• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Stennis Gears up for Sea Trials

By Journalist 2nd Class (SW) Erin M. Tholen, USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs
Story Number: NNS030130-10
1/30/2003

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- For the first time since USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) returned home from its seven-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the crew is prepared to sail again.

After an intense seven month maintenance period, Stennis crew will put its hard work to the test during a 10-day sea trial period to ensure a high level of mission readiness.

According to the ship's chief engineer, Capt. Anthony Gonzales, the goal of sea trials is to get the ship ready in case it needs to quickly get back into the fight. All equipment on the ship will be operationally tested to ensure that their full design limits are at 100 percent capability.

During the underway period, all embarked personnel will participate in man overboard and flight deck/hangar bay fire drills and other simulated emergencies.

"Limited Training Team, which consists of members from Afloat Training Group [Pacific], will be aboard assessing deck department," said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW/AW) Virginia Bailey. "We will be putting the rigid hull inflatable boats in the water, having at least six man overboards and two underway replenishments."

Last week, fast cruise was conducted to test various systems on the ship to ensure maximum capability of the ship's systems. Fast cruise consisted of restricting departure from the ship and creating the environment of an actual underway while the ship remained pierside.

"We did fast cruise to ensure everything was lined up right, and that all of the kinks are ironed out before we do an actual underway period," said CMDCM (SW/AW) Terry Etherton, Stennis' command master chief.

According to Etherton, there has been a turnover of approximately 1,000 Sailors since the ship returned from deployment in May 2002. All new personnel are required to get trained and qualified in various watchstanding duties before going underway, as well as refresh "seasoned" Sailors.

"There is a lot of training that needs to be done due to the fact that it has been so long since the ship has been underway," said Etherton. "The flight deck needs to get recertified to launch and receive aircraft, which will be one of the first things we will do. A lot of training for new personnel and renewing of certain qualifications also needs to get done."

Internal Communications Electrician Fireman Chad Berry of St. Louis reported to the ship in November 2002 and says he is excited to finally get underway for the first time.

"I know that I have a lot of work ahead of me, and with war seeming to be just around the corner, going on sea trials is definitely going to help me to prepare. I'm willing to do anything I can if I'm called to duty," said Berry.