Enterprise Prepares for 3M Assessment

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW/AW) Jesse L. Gonzalez, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) hosted a material, maintenance and management assist (3MA) team March 22 as they evaluated the ship's 3M program.

The 3MA team consists of senior enlisted members ranging from chief petty officers to master chief petty officers from Commander, Naval Air Force's 3M training department. They are responsible for assessing Enterprise's 3M program and training Sailors to be more successful at 3M.

"The purpose of this visit is to find out where the ship stands right now in their maintenance program," said Master Chief Damage Controlman Larry Debeau, a 3MA team member. "This serves as an indicator to tell the ship where and what they need to improve at, whether it's procedure, a tag-out or something involving personal protective equipment."

According to Damage Controlman 3rd Class Nicholas T. Pelletier the 3M program is absolutely necessary because it critical in making a 50 year-old warship last.

"We serve on one of the oldest ships in our Navy, so maintenance is extra important," said Pelletier. "The equipment we are responsible for maintaining not only ensures Sailors stay alive but also allows us to perform our mission."

The 3MA team conducts multiple spot checks with various work-centers in an effort to evaluate the effectiveness of the ship's 3M program and the spot checks already being conducted.

"Depending on what the 13-week log looks like, some departments are conducting checks everyday but most likely it's weekly," said Pelletier.

"As a DCPO, I help other unqualified Sailors in my division learn about 3M, and I teach them the proper way to do a spot check and how to do the maintenance correctly," said Pelletier. "I do a wide variety of maintenance checks, such as portable extinguishing bottles, doors and hatches of all types, fire hoses of all sizes, overboard discharges, ladders and stairs."

According to Debeau, the team is here to ensure the life-span of the equipment reaches its full potential. For instance, if a particular pump is supposed to last for ten years, the team ensures that the proper oils are used and the correct maintenance is being done, so the pump actually lasts ten years.

"Basically, in today's Navy, we are losing equipment and ships are staying in port longer due to maintenance issues, rather than being out to sea," said Debeau. "We are trying to bring more awareness and better train Sailors about the importance of maintenance so that they have better maintenance practice and awareness."

The 3MA visit is designed to help raise that awareness and train Sailors on how to improve the ship's 3M practices.

"No ship's maintenance program is perfect," said Debeau. "I would like to see more time spent training with Sailors at the deck-plates to ensure that they understand the equipment and the maintenance practices, and the long-term effect it has on their equipment."