Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Seelbach | Sailors assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford's (CVN 78) aircraft intermediate maintenance...... read more read more
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By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kallysta Castillo
USS Gerald R. Ford Public Affairs
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Sailors conducted an integrated general quarters drill with Newport News Shipyard (NNS), Dec. 3, 2021.
The general quarters (GQ) was the first evolution of this magnitude the crew has conducted since concluding full ship shock trials in August.
Ensign Jeremey Luallen, Ford’s fire marshal, described how general quarters drills are crucial towards maintaining the ship’s readiness posture during damage control efforts.
“The casualty that occurred on the USS Bonhomme Richard has really shown us that we need to remain focused and ready to fight a casualty,” said Luallen. “By keeping the crew sharp and engaged during general quarters, we are keeping our skills and capabilities intact so when the time comes we can effectively put them to proper use.”
In addition to maintaining force readiness to combat damage control casualties, the training received during the general quarters drills serves to prepare Ford Sailors for the upcoming Crew Certification, which will be the ship’s first-ever graded inspection by Commander Naval Air Forces, Atlantic (CNAL), at the end of January 2022.
Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Decker, Ford’s training officer, works closely with the damage control coordinators to ensure the crew can fight the ship in the case of multiple casualties, and display the knowledge necessary for a successful inspection.
“Our ship’s force needs to be prepared and know how to fight in the case of casualties from damage control, as well as medical and engineering casualties,” said Decker. “It takes more than just the training team to build an effective force towards combatting these casualties; it takes the entire crew’s effort towards training safely and in the right way.”
During the drill, Ford simulated a scenario where the ship was struck by a missile and the crew had to combat an electrical fire. In the course of the simulation, first responders attacked the fire and were able to prevent it from causing significant damage.
Capt. Jeremy Shamblee, Ford’s executive officer, commended the crews’ rapid response to the casualty and the training team’s efforts in educating new Sailors on damage control techniques.
“The first responders to the electrical fire did an excellent job in securing the casualty and preventing it from becoming a full blown fire,” said Shamblee. “As I was walking around the ship, I saw our training team leaders fully involved in teaching our newer Sailors how we combat casualties. Our training leaders are truly committed to getting the crew qualified in all the areas needed to maintain and repair the ship in a damage control situation.”
Luallen said general quarters drills of this nature are essential to mission readiness because the occurrence of an actual firefighting scenario is inevitable.
“When it comes to a casualty involving firefighting it’s not about if it happens it’s about when,” said Luallen. “Based on the caliber of training we provide during these drills, our ship’s force will stand ready regardless of our location or maintenance availability.”
Ford is inport at Newport News Shipyard executing her Planned Incremental Availability (PIA), a six-month period of modernization, maintenance, and repairs.
| Date Taken: | 12.03.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 12.08.2021 11:32 |
| Story ID: | 410723 |
| Location: | NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 327 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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