Traditionally when Sailors reenlist, their reenlisting officer is a commissioned naval officer. Machinery Repairman 1st Class Christian Camp, swearing in for what will be her last tour before retiring, chose a more unorthodox approach.

Camp, assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), was read the reenlistment oath by Air Force Capt. Kristina Dempsey in Newport News, April 30.

"I wanted to choose a reenlisting officer who wasn't the standard division officer or department head," Camp said. "I knew this would take me into retirement, so I wanted it to be someone who is close to me."

Camp and Dempsey have known each other for about six years. It wasn't work that introduced them, but instead it was softball. But Dempsey says the joining of different branches is as equally important in a recreational setting.

"On the softball field or not, we are the world's greatest military, and we all bring something to the fight," Dempsey said. "I've learned that we can't do our jobs without one another. We may butt heads and disagree on things, but in the end we all have a common mission: To serve our country and protect it."

This was the first time Camp and Dempsey attended a military event in uniform together. The past few years they have played on the All Armed Forces Softball team, an amalgam of the best players from each service who compete in an annual national tournament.

"We have a lot of history together," Camp said. "Although we really don't know each other at work both of us know we approach the game in the same way. Our actions on the field translate over to our jobs - we take it seriously and are leaders, on and off the field."

Softball and the military may have a stronger correlation than most realize, according to Camp.

"I learned at a very young age that softball is a team sport," Camp said. "I'm not going to succeed, or fail for that matter, on my own. The same goes with the military. We have a mission to compete every day, even if it's just preparing a space to be painted. The common goal of our military takes an overall team effort."

Dempsey jumped at the opportunity to reenlist a fellow service member.

"Sailor, Airman, Marine, Soldier ... I wouldn't ever turn anyone down if they asked me to reenlist them," Dempsey said. "It's one of the greatest honors an officer can receive. It's a huge milestone in Camp's career, and to be asked to take part in it is truly a privilege."

Dempsey's deference for Camp isn't restrained by the fence around the softball diamond. Their mutual respect contributes to the strength of the military as a whole, professionally as well as recreationally.

"I haven't had much experience with too many Sailors, but if they are anything like Camp, I'd say the Navy has a phenomenal crew on their hands," Dempsey said. "We all show enormous pride in the service we represent. We all poke fun at one another at times, but when things get serious, we have the ability to demonstrate the value of what each service brings, and to show how much we appreciate each other."

Lincoln is currently undergoing a Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News.

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/.