Naval Reserve Association

Reservists in ActionNAVSEA Reservists Assist in Safe Return ofUSS San FranciscoWhat started as a typicaldrill weekend for Naval SeaSystems Command (NAVSEA)Reservists transformed into anything buttypical – a weekend not to be forgotten.It was 7 January 2005, and the NAVSEAOperations Center (OPCEN), manned bya Navy Reservist, had just received wordof the USS SAN FRANCISCO (SSN 711)grounding. For the next 57 hours, theReservists’ training would be put to thetest of responding to this significantincident. The OPCEN and the TeamSubmarine Crisis Response Center stoodup, providing around-the-clock technicalsupport to the Fleet. SAN FRANCISCOhad collided with an underwaterseamount approximately 350 milessoutheast of Guam. The impact partiallycollapsed the forward main ballast tanksand disfigured the submarine's bow –such a condition required top NAVSEAPhoto showing the damage sustained to theUSS SAN FRANCISCO (SSN 711). USS SANFRANCISCO is the 24 th submarine in the LOSANGELES class and the sixth ship of that classbuilt by Newport News Shipbuilding inNewport News, VA. She was commissioned on24 April 1981.engineering expertise to evaluate the situation and allow the ship’screw valiantly to bring her safely home.The NAVSEA OPCEN was created soon after the 11 September2001 terrorist attacks to support all Fleet needs requiring NAVSEAassistance. The OPCEN is designed to provide a centralizedcommunication and information source to coordinate NAVSEA’scrisis situation responses. While the OPCEN is in standby mode,Reservists augment active duty and civilian personnel standingwatches and provide answers to the many calls for technical,programmatic, and information requests. Reservists also conducttraining in the OPCEN for various immediate-need events –everything from power failures to equipment repairs to bomb threatsto ship casualties. Most of the Reservists are Engineering DutyOfficers (EDOs) trained in Naval Engineering.NRA Presents Naval Swords to Outstanding GraduatesENS John C. Holzerof SUNY MaritimeCollege was presented witha Naval officer sword byCAPT Ted Mason of theNRA Long Island Chapter.The ceremony took placeat Fort Schuyler, Bronx,NY, on 14 May 2005.ENS Holzer is enroute to the precommissioning unit ofUSS MESA VERDE (LPD 19), now building in Pascagoula.Commissioned via the Navy’s Seaman-to-Admiral 21 program,he distinguished himself academically, physically, andprofessionally as an Electrical Engineer.A watch is stood in the OPCEN 365 days ayear, normally by one watchstander. Becausethe SAN FRANCISCO accident occurredduring a drill weekend, NAVSEA Reservistswere able to respond immediately; and withinminutes, the OPCEN was fully manned. TheReservists and the NAVSEA IndustrialWatch Officer manned the Center until themorning of 10 Jan. During those hours, thehard work and training by OPCEN personnelpaid off. The watch team established internaland external communications to coordinateNAVSEA’s response from the initial momentsthat the incident was reported. Along withpersonnel from NAVSEA Directoratesand the Strategic/Attack Submarine ProgramOffice, the Reserve team worked in theOPCEN to assess the situation, coordinatecommunications, and provide timely responses.Their assistance included coordination of technicalevaluations, including buoyancy and stabilitycalculations as well as hydrodynamicand structural assessments; evaluation of speed and course limitations;and ensuring requisite salvage equipment was available to ensure safepassage for SAN FRANCISCO’s transit to port.Numerous accolades were received for the OPCEN’s performanceand the support the Reserve Component provided. RADM PaulShebalin, Senior Reserve Engineering Duty Officer and NAVSEADeputy Commander for Mobilization, acknowledged the OPCEN’smission was executed flawlessly, demonstrating seamless integrationof the NAVSEA Active/Reserve/Civilian communities.NAVSEA Command Center Support Unit Commanding Officer,CAPT Tim Arcano, related that “our personnel know that at anytime the next call could be another casualty that needs immediateresponse; thus, we continue to train and man watches 24-7.” Thistype of dedication is what makes us “One Team, One Navy.”ENS Samantha AdrianneSkeens of Merchant MarineAcademy, Kings Point, NY,was presented with a Navalofficer sword by CAPT TedMason of the NRA LongIsland Chapter. The ceremonywa s conducted at KingsPoint, NY, on 17 June 2005.Samantha Skeens wouldmake anyone proud – shereceived three other awardsand has been accepted into the Navy pilot program and will soonstart flight training in Pensacola.29NRA NEWS/SEPTEMBER 2005