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USNS San Jose Trains Sailors with 'Ship-Ardy'

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060921-17
Release Date: 9/21/2006 3:47:00 PM

By Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Christopher Thompson, Military Sealift Command Public Affairs

USNS SAN JOSE, At Sea (NNS) -- Military Sealift Command combat stores ship USNS San Jose's (T-AFS 7) military detachment discovered a unique way of training Sailors for the Navywide advancement exam in September.

San Jose Sailors prepared for the exams in an interesting and fun atmosphere, by playing a game show-style competition called Ship-ardy. Ship-ardy was, in essence, a tournament of champions focused on basic military requirements for enlisted personnel on board.

Petty officers first class and below were split into four teams and faced off against each other, complete with buzzers, a computerized question board and Lt. Todd Bloom as the game's host.

The training schedule was intense in the weeks leading up to Ship-ardy, with two or three training sessions usually scheduled each day. The officers and chief petty officers were assigned to teach the basic requirements topics, drawing on the appropriate study guide, Navy Knowledge Online, and their training and experience.

As tournament-time drew closer, the crew prepared with a review and practice Ship-ardy session, while the ship's chief petty officers served pizza and ice cream. Enlisted Sailors took notes and received copies of relevant topics that would apply to their advancement exams.

The four teams finally faced off in a grueling battle of basic military requirement knowledge just days before exams began Sept 7. The matches were all very close, with the junior enlisted displaying an impressive amount of knowledge in the topics presented.

San Jose's Military Department Officer-in-Charge, Cmdr. Ken McKinley, expressed pleasure in the hard work and planning that went into this event as successful on two fronts — improving his Sailors’ knowledge, and being fun and entertaining.

“It was gratifying to see the level of involvement and enthusiasm for learning brought about by the Ship-ardy competition,” said McKinley. “The khakis and first classes did a great job of presenting this material and then bringing everyone together for an entertaining and, more importantly, educational event,” he said.

Military Sealift Command operates more than 110 non-combatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move more than 90 percent of military equipment and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces.