BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Scott H. Swift recently established a six-part plan that aims to focus and align Sailors' efforts in preserving a resilient workforce, maintaining fleet readiness, reinforcing international order, leading in credibility, embracing opportunity and projecting power.

With aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) projected to make its way out to sea soon, it has become a mission for her crew to practice these points, while taking on the responsibilities of protecting our country and projecting maritime power in the Pacific Ocean and abroad.

"These guidance points are designed to give our [strike] group a model by which we can be more effective in our mission and can enhance our abilities," said Cmdr. William Selk, operations officer aboard Nimitz. "That's why it's imperative we implement them to the best of our abilities."

Nimitz is slated to complete its time in the shipyards later this year and her crew has been busy getting ready to go back to sea.

"Every day we have an hour set aside for training to give our Sailors the knowledge they need in order to fight the ship," said Selk. "Every time we have a general quarters drill, every time we have man overboard drill, every time there's a flight deck drill, or any time there is a major training evolution, we're getting ready for when we need to respond. Knowing our procedures, practicing those drills, and putting that level of focus into it is key to being prepared to fight -- and that's exactly what Nimitz has been doing."

Maintaining combat readiness is a large part of Nimitz's everyday operations, and this will come heavily into play when her yard period is complete and she is once again patrolling the seas.

"Right now our job is to get out of the shipyard so we can assist in reinforcing the international order," said Selk. "Sailors on board are working hard, putting in long days and basically putting the rest of their lives on hold to get us back out there, and you can see it with everything that they've accomplished."

As Nimitz becomes more operational, the need for teamwork and refined ways of thinking will become imperative to her accomplishing the mission. Harboring a working environment that embraces opportunity and encourages Sailor intellect is one of the ways Pacific Fleet will overcome adversity and offset resource constraints.

"We have almost 3,000 people as part of Nimitz's crew, and I know there are many bright young men and women who have the opportunity to make us better," said Selk. "Rather than just doing things the same way we always have, it's so important we bring these ideas to light and make Nimitz more efficient."

Efficiency in operating a 96,000-ton warship may be essential to effective at-sea operations and Swift's plan may be a way to ensuring a resilient workforce ready to meet the country's needs.