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Newport News, Va. -- The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) recently conducted a 3-M health assessment during its post-shakedown availability (PSA), Oct. 15 - 17.
The assessment saw senior leadership from Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic’s (CNAL) 3-M training team visit the ship to train crew members on a variety of maintenance protocols and procedures.
“Today’s Navy is no longer regarded as just operators; we’re now maintainers of our equipment as well,” said Master Chief Hull Technician Shane Fridley, from Chesterfield, Virginia, a member of CNAL’s 3-M training team. “One day, this ship will go on deployment, and the crew needs to be ready to not only deploy, but maintain the ship as well. My team is here to help facilitate that learning process.”
CNAL’s 3-M team trained Ford Sailors on how to properly complete maintenance checks of common shipboard items such as CO2 bottles and firefighting stations, properly read maintenance requirement cards, and instill confidence in the crew when performing their maintenance requirements.
“It’s always good to get training from someone more experienced, who has done these kinds of maintenance checks many times before,” said Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Chaun Shell, from Cleveland. “As senior enlisted members, they’re going to know more about 3-M, and their experience will enable me to do my maintenance better moving forward.”
Shell said he attended training for both the CO2 bottle and the fire station, and welcomed the opportunity to learn more about a common shipboard requirement that demands one’s focus and attention.
“This training from the CNAL team taught me some things I didn’t know, like how certain parts of the CO2 bottle actually work and why we do certain checks on them,” said Shell. “Not everyone may know how to properly do these kinds of checks, so it’s good we have those with experience in these types of things come visit us and share their knowledge on the subject.”
Fridley said the visit from CNAL was the beginning of an ongoing relationship with Ford’s 3-M team, and will include a total of five visits, culminating in a ship-wide 3-M inspection before the PSA concludes.
“It’s a team effort to help the Ford crew better themselves at maintaining their equipment,” said Fridley. “As Sailors, we need to be ready when the call comes for us to deploy, and to be sure we’re fully qualified when we do. We want our equipment to be fully functional and able to work right the first time, and every time thereafter.”
Gerald R. Ford is a first-in-class aircraft carrier and the first new aircraft carrier designed in more than 40 years. The Sailors who serve aboard Ford are tasked with ensuring the ship, and future embarked airwing and the strike group are ready to support national tasking when called upon by the President.
Ford is currently undergoing its post-shakedown availability at Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding.
For more news from USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), visit https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/CVN78 and for more information visit www.facebook.com/USSGeraldRFord or https://twitter.com/CVN78_GRFord.
| Date Taken: | 10.15.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 11.14.2018 04:48 |
| Story ID: | 299854 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 43 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Ford Gets Maintenance Refresher during 3-M Health Assessment, by PO1 Jeffrey Troutman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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