USS New York Sailors Win Damage Control Olympics

By Mass Communication Specialist Stephane Belcher, Fleet Week Port Everglades Public Affairs

PORT EVERGLADES, Fla (NNS) -- Sailors from USS New York (LPD 21) and Coast Guardsmen from USCGC Margaret Norvell (WPC-1105) participated in the Resolve Marine Damage Control Olympics as part of Fleet Week Port Everglades April 29.

The Sailors from USS New York's second team won first place after a tie-breaker with the Coastguardsmen. The winning team had 22 points, followed by the Guardsman with 17 points.

The event was hosted by the Resolve Marine Group is in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., as part of Fleet Week Port Everglades. This is the 13th year the Resolve Marine Group has sponsored this event.

"Our company does this as their gratitude to the armed forces and the sacrifices the service members give," said Thomas Jones, training manager for the fire school. "It's our way of saying thank you."

Damage Controlmen from the Navy and machinery technicians from the Coast Guard spent the day competing in dressing out in firefighting equipment, fighting simulated fires, patching pipes, search and rescue and P-100 firefighting.

Damage Controlman 3rd Class Zackery Crider looked forward to the pipe patching event, and he felt confident because, he said, he has done it a lot and its fun.

"This builds companionship and moral," said Crider of the DC Olympics. "This is great training. We all enjoy it and always learn something new."

The Resolve Marine Group provided breakfast, lunch, energy drinks, smoothies and live entertainment for the attendees. The trainers with the Resolve Marine Group were hands-on with the service members during the event.

"This is one of the best things we do every year," said Jones. "The majority of us use to be in the Navy or Coast Guard, so we get to go back to our roots. It's fun to have all these guys around and do what we use to do."

During Fleet Week, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen will participate in friendly inter-service competition, including Galley Wars and Damage Control Olympics, volunteer with local community outreach organizations and experience the sights, sounds and hospitality of south Florida.