Bonhomme Richard engineering department: Watchstanding and responding

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Adam Wainwright | Electrician's Mate 3rd Class Dillyn Barber, from Sylvester, Ga., removes the cover from a switch in the forward main engineering space of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). Bonhomme Richard is the lead ship of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU), is conduction joint force operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adam D. Wainwright/Released)  

EAST CHINA SEA, USPACOM, AT SEA

03.14.2014

Courtesy Story

USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6)

Story by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adam D. Wainwright

USS BONHOMME RICHARD, East China Sea – Some may assume fixing a problem is easy: identify the problem and fix it. Now imagine trying to isolate the problem in a hot engineering space where hundreds of pieces of equipment are supposed to work in harmony and the noise is constant and overwhelming. This is a problem sailors serving in the engineering department on the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) conquer every day.

Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Jenzen Alehjo recently had to overcome these problems while standing watch in the forward main engineering space. During her watch, she heard an irregular noise and began going through checks. She quickly identified a problem with a gauge and reported it to the engineering officer of the watch (EOOW). The engineers then quickly repaired it so it had minimal impact on the mission.

“It can be a challenge standing watch in the engineering spaces because the nature of our job can be exhausting,” said Alehjo. “I get through it by reminding myself that engineering department is the heart of the ship and I need to go stand a proper watch.”

Engineers stand watch 24/7 while Bonhomme Richard is underway, ensuring the ship remains mission capable and prepared to respond to any crisis in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility.

“Our motto in the engineering department is ‘train, equip and respond,'” said Lt. Cmdr. Enrique Ortiguerra, Bonhomme Richard’s chief engineer. “We are consistently training our engineers to act efficiently and be prepared to respond to any challenge.”

When a watch stander notices any discrepancy, they immediately report it to the EOOW. The EOOW then contacts sailors who are trained and prepared to immediately fix the problem, ensuring Bonhomme Richard keeps steaming forward.

“This engineering department pulls together as a team and adapts and overcomes all situations and events or issues that arise, and we complete our mission,” said Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Christopher Colamorea. “It would cost so much more money to have outside contractors come in and conduct most of the repairs we complete successfully while maintaining the ship's movement. We are the backbone and heart to this ship and our crew.”

Ortiguerra added engineering department sailors play an integral part in Bonhomme Richard’s commitment to excellence are amongst the finest in the fleet.

Bonhomme Richard, commanded by Capt. Joey Tynch, is the lead ship of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU), is currently conducting joint force operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility.

• Date Taken: 03.14.2014
• Date Posted: 03.14.2014 19:59
• Story ID: 122052
• Location: EAST CHINA SEA, USPACOM, AT SEA