May 2013 2
 May 2013 3

Many events have transpired since 

the last “SUPSALV Sends”. Just 

three days after I submitted the previous 

article, Superstorm Sandy made landfall 

and devastated the Eastern seaboard around 

New York. Shortly after that, the USS 

GUARDIAN (MCM 5) ran aground in 

the Philippines. In both events, the Navy 

Salvage Triad fl exed to provide tailored 

responses to the Nation’s needs. 

SUPERSTORM SANDY:

On Halloween, I found myself 

in Battery Park in lower Manhattan, 

responding to requests for support from 

the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Sandy 

had come ashore on 29 October, bringing 

with it a storm surge of nearly 14 feet. 

This extreme height of water overfl owed 

and fl ooded a majority of the mass transit 

tunnels between Manhattan, Brooklyn, 

Queens, and New Jersey. It also took 

down signifi cant portions of the power 

grid. For all intents and purposes, lower 

Manhattan, the financial capital of the 

United States (if not the world), was shut 

down. My mission was clear – remove 

the water from the mass transit tunnels so 

transportation could be restored. 

As more and more of the tunnels 

were assigned to us, Donjon Marine, 

our east coast salvage contractor, rapidly 

increased their response, assigning not 

only more Donjon personnel but also 

pulling personnel and equipment from 

other commercial providers. Each tunnel 

provided unique challenges – volume 

of water, discharge distance, discharge 

height, availability of prime movers 

or power sources, air circulation, etc. 

Donjon and their partners were able 

to adapt and overcome, successfully 

managing multiple teams throughout 

the city to complete the dewatering 

mission well ahead of schedule. 

The Navy Salvors of Mobile Diving 

and Salvage Unit Two in Little Creek 

quickly responded as well, supporting 

the dewatering of the Freedom Tower 

basements and humanitarian efforts. NAVY 

SALVAGE – the combined efforts of our 

uniformed divers (NDs, EODs, SEABEES, 

our Chief Warrant Offi cers, and our ED 

Salvage Engineers), our contracted support 

at ESSM, and our commercial salvage 

partners – swiftly responded to expeditiously 

return Manhattan, the heart of the Global 

Economy, back to business as usual. 

USS GUARDIAN:

Not long after that, in mid-January, the 

USS GUARDIAN (MCM 5) ran aground 

on the Tubbataha Reef in the Philippines. 

Again, NAVY SALVAGE was called to 

duty. All three components of the Navy 

Salvage Triad responded to execute the 

most impressive salvage operation in 

several decades – our shipmates at Mobile 

Diving and Salvage Unit One and Southwest 

Regional Maintenance Center’s Battle 

Damage Response Team; USNS SALVOR 

and USNS SAFEGUARD, with their 

civilian mariner crew; and my offi ce with 

the commercial salvors of SMIT, Singapore. 

It was certainly a career highpoint to serve 

as the On-Scene Commander with such 

great salvage divers as CDR Tom Murphy 

and his sailors at MDSU ONE and the 

salvage masters and salvors from SMIT. 

Our role started with stabilization of 

the ship. This included the collection and 

removal of armaments, ammunition and 

explosives; classifi ed and sensitive material; 

high value, man-portable components that 

could be returned to service; and the 

removal of all fuel, lubricating oil, hydraulic 

oil, and hazardous materials. Access to 

the ship was diffi cult – the wave action 

slamming against the side of GUARDIAN 

often precluded boarding the vessel from 

RHIBs. With these tasks complete, the 

immediate risk of an ecological disaster 

from the further structural failure of 

GUARDIAN was mitigated. 

With the arrival of more capable, 

dynamically positioned salvage assets, 

our team was able to start the in-place 

disassembly of GUARDIAN. We lifted 

off topside equipment and then began the 

piecemeal removal of the superstructure. 

We cleared the exhaust funnel and started 

removing engine room components. Finally, 

we cleared cut paths and paths for the lifting 

slings and then sectioned the ship into four 

pieces: the bow, auxiliary machinery room, 

main machinery room, and stern. 

To accomplish the in-situ disassembly 

of the USS GUARDIAN with negligible 

personal injuries and hazardous substance 

spills is certainly an impressive feat. This 

can be directly attributed to the deck-plate 

leadership on the ship each and every 

day – my Assistants for Salvage, MDSU’s 

Master Divers and Chiefs, and SMIT’s 

salvage supervisors. Well done. 

Those two events demonstrate 

that we, as Navy Salvors, can be called 

upon at any time to respond to almost 

any emergency. Collectively, we have 

demonstrated that we can achieve 

incredible results. I look forward to our next 

challenge, our next opportunity. 

NAVY DIVING LEADERSHIP

On a separate note, I need to extend the 

gratitude of the Navy Diving community 

to RDML Stuart Munsch. During his 

assignment as the Deputy Director of 

Undersea Warfare (OPNAV N97B), 

Admiral Munsch has led the effort to 

establish flag-level steering groups to 

align efforts across our diverse diving 

communities not only within the Navy but 

also across the Department of Defense. 

Collectively, these executive groups will 

serve the military diver by resolving 

issues that cross claimancies and by 

providing a strategic framework for how 

we improve operational capabilities and 

invest in technologies. We have lots of 

work to do, but, thanks to RDML Munsch’s 

leadership, we are off to a good start.

Keep diving and stay safe.
 May 2013 4

SUPSALV, along with Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One 

(MDSU ONE), conducted operations to 

dismantle and remove Ex-USS GUARDIAN (MCM 5) from the Tubbataha Reef 

National Park, Philippines after she ran 

aground on 17 January 2013 while transiting the Sulu Sea. The Tubbataha Reef 

is located approximately 93 miles southwest of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines, and is a Marine Protected Area and 

UNESCO World Heritage Site under the 

authority of the Philippine Government. 

Salvage operations concluded on 3 April 

2013 as the Ex-USS GUARDIAN had 

been completely removed and the reef 

cleared of any remaining debris. 

Immediately following the grounding of USS GUARDIAN, coordination 

between the Philippine government and 

the US Navy was conducted through 

the US Embassy in Manila. As response 

teams were mobilized and deployed 

to the area, coordination was directed 

through the Commander, Task Unit Operation GUARDIAN Ashore team, Naval 

Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), US 

Forces Seventh Fleet, and Commander 

U.S. Pacifi c Fleet to the on-scene Command Element established on USS MUSTIN (DDG 89) and 

included SUPSALV, 

CTF73 Salvage Offi cer, MDSU ONE 

Command Element and supporting companies, and 

the Battle Damage 

Repair Team from 

Southwest Regional 

Maintenance Center 

(SWRMC) as well as 

SMIT Salvage team 

members. 

Navy salvage 

forces are organized 

a n d e q u i p p e d t o 

meet worldwide salvage requirements. The triad of salvage 

consists of MDSUs, MSC salvage ships, 

and SUPSALV. Because of the working 

relationship among the three functional 

areas, the Navy salvage triad is able to 

leverage a wide range of salvage and recovery capabilities to provide global and 

immediate support to the fl eet. Depending on the operational requirements, any 

combination of salvage functional areas 

can be used. For the salvage of Ex-USS 

GUARDIAN, all three legs of the salvage triad were mobilized. 

OPNAVINST 4740.2 instructs SUPSALV to maintain and execute worldwide salvage contracts to respond to national tasking and to provide support for 

Navy Fleet OPS. SMIT Salvage (NAVSEA’s WESTPAC Salvage Contractor) 

was directed and managed by SUPSALV 

in response to this CNO tasking. SMIT 

Salvage was responsible for providing 

commercial salvage assets as directed 

by SUPSALV to include two main heavy 

lift cranes and several support vessels. 

JASCON 25, a pipe-laying construction 

vessel, was the primary salvage platform capable of positioning itself within 

40 meters of GUARDIAN. This vessel 

functioned as the main asset to dismantle 

Ex-USS GUARDIAN and as an accommodation platform for the salvage crews 

of the US Navy and SMIT Salvage. With 

Salvage of

Ex-USS GUARDIAN

By: LCDR Chris Addington and LT Dustin Cunningham

Salvage planning involving CTF73, SUPSALV, MDSU ONE and 

SMIT onboard USS Mustin in the vicinity of the Tubbataha Reef.
 May 2013 5

her dynamic positioning system, Jascon 

25 can operate her 800 MT crane without 

the need to set anchors for mooring. The 

second crane, SMIT Borneo (with 500 

MT revolving crane), arrived on-site in 

February and supported the loading of 

salvaged sections onto an ocean-going 

barge for transport to a shore facility. 

Other commercial support vessels included; Archon Tide, Trabajador-1, Intrepid, VOS Apollo, and VOS Hercules. 

Military Sealift Command and US Forces Seventh Fleet provided USNS Salvor 

and USNS Safeguard for Command and 

Control and salvage support. 

Throughout the operation, SUPSALV received technical assistance from 

NAVSEA shipyards and engineering 

directorates needed to execute the salvage plan. In addition, SWRMC Battle 

Damage Response (BDR) team contributed in the salvage response by assisting SUPSALV with the initial damage 

assessment and stability calculations 

necessary for the development of the 

salvage plan. SWRMC BDR divers also 

assisted in the hazardous material and 

loose item recovery operations. 

“SUPSALV personnel have a long 

history of executing successful salvage 

operations and are once again demonstrating their expertise in this challenging environment,” said Michael 

Dean, SUPSALV’s Deputy Director 

of Ocean Engineering. “The support 

our ship design community and their 

planning yard experts have provided 

has been brilliant and enabled the operation to continue to move ahead despite weather setbacks and a continually deteriorating hull structure.” 

After the initial grounding, early 

morning on the 18th, GUARDIAN was 

pushed by the seas into a broached position with her starboard side to the reef. 

Her fi nal resting position was in approximately 1 - 2 m of water with a 5 degree 

port list. Her keel rested on the reef 

along her length. The rudders are partly 

embedded in the coral/sand and several 

port and starboard propeller blades had 

broken off lying beside the shafts which 

were embedded in the coral. 

Initial response 

was conducted by the 

CTF73 Salvage Engineer and the SMIT 

Salvage team who had 

been mobilized from 

Singapore and arrived 

on scene 19 January. 

The remaining salvage forces arrived 

on scene the next day 

from Puerto Princesa. 

First opportunity for 

inspection and assessment was 22 January 

with hydrocarbon recovery commencing on 

24 January. 

A salvage team, 

comprised of MDSU 

ONE, SUPSALV and 

CTF73 Salvage Engineers, and SMIT, 

was able to safely board the GUARDIAN and conduct an internal survey of 

the damage on 22 January. All compartments were fl ooded to the waterline as 

levels varied with the tides. Signifi cant 

damage was identifi ed in the Auxiliary 

Machinery Room (AMR) and Main Machinery Room (MMR). Coral head puncture was confi rmed in the AMR at frame 

45 and multiple coral penetrations were 

also noted in the MMR. Wood shards 

from the hull were fl oating on the water 

surface of the AMR. It was confi rmed 

that the bulkhead between AMR and 

MMR was lifted, allowing free communication between the two compartments. 

Signifi cant structural damage occurred 

on the mess decks located on the main 

deck above the AMR and MMR due 

to cracks in the bulkheads. 

From the stern forward, the bottom was severely damaged by the coral. 

In several places the hull was breached 

causing ingress of water within the lower 

compartments. Due to the continuous 

motions on the coral, the engines were 

out of alignment and elevated. Frame 63 

had shifted and keel deformation was evident between frames 41 and 76. On the 

02 level (superstructure) several cracks 

were observed from frames 55 to 72 

around the exhaust stack. Due to the motion in the structure, the cracks widened 

slowly during adverse weather conditions and continuous impact of the waves 

Hydrocarbons and hazardous materials being pumped from 

Ex-USS Guardian to the VOS Apollo.

Arial view of all Ex-USS Guardian salvage assets. Included are (from right to left); 

Ex-USS Guardian, JASCON 25, USNS Salvor, Archon Tide, Intrepid, 

S-7000(Barge) and Borneo.
 May 2013 6

against the portside hull. Due to the impact of the waves, the GRF (Glass Reinforced Fiber) on the portside of the hull 

had come off and was scattered on the 

leeside of the vessel on the reef. 

“The removal of GUARDIAN 

from the reef requires thorough planning and operating in an environment 

80 miles from the nearest port presents 

many challenges,” said Capt. Mark Matthews, SUPSALV. “The environment 

onboard GUARDIAN requires constant 

vigilance. We brief safety every morning, are cognizant of the risks involved 

with working in severely damaged ship 

spaces and strive to minimize injury to personnel at all times.” 

Salvage operations were suspended 

several times because of bad weather. 

The vessel was subject to the prevailing northeast monsoon conditions and 

sea swells are impacting the port side 

of the hull causi n g m o t i o n o f 

t h e v e s s e l a n d 

slowly deteriorating its condition. 

Routinely, due 

to large swells, 

t e a m m e m b e r s 

w e r e r e q u i r e d 

t o j u m p i n t h e 

water, swim over 

the reef and board 

the casualty on the starboard site. Medical evacuation of team members, if an 

incident occurred, was practiced on a 

daily basis. Throughout the entire salvage operation, there were zero reported 

injuries or safety mishaps. 

Since the GUARDIAN’s grounding, 

the salvage forces worked meticulously 

to recover any 

reusable equipment and remove 

any potentially 

harmful materials including 

petroleum-based 

products and human wastewater. 

