Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) is running full speed ahead as it conducts full-power runs and turn tests, May 10, during its sea trials.

Both tests are manned by various watchstanders, but none more crucial than the helmsman. Navy helmsmen are integral to the bridge watch team as they drive the ship, making course and speed corrections.

Aboard Abraham Lincoln, Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Addison Mila, a native of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, is in the critical role. He loves the excitement of his job during these special evolutions and being up on the bridge where he gets a first-hand look at how the ship moves and how fast it's being propelled through the water.

"The whole point of going so fast is to see how well the ship can handle," said Mila. "We want to make sure the ship can go that maximum speed and not break down."

Abraham Lincoln will undergo speed tests in which the ship will go a certain amount of time at high speed forward, followed by the same amount of time in reverse. This is to test the ship's power and its ability to handle the stress placed on it.

During this evolution, helmsmen like Mila must keep the ship steady as they increase the speed of the ship from their station. The higher the speed, the more sensitive the ship reacts when it turns, so helmsmen must keep the rudder steady and prevent moving rudders too quickly.

Another major test any ship performs is known as high powered turns. This involves the helmsman steering the ship hard to the left and right, causing the ship to dip in either direction as it turns at high speed.

"The reason why we do those big turns is to see how the ship reacts," said Mila. "If the ship needed to avoid anything, we need to know the ship can react quickly enough while turning."

Becoming a helmsman requires specific training in which a Sailor is placed under instruction by someone who has already become a helmsman. The qualifier then guides the Sailor in how to properly maintain heading, manage speed and give repeat backs to the officer of the deck whenever there is a course change.

"Truly, the one who really drives the ship is the helmsman," said Lt. j.g. Donald Williams. "It's often the junior Sailor we rely on to make sure the ship is on course, and we trust them to be able to feel how best to drive."

Abraham Lincoln is currently underway after successfully completing its mid-life refueling and complex overhaul and will spend several days conducting sea trials, a comprehensive test of many of the ship's key systems and technologies.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), visit http://www.navy.mil/.