person could work hard, do good and make a good life in the Navy. 

Mark Y: Yes, as long as they went in with eyes wide open to both the opportunities and the drudgery, repetitiveness, hierarchy, level of commitment.  As with any job, there are pros and cons - and some of the Navy’s cons are extreme: work under harsh conditions, while away from family for long periods, beginning with boring and repetitive tasks... and, oh, by the way, the chance you might be killed.  But the up-side is also extreme.  I can only imagine the sense of pride, of camaraderie, the sense of brotherhood, or belonging, of common purpose, of responding to the call of duty, of sacrificing for the benefit of others...  If I had experienced, in my youth, what I experienced on the USS Abraham Lincoln a year ago, I don’t think I could have gotten the desire for that adventure out of my blood. 

Scott G: Without question. National service can sometimes be over romanticized but its a noble calling and I would support my family (even my kids) if they wanted to join. I’d just want them to understand the sacrifice and life they would lead.

Will M: Yes, but it is a decision that should not be made lightly. The visit reinforced my belief that national service should be mandatory, although not restricted to military service. Watching the young sailors perform complex, dangerous jobs showed how effective young adults can be given proper training and supervision. Mandatory national service for a year would focus the energy of youth to benefit our nation and give a structured start to their adult lives.

Len D: I would... But would want to ensure the person was doing it for the right reasons. Make no mistake - these folks worked extremely hard. As Mark suggests above, there are no weekends, no trips to the movies - and no opportunity to just ‘unplug’ when you need to. It seems that if you want in, you’re going to be all in. Having said that, I left with a bit of emptiness that I’d not experienced that when I was younger. These folks bubble with pride and enthusiasm. They made me *prouder* to be an American than I already was. They humbled me with their professionalism and dedication. So yes - this experience left me with a very positive point of view on serving our country.

Jake M: Absolutely, but with the caveats that have been given above. “Top Gun” gave viewers a pretty realistic sense of the drama, but it certainly doesn’t explain the drudgery and discomfort. But yes, military service, especially in the Navy can be a great thing for a young kid. As I said above, however, I wish that there were other non-military options that could provide the same value to our country and to our kids.

Phil N: I’m a very big believer in public service and would be very supportive of someone joining the Navy. Of course, it’s important that people enter service with a very realistic viewpoint of how hard the life will be and what will be expected of them.

Q: Was the embark an effective way for the Navy to get its message out?

Rob D.: Absolutely.  The openness and hospitality was surprisingly refreshing.

Kevin:  Yes.  I believe openness and transparency are key to getting out your message.  When you can show someone what you do, instead of just telling them what you do, your message will resonate more effectively.  I tell anyone that will listen about my trip to the carrier.

Mark Y: Without a doubt.  I talk about my experience on the “Abe” at the drop of a hat; give me an excuse and I’ll pull out photos, videos, and tell passionate stories of the men and women on that ship, the flight crew, obscure details... That word-of-mouth from communicators, influential opinion-leaders, and others is priceless. 

Scott G: In today’s world where communications and networking are so open, it’s the best way the Navy can bring to life what it does and how great its people are. The program is a great success and when I tell people about it, they all would love to take part. By showing people what happens aboard a carrier, or other naval vessel, every day, you get a better understanding of the entire system.

Christopher C: Very much so. Heck, we’re still talking about it a year later.

Jake M: No question about it. In a society that is putting more and more blocks between the people and the reality, it’s wonderful to see the Navy opening up. In an information void, people tend to assume the worst. Opening the kimono (thanks, Guy!) is a great way for the Navy to be clear about the good it’s doing for our country, our kids, and the world.

Phil N: Absolutely. I speak with people about the trip all the time. Having been out once, I’d love another chance knowing what to expect. I think it’s very important to tell the stories of the men and women protecting us.

Q: Was there anything you were unable to do while aboard that you wish you could have done?

Will M: Given that it is a huge ship and we were only there 24 hours, we saw an incredible amount. I would have liked to see a bit more of the more mundane parts of the ship as well as the engine room -- although I understand that access to nuclear reactors is probably not a great idea.

Mark Y: I was a blank slate; I went without preconceptions and was very happy to be led around like a kid in a candy store with gold AmEx card.  My jaw was slack and my eyes were saucers from start to finish.  The experience more than met my expectations because I didn’t have any - and yet it was the experience of a lifetime that I will always appreciate.

Scott G: The only thing we were unable to observe: the live firing exercise.

Jake M: Just more. More of everything. The trip was designed wonderfully, but I was thirsty for more parts of the ship, more time on the flight deck, and more people to talk to and learn from.

Phil N: I agree with the others, I would have loved to see more and had more time. In particular I would have liked more time with regular enlisted folks to talk about their jobs, feelings, etc.

Q: Did you post to your social media blogs, podcasts, etc. about the trip? Please provide links if you did.

