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FDRMC Completes First Selected Restricted Availability on USS Donald Cook

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS141119-03
Release Date: 11/19/2014 10:36:00 AM

By Susan Lawson, Commander, Navy Regional Maintenance Center Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center (FDRMC) Detachment Rota completed its first selected restricted availability (SRA) on Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) in Rota, Spain, Nov. 12.

The ship completed combined contractor and type commander sea trials Nov. 12, showcasing the product of excellent teamwork between the type commander, ship, regional maintenance center, and both the Spanish navy and local industry.

'Though only recently established, FDRMC Det. Rota has demonstrated exceptional collaboration during the USS Donald Cook availability, and has the distinction of being completed both on time and within budget,' said FDRMC Detachment Rota Officer in Charge (OIC) Cmdr. Joseph Saegert.

'Success can be attributed to the dedication and hard work of the entire maintenance team,' said Saegert.

The Donald Cook team managed to complete all milestones and key events on time enabling Ship's Force to complete a successful light off assessment. Command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) modernization completed ahead of schedule and the installation teams provided additional training for Ship's Force and support for the external communications (EXCOM) assessment team.

The Donald Cook is a key component in the U.S. Navy's efforts to protect European allies from ballistic missile threats, and was the first of the four Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD)-capable ships to relocate to, and complete a chief of naval operations (CNO) availability, at her new homeport in Rota.

Her short 100-day selected restricted availability (SRA) was scheduled from Sept. 24 until Nov. 12, and was filled with maintenance, modernization, and assessments, such as the BMD readiness assessment, which are usually done after the completion of an availability.

'In addition to the compressed availability schedule, there were many other challenges to overcome in the overseas environment, including timely movement of 1,700 line items of government furnished material, development and execution of first article ship repair procedures with the Spanish contractor, Navantia,' said FDRMC Commanding Officer, Capt. Jerry Zinni. 'Despite these challenges, all requirements were successfully accomplished, all while establishing organizational boots on the ground.'

An availability completion message will be distributed to Naval Surface Force Atlantic, and other Navy stakeholders, once authorized and signed by Zinni, will signal the availability completion certification and allow Det. Rota to complete the ship's departure conference.