Navy Sailors Learn 'Quick Fix' Welding at Bishop State

March 18th, 2009 – Most welding students at Bishop State Community College go through a 15-week course, but these half-dozen sailors assigned to the new Navy warship being built in Mobile had just five days to learn.

"They aren't training people to make long-term repairs," U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Philip Garrow said. "Just a quick fix to get to port," should an emergency arise.

Independence, the first U.S. Navy combat ship to be built in Mobile since World War II, is one of a new class of small, fast fighting vessels called littoral combat ships, or LCS. Mobile shipbuilder Austal USA is working as part of a General Dynamics-led contracting team to produce what it hopes will be the first of many LCS ships.

Independence is unique in that it is made from aluminum rather than steel, which makes the welding process even tougher.

Todd Donald, director of Build Mobile's welding program at Bishop State, said that he saw an opportunity to build a relationship with the Navy when he heard the sailors needed basic welding training. Independence already has two commanders and two crews totaling 80 stationed in Mobile.

Wearing welding protective gear atop their Navy blues, the six sailors worked on skills that would allow them to make emergency repairs, such as patching holes and fixing pipes. "When you're at sea you can't call someone to come out and fix it," said Petty Officer 1st Class Justin Bishop, 33, of Page, Ariz.

Tuition would have totaled $4,000, according to Bishop officials, but the training was offered at no charge. Donald said instructors were "fitting in as many aspects" of welding as they could, but teaching the skill in a week is challenging.

"Seeing what I've seen them do, I think we're going to meet that challenge," Donald said. "If I were on the boat, I would trust those guys absolutely."

"It won't be pretty," said Petty Officer 1st Class Todd Hosselkus, 28, of North Dakota, "but it will hold."

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Contact:
Herb Jordan
Director of Public Relations
P: (251) 405-7135
F: (251) 432-7812
hjordan@bishop.edu