Wednesday, March 27, 2002
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Wednesday, March 27, 2002 |
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Parker serves on new carrier The first crew members of the U.S. Navy's newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Pre-Commissioning Unit Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), are distinguished with the designation of "plank owners." According to Navy tradition, plank owners have the unique honor and responsibility of transforming tons of steel and equipment into a war-fighting unit with soul and might. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandy N. Parker, daughter of Mitchell Collins of Fayetteville, is one sailor making her mark as part of the first crew of the 95,000-ton carrier. "I will always have a sense of pride and ownership knowing that I was one of the first to work aboard Ronald Reagan and that I helped build it from the ground up," said the 1995 graduate of Gardena High School in California. Parker's ship is 1,092 feet long and has a 4 1/2-acre flight deck. This floating airfield will carry more than 80 aircraft and can cruise at speeds in excess of 30 knots. Its nuclear reactors are capable of more than 20 years of continuous service without refueling. Reagan is undergoing the last phase of its five-year construction at Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va. It will be delivered to the fleet in 2003 with the latest technological advances in design and combat systems. One of the major innovations on Reagan will be its arresting gear; the new three-wire arresting gear design can withstand more aircraft landings and will reduce maintenance requirements. In addition, a redesigned flight control station and new jet blast deflectors will greatly increase safety for the crew on the flight deck. As an aviation maintenance administrationman, Parker plays an important role developing the procedures and performing the tasks that will allow the crew to operate as a cohesive unit. "My job is to keep track of more than 20,000 pieces of aviation support equipment," explained the 24-year-old sailor. "We need to ensure that the carrier will be able to fully support the maintenance needs of the embarked airwings." Being part of this pre-commissioning unit has a unique significance for Parker, a five-year veteran. "The most exciting part is knowing that every other crew after us will be following our example," said Parker. A major opportunity afforded to Reagan plank owners is the enormous amount of training that sailors undergo to learn how to operate new equipment and to become familiar with the ship's features. In order to make this transition smooth, there is a three-week training program in place that includes general ship's indoctrination, basic damage control and CPR instruction. Parker's duties and assignments aboard Reagan have provided many opportunities for professional development and personal growth. "There is real sense of accomplishment in helping set up programs from scratch," she said. "Here, I also have been given the opportunities to take charge of programs and fill positions beyond my paygrade. Personally, I have fulfilled a long-term goal of volunteering." With the responsibilities also come the special privileges plank owners enjoy. In the time of wooden ships, plank owners received a piece of the ship after its decommissioning. One tradition that has survived until today is the ringing of a bell to welcome plank owners aboard the ship whenever they come back to visit. The carrier is named in honor of former president Ronald Reagan, who during his two-term administration was a great supporter of naval power. During a 1988 speech he said, "If we have learned anything these last eight years, it's that peace through strength works." This statement summarizes his view of aircraft carriers as both war-fighting and peacekeeping assets. Once commissioned, Reagan will be manned with more than 5,000 sailors and capable of deploying worldwide in support of U.S interests and commitments. It will provide a large range of responses to global crises, from deterrence to full-scale war. Reagan will soon be the most technologically advanced aircraft carrier in the world, and Parker will have the pride of leaving her work and achievements as legacy for the sailors who will be manning the carrier during its 50 years of service to the fleet.
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