• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

NAVSEA Repair Program Enhancing Fleet Readiness, Saving Money

NAVSEA News

By Chief Journalist David Nagle, Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs

A Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)-managed program for repairing shipboard circuit cards and electronic modules is reaping benefits for the Navy and keeping the Fleet operationally ready.

The Miniature/Microminiature Module Test and Repair (2M MTR) program establishes structured work centers outfitted with repair tools, test equipment, repair and diagnostics procedures called Gold Disks, related accessories and repair piece parts such as transistors, diodes and resistors aboard most surface ships and many shore intermediate maintenance facilities to repair circuit card assemblies and electronic modules, eliminating the need to send many failed circuit cards to a depot maintenance facility.

The 2M MTR Program also supports repair of many expensive circuit cards and modules that were designated as consumables. Many of the failed circuit cards repaired onboard ships are not stocked in the ships storerooms and frequently when non stocked cards are repaired, it results in mission critical systems being restored to full operational capability.

The NAVSEA 2M MTR program set a record for completed repairs during the first quarter of fiscal year 2003. 2M MTR work centers during the first quarter reported 2,473 circuit cards and electronic modules repaired, which averted or corrected 237 casualty reports and resulted in an $8.5 million cost avoidance.

"The 2M MTR program is one of the best self-help programs in the Navy," said Tom Ingram, 2M MTR program manager at NAVSEA. "It provides ship's force technicians and technicians at shore sites which have 2M MTR workcenters with the capabilities to enhance their operational readiness with the added benefit of saving significant operating dollars."

Many legacy and most new shipboard systems contain complex electronic circuitry. However, systems maintainers are normally only trained to troubleshoot systems down to a small group of circuit cards or a single failed electronic module or circuit card.

"Ships only carry a limited amount of spare circuit cards aboard, so if a system goes down due to a failed circuit card and you don't have the capability to maintain it, it can take days, weeks or longer to get a replacement card through the supply system," said Ingram. "The 2M MTR program increases readiness by eliminating the need to wait on new or depot repaired cards." Most shipboard 2M repairs take less than four hours to complete, he added.

The program includes three different training courses (Miniature Electronic Repair, Microminiature Electronic Repair and MTR Test Equipment) each located at six homeport areas. Sailors that repair the circuit cards and modules onboard ships normally perform the work as a collateral duty. Technicians receive Gold Disks DVDs quarterly, which contain the latest diagnostic information to troubleshoot and repair faulty circuit card assemblies and electronic modules.

"This program directly supports three of the CNO's top five priorities," said Ingram. "In addition to supporting current and future readiness, it also enhances quality of service by providing Sailors the opportunity to obtain state of the art technical skills and abilities that are critical to maintaining many mission essential shipboard and shore systems."

Billets to attend the 2M MTR training courses have been included as part of reenlistment incentives. The 2M MTR skills and abilities frequently result in technicians receiving personal recognition and the monthly CNO Gold Disk Award, which includes $500 and a flag letter of commendation.

Since October 1997, Navy commands outfitted by NAVSEA's 2M MTR Program completed 48,719 2M repairs which resulted in 4,199 casualty reports averted or corrected and a cost avoidance of more than $155 million.

Ingram cited recent messages from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) as how the 2M MTR program is paying dividends for deployed ships. In January and February 2003, while deployed in the Mediterranean Sea, Truman reported 82 2M repairs completed which saved the carrier $297,000 and averted or corrected 17 casualty reports.

"The initial cost to outfit Truman with its 2M MTR equipment, related tools, accessories and workbenches was about $100,000," he said.

Because of the success of the program, its capabilities have been copied throughout the other branches of the armed services, where it will play a role in maintaining readiness in the face of a potential conflict with Iraq. A Marine air control group recently deployed to Kuwait with a mobile 2M MTR workstation where, according to Ingram, they are reporting success in repairing circuit cards in the desert.