Navy Afloat Maintenance Training Strategy qualifies DDG 109 sailor; program shows continued growth

Navy Afloat Maintenance Training Strategy qualifies DDG 109 sailor; program shows continued growth

By Commander, Navy Regional Maintenance Center Public Affairs

WASHINGTON - The USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) has produced its first Navy Afloat Maintenance Training Strategy (NAMTS) qualifier, Damage Control Fireman Aaliyah Feeley, of Baker City, Oregon. Jason Dunham, homeported in Mayport, Florida, is the shipboard pilot for the NAMTS program on the east coast.

NAMTS improves the Navy's maintenance capability and improves material self-sufficiency by qualifying sailors in one of 26 different journeyman level repair and maintenance technician programs. As of April 2024, 47 afloat commands participate in NAMTS, with destroyers now joining the list. As enrollment and qualifications in NAMTS increase, sailors will continue to build expertise with more complex trainings, empowering sailors to keep their ships in good working order, wherever they may be across the globe.

"NAMTS is making a significant impact across USS Jason Dunham," said Cmdr. Rob Keller, USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) Commanding Officer. "It is drastically improving our self-sufficiency, and more importantly, our self-survivability to operate in contested theaters. NAMTS is giving our sailors relevant and vital skill sets to master their trades, which connects them to our mission and will pay off with advancements and greater career opportunities. Our sailors desire increased responsibilities and training, and NAMTS is the program that is increasing readiness for the fleet and making our sailors more equipped to win the fight."

As part of the pilot, sailors are enrolled in core fundamentals training followed by job qualification requirements (JQRs). These requirements enable sailors to enhance their knowledge and skills through hands-on experience by completing journeyman-level production tasks.

Leading the charge, Feeley is the first Jason Dunham sailor to have earned the Navy Enlisted Classification for NAMTS Watertight Closure Maintenance Technician (835A).

"This NAMTS qualification helped me learn vital skills in keeping watertight doors, hatches and scuttles in good working order. The JQR proved most valuable in being able to share knowledge with our Damage Control Petty Officers, increasing their knowledge through my experiences. I feel we have a team of experts onboard now," said Feeley.

During her Watertight Closure Maintenance Technician (WCMT) qualification, Feeley was committed to advancing her knowledge and was able to reinforce her training with hands-on experience as the ship concurrently underwent a maintenance availability . During that time, the ship received machinery alterations (MACHALT) to watertight doors and scuttles, aligning with Feeley's JQR.

"The NAMTS WCMT qualification exposed me to the requirements of each MACHALT, clarifying the adjustments and changes to door and scuttle components. Learning these changes during actual installations was perfect timing," added Feeley.