Photo By Sgt. Garett Hernandez | Sailors of Task Group Trident deployed to support Operation Enduring Freedom stand at...... read more read more
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Sailors and Soldiers deployed to support Operation Enduring Freedom at Camp Sabalu-Harrison came together to help build a quarterdeck, considered an essential part of Naval operations whether on land or at sea.
The quarterdeck was built by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Pikus along with two other sailors, Petty Officers Lewis Dobson and Jason Stringer. All three are Seabees, trained by the Navy to be construction experts. The Sailors also received help from Soldiers of the 447th Military Police Company.
The quarterdeck is the part of the ship that serves a mainly ceremonial purpose. In the days when ships were powered by wind, the quarterdeck is where the ship was controlled from. Now the quarterdeck is where the crew enters and exits the ship, explains Command Master Chief Petty Officer Anthony Driver.
The deck was designed by Pikus, who incorporated naval symbols into the deck.
“I found a purpose building,” said Pikus.
Through his talents as a construction specialist, Pikus found a unique way to contribute to the mission here at Camp Sabalu-Harrison.
Pikus designed his construction to resemble a docked ship. In the center will be the ship, and on either side, the piers it is docked at.
There are plans to add a “jack staff” on the bow of the ship. The “jack staff” is a flag pole where the First Navy Jack is flown during a time of war. Along with the “jack staff”, a flag pole will be moved to the stern of the ship were the it would normally be located on a real ship, said Driver.
The deck is “a symbol of the Navy’s presence,” added Pikus, who, along with other Sailors, are deployed to support Operation Enduring Freedom on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.
The deck helps “make Afghanistan feel a little bit more like home. Make us all a little bit more comfortable,” said Pikus.
| Date Taken: | 06.12.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 06.15.2010 09:54 |
| Story ID: | 51415 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 1,340 |
| Downloads: | 160 |
This work, Navy Seabees, Army Soldiers Bring Navy Heritage to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, by Thomas Cieslak, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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