Rob D: I made 6 postings, you can see them here: http://blog.robde.com/categories/Navy.aspx

Kevin T: I posted on my blog (http://thorntonkevin.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html and http://thorntonkevin.blogspot.com/2010/08/to-carrier.html) and on my Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/kevinthornton) and my Facebook page (http://facebook.com/kevinthornton). My videos from the trip are on YouTube at http://youtube.com/thorntonkevin

Mark Y: I posted a couple of blogs that related the experience to work topics (http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/weblogs?blog=/pub/wlg/19360 and http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/weblogs?blog=/pub/wlg/18949), I posted photos in Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/markyolton/sets/72157623946757880/) and Facebook, I posted links and comments in LinkedIn and on Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/markyolton),  and I posted video on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/markyolton) that has been downloaded by all sorts of people including someone building a compilation video of the C2 transport.

Scott G: A ton...here’s my links:

    http://scottgulbransen.com/2010/04/26/featured-articles/thanks-uss-lincoln-crew/
    http://scottgulbransen.com/tag/uss-lincoln-embark-2010/
    http://www.everyotherthursday.com/2010/04/learned-dads-sea-aboard-uss-lincoln/
    http://www.everyotherthursday.com/2010/05/dads-sea/
    http://www.shamable.com/2010/04/28/the-uss-lincoln-aircraft-carrier-social-media-hotbed/
    http://www.shamable.com/2010/04/23/its-go-time-for-shamable-com-and-the-uss-abraham-lincoln/

Len D: Not as much as I need to. Initial post here with more to follow!

Christopher C: Yes, here.

Q: Did you participate in any traditional media reporting on your embark?

Robert C: I have referenced the experience many times in newspaper interviews and radio shows. Because a significant amount of my work has dealt with military personnel issues, this has been something has is also a part of my conversations with members of congress, state policymakers and service members in other branches.

Q: Would you be willing with guidance and consultation to lead a social media embark?

Rob D.: Yes.  It would be an honor.

Robert C: Of course.

Mark Y: Absolutely. It would be an honor - and it would be a privilege to ‘give back’ in some small way, to the men and women who serve in our military.

Kevin T: Yes!

Scott G: Without question.

Len D: At the drop of a dime.

Christopher C: Absolutely.

Jake M: I’ve already booked a ticket. Anyone want to tell me where I should be going??

Phil N: In a heartbeat.

Q: Since your trip what has happened to you in your life/career i.e. where are you now?

Rob D: Over the year I continued my photographic quest posting new images on www.robde.com.  I started a marketing blog www.fivethingsinmarketing.com aka www.5tim.com where I provide some thoughts on business to business marketing.  I also changed companies and am now the Global Marketing and Communications director for a New England High Tech company.

Robert C: I took a new position representing members of all three branches of state government. Every Governor, state legislator, Attorney General and Chief Justice is one of our members. My job is to provide political and communications strategy and crisis communications response particularly in the area of criminal justice.

Kevin T:  I left Walmart and became the senior communications officer for the Walton Family Foundation.

Mark Y: I’m in the same job: senior vice president of the SAP Community Network - which is the social network for 2.4 million SAP professionals in 200 countries and territories worldwide.  My life hasn’t changed dramatically.  Although, I have a much expanded world view as it pertains to our military, and much higher degree of respect and appreciation for the sacrifice, dedication, and professionalism of our men and women in uniform.

Scott G: I accepted a new position to lead the social media and digital strategy for the world’s largest casual dining chain: Applebee’s. That includes leading the online effort by which Applebee’s honors both veterans and active duty military on Veteran’s Day. On that day, we serve over 1.5 Million military folks with a free meal to simply say “thank you.” The job meant a move from San Diego to Kansas City. Being truly land-locked for the first time in over 30 years has taken some getting used to. We’re also expecting our fifth child (fourth boy!) in September. I also lead

Len D: Same job for me - Driving social evolution at EMC. However, this trip did give me added insight into creative uses of Social Media and organizational transparency that have since helped me in my job. Kudos to the Navy for their forward thinking in leveraging emerging media!

Christopher C: I’ve since joined Ant’s Eye View and am now working side-by-side with Jake McKee. Additionally, I “see” many of the individuals from the embark online on a regular basis, as well as cross paths with them in the course of our engagements.

Jake M: I’m still at the company I co-founded, Ant’s Eye View. My role has morphed a bit, where I’m now focusing on innovation and product development. I have the pleasure of working with Chris Carfi, and still keep in touch with many of the group. Scott and I have spent many hours debating politics and life and I truly value his friendship. I also decided after I got home and looked at my photos that I was going to up my photography game. So many missed opportunities for great shots, or shots that didn’t turn out like I wanted convinced me that I wasn’t going to let another amazing destination have the same photographic result. It’s coming along!

