GENOA, Italy –
Sailors assigned to the executive department on board the Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) contributed directly in the ship’s successful regular overhaul period (ROH) at the San Giorgio Del Porto Shipyard in Genoa, Italy.
Since arriving at the shipyard in July, the scheduled ROH focused on keeping the Mount Whitney mission ready by accomplishing needed repairs and planned alterations.
“The ROH gives us time as a department to focus on getting our spaces prepared for the mission,” said Chief Personnel Specialist Christopher Greely. “It is important to provide our embarked staff with the best possible accommodations to ensure mission readiness.”
During the ROH period, Sailors assigned to the ship’s executive department focused on the restoration and beautification of several spaces owned by the division along with focusing on daily operational requirements.
“Being part of the executive department on board the Mount Whitney, we assist customers frequently,” said Yeoman 2nd Class Jerrell Pouncy. “It is important to keep our departmental spaces up to date and in good upkeep because they provide a place to help our Sailors.”
Key spaces focused on during the beautification included the U.S. Sixth fleet Judge Advocate General (JAG) office and the embarked administration office. Sailors and contractors were able to replace the flooring and paint the spaces.
“The JAG office was especially in need of updating and refurbishing,” said Yeoman Seaman Destiny Myers. “We focused on repainting the bulkheads and replacing the carpet – the space looks much more professional now.”
ROH periods can be demanding for any ship and especially the Sailors who crew it, but it a great opportunity to perform required maintenance, beautification, and repair that would otherwise not be undertaken.
“Above all, the ROH is critical to mission readiness,” said Greely. “This helps ensure the continuation of our critical role as the U.S. Sixth Fleet flag ship.”
Mount Whitney, forward deployed to Gaeta, Italy, operates with a combined crew of U.S. Sailors and Military Sealift Command civil service mariners in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa.
U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests, and promote security and stability in Europe and Africa.