John Stennis (CVN 74) - Naval Cruise Book

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WHEN THE CLOCK STRUCK MIDNIGHT on December 18 2001 , USS John C. Stennis launched her first combat missions over Afghanistan. At 0130 in the morning, the flight deck was still fully manned for another cycle of flight operations that would continue for twelve more hours. Below decks, electric clippers in the barbershop were buzzing, cooks began the dinner meal, customers were lining up in the Personnel office. Disbursing was cashing checks. The Night Shift was in full swing. For the next two and one half months, reveille was sounded just after sunset at 1900 and 16 hours later, the chaplain invoked the evening prayer at 1 055 in the morning. On paper, it was simple to adjust the working schedules to support night flight opera- tions. However, the physiological adjustment on the human body was more problematic. The circadian clock, the body ' s time- piece, is wound to the traditional work cycle of daylight labor and nightly rest. Conducting flight operations on 4.5 acres of flight deck with these affects was particularly challenging. Amaz- ingly, the professionalism of the JCS crew contributed to an incredible safety record throughout the Night Shift USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74)