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By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Beverly J. Lesonik
USS George Washington
WATERS TO THE WEST OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA – A Sailor leans forward on his stool and peers closely at the equipment in front of him. With a tool in both hands, he experiments with the device to see if it will unlock for him the secret to its malfunction.
The Sailor, Aircraft Technician 3rd Class Joshua Harrington, from Farmington, Mo., pulls his stool closer to the counter filled with equipment whose functions are unknown to most.
He adjusts knobs, takes voltage readings and uses a 1040 C Panel Meter Calibrator with his deft hands, and without hesitation calibrates various units brought to him from all departments aboard the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73).
Harrington, is one of approximately 125 Sailors that make up the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD), Intermediate Maintenance Division 3 (IM3), who specialize in equipment calibration. IM3 is responsible for the accuracy of all equipment that can be calibrated throughout the ship.
“We calibrate equipment for [George Washington], squadrons and other aviation equipment,” said Harrington. “Especially test sets that squadron and AIMD use to test aircraft.”
IM3 Sailors also calibrate gauges and switches that the ship uses for measurements of pressure and steam that does everything from launching aircraft to making hot water for showers.
According to Harrington, George Washington cannot function operationally without IM3. His co-Sailors ensure that all equipment brought to them perform at their highest standard.
“My favorite part is troubleshooting repair for broken parts that come into the shop,” said Harrington. “Most of the time we just flip switches to verify everything is working, but it is gratifying to be able to fix something every now and then.”
According to Harrington’s work center supervisor, Aviation Technician 2nd Class Scott Hoag, from Mesa, Ariz., Harrington’s love for his job qualifies him to be one the most spectacular technicians in the shop.
“He is one of the guys who takes the initiative to step up and take the hard jobs,” said Hoag. “He is the first one that jumps on new or important jobs and even works past normal hours.”
Harrington regularly disappears and comes back with yet another piece of broken equipment. All of the extra time he puts into his work is accomplished to help George Washington remain mission ready.
George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
| Date Taken: | 07.19.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 07.19.2014 11:31 |
| Story ID: | 136614 |
| Location: | AT SEA |
| Web Views: | 30 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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