I n a d d i t i o n t o 

performing the 

initial salvage 

a s s e s s m e n t , 

SUPSALV oversaw the removal 

of fuel, lubricating oils, and hazardous material that could be salvaged 

from the ship. No fuel had leaked since 

the grounding and all of the approximately 15,000 gallons aboard GUARDIAN 

were safely transferred off the ship. “We 

continue to work closely with the Philippine Coast Guard, Navy, and Tubbataha 

Reef Park Rangers, and we are grateful 

for the support and advice we have received to remove Guardian and minimize 

further damage to the reef,” said Captain 

Matthews. Ordnance and ammunition 

were accounted for and removed immediately after the salvage assessment. As 

far as practicable, all loose items from 

within the hull and on deck were removed 

by RHIB to other vessels to mitigate possible environmental impact. 

Due to the amount of bottom damage, 

development of cracks in the structure, 

and the current position of the vessel on 

the reef, refl oating was not an option. Although several options for recovery had 

been discussed, it was decided that the 

Ex-USS GUARDIAN would be dismantled into several recoverable sections and 

removed as soon as possible. As weather 

continued to deteriorate the structural integrity of the casualty, immediate salvage 

execution became a priority. Any delay 

in the recovery could potentially be catastrophic to a controlled salvage operation.

Early in the planning process it was 

determined that lifting the lower sections 

in pieces was not a feasible option. Because of the degradation of the keel and 

Ex-USS Guardian bow section lift - 314 tons. deterioration of the AMR and MMR, the 

JASCON 25 in position for main engine lift from Ex-USS Guardian.

MDSU ONE divers rigging main engine for 

removal from Ex-USS Guardian.
 May 2013 7

machinery and other heavy pieces of equipment could fall through the hull if a lift was 

attempted. The salvage plan was changed to 

lifting the machinery and other heavy equipment individually before picking up pieces 

of the hull. Grabbers were contracted out in 

the event rigging was no longer an option to 

pick up pieces of the GUARDIAN. 

The initial dismantling was conducted 

by MDSU ONE, and SMIT including major 

deck equipment, the mast, the funnel, and the 

02 and 01 levels. To assist in the fi nal task of 

cutting the hull sections, SMIT, as directed 

by SUPSALV, hired on an additional demolition crew. They were tasked with assisting in 

major machinery removal from MMR and the 

fi nal cutting of the four hull sections. Stability of the remaining casualty after cutting of 

a section was a major factor in fi nalizing the 

salvage plan. While the vessel becomes lighter 

during removal of the structure it becomes increasingly subject to the elements. “The lifting 

of the fi rst large hull section was a signifi cant 

accomplishment. Each of these sections weighs 

about 250 tons,” said Captain Matthews. The 

demolition team, as well as MDSU Divers, began cutting operations on 25 February with the 

fi nal section lift completed on 30 March. 

All pieces were lifted by Jascon 25 and relocated onto a barge for transit to SRF Sasebo, 

Japan and further dismantling. Salvage operations secured on 3 April 2013 as the debris 

fi eld was cleared by SUPSALV and MDSU 

ONE. Navy assets remained onsite to complete 

the joint Philippines and US Marine Environmental Assessment of the reef damage. 

The salvage of the Ex-USS Guardian has 

been a learning experience for not just the US 

Navy, but the salvage industry as a whole. The 

uniqueness of this salvage effort, from operating 

in a remote location under harsh environmental 

conditions to performing salvage calculations 

and modeling on a wooden hull under intense 

stresses, has demonstrated the fl exibility and 

capability of the US Navy’s Salvage Triad to 

get the job done right. Hooyah, Deep Sea! 

Cover Photo: Ex-USS Guardian grounded 

on Tubbataha Reef.

Final confi guration of Ex-USS Guardian debris on S-7000/

Borneo - preparations for tow to Sasebo, Japan.

SMIT salvage contractor guiding main engine as it is being lifted 

from the Ex-USS Guardian funnel section.

Divers removing fi nal debris around Ex-USS Guardian reef damage.

LT Cunningham and LCDR Addington are 

serving as Salvage Assistants at NAVSEA 

00C.
 May 2013 8

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. 

(NNS) -- The Navy’s Senior 

Master Diver is helping to train future 

generations of EOD technicians at the Naval School of 

Explosive Ordnance Disposal.

Master Chief Navy Diver 

Eric Holliday, Command Master Diver (MDV) at NAVSCOLEOD is the Navy’s “copperhead,” a title held by the U.S. 

Navy Diver (ND) who has 

been a Master Diver the longest. The term ‘copperhead’ 

originates from the copper 

helmet of the Mark V dive 

suit, a familiar symbol representing deep-sea divers, even 

though its use was discontinued in the early 1980s. 

Holliday currently works 

at the Underwater Ordnance 

division (UOD) at NAVSCOLEOD, where he helps train 

students and their instructors.

“One of the many positive impacts MDV has had in 

UOD is the amount of realism 

and relevance he brings during the course of training students in diving operations,” said LT Jeffrey Schultz, 

UOD division offi cer. “Whether an instructor is qualifying as a new or prior 

diving supervisor, anyone present during the training MDV conducts comes 

out with not only a better understanding 

of the dive evolution, but also a newfound respect for the inherent risks Navy 

Divers encounter every day.” 

Holliday joined the Navy in February 1984, and spent his fi rst year attending Interior Communications Electrician 

(IC) “A” School. He then reported to 

USS MOINESTER (FF 1097), a Knoxclass frigate, for his fi rst duty station.

“When I fi rst joined the Navy, 

standing duty on the MOINESTER, I 

didn’t like it,” said Holliday. “I didn’t 

realize there was a dive program 

when I joined, so I spent a year in the 

Navy, and then attended dive school.”

Holliday left the MOINESTER to 

attend dive school and became a U.S. 

Navy diver in August 1985. 

“When I became a diver, things 

got better and my views on everything 

changed,” said Holliday. “I found a sense 

of camaraderie in the dive community.”

It has proven enough of a change 

for Holliday to continue on with 

his Navy career for 30 years. 

Holliday became a Master Diver 

in 1995, and succeeded Master Chief 

Navy Diver Gary Furr as the copperhead. 

Furr, former Command Master Diver 

of the Naval EOD Technology Division 

in Indian Head, Md., retired in 2012.

“We met for lunch at a very informal ceremony when he passed the 

title to me,” said Holliday. 

Throughout his nearly 30 years in the 

Navy, Holliday has been stationed around 

the world, but of all his duty stations, 

his favorite place was Guam. 

“Guam is great - the water is very 

clear to dive in,” said Holliday. “During the 1990s, I was stationed at U.S. 

Navy Ship Repair Facility and at Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas, 

where I performed a lot of 

ship’s husbandry and inspections. We also operated the 

busiest recompression chamber in the Navy.” 

While in Guam, Holliday 

received the Ancient Order of 

the Chamori Award, which is 

the highest award that can be 

given to a non-Guamanian. 

The award was presented for 

Holliday’s assistance to local divers with the recompression chamber. 

“In Guam, there were a 

lot of civilian divers, and we 

treated them when they received dive-related injuries,” 

said Holliday. “I probably 

treated four-to-fi ve hundred 

patients throughout my career. Treating someone in the 

chamber and bringing them 

back from being unconscious 

is very rewarding. Afterward, they stand up and shake 

your hand. There’s nothing like that.”

Following his years in Guam, Holliday transferred to commands in Puerto Rico and Bahrain, then on to Naval 

Diving and Salvage Training Center 

(NDSTC), followed by a set of orders to 

the Center for EOD and Diving, where 

he helped to create the ND Enlisted 

Learning and Development Road Map, 

updated the ND Occupational Standards, 

helped to write ND E4-E7 advancement 

exams and updated the 1st Class Diver 

and 2nd Class Diver curricula. 

“He made an immediate impact on 

NDSTC,” said Master Chief Navy Diver 

Louis Defl ice, MDV at Commander Submarine Development Squadron 5, Silverdale, Wash. “As the training department MDV, he was tasked with updating 

course curriculum to refl ect the largest 

change to the Navy Diving manual in 

Navy’s ‘Copperhead’ Trains Future EOD Technicians

By Ensign Elizabeth Allen, Naval School of Explosive Ordnance and Diving Public Affairs

Master Chief Navy Diver Eric Holliday, Command Master Diver 

(MDV) at Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD), describes the recompression chamber to Seaman Elijah 

Moore and Seaman John Dirks in the Underwater Ordnance 

Disposal division of school, Jan. 29, 2013. Holliday is the Navy’s “Copperhead,” a title held by the most senior MDV in the 

Navy. U.S. Navy Photo by Ensign Elizabeth Allen/RELEASED.

(Continued on page 10)
 May 2013 9

Marine Corps Diving Mission

Marines of the 1st Marine Special 

Operations Battalion (MSOB) 

alongside the Sailors of 1st MSOB Consolidated Dive Locker (CDL) recently 

worked together to train for combatant diving operations in Oahu, Hawaii.

The Marines of 1st MSOB are no 

stranger to the rigorous training and high 

deployment tempo assigned to them by 

US Special Operations Command (SOCOM). Becoming a Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) Operator isn’t an easy task and is never taken 

lightly. Only after a board selection is a 

Marine allowed to attempt the 7-month 

Individual Selection Course. The course 

is designed to test and improve upon the 

individual’s capability to meet worldwide 

special operations assignment. Only after they have successfully completed the 

prerequisites to become a MARSOC Marine will they be granted the title of Spartan, a title built on the shoulders of the 

Marines that came before them. 

The Sailors of the 1st MSOB CDL 

have played a huge role in preparing Marine Combatant Divers for use in future 

water born operations. Always looking 

for new ways to recapture the importance 

of diving operations, Commanding Offi cer, LTCOL Michael Brooks, requested that a training operation be planned, 

scheduled, and completed. Master Diver, 

NDCM Brian Pratschner, had decided 

that testing the battalions’ capability 

to successfully deploy overseas was of 

the utmost importance. There was, of 

course, a catch to the mission; the Sailors 

had to establish and execute a plan that 

would allow them to be self-sustainable 

during the entire operations. 

On the morning of 2 January 2012, 

fi ve sailors and 16 Marines departed 

Naval Air Station San Diego for Oahu, 

Hawaii. Directly upon landing at Marine 

Corps Station Kaneohe Bay, the Marines 

and Sailors had the task of immediately 

unpacking and setting up the dive station 

in order to make the scheduled dives the 

following day. The gear that had been 

brought on this training operation had its 

fi rst trial journey by air. Among the gear 

brought to Hawaii were one Transportable Recompression Chamber (TRC), 

three Diver Propulsion Devices, one generator, one Mini Bauer Compressor, and 

one Rapid Deployment Oxygen Transfer 

Pump System (RDOTPS). 

The TRC was the newest piece of 

gear that had been developed specifi cally 

for use in overseas deployments alongside the Sailors of the CDL. THE TRC 

had been mounted inside an ISU-90 shipping container with CAUSE Air supply 

racks installed directly below and an oxygen rack installed above the recompression chamber. Additional supplemental 

oxygen had also been installed via two 

Oxygen K bottles. The housing for the 

TRC had the added benefi t of having internally mounted lights and an internally 

mounted air conditioning system with 

the capability of using an external generator to power the entire system. 

Everything that was to board the 

C-130 for our movement phase of the operation had to be packed in accordance 

with the Code of Federal Regulations. 

Utilizing two separate ISU-90 shipping 

containers, an entire diving side was 

neatly packed away and ready for movement. In one container was the entire 

TRC system set up. Members of the CDL 

packaged the chamber by adding extra 

protection to the gauges utilizing pieces 

of plywood in the event that any gear 

packed around the chamber slipped. All 

of the gear packed around the chamber 

was cleaned and had no risk of leaking 

any fl uids or creating any type of hazard 

to the certifi ed system. The additional 

shipping container was packed with 

two Evinrude 55hp MFE outboard engines, two zodiac rigid infl atable boats, 

one 5000k generator, and other miscellaneous diving equipment. Ensuring that 

both engines and generator met with the 

fl ight standards involved completely 

draining all fl uids and ensuring the external parts remained clean and free of 

dirt and oil. After every piece of gear was 

inspected before boarding the aircraft, 

we were ready for take-off. 

The Marines had one mission and 

that was to refamiliarize themselves with 

the MK-25 rebreather and the Diver Propulsion Device. The MK-25 under water 

breathing apparatus is a 100% oxygen 

closed loop system that gives divers the 

ability to complete longer dive times, but 

prevents them from reaching any depth 

deep than 60 feet in the water due to 

the high risk of oxygen toxicity. Several 

day dives began with Marines navigating the coral entrapped waterways utilizing only their compasses and depth 

gauges. Navigating the coral heads of 

Hawaii can be a tricky task for divers 

who have never seen such coral formations before, but after a few bumps and 

minor scrapes the Marines were able to 

By: HM2 (FMF/DV) Wallace Justin
 May 2013 May 2013 10

complete a successful day diving operation, which involved launching from a 

Zodiac infl atable boat and completing a 

fully planned beach entry. 

 Day operations for divers can be 

quite easy when compared to the common night diving operations that are considered to be the Marine Corps bread and 

butter. When the Divers of 1st MSOB 

enter the water at night, there are no dive 

lights to help guide them through the 

coral or along the dangerous bottom. The 

Marines were allowed to make some premission planning that involved graphing 

and plotting their desired swim paths. 

By knowing the desired distance, a Marine is able to determine the amount of 

time he must swim before adjusting his 

heading for a new waypoint. 

HM2 (FMF/DMT) Wallace is assigned to 1st

Marine Special Operations Battalion. The only 

DMT attached to the Consolidated Dive Locker (CDL), he provides direct support to all diving command and functions onboard Marine 

Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA. 

