Man Overboard Training Aboard USS Mustin

PHILIPPINE SEA (NNS) -- The crew of USS Mustin (DDG 89) practiced the proper procedures for a ship-board recovery of a man overboard April 11.

The surprise drill was performed to maintain proficiency of the crew in case of an actual emergency.

“Today was a good opportunity in the fowl weather we had for the pilot house watch standers to be able to drive the ship to the man, to be able to recover him,” said Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Jason Price, a crew member on the foc’sle for the event.

On the foc’sle, where Sailors man positions for the recovery of the person who has fallen over board, there are people stationed to assure the training is conducted safely.

“For me, the biggest thing I do up here, I’m an observer and I’m mostly a safety observer. If there is something going wrong safety wise I start talking,” said Lt. j.g. Nicholas Flemming, the ship’s 1st Lieutenant. “There’s also another safety observer, which will be a Boatswain’s Mate.”

A representative from the ship’s medical department and stretcher bearers are also stationed on the foc’sle to treat the man-over-board in case of injuries or hypothermia.

“Today during the drill my role was as a MTT or medical training team member. What I do is evaluate the skills of my junior Corpsman and the stretcher bearers. I make sure that they properly apply the dressings and properly asses the patient and keep them from injuries,” said Hospital Corpsman Caleb Homer.

The training, according to Price, is a monthly requirement, and, “when it comes down to it, and the actual thing is happening, an actual evolution, the crew really comes together, and all that knowledge and training. You can tell it gets put to use and people get saved."

For more news from USS Mustin (DDG 80) visit www.news.navy.mil/local/ddg89/.