Parker serves on new carrier

Parker serves

on new carrier

The first crew

members of the U.S. Navy's newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Pre-Commissioning

Unit Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), are distinguished with the designation of

"plank owners." According to Navy tradition, plank owners have

the unique honor and responsibility of transforming tons of steel and

equipment into a war-fighting unit with soul and might.

Navy Petty

Officer 3rd Class Brandy N. Parker, daughter of Mitchell Collins of Fayetteville,

is one sailor making her mark as part of the first crew of the 95,000-ton

carrier.

"I will

always have a sense of pride and ownership knowing that I was one of the

first to work aboard Ronald Reagan and that I helped build it from the

ground up," said the 1995 graduate of Gardena High School in California.

Parker's ship

is 1,092 feet long and has a 4 1/2-acre flight deck. This floating airfield

will carry more than 80 aircraft and can cruise at speeds in excess of

30 knots. Its nuclear reactors are capable of more than 20 years of continuous

service without refueling.

Reagan is undergoing

the last phase of its five-year construction at Newport News Shipbuilding

in Newport News, Va. It will be delivered to the fleet in 2003 with the

latest technological advances in design and combat systems. One of the

major innovations on Reagan will be its arresting gear; the new three-wire

arresting gear design can withstand more aircraft landings and will reduce

maintenance requirements. In addition, a redesigned flight control station

and new jet blast deflectors will greatly increase safety for the crew

on the flight deck.

As an aviation

maintenance administrationman, Parker plays an important role developing

the procedures and performing the tasks that will allow the crew to operate

as a cohesive unit.

"My job

is to keep track of more than 20,000 pieces of aviation support equipment,"

explained the 24-year-old sailor. "We need to ensure that the carrier

will be able to fully support the maintenance needs of the embarked airwings."

Being part

of this pre-commissioning unit has a unique significance for Parker, a

five-year veteran. "The most exciting part is knowing that every

other crew after us will be following our example," said Parker.

A major opportunity

afforded to Reagan plank owners is the enormous amount of training that

sailors undergo to learn how to operate new equipment and to become familiar

with the ship's features. In order to make this transition smooth, there

is a three-week training program in place that includes general ship's

indoctrination, basic damage control and CPR instruction.

Parker's duties

and assignments aboard Reagan have provided many opportunities for professional

development and personal growth. "There is real sense of accomplishment

in helping set up programs from scratch," she said. "Here, I

also have been given the opportunities to take charge of programs and

fill positions beyond my paygrade. Personally, I have fulfilled a long-term

goal of volunteering."

With the responsibilities

also come the special privileges plank owners enjoy. In the time of wooden

ships, plank owners received a piece of the ship after its decommissioning.

One tradition that has survived until today is the ringing of a bell to

welcome plank owners aboard the ship whenever they come