USS Michigan Leads the Way by Kicking the Habit Early
By COMSUBGRU Nine Public Affairs

Release Date: 07/27/2010

(PACIFIC OCEAN) – In preparation for the upcoming Submarine Force smoking ban beginning Dec. 31, 2010, USS Michigan (SSGN 727) (Blue) put the smoking lamp out almost six months early.

At exactly 7:27 a.m. it was declared over the ship’s announcing system that “the smoking lamp is out below decks.”  The date and time, July 27, at exactly 7:27 a.m., were chosen in honor of the ship’s hull number. July 27, is known as Tuebor Day onboard the Mighty Michigan, currently on her second SSGN deployment to the Western Pacific. Tuebor is Latin for ‘I will defend,’ and appears on both the ship’s crest and the State of Michigan Seal.

The crew has been preparing for this major change to shipboard life.  Of the 54 smokers onboard, 18 personnel enrolled in a Tobacco Cessation Program (TCP) run by the ship’s Independent Duty Corpsman, Chief Hospital Corpsman Robert Ripps.  “Doc,” as he is affectionately known by the crew, said that the program consisted of weekly meetings and nicotine replacement therapy and was successful for 17 of the smokers enrolled.  

“The TCP helped me to get over the hump of needing a routine after-watch cigarette,” said Sonar Technician 2nd Class Petty Officer Joseph Camerlin, a smoker of 12 years.  “I feel really good about not smoking.  I haven’t had a cigarette in over a month.” 

The crew supports starting the smoking ban nearly six months before the rest of the submarine fleet. “Like everything else, we are ahead of the curve.  What better day than 727 day, personally, I think it was a great choice, especially since it is my 32nd birthday,” said Camerlin.

Machinery Division Leading Chief Petty Officer, Chief Machinist Mate Timothy Flansaas, is one of the 36 smokers who did not enroll in the TCP.  He successfully quit ‘cold turkey’ on his own, and hasn’t smoked since the ban was first announced.

Flansaas said he had to wrap his mind around the fact that he really didn’t want to smoke anymore.  “I calculated how much money the next cigarette pack would cost me,” said Flansaas.

Machinist Mate 3rd Class Petty Officer Adam Vogel noticed that quitting smoking has increased his lung capacity and allowed him to run farther during his workout.  To help encourage working out as an available stress relief instead of smoking, fitness options onboard have improved, including an upgraded flat screen television under the Missile Compartment Logistics and Escape Trunk, so Sailors can work out using video based fitness programs.

 “As a former smoker for more than 10 years, I understand the challenges of quitting smoking.  It is extremely hard to stop when you are at sea. We want our Sailors to be successful, so we decided to put the smoking lamp out during this mission cycle,” said Command Master Chief Victor Smith.  By putting the smoking lamp out at the now, towards the end of the mission cycle, the command’s plan is for the Sailors to quit onboard the boat, and then go into the home port training period with a fresh start and plenty of support from their family and friends, said Smith. 

“The day we extinguish the smoking lamp onboard is a significant event in the lives of our Sailors.  I cannot think of a more appropriate day to start a new and healthier life than 727 day,” said Smith.