Sailors aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) participated in a Damage Control (DC) competition, Sep. 20 - a training evolution involving the ship's 10 repairs lockers during a General Quarters (GQ) drill.

Events ranging from fire-fighting to pipe-patching and stretcher bearing assessed Sailors' skill and knowledge gained from qualifications and GQ training.

"The DC competition gives the Sailors in the repairs lockers a sense of urgency and pride," said Machinery Repairman 1st Class John Archer, a damage control training team leader. "This healthy competition amongst the crew helps them strive to improve their skills in damage control because they want to be the best repair locker on the ship. During every GQ, I challenge them to better themselves and push each other and this is their opportunity to prove they are ready to saves lives and fight fires."

Although Truman Sailors train like they fight during normal GQ simulations, the DC competition provided Sailors the opportunity to feel the force of a charged hose and battle water bursting through a cracked pipe.

"Normally we go through the simulated motions during training," said Personnel Specialist 1st Class Anthane Richie, a repair locker leader. "It's [the DC competition] better hands-on training and by being able to use the equipment we can fine tune our hose team and work our way through a live operation. It helps when you can turn training into something fun that will actually help save people's lives."

During GQ drills, repair lockers are broken down into teams, each with a different role in the damage control scenario. Sailors on the stretcher bearer team are responsible for a different form of damage control, tending to potential injuries and saving lives.

"Having multiple casualties requires the repair lockers to come together as a team to assess injured Sailors," said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Jamie Wright, a repair locker corpsman. "I am the only corpsman in the repair locker so the ship relies on extensive first aid training amongst the crew to save their shipmates while saving the ship."

In addition to wrapping broken bones, the repair lockers held a race wrapping broken pipes. The teams were assessed on how quickly they were able to properly secure a cracked pipe with pipe-patching techniques. Repair Locker 7B won the competition with the fastest time and least amount of water leakage from their pipe-patch.

"We are all a part of the same crew and we all have a mission to protect the ship," said Master Chief Machinery Repairman Zoilo Dearce. "Not only was this great practice and a team building experience, but it was a nice break from our normal routine."

Truman is currently underway preparing for future operations. For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/usstruman.



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