CVN 72 - A Look Forward

A Look Forward USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN 2014 RCOH

A Word From the Commanding Officer

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e are poised to have the most successful RCOH to date, and as we enter 2014 we need to focus on the following three priorities.

1) Complete discovery. Ensure we have every job documented and planned that must be completed during RCOH. We are very close to completing entry into every tank so that we understand their condition. We need to ensure the condition of every component and space is also understood and documented so that there are no surprises toward the end of RCOH. 2) Lean forward and rebuild our spaces. We need to begin the long and manpower intensive effort of bringing our ship back to life. We need to start with spaces required for crew move aboard and to tackle outlying spaces that won’t conflict with other RCOH work. We have the opportunity to pull much of this work left, and to take some risk and complete space preservation early even if it means having to do some touch-up because a pipe or cable is later run through that space.

3) Focus on training. We have seen a large transition of our crew over the past 18 months. We will see a complete transition before we depart Newport News. We have continued to “crawl” over the past 12 months

during our duty section training. We have held basic fire drills and our Damage Control Training Team has maintained a basic structure.

In 2014, we need to start “walking� and challenge our other training teams to function and integrate as a team. We need to hit the books hard and improve our rate training in what is truly a difficult and challenging environment to get hands on training. We need to understand the NECs that will be required to qualify on, test and operate our new equipment and we need to maximize handson opportunities to train at sea on other ships. In order for shipmates to go to sea for invaluable training, the remainder of the crew will need to carry the extra load.

I look forward to making 2014 as equally successful as 2013.

CMC on Goal Setting

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s we start 2014, New Year’s resolutions are on the front of everyone’s mind. The start of a year is the perfect time for personal reflection and goal setting. Whether it is to lose a few pounds, quit smoking, take some college classes, qualify a higher level watch-station, or whatever your desires are, goal setting is essential to a successful New Year’s resolution.

In order to figure out where you want to go, one of the first things you need to do is look at where you have been. Have an honest reflection on 2013. What went right for you? What went wrong? Also know why something went right or wrong.

With that knowledge in mind, you can successfully set goals for 2014.

Personal goals are important to have. Remember the best way to achieve a goal is to set a SMART goal. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. It is much easier to lose three pounds a week for 10 weeks then to lose 30 pounds, as an example. If your goal involves breaking bad habits, or forming new good habits, remember that it takes time and do not get discouraged. Habits form in three

parts, the cue, the behavior, and the reward. The cue is basically the trigger. You need to identify your cues and replace them with positive choices. It may take anywhere from three weeks to several months to change or develop habits or behaviors. Find a mentor or friend who has similar goals as you, work together, and stick to the plan. Assess your goals and work to improve you for 2014. You work hard and deserve the reward.

2013 was a considerable year of change for our ship.

We transitioned from the recently completed ship-wide offload of equipment at the end of 2012; navigated the budget churn and maintained productivity at Naval Station Norfolk while we awaited the move to the shipyard; and finally officially commenced the 42.5-month RCOH at our new home--Newport News Shipyard.

2014 will be a year of re-building.

Approximately 10 percent of the effort of RCOH is the “R” in RCOH--refueling. Much of 2013 was spent getting the reactor plants and reactor vessels prepared for refueling. They are ready and we will start and finish this task in 2014. For ship’s force, much of our rebuilding will be in the form of preparing for Crew Move Aboard (CMA). We will overhaul, deep clean, paint, and re-outfit nearly every space onboard our ship.

While our ship was offline last year, world events continued and NIMITZ, GEORGE WASHINGTON and TRUMAN deployed and maintained forward presence and deterrence operations across the globe.

NIMITZ sailed into the Red and Mediterranean Seas to provide presence off Syria, and GEORGE WASHINGTON responded like only a carrier can to aid the Philippines due to the devastation caused by super Typhoon Haiyan.

These operations are examples of why it is so vitally important for us to keep our project on track, and to re-deliver our ship back to the fleet in October 2016.

2014 will be a critical year for our ship.

It needs to be a higly productive year. I’ve been very happy with our progress in RCOH to date -we have adopted an attitude of pulling jobs left and completing tasks on or ahead of schedule. We need to ensure we continue this culture of pulling work through the remainder of the RCOH in order to transition out of the production business and shift our focus toward training to rejoin the fight.

You are a tremendous crew with a spectacular attitude, and I sincerely appreciate what you are doing for our great ship and our great nation.

With admiration, Captain Karl O. Thomas