While the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) prepares for Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH) maintenance, many crew members are finding themselves in jobs polar opposite of what they came into the Navy to do.

Airman Apprentice Avery Gasser is one of many Sailors who are learning a new trade and supporting George Washington in a different way, but it's still vital to the ship's mission.

"As an undesignated airman going into the RCOH period I haven't had many opportunities to gain experience as a Sailor, so I was extremely excited to get to go to security and earn new qualifications," said Gasser. "I was already sharpshooter qualified with the M9 pistol, so I was jumping at the chance to get re-qualified with the M9 and go shoot the M4 rifle to get that qual done. Any qualification earned right away, especially with a gun I'm excited for."

Gasser and several of his security counterparts received firearm qualifications March 29 as a requirement for being assigned to the security department. They spent two days of simulator and live fire gun training to get the required qualifications to carry a firearm.

"It's important for security personnel to qualify and receive regular training with firearms because we carry these weapons on a daily basis to protect and defend the ship," said Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Travis Hollyfield, a small arms marksmanship instructor aboard George Washington. "So it's my job to train the security students to the proficiency level needed in order to qualify with these weapons to carry for day-to-day operations."

Sailors arrive at the gun range before 4 a.m. to prepare and start their training.

"I consider myself more of an outdoorsman, so I used to hunt all the time with mostly shotguns and long-range rifles, but I never used anything military-grade like this," said Gasser. "When I got to the range that morning I was pumped since shooting was a hobby for me before I joined the Navy. Some shooters were nervous, so I tried to spread some of my knowledge while I was helping others out."

Sailors often learn best when helping each other out and listening to personal experiences.

"The MAs (masters-at-arms) were really helpful and they made it fun, said Gasser. "I was able to make expert with the M9 with the help they gave me."

Now after the training Gasser has gone through to become a part of the security department, this opens up options of another rate for him to strike in the future.

"As an undesignated airman I still really don't know what I want to do, but security is becoming a real possibility," said Gasser. "If I could strike MA, I think I would love it."

For more information about small arms training and qualification please see OPNAVINST 3591.1F and www.cool.navy.mil.

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