Makin Island Sailors Prepare to Defend their Ship

Thursday, May 01, 2008

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Webb, Commander, Naval Surface Force Public Affairs
Thirty-five Sailors from Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Makin Island (LHD 8) graduated the Damage Control Familiarization Safety, Environmental and Occupational Health Programs (DC CREWFAM) at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB) West Administrative Annex, April 11.
DC CREWFAM is designed to provide Makin Island crew members with basic damage control (DC) processes, familiarization with the DC systems aboard the ship, and to review fundamentals covered in the personnel qualification standards (PQS) for those aboard.
Machinery Repairman 1st Class (SW/AW) Calandra Crawford, who is also a DC academy instructor, attended the course and feels very strongly about damage control and its purpose on Makin Island.
All Makin Island Sailors are required to complete the Basic DC PQS within six months of reporting to the command. Chief Warrant Officer Rob Morrow, Makin Island's damage control division officer, said the goal aboard Makin Island is for proficiency and working knowledge, not just PQS completion.
NGSB personnel will continue to hold approximately 260 CREWFAM courses for crew members both at PCU in Pascagoula and the Pre-Commissioning Detachment in San Diego, until three weeks prior to Makin Island's departure from Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding.
Following delivery of the ship to the Navy, Makin Island crew members will sail the ship from Pascagoula to San Diego where the ship will be commissioned.
Sailors, who are in their nine to 12-month negotiating window for orders and want to be part of the Pre-Commissioning Command, can contact their rating detailer and ask to be released to the Pre-Commissioning detailer for further assignment to Makin Island. Makin Island currently has almost half of her 1,100-person crew.