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Saipan Near Perfection on 3M Inspection

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS030513-21

Release Date: 5/13/2003 5:30:00 PM

By Journalist 2nd Class Abigail Krueger, USS Saipan Public Affairs

ABOARD USS SAIPAN, At Sea (NNS) -- During a recent Maintenance and Material Management (3M) inspection, the Afloat Training Group (ATG) of Norfolk, Va., scored USS Saipan (LHA 2) at a near-perfect 99 percent.

Ships throughout the Navy must requalify their 3M program every 18 - 24 months, to ensure that equipment is being properly maintained and their programs are effective. After coming out of a 14-month overhaul and lay-up period at Norfolk Naval Shipyard last summer, during which Saipan conducted only corrective and not preventive maintenance, getting the 3M gears grinding again took a lot of work.

"When I checked on board in December of 2001, Saipan was in the shipyard and had no structured 3M program in place, because most of the equipment was either not being used or undergoing improvements or replacements at the time," said Chief Electronics Technician (SW/AW) Rick Wood, Saipan's current 3M coordinator.

"From that point through last July, we had a good direction where we wanted to go with the program. But when the Learning Training Team from ATG came out last summer, they really opened our eyes. We only scored a 51.9 percent on our Accomplishment Confidence Factor, primarily due to the lack of confidence of the maintenance men, especially in the areas of safety and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). We realized at that point that we really needed to beef up our spot check and equipment validation programs."

"Coming out of the shipyard is much like bringing a ship back to life," says Saipan Commanding Officer, Capt. N.L. Hackney. "It's almost as if you are starting over again. Chief Wood did a terrific job defining what we needed to do and laying out the plan for our 3M program. Our success is a direct result of his efforts."

According to ATG inspector, Chief Gunner's Mate (SW) Bruce Clifford, the 3M inspection is also an important part in a ship's certification process for the Battle Efficiency Award. Since the re-implementation of 3M inspections last year, ATG has had their hands full, inspecting a backlog of ships. With nearly half the fleet deployed in support of global contingencies, the process has grown even more challenging. ATG normally holds inspections while ships are moored to the pier at Naval Station Norfolk.

Nevertheless, the crew aboard Saipan rose to the occasion to make ATG's visit go as smoothly as possible.

"Usually for a ship of this size, we send out a team of five inspectors, and it takes about three or four days," said Clifford. "We only had four inspectors on Saipan, and they finished the inspection in just two days. That's impressive. We were met with a great response and great attitudes from the crew. They were all 'Johnny on the spot.'

"This is definitely one of the best inspections I've done," Clifford added. "Any score above 90 is very good, and Saipan, with a 99 percent, was nearly perfect."