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USS Carl Vinson Master-at-Arms Teach Force Protection

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070727-01
Release Date: 7/27/2007 8:17:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Philip Schrickel, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (NNS) -- Master-at-arms assigned to USS Carl Vinson's (CVN 70) security force facilitated a force protection training course July 9, in an effort to enhance watchstanding skills and security tactics of Sailors assigned to the force on temporarily assigned duty (TAD).

An aircraft carrier depends on the augmentation of its security force with Sailors assigned from the 18 departments onboard. The ship's master-at-arms carry the responsibility of training, deploying, and equipping these Sailors with the tools to be successful as a force protection team.

“The training the master-at-arms provide for our TAD Sailors helps the security team with our mission to protect the ship and our crew,” said Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Jason Donovan, who trains many of Carl Vinson's security team members.

And the Sailors assigned TAD to Carl Vinson's security force understand just how important their ongoing training is to maintain a robust and capable force protection posture for the ship.

“Proper training is essential for the operational readiness of our patrolmen, and it keeps our team fresh on important security procedures,” said Aerographer’s Mate 2nd Class Chris Laws, a patrolman assigned to Carl Vinson's security force.

Basic watchstanding procedures are not the only thing the members of Carl Vinson's security team are learning in the training courses. The ship's master-at-arms is teaching their security teams efficient ways to respond to potentially hostile situations that the patrolmen could encounter when protecting their ship.

Although not every member of Carl Vinson's security division will make a career out of force protection, the goal of their ongoing security training is to equip all members of the force with a baseline level of knowledge in force protection. Thanks to the ship's master-at-arms, Carl Vinson's security force is better prepared for the challenges of protecting the aircraft carrier from potential threats.

“I’m very satisfied with the training that our junior people have been receiving,” said Donovan. “I really think the training is paying off, and their knowledge is becoming second nature.”

Carl Vinson is currently undergoing its scheduled refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. The RCOH is an extensive yard period that all Nimitz-class aircraft carriers go through near the mid-point of their 50-year life cycle.

During RCOH, Carl Vinson’s nuclear fuel will be replenished and the ship’s services and infrastructure will be upgraded to make her the most state-of-the-art aircraft carrier in the fleet and prepare for another 25 years or more of service.