Abraham Lincoln CPO 365 Helps Maintain Naval History

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Derry Todd, USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Chief petty officers and first class petty officers from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) cleaned spaces aboard the Iowa-class Battleship USS Wisconsin (BB 64) in Norfolk, May 20, as part of a CPO 365 community relations event.

Lincoln Sailors have adopted four spaces aboard Wisconsin and are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and habitability of those spaces. The chiefs and first class petty officers visit Wisconsin monthly as part of the CPO 365 program.

"In addition to maintaining general cleanliness we plan to bring our spaces to life and make them look as realistic as possible for the tourists and families that visit," said Chief Information Systems Technician Arial Anderson, the CPO 365 event coordinator.

Wisconsin was first commissioned into naval service April 16, 1944 and since then has been re-commissioned twice and decommissioned three times. Since Dec. 7, 2000, the battleship has been docked next to the Nauticus museum in Norfolk.

"The Wisconsin shows people who aren't in the Navy a window into what we do, how we live and operate," said Aviation Electrician 1st Class Mike Shipley. "Everything on a ship should be clean, tidy and purpose driven and it seems like the Wisconsin illustrates that well."

In 2006, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act, requiring that the battleships USS Wisconsin and USS Iowa (BB 61) be kept and maintained in a state of readiness in case their service was ever again required.

"I think helping maintain the Wisconsin is really awesome," said Shipley. "It gives Sailors a sense of heritage. Being here on the Wisconsin reminds me that even though this ship was built generations ago we are still doing the same type of duty to this day."

One of the CPO 365 primary functions is mentorship, and this community relations event in particular held a unique opportunity.

"After each rehabilitation project we receive Naval Heritage and History training from the staff members, many of whom are retired chief petty officer's and first class petty officers," Anderson said. "Naval history is an important part of the CPO 365 program because as chiefs we are expected to know and teach our Sailors naval history and integrate into daily leadership."

Lincoln is currently undergoing refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries. Lincoln is the fifth ship of the Nimitz-class to undergo an RCOH, a major life-cycle milestone.

Once RCOH is complete, Lincoln will be one of the most modern and technologically advanced Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in the fleet and will continue to be a vital part of the nation's defense.