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One of the first things Sailors learn in the Navy is to take care of the ship, their shipmates and themselves. The Damage Controlman rating was created with the sole purpose of maintaining that goal.
The DC rating dates back to 1948 when the Navy combined Firefighters, Carpenter’s Mates, Chemical Warfareman and Painter ratings, according to the Navy’s official recruiting website. The rate was disestablished 24 years later in 1972 and absorbed into the Hull Maintenance Technician rating. During the next 15 years, the Navy recognized the need for a career field that focused solely on maintaining the integrity of the ship and damage control, and in 1987 the rating was reestablished.
“The thing I like most about being a DC is that it’s a rating everyone has to know a certain percentage of,” said DCCM Mark Geer, departmental leading chief petty officer of Engineering Department. “Otherwise if a casualty were to happen, we would struggle to recover.”
A DC’s primary duties include not only protecting the integrity of the ship and its Sailors, but also teaching fellow shipmates basic techniques to save the ship and minimize personnel casualties.
“There are not many DCs on the ship,” said DCFN Taylor Tilson. “That means lot of what we do is training. We can’t be everywhere all of the time. It’s important that we ensure the first responders to a casualty can help save the ship or save a life.”
DCs are required to attend to a 10 week “A” school to learn the basics of their job. Their
schooling and real-world experiences from on the job training can qualify a DC for civilian careers like emergency management directors, firefighters, plumbers, and health and safety specialists.
According to Geer, being a DC is probably one of the most rewarding jobs that he will ever have. It’s a job that he trains for but never wants to actually have to do.
There are 36 DCs aboard the Roosevelt, and thanks to their constant maintenance and in-depth training, Sailors aboard the ship are qualified to protect their ship, shipmates and themselves.
“As a DC, I specialize in keeping my ship afloat and my shipmates alive, said Tilson. “That’s a really big thing to be involved in, and it is rewarding to know I play a part.”
| Date Taken: | 10.29.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 01.31.2018 05:57 |
| Story ID: | 264037 |
| Location: | U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY |
| Web Views: | 236 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Rating on the Radar (Damage Controlman), by PO2 Robyn Melvin, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
