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Underneath all the intense action of daily flight deck operations aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), are a group of Sailors located within the heart of the ship, constantly searching for threats in dim, blue-lit spaces, filled with advanced computer systems. Operations Specialists (OS) are always steadfast with providing constant surveillance, expert guidance and steady communication to ensure the safety of the crew and the ship.
“The motto in the Combat Direction Center is ‘In God we trust, all others we track,” said Chief Operations Specialist Nicholas Bednarz, the leading chief petty officer for Operations Intelligence division aboard the Truman.
“Everyone of us needs to stay ready and have a watchful eye of 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 on 2017. His first assignment was to the Naval Academy as a deck seaman, maintaing upkeep of various training ships for midshipmen during their training evolutions. Washington then struck the rate of OS on 2019 and he is currently the work center supervisor in charge of the Operations Intelligence division, with Sailors manning various watch stations aboard Truman.
“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 Truman as well as the carrier strike group with ensuring maximum cohesion.
“We also 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 safety of the ship while underway.
“One of my main jobs is to track other ship’s closest point of approach or CPA,” said Washington. “Based on the given speed and course of other ships, we can predict our future position maintain safe navigation.”
Manning long watch times demanding work schedules can be a stressor to Sailors but Washington remains observant and ensure his team remains vigilant and keeps the ship ready for any possible situation.
“Our stations are manned for the everyday and we operate at 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.”
| 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: | 10 |
| 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.
