Khaberni - American Navy aircraft carriers transform into "small self-sufficient cities" once they sail into the ocean, where life on these steel bases is not limited to the buzz of airplanes and the sound of guns, but extends to include jobs and daily details that some may not imagine exist in the heart of a military operational area.
"Starbucks" at Sea
American naval ships operate on marine diesel fuel, but their crews run on a different kind of fuel: "caffeine".
Many carriers like "USS Carl Vinson" and "USS George H.W. Bush" include specialized cafes from the famous Starbucks company.
Although they are not official branches that allow the use of reward apps, the "baristas" on board are sailors who received professional training from the original company’s employees.
These cafes, like the "Starboxer" cafe on board (USS Boxer), are a key tool for boosting morale, selling beverages at reduced prices, and the profits benefit the crew's welfare and recreation fund.
Unexpected Jobs
Operating a ship carrying thousands of people requires jobs that go beyond traditional military roles:
- Commercial Services Specialists: They handle a variety of responsibilities including managing the laundry service, banking services, and hair cutting to military standards. These sailors also manage the ship's stores and video game centers that soldiers resort to for stress relief.
- Clergy: They play a flexible role in meeting the religious needs of the diverse crew, where multi-purpose worship places can be set up for various rituals, as is the case on board USS Nimitz, in addition to providing psychological and social support in an environment isolated from the outside world for months.
- Public Affairs Specialists: Ships like "USS Nimitz" have their own presses and local newspapers, where these specialists are involved in producing documentaries, photography, and managing public relations with civilian media.
Weaponry Arsenal and Waste Management
While weapons technicians (Gunner's Mates) handle the maintenance of missile systems and radars and train sailors in small arms at shooting ranges within the ship, another vital role emerges, "waste management", where these floating cities produce about 400 pounds of trash every hour.
To avoid polluting the oceans, a team of dozens of engineers and workers operate around the clock running incinerators and waste compressors. Plastic is turned into "solid discs" that resemble giant loaves of bread, stored on board until returning to port for recycling, while only food scraps and shredded paper are allowed to be tossed into the sea.
Thus, aircraft carriers surpass being just military platforms, becoming floating communities that rely on a complex network of unconventional jobs, ensuring the continuous life and efficient work of thousands at sea for extended periods under exceptional military conditions.
