Stennis Completes INSURV

Story by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kathleen O’Keefe
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate

Stennis successfully completed its Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) assessment Thursday at NavalAirStationNorthIsland.

The successful completion of INSURV means Stennis is fit to conduct sustained combat operations. The six-day assessment began Feb. 27 and despite a busy underway schedule, Stennis performed better than fleet average in 11 of 18 functional areas.

“The crew has worked through a really trying year,” said INSURV Coordinator Cmdr. Stevin Johnson. “They have been able to work though PIA, sea trials, TSTA/FEP and CoNA while still preparing for INSURV. The cleanliness of the ship and the engagement of the crew have left a lasting impression on the inspectors.”

“This inspection was truly a joy to conduct and that is a reflection of the professionalism and enthusiasm displayed by the crew,” said Capt. Robert A. Bonner, INSURV Senior Inspector.

Inspectors graded Stennis’ weapons, radar, engineering, and navigation systems as well as living conditions and the ship’s maintenance program.

“INSURV preparation was a long and tedious process, but it was something that needed to be done so we did the best job we could,” said Electronics Technician 3rd Class Adam Hoffmann. “It was worth it to be able to show off how great our ship is and all the hard work we do to make it that way.”

Interior Communications Technician Chief (SW) Dain Wilmarth, who has participated in three separate INSURV periods during his naval career, said Stennis’ crew worked hard to pass the inspection.

“It was a huge amount of hard work and coordination for our team,” said Wilmarth. “Everyone accomplished what they needed to and it paid off.”

Aviation Ordanceman Chief (AW/SW) Tim Church said this was his first INSURV inspection and it was a very hectic experience.

“It seemed like all we did was clean, clean, clean,” said Church. “Sometimes it felt like déjà vu, but my people performed phenomenally. We would not have done so well without the efforts of everyone.”

“Everyone aboard Stennis played a huge role in our success,” said Johnson. “Thanks to the efforts of the entire crew we have proven to be a capable warship ready to perform for its nation.”

The CNAF INSURV team, led by Mr. Bryan Peters, assisted Stennis’ crew in several preparation periods prior to INSURV.

“We couldn’t have performed as well as we did without the cooperation of the INSURV team and the hard work of the entire crew,” said Capt. Joseph Kuzmick, Stennis’ commanding officer.

Peters and his team were declared honorary Stennis crew members by the commanding officer for their dedicated work but the completion of INSURV is more than just a success for the crew.

“It’s not just about John C. Stennis, this is much bigger, it’s about the whole process of taking care of taxpayers money. We are all taxpayers,” said Kuzmick.

Stennis’ successful completion of INSURV supports the Navy’s commitment to maintaining a combat-ready carrier capable of achieving America’s maritime strategy and protecting its interests at home and abroad.

Stennis Kicks Off INSURV

Story by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kathleen O’Keefe

Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate

When XO’s daily countdown finally reached Day 0 on Sunday, Stennis kicked off the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV), an assessment scheduled to finish Mar. 4.

Mandated by Congress in 1868, INSURV is a monumental material inspection that tests Stennis’ ability to carry on sustained combat operations.

Inspectors are grading Stennis’ weapons, radar, engineering, and navigation systems as well as living conditions and the ship’s maintenance program.

“INSURV is an important part of showing the government we are maintaining national assets,” said Cmdr. Stevin Johnson, Stennis’ INSURV Coordinator. “We want to ensure that million-dollar ships will be in service for years to come.”

Stennis recently completed a practice of events from start to finish, said Cmdr. Paul Keyes, the INSURV Central Coordinator.

“We learned a lot of great lessons that we are applying to improve our performance for the real thing,” said Keyes. “We are definitely prepared.”

Once the inspection is complete, Stennis will receive a grade of either “fit for sustained combat operations” or “not fit for sustained combat operations.” The results will then be reported to the Secretary of the Navy and Congress if the ship is fit for duty.

To prepare for the inspection, Stennis created tiger teams to find and fix damage control, habitability and electrical discrepancies. The teams will continue to correct discrepancies until INSURV is complete.

