Sterett Sailors Hone Damage Control Skills

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Byron Linder | 170428-N-ZW825-402 SOUTH CHINA SEA (April 28, 2017) Damage Controlman 1st Class William Huddleson holds up a flag indicating a ruptured electronics chill water pipe during repair locker training aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104). Sterett is part of the Sterett-Dewey Surface Action Group and is the third deploying group operating under the command and control construct called 3rd Fleet Forward. U.S. 3rd Fleet operating forward offers additional options to the Pacific Fleet commander by leveraging the capabilities of 3rd and 7th Fleets. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Byron C. Linder/Released)  

SOUTH CHINA SEA

04.28.2017

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Byron Linder  

Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet           

SOUTH CHINA SEA (April 28, 2017) – Sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) continued to improve their damage control skills with repair locker training focused on responding to different types of flooding and structural damage, April 28.

The training focused on different methods of pipe patching and shoring, and different scenarios and locations aboard Sterett to employ them. Sterett Sailors lined a starboard passageway adjacent to Repair Locker 5 and the ship’s mess decks to learn the methodology and hear real-life examples from Damage Controlman 1st Class (SW) William Huddleson, Sterett’s fire marshal.

As the fire marshal, Huddleson is charged with training Sterett’s crew in all aspects of damage control.

“We’re ensuring we maintain our abilities and the level of knowledge we have,” Huddleson said, noting that Sterett had done “exceptionally well” on the ship’s Mobility Damage Control certification earned less than a year ago. “The certification process is relatively new. Afloat Training Group (ATG) came out and ensured that the damage control training team can train the crew and that the crew itself is able to fight damage as it arises.”

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jarrad Howse attended the training. Hospital corpsmen are not normally assigned to repair lockers, but Howse was able to participate in the advanced damage control training as part of his enlisted surface warfare specialist qualification.

“I believe damage control is the most important thing on a ship,” Howse said. “I come out to learn more. I don’t usually get to see the drills; today, I saw the flags they use to simulate flooding for the first time. I got to hold some of the patches that are used. Just getting to see the simulations and the in-depth details that typically only repair locker personnel get to see was a big help in providing context.”

Howse drew a parallel to his role as a corpsman and said it is important for Sailors to have a solid general knowledge of both first aid and damage control. “It’s always good to know some basic stuff, because you may be alone or with whomever is on duty with you, and you have to respond to a situation.”

Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 31 command staff, Sterett, and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105), along with embarked helicopter detachments from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 49 and HSM 78 comprise the Sterett-Dewey Surface Action Group (Sterett-Dewey SAG), which will conduct routine patrols, maritime security operations, and theater security cooperation activities in the Western Pacific area of responsibility under the operational command and control of U.S. 3rd Fleet.

U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy, constantly coordinating with U.S. 7th Fleet to plan and execute missions based on their complementary strengths to promote ongoing peace, security, and stability throughout the Pacific theater of operations.

• Date Taken: 04.28.2017
• Date Posted: 04.29.2017 00:16
• Story ID: 232026
• Location: SOUTH CHINA SEA