Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, joined the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) for a training period at sea, Feb. 6.
Reagan sent 29 Sailors from its air department to earn flight deck and arresting gear qualifications, and acclimate to underway life aboard an aircraft carrier. The majority of these Sailors are new to the Navy and have never been at sea.
“We’ve brought the Sailors who have the least experience in the Navy,” said Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) David Barnaby, from Enfield, Connecticut. “The Reagan is currently in a fast-paced maintenance period. It is important for our aviation department to utilize this down time to train our junior Sailors and get them accustomed to how an active carrier operates.”
Barnaby placed emphasis on the dedication the Reagan Sailors have shown to earn qualifications while aboard Roosevelt.
“Getting as many Sailors qualified as possible means we can improve the quality of work in our watch-standing rotations and bring our level of knowledge to an all-time high,” said Barnaby.
Barnaby said his Sailors are focusing on the disciplines of flight operations, Sailorization, and combat training.
“Having Reagan Sailors out to sea with the TR will help prevent injury to personnel and damage to equipment, now and in the future,” said Barnaby. “Qualifying Sailors on different ships and various types of equipment relating to their jobs is key to keeping them safe.”
Roosevelt tested the Reagan Sailors’ skills and knowledge while they learned how to work on a different carrier that has alternative types of tools and machinery.
“Changing carriers has had its challenges,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) Airman Shelby Dugan, from Phoenix. “I work below the flight deck. Although I’m doing the same job here as I do on the Reagan, I’m learning how to work with different equipment at an entirely different pace than I’m used to.”
Dugan said her perspective and understanding of how to execute her job has significantly grown since being underway on Roosevelt. Obtaining more qualifications, learning new tips and tricks, and mentally adjusting herself has given her different tools to accomplish the mission.
“The Sailors we have brought from Reagan are doing an amazing job,” said Barnaby. “Many of them have superseded the qualifications they came to the Roosevelt to obtain, and now we need them to pass on what they have learned to their peers back in Japan. We couldn’t have done it without the help and professionalism of Roosevelt Sailors.”