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USS Normandy Combat Team Earns Radar Navigation Cert

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090703-24
Release Date: 7/3/2009 12:42:00 PM

By Ensign Adam R. Cole, Normandy Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- USS Normandy (CG 60) operation specialists (OS) certified in radar navigation (RADNAV) June 24 at the Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS) Dam Neck training site.

The certification tested the combat information center (CIC) navigation team's ability to properly plot and track ship's movement near shallow water and in low visibility conditions. Even with an extended dry-docking ship's restricted availability (EDSRA) that lasted seven months, the Normandy OS team proved it had retained the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure safe navigation.

The certification was held inside a special simulated setting, where CSCS proctors had the Sailors provide track data as the ship transited inbound toward Naval Station Norfolk.

CSCS proctors qualified the Normandy CIC team based on the completion of a set number of objectives accounted to each watch station. Of those objectives, the primary aim was to keep the ship in safe waters and provide the right reports to the bridge in an accurate and timely fashion.

"The Normandy CIC team did very well, especially for being in the yards as long as they have been," said Operations Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Edward Donahue, RADNAV instructor. "They're ability to communicate and work together was the main factor in achieving this certification."

The communication that Donahue mentioned came in the form of having both situational awareness of own ship's movement through the transit and also the movements of inbound and outbound traffic.

Normandy Commanding Officer Capt. Jeffrey T. Griffin, who observed the certification 'run,' was pleased with the effort of the CIC team.

"I am very proud of the performance of our CIC team," said Griffin. "They showed a lot of professionalism. I feel very confident that when we go to sea, that the ship will maintain safe navigation due to their efforts."

The operations specialists were modest about the certification, saying that they were just doing what they had been trained for. They also mentioned teamwork as a key to success.

Operations Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Glenn E. Watkins was the piloting officer and Operations 2nd Class (SW) John P. Casas was the plotter, two of the most important CIC navigation positions. Both gave credit of the certification to other watch stations like shipping and navigation scope operator.

"We have to work together well to achieve success," said Watkins. "I just tried to be quick and accurate and was backed up nicely by everyone else doing their job well. I think we have a good mix of experienced and new watchstanders that will become more comfortable with each other the more we work together."

Normandy is based in Norfolk, Va. and serves as part of Carrier Strike Group 8.

For more news from ships in the fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnsl.