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Big E's Crash and Salvage Advance in Training

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050113-09
Release Date: 1/13/2005 12:36:00 PM

By Journalist 2nd Class (SW) Jason Thompson, USS Enterprise Public Affairs

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (NNS) -- Members of USS Enterprise's (Big E) (CVN 65) Air Department V-1 Division completed a crash and salvage flight deck firefighting course in December at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Pensacola, Fla.

Even though Enterprise is berthed at Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard, the critical skills of Big E Sailors must stay current, and the team proved they were up to that task by earning a 94 percent average.

Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) (AW/SW) Hector Arroyo, crash and salvage leading petty officer (LPO), led 29 air department Sailors through the weeklong course. The first day of the course was spent mainly inside a classroom learning salvage basics, with plenty of intensive hands-on practical exercises to follow.

"Ninety percent of the first day was spent in the classroom going over basics and testable material. After that, it was all practical training," said Arroyo. "We're specialists on aircraft firefighting, and we emphasize salvaging aircraft."

Should disaster strike on a Navy vessel, it's up to the crew to save themselves and their ship.

"Just as every Marine is a rifleman, every Sailor is a firefighter. The course served as a stepping-stone for us from the basics to advanced firefighting and salvage," explained Arroyo. "Not only that, but the course raised everyone's confidence levels. As an LPO, I'm very pleased with that, because I know what everyone is capable of."

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Harry Stackler, crash and salvage officer, said the Navy, and specifically crash and salvage, relies heavily on support and cooperation. Learning how to operate at peak effectiveness as a team is always near the top of their list of goals.

"The firefighting team training teaches us all how to do our jobs as well as possible, and how to do our job as a team," said Stackler. "The trainer also boosts confidence levels and morale with the team."

Keeping all hands trained and confident is a full-time job for Sailors in leadership roles. According to Stackler and Arroyo, keeping up with training levels and how those levels relate to personnel changes are chief concerns.

"The ship is required to send our Sailors to the team trainer every 18 months or every time we have at least a 40 percent turnover in manning," explained Arroyo. "Over that period of time, the people in crash and salvage get very close."

That strong sense of familiarity serves several practical uses, including knowing a teammate's skills and limitations. That tight-knit community is also useful, because the team trainer is an unforgiving and demanding learning experience.

"We have to know the shutdown and emergency rescue procedures for every type of aircraft that lands on our flight deck," said Arroyo. "Everyone has to be familiar with everyone else's job on the flight deck, because during an emergency, anything could happen. Someone may have to take my place if I get hurt. We all have to be ready to fill any position needed."

Stackler believes his team sets the standard for training expectations.

"If anyone needs an example of how to perform when the pressure's on, or what it means to really think and act as a team, I'd gladly let them watch the crash and salvage team work."

Each crash and salvage division officer takes precautions to ensure the team won't be forced to showcase their skills. Should a mishap occur, Big E's crash and salvage team are well-trained and prepared to handle the even the toughest of jobs.