Phil N: This trip was a major inspiration to changing my career direction. There are so many amazing stories in the world that never get told to the general public. The USS Lincoln trip is a good example as Americans are spending huge amounts of tax dollars on something that is foreign to almost all of them. This has led me to accept a full-tuition scholarship to attend Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism for a Masters.

We heard those words once again today as my uncle Roger Keith Hollinger, Sr., was laid to rest.

He was a great family man and a highly-decorated Vietnam veteran. Before the funeral, I read his award citations.  Have you ever read one of those?  It's powerful stuff and it struck me how detailed these were.

Uncle Roger received two Silver Stars, one of which states,

"For gallantry in action: Specialist Four Hollinger distinguished himself by heroic actions on 29 May 1969, while serving as a tank driver with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor in the Republic of Vietnam. While on a sweep mission with several infantry units, the joint elements began to receive intense small arms fire and rocket propelled grenade fire from a large size enemy force. Immediately, Specialist Hollinger's tank commander and loader were wounded. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Specialist Hollinger stopped the tank, jumped out of the driver's compartment, and helped his wounded cremembers to a safe location. Specialist Hollinger then returned to his vehicle and began placing devastating machine gun fire on the hostile positions. He continued to put out a heavy volume of fire until his wounded tank commander was replaced. Under a continuous hail of fire, Specialist Hollinger and the new tank commander maneuvered the tank towards the insurgents until the tank commander was wounded. Again, Specialist Hollinger exposed himself to the fire to help the wounded man through the dense enemy fire. While medical aid was given to the tank commander, Specialist Hollinger ran back through the bullet swept area to his vehicle and immediately began firing at the enemy force. His valorous actions were responsible for saving several lives. Specialist Hollinger's bravery, aggressiveness, and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, the 25 Infantry Division and the United States Army."

He also received the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism.  The citation states,

"For heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force: Specialist Four Hollinger distinguished himself by heroic actions on 12 and 13 July 1969, while serving with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor in the Republic of Vietnam. While on a combat operation, elements of Company A came into contact with a large enemy force. As the battle progressed, Specialist Hollinger's supply of ammunition began to dwindle to a critically low level. With complete disregard for his own safety, Specialist Hollinger exposed himself to the hail of fire as he maneuvered through the bullet swept area to provide his tank crew with vital ammunition. His valorous actions contributed immeasurebly to the success of the mission. Specialist Hollinger's bravery, aggressiveness, and devotion to duty are in keeping with the higest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, the 25th Infantry Division and the United States Army."

He also received two Bronze Stars.  In addition, Governor Rockefeller awarded him the Arkansas Distinguished Service Medal. The occasion was featured in the Arkansas Democrat:


At the funeral today, after the 21 gun salute, taps, and the folding of the flag, the Army soldier presented my aunt with the flag and said those words, "This flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service."

Rest in peace, uncle Roger. We've got the watch.

Today was the last day of a 7.5 year journey at my place of employment. I'm moving on to a new adventure, a great opportunity.

This occasion has me thinking about time and how quickly it passes, and some of the things that have happened in the past 7.5 years.

Here's my partial list:

• had a son
• divorced
• moved 3 times
• owned 3 cell phones
• bought a house
• bought 1 vehicle
• joined 2 different online dating sites (results TBD)
• landed on and taken off from an aircraft carrier
• been on national TV
• traveled all over the U.S.
• grown personally and professionally
• worked with some amazing people

A lot can happen in 7 years.

Weirdness
Do you believe in signs?  Do you believe that things come full circle?  I think I do.  Today convinced me even more.

When you leave the company, you get processed out in what's called an "exit interview." It's where you turn in your ID and other company assets.  The person that did my exit interview was the person that interviewed and hired me 7.5 years ago!  Wanna hear another one?  When I came to this job 7.5 years ago from the radio station, one of my colleagues played a tribute in my honor with "I Wanna Go Back" by Eddie Money.

Guess what song happened to be on the radio when I got in my truck after my exit interview?  Uh huh.  Weird, eh?

On April 25 and 26, 2010, I had the honor of being a guest aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) while at sea in the Pacific.  A previous post described how I was able to make the trip and why it was so important to me.  Now I want to give more details on the trip.

The journey started in San Diego, California, at Naval Air Station North Island.  It was there that the other guests and I gathered at the entrance gate.  We were escorted onto the base and taken to the headquarters building for the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet Naval Air Forces for a briefing by the public affairs staff.

We learned about the U.S. Navy, the Pacific Fleet, and the Distinguished Visitors Program.







