Mastering Damage Control Aboard the USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109)

Photo By Ensign Samantha Rados | GM2 Taylor, CTT1 Taylor, STG1 Thomas, and GM2 Barahona move ammunition from one magazine room to the next.  

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES

12.29.2017

Story by Ensign Samantha Rados 

USS Jason Dunham (DDG109)

It was 0600 on Wednesday, the 29th of November, and red lights illuminated the passageways throughout the ship. Every crew member lay within their rack, while a recording played over the 1MC. It was a recording of Jason Dunham's struggle as he gave his life for his fellow Marines, and for his country. The soundtrack shifted into other tragedies that have occurred on the waterfront throughout history. Recordings played of Sailors fighting to save their shipmates and the ship, for days straight, with no end in sight. At the conclusion of the recording, the Executive Officer's voice broke through the 1MC: "General quarters, general quarters, all hands man your battle stations." The crew jumped out of their racks and proceeded to their assigned watch stations, ready to save USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) from any force that could attempt to sink her.

The crew assembled on the flight deck once the ship secured from general quarters. "This was a test to see exactly how much time it takes our crew to get from its most vulnerable state to its most war-ready state. Today was a sign that we need to improve," Cdr. Morgan Roberts, USS Jason Dunham's Executive Officer explained. Chief Damage Controlmen William Purhamus stepped in front and split the crew up into 28 teams- mixtures of officers, chiefs, and Sailors of all ranks. This was the start of what USS Jason Dunham termed, "D.C. December" and these teams competed to earn the most points possible, performing different Damage Control skills across all casualty categories. DCC Purhamus ended with a phrase the crew knew all too well: "HOOYA D.C.!"

DCC Purhamus described how he originally came up with the idea for D.C. December, stating, "'Learn or Burn' is saying heard throughout the Damage Control organization fleet wide, but Damage Control is more than just a PQS, or a qualification. It is an all hands effort. Examples exist throughout the fleet: USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Forrestal (CV 59), USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58), and more recently, USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), and USS John S. McCain (DDG 56)." However, the challenge was how USS Jason Dunham would make the training realistic and engaging, revealing to the crew their weaknesses and fears, and transforming these shortcomings into strengths and confidence. DCC Purhamus explained, "USS Jason Dunham took training to the next level. We forced the crew to work with people outside of their repair lockers or general quarters stations. We wanted to get people familiar with being wet, cold, loud noises, and uncomfortable situations."

The crew began with basic drills over several days and progressed into an all-day crucible event. Challenges included donning Emergency Escape Breathing Devices, Firefighting Equipment and Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses. Sailors egressed, or escaped, out of both their workspaces and living spaces, treated medical fractures, performed various first aid assessments, utilized medical stretchers in confined spaces, and patched ruptured piping. The crew took written exams for the scenarios that were more difficult to replicate in real life, such as Chemical Biological and Radiological drills.

Damage Control December finished with an all-encompassing crucible event. Sailors dressed out in firefighting equipment and proceeded out to the flight deck. "Watch out! There's an incoming small boat! Brace for shock!" shouted Ensign Van Note, the First Lieutenant onboard. The group of Sailors crawled through a wooden tunnel into the port helicopter hangar. Wooden crates and blankets were strewn throughout the hangar to simulate lagging overheads and other obstacles, while recordings of crashing metal blasted in the background. Once the team reached the magazine room, they worked together to move ammunition cans through the passageway and into a new magazine room.

"We have reports of a noise coming from Berthing Seven! Your shipmates need your help!" encouraged Chief Quartermaster Derek Scott from within the magazine room. The team of Sailors proceeded aft to Birthing Seven, also entirely smoked out, and maneuvered around fallen mattresses and strewn pillows, searching the space for fallen Sailors. Once the space was determined cleared, they climbed up through the escape hatch and headed aft through the ship to extinguish a fire and assess a dying patient in the Battle Dress Station.

At the conclusion of the crucible event, the Sailors gave their opinions on how to make D.C. December better. Every response was the same: "we want more." Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, Lieutenant Junior Grade Jonathan Zurita described, "It is incredible how a space you thought you knew can be transformed into something unrecognizable, which is why it is imperative to train to this level. If the time comes, our Sailors will excel rather than freeze."

Though Damage Control December is over, USS Jason Dunham still continues Damage Control training on a weekly basis during "Warrior Wednesdays." DCC Purhamus describes, "We set the bar high not only aboard, but across the waterfront. Word travels fast, and I have received several inquiries as to how we pulled it off, and how other ships can do similar training." The hope of every Sailor is to never be required to put this training to use in real-life scenarios. Yet if the time does come, USS Jason Dunham will be ready, and is making contributions to ensure all ships are ready, throughout the Navy, fleet wide.

• Date Taken: 12.29.2017
• Date Posted: 01.25.2018 11:03
• Story ID: 263221
• Location: NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US