NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Members of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) work hard at encouraging shipmates to make good decisions through mentoring.
"The purpose of CSADD is to provide peer mentorship for our junior Sailors and to promote awareness of, and alternatives for potentially destructive decisions," said Chief Fire Controlman Bethany Ross, a senior leadership advisor. "Sailors can get involved in CSADD simply by attending our meetings and participating in CSADD events."
Sailors who choose to get involved in CSADD to benefit not only themselves, but also the Sailors around them by enabling themselves to provide shipmates with positive advice and peer support.
"CSADD benefits Sailors by basically allowing them to learn all aspects of their peer group," said Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Lisa Crocker, a supporter of CSADD. "They come up with great ideas for building morale within their peer groups and lead peers in the right direction before they make those bad decisions."
CSADD members work together to plan interesting events for Sailors to enjoy so that they can avoid making bad, impulsive decisions. As the winter season approaches, CSADD members work to plan holiday-themed events.
"It is all their own ideas, and with their ideas, events can be anything," Crocker said. "They are willing and happy to be doing what they are doing. They are making the right decisions for the holidays."
The CSADD calendar is full for the next few months, including positive changes and multiple projects for members to involve themselves in.
"For the upcoming months, CSADD plans to start up qualification study groups, begin fundraising and promote smoking cessation," Ross said. "We are also establishing a CSADD mascot and we will be using that for creating public service announcements about destructive decisions."
"The people that I have met in CSADD have a really good attitude towards the command and their shipmates," said Airman Jon Holmes, a Sailor who had joined CSADD after being put on restriction. "I am excited to get started in the organization and have a positive effect on people."
CSADD aims to help Sailors who may struggle to make the right decisions by showing them the positive ways that they should treat each other and how they can enjoy the command while working at their jobs in the Navy.
"We want to accomplish big things," Ross said. "In order to do that, we need motivated Sailors to get involved and bring their ideas, particularly those that will help us to reach junior Sailors in ways that are relatable to them."
Lincoln is currently undergoing Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington-Ingalls Industries in Newport News.
Lincoln is the fifth ship of the Nimitz-class to undergo RCOH, a major life-cycle milestone. Once RCOH is complete, Lincoln will be one of the most modern and technologically advanced Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in the fleet and will continue to be a vital part of the nation's defense.