Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Darren Cordoviz | 241022-N-RG232-1194 NORTH SEA (Oct. 22, 2024) Chief Operations Specialist Chelsea...... read more read more
Subscribe
Underneath the intense action of flight operations aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) is a group of Sailors with focused eyes in a dim, blue-lit space within the heart of the ship. Found in the ship’s combat direction center, Operations Specialists (OS) operate advanced radar systems with unparalleled expertise. Their constant, steadfast surveillance, analysis of critical data, and provision of real-time situational awareness, regardless of longitude and latitude, is the backbone of our warfighting readiness in high-stake environments.
“Every one of us needs to stay ready and have a watchful eye for everything,” said Operations Specialist 2nd Class Alex Washington. “You never have to get ready if you stay ready, and that’s what we OSs strive for.”
Following in the footsteps of his retiring uncle, who is currently serving as a senior chief aviation boatswain’s mate, Washington joined the Navy as a Professional Apprenticeship Career Track (PACT) Sailor in 2017. His first assignment was to the U.S. Naval Academy as a deck Seaman, maintaining the upkeep of various training ships for midshipmen during their training evolutions.
Washington then struck the rate of OS in 2019, and he is currently the work center supervisor in charge of the Operations Intelligence division, with Sailors standing at various watch stations across the ship. As part of their training, OSs undergo rigorous training courses and simulations to ensure they can operate the complex radar equipment, handle the high-stress environment, and maintain a complete picture around the strike group from the ocean’s surface to outer space.
“Lookouts can see surface contacts up to a certain point, but in reality, we need to see beyond that,” said Washington. “What we can do is operate the radars to see and track other contacts much farther.”
Washington also emphasizes the integral importance of each OS onboard Harry S. Truman and the carrier strike group, ensuring maximum cohesion and teamwork.
“We maintain the common data link picture for the strike group,” said Washington, “It allows us to share a coherent communication with the rest of the ships of the strike group and simulate different scenarios for training purposes.”
Another task Washington carries out daily is giving recommendations about the ship’s course and speed to the navigation officers to ensure the ship’s safety while underway.
“One of my main jobs is to track other ships’ closest points of approach, or CPA,” said Washington. “Based on the given speed and course of other ships, we can predict our future position [to] maintain safe navigation.”
Work schedules that demand standing long watches can stress Sailors, but Washington remains observant, ensures his team remains vigilant, and keeps the ship ready for any possible situation.
“Our stations are manned every day, and we operate in a constant cycle with regular working hours and our eight total watch hours,” says Washington. “It can always be draining to look at screens for that long, but we try to look out for each other constantly and lighten up the mood on the watch floor. Working as a team and understanding each other’s situation can help us be more effective and always ready.”
The operations specialists’ contributions go far beyond Harry S. Truman itself. Their vigilance and technical expertise strengthen coordination and cohesion across the carrier strike group. From maintaining seamless communication between ships to refining the common tactical picture, their work is instrumental in ensuring mission success and operational security.
By embodying the values of readiness, professionalism, and teamwork, the operations specialists exemplify the combat direction center’s motto: “In God we trust, all others we track.” Through their dedication, they ensure Harry S. Truman and her crew remain prepared to face any challenge, securing their place as the watchful eyes of the fleet.
| Date Taken: | 12.18.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 12.31.2024 04:21 |
| Story ID: | 488398 |
| Location: | U.S. 6TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY |
| Web Views: | 31 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, The Watchful Eyes, by PO2 Darren Cordoviz, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