Using the Diver Propulsion Device is no easy task, 

even during the day. The 

miniature submarine looking device required complete 

concentration and any minor 

directional change can put a 

Marine at the wrong insert 

point and possibly in the enemy’s arms. 

With a maximum speed of 2.7 knots with 

two divers, this two-person delivery vehicle allows Marines to increase their distance of insertion into the water by providing shorter dive times. The 1st MSOB 

Marines quickly learned that coral heads 

don’t do a terrible amount of damage to 

the vehicles. After completing a few sets 

of day dives with the device there was 

a great appreciation for thermal protection as the inability to swim during transport causes the body to quickly lose heat 

in any water below body temperature.

After the week of dive training, there 

was nothing left to do but repack the gear 

and prepare for another long 

fl ight home aboard another 

C-130. The Sailors and Marines of 1st MSOB made a 

successful movement and 

trained for an unknown diving operation and then successfully returned to their 

homeport. The ability to remain fully self sustainable 

wasn’t an easy task, but a 

great amount of knowledge 

had been gathered in performing the task that will 

greatly aid future missions 

and deployments of complete diving teams. 

decades. The entire curriculum for half 

a dozen high-risk diving courses had 

to basically be rewritten.” 

Holliday was also responsible for 

the implementation of the changes 

throughout the NDSTC training department, to include the conversion of making Navy Diver its own rate. 

“NDSTC offi cially made the transition from a ‘training command’ to a 

Navy “A” School, which presented huge 

challenges never anticipated at the command,” said Defl ice. “Through it all, 

Holliday managed to expertly guide the 

instructors and training department over 

hurdle after hurdle. I honestly don’t know 

anyone else capable of such accomplishments while simultaneously ensuring his 

training department was training and putting out such highly skilled Navy Divers.”

Holliday has also helped overhaul 

the Diving Salvage Warfare Specialist 

Personnel Qualifi cation Standards (PQS), 

which is now known as the Military Diver 

PQS, and made it applicable to all services.

But above all the awards received 

and the changes he has helped to make, 

he believes the most rewarding part of 

his job have been working with Sailors.

“My time as an instructor and instructor trainer have been some of the 

best parts of my time in the Navy; helping my subordinates and my replacements to achieve what I’ve achieved,” 

said Holliday. “It’s been a great career 

- the people, the friends I’ve made, the 

camaraderie, the job itself.” 

“He has made a huge impact on my 

life both personally and professionally,” 

added Defl ice. “I was a young chief when 

I worked for him and he taught me more 

about leadership, ethics, and the importance of standards than anyone before or 

since. He was, and remains, my mentor 

and role model. I consider myself very 

fortunate to have been trained by Master 

Diver Holliday and I proudly try to teach 

my men what he has taught me.” 

NAVSCOLEOD, located on Eglin 

Air Force Base, Fla. provides high-risk, 

specialized, basic and advanced EOD 

training to more than 2,100 U.S. and 

partner nation military and selected U.S. 

government personnel each year. 

For more information about the Naval School of Explosive Ordnance Disposal, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/

centers/ceneoddive/eods/. 

(Continued from page 8)

Ensign Elizabeth Allen is a public affairs offi -

cer assigned to Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Eglin AFB, Florida. 

US Marine Corps dive team ready to enter water, 

Kaneohe Bay Hawaii.

Article Cover Photo: US Marine Corps divers using 

MK-25 and Diver Propulsion Device (DPD).

HM2 Wallace setting up TRC system in Hawaii HM2 W ll i TRC i H ii.
 May 2013 11

By Ensign Elizabeth Allen

PANAMA CITY, FL (NNS) -- 

With their instructors watching closely, U.S. Navy and international 

students participated in Pool Week at 

Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC), March 25-29. 

Pool Week tests the students’ profi -

ciency in the water by performing in-water checks of their dive gear, the ability to 

tread water while wearing tanks, and how 

to correct multiple problems with equipment underwater while remaining calm.

The class is held once a year, and 

prior to arriving at NDSTC, international 

students attend the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA if they need to 

become more profi cient in the English 

language. 

International students begin by 

learning the basics in the 2nd Class Diver 

course, followed by more advanced curriculum in the 1st Class Diver course. 

Training is conducted in classrooms, but 

the majority of learning happens in the facilities in and around the school. 

“We don’t have this type of training facility back home,” said LT Marcq 

Lewin of the Jamaican Coast Guard. 

“We don’t have the support equipment, 

like the dive chamber, a ship primarily for diving, or the pools. The training we’re doing is to prepare us for real 

life - train hard, fi ght easy.” 

The current class of 11 students, each 

from a different country, spent a week 

learning through various training evolutions that not only test their abilities in 

the water, but the faith they have in their 

training. 

“I’ve enjoyed every second of my 

time here,” said 1st LT Mahmood Bany 

Omar, a member of the Marine Battalion 

of the Jordanian Navy. “I’m not a diver, 

so this is all new to me. This is the best 

course I have ever been to.” 

Navy Diver 1st Class James Stubbs, 

one of two international military student 

instructors, has been an instructor at the 

school for more than a year and has enjoyed working with international students.

“It’s a good experience teaching”

international students,” said Stubbs. “I 

like getting a chance to see and learn

about different cultures.” 

Pool Week occurred this year for the

international class during a cold spell, 

where the temperature was 56 degrees. Being in a heated pool then getInternational Students

Learn to Dive at 

Naval Training Center

ting out to the cold air was diffi cult for

several of the students. 

“The weather has been challenging,” 

said Petty Offi cer 3rd Class Jose Cid, a 

member of the Chilean Navy. 

“I love America, but it’s a bit cold,” 

said LT Lewin. 

NDSTC, located in Panama City, 

FL provides a controlled diving environment as well as direct access to open 

water diving throughout the Gulf of 

Mexico, and trains all Department of Defense divers to include Navy, Army, Air 

Force, Coast Guard and all Marine Corps 

combatant divers, a limited number of 

law enforcement, government agency 

personnel and allied forces. 

Cover Photo: U.S. Navy and international 

students at Naval Diving and Salvage Training 

Center (NDSTC) participate in Pool Week, 

Mar. 24, 2013. Pool Week tests the students’ 

profi ciency in the water by performing inwater checks of their dive gear, the ability 

to tread water while wearing tanks, and 

how to correct multiple problems with their 

equipment while staying calm. 

Instructors observe a 

student underwater.

Two students jump from a 

platform into the water.

An instructor observes two international 

students as they “buddy breathe” while 

correcting a problem with their equipment.

U.S. Navy Photos by CWO3 Dale Kasztelan/

RELEASED.
 May 2013 12

Hotel Pier Pile Restoration

Underwater Construction Diving Detachment Alfa (CDD/A), attached to Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 

Two, from Port Hueneme, California recently completed tasking to repair and preserve 30 piles on Hotel Pier, located in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH), HI. The efforts conducted by the SEABEE Divers of UCT TWO consisted of inspection, cleaning, and repair of 30 piles in accordance with an Appledore Marine Engineering Inc. design specifi cation. UCT TWO has a long history with JBPHH’s Hotel Pier. It is a common stop during their deployments across the 

Pacifi c. “UCT TWO has made multiple repairs to this pier over the course of the last few years,” said Equipment Operator 

Chief James Igoe “ but never has a detachment completed this many pilings in such a short timeframe, CDD/A set the new record!” With time sensitive deployment stops ahead of them CDD/A had 6 weeks to complete their 30 pile workload. 

CDD/A had to adhere to a strict schedule, completing 5 piles per week to meet their goal. With several steps involved in the 

repair of each pile this was a busy task. Before they could access the concrete piles a sometimes extensive removal of marine overgrowth was required. After exposing the pile surface they were able to chip away the exterior concrete to access the rebar. While 

that was happening concrete forms were constructed on the surface. With the piles prepped cathodic protection wires were brazed

to exposed rebar and zinc anodes were fastened. Finally, the forms were placed around each pile and concrete was placed. 

Challenges included delays due to ship traffi c, refueling requirements of equipment on the pier, and wave action from daily 

ferry traffi c taking groups to and from the nearby USS ARIZONA memorial. Equipment Operator 1st Class Leroy Schnathorst decided the constant wave action was especially memorable. “Drilling holes for the J-Box installation while the waves were coming in 

from the ferry’s going to and from the Arizona Memorial really took you for a ride under the pier while on fl oating pontoons.” 

Fulfi lling their mission of supporting the Fleet and Marine forces in the PACOM AOR, maintenance of Hotel Pier is 

the fi rst stop on a 6 month deployment of UCT TWO that will take them across the Pacifi c, from Pearl Harbor to the Philippines with numerous stops in between. For the SEABEE Divers at UCT TWO it’s just another day at the offi ce. 

Construction Maintenance Chief (SCW/FMD/DV) Elisia Correa is the OIC of Construction Dive Detachment ALFA, with Underwater Construction Team Two, based out of Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, CA.

By Construction Maintenance Chief (SCW/FMD/DV) Elisia Correa

Photos By: Chief Elisia Correa

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SCW/

DV) Ryan Irvine uses a vibratory 

hammer during a pile restoration 

project to vibrate concrete within 

formwork surrounding a pile. 

Equipment Operator 1st Class (SCW/

DV) Leroy Schnathorst pumps concrete 

in to formwork during pile restoration 

work. 

Construction Mechanic 3rd Class 

Daniel Nichols and Builder 2nd Class 

Keith Reed, prepare formwork for 

concrete placement. 

Steel Worker 2nd Class (SCW/DV) Holly 

Ramirez prepares a pile at Joint Base 

Pearl Harbor's Hotel Pier for concrete 

form work by scrapping marine growth 

off with a heavy duty scraper. 

Builder 2nd Class Justin Lieder chips 

away concrete with a pneumatic chipping 

hammer in order to attach cable to the 

existing rebar to be able to integrate 

it into the new cathodic protection 

system being installed by UCT 2. 

Equipment Operator 1st Class James 

McVicar and Hospital Corpsman 1st

Class Ryan Irvine prepare formwork 

for concrete placement. 
 May 2013 13

By: LCDR Stephen Keene

Requirements Generated

for the Diving Community

Suppose the Navy needs a new diving apparatus. Suppose there is such a gap 

in what your current apparatus can do and 

what it should be able to do that USN is 

ready to seek-out a replacement system. 

Where would we start? There are 

a lot of commercially available 

systems, but would they meet 

our needs? How would we 

know? How would we verify 

that those systems can do what 

their manufacturer advertises 

that they can do? Do we need to 

develop a new military system 

because no commercial system 

meets our needs? How long will 

that take? How much will that 

cost? Do we have the funding? 

Where do we start? 

The answer to all of these 

questions, and many more, begins with properly developed 

“Requirements.”

This article is an overview 

of the processes and decisions 

that have to take place in order 

for the Navy’s diving community to properly develop the 

“Requirements” for new or updated diving systems. A big “R” 

is used in requirements in this 

instance because it represents 

those specifi c qualities and capabilities that a diving system is 

“required” to have. What is the difference 

between “Requirements” and “requirements”? That will be clear by the end of 

this article, but for now let’s just say that 

it is the difference between what Congress will pay for and what you “wish” 

for in a new diving system. 

To start the discussion of how Requirements are generated, let’s look at 

who owns the requirements for the new 

diving system. Is it your dive locker? 

How about the Commanding Offi cer, 

COMNECC, or Fleet Forces Command? 

No. They should all be participants, or 

represented, in the development of the 

Requirements, but they do not own them. 

Requirements are owned by the CNO. 

Various branches of the OPNAV staff, 

specifi cally N95 and N97, are the Requirements Offi cers for USN EOD and 

diving systems. As such, it is their responsibility to draft and approve formal 

requirements for new or upgraded diving 

systems. They do that with the help of 

Fleet Divers, TYCOM personnel, Program Management Offi ce personnel, and 

so forth. The Requirements that they approve will be captured in various formal 

capabilities documents that themselves 

require additional approval through the 

Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS). JCIDS is a 

DoD system that operates well outside 

of the control of the EOD and diving 

communities, and to some extent outside of the reach of the Navy’s Requirements Offi cers. Now that we know who 

owns the Requirements for our new 

diving system, let’s look at how the Requirements themselves are developed.

Since the Requirements 

Offi cer has the responsibility for developing the 

Requirements for the new 

diving system and developing the formal capability documents to process 

through JCIDS, it is logical that they would initiate the process for drafting 

and documenting the initial 

(little “r”) requirements. 

These requirements include 

all of the good ideas, opinions, and desires of those 

who are asked to participate in an event such as a 

Requirements Working 

Group or a Requirements 

Development Meeting for 

the new diving system. 

These draft requirements 

are not yet approved, thus 

the little “r” designation.

This is where the door 

opens wide to consider 

threat assessments, technological improvements, 

doctrine, tactics, manning, 

funding, “nice-to-have’s” and so forth 

to drive the discussion on the requirements for the new system. This is the 

single best opportunity for the end-user 

to have an infl uence on the capabilities 

of a new or upgraded diving system. 

Can you “ask for the world” at the Requirements Working Group? Yes. Will 

you get it? Probably not. Here is why: 

everything in the systems acquisition 

process is driven by cost, schedule, and 

technical feasibility. If the requirements 

for the new system demand a substantial 

investment for technology development, 

require extensive time to develop, or cre-
 May 2013 14

LCDR Stephen Keene is the Director of EOD Programs for PMS 408, the 

Navy’s Program Management Offi ce for 

expeditionary mission systems. He is an 

EOD/Diving Offi cer, a member of the 

Acquisition Corps, and holds an MBA in 

Systems Acquisition Management from 

the Naval Postgraduate School. 

ate substantial risk to the program because it uses immature technology, then 

it is either less likely that those requirements will become formal Requirements, 

or they will become the Requirements at 

the expense of other attributes that can no 

longer be afforded. Once the long list of 

requirements is drafted it is time to start 

selecting the valid requirements and conducting a trade-off analysis. 

