Three Navy carriers in port at Norva

NORFOLK (May 8, 2017) The aircraft carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), pre-commissioning unit aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and USS George Washington (CVN 73) sit pierside at Naval Station Norfolk. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dartez C. Williams/Released)

USS Theodore Roosevelt Scoops Equipment to Prep for Overhaul

By MC2(SW) Bonnie Williams, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Sailors aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) began a shipboard coordinated off-load and outfitting plan (SCOOP) at Naval Station Norfolk June 15.

The SCOOP process involves unloading all shipboard equipment, furniture and tools not welded, wired or piped into place.

"Things that we can use again will be kept; everything else will be [disposed of]," said Chief Machinist's Mate (SW/AW/SS) Michael Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt's (TR) maintenance, material and management coordinator.

Everything on the ship must be accounted for and inventoried to be placed in storage or transferred to the floating accommodation facility (FAF) before the scheduled 40-month refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) in October at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard.

"We've been planning SCOOP since January, and all departments are ready to begin this process," said Lt. Cmdr. Karen Dallas, TR's principal assistant for logistics and primary SCOOP coordinator.

A team of 100 Sailors from every department aboard the ship will be issued specialized computers to inventory equipment from their respective departments. Departmental personnel will pack the material and hand it over to civilian contractors for the move.

"Each department has its own SCOOP coordinator who is in charge of making sure the equipment is [in good working condition] and that it is accounted for properly with the computers," said Dallas.

The medical department will be the first to have equipment removed from the ship, followed by the supply department.

"It's important for medical to SCOOP their equipment first, as they need to have services for the crew set up on the FAF," said Dallas. "Supply will move next to provide meals on the FAF."

SCOOP will be the largest evolution conducted by the ship before it enters RCOH. Despite the immensity of the job, TR Sailors are more than ready to handle it.

"I think it will be great," said Dallas. "Everyone is excited and being proactive to get all the material off the ship. All hands have been actively involved in ensuring the process [goes well]."

Naval station visitors may experience slight delays in transiting near the naval station's waterfront with the additional equipment movements.

"Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes as we anticipate traffic delays along Decatur, said Lt. Jeff Eidenberger, a security officer at Naval Station Norfolk.

USS Hawes Returns from Deployment

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kevin L. Burleson, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Atlantic

NORFOLK (NNS) -- More than 200 Sailors from the guided-missile frigate USS Hawes (FFG 53) returned to Naval Station Norfolk Aug. 18, after a seven-month deployment.

Hawes conducted Maritime Security Operations in areas including Pakistan, China, the Horn of Africa, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Hawes commanding officer, Cmdr. Chuck Marks, didn’t hold back any praise for his crew’s efforts either.

“It’s kind of an awing and humbling experience to be the CO [commanding officer] when you have your crew performing so well, all the time, every day with a smile and a lot of enthusiasm,” said Marks.

In February, the Hawes assisted a stranded merchant vessel, whose crew was without power or food for seven days, in the Northern Persian Gulf.

“The crew probably would have died if we had not intervened,” said Marks. “They were getting to the point to where they were going to drink seawater.”

While the Hawes was performing heroic missions, their families performed their part back home. Ship Ombudsman Hilliary Gauntt, wife of Chief (Select) Electronics Technician (SW) Charles Gauntt, helped crew and family members deal with financial and medical issues, and helped new mothers adjust while their loved ones were deployed.

“It definitely helped with making the time pass because I didn’t have time to think about my husband not being home,” said Hilliary. “I was too busy taking care of other people.”

The crew of the Hawes also participated in Operation Sea Dragon IV, Exercise AMAN 2007 and Exercise Nautical Union 2007.