Lincoln Demonstrates Readiness at Damage Control Olympics

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Karolina A. Martinez, USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs

USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) participated in a Damage Control (DC) Olympics while the ship was underway, May 25.

The DC Olympics is a practical training competition pitting the ship's 10 repair lockers against each other in a host of contests to test their DC knowledge and their physical skills.

"The DC Olympics gives Sailors the opportunity to handle damage control situations under pressure and to actually hold a 150 psi hose in their hand and see how tired they can get quickly," said Cmdr. Kenneth Belkofer, Lincoln's damage control assistant. "It also puts them under a stressful situation where they have to put on a firefighting ensemble and experience how long it can take to put that gear on."

Belkofer said the event allowed Sailors to demonstrate their knowledge of general damage control equipment and several fire extinguishing systems, from aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) to other fixed firefighting systems. The Olympics also provided Sailors with opportunities to work in teams.

The competition consisted of multiple relay races, such as advanced protective chemical gear dress out, fire fighting ensemble dress out, hose handling on the flight deck and AFFF stations.

The Reactor division team representing Repair Locker 5 won the overall shipboard competition. For their efforts, the victorious locker received a plaque along with head of the line passes for chow, the ship's store and the liberty brow for the ship's next port visit.

"It's fun and it's good training for the overall crew," said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Anthony Castille. "It helps us have more fun doing the training evolutions rather than just looking at it as work. It helps keep people more active, and it will get other people to try different things rather than being restricted to one task."

Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 3rd Class Bryant Guest said the event reinforced mission readiness, preparation, fun and a feeling of purpose in the participants.

"I had a great time," said Guest. "We train to make sure, should an actual casualty occur, that our shipmates are prepared, that they know what to do and that they are going to have each other's backs."

Lincoln is currently deployed with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, which also includes embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, the guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71), and Destroyer Squadron 9, comprised of guided-missile destroyers USS Momsen (DDG 92) and USS Sterett (DDG 104). CSG 9 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and combat flight operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.