Making trade-offs is key to downselecting the less important requirements 

in favor of the more important requirements. Why? Because we cannot afford everything, and some requirements 

compete against one another – for example, size and weight. Trade-offs can be 

made in the areas of size, weight, shape, 

functionality, performance, technological maturity, and cost considerations. 

At the end of the trade-off analysis, 

the end state should be a list of valid 

requirements that adequately address 

the threat considerations, meet the necessary tactical and performance criteria, 

have an adequate technological maturity, and have a realistic cost expectation. Consider down-selecting the invalid 

requirements step one in the trade-off 

process. These validated requirements 

will become the approved Requirements 

in the formal JCIDS documents – the 

Initial Capabilities Document, the Capabilities Development Document, and 

the Capabilities Production Document.

Step two in the Requirements tradeoff process is the assignment of Key Performance Parameters, Key System Attributes, and Other Attributes. The Key 

Performance Parameters of a system are 

those Requirements that must be met 

otherwise there is no point in fi elding the 

new system. They are the critical capabilities. All other capabilities are of lesser 

importance. However, they are not the 

only Requirements for the system, thus 

we have the Key System Attributes which 

are of secondary importance, and fi nally 

there are the Other Attributes, which 

are valid Requirements themselves, but 

are of lesser importance. Within each 

of these Requirements there are threshold and objective specifi cations. The 

threshold specifi cation is the minimum 

capability the new system must meet 

for a given Requirement. The objective 

specifi cation is the optimum capability 

for the same Requirement. Why not just 

develop to the objective specifi cation 

and get the best capability? It costs a lot 

more, and we cannot afford (in dollars 

and time) to develop everything to the 

maximum capability. Consider the maximum operational depth of a new diving 

system as a Key Performance Parameter. 

Its threshold specifi cation might be 100 

FSW, whereas its objective specifi cation might be 150 FSW. In this example, 

the threshold of 100 FSW is the absolute minimum acceptable depth for the 

maximum operational depth Requirement, but 150 FSW would be optimum, 

so that is the objective specifi cation 

for the same Requirement. Once the 

system Requirements, Key Performance 

Parameters, Key System Attributes, 

Other Attributes, and their associated 

Threshold & Objective specifi cations 

are determined, then it is the responsibility of the Requirements Offi cer to 

move the proper documents through the 

JCIDS process for approval. 

In addition to the JCIDS documents 

there are numerous other offi cial acquisition documents that are required by either statute or regulation to ensure that 

the new or improved diving system has a 

realistic and verifi able cost and schedule, 

and that it meets its required performance 

specifi cations. There are also numerous 

reviews and test events that take place in 

the manufacturer’s facilities, government 

labs, fi eld experiments, and at the associated Systems Command to further ensure 

that all of the Requirements are met and 

that the system maintains cost and schedule adherence. These processes take a 

long time. Systems Acquisition takes 

years. Why? Because it takes a lot of time 

to develop the proper requirements, to 

contract for the development and manufacture of a new product, to properly test 

a new system to ensure that it meets the 

Requirements and (especially for Diver’s 

Life Support Systems) is safe to use in a 

military capacity, and to simultaneously 

develop all of the associated training and 

maintenance plans and materials. 

But what if the requirements need to 

change while a two-to-four year acquisition process runs? There are a few options. 

First, you can wait for the fi nished 

product, and then adjust your tactics and 

techniques to make use of the new system even though it does not meet your 

“new” requirements. (They are little “r” 

requirements because they have not been 

approved.) This approach saves time and 

money, as it does not interrupt the acquisition process. 

Second, you can attempt to stop the 

acquisition process, get a new set of Requirements approved, and then re-start 

the acquisition process. This approach 

will be extremely expensive and time 

consuming. Imagine you are building a 

new house and just before it is fi nished 

you decide you want the contractor to 

move the fi replace and chimney to other 

side of the house! Changing the Requirements midway through the acquisition 

process will defi nitely cause an increase 

in the system’s cost and delivery schedule at a minimum. It may also create a 

legal confl ict with the manufacturer and 

a host of other funding and contractual 

problems. 

A third approach would be to receive 

the new diving system that meets the 

original Requirements and make good 

use of it by adjusting your tactics and 

techniques, and at the same time initiate 

an incremental improvement process that 

gets new Requirements approved, new 

funding authorized, and a new design 

developed. This could create a modifi cation to the diving system that could 

be implemented at a depot organization 

or by the manufacturer, or it could be a 

new system, wholly redesigned, that gets 

delivered a few years later. 

No matter the reason for changing 

the Requirements mid-process, the outcome is always the same...increased system cost and extended delivery schedule. 

That is why it is imperative to get the 

Requirements right initially; even if it 

means spending a lot of extra time developing them! It is the best way to get 

the diving system you need. 
 May 2013 15

SAIPAN

DANGER TO 

NAVIGATION 

(DTON) 

REMOVAL

I

n December 2008 USNS SAFEGUARD and Mobile Diving 

& Salvage Unit ONE (MDSU ONE) 

Company 1-8 (CO 1-8), were tasked 

by COMSEVENTHFLT with removing Dangers to Navigation (DTON) in 

Saipan Harbor and channel in order to 

provide safe navigation for CG 47 and 

DDG 51 Class ships. The operation was 

conducted over 21 days by a 15-man diving detachment that conducted 48 surface 

supplied and SCUBA dives with 101 

hours total of bottom time. 

All DTON locations were surveyed 

and reported by the Fleet Survey Team 

(FST) based out of the Stennis Space 

Center. GPS locations were found to 

be extremely accurate so GPS locations alone were used to choose the spot 

in which to moor. CO 1-8 indicated to 

the ship where to moor and laid out the 

desired scope and position of the ship. 

During the mooring process, company 

personnel worked closely with the ship’s 

Navigator, Mates, and Master to ensure 

that the ship was moored in the correct 

location. This relationship worked very 

well and saved a great deal of time. Having oversight of the mooring evolution 

is an important part of the operation to 

prevent divers from having to move wire 

too far in the water. MDSU ONE, Company 1-8 was able to lay 3 precision 2 

point moors and salvage 2 large DTONS 

in the same day. Large scale charts with 

DTON positions overlaid were useful in 

plotting the appropriate moor. 

There is no accurate way to estimate 

the weight of the DTONS on the bottom 

or in the water column which makes selection of rigging diffi cult. Previous to 

CO 1-8, no one measured the weight 

of any of the DTONS 

brought on deck. All initial rigging selections were 

based on rough estimates 

of weight, rigging used by 

previous companies, as 

well as the limited rigging 

available on board SAFEGUARD at the time. 

Diver’s pneumof athometer hoses were placed 

directly on top of DTONS 

to determine the depth of 

the DTON. All DTON 

depths in the report from 

the FST were given at Mean 

Lower Low Water (MLLW). 

It was important to compare daily tidal changes 

against MLLW when determining the depth of the 

DTONS to ensure that they 

are on the correct DTON. Once DTONS 

were located and identifi ed, the circumference was measured and the appropriate choker sling selected. 

Once the DTON was marked for removal, it was choked off with 11⁄4” wire 

rope through a shackle. The bitter end of 

the choker was then shackled to a 100’ 

wire rope and taken through the mooring 

roller to the capstan where a minimum 

By: CWO3 Randy Duncan

Putting divers down to rig onto a DTON using 1 1/4 Wire.
 May 2013 16

CWO3 Randy Duncan is a Specialized Diving Division Offi cer at Naval Diving and 

Salvage Training Center in Panama City, 

Florida.

of 7 turns was taken. The 100’ pendant 

was then slowly taken to power. The 

DTON was then snapped or broken off 

the bottom and dragged to the ship. This 

is a slow and steady process, especially 

if there is any signifi cant swell or if the 

DTON is large. Once the ship settled out 

in the moor, slack was put back in the 

100’ length and a lazy pendant (for picking with the boom) shackled to the bitter 

end of the choker by the Divers. The Divers were then recovered and the DTON 

lifted off the bottom. Once the lazy pendant was near the roller, it was placed 

over the big hook 

on the boom and 

the boom given 

the weight. Slack 

was then put in

t h e w i r e o r i t 

was taken off

of the capstan 

and the DTON 

was brought

on deck. 

To release the 

DTON, the same

choker pendant 

was used. A pelic a n h o o k w a s 

shackled in as

the release mechanism so no rigging was lost during this evolution.

During the drop phase, the ship 

was in 600’ of water with no way 

on. Ship maintained heading with 

the bow thruster. All DTONS were 

pre-rigged prior to the ship going 

to the deep water site. The DTON was 

simply lifted up and over the cap, lowered down, and hogged in to the side of 

the ship. The release wire was then made 

fast to a cleat on deck. Once this was in 

place, the pin was pulled using a boat 

hook and the DTON was lowered with 

the boom. This made the release wire 

taut and pulled the bail open on the pelican hook. The DTON goes to the bottom 

and all rigging is recovered. 

The largest DTON brought on deck 

weighed more than 65,000 lbs. Two 

larger DTONS, estimated to weigh 40-50 

tons, were also removed from the channel using different methods. One DTON 

was lifted using both capstans taking opposing pulls through each stern mooring 

roller. It was brought just under the keel. 

Then, they heaved around on the aft anchor and pulled the ship out of the channel and lowered the DTON down outside 

the channel. The second DTON that exceeded 40 tons was lifted using 2 slings 

and the 10” hawser and towed to sea just 

under the surface of the water at the mooring roller. At the end of the operations, a 

total of 25 DTONS were removed from 

the harbor and main channel. 

Coordination with local authorities 

and CTF 73 was crucial to the success of the mission. 

Taking DTONS to approved dump site in 500 feet of water.

MDSU ONE, Company 1-8: CWO2 Randy Duncan, MDV- NDCS Jon Klukas, 

LCPO – NDC Paul Wotus, IDC/DMT- HM1 Enrique Martino, LPO – ND1 Kenneth Bontempo, ALPO ND1 Nicholas Zaborski, ND1 Jericho Diego, ND1 Alexander Grun, 

BM1 Richard Racette, ND2 Mariano Lorde, ND2 Richard Ellis, ND2 Jeremy O’Dell, 

ND3 Jason Balavram, ND3 Brody Dorton, ND3 Matthew Stinson.

Navy Diver taking a break after dragging a 1 1/4 wire 

pennant 100ft to the DTON.

Article Cover Photo: Recovering a DTON 

after the dive.
 May 2013 May 2013 17

By: MM2 (SS/DV) Eric O’Gradney

I

t was around seven o’clock when 

I fi nally stepped off the plane at 

my destination of Panama City, FL. After being stationed in the humid climate 

of Guam for the last year and half, the 

cool January weather was a welcomed 

change. After passing through the terminal, I stopped at the USO to call for 

a ride to the Naval Diving and Salvage 

Training Command (NDSTC). NDSTC 

houses some of the best and most experienced divers in the world, and those 

divers would soon to teach us to become Navy SCUBA Divers. 

Most individuals are familiar with 

the prestigious Navy Diver, but a lesser 

known faction of military diving is the 

Submarine Scuba Diver. Our purpose 

onboard the submarine is to serve as the 

Captain’s force of trained personnel who 

are qualifi ed to provide security checks, 

search and recovery operations, perform 

light maintenance, and, if required, unfoul critical equipment on the submarine 

while at sea. Since reporting as a nuclear-trained Machinist’s Mate to my fi rst 

submarine, the USS BUFFALO (SSN 

715) in July of 2011, I had expressed 

interest in joining Dive Division. Being 

an armed forces diver was something I 

had always considered prior to joining 

the Navy, and even after selecting the 

nuclear program, a goal I still hoped to 

achieve. After discussing my ambitions 

with the Diving Offi cer onboard BUFFALO, LT Horodowicz, I was given a 

chance to become indoctrinated with 

diving operations by helping as a tender 

during a routine dive. Even though the 

dive consisted of the somewhat regular 

task of attaching a chlorination unit to a 

seawater suction strainer and performing 

a security swim, it was my fi rst exposure 

to the true attention to detail and professionalism required for safe diving operations. The diving supervisor, MMC (SS/

DV) Willett, systematically went through 

all aspects of this dive from gear checks 

to CPs, or casualty procedures. After all 

checks were satisfactory and the brief 

complete, both red and green divers entered the water by a front-step entry off 

the starboard side of the boat. Following them down the side, then under the 

boat and back around, we received four 

pulls on the line, signaling they were 

coming up. When surfaced, they made 

standard reports about their dive and proceeded topside via the extraction point. 

Although a routine dive with nothing out 

of the ordinary, one thing about these 

events stuck with me; for these men, 

diving was their job, and that would become something I respect. 

