Mastering the Helm: The Women Master Helmsmen Entrusted to Steer the USS Theodore Roosevelt

Among a crew of 5,000 Sailors aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) only four are entrusted to steer the aircraft carrier in restricted maneuvering evolutions.

From Petty Officer 3rd Class Dartanon Delagarza, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs –

Among a crew of 5,000 Sailors aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) only four are entrusted to steer the aircraft carrier in restricted maneuvering evolutions.

From the first days of the U.S. Navy, helmsmen have played an essential role, steering the country’s ships as they travel the seas. Typically drawn from the ship’s deck department, their objective is to drive the ship at sea during normal situations. However, during special evolutions and unique scenarios, the master helmsmen take charge.

“Any time the navigation team thinks it’s going to be a difficult sea state, we’ll come up,” said Sonar Technician (Surface) 1st Class Allison Coughlin, from Ronkonkoma, New York, one of the Theodore Roosevelt’s master helmsman. “When the ship is most likely to crash, that’s when we’re driving to keep the boat safe.”

When a ship is executing a special sea-and-anchor detail, a strait transit, or pulling in or out of port, a master helmsman applies fine-tuned expertise and knowledge to navigate the variably-changing waters, ensuring safety of the crew and operational efficiency of the ship, guaranteeing a stayed course no matter the wind or tide.

Theodore Roosevelt’s helmsman qualification program makes it clear: Any Sailors, whether they have more than a decade of service under their belt or are fresh out of “A” school, will be given the same opportunity to prove themselves worthy of manning the helm.

“I didn’t know about the position at first,” said Coughlin. “I had never even been to the bridge before, but my chief said navigation was looking for more master helmsmen and asked me if I would be interested. I was unsure, but I wanted to get more command involvement under my belt too.”

Coughlin and her chain of command reached out to Theodore Roosevelt’s navigation department to begin the standard qualification process. She received hundreds of hours of hands-on training from other qualified Sailors, spending days under instruction and behind the wheel until she qualified as a helmsman. Coughlin then routed a special request chit to start the master helmsman program.

Accepted into the program, she was present for every subsequent at-sea evolution, receiving valuable instruction on operating the helm during restricted maneuvering operations and similar events. With the support of her department, leadership, and fellow Sailors, Coughlin became a fully-qualified master helmsman on November 18, 2017.

Coughlin has served as a master helmsman for more than 120 special evolutions over three-and-a-half years, but still remembers her first watch.

During the ship’s Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) in 2017, she manned the helm for her first replenishment-at-sea (RAS) as a qualified master helmsman.

“I was nervous when my instructor finally left me with the helm, because it felt like he was always there before,” said Coughlin. “I thought, ‘this is crazy,’ but then that pride kicks in and the training becomes second nature. After that, I was just so proud and really excited that the whole chain of command had so much trust in me. It’s like they were telling me, ‘you got this now, and it’s your turn to steer the ship while we’re 180 feet away from another ship.’”

Yeoman 3rd Class Alexandra Miller, from Annapolis, Maryland, another of Theodore Roosevelt’s master helmsman, shares that sense of accomplishment and pride with Coughlin.

“To me, it was one of those challenging qualifications that I wanted to get,” said Miller, who has piloted the ship for more than 25 special evolutions. “It’s cool to know that you are doing something really important. When I’m driving, when I’m keeping the ship on course, it makes it easier to launch and catch aircraft. What we do compliments the ship’s essential operations.”

A helmsman navigates from the bridge — the brain center of an aircraft carrier’s superstructure, where the commanding officer monitors all shipboard and airborne operations.

“Personally, it means a lot to man the helm,” said Coughlin. “It shows that the chain of command has a lot of trust in you even as a lower enlisted Sailor. They don’t look at rank or whether you’re a woman or a man; they don’t look at age — I mean, I got qualified at eighteen, and a couple of the other master helmsmen are currently eighteen and nineteen. When they see that you are capable, no matter who you are, and they trust you, that’s an awesome feeling.”

The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to build partnerships that foster maritime security and to conduct a wide range of operations that support humanitarian efforts and freedom of the seas.

The TRCSG consists of Theodore Roosevelt, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), Destroyer Squadron 23, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Russell (DDG 59) and USS John Finn (DDG 113).

Theodore Roosevelt’s embarked air wing consists of the “Tomcatters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 31, “Golden Warriors” of VFA-87, “Blue Diamonds” of VFA-146, “Black Knights” of VFA-154, “Liberty Bells” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 115, “The Gray Wolves” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, “Wolf Pack” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 75, “Eightballers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8 and “Providers” of Fleet Logistic Support Squadron (VRC) 30 Detachment 3.

Theodore Roosevelt departed San Diego for a scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific December 23.

Unlock Exclusive Insights Today!

Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.

Sign Up