You Can Do Wrong By Helping Out
By AD1(AW) Jeff Blades
W
hile on a training mission at Naval Station Norfolk, I learned just how costly it can be to cut corners and ignore procedures. In this case, the result was damaged equipment and embarrassment for a Sailor and his command. We had flown to Norfolk to meet our ship and were getting our two SH-60B aircraft ready for C2X/JTFX. HSC-2 had been hosting our detachment as we prepared to go to sea. We arrived early at the squadron that July morning to do daily and turnaround inspections on our helicopters. We needed to get the aircraft ready because they were scheduled to fly to the ship the next day. After we arrived, I directed my airmen and second class petty officers to start working on the inspections. My problems began when one of the airmen told me that he needed an NC-10 (power cart) to hook up to the aircraft to check the aircraft lighting. As I gave him the go ahead, I saw a power cart outside the hangar. It already was hooked up to a tow tractor. I knew that the 4790 (NAMP) states that the tractor only shall be operated by a licensed driver, but at the time, getting the job done seemed more important than following procedures.
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This is the damaged tire, which was the property of the squadron next door. Mech