About a year and a half after reporting to BUFFALO, I was granted temporary orders to the USS FRANK CABLE 

(AS 40), a submarine tender also home 

ported in Guam, to prepare for dive 

school. By virtue of being stationed on 

a highly-operational, forward-deployed, 

fast-attack submarine, I needed a way to 

get in shape for something as physically 

demanding as dive school. The FRANK 

CABLE Dive Locker had graciously 

agreed to take me in as a prospective diver, or “mud-pup”. Each day started outside the base gym at 6 a.m. for the morning workout. Over the next three weeks, 

track, pool, and gym workouts helped improve my physical fi tness, but more importantly helped make me more comfortable in the water. Most days were spent 

at the dive sides where I would study the 

Dive Manual and fi eld questions from 

the divers to prepare for the important 

medical and knowledge areas of being a 

diver. On the rare days with no diving operations, we would perform preventative 

maintenance on the gear and participate 

in afternoon workouts at the dive locker. Returning to BUFFALO for a major 

ship’s inspection, I knew I was mentally 

and physically prepared for the rigors 

of Navy Diving. Shortly after successfully completing the inspection, I fi nally 

received the go-ahead to fl y to Panama 

City, FL, to become the ship’s next diver. 

Working with the AS 40 Dive Locker was 

a spectacular opportunity to observe the 

quiet professionals at work, and is something all prospective submarine SCUBA 

divers should wish to take. 

The full-day fl ight from Guam to 

Florida only built my excitement to start 

school, and coupled with the fact it had 

been almost two years since returning to 

my home state, I could barely sit still for 

the voyage. Arriving at NDSTC, I was 

impressed by a tall statue of a diver donning a traditional Mark V diving dress 

and the schoolhouse walls which were 

adorned with memorials of the many 

Medal of Honor recipients of the diving 

community. The days at NDSTC began 

much like they had with the FRANK 

CABLE dive locker; a challenging, 

morning exercise session always awaited. After the workout, we would participate in class work consisting of dive 

physics, diving medicine, physiology, 

and fundamentals SCUBA diving. A key 

component to becoming a safe and effective diver is confi dence in the water. One 

must be able to count on his fellow diver 

in a time of need, and the swimming pool 

is where that confi dence is built. Under 

the expert supervision and experience of 

Training Team One, we couldn’t have 

been in better hands. Over the next few 

weeks, NDC Newell and HM1 Weber, 

along with the rest of the training team, 

would push our class out of our comfort 

zone to become much more capable in 

the water. After passing the rigorous series of tests known as “Pool Week”, we 

took to sea to at last get some training in 

the open water. Descending to 70 and 80 

feet of seawater, we explored a few ship 

wrecks several miles off the coast in the 

chilly waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Successfully completing these dives fi nalized our qualifi cation as Navy SCUBA 

Divers. Following a pinning ceremony 

by our instructors and the Commanding 

Offi cer of NDSTC, Commander Egan, 

we left Panama City with a huge sense 

of accomplishment, joining the ranks of 

Navy Divers past and present. 

I would like to extend my sincere 

gratitude and appreciation to NDSTC, 

Training Team One, the USS FRANK 

CABLE Dive Locker, and fi nally the USS 

BUFFALO for the opportunity to become 

a diver. It is truly and honor and a privilege to be a part of this legacy. 

HOO-YAH!

MM2 (SS/DV) Eric M. O’Gradney is a 

nuclear trained, submarine qualifi ed, Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class from Clearwater, FL. He recently graduated from U.S. 

Navy Dive School and serves as one of 

four SCUBA Divers onboard USS Buffalo 

SSN715.

Becoming a Submarine Diver
 May 2013 18

Regional Diver Locker East divers prepare 

to conduct an environmental survey of an 

aid to navigation near Sugarloaf Key, 

Dec. 13, 2012. During the survey, the 

divers inspect the sea fl oor near the aid 

for endangered coral species. 

USCG

Deployable 

Operations 

Group

Beneath the blue waters of the 

Florida Keys, the only livingcoral barrier reef in the continental United States stretches for miles. The reef and 

surrounding waters generate more than 

$2.3 billion annually for the local economy, create more than 33,000 ocean jobs 

throughout the Florida Keys and support 

fi sheries that feed millions. 

Across this economically important 

area, the Coast Guard maintains 450 

buoys, markers, and aids to navigation 

that safely guide water traffi c through 

the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, stretching 2,900 nautical miles 

from the Dry Tortugas National Park 

to Fowey Rock near Miami. 

 “The navigational aids maintained by the Coast Guard inside the 

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary ensure the safe fl ow of vessel traffi c while preserving and protecting the 

area’s natural habitats and coral,” said 

Petty Offi cer 1st Class Ryan Nicholson, 

Aids to Navigation Team (ANT) Key 

West’s executive petty offi cer. “We see 

the aids guiding boat traffi c on the surface, but we have to use Divers to ensure that they’re doing their second job, 

protecting and not impacting the endangered sea habitats underwater.” 

The Maritime Security Response 

Team’s Regional Diver Locker East supports this mission with their specialized 

training and capabilities. The MSRT, 

like most Coast Guard units, is multimission and scalable. In addition to its 

primary homeland security mission, the 

team deploys divers to provide aids to 

navigation, search and recovery, and 

ship’s husbandry support to Coast Guard 

units throughout the country. 

“Our mission with ANT Key West 

is to inspect the sea fl oor and coral 

growth around the navigational aids,” 

said Chief Petty Offi cer Stephen Doty, 

dive team leader. “We’re trained to look 

for endangered coral, specifi cally the 

elkhorn and staghorn coral, report our 

fi ndings to the 7th Coast Guard District, and provide support to repair or replace damaged aids if needed.” 

While conducting environmental surveys, one Diver records video of 

the coral and measures distances from 

aid while the second Diver documents 

the status of the sea fl oor and coral on 

a waterproof clipboard. This precise 

mapping around each aid is essential 

for developing navigation management 

strategies that balance the protection of 

these habitats with their use. 

The 7th Coast Guard District takes 

the report generated by the Divers and 

PA1 Michael Anderson serves as the deputy 

external affairs offi cer at the U.S. Coast 

Guard Deployable Operations Group. He has 

deployed more than 50 times in the last three 

years to support the Coast Guard’s deployable specialized forces in the fi eld. 

coordinates with NOAA’s National

Marine Fishery Service, the agency responsible for the stewardship of the nation’s living marine resources and their 

habitats. Together, they determine if any 

changes need to be made to the aid or its 

location to account for new coral growth.

After the plan is developed, Divers guide 

pilings to the safe areas of the sea fl oor 

and recover debris from hurricanes during aid repair and re-positioning to ensure that the endangered coral is not 

harmed by surface construction. 

This comprehensive and coordinated 

approach to the management of the aids 

and coral inside the Florida Keys National 

Marine Sanctuary demonstrates the Coast 

Guard’s commitment to maintaining 

America’s maritime resources. 

“Maintaining the aids in a way that 

protects the Keys’ natural resources is 

important to the environment, the residents of Florida, and the millions of 

tourists who visit the Key’s each year,” 

said Doty. “As a Coast Guardsman and 

a Diver, I’m proud that our efforts to be 

good stewards of the environment ensure that the sanctuary’s reefs will be 

here for future generations.” 

By: PA1 Michael Anderson

Photo caption top left: During the survey, 

the divers inspect the sea fl oor near the aid 

for endangered coral species. Photo caption 

top right: Regional Dive Locker East divers 

signal they are okay after environmental 

survey of an aid to navigation. 

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 

2nd Class Michael Anderson. 
 May 2013 19

Crossword Puzzle

Crossword answers on pg.28

ACROSS

2. In an extremely cold and dry climate, fi re and _______ ventilation are ever- 

 present dangers.

4. The diver should therefore avoid _______ the second stage of the regulator 

 when diving in cold water.

5. The lifeline of the standby diver should be _______the length of the diver’s 

 lifeline in order to perform a thorough circular search.

8. If a regulator is allowed to free-fl ow at depth for as little as fi ve seconds, 

 _______ may occur.

9. In very cold water, the wet suit is only a _______ effective thermal protective 

 measure.

11. The life of batteries in homing beacons, strobes, and communication equip-

 ment is _______ when used in cold water.

12. When ice diving is conducted, a shelter must be erected as close as possible 

 to the diving site to reduce the probability of _______ and equipment freeze-

 up.

14. Prior to the use of variable volume dry suits and hot water suits in cold and 

 ice-covered waters, divers must be _______ in their use.

17. The use of life preservers with CO2 actuation is _______ only when diving 

 under ice.

18. A _______ line should be hung through the hole to aid the diver in retaining 

 his bearing and sense of direction.

19. Suited divers should be protected from _______ and associated perspiring 

 before entering the water.

20. Diver tending lines are _______ when diving under ice to help the diver relo-

 cate the entrance hole.

DOWN

1. The fi rst and/or second stage of the single-hose regu-

 lator may freeze in the _______ position after a few 

 minutes of exposure in cold water.

3. Hypothermia demands ___________ treatment and 

 prompt evacuation to a medical facility.

6. A hot water system failure can be __________ for a 

 diver in very cold water since the hot water is a life 

 support system under such conditions.

7. Escape holes provide ____________ exit points and 

 aid in searching for a lost diver.

10. Where water temperature is at or below 37° F, a 

 ____________ SCUBA system shall be used.

13. A _________ debt can accumulate over successive 

 diving days, resulting in increased fatique and re- 

 duced performance. 

15. Because severe chilling can result in _____________ 

 judgement, the task to be performed under water 

 must be clearly identifi ed, practiced, and kept simple.

16. Thermal protection suits should expose only a 

 ___________________ of facial area.

U.S. Navy Diving Manual Chapter 11 - Ice and Cold Water Diving Operations
 May 2013 20

Importance of Navy Divers

to the Submarine Force

VADM McCoy, Commander

Naval Sea Systems Command 

says bluntly, “It’s clear: our submarine 

force cannot sail without Navy Divers.” 

But what does this really mean? What do 

Navy Divers do for the submarine force 

that makes them key players? 

When you mention Navy Divers and 

submarines, what comes fi rst to most minds 

is the repair work that goes on at Naval shipyards, tenders, and Intermediate Maintenance Facilities. Around the world, around 

the clock, Divers conduct underwater inspections, repairs, and maintenance on US 

Navy submarines. Without the strict attention to detail, precise technical knowledge, 

and skillfully applied brute force that Divers bring to the job, submarines could not 

meet the operational commitments placed 

on them by the Combatant Commanders. 

Submarines are spending more time forward deployed conducting National tasking and anti-terrorism operations than ever 

before - they are doing more with less - and 

the work conducted by Navy Divers allows 

that to continue. In 2012 Navy Divers put 

in more than 91,000 hours of bottom time 

conducting over 4,700 dives on underwater repair and maintenance of submarines. 

Most maintenance dive lockers conduct 

work over a broad geographical area, not 

just in their homeports. Naval Submarine 

Support Facility New London and Norfolk 

Naval Shipyard conduct fl y away jobs to 

the 6th Fleet European area of operations to 

conduct emergent repairs to keep deployed 

submarines operational, and support

each other with manpower when needed. 

Trident Refi t Facility in Kings Bay Georgia routinely sends teams to Charleston, 

South Carolina and Port Everglades, Florida while diving continues 

a t K i n g s B a y 

keeping one leg 

of the nuclear

triad mission 

ready. USS EMORY S. LAND 

a n d F R A N K 

CABLE Divers work all 

over the 5 t h

and 7 t h F l e e t 

area of operations from remote locations

like Diego Garcia to larger

ports like Guam 

and Bahrain.

But focusing on underwater repair only 

looks at one part of the big picture and ignores other valuable skills that Navy Divers 

contribute to the Submarine Force. 

All submariners go through the Submarine Escape Trainer in Groton, Connecticut in order to familiarize themselves 

with the procedures and equipment needed 

to escape from a sunken submarine. Utilizing the only facility in the Navy designed 

for submarine escape, Navy Divers train 

the entire submarine force in submarine 

escape procedures. The training includes 

classroom time and a medical screening 

but centers on the facility’s 20 foot wide, 

88,000 gallon, 45 foot tower and the MK10 SEIE suit, which would be worn when 

escaping from a sunken submarine. Sailors are taught to ditch, don, and ascend in 

the bright orange suit from depths up to 

600 fsw. Navy Divers have trained 1,955 

students in 2012, while accumulating 

75,676 minutes of underwater time during 1,668 diving evolutions. 

The Navy Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, FL trains submariners in SCUBA diving, enabling the 

CW04 Paul Lawson

(Continued on page 22)

NSW Group 3 Divers and SEALs inside the Dry Deck Shelter during a 

mass swimmer lock out. Photo by Combat Camera. 

NSW Group 3 Divers and SEALS perform fi nal checks before launching the SDV. 

Photo by Combat Camera. 
 May 2013 May 2013 21

CAMP LENHOFF, Timor-Leste - 

Last month nine Seabee Divers 

from Underwater Construction Team Two 

(UCT TWO) arrived in Timor Leste via 

C-130, tired and jet lagged from a painful 

4 days of fl ying. They were there to perform hydrographic and side-scan surveys 

of various sites in support of a Pacifi c 

Command Bi-Lateral exercise. Additionally, they were tasked with the evaluation 

of a future site for Timor Leste’s Maritime Security Force Headquarters and 

providing Military-to-Military training 

with Timor Leste’s fl edgling dive force.

With support from NMCB 74 they 

hit the ground running, offl oading fi ve 

pallets of dive and geotechnical gear for 

transport to Camp Lenhoff. 

Equipment was quickly prepped 

and loaded on to trucks to get started 

with hydrographic surveys of Manatutu 

Beach. Manatutu beach is the site of a 

U.S. amphibious landing zone with forward movement to various training objectives. Data from 

hydrographic and

side scan surveys 

was used to give a 

3-D picture of the 

ocean fl oor, identifying any potential 

hazards to navigation that could 

damage amphibious crafts. Survey 

technicians covered 

over 2 square kilometers of ocean 

fl oor greatly aiding 

Beach Masters from 

the USS GREEN 

BAY (LPD 20). 

