Vella Gulf Holds a Damage Control Competition

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrew Waters | 200418-N-PI330-0021 ARABIAN SEA (Apr.18, 2020) Damage Controlman 2nd Class Joshua Moten assembles a Peri-Jet Eductor during a Damage Control Olympics relay race aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) April 18, 2020. Vella Gulf is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the Western Indian Ocean and the three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Andrew Waters/Released)  

GULF OF ADEN

04.18.2020

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Waters 

Carrier Strike Group 10

ARABIAN GULF- Sailors aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) held a Damage Control Olympics contest April 18, 2020.
The contest consisted of five events: a relay race where Sailors had to drain a barrel of water and carry a stretcher, a reverse tug-of-war where Sailors tried to push a container filled with water to the opposing team using a fire hose, dress-out drills where Sailors raced to don full firefighting equipment, a pipe-patching contest where Sailors had four minutes to construct a soft patch for a cracked pipe then test it, and finally a level of knowledge test over different aspects of damage control.
“It’s important to do events like this to make it more competitive,” said Chief Damage Controlman Cherie Olsen, the fire marshal and leading chief petty officer for the repair division aboard Vella Gulf. “A lot of people thrive on competition. Bringing in that element makes the training more intriguing for the Sailors.”
The events were designed to test Vella Gulf’s Sailors on various aspects of damage control in order to provide them with a baseline for their abilities in damage control as well as show them how far they have come in their abilities and knowledge. Events like this can also be a good way to change things up and make training more engaging.
“This Olympics reveals our strengths and weaknesses,” said Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) 1st Class Dylan Burg, a participant in multiple events during the contest. “Even the spectators got a visual representation of how to man a hose, set up an educator, or carry a litter. It also helps breaks up the monotony and reset people’s brains.”
At the conclusion of the contest, operations department won the relay race, weapons department won the reverse tug-of-war, operations department won the dress-out drills, engineering won the pipe-patching contest, engineering department won the level of knowledge test for E-6 and below, and weapons department and operations department tied on level of knowledge test for E-7 and above.
Vella Gulf is currently deployed to the U.S. 5th area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and Pacific Ocean through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points.

• Date Taken: 04.18.2020
• Date Posted: 05.21.2020 18:55
• Story ID: 370542
• Location: GULF OF ADEN