Gold Eagle Weapons Department Makes Ready
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS090620-15
Release Date: 6/20/2009 1:20:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Philip Schrickel, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs
NEWPORT NEWS, Va (NNS) -- After their practice onload only a few weeks prior, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Weapons department was able to bring aboard, transport and allocate live ordnance without a hitch June 6.
The onload of small arms ammunition marked a huge milestone not just for "Gold Eagle" Weapons department, since they had not executed such an evolution in over four years, but for the entire crew as it is one giant step closer to getting underway.
"Once we get aircraft on the flight deck, we'll get to see all of our guys in action working together," said Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class (AW) Joseph Stackhouse.
Along with AOs (aviation ordnancemen), Gold Eagle gunner's mates are noticing a change in tempo in Weapons department as well as throughout the ship.
"Day-to-day operations in G-2 have definitely ramped up," said Gunner's Mate 3rd Class Michael Pryor, "Especially with the ship leaving soon, everyone has to be ready."
With Carl Vinson moving even closer to an operational status, the Sailors of Weapons department have been working together to get the job done. "It's been a lot of hard work, but we'll pull through," said Pryor.
USS Carl Vinson is completing 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 has been replenished and the ship's services and infrastructure upgraded to make her the most state-of-the-art aircraft carrier in the fleet and ready for another 25 years or more of service.
For more news from USS Carl Vinson, visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn70/.
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