USS New York conducts washdown

Photo By Cpl. Todd Michalek | Corpsmen with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, load gear into storage units after cleaning it, Aqaba, Jordan, May 27, 2015. The 24th MEU is in Jordan conducting a wash down of all their gear prior to returning to the United States. The 24th MEU is embarked on the ships of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and is deployed to maintain regional security in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Todd F. Michalek/Released)  

5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS, AT SEA

06.02.2015

Courtesy Story

24th Marine Expeditionary Unit

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Amanda E. Cabasos, USS New York Public Affairs

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS -- Advancing closer to the completion of deployment, the amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21) underwent a scheduled agricultural washdown and inspection May 26-31, 2015.

In a combined effort, Sailors and Marines assigned to the New York, Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 4 and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted the wash down of the ship’s vehicle storage area and 24th MEU equipment.

“The primary goal of the washdown is to clean vehicles and equipment that have gone ashore for various exercises and missions,” said Chief Boatswain’s Mate Joshua Mesler, a Bolingbrook, Illinois, native assigned to New York. “It is important for us to eliminate foreign matter that could potentially house insects or rodents and anything that we need to avoid bringing back to the United States.”

The continuous 72-hour evolution required tedious planning and logistical expertise from multiple entities.

“In order to run the operation smoothly we need to organize a vehicle and equipment offload team, a wash team, set up staging areas, etc.,” said Gunnery Sgt. Derrick Love, a Chicago, Illinois, native assigned to the Combat Cargo platoon aboard New York. “Without the blue and green teamwork, a washdown can be very difficult.”

With a combination of hoses, sponges, buckets, brooms and shop vacuums, the crew scrubbed the decks and doused the walls of the ship’s vehicle storage area, including all vehicles and equipment aboard.

This routine operation is the last step in preparation for the ship’s voyage home upon completion of an 8-month deployment.

Washdowns are routinely conducted for amphibious ships wrapping up deployment in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

“It’s not just about the extermination process as it is leaving foreign debris on the ground where we are doing the washdown,” said Villaver. “We need to avoid bringing any unfamiliar contaminates back home with us.”

USS New York is part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and, with the embarked 24th MEU, is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

• Date Taken: 06.02.2015
• Date Posted: 06.02.2015 17:46
• Story ID: 165259
• Location: 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS, AT SEA