After completion of Manatutu 

surveys, the focus 

turned to Dili harbor, the main shipping port in Timor 

L e s t e . Wo r k i n g 

with the United Nations Maritime Advisor the plan was to 

provide comprehensive data to develop 

a strategic plan for 

the development of 

a maritime security headquarters. 

Seabee Divers Stop in Timor Leste

During Their Pacifi c Deployment

By Chief (SCW/MDV) Terence M. Juergens Underwater Construction Team Two

This included detailed topographic, hydrographic, and side scan surveys along 

with the collection of soil data. All information will aid engineers to ensure 

the Timorese are provided a sound platform that they can operate from. Divers 

were faced with a myriad of obstacles 

that come with operating in a developing country. Divers spent 7 days working side-by-side with the National Police of Timor Leste (PNTL) Maritime

Security Force collecting mountains of 

data, including side scan imagery of two 

WWII era vessels. All information will 

be recorded in a comprehensive report 

for further review by engineers. 

Timor Leste also has a robust military that includes a small contingent of 

Divers that are constantly training and 

willing to learn. Members of UCT TWO 

answered the call to provide a day of 

Underwater Construction Team Two’s Construction Dive classroom training that encompassed 

Detachment Charlie Offi cer in Charge EAC Blair Mercado 

prepares to launch divers to gather soil density data to support the future installation of a small craft berthing area 

for the local maritime security patrols in Timor-leste. Seabees from Underwater Construction Team 2 (UCT TWO) 

were in Timor Leste during a 6 month deployment across 

the Pacifi c that will take them from Kauai to Japan to 

the south Pacifi c and Naval Region Northwest. 

Chief Shannon Johnson from Underwater Construction Team 

Two, Construction Diving Detachment Charlie explains diving physiology to FFDTL divers. The divers from Timor Leste’s 

Army and Navy are learning basic skills in diving as the fi rst in 

their nations history. Seabees from Underwater Construction 

Team Two (UCT TWO) were in Timor Leste during a 6 month 

deployment across the Pacifi c that will take them from Kauai to 

Japan to the south Pacifi c and Naval Region Northwest. 
 May 2013 May 2013 22

Submarine Force to meet its minimum 

requirement that each deploying SSN or 

SSGN have at least four SCUBA Divers 

onboard. Also in Panama City is the Navy 

Experimental Dive Unit. Long a worldwide 

leader in diving experimentation and product development, they also enable Special 

Operations Forces (SOF) capable submarines (SSGNs and VIRGINIA class SSNs) 

to enhance their warfi ghting capability 

with new mixed gas UBA decompression 

procedures tailored for the submarine/

SOF mission and by testing new equipment for use in Dry Deck Shelters and 

Lock Out Chambers and Trunks. 

A lesser known relationship is that 

among submarines, SEALs, and Divers. 

The number of submarines built with SOF 

capability is increasing. The four SSGNs of 

basic diving theory, including physics, 

physiology, and recompression chamber operation. The seven untried PNTL 

divers were very attentive and gained 

very valuable information. According 

the Submarine Force have dual Lock Out 

Chambers, operated by Navy Divers, and 

are also capable of carrying two Dry Deck 

Shelters (DDS). The next generation SSN, 

the VIRGINIA class, is being built with a 

Lock Out Trunk (LOT), an organic lockout/lock-in capability for large numbers 

of SEALs and Divers, as well as being capable of carrying a single DDS. These systems require Navy Divers to operate them 

and SEALs, Divers, and submarines spend 

many months working together before deployment to hone their skills and to develop a unifi ed team. We’ve all been part of 

great dives; but diving from a submerged, 

moving submarine, at night, in SCUBA, is 

a unique experience that Navy Divers will 

be experiencing more of in the future. Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) are 

an area of focus for the Submarine Force 

as well and the sub/SOF team of Navy 

Divers, SEALs, and submarines continue 

to develop the tactics, techniques, and 

procedures for this capability. At Submarine Squadron ONE and SIXTEEN, Navy 

Divers provide training and certifi cation 

oversight for the SOF capable submarines, 

helping to ensure that they deploy to the 

Combatant Commander fully trained and 

certifi ed in sub/SOF operations. 

Whether it’s maintenance, escape

training, SCUBA diver training, experimentation, or sub/SOF operations, Navy 

Divers are a valuable asset to the submarine force. It’s clear: our submarine force 

cannot sail without Navy Divers. 

(Continued from page 20)

CW04 Paul Lawson is the Diving Offi cer 

for Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet. 

to the Officer-in-Charge of 

the Seabee Divers, Chief 

Blair Mercado, “We understand that it takes years 

of training to properly absorb the information we taught,

 however, the main 

point we wanted 

to drive home is 

that diving is inherently dangerous and no matter 

h o w m u c h y o u 

think you know, 

y o u ’ r e a l w a y s 

learning.” At the 

end of the day the 

U.S. and Timorese 

Divers shared a 

meal and some 

sea stories making 

it a very successful event. 

Fulfilling their mission 

of supporting the Fleet and 

Marine forces in the PACOM 

AOR, Seabees from UCT 

TWO were in Timor Leste 

during a 6 month deployment 

across the Pacifi c that will take 

them from Kauai to Japan to 

the south Pacifi c and Naval 

Region Northwest. UCT TWO 

Photos By : Chief (SCW/MDV) Terence M. 

Juergens

provides responsive inshore and ocean 

underwater construction, inspection, repair and maintenance to ocean facilities 

for Navy, Marine Corps and Joint Forces 

engaged in military operations. 

Side scan image of a merchant vessel sunk during 

WWII by Japanese Forces. Found in Dili Harbor, 

Timor-leste during a side scan search by Underwater Construction Team Two (UCT TWO) during a deployment stop in October, 2012. UCT 2 

provided side scan data in Dili Harbor to Timorleste’s Maritime Security Force while looking for 

hazards. Seabees from Underwater Construction 

Team Two (UCT TWO) were in Timor Leste during a 6 month deployment across the Pacifi c that 

will take them from Kauai to Japan to the south 

Pacifi c and Naval Region Northwest. 

Steel Worker 1st Class Brett Sligo, from Underwater Construction Team Two, provides side scan 

sonar training to divers from Timor Leste’s Maritime Security Force. Seabees from Underwater 

Construction Team Two (UCT TWO) were in Timor 

Leste during a 6 month deployment across the Pacifi c that will take them from Kauai to Japan to 

the south Pacifi c and Naval Region Northwest. 
 May 2013 23

By: Southwest RMC Divers

Southwest Regional

Maintenance Center

Divers

Command In The Spotlight

These words summarize the mission and capabilities of Southwest Regional Maintenance Center

(SWRMC), San Diego, California. The 

charge of completing all underwater aspects of this mission belongs to the dedicated group of Sailors and Civilians that 

comprise Waterfront Operations Diving 

Division (Shop Code 360). Scattered 

throughout the San Diego Metro Area, 

and operating onboard Naval Bases San 

Diego, Point Loma, and Coronado, you’ll 

fi nd SWRMC’s fi ve underwater repair 

teams performing any one of a number of 

tasks related to the emergent and planned 

waterborne maintenance of 49 surface 

combatants, two NIMITZ class aircraft 

carriers, and six LOS ANGELES class 

attack submarines. Looking closer, you’ll 

discover the production team supporting 

cast of one craft maintenance team, an 

autonomous planning offi ce, hyperbarics shop, husbandry support warehouse, 

medical team, supply managers, and staff 

that make the activity come to life every 

day. Contained in this article, you’ll fi nd 

descriptions of performance during the execution of a long list of high profi le, fi rstever, and emergency response missions 

performed locally and throughout the Pacifi c Fleet Area of Operations. 

MCM HEAVY LIFT & 

EX-GUARDIAN RESPONSE

Tasked by Naval Sea System Command (NAVSEA), and responding to initiatives passed down from the Chief of 

Naval Operations (CNO), SWRMC Divers planned and rapidly deployed a 14-

man team equipped with self-contained 

and surface supplied diving capabilities 

to the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles where they integrated with local 

law enforcement activities, NAVSEA’s 

Heavy Lift Team, contractors, and port 

divers in support of the Navy’s fi rst-ever 

quadruple heavy lift operation. Logging 

over 924 minutes of incident-free bottom time, the team performed fl awlessly 

during their completion of surveys of 

the anchorages, piers, and approaches, 

inspections of the MCM’s underwater 

hulls, and pre-lift alignment checks that 

provided for the fl awless execution of 

the mission and ultimately resulted in 

the rapid deployment of four warships 

to the United States Central Command 

(CENTCOM) area of operations in 

support of operations critical to the defense and war fi ghting capability of the 

United States of America. 

Almost one year later, and during an 

instance unrelated to the ships that were 

transported overseas during the quadruple 

heavy lift, SWRMC Divers once again 

received Flag level tasking and surge deployed seven Sailors on less than twelve 

hours notice to the Philippine Islands 

and Sulu Sea in response to the stranding of USS GUARDIAN. Capitalizing 

on their technical expertise and unique 

profi ciencies in ship repair, SWRMC 

responders integrated with the Seventh 

Fleet Salvage Offi cer, representatives 

from NAVSEA 00C, contractors, and the 

Mobile Diving and Salvage Company 

embarked aboard USNS SALVOR to 

stabilize and survey the stranded vessel. 

They off-loaded the ship and evacuated 

all pressurized systems to minimize environmental impact while facilitating the 

salvage assessments, stabilizations, and 

bracing efforts that would enable the safe 

dismantling and removal of the stranded 

vessel. Additionally, the success of this 

high profi le mission proofed concepts 

and served as the fi rst operational employment of Commander, Navy Regional Maintenance Center (CNRMC) Battle 

Damage Repair(BDR) capability. 

FROM ROUTINE TO FIRST-EVER, 

PERSONIFYING EXCELLENCE 

UNDER PRESSURE.

Increasing productivity by 51% over 

the past 18 months, SWRMC Divers have 

TO PROVIDE SUPERIOR SHIP MAINTENANCE, MODERNIZATION, AND 

TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO SHIPS IN THE PACIFIC FLEET, 

WHO STAND READY TO FIGHT AND WIN.

o

t

d

t

i

h

p

t

t

t

(

s

SWRMC Divers’ BRAVO Team performs the fi rst 

CG waterborne stave bearing repair in 13 years.
 May 2013 24

taken the lead logging more bottom time 

than any other non-training diving activity in the U.S. Navy during the fi rst quarter. 

Their completion of one CPP repair, four 

shaft covering repairs, one submarine 

propeller replacement, two CVN incremental availabilities, the fi rst-ever CVN 

Kellogg Insulation System installation in 

the Southwest Region, the fi rst-ever LCS 

graving dock entry, and the fi rst CG stave 

bearing replacement in 13 years in addition to hundreds of cofferdam installations and other routine repairs supported 

Fleet readiness while reducing contracted 

diving services (except for hull cleaning) 

in Navy Region Southwest. 

HYPERBARIC HEALING 

Following the recent ten year overhaul of their RCF-6500, SWRMC Divers 

Medical Team worked closely with Naval 

Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD), 

local Undersea Medical Offi cers (UMO), 

and the Bureau of Medicine and

Surgery (BUMED) to spearhead the introduction of a Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) 

therapy program that resulted in the treatment, care, and healing of three combat 

wounded Sailor and Marines and one military dependent. In addition to the HBOs, 

SWRMC Divers were proud to perform 

a series of candidate pressure tests that 

proved critical to the success of a pilot 

program aimed at combat rehabilitation 

through the employment of SCUBA 

training and recreational diving. 

UNIQUE CAPABILITIES AND INTEROPERABILITY

structive testing capability. Their 

certifi cation and profi ciency in 

visual technical, magnetic particle, and dry habitat dye penetrant 

examination methods provide 

mission essential capabilities

while saving vital repair dollars 

that would otherwise be spent 

on diving contracts. The value of 

maintaining these programs was 

evident as SWRMC Divers augmented Pearl Harbor and Puget 

Sound Naval Shipyard divers during the evaluation of the forward elliptical bulkhead onboard USS HAWAII and 

propeller shafting onboard USS NIMITZ. In addition to NDT, Southwest RMC 

also maintains fully capable Remote 

Operated Vehicle and non-certifi ed wet 

welding programs in support of emergent 

inspection, evaluation, and repair. 

WHAT’S A BDR?

Referencing the requirements issued in the latest revision of COMUSFLTFORCOM/COMPACFLTINST 

4740.1K, Salvage, Recovery, Towing 

and Off Shore Oil Spill Response Operations, CNRMC issued doctrine directing SWRMC to establish and maintain 

a Battle Damage Repair (BDR) Dive 

Team capable of conducting emergent 

repairs and salvage/diving force augmentation. In response to the CNRMC 

directive, SWRMC Divers worked

 closely with NAVSEA 00C and the Pacifi c Fleet Diving and Salvage Offi cer 

to develop the concept of operations, 

construct, and operational footprint. 

Analysis found that the addition of BDR 

systems to the ESSM pool and developm e n t o f s u rg e 

capabilities at

t h e c o m m a n d 

level would adequately provide for the new 

r e q u i r e m e n t . 

Tr a n s f o r m i n g 

theory to practice, SWRMC

spearheaded the 

a l l o c a t i o n o f 

countless hours 

in planning and 

over one million 

SWRMC Divers are proud to maintain the Navy’s only underwater nondedollars in program funding toward the 

development of the BDR Life Support, 

expeditionary camp, shop van, patching van, and tool kit systems that are 

now being maintained in an RFI status 

at the ESSM facility at Naval Weapons 

Station Yorktown, Cheatham Annex. 

