Aircraft Carriers

AIRCRAFT CARRIER: COMMUNITIES

An aircraft carrier crew is comprised of approximately 3,000 people with the responsibility to run and maintain the ship. The air wing brings together another 2,500 officers and enlisted Sailors who maintain and fly the world’s most technologically advanced aircraft. The air wing joins the ship when it is at sea.

The Commanding Officer (CO) is first in charge — he is responsible for the welfare of the ship and its crew and establishes guidelines under which the ship operates. The Executive Officer (XO) is next in charge, enforcing the CO’s guidelines and ensuring that everyday ship operations run smoothly. The carrier is further divided into departments, or communities, each with a specific area of expertise.

AIMD

Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department: AIMD provides intermediate level maintenance support for active aircraft. This includes maintenance beyond the normal level performed by the squadrons themselves and can include almost any type of repair. AIMD operates a jet engine shop, electronics repair facilities and the ability to repair and fabricate airframe and structural components.

AIR

- Air Department: Air department is usually the most visible department. It is composed of all the Sailors who work on the flight deck and with flight operations equipment. This includes the catapults, arresting gear, crash and salvage team, optical landing system, refueling crews, primary flight control and aircraft handlers on the flight deck and hangar bays.

RMD

- Religious Ministries Department: This department deals with the crew’s spiritual and moral welfare and is headed by the Command Chaplain. Chaplains perform religious ceremonies and cater to the religious needs of most all faiths. The department also operates a large library.

CSD

- Combat Systems Department: Expert operations and maintenance of the ship’s Command, Control, Computers, Communication and Intelligence systems are the primary job of the Combat Systems Department. This community is responsible for more than 5,000 pieces of radar, satellite communications and computer equipment, in addition to maintaining e-mail access for the entire crew.

DENTAL

- Aircraft carriers are equipped with a full dental clinic. Several dentists, usually including an oral surgeon, prosthodontist and dental technicians care for the crew’s dental health needs.

DECK

- Deck Department: There is a need on every Navy ship for sailors who can operate the ship’s small craft, mooring lines, anchors and the refueling and underway replenishment rigs for taking on supplies at sea. They also “drive the ship” standing watch as helmsmen on the bridge.

ENGINEERING

- Engineering Department: This department operates and maintains systems including electrical power, air conditioning, jet and diesel fuel transfer and production of fresh water. On a conventional carrier, this department also operates all machinery for propulsion including eight boilers that generate steam for the four main engines and aircraft catapults.

EXECUTIVE or ADMINISTRATIVE

- This department coordinates the placement of over 2,800 personnel and the administration of service records. In addition to handling records, they coordinate and implement Navy and ship policies. The Public Affairs Office maintains the ship’s TV and radio stations and provides a daily newspaper at sea.

LEGAL

- Skilled legal officers and a staff of assistants provide legal support to the ship, air wing, command staffs and ships in company. They handle any formal investigations and courts-martial that might arise.

MAINTENANCE

- It is very important that an aircraft carrier maintains its peak material condition so it is combat ready at all times. The maintenance department coordinates all shipboard preventative maintenance, periodic maintenance and major repairs, in port and underway.

MEDICAL

- Aircraft carriers have a fully staffed medical department with most of the services found in hospitals. The ship’s hospital ward can accommodate more than 50 patients. The doctors and hospital corpsmen perform routine and emergency medical support both on the ship and throughout the battle group.

NAVIGATION

- Navigation Department: Tracking the carrier’s position is critical for the safety of the ship and the air wing’s aircraft rely heavily on the ship to provide reference information for tactical strikes. Navigation has been revolutionized by GPS (Global Positioning System), digital charts and real-time satellite weather updates, but it still takes an experienced navigator to advise on steering the ship in a narrow channel or during other difficult maneuvers.

OPERATIONS

- Operations Department: This department is often referred to as the “nerve center” of the ship. The Combat Direction Center (CDC) controls the employment of all the ship’s weapons systems, in addition to air operations, carrier air traffic control center (CATCC), strike operations, anti-submarine warfare, meteorology and oceanography. The carrier intelligence center (CVIC) provides critical planning, control, analysis and coordination functions to ensure mission success.

REACTOR

- On nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, a dedicated Reactor Department controls the nuclear propulsion systems. It is operated under extremely tight security. On non-nuclear Navy ships the Engineering Department controls the ship’s propulsion.

SAFETY

- One of the smallest but most vital departments on the ship, Safety provides information, training and procedures to ensure the safe operation of the ship. This group is charged with monitoring hazardous materials, inspecting fire-fighting equipment and sanitation gear and coordinating damage control with the other departments.

SUPPLY

- Aircraft carriers utilize thousands of different items during day-to-day operations at sea. Keeping up with the ordering, stowing and record keeping is the task of the Supply Department. They prepare and serve 18,000 meals per day, do the crew’s laundry and operate the ship’s stores, post office, payroll and recreation program.

TRAINING

- Training is a top priority on an aircraft carrier because of the vast amount of hi-tech equipment and complex systems on board. From the time a Sailor joins the crew, the Training Department schedules his or her required schools, tracks all training and coordinates professional and personal education and advancement.

WEAPONS

- Weapons Department: This department is responsible for providing the carrier and air wing with all training and operational weapons. They requisition, receive, stow, inventory, assemble and transport all bombs, mines, missiles, grenades, demolition charges, and other types of ammunition.