Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) floating dry dock Dynamic (AFDL 6) Commanding Officer Lt. Edward Menezes used the docking of Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1655 as a training opportunity for his crew at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, April 12.

Dynamic provides scheduled and emergent dry dock services for small craft and MARMC dive boats, and reports directly to MARMC's Commanding Officer.

For the past few years, Dynamic has created a solid partnership with Assault Craft Unit 2 (ACU2), which operates LCU 1655 -- marking this, the sixth ACU2 LCU that Dynamic has docked in Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17).

"LCU 1655 has a small hole in the hull," said Menezes. "It doesn't cost any money - [ACU2] just sends it over here, we pick it up, they make their repair, and they'll be gone in a week. We take pride in being able to offer that quick capability to them."

Being able to dock several crafts, this quickly, offers Dynamic's Sailors an amazing training opportunity, according to Menezes.

"These crafts are coming in so often that my folks are getting real world experience," said Menezes. "Taking the dock up and down for training is great, but getting to burden the dock and experience real world scenarios now is even better for my Sailors."

Sailors assigned to Dynamic can earn qualifications ranging from Pump Room Operator, Pump Room Supervisor, and Line Handler to 1st Lieutenant, Ballast Controller, Switchboard Operator and Dock Master and Docking Officer. Qualification times vary, depending on which qualification is being earned. Some may only take two or three weeks, where others may take up to 12 or 13 weeks.

"The training platform that the chiefs here at Dynamic have facilitated over the past year is what affords our Sailors these opportunities," said Menezes. "My chiefs have done a really great job giving my Sailors the opportunities, and my Sailors have done a great job taking the opportunities."

Interior Communications 2nd Class (IC2) Tanyka Cheatham was serving as Dynamic's Ballast Controller when Menezes asked her to try earning the Dock Master Under Instruction (UI).

Although Cheatham came to Dynamic two years ago, she only began training for dock master four months ago. Due to Dynamic's influx in recent dockings, she now has six revolutions as a Dock Master UI, which she wouldn't have earned if Dynamic were docking less crafts.

"I don't come from an engineering background, so I had to start from scratch [when starting the Dock Master qualification]," said Cheatham. "It's a lot for someone who has to switch from combat systems to engineering. I've learned so much about engineering here, and how it plays a big part in our roles at Dynamic -- all the way from the bottom -- doing soundings of tanks to moving up to ballast control, learning all the lines and now hopefully dock master. I'm really happy to have the opportunity."

Qualifying Dock Master is one level below qualifying Docking Officer -- a dock master has to be able to earn all of the same qualifications.

"We are now able to take an IC2 and qualify her as dock master within the next two or three weeks," said Menezes. "I don't know the last time Dynamic has had a 2nd Class dock master here, but it's pretty impressive to me."

Aside from earning her own qualifications, Cheatham really enjoys the communication aspect of her job and helping to train other Sailors at Dynamic.

"I want people to get to where I am, so Dynamic can continue to operate better," said Cheatham. "I really like to have people on the same level as me, so when we communicate or have issues, everyone knows the baseline - this is what we need to do and this is how we are going to get there."

Not only do Sailors perform well at Dynamic, they are being trained to perform well in the fleet when they are assigned to a ship.

"The biggest benefit, other than providing ACU2 work, is the training value for our Sailors," said Menezes. "Our increase in qualifications has been significant because of this, and it's a big win for us."

Menezes is setting the bar high for his Sailors, and they are meeting it.

"We get a better functioning dock and a smarter Sailor," said Menezes. "That Sailor gains knowledge and understanding of the craft, pride and ownership, and a better understanding of how to do these things when they go out to a ship. We are really prepping them to be a big asset to the fleet when they get out there."

Dynamic will be docking LCU 1660 for hull inspection during the first week of May, prior to the dry dock's own Continuous Maintenance Availability in June.

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