At the command level, they have developed a system of screening, training, 

and preparing all qualifi ed divers for immediate surge deployment to any possible repair site the world over. 

An assignment alongside the over 

80 Sailors and Civilian employees of 

SWRMC Diving Division offers great 

benefi ts to the careers of seasoned 

Navy Divers and newly qualifi ed Second Class Divers. Their expansive compounds, modern facilities, seven certifi ed 

life support systems, unique capabilities, and production leverage coupled 

with all the benefi ts of calling sunny 

Southern California home and variety 

of exciting duty assignments in the local area make the title SWRMC DIVER 

a must have in the professional resume 

of any DEEP SEA DIVER. 

Group PT and team building throughout San Diego County

A member of the integrated JRMC/SWRMC Dive Team 

conducts underwater drilling onboard USS DENVER.
 May 2013 25

Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class 

Randy Savarese is currently supporting 

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 2. 

U.S. Navy Story By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Randy Savarese

Sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit

Six (EODMU SIX) and Mobile Diving 

and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU TWO) 

participated in the Portsmouth Public 

Schools’ Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) day held 

at Woodrow Wilson High School in 

Portsmouth, VA on March 23. 

Explosive Ordnance Disposal 

Technician 3rd Class John Ludden 

from EODMU SIX and Navy Diver 

1st Class Frank Horn from MDSU 

TWO encouraged students and teachers to pursue an interest in the science 

and technology fi elds and provided a 

hands-on experience with their equipment to demonstrate real-world applications of STEM fi elds. 

“It’s important for the Navy to 

show everyone what we are all about, 

it helps make people aware of us and 

they learn a little about our community 

and what we do,” said Horn. “I like 

getting the chance to show our appreciation by taking the time to show them 

who we are.” 

In addition to the MK II Talon robot and the PackBot transportable robotic system, Navy EOD technicians 

and Navy Divers also brought night 

vision goggles and Navy dive equipment including the SEABOTIX underwater reconnaissance vehicle during 

this year’s demonstration. 

STEM education offers the students and teachers of Portsmouth 

Public Schools opportunities to apply 

Virginia’s Standards of Learning for 

Science and Mathematics using current technologies, often with an engineering focus. 

“The STEM Pathways Program 

begins in grade 4 and continues through 

our high school courses,” said Laura 

Nelson, director of science education 

for Portsmouth Public Schools. “The 

coursework was developed to refl ect 

the workforce in these areas: allied 

health and biotechnology, environmental science, and modeling and simulation with geographical information 

systems and robotics.” 

While the demand for science and 

technology jobs is increasing, the supply 

of qualifi ed candidates is not. Programs 

like STEM day aim to stimulate interest 

in science and technology jobs which is 

vital to American competitiveness in an 

increasingly knowledge-based economy.

Navy EOD and Divers

Promote Science and Technology with Local Students

“I believe that Portsmouth Public 

Schools realizes this disparity and for the 

last 10 plus years has worked to make 

our motto, ‘Dreams plus Action = Reality’, a true reality for our students,” said 

Nelson. “We are sending young men and 

women into the world who are able to 

think critically and problem solve, are 

creative, know how to collaborate, and 

can communicate to a variety of stakeholders.” 

 Navy Sailors provided Portsmouth Public Schools expertise in the 

STEM fi elds bringing practical examples for many teachers. However, it’s 

the children who benefi ted most, observing that STEM fi elds are not just 

theories and concepts but have practical uses. 

“I am thankful to have the U.S. 

Navy involved,” said Nelson.“It brings 

a sense of reality to the STEM Pathways Program.” 

MDSU TWO is an expeditionary 

mobile diving unit homeported at Joint 

Expeditionary Base, Little Creek-Ft. 

Story in Virginia Beach, Va. and has 

successfully conducted salvage operations to support TWA Flight 800, Swiss 

Air Flight 111, the space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, and the Civil 

War ironclad USS MONITOR. 

 EODMU SIX provides operational explosive ordnance disposal capability for the location, identifi cation, 

rendering safe, recovery, fi eld evaluation and disposal of all explosive ordnance, including chemical and nuclear 

weapons. 

U.S. Navy EOD is the world’s 

premier combat force for countering 

explosive hazards and conducting expeditionary diving and salvage. 

For more news from MDSU 

TWO and EODMU SIX visit 

www.navy.mil/local/eod2/. 

Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposalman Mike 

Greenwood, left, explains the features of a PackBot transportable robotic system. 

Explosive Ordnance Disposalman 3rd Class Dennis 

Blair, left, shows a student how to use the remote 

control for a PackBot transportable robotic system.

Explosive Ordnance Disposalman 3rd Class 

Dennis Blair, left, shows a student how to use 

the remote control and camera headpiece for a 

PackBot transportable robotic system. 

U.S. Navy photos by Mass Communication 

Specialist 3rd Class Randy Savarese/Released.
 May 2013 26

Space Cowboys 

The National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration (NASA) 

is moving full-speed ahead to explore 

deep space. Exploration Flight Test 1 

(EFT-1) will be the fi rst test of Orion, 

America’s next vehicle that will carry 

humans to new destinations in the solar system. During the unmanned fl ight 

test, the capsule will travel farther than 

any human-rated vehicle has in over 40 

years, and return to Earth at speeds of 

over 20,000 miles per hour. This is one 

small step for the United States Navy 

and one giant leap for NASA. 

The United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) requested assistance from the Navy in developing a 

recovery program for the Orion vehicle 

in November of 2012. They wanted 

to update the capsule recovery methods developed for the Apollo program 

fi rst used in 1961. Navy Divers were 

identifi ed by STRATCOM staff as the 

personnel with The Right Stuff to recover the NASA capsule and associated 

fl ight hardware from the Pacifi c Ocean. 

Master Diver Scott Valentine, and 

Chief Warrant Offi cer Matt Rotan from 

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 

ONE (EODGRU ONE) provided the diving and salvage expertise needed to build 

a comprehensive training course. The 

course teaches Navy Divers assigned to 

Mobile Diving and Salvage companies 

how to safely recover NASA personnel 

and equipment from the sea. The curriculum has been in development for 

fi ve months at NASA’s Sonny Carter 

Training Facility in Houston, Texas. This 

training site is also known as the Neutral 

Buoyancy Laboratory. It is the world’s 

largest swimming pool holding 6.2 million gallons of water and is 40 feet 

deep. The MDS companies will spend 

24 training hours at the facility learning to safely approach, capture, and recover the NASA space capsule and associated fl ight hardware from the ocean 

into a U.S. Navy amphibious ship. The 

pool is also used by astronauts to practice spacewalks by working in simulated weightless conditions under water. 

CWO3 Matt “Rhodie” Rotan is a former 

Master Chief, Master Diver, and has been 

serving the Navy diving community for over 

24 years. He is stationed as the Future Plans 

and Command Diving Offi cer for Explosive 

Ordnance Disposal Group ONE. 

Photo caption: Docking in the Neutral 

Buoyancy Lab

By: CWO3 Matt Rotan

The EFT-1 mission is scheduled for 

2014. The joint service efforts made between USSTRATCOM, USN, and NASA 

have signifi cantly expanded the possibilities for human spacefl ight “to boldly 

go where no one has gone before.” Navy 

Divers have been in service since the late 

1800’s. Over the past fi fteen years, they 

began to integrate into the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Community. They specialize in deep hard hat diving, and harbor clearance operations in expeditionary 

combat environments. EODGRU ONE is 

the echelon IV west coast command responsible for eight EOD and Mobile Diving and Salvage commands. 
 May 2013 27

I

magine being trapped in a cold, 

dark space for two days. Your 

food and water supplies are depleted and 

your oxygen levels have just dropped to 

17%. CO2 levels are on the rise. Your 

disabled submarine rests at a depth of 

300’ and the nearest rescue assets are 

24 hours away. What do you do? This 

is the type of scenario the instructors at 

the Pressurized Submarine Escape Training (PSET) Facility, Naval Submarine 

School prepare their students for. 

From the beginning of Submarine 

Escape and Rescue, Navy Divers have 

answered the call. The unique history 

of US Navy submarine escape began in 

1929 when LT “Swede” Momsen developed the “Momsen Lung” the fi rst submarine escape appliance 1. To train in 

this escape method the fi rst submarine 

escape tower was opened at the Naval 

Submarine Base New London, CT in 

1930. During its lifetime the original 

tower was the site of over 300,000 ascents. It was also here that CAPT George 

F. Bond MC, USN recruited CWO Robert Barth to conduct the Genesis and 

SEALAB projects 2,3,4. Another signifi cant historical event happened in 

1959 onboard the USS ARCHERFISH, 

where CAPT Bond made the fi rst buoyant ascent from 302’2,3,4. There is much 

more history in regard to US submarine escape to share but I will save that 

for another Faceplate article. 

In November of 2009 the 17.1 million dollar modern submarine escape 

simulator and hyperbaric complex formally opened, teaching the fi rst class of 

students in submarine escape. The facility houses a 40’ high by 20’ wide water tower, three lock out trunks, surface 

supplied dive system, and two installed 

recompression chambers. The PSET Facility runs four courses a week that incorporate instructor-based, computer-based, 

and lab-based teaching techniques. Instructors like NETC Junior Instructor of 

the Year ND2 (DSW) Jason Fenn provide 

submariners with skills necessary for 

emergency situations. Fenn says sailors 

not only learn “lifesaving techniques,” 

but as an instructor, he is uniquely positioned “to create a foundation for sailors 

upon which they will build their entire 

careers.” The course teaches the students 

to become

familiar with

a n d s a f e l y 

utilize Submarine Escape and

I m m e r s i o n 

E q u i p m e n t 

(SEIE). The 

SEIE consists 

of a Submarine Escape

Suit MK-10/ 

MK-11 and a 

one man life 

raft used to 

survive on

the surface. 

The MK-10/MK-11 suit has been proven 

to make an escape from 600’, provides 

75 lbs of positive buoyancy and travel 

at 600 feet per minute. A Navy Diver 

may wonder “what about decompression sickness?” or “what about the risk 

of AGE with such a rapid ascent?” The 

rapid pressurization of the trunk limits the time of on-gassing, allowing an 

escapee to come directly to the surface 

without decompressing. It takes approximately 30 seconds to pressurize 

an SSN 688 class submarine 

Logistic Escape Trunk (LET) 

to 600’. The concern for AGE 

is mitigated by the students 

undergoing a strict medical 

screening process and they are 

Pressurized

Submarine Escape 

Training Facility

Naval Submarine School

Groton, CT

By: Master Diver Rob Evans

WWII Era sailor with the 

“Momsen Lung”.

 Dr. George F. Bond (left) after 

making the historic 302’ buoyant ascent.
 May 2013 28

ACROSS:

2. inadequate

4. purging

5. twice

8. freeze-up

9. marginally

11. shortened

12. frostbite

14. trained

17. prohibited 

18. weighted

19. overheating

20. mandatory

DOWN:

1. free-fl ow

3. immediate

6. catastrophic

7. alternative

10. redundant

13. thermal

15. impaired

16. minimum

Crossword Puzzle

Answers

repeatedly taught the golden rule of submarine escape “NEVER EVER HOLD 

YOUR BREATH” 5, 6. From the fi rst 

class in 2009 to February of 2013, the 

PSET facility has trained over 7,000 

fi rst-accession and fl eet-level students 

with no signifi cant incidents. 

The PSET Facilities staff includes 

a Diving Warrant Offi cer, two Diving 

Medical Offi cers, a Master Diver, 25 

Navy Divers, 5 Hospital Corpsman, and 

two civilian personnel. Due to high risk, 

it takes 16 divers on the watch bill to 

conduct pressurized training, but ND3 

(DSW) Baker says that “keeping students 

safe in our underwater environment” is 

the most satisfying part of his job. In the 

fi rst ascent evolution, the 15’ ripped hood 

exhalation drill, a student is pulled into 

the water column from the 15’ lock and 

released to the surface while wearing a 

training life jacket with nothing over his 

face. During the evolution the instrucNDCS (DSW/EXW/SW/MDV) Robert Evans is currently serving at Naval Submarine 

School Groton, CT .

tors are all on breath holds. They’ve 

trained extensively on breath hold 

diving techniques through a locally 

generated qualifi cation program 6. 

One requirement of the qualifi cation process is the ability to recover 

a casualty from 40’ on a breath hold 

dive. To see fi rsthand what happens 

at the PSET Facility, click on the link 

for a short video: http://www.netc.

navy.mil/centers/slc/nss/HighRiskTrainingA.aspx?ID=2. 

If you are up for orders and 

are looking for a challenge in a 

specialized diving field, I highly 

recommend coming to Naval Submarine School. 

I n s t r u c t o r s 

who transfer 

to other comm a n d s t a k e 

with them Master Training

Specialist and 

Diving Salvage 

Warfare qualifications. They

leave with extensive hyperbaric chamber 

e x p e r i e n c e , 

and many took 

courses to earn 

college credits. 

The Northeast 

offers a lot of other opportunities, with 

the base located only an hour away from 

the nearest ski resort. It is also directly 

between Boston and New York, two 

hours to each. The local public school 

system is one of the best in the country. And here is where you can hear Red 

Diver’s bottom report say, “water temperature 88 ̊F, no current, and unlimited 

visibility” year round. Hoo Yah! 

References:

1. Peter Maas. (1999). The Terrible 

Hours. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

2. Helen A. Siiteri. (Ed). (1993). Papa 

Topside The Sealab Chronicles of 

Capt. George F. Bond. Annapolis, 

Maryland: Naval Institute Press.

