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Enterprise Continues Preparations for Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100827-30
8/27/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nathan R. Carpenter, USS Enterprise Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Enterprise's (CVN 65) Weapons Department will undergo the second phase of Conventional Ordnance Safety Review (COSR), an inspection designed to ensure proper handling procedures are followed in the stowage, movement, assembly and installation of ordnance carried aboard the ship, Sept. 27.

The first COSR inspection, completed May 2010, evaluated ordnance-handling facilities and administrative procedures onboard Enterprise before ordnance could be loaded onto the ship.

For the second phase of COSR, approximately 85 percent of Enterprise's full ordnance load must be on board to evaluate the effectiveness of the explosive safety program.

With the training and deployment schedule of Enterprise and the rest of CCSG-12 dependent on the outcome of COSR, Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Arthur D. Gray (AW/SW), leading petty officer for G3 Division of Weapons Department, is doing everything he can to make sure that his department is ready.

"We are constantly training, over and over again," said Gray. "To do well on this inspection, everyone must be properly trained and all safety protocols must be followed."

Training is nothing new for Gray, who hopes to see at least half of the 40 airmen in his division advance to the rank of petty officer third class after the next exam cycle. Regardless of the upcoming inspection, Gray's Sailors will be studying and training to become more proficient at their jobs.

Despite Enterprise's recent emergence from an extended shipyard period, Gray believes many of his ordnancemen who have never been on a deployment are as trained and capable as any of their more experienced counterparts.

"Inexperience doesn't hurt us a bit," said Gray. "My guys were well trained in [apprenticeship] school, and they're eager to show what they can do."

Gray has no doubt his division will do as well in the second phase of COSR as they did in the first one.

"We're solid," said Gray. "We've been training and preparing to get to this day. We blew all of the other inspections out of the water, and if this one were to come tomorrow, we'd pass."

Enterprise is at sea conducting work-ups in preparation for her 21st deployment.