Each month, junior Sailors from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) are nominated by their chain of command to participate in a week-long training course at the Newport News Fleet and Family Support Center.

The course, known as Ballast class, offers leadership training to these Sailors with a curriculum that places particular emphasis on the principle that every Sailor is a leader. Machinery Repairman 1st Class Christian Camp, Lincoln's Ballast class coordinator, shares her views on the shifting culture of Ballast.

"The term 'ballast' is defined as dispersing weight evenly throughout the hull of the ship," Camp said. "We want to base our training around this definition and want our Sailors to know they are part of a bigger picture. They are a vital part of Lincoln's mission."

Ballast offers resources such as nutrition information, financial counseling, substance abuse training, stress management, mentoring and much more. These resources are designed to help junior Sailors who may not otherwise be aware of these opportunities.

"These resources offer junior Sailors many opportunities to better themselves," Camp said. "We provide them with the tools they need to be successful."

Camp says when Ballast was created it was geared towards Sailors who displayed a pattern of destructive behavior and poor decision-making.

Because of this, many Sailors were apprehensive about the class and what it might mean for their careers.

"When Ballast was formed, our senior leadership was looking for an innovative way to reach at-risk Sailors, but that was two years ago," Camp said. "We are shifting the culture of this class in a different direction."

Camp has a vision to graduate all junior Lincoln Sailors from the course. She believes the content will benefit everyone, especially Sailors who are new to both the command and the Navy.

"It's our junior Sailors who are targeted the most by car dealerships, who tend to get in debt early, who will need help learning how to manage stress because they are new to these experiences," Camp said. "Ballast will benefit everyone. We need to arm our Sailors with this knowledge so they make better decisions."

Camp said the classes also take trips to places of historical significance and participate in community relations projects.

"Many junior Sailors may not know the wealth of history Virginia has," Camp said. "With the full support of the First Class Petty Officer Association, we want to show these Sailors the history of this place as well as instill a sense of pride through giving back to the community."

Camp admits there is still some work to do in order to redefine the course. She, along with many others, is taking steps to make Ballast a positive experience.

"In the beginning of every class, I ask the group why they think they're here. Without fail, at least one or two Sailors say their chain of command sent them because they were a problem, and needed to be corrected," Camp said. "I use that time to set the record straight. They are there to become better in every way, not because they are the problem child of their departments."

Lincoln is currently undergoing refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries.

Lincoln is the fifth ship of the Nimitz class to undergo an 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.

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