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CVW-5 Sailors Lend a Hand to Kitty Hawk Departments

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050801-07
Release Date: 8/1/2005 10:24:00 AM

By Photographer’s Mate Airman Apprentice Adam York, USS Kitty Hawk Public Affairs

USS KITTY HAWK, At Sea (NNS) -- During USS Kitty Hawk’s (CV 63) current summer underway period, 186 Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 Sailors have been sent on temporary assigned duty (TAD) to support the ship's overall mission.

More than 120 personnel were sent to the supply department in order to assist with increased workload requirements.

“Since CVW-5 boards Kitty Hawk just before the ship leaves port, the majority of CVW-5’s Sailors begin their TAD at the beginning of each underway period,” said Chief Machinist’s Mate (SW/AW) George Diolola, Kitty Hawk’s chief mess deck master-at-arms.

According to Diolola, supply receives the largest amount of TAD air wing personnel due to all of the services it provides, with special attention to operating the ship’s galleys.

“Two galleys are open 24 hours a day during underway periods, so there is always a lot of work to do,” said Diolola. “Squadron personnel provide vital assistance to Kitty Hawk’s culinary specialists.”

When the ship is underway, CVW-5 personnel work in Kitty Hawk’s forward and aft galleys, as well as the vegetable preparation and bake shops.

“I always pair squadron personnel with ship’s company personnel for each job,” said Culinary Specialist 1st Class (SW) Robert Bacosa, aft galley captain. “That way, they can teach each other better ways to do the job.”

A good number of CVW-5 Sailors are also sent to assist the Sailors who operate the ship’s laundry service.

“The laundry workload triples when Kitty Hawk goes under way,” said Ship’s Serviceman Seaman Richard Rindernecht from supply’s hotel division, which operates the ship’s laundry.

According to Rindernecht, of the 11 Sailors who work in ship’s laundry, six of them are from CVW-5.

“Ship’s laundry receives 40 to 50 sets of laundry from E-7 and above and an average of 50 bags of laundry from E-6 and below each day,” Rindernecht added. “Work would be lot harder without the help of CVW-5 Sailors.”

Many of the CVW-5 Sailors who are TAD to supply describe their job as challenging, yet rewarding.

“It gets hot where I work, but I get to learn how to use different kinds of equipment,” said Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Derrick Walls, of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102, who works in the ship’s laundry.

“One of the best things about this job is that I get to learn my way around the ship real well,” added Aviation Structural Mechanic Airman Adam Sample, of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136, who is TAD to supply’s retail division.

Overall, CVW-5 personnel who go TAD to Kitty Hawk's many divisions greatly benefit from the experience, said Bacosa.

“Working TAD can be a challenge, especially for Sailors with rates different from the job they are assigned to, but it is a good experience,” he said.

The Kitty Hawk Strike Group is the largest carrier strike group in the Navy and is composed of the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk, CVW-5, the guided-missile cruisers USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) and USS Cowpens (CG 63), and Destroyer Squadron 15.

Kitty Hawk, forward deployed from Yokosuka, Japan, is attached Carrier Strike Group 5, under the operational control of Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet.