The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) held a general quarters unlike any previous drills, Oct. 5. Instead, Sailors participated in the Damage Control Olympics.

This special training evolution in all three of the hangar bays consisted of different repair lockers going head to head in timed competition to don the firefighting ensemble, repair leaking pipes, and handle hoses.

"This is hands down the best general quarters I've been a part of since joining the Navy," said Personnel Specialist Seaman Richard Dimalanta, a participant in the competition. "It's a great change of pace; getting to put all the knowledge we've learned into action."

Everyone assigned to a repair locker participated in the events, and those waiting for their turn cheered on shipmates in hopes to complete the challenge before the opposing team.

"This was a really good opportunity for the reactor department," said Machinist's Mate 1st Class Ronald Addams. "In my opinion, this is a great way to boost camaraderie among the crew and better prepare us for the possibility of a damage control emergency."

Abraham Lincoln Executive Officer Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt noted the positive reception of the competition-centered training and plans to make it a quarterly exercise, with thoughts to make a trophy awarded to the winning repair locker.

"The purpose of this change was to focus training through healthy competition, in order to boost our basic damage control knowledge and skills," said Bauernschmidt. "It was also a great way to shake things up and provide a morale boost to the crew."

The first place winners of the Abraham Lincoln's first Damage Control Olympics was repair locker 3. Repair 3 will set material condition zebra during the next general quarters drill and will be treated to an ice cream social thereafter.

Abraham Lincoln is underway conducting training.

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