"Propulsion plant casualty, propulsion plant casualty," squawks over the 1MC in the middle of the night and all reactor casualty assistance team members know that they have to be out of their rack and in uniform on scene in the next five minutes, even if it's only a drill.

This is a responsibility for more than 400 Sailors on Reactor Casualty Assistance Teams (CAT) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

Electrician's Mate 3rd Class P. Youell, Reactor department's electrical division leading petty officer, said Reactor CATs are called when there is a casualty in the propulsion plant, such as a loss of electrical power, loss of throttle control, fires and steam line ruptures of a magnitude which requires backup for onscene watchstanders.

"When a propulsion plant casualty is called there will be a specific response, whether that be the CAT from any of the reactor divisions: electrical, mechanical, propulsion, laboratories, control; or all of them in certain cases," said Senior Chief Electrician's Mate E. Graber, Reactor department's electrical division leading chief petty officer. "So, when a divisional CAT is called, it's because they have certain technical knowledge and expertise to combat that casualty very efficiently, and very quickly."

Reactor CATs are vital to keeping the ship consistently running.

"When something goes wrong in the plant, the Reactor Casualty Assistance Teams are called so that we can keep steam on the roof and maintain propulsion and electrical power throughout the ship," said Youell.

Machinist's Mate 1st Class A. Richey, the Reactor department drill coordinator, said every member of Reactor department is on a CAT and there is an extensive amount of training required to be proficient at reactor casualty response.

"We are constantly training, from in-class instruction to running drills down in the plant," said Richey. "We have to always be prepared to handle any casualty that can happen in the plant."

Preventative action ensures casualties are infrequent, but at sea the ship must be able to self-train, maintain and sustain; the CAT is a fortified line of defense.

For more news from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), visit www.navy.mil/.