Battle Cat Roars With Pride Following INSURV
Navy Newsstand
Story Number: NNS040128-07
Release Date: 1/29/2004 12:03:00 PM
By Journalist Seaman Christopher Koons, USS Kitty Hawk Public Affairs
YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- USS Kitty Hawk's (CV 63) congressionally mandated material inspection by the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) came to a successful end in mid-Janaury, after months of hard work and attention to detail from the crew.
The "Battle Cat's" commanding officer characterized the ship's performance during the weeklong exercise as a grand slam home run that sailed right out of the ballpark.
"Our success has generated a lot of excitement at all levels of Navy leadership, right up to the Chief of Naval Operations," said Capt. Thomas A. Parker, Kitty Hawk's commanding officer, addressing the crew at the ship's weekly captain's call. "Our final and successful outcome confirms that Kitty Hawk is in absolutely outstanding shape."
Parker said the ship received an overall evaluation higher than what he and other leaders on the ship expected. Traditionally, these inspections, normally conducted every five years, do not result in glowing reports, as each inspector's purpose is to find problem areas that need to be corrected to improve the ship, he said.
Parker added that Kitty Hawk's superb performance for INSURV is important, not just to the ship and the inspectors, but also to the United States on a much larger scale.
"Because of our Sailors' efforts and a great overall evaluation, we can be expected to operate for many years to come, if our nation's leaders choose that option," he said. "Our maintaining this ship enhances national capabilities and options. We should never forget the bigger picture."
Leaders at various levels aboard Kitty Hawk praised how their Sailors performed during INSURV.
"We surpassed all our goals," said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW) Don Robinson, leading petty officer of deck department's 1st division, which handles equipment such as Kitty Hawk's two anchors. "Step by step, we did everything that was expected of us. We performed better than many of the deck departments of other aircraft carriers and smaller ships."
The vital equipment used by deck department drew particular praise from the INSURV inspectors, said Robinson.
"They said our foc'sle was one of the best they had seen in the fleet."
"We handled the underway material inspection (UMI) with enthusiasm, professionalism and pride," said Robinson. "We also had superior material condition overall."
For medical department, the hard work of enlisted Sailors paid off during INSURV, according to Cmdr. Kris Belland, Kitty Hawk's senior medical officer.
"We met and exceeded all goals and expectations," said Belland. "Our hospital corpsman performed outstanding work."
This dedication allowed medical department to avoid previous INSURV discrepancies, said Belland.
"For example, we made sure all of our oxygen tanks were secured, which was something we had been hit on in previous inspections."
Capt. David Denis, INSURV's senior inspector and chief of staff, said the crew of Kitty Hawk should be proud for having completed everything they had to do for INSURV.
"The ship completed all of its underway demonstrations, which is a major accomplishment in itself," said Denis.
It was the attitude of Kitty Hawk's crew that impressed Denis the most.
"It was apparent to me that the Sailors aboard were doing their best to operate their equipment correctly and were proud of their ship," he said.
Even though Kitty Hawk is the oldest active ship in the fleet, turning 43 years old in April, its performance during INSURV was superior to that of many of the Navy's newest, most advanced ships, said Denis.
"There were areas in which Kitty Hawk performed better than some of the nuclear carriers in the fleet," he said.
According to Denis, the Battle Cat's crew should use INSURV's evaluation as a means of improving itself.
"The purpose of INSURV is to provide the crew with a list that can make their ship even better," he said.
For many junior Sailors aboard Kitty Hawk, INSURV was a time for hard work and positive reviews.
"We worked long hours, but it was worth it, since we'll get a little more free time now," said Airman John Smith of air department, who is currently working in the mess decks.
The INSURV team inspected the ship's galleys over and under, said Smith.
"They looked to see how clean everything was and how we cooked the food," he said. "They also made sure we followed proper food handling procedures."
While the inspectors gave the mess decks a good evaluation, their thoroughness never relented, said Smith.
"They were nice people, but tough when they were inspecting."
According to Airman Justin Aldrete, of air department's administrative division, the several months of preparation for INSURV allowed Kitty Hawk's crew to draw closer as a group.
"It was stressful, but it brought us together and encouraged greater teamwork," he said.
Living up to cleanliness standards was not limited to the ship's galleys, said Aldrete.
"The INSURV team looked for cleanliness issues in our main space, which is the tower where the air boss sits," he said. "They also inspected our flight deck lighting and communications equipment."
During Captain's Call with the Sailors, Parker took the opportunity to praise them for their efforts. He singled out the Battle Cat's Maintenance and Material Management and zone inspection programs as major factors in the ship's success, saying they contributed to the overall cleanliness and equipment condition of the ship.
"This is due to the efforts of everyone across the chain of command," he said. "I want to especially thank those of you who, at an average age of 19, do the hard jobs on the ship."
Parker reminded the crew that the end of INSURV does not mean Sailors should let up in their commitment to quality performance.
"A successful INSURV is not the end of the road for us, but a marker to many future successful evolutions."
"Even though INSURV is over, the beat still goes on," he said. "There's no exit from the fast lane. And we in the Forward Deployed Naval Forces are always in that fast lane."
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