IKE Sailors Prepare for Ship's Return to the Fleet

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Albert Jones, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)(IKE) Sailors are preparing for the ship's return to the Fleet by attending damage control courses, such as the Advanced Shipboard Fire Fighting Course at the Farrier Fire Fighting School Center for Naval Engineering in Norfolk, May 10.

The four-day course is designed to prepare firefighter Sailors to combat casualties they may encounter aboard a ship. It covers a wide range of topics, from proper battle dress to rescue and assistance team procedures, and even how to set up a P-100 pump for firefighting if the ship were to lose fire main pressure.

"Be open-minded, because you're going to learn something," said Damage Controlman 2nd Class Anthony Trujillo, an instructor at the school.

The first day of the course takes place in a classroom, while the remaining three days are spent between the classroom and a live fire trainer. On the trainer, students get hands-on experience with setting up a Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), hose handling, setting up a ram fan for smoke control, plotting in a repair locker, working as the on-scene or team leader and setting up a P-100 for firefighting. The students also watch demonstrations on how to set up and use some equipment, such as the Portable Exothermic Cutting Unit (PECU).

Trujillo said while the controlled fires in the trainer aren't as hot as an out of control shipboard fire, the students still get that sense of urgency, because they are dealing with high heat and a charged hose.

Hull Technician 1st Class Michael Kubicki, who recently attended the course, agreed with Trujillo, adding that the trainer creates that feeling because it is not like a general quarters or inport emergency team drill. He said during these drills there is not a charged hose, and there is not any extra heat because it's a person waiving a flag, whereas the heat and smoke at the trainer makes it feel more like an actual emergency.

The Farrier Fire Fighting School also has a one-day firefighting course, as well as other courses designed to augment training.