GW's New DC Training Program In Full Effect
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS061023-17
Release Date: 10/23/2006 2:32:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman David Bach, USS George Washington Public Affairs
PORTSMOUTH, Va (NNS) -- USS George Washington's (CVN 73) Damage Control (DC) Division has implemented a new training program while the ship is in dry dock.
The program, begun earlier this month, will provide expert level training to certain members of each repair locker and increase damage control readiness.
“We set up an organization called the ‘Core 10,’ which is basically 10 people out of the locker who are going to be here throughout the yard period,” said Lt. Cmdr. Rick Flores, GW’s damage control assistant (DCA). “They are going to get expert level training so they can be the trainers within the locker.”
Damage Controlman 2nd Class (SW) Reginald Pridgen from DC Division, one of the training instructors, said there are several positions the Sailors are learning.
“We train the primary people in the repair locker, including the team leader, on-scene leader, locker leader, key hose team personnel and some utility men. Those Sailors can go back and train the rest of the locker,” he said.
Flores added that the jobs these "Core 10" Sailors are filling are very important.
“These Sailors will eventually end up being leaders, motivating and training with a high level of skill within their lockers,” said Flores.
He hopes the training will help increase manning of the lockers.
“The training program should be a force multiplier when it comes to the ship’s DC readiness,” Flores said. “Before we went into the yards we were mustering around 540 people for the lockers. What this training is doing is helping to re-man our lockers to full strength, which is about 850 to 950 personnel.”
The training classes consist of tech manual instruction along with hands-on training, where the main focus is to put theory into practice.
“Sailors will learn a lot from this training,” Pridgen explained. “A lot of people think they know what they are doing until they are in a real situation. It’s a bad time to figure out that they really don’t know.”
Since the training started early this month, “Core 10” students are finding the training valuable.
“I found the class itself to be very informative,” said Hull Technician 3rd Class (SW) Shane Wheeler of Engineering Department's Repair Division and a member of Repair Locker 3’s shoring team. “I think future classes will teach us quite a bit and some of us who think we know it all might just learn something.”
He continued saying he is excited about what he has been learning.
“I am interested in seeing how this new program goes;” Wheeler added. “It’s neat to be a part of something different and gives me something to look forward to. I will be able to train other people and that’s something I would like to do.”
The training is held two hours each day, with different training each week throughout the yard period.
Training sessions will consist of hose handling, pipe patching, self contained breathing apparatus troubleshooting, and other related damage control topics.
“We’re conducting this training so when we get out of the yard period and get ready to do work-ups, we have a core on the ship, that are ready to go and attack any mission,” commented Flores.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
