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    Abraham Lincoln and its Sailors in ship-shape

    NEWPORT NEWS, VA, UNITED STATES

    05.19.2015

    Story by Jennifer Cragg 

    USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72)   

    NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Navy prides itself on its dedication to physical fitness. Twice a year, Sailors across the fleet perform the Physical Readiness Test (PRT). This cycle, two Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) made sure they did their part to keep up with Navy tradition by scoring the maximum possible score on their PRT.

    Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class Keith Ferguson, a Charlotte, North Carolina, native, had been striving to reach this feat for the past three cycles.

    "I maxed the situp and pushup portions before, but still needed to cut about 30 seconds off of my run," Ferguson said. "For about a month leading up to the PRT, I ran three days a week, on top of the five days I'm in the gym year-round."

    Boatswain's Mate Seaman Robert Adams, a Lompoc, California, native, also has a history of being in peak physical form. His preparation for the PRT begins long before the cycle does.

    "I was always into fitness," Adams said. "I played three sports year-round throughout high school which led to a full-ride football scholarship to Charleston Southern University, where I got my bachelor's degree in kinesiology."

    Chris Jacquard, Lincoln's fit boss, thinks that such outstanding performances should motivate other Sailors to set similar goals.

    "Maxing out on the PRT is a demonstration of a Sailor's commitment to excellence in how they prepare to do their jobs on board our warship,"

    Jacquard said. "This is a sign that we, as a command, are moving in the right direction in terms of combat readiness as we deliver Lincoln back to the fleet. A physically and mentally conditioned Sailor is a more effective Sailor."

    But, preparation for the PRT should be a year-round effort, Jacquard added.

    "Having a well-structured physical training program and a balanced diet are necessary to reaching fitness goals," Jacquard said. "Sailors who strive to max out their scores should prepare well in advance with a regiment of strength, endurance and cardiovascular training."

    Ferguson used a combination of research and the technological tools of today to ensure his diet was up to par.

    "Buying a food scale has drastically changed my diet and allowed me to improve my fitness," Ferguson said. "I would recommend getting a digital food scale and logging your calories, whether it's by hand or through an app on your phone. The resources are at your disposal; you just have to reach out and be dedicated to using them."

    Jacquard thinks this is a step in the right direction for Lincoln and the Navy as a whole, but everyone has to be fully committed to make these outstanding performances the norm.

    "There is a direct correlation between Sailors' physical fitness levels and the success they will have performing their duties on the ship," Jacquard said. "You are only as valuable as what you contribute. Being in top shape and combat ready allows you to perform your duties at a higher level of proficiency, and therefore makes you an asset to our command."

    Lincoln is currently undergoing a refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News.

    Lincoln is the fifth ship of the Nimitz-class to undergo an RCOH, a major life-cycle milestone. Once RCOH is complete, Lincoln will be one of the most modern and technologically advanced Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in the fleet and will continue to be a vital part of the nation's defense.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 05.19.2015
    Date Posted: 06.21.2015 10:56
    Story ID: 167478
    Location: NEWPORT NEWS, VA, US
    Hometown: CHARLOTTE, NC, US
    Hometown: LOMPOC, CA, US

    Web Views: 11
    Downloads: 0

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