Inside the terminal, a pilot from Conway, Arkansas, gave us an entertaining description of what we were about to experience, including:

• The flight to the carrier should last approximately 1 hour.
• This won't be anything like a commercial flight.
• There are no luggage bins so wires and lines are exposed.
• It's very, very loud.
• We'll be wearing safety gear.
• We may see hydraulic fluid drip from lines.  It's normal, so you don't need to let a crew member know.  In fact, if we don't see hydraulic fluid you should let a crew member know because that probably means we've run out.
• There are only two small porthole windows, and the crew will likely sit by those.
• When we land on the carrier, we'll go from 140 mph to 0 in 2 seconds.

So, I was ready.





The flight to the carrier was loud. I felt tense the entire time, anticipating when the landing would happen.  Not having windows increased my anxiety. In our briefing, the crew told us they would wave their arms moments before we would land.  I think my eyes stayed glued to them for the entire hour.

Finally, arms were waving. For the next 20 - 30 seconds, the plane was bobbing up and down, swerving wildly left and right.  The pilot was compensating for the forward movement of the carrier and its up and down motion with the waves.

There was a quick sound - like metal on metal.  It lasted for maybe a second as the tailhook dragged the flight deck.  It caught the wire. The G-force was immense.  Pressed into my seat, unable to move for a couple seconds.  And then it released.

We were aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.  This is what we saw as we walked off the plane (thanks Mark Yolton for the video):

I've just returned from what I can only describe as a life-changing experience.  I've toiled for more than a day trying to figure out the best way to tell this story.  I wasn't even halfway through the embark and I was already wondering how to pull all of this together. I scribbled pages and pages of notes on the plane ride home and I delayed writing this piece for a few more hours to think more about it. There's just so much to show and tell.

I've decided to do several posts, each with a different theme, covering the different aspects of my visit to USS Abraham Lincoln (CV-72) on April 25 and 26, 2010.  Together, me and my "shipmates" took thousands of photos and videos and we're coordinating the distribution so we can share the goods. 

What I'll tell you now is that I have even more respect for the men and women of our U.S. Navy than I had before.  In my last blog post, I wrote about my family's personal history in the Navy and why this trip was so important to me.  I can say now that my eyes have been opened much wider.  As cheesy as it sounds, I may never be the same.

What I saw in our Sailors was a dedication, sense of mission, and patriotism that I've never collectively seen before anywhere else.  I hope I can do a good job telling their story.

More soon...

When I heard about an opportunity through the Social Media Business Council to live on an aircraft carrier for two days I knew I had to do it. I just had to make it happen.  I have always been a fan of Naval operations, and history in general, and have some incredible family history with the Navy.

It's a business trip, first and foremost. I'll be networking with other social media professionals and learning how the Navy uses social media and the Web.  But it's also a deeply personal trip.

Some history

My dad's uncle, Grafton, enlisted in the Navy in 1925. That's him leaning against a light pole in Miami, 1942. He went on to serve on the USS Arizona, USS West Virginia, and several others.  His most remarkable service was probably on the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-2) from 1941 - 1942. He was aboard the Lexington during the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 8, 1942, when the ship was attacked and eventually sunk.  He survived, was plucked out of the water, and sent to Miami to start building the crew for a new aircraft carrier, also named USS Lexington (CV-16) in honor of those that perished on the first Lex.  It's now a museum ship in Corpus Christi, Texas.

My dad's brothers Wayne, Emmett, and Herschel served together on the destroyer USS Frank Knox in Korea from 1950 - 1951.

Emmett and Wayne joined the Navy a year or two before Hershel and were already on the Frank Knox together. But when Hershel enlisted, he made a deal with the recruiter that he would also be on the Frank Knox.  Now, that's something the Navy normally didn't allow. The only way the Navy let it happen was to get signoff from my grandfather. Of course, he allowed it. Newpapers in Arkansas wrote about the Thornton brothers serving on the same ship and nicknamed the ship USS Thornton. 

There were others.  My uncle John was also on a destroyer in Korea. My dad was in the Air Force. My grandfather on my mom's side was in the Army. Another uncle was in Vietnam. And I have cousins that served in the Navy.  I didn't serve.  Life took me on a different path. But I've always had a deep respect for the military. 



 
The trip

I'm departing on a Sunday morning from the San Diego Naval Air Station, flying in a C-2, and landing on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) somewhere in the Pacific. Yes, yes, that's the one President George W. Bush landed on.  I'll spend the night aboard ship, then take off from the carrier Monday afternoon in the C-2, and return to San Diego Naval Air Station.

Now here's where it all comes together.  My great-uncle Grafton was stationed at the San Diego Naval Air Station in 1929.  My uncles Wayne, Emmett, and Hershal were there in 1950.  And I'll be there next weekend. 

Sure, I'll be "working" on this trip - benchmarking, networking, and representing my company, but for two days I'll see what it's like to be in the Navy, paying homage to my uncles in my own way, and fulfilling a dream.

Here is a glimpse at USS Abraham Lincoln:




What's it like to serve aboard a carrier? Watch "Carrier" on hulu.