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GW Sailors Earn Weapons Safety Certification

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081017-01
Release Date: 10/17/2008 7:03:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class John Mike, USS George Washington Public Affairs

USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NNS) -- USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) Sailors completed the Conventional Ordnance Safety Review (COSR) Sept. 30, which certifies that GW handles weapons safely and efficiently as the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier.

"Essentially passing gives us a license to handle ordnance," said Master Chief Aviation Ordnanceman (AW/SW) Paul Snead, G-5's leading chief petty officer.

The goal of COSR is to ensure GW is in compliance with Navy instructions regarding ordnance safety.

"COSR tells the Navy that [GW] is doing the proper training and using the proper methods with ordnance to support the ship and air wing," Snead said.

Weapons magazines, elevators, aviation weapons system equipment and ordnance handling equipment were inspected by representatives from Explosive Safety and Security Office Pacific, while GW was moored at its homeport, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan.

The certification is typically a four-day process, which takes place every two years, but because of the ship's COSR in November 2008, GW had a two-day inspection, said Snead.

GW's recent review is due to a change in naval policy. The inspection was switched from two phases to a single phase, meaning GW had to come into compliance with the new COSR, Snead said.

Although COSRs are an inspection of a ship's weapons safety, Snead said passing was a shipwide effort.

"It's not just weapons [department] involved in COSR," said Snead. "A lot of hard work was put in by operations, combat systems and AIMD to help us succeed."

The George Washington Carrier Strike Group is currently back at sea training in the Pacific Ocean after recently participating in the International Fleet Review in Busan, Republic of Korea.

For more news from USS George Washington (CVN 73), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn73/.