USS Theodore Roosevelt’s Crash and Salvage Team Train Proficiency at NATTC

The Flight Deck Crash and Salvage team from the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) completed proficiency training at Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC), on board Naval Air Station Pensacola Feb. 9.

“Crash and salvage teams from around the fleet travel to NATTC every 18 months to renew their flight deck certification,” said course supervisor Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Geoffrey Wyatt.

“While they were here this week we trained them how to fight flight deck fires, proper crash and salvage procedures, and how to safely lift and remove damaged aircraft. While their ship is in the shipyard, the training they receive here is important for them to maintain their expertise,” Wyatt said.

For Theodore Roosevelt’s Air Boatswain Ensign Josh Napoli the training is crucial.

“Being in the shipyard, our manning is low and we are unable to conduct regular training,” he said. “Many of my team members are new and this training gives them the knowledge and experience they will need once we leave the yard and get back to sea. They will use the experience they have gained to train the rest of our air department in aircraft firefighting and salvage when we return”

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 1st Class Nandesh Balirat, Theodore Roosevelt’s Crash and Salvage team leading petty officer, said this training is important to the team’s lifesaving mission.

“Our primary purpose is to save lives,” he said. “If we aren’t properly trained, not only will it hamper our efforts to save lives in burning aircraft, we also put ourselves at risk, too. There is nowhere that we can experience fighting real aircraft fires, except here at NATTC.”

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 1st Class Jeremy Bliss, Theodore Roosevelt’s Crash and Salvage team assistant leading petty officer, explained that the training is very important for team building.

“This training teaches the new Sailors to rely on the other members of the team,” he said. “Our time at NATTC is very important in building trust and camaraderie.”

Since its commissioning in 1942, NATTC has been committed to delivering training and increasing readiness within the Naval Aviation Enterprise. NATTC graduates approximately 15,000 Navy and Marine students annually. The majority of the student population is made up of junior enlisted personnel attending “A” schools, where they are learning the skills and knowledge required to perform as apprentice level technicians in the fleet. NATTC also provides airman apprenticeship training, personal financial management, and shipboard aircraft firefighting training.

NATTC provides advanced schools to provide higher level technical knowledge for senior petty officers, and technical training for officers in aviation fuels, carrier air traffic control center operations, amphibious air traffic control center operations, aircraft launch and recovery equipment, and shipboard aircraft fire fighting.

Additionally, NATTC supports the fleet by providing team training to the fleet, to ensure that shipboard personnel have the proficiency required to take their ship on deployment, after a prolonged period in port.

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Naval Today Staff, February 13, 2013; Image: US Navy