GHWB Completes Maintenance and Material Management Inspection (3MI)

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Stuart Posada | 210911-N-KL637-1074 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Sep. 11, 2021) A jet flies over the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) during a missing man formation fly-over in remembrance for those who lost their lives 20 years ago during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. GHWB is operating in the Atlantic Ocean in support of naval operations to maintain maritime stability and security in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied and partner interests. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Stuart Posada)  

NORFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES

10.29.2021

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Novalee Manzella 

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77)

U.S. Navy story by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Novalee Manzella, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. – The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) completed its Maintenance and Material Management Inspection (3MI) Oct 22.

Commander, Naval Air Forces’ (COMNAVAIRFOR) Maintenance and Material Management (3M) team completed more than 250 supervised maintenance checks with Sailors from each of GHWB’s 20 departments as part of the inspection.

“We overcame a lot of challenges after coming out of a Docking Plan Incremental Availability and the team did very well,” said Lt. Cmdr. David Jefferson, the 3M Officer on board GHWB. “We saw significant, consistent improvement in our 3M program between the 3M Assessment and the 3MI.”

3MI inspections examine the planning, scheduling and performance of shipboard maintenance. Aircraft carriers have a projected life span of 50 years, and all of the equipment aboard needs to be well maintained in order to be operationally ready. Stewardship of the ship is an important facet of each Sailors’ effort, and 3MI scores are a litmus test of their work.

“With a final score of 93.3 percent I couldn’t be more proud of the work everyone has put in, from our leadership down to our most junior Sailor,’ said Jefferson.

“I was very impressed,” said Capt. Robert Aguilar, commanding officer of GHWB. “We were above standards. Out of the 250 spot checks, we only down checked on nine of them. In damage control we had 90 spot checks and only down checked on one. Outstanding job to the DC team specifically, but across the board all divisions put in the time and effort to be excellent. Spot checks went very well and our level of knowledge tests went very well. Division officer interviews were 42 out of 42. Everyone passed and GHWB received very high marks across the board. I’m very proud of this crew and look forward to deploying with them soon.”

3MI is an all-hands evolution, and as such, everyone from the commanding officer to the most junior enlisted Sailor has a part to play. 3M work center supervisors confirm the work center maintenance manual and workspaces are well maintained, properly managed, and that people in their work center are qualified to the necessary level. Each qualified person must understand the materials in front of them and ask questions when they don’t. Every Sailor needs to do their maintenance efficiently and correctly each time.

“For each Sailor to take ownership of their equipment and understand how they affect other programs around the ship shows pride and ownership,” said Jefferson. “For example, when a distinguished visitor takes a tour of our spaces, the pride and ownership that a Sailor had when performing maintenance is able to be seen by an untrained eye.”

While this inspection went well, GHWB has many more inspections to prepare for its Tailored Ship’s Training Availability and Final Evaluation Problem next year.

“The crew did an excellent job in preparing,” said Aguilar. “The inspection team is going to be back to look and see how we have maintained our program, and I am confident that we will keep this program rolling forward in a manner that will ensure the ship’s material condition remains high for years to come. This was just a moment in time, and we can certainly be proud of our success, but we can be even more proud when they come back and we are still executing above standard.”

GHWB provides the national command authority flexible, tailorable warfighting capability as the flagship of a carrier strike group that maintains maritime stability and security in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied and partner interests.

• Date Taken: 10.29.2021
• Date Posted: 10.29.2021 04:35
• Story ID: 408288
• Location: NORFOLK, VA, US