Tests are under way on some Navy ships to turn some routine maintenance, such as painting, over to private contractors so sailors can focus more on training for the job they signed on to do. None of those formal tests is being conducted on Pacific Northwest ships yet, but overhauls are changing. The most dramatic example, which has become common practice in the Pacific Fleet, Goodwin said, is an end to sailors standing fire watch around welding or any other activity that could start a fire. Now, civilians handle that task, and sailors, even the newest of them, can be put to work in a more challenging area closer to what they'll be doing at sea, Goodwin said. Technical advancements have helped as well, he said.
Some paints now require less chipping, and floor coverings require less buffing and waxing.
With the added time for the commute, several sailors noted, it still makes for a full day. Sometimes, Goodwin said, he may order the day to end even earlier on a Friday. That helps make up for the long hours sailors work at sea. It's a technique I can use for morale and recognize good work. Still, if the commute and the noise and the work get them down, sailors can take advantage of stress workshops conducted by the ship's chaplain.