Sailors assigned to Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) use the Navy's 2M (Micro/Miniature) Repair and Gold Disk program to save the Navy a significant amount of money.

The Navy developed the Gold Disk Program to save money and time by reducing costs and turnaround time for repairs.

"Using the Gold Disk program instead of sending circuit cards out to be replaced, this past fiscal year we have saved roughly $241,000," said Electronics Technician 3rd Class Anton Vasylyuk, assigned to Lincoln's 2M Electronics division. "It's also saved a lot of time, which is imperative when we're looking at so many deadlines in refueling complex overhaul."

A gold disk is a computer compact disk that has trouble shooting routines for thousands of circuit cards the Navy uses for many different electronic components, for example, radars, aircraft parts, Close-in Weapons System (CIWS) or other weapons firing systems.

"Gold Disc streamlines the process of troubleshooting problems we may have with circuit cards," said Chief Electronics Technician Brian Achilles. "Instead of waiting months at a time for one to come back from repair, our Sailors work on them themselves, testing the signatures of each card to make sure they are in working order."

With Lincoln entering the crucial Crew Move Aboard stage of RCOH, time management and efficiency are important.

"A lot of these cards are mission essential," Achilles said. "Doing the work in house relieves a lot of stress as we help various departments get back online and running correctly."

Lincoln is currently undergoing RCOH at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries. 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 http://www.navy.mil/.