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Posted on 04/02/2004 8:37:00 AM PST by BykrBayb
Story Number: NNS040401-03 Release Date: 4/1/2004 11:00:00 AM
By Journalist Seaman Ryan McGinley, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- USS Lake Erie (CG 70), in conjunction with Afloat Training Group (ATG), Middle Pacific (MIDPAC), competed in the Damage Control (DC) Olympics March 19.
The DC Olympics were held on Naval Station Pearl Harbor to help train Sailors in a hands-on environment and have fun at the same time.
"We just wanted to make sure the crew had awareness of damage control and they think about their basic skills before we start getting underway again," said Lt. Cmdr. Heedong Choi, executive officer for Lake Erie.
Eighty Lake Erie Sailors participated in the half-day event that included five simultaneous but different damage control stations. The DC Olympics were part of the ship's Captain's Cup, which divided the Sailors into four teams: Combat Systems, Engineering, Operations and Supply/Navy/Administrations.
The first station was the "modified" wet trainer where each team conducted shoring on the second floor.
"That's something that we cannot simulate on the ship at all," said Lt. j.g. Shawn R. Phillips, damage control assistant for Lake Erie.
The wet trainer filled with water as Lake Erie Sailors worked to stop the leak.
"I think it's important because you start to understand the actual amount of water that you're going to have to deal with in certain circumstances, the power of the water and how much force you have to use to stop these leaks," said Seaman Cail Stewart.
Sailors also participated in a pipe-patching relay in which they manufactured all of the materials needed for soft patches and banding patches. The burst pipe was then charged to test the quality of each patch.
"They're taught how to do it, [and] actually have pressurized water coming out at [them] and...[learn] how to do it properly as fast as possible," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Robert S. Moskwa, officer in charge of the events. "The guys that... did it right and were able to stop the water flow. There's a lot of satisfaction right there."
The next event had each team learning about P-100s.
The P-100 is a self-powered de-watering pump. The groups broke up into a hose team and a de-watering team. The de-watering team drained the wet trainer, while the hose team dressed out in firefighting ensembles and rigged a hose off the P-100 to fight a fire. The hose team then used water from the hose and attempted to knock over five canisters while cycling through all the nozzle patterns.
"It's more of a hands-on training, and it sticks in your head a little better," said Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Stephen Benitez. "If anything was to really happen, knowing you've already done this, [you] have a little more confidence. You just jump right in there instead of wandering around [wondering] what every different tool is. You have a broader knowledge because you used it."
The next event was a hose team challenge where Sailors rolled a one-and-one-half inch hose and a two-and-one-half inch hose as fast as possible, with emphasis on keeping the hose tight and correctly rolled.
"A lot of those people aren't in repair lockers," said Phillips. "It's good to know that even though they're not designated in the repair lockers, these people still know what they're doing in other parts of the ships."
The final event was a damage control test comprised of 50 questions testing Sailors' knowledge in all areas.
Not only were enlisted Sailors participating in the event, but officers and the executive officer, as well.
"I think it's important that the guys see the leadership--their khakis, chiefs, senior chiefs, the XO along with division officers--[and] that we actually know how to do stuff too," said Choi. "They can see that we're a participating member of the DC organization."
The purpose of the event was to allow the Sailors to have some fun while learning important information.
"Today's evolution broke the monotony of shipboard life training," said Chief Damage Controlman (SW) Mike D. Kaszubowski, event coordinator. "It's invaluable training. They had fun, and they were getting trained at the same time. You can't beat that."
For related news, visit the Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cnrh.
http://www.news.navy.mil/management/photodb/thumbnails/thumb_040319-N-3019M-009.jpg
http://www.news.navy.mil/management/photodb/thumbnails/thumb_040319-N-3019M-013.jpg
http://www.news.navy.mil/management/photodb/thumbnails/thumb_040319-N-3019M-011.jpg
http://www.news.navy.mil/management/photodb/thumbnails/thumb_040319-N-3019M-008.jpg
http://www.news.navy.mil/management/photodb/thumbnails/thumb_040319-N-3019M-005.jpg
Here's the url for the webpage to view these photos with descriptions and links to larger versions of the photos. http://www.news.navy.mil/list_all.asp?id=12513
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Now for some reason I can't access the site to get descriptions of the photos. Argh!!! I hate setting up a new computer. If memory serves, the 1st photo they're trying to plug a leak in a pipe. The 2nd photo the ball is suspended from a wire, and both teams are using fire hoses to push the ball to the other side. I don't remember what the other photos are. The link to page with the photos is http://www.news.navy.mil/list_all.asp?id=12513
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