3. Murray, J. (2005). “Papa Topside” 

Dr. George F. Bond, MC, USN. 

Faceplate, 9 (1) 8-9.

4. Bladh, J. & Ruden, P. (2005) One 

Divers Most Excellent Adventure. 

Faceplate, 9 (1) 

10-11.

5. NAVMED P-117 

Manual of the 

Medical Department. Article 15-

106, sub-section 

5. Standards 

for Pressurized 

Submarine Escape 

Training. 

6. Naval Submarine 

School Instruction 

1500.14L (2011). 

High Risk Operating Procedures 

Program Manual.

ND2 (DSW) Tomolak (above) and ND2 

(DSW) Hill (below) receive a student 

from the Logistic Escape Trunk (LET) 

during a simulated submarine escape.

Taken by: Jason Saiz

ND3 (DSW) LaFrance (left) 

and ND3 (DSW) Caruana 

(right) demonstrating the 

MK-11 SEIE. 

Taken by: Jason Saiz

Momsen Hall, Naval Submarine Base 

New London, CT.

Taken by: Jason Saiz PSET instructors on a breath hold dive 

release a student from the 15’ lock.

Taken by: LT Seth O’Donnell

Cover Photo: PSET Instructor preparing for 

a student escape. Taken by: Jason Saiz.
 May 2013 29

As my tenure in the Navy draws to an end, mixed emotions course through my veins. For the past 30 years I’ve thanked God 

each and every day for giving me not only the opportunity to serve my country, but also, affording me the privilege to work 

with some of the fi nest people on the planet.

 Being a Navy Diver for me has not been job, but a passion; I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Throughout my career I have 

always strived to improve our community and lay a solid foundation for those Divers who would come after me. I’ve always felt it was 

my duty to uphold the high standards that were passed down by pioneers of our community and hopefully future Divers will realize 

positive results from those endeavors. 

 Refl ecting back on my career, there were actions, methods, and decisions that I made that produced 

outstanding results and some that didn’t fare so well. Remember, there is no fool proof method to ensure 

that in the performance of our duties that we are not going to stumble along the way. As Captain Polanin 

says “We’re expected to lead, make decisions, and make mistakes.” All we can do is give it our best each 

and every day and ensure that we learn from our mistakes so as to not repeat them. The following are 

several things that have been the core and the guiding principles of my career.

1. “By the Book” – Execute your jobs, duties, and tasks by the book. Never deviate from established 

procedures or requirements. For those of you who have worked with me at some point in your careers, 

you have experienced this fi rst hand. The only time that I feel a variation to this rule is acceptable, is 

in a life or death situation and no other options exist. It is not up to us to decide what rules/procedures 

we want to follow or when we want to follow them. This not only keeps us safe, it also provides clear 

guidance in your dive lockers. If deviation from written protocol is allowed by leadership it will become 

infectious and run rampant throughout your dive locker and that is not the example we want to set. 

2. “Always Do the Right Thing” – This kind a goes along with “By the Book”, but it also covers 

those situations that don’t have written directive. To borrow another of Captain Polanin’ s sayings 

“There are things we can do, but should we?” This is right on the money. If you are ever getting ready 

to perform an action and you have a doubt as to whether you should or not, then STOP! Reassess and 

ensure that the action upholds the core values of the Navy and is in the best interest of your troops.

3. “Always be Honest” – Regardless of the outcome, always tell the truth. When all else is gone, all we have left is our word. It is 

what defi nes our inner character and should be held sacred. Our reliance on each other’s word is the catalyst that bonds us and has 

forged an environment of trust throughout our community. 

4. “Always be Loyal” – Always support your subordinates, peers, and superiors. You may not agree with everyone all the time, but 

who does? What makes our community so strong, is knowing that we will always be there for each other and fully support the 

Chain of Command. 

5. “Treat People the Way They Want to be Treated” – I went through my career and tried to treat people the way that I wanted to 

be treated. The hard reality is that not everyone wants to be treated like I want to be treated. I like for a person to come at me 

head-on and to the point, but this is not the case for others. It took me awhile to develop this skill, but once mastered, it is a 

great leadership trait.

6. “Don’t Take it Personal” – While we have the greatest job on the planet, it is just that, a job. The decision we make or actions 

we take should be executed objectively. While very hard to do, try to never make a decision that is driven purely by emotions.

 While I consider my career to have been extremely successful, I did not do it alone. I’ve had the pleasure to work for several 

great people such as Capt. Tokarick and Capt. Polanin to name a few, but the person that believed in me and gave me the opportunity 

that set my career in motion is Capt. Gunzel. 

As a young Lieutenant on the island of Guam in 1995, Capt. Gunzel sent me TAD to MDV evaluations. He knew that if I was 

unsuccessful that the command would be left without an MDV for an extended period of time, but he took the chance and for that 

I’m grateful. 

As my tenure as a Navy Diver is coming to an end, I deliberate as to what defi ned my career. I realized that it wasn’t the jobs that I 

accomplished throughout the years or the lives that I saved in the recompression chamber, it was something much more. Helping others 

surpass my achievements have been the most rewarding moments of my career. I was fortunate enough to work with Master Diver Defl ice 

and Master Diver Howard at NDSTC when they were both young Chiefs. Watching them develop, make MDV and continue on to do 

great things has to be my greatest reward. The success of others has always been my top priority and the realization of 

their success has defi ned my career.

It has been an honor and privilege to serve in the World’s fi nest Navy and I would like to thank all of you for 

letting me be a part of your community. Dive Safe! 

NDCM(MDV) Eric (Dean)Holliday
 May 2013 30

There are many things I like about this job. To start with, 

the top-notch professionals I get to interact with daily. Whether it is one of 

the many active duty and retired Master Divers who work in our offi ce, the 

engineers and doctors who “what if” 

things beyond my comprehension, or 

the assorted military Divers who call 

me to clarify portions of the Dive Manual; they are all so talented and I feel 

privileged to be in their presence. This 

leads to the next thing that is so great 

about my job; I learn something new 

every day because of these people. 

When surrounded by brilliant people, 

you can’t help but learn something. 

But, perhaps the best thing about this 

job is the opportunity to serve military Divers. The men and women 

who call themselves military Divers in the world’s premiere fi ghting 

force are the best of the best. I am 

privileged to serve them! 

With all good things there are 

challenges and sometimes heartbreak. 

Two months ago, when I got the word 

that two Divers had perished on a 

training dive, I immediately thought 

“What could I have done to prevent 

those deaths?” My heart goes out to 

their friends and families. Petty Offi cer James Reyher and Petty Offi cer 

Ryan Harris were lost but will never 

be forgotten. What Divers do is dangerous work but we never expect to 

lose someone, much less two. I did 

not personally know these two divers but I feel like I did. Our profession is a close-knit brotherhood and 

when one hurts we all hurt. As a diving 

community, we will not rest until we 

know and address all the factors that 

played a part in their deaths. 

As I mentioned in the last issue 

of Faceplate, my job as SupDive is 

clear. I am tasked with setting diving 

policy and ensuring that divers have 

the right equipment and the correct 

diving procedures to safely accomplish 

their mission. We in 00C take this very 

seriously and that is why we “what if” 

scenarios beyond comprehension. We 

would be doing our military Divers 

a disservice if we didn’t! Can it slow 

down the process? Yes, but that is what 

we are paid to do. I also have to take 

into consideration whether any of our 

actions or policies constrain the commanders in the fi eld. Our #1 goal is the 

safety of our Divers and to ensure we 

do not hamstring operations! 

Soon after checking into 00C, I 

heard that many of our Diving Requirements were not documented and 

funding could soon dry up. Recently, 

I briefed a group of Master Divers 

on the Capabilities Based Assessment 

(CBA) portion of the Joint Capabilities Integration Development System (JCIDS) process that was starting 

soon for Salvage and Diving. I was 

asked by several to explain explicitly how to document those requirements. A week later I sent out an email 

with tips on how to write a requirement to route through their chains of 

command. To summarize: Well written requirements need to be measurable, attainable, necessary, unambiguous, orderly, organized, and results 

oriented. 

1. Spell out the problem (i.e. capability gap) “Why”

• Use common sense

• Use words that are directive in 

nature and write in the active 

voice

• Keep sentences and paragraphs 

short with proper grammar, 

spelling, and punctuation

Furthermore, I encouraged these 

MDVs to participate as much as possible in the upcoming CBA. At the end of 

March we conducted the second phase 

of the CBA in which we identifi ed the 

gaps in our capabilities for Salvage and 

Diving. We had great participation from 

Divers across all communities within 

the Navy. This CBA will be complete 

this summer with the fi nal phase focusing on the solutions to the capability 

gaps. The ICD will be produced from 

the information discovered in the CBA. 

Keep charging and doing what you 

do best! I can’t get you what you need 

to complete the mission unless you tell 

me. It’s the ND3’s, Dive Sups, and 

MDV’s who know what is needed. I 

wish I could be out and about more but 

due to budget restrictions our travel is 

limited and much like the rest of you, 

we are required to do more with less. 

Thank you for the privilege to serve you! 

2. What is needed to fi ll the gap 

“What”

• Avoid writing requirements that 

are unrealistic

• Write testable requirements

• Use tolerances and ranges to 

help the designers

• Focus on “What” and avoid 

“How”

• Never use “and/or” in a requirement statement

• Derive requirements from the 

Initial Capabilities Document 

(ICD) 

3. POC and contact information
 May 2013 May 2013 31

Navy Diver 2nd Class (DSW) Jason Fenn 

Named NETC’s Junior Enlisted Instructor of the Year

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Naval Education and Training Command 

(NETC) announced its 2012 Military 

Instructors of the Year (IOY) during a 

ceremony at the National Naval Aviation Museum on board Naval Air Station 

Pensacola on February 28, 2013. The 

NETC Military Instructor of the Year 

award program recognizes Navy and 

Marine Corps instructors and facilitators who exemplify personal excellence 

and display outstanding instructional and 

leadership performance. The program 

highlights the signifi cant contributions 

of individuals throughout the Naval Education and Training enterprise who have 

been nominated by their command based 

on their sustained superior performance 

over the course of the past year. 

Rear Admiral Don Quinn, Commander, Naval Education and Training 

Command congratulated and presented 

each winner with a Navy-Marine Corps 

Commendation Medal and a plaque. 

“The skills and fi ghting spirit of our 

people form the foundation of our combat readiness,” Quinn said. “In training the Sailors of the world’s greatest 

maritime force, you produce warfi ghters that possess both the technical and 

leadership skills that enable our Fleet 

to succeed. And you prepare them for, 

much more than simple day-to-day operations. You prepare them for life and, 

if necessary, to win in combat. The 

training you provide can often mean 

the difference between life and death.” 

The Junior Enlisted Instructor of the 

Year is Navy Diver 2nd Class (DSW) 

Jason Fenn from Atlanta, Georgia. The 

four-year veteran has been assigned to 

Submarine Learning Center’s Naval 

Submarine School, Groton, Connecticut 

teaching Submarine Escape Rescue and 

Survivability. ND2 Fenn joined the Navy 

on June 24, 2009 and went on to graduate 

Dive School Class 10-20-2C on April 1, 

2010. He currently has orders to Mobile 

Diving and Salvage Unit One, Hawaii 

and is expected to continue to do great 

things as a Navy Diver. Away from work 

he has many interests including astronomy, physics, computers, nutrition, and 

history. Honored by his selection, Fenn 

credits his selection to his passion to better himself and extend his knowledge to 

students. “Top notch Sailors need to become instructors, because well-trained 

military professionals need to pass on 

their knowledge. A large percentage of 

students learn by imitation, so it’s paramount for an instructor to lead by example in everything from the way he or she 

dresses to the way they carry themselves 

while they are off duty. First rate Sailors 

walk with integrity in everything they do 

and lead by example.” Fenn says it’s very 

rewarding being a leader and mentor and 

he takes great pride knowing that students leave the course with a lifesaving 

skill they didn’t have before. 

Petty Offi cer Fenn shares the 

honor of NETC Instructor of the Year 

with the following personnel: 

NDC (DSW/EXW) Jason Counts currently serves as 

a Submarine Escape Instructor Naval Submarine 

School Groton, CT.

Offi cer Instructor of the Year - LT 

Riley Smith, assigned to the Center for 

Seabees and Facilities Engineering’s 

Naval Civil Engineer Corps Offi cer 

School (CECOS), Port Hueneme, California. 

Senior Enlisted Instructor of the 

Year - Chief Machinist’s Mate (SW/AW) 

Joshua Meyer, assigned to Surface Warfare Offi cer School Learning Site, Great 

Lakes, Illinois. 

Mid-Grade Enlisted Instructor of the 

Year honors - Electronics Technician 1st 

Class (SW/AW) Gerardo Ceballos assigned to the Center for Surface Combat 

Systems’ Detachment West, San Diego.

By: NDC Jason Counts

13 - 07 PERSONNEL QUALIFIED TO OVERHAUL CONSHELF XIV REGULATORS 

13 - 06 SCUBA REGULATORS 

13 - 05 REMOVAL OF MARES ABYSS 22 NAVY SCUBA REGULATOR FROM COLD WATER SERVICE 

13 - 04 AQUALUNG BUOYANCY COMPENSATOR (BC) DEVICES 

13 - 03 PROMULGATION OF MILPERSMAN 1220-410 

13 - 02 SUSPEND USE OF SODASORB LOTS 

13 - 01 GUIDANCE FOR DIVING INTERSPIRO DIVATOR MK II DP1-2 IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE

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Diving Advisories