“The teams have played a major role in preparing for INSURV,” said Chief Damage Controlman (SW/ AW) Jim Head, the head supervisor of the damage control Tiger team. “They’ve worked with other departments to fix several hundred discrepancies throughout the ship. All of them have been working hard to get us ready for the inspection.”

Every department aboard Stennis has played an active role in prepping their spaces for INSURV.

“As challenging as the preparation can be, I believe INSURV is very important for all Sailors,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class (AW) Chris Somerville. “The inspection makes sure that we are doing the right maintenance on the equipment that could be helping someone or even saving their lives someday. Our main focus is making sure all of the equipment we are responsible for is in good working condition. Whether we were working on float coats, AFFF systems or the aircraft elevators, we made sure to do our part in representing Stennis during the inspection.”

Damage Control division was responsible for the maintenance and testing of the entire ship’s damage control equipment, with Sailors working long hours to achieve the task.

“I think we’re doing really well as a department,” said Damage Controlman 3rd Class (SW) Meagan Lofton. “We’ve been working so hard making sure we fixed all of our discrepancies and tested all our equipment. Everyone has been doing such a good job.”

Some aboard Stennis motivated others to go out and find problems on the ship. Lt. Michael Palmer, the Electrical Officer and self proclaimed “candy man”, offered a candy bar to anyone that alerted him after finding an electrical safety discrepancy.

“That little incentive was very successful,” said Palmer. “In a week and a half I gave away about 50 candy bars. It was really helpful in helping us locate hard to find problems.”

Palmer added that electrical safety information has also been sent out via email and on informational posters about electrical periodicity checks.

“Our goal isn’t just to pass INSURV, but to make our ship as safe as possible for Sailors,” said Palmer.

Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Kyle VanSickle said they have done more than 6,000 electrical safety checks since January. They also verified that all tool issue petty officers are qualified, all equipment is electrically safe and that work centers are in total compliance with shipboard instruction.

“I have complete and total confidence in Stennis’ electrical safety program,” said VanSickle. “I believe we are going to pass INSURV with flying colors.”

“We have started strong, but we still have a long way to go,” said Keyes. “We can’t let up.”

INSURV is part of the Navy’s commitment to maintaining a combat-ready carrier capable of achieving America’s maritime strategy and protecting its interests at home and abroad.

Tiger Teams Take On INSURV

Story and Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dugan Flynn

Stennis Sailors assigned to tiger teams are helping all departments in preparation for the Inspection and Survey (INSURV) coming at the end of the month.

The Tiger Teams go from compartment to compartment, checking and fixing any damage control (DC) and zone inspection discrepancy list (ZIDL) hits they can find.

“We have two main Tiger Teams,” said Damage Controlman 2nd Class (SW) Ray Klett. “One is the Habitability [Hab] team; the other is the Damage Control Petty Officer (DCPO) team. The DCPO team corrects all the DC markings, fire hoses, battle lanterns and anything to do with damage control, fire fighting and maintaining watertight integrity of the ship. The Hab Team goes down and corrects space discrepancies and ZIDL hits like light fixtures and cableways.”

“It has been a monumental task, but we’ve accomplished a lot,” said Chief Aviation Electronics Technician (AW/SW) Brian Mueller. “We work on everything from deck drains to cable ways. Basically our job is to make the ship more habitable.”

Since its creation, both Tiger Teams have devoted nearly 260 man-hours daily while inspecting up to 20 different compartments.

“We’ve fixed thousands of ZIDL hits,” said Mueller.

Chief Damage Controlman (SW/AW) Jim Head, the head supervisor of the DCPO Tiger team, said teams are using the INSURV compartment check off list (CCOL) to find and correct discrepancies in inspected spaces and are making great progress.

“They started at the bow and they are working their way aft,” said Head. “They are about midship now.”

Each team has 20 members and works with other Sailors, including electrician’s mates and damage controlmen, to accomplish the mission.

“Everybody owns a piece of INSURV,” said Head. “The Tiger teams are just another set of eyes looking at compartments. They might be catching a space the owners haven’t gotten to yet, or somebody missed it and they’re coming behind them and giving it a second look and giving it that one last check.”

The Tiger teams will continue helping to fix discrepancies to prepare the ship for INSURV, which runs from Feb. 27 to Mar. 4.