With submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) serving as lead tender on the Guam waterfront, the repair department and its divisions are crucial to the mission readiness of submarines and surface ships in the region.

A vital cog in the repair department's success is the motor rewind and outside electrical repair work center, comprised of 25 Sailors within the electrical repair division.

The work center performs maintenance on generators, motors, and most electrical or electrically-charged equipment on Emory S. Land, usually during shifts and on "fly-aways" to submarines and surface ships in other ports.

The work center's Leading Petty Officer, Electrician's Mate 1st Class Aldwin David, said the electrician work on tenders varies from other surface ships, and his job is to make sure his Sailors are getting necessary training.

"The work we do on submarines is often challenging, but at the same time very rewarding," said David. "We do a lot of on-the-job training, and allow proper rotation for new Sailors to get the experience they need. Everyone has to be versatile; each Sailor we have in here pitches in. If the submarine is here longer than they should be, we feel that it's on us, even if it may not be."

Last December, the work center sent multiple Sailors to Japan to assist with repairs on a generator for Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Pasadena (SSN 752).

"It was an emergent repair," said David. "We had to be able to fix their generator, or they wouldn't be able to move. We were able to finish ahead of schedule and didn't have any liberty incidents. We received multiple "Bravo Zulus" from the Navy leadership in Japan and here in Guam."

Electrician's Mate Fireman Raven Williams said the work they do is very hands-on, and described other aspects of the job with safety being paramount and the division's top priority.

"As an electrician, our most important job is to verify equipment is de-energized," said Williams. "We have to be complete with everything we do to make sure the submarines can go out to sea; they have to be up to par. We do daily maintenance, safety checks, and assist other work centers for anything electrical that they may need help with. I like being hands-on and working on submarines. It's very rewarding."

Emory S. Land, homeported in Guam, provides maintenance, hotel services, and logistical support to submarines and surface ships in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations.

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