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ATG Western Pacific Embarks GW, Verifies Combat Readiness

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090319-01
Release Date: 3/19/2009 7:31:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James Kimber, USS George Washington Media Department

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- USS George Washington (CVN 73) Sailors began a weeklong limited training evaluation with Afloat Training Group (ATG) Western Pacific Detachment Yokosuka March 9.

ATG's limited training team (LTT), invited by the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, arrived this week to help ensure damage control training is still operating at the ship's high standards.

"We hope to learn from ATG any areas that may need more focus or attention in order to meet fleetwide standards necessary to fulfilling our role as the Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier," said Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Sims, GW's damage control assistant.

"We're evaluating the damage control watchstanders in the repair locker — how they respond to simulated scenarios as well as their damage control knowledge," said Damage Controlman 1st Class (SW) Osbert Forde, an ATG instructor. "Additionally, we're observing and evaluating the ship's Damage Control Training Team (DCTT) and ensuring they are effectively interacting with and guiding the junior Sailors."

One of the most important aspects of running damage control drills and general quarters simulations is to train on proper communications, so the watchstanders' responses are as close to automatic as possible, he continued.

"Without effective communications, command and control cannot effectively manage a casualty or provide assistance, and training is the key to making effective communications second nature to all watchstanders," Sims added. "When an actual casualty occurs, there isn't time to train or to learn how to communicate —it must be automatic, and training is the key to that."

Sims said this is especially important for GW Sailors, who serve as part of the forward-deployed naval forces.

"As the Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier, there is no question that the damage control organization must be ready for any situation," said Sims. "It is crucial for the ship's survivability, and to be able to meet any tasking we may receive from a higher authority. GW has to be ready to deploy safely and be able to conduct sustained flight operations to meet mission requirements."

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