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Truman Completes Reactor Safeguard Examination

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS151016-06
Release Date: 10/16/2015 10:14:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class J.R. Pacheco, USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman's (CVN 75) Reactor department underwent an Operational Reactor Safeguard Examination (ORSE), Oct. 5-8.

ORSE is an official examination conducted every 12- to 15-months by the Department of Energy, determining Truman's ability to safely operate its two nuclear propulsion plants.

The ORSE team was composed of eight inspectors including two Navy captains, both former submarine commanding officers, two commanders and six lieutenant commanders. Over the course of three days, the team observed and graded complex engineering casualty drills, maintenance reviews, levels of knowledge and watchstander response testing.

'The ORSE team is out here to make sure we're doing what we need to be doing to stay safe,' said Master Chief Electrician's Mate S. Rivera, reactor department's leading chief petty officer. 'We're tested through written and oral examinations, drills, maintenance evolutions and material condition inspections. In between ORSE assessments, we undergo quarterly inspections by the Mobile Training Team (MTT) covering the same material, so even our newest Reactor Sailors are well prepared for anything the ORSE team can throw at us.'

Reactor Sailors faced many challenges during the examination, however, Rivera said because his Sailors always train and prepare for the unexpected, their ability to overcome new obstacles was never in doubt.

Obstacles included several complex scenarios put together by the ORSE team with the help of Machinist's Mate 1st Class A. Richey, reactor training division's drill coordinator.

'The ORSE inspectors know the situations they need to see and grade us on, and it's our job to provide the training environments that meet that criteria,' said Richey. 'Anything can happen during these observed evolutions, but the Sailors were well-trained and motivated and they met every challenge head on.'

Rivera said even though the inspection is done, reactor department's work is not over for long, as they will soon start preparing for their next MTT inspection in January. For now, however, Rivera said he feels confident the results of the ORSE inspection will reflect Reactor department's diligent efforts.

'Even though we won't see any official results from the inspectors for several weeks, there isn't a question in my mind of how well we did,' said Rivera. 'Our Sailors hit every curveball that was thrown at them, and I think they knocked them all out of the park. This was the 10th ORSE I've participated in and my third on board, it's easily the best one I've seen, let alone been a part of.'