Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Samuel Pederson | NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (March 22, 2019) Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Kaitlyn Williams, a...... read more read more
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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (March 20, 2019) – Resourceful, reliable, and responsible. These are the characteristics used to describe one of the the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73)’s hospital corpsmen that went on temporary assigned duty (TAD) to USS Abraham
Lincoln (CVN 72).
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Kaitlyn Williams , from Hudson, Massachusetts, a surgical technologist aboard George Washington supported Lincoln during their one-month underway for composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX ).
Because of her hardworking attitude, both on and off duty, she was recognized by her chain of command as someone who would benefit significantly from getting underway on an operational carrier.
“She’s just an excellent Sailor,” said George Washington’s medical department leading petty officer Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jenny Marie Andetta, from Kent, Washington. “She’s a model Sailor too, with her conduct here at work and off duty.”
From Jan. 14 to Feb. 23, Williams worked with Lincoln’s medical department, utilizing her specialized training to help Lincoln’s medical team.
“By [navy enlisted classification], I am a surgical technologist,” said Williams. “I got to assist with four minor procedures within the operating room on Lincoln with the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and two other surgical technologists.”
She also found herself becoming a subject matter expert on specific areas in their line of work and became a valuable part of the training regimen in the medical department.
“My favorite part about being TAD was being the subject matter expert in surgical procedures and being able to use my skills and teach other corpsmen how to handle surgical patients and injuries,” said Williams. “I was requested numerous times by other corpsmen to complete sutures on patients. I was able to teach them how to suture as well .”
She was able to use the often-hectic environment of being underway to better herself and hone her skills as a hospital corpsman, skills that she is able to practice while aboard George Washington, but are not generally required in her day-to-day operations.
“On [George Washington], we don’t do very many procedures, which is technically a good thing,” said Williams. “That means no one is getting hurt.”
Even after Lincoln pulled back into Norfolk and Williams returned to George Washington, she continued to work hard at bettering those around her.
“She not only went there, not only helped out the crew, but she took notes on everything,” said Andetta.
With Lincoln being the latest ship to complete refueling complex overhaul (RCOH), Williams took the initiative to find out what successes and setbacks Lincoln’s medical department faced during RCOH, and how George Washington can learn from them.
“She asked them what were their lessons learned, what were their issues coming out of the yards,” said Andetta. “Because they just accomplished what we’re about to.”
Andetta went on to say how Williams’ performance on Lincoln reflects the reasons they selected her to go TAD.
“She took copious notes, and actually came back and briefed the entire chain of command, and I just think that’s a testament to the type of Sailor that she is,” said Andetta.
While Williams learned a lot of great things, assisted where she could, and took back some valuable lessons learned, she also got to experience the one thing Sailors should always strive to do, and that’s get underway.
“I have never been underway on any ship until I went to Lincoln,” said Williams. “It was really great to see what it’s really like to be out at sea as well as what the [George Washington] will eventually be when it comes out of the yards.”
Williams got a chance to see and experience many new things that haven’t been available to her at her current command.
“One really cool experience I had was a dual refueling at sea or RAS. When we started taking on fuel from another ship, a second Navy ship comes alongside the fuel ship and starts refueling as well,” said Williams. “Three ships all connected, sailing at sea, was a very cool experience.”
“I’m grateful that she’s with us,” said Andetta. “And if she wants to go again on another deployment, I think that it’d be a great opportunity for her. It would be wonderful to let her do that.”
Join the conversation with GW online at www.facebook.com/USSGW and www.twitter.com/GW_CVN73. For more news from USS George Washington, visit www. Navy.mil/local/cvn73/.
| Date Taken: | 03.20.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 03.26.2019 10:32 |
| Story ID: | 315679 |
| Location: | NEWPORT NEWS, VA, US |
| Hometown: | HUDSON, MA, US |
| Web Views: | 53 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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