Sailors assigned to aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) began crew move-aboard at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) May 2, during the final months of the ship's Planned Incremental Availability (PIA).

Truman moved from Naval Station Norfolk to NNSY in August to undergo required maintenance and systems upgrades to extend the ship's life cycle and ability to meet operational requirements. During this timeframe, Truman Sailors have been working and living from a nearby barge as the ship's maintenance was being conducted.

Required maintenance accomplished during the PIA included head upgrades and restoration of potable water systems, as well as mess deck and berthing renovations. Command Master Chief Antonio Perryman says the move-aboard is a significant milestone toward leaving the shipyard and getting Truman out to sea on time.

"Crew move-aboard is so significant because it means our Sailors are once again breathing life back into this ship," said Perryman. "There's only so much we can do while operating from a barge. It is with the upmost importance that we get our ship combat-ready and bring our Sailors back on board to get the job done."

After months of restoration, Truman Sailors finally ate their first meal in eight months on the ship's mess decks.

"Our galleys are good to go and we are ready to accommodate our Sailors aboard Truman," said Master Chief Culinary Specialist Wilbert Strickland. "We are proud to say our ship is not only up and running, but better than when we first got to the shipyard."

To renovate the living spaces, Sailors worked together to dispose of old and used mattresses and brought aboard brand-new ones for the crew.

"It's been a lot of work getting the berthings clean and put together to improve the quality of life for our Sailors," said Chief Logistics Specialist Devon Duke. "We've transported thousands of mattresses on and off the ship, and now that it's over we can be proud that Truman is even closer to being done in the shipyard."

In addition to reopening galley facilities and berthings, Truman Sailors are once again able to use the chapel and medical facilities onboard the ship. Although other amenities such as ship's laundry and barbershop are not yet available, the return of the ship's habitable capabilities is especially important for new Sailors checking aboard who may not have at-sea experience.

"After all this time I finally get to see what it's like to live aboard an operational aircraft carrier," said Fireman Michaelcarlos Chavez. "Since I've been here I've only experienced what it's like to live on the barge, but I'm looking forward to having the real shipboard experience."

According to Truman's Commanding Officer Capt. Ryan B. Scholl, while the crew move-aboard represents a significant milestone during Truman's PIA, there is still much work to be done before the ship can return to sea.

"I'm immensely proud of our Sailors and shipyard partners, and our crew moving back onboard on schedule is a testament to our partnership during our PIA," said Scholl. "While we are now in the 'home stretch' of this maintenance period, we've got a lot of work to do. This is a monumental step toward getting this great warship underway on time so we can get the Truman into our pre-deployment training and train our new shipmates at sea."


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