GW’s AIMD pitches a no-hitter in the inspection game

SULU SEA, AT SEA

10.16.2014

Courtesy Story

USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73)

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Beverly J. Lesonik
USS George Washington Public Affairs

SULU SEA – The Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) earned a perfect score on their Aviation Maintenance Inspection (AMI), Oct. 9-11.

The Naval Air Forces Aviation Maintenance Management Team (AMMT) evaluated AIMD’s maintenance programs, drill performance, training programs, support equipment and material condition.

“We were out of the stratosphere with this inspection,” said Master Chief Avionics Technician Gerald Williams, AIMD’s maintenance master chief petty officer. “I have participated in four AMI’s in my Navy career, but this was by far the best one.”

The AMMT evaluated 41 applicable programs and all were graded as “On-Track”. They also conducted contingency response drills and practical examinations. All six drills and 55 practical examinations were given perfect scores.

“This was truly a team effort involving junior Sailors, petty officers and even up to our chief petty officers and above,” said Cmdr. Jose Montes, George Washington’s AIMD maintenance officer. “During the inspection, AMI members would pick people at random and throw them in a situation to perform procedures that included salvaging equipment during an emergency, hazardous material spill response and proper tool control.”

According to Williams, this particular AMI team has been inspecting for more than two years and described the inspection as a ‘no hitter.'

“There are 11 carriers and more than 12 amphibious ships that undergo this inspection, and George Washington had the best afloat team they have ever seen. There is no such thing as perfect and we will always have something to improve on, but our program managers did a flawless job presenting the programs and setting them up for evaluation,” said Montes.

AIMD Sailors have been preparing for the AMMT for months. They had a pre-evaluation June 20-25 that gave them a list of items to improve on.

“AMI is not something that you can prepare for overnight, or even weeks before inspection,” said Montes. “In order to get the scores we did, we had to create a long-term strategy. We constantly self-evaluated to figure out how to do things better, and opened ourselves up to suggestions, recommendations and directions that we received form reliable sources.”

From the June inspection, AIMD took the recommendations list and set up a systematic approach to correct discrepancies. Using an excel spreadsheet, AIMD tracked their progress and entered the arena fully prepared for inspection.

“Even with the golden scores we received, there’s still work to do the next day,” said Williams. “We still search for ways to improve and work toward the goal of perfection that will never be reached. As long as there are airplanes flying from the flight deck, we will continue to improve ourselves and guarantee the safety of our crew.”

George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

• Date Taken: 10.16.2014
• Date Posted: 10.16.2014 12:22
• Story ID: 145216
• Location: SULU SEA, AT SEA