Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Connor Burns | Retail Services Specialist 1st Class Earl Evans, a Chicago native assigned to USS...... read more read more
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PACIFIC OCEAN - Since the age of sailing began, one person has held responsibility for keeping the ship on course and keeping the ship out of harm’s way. In today’s modern Navy, the safety of thousands of Sailors and Marines rests in the hands of the same individual – the helmsman.
The role is typically filled by Boatswain’s Mates or Quartermasters from the ship’s Deck and Navigation Departments, who stand watch as regular helmsmen as part of their daily watch routines. However, there are some exceptions. It is not unheard of for Sailors outside the traditional Deck or Navigation rates to earn their helmsman qualification. It is, however, exceptionally rare for one of those Sailors to become a master helmsman.
Aboard Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), a Sailor from Supply Department has achieved this difficult and critical qualification. Retail Services Specialist 1st Class Earl Evans, a Chicago native, joined the Navy as a seaman in the professional apprenticeship career track (PACT) program and was working with the Deck Department aboard USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112). Part of his responsibilities aboard the ship included standing watch at the helm under instruction.
“[Being the helmsman] was something I really enjoyed,” Evans said. “I became master helmsman because being able to drive the ship on your own is incredible. It’s a high-visibility qualification—a lot of eyes are on you and you literally have the lives of the entire crew in your hands.”
Evans worked his way up to master helmsman and remembers his first day on that watch following qualification and all the feelings of taking on that responsibility for the first time.
“Leading up to it, I was nervous all day,” Evans said. “It was the same feeling you get when you’re about to give a brief in front a lot of people; just a lot of anxiety and a feeling of dread. Once I got up to the bridge and took charge, I thought, ‘this is it.’”
During his first watch as master helmsman, Evans was tasked with keeping Michael Murphy steady as the ship performed an underway replenishment (UNREP) with a merchant marine cargo vessel.
“Up on the bridge, it was so high pressure,” Evans said. “My commanding officer, executive officer and the command master chief were up there looking at me. I was scared … felt my nerves … on edge. As the UNREP happened, I kept on course and that fear turned into a feeling of empowerment. I was doing it, me!”
After the evolution was over Evans was relieved from watch and was congratulated by the commanding officer.
“I don’t remember what the captain said exactly,” Evans said. “But that praise gave me a great feeling and encouraged me to uphold the standard up there every time.”
After striking a rate, Evans departed Michael Murphy and was later assigned to USS Iwo Jima (LHD 5). There he planned to drive the ship as well but, needed to requalify his favorite watch station first. As an amphibious assault ship, Evans found Iwo Jima much larger and more challenging to drive than a destroyer.
“I had to requalify on Iwo Jima and it was different than it was on a DDG,” Evans said. “It was my first time ever getting to drive a big deck ship, but I got that requalification and standing master helmsman there really helped prepare me for getting qualified on Boxer.”
Standing watch as master helmsman means that sometimes the watchstander has to make difficult and often high stakes calls.
“One time I was in the middle of an UNREP with another ship and the sea state began to change,” Evans said. “Rough sea states are hard on a DDG because we’re small. We were getting thrown everywhere and I had to focus really hard. At one point I was holding on to a pipe overhead with one hand to balance myself while keeping us on course with the other. I had to say enough was enough and I called up my Captain. The sea state was too rough, I recommended we split the connection with the other ship and pull away. He took my recommendation and we were able to pull away safely.”
In order for Evans to stand watch as master helmsman aboard Boxer, he was forced to prove his mettle once again. Helping him train and requalify was Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Miguel Suarez. Suarez checked in aboard Boxer prior to the 2019 deployment and immediately began pursuing master helmsman qualification.
“I thought being a master helmsman sounded like a really cool job,” Suarez said. “I was already told by my leadership that I was good at driving the ship, so I figured, ‘let’s get it.’”
Suarez earned the qualification as a seaman apprentice. Since 2019, he has worked diligently to help others earn and requalify this critical watch position, including Evans. In order to prove he was still qualified to stand the watch, Evans had to navigate Boxer through a variety of ship handling evolutions including pulling in and out of port and keeping the ship steady during underway replenishments with the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187). Suarez was at the helm with Evans during many of these evolutions.
“He really helped me out with my requal,” Evans said. “He was really attentive when we were up there.”
“There’s a lot that goes into being master helmsman,” Suarez said. “You work with the captain, officer of the deck, navigator and conning officer all while steering the ship and keeping on an exact course. With RS1 Evans, he got up there and just immediately knew what he was doing, I was really impressed.”
Suarez wasn’t the only one impressed with Evans’ work. Following Boxer’s UNREP with Henry J. Kaiser, Evans was given a bravo zulu by Kaiser’s commanding officer for his ability to keep the ship perfectly straight and steady during the multi-hour long evolution.
“The recognition you can get on the helm is great,” Evans said. “Stuff like that makes it the best qual to have on the ship.”
Although the position is challenging, Suarez encourages Sailors to pursue the qualification. He is prepared to help others earn the renowned title of master helmsman.
“It’s cool getting to train people up because less than two percent of the ship can even stand master helmsman,” Suarez said. “It’s a privilege to drive a warship. Come on and do it.”
| Date Taken: | 12.09.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 12.16.2023 13:47 |
| Story ID: | 459568 |
| Location: | PACIFIC OCEAN |
| Hometown: | CHICAGO, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 397 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Mastering the Helm, by PO2 Connor Burns, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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