Military

Fast Cruise Marks End of DPIA for 'Big Stick'

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS041220-03
Release Date: 12/20/2004 9:49:00 AM

By Journalist 3rd Class Mark Catalano, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs

ABOARD USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (NNS) -- USS Theodore Roosevelt (TR) (CVN 71) conducted a "fast cruise" Dec. 6-10 that marked the end of the ship's Docked Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) in Portsmouth, Va.

Although sea trials do not officially begin until TR leaves NNSY and gets under way, the fast cruise showcases more of a change from one evolution to the other. It also showed that TR was ready for tasking.

"Pack your seabags," said TR Commanding Officer Capt. Turk Green, addressing the crew. "I've got mine packed and I'm ready to go. It's time to execute and get everybody back and ready. Fast cruise is so we can prove ourselves and certify to our leaders that TR is ready and equipped properly to go back out to sea and do our missions."

During the nearly weeklong under way simulation, the crew stayed busy with musters, fire drills and general quarters drills to go along with their usual day-to-day work.

The ship is expected to make its return home to Naval Station Norfolk upon completion of sea trials, before the ship's first holiday leave period.