Sailors from USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) deck, navigation and operations departments participated in a simulated ship transit at the U.S. Army Transportation School April 30.

The schoolhouse trains more than 8,000 service members annually on watercraft transportation operations. When training in ship simulators, Sailors are able to build proficiency and exposure to evolutions that will be conducted during normal underway evolutions.

Maritime Simulation Center Course Manager, Lesa Barbour, explains that valuable lessons can be learned by training service members before deploying on a mission.

“The facility has been here for nearly 20 years and all the simulators are fully immersive. Having a facility like this helps people to make those catastrophic accidents without any consequences,” said Barbour. “It also helps with the overall mission. If you’re going to an area and you have the opportunity to be put in that area ahead of time you’re going to succeed.”

Two bridge watch teams of Ford Sailors conducted a simulated restricted water transit from Newport News Shipyard, down the James River and out to open water in the Atlantic Ocean.

Ford’s Assistant Navigator Lt. Jordan Kobs, said the intention of this training was to build the sight picture and knowledge of the route while increasing the teams’ ability to work together.

“Individuals from deck, navigation and operations department work seamlessly in concert with officers on the bridge to get Ford out to sea safely,” said Kobs. “We accomplish that by building a foundation of procedures and tactics that the watchstanders will utilize during an underway, especially in the event of a casualty.”

Ford Sailors have incorporated a crawl, walk, run approach to this training and have completed eight simulated transits with more opportunities planned for the future.

Kobs explained that an expectation has been set for Ford Sailors and they are consistently meeting it.

“Our Sailors performed exceptionally. They gain more knowledge and get more proficient every time they are in the bridge simulator,” said Kobs. “Our watchstanders are well aware of the responsibility they have and are ready to take this mighty warship to where she belongs, open ocean.”

Kobs also said, “There exists no greater responsibility than ensuring the safe navigation of this capital asset. The consequences of mistakes or failures on the bridge could result in loss of the ship, but more importantly loss of our greatest asset, life.”

Gerald R. Ford is a first-in-class aircraft carrier and the first new aircraft carrier designed in more than 40 years. Ford is currently undergoing its post-shakedown availability at Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding.

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