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Navy MWR Supports USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) with New Barge Gym

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March 10, 2025 | Story by Naomi Wilkins | Commander, Navy Installations Command | Fleet and Family Readiness

Washington – After completing a successful deployment in October 2024, the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) entered its Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) for scheduled maintenance. This period of transition brought to light an important need for the crew: continuing access to fitness facilities.

During the PIA, most Sailors and crew transitioned from living aboard the ship to residing and working on the Auxiliary Personnel Lighter (APL) 65 barge. "We wanted to make sure Sailors had easy access to a gym, both on the ship and on the barge. While the ship’s gyms remain open, they occasionally close for maintenance, so we want to ensure Sailors have a space to continue their workouts," said Marc Scherette, Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Fit Boss aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71).

“The new gym is in support of the Chief of Naval Operations’ (CNO) “Get Real, Get Better” initiative, which is a call to action for Navy leaders to apply proven leadership and problem-solving practices to enhance performance and maintain a warfighting advantage,” explained Therese Guinane, Program Manager for MWR Deployed Forces Support (DFS).

Establishing a gym on a barge was no simple task. Rich Anderson, DFS Program Manager at Naval Base San Diego (NBSD), and his team played a pivotal role in supporting the barge gym’s development. The DFS team typically assists Commands with outfitting gyms on ships and offering policy guidance, making this a relatively unique project. After assessing the barge’s space, the team developed a list of equipment to support full-body exercises and cardio workouts, along with essentials to train for the physical readiness test (PRT), such as dumbbells, adjustable benches, popular weight machines, mats and accessories. “Once we removed the old equipment with help from Marc Scherette’s team, the process went smoothly,” Anderson said. “Quality of life initiatives are everything to me and my team - that’s our everyday focus,” he added.

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The coordination also involved the ship’s physical therapy team and medical professionals. The physical therapist has access to the gym equipment to assist with rehabilitation and other therapy needs for injured Sailors. Both the physical therapy and MWR teams coordinate the shared space so the programs may successfully operate in the shipyard environment.

In addition to traditional workouts, Scherette offers personalized classes, such as TR Fit, a group fitness class focused on training multiple energy systems with the use of compound movements and weighted and or unweighted exercises, and the Navy Operational Fitness and Fueling System (NOFFS) series workouts. When asked about the gym’s impact, Scherette emphasized the importance of stress mitigation and promoting body positivity. “Across the military, we focused on addressing depression and mental health issues, and we aim to help through physical health,” Scherette said. He further explained that even a 20-minute gym session can help release endorphins, and easy access to the gym allows Sailors to benefit from this and take on the day. “We know through science that mental and physical health go hand-in-hand. A Sailor’s job is very stressful, so having 24/7 access to a space to relieve stress, in walking distance, is incredibly valuable,” Scherette added.

By November 2024, the barge’s gym was complete and operating 24/7, providing Sailors with constant access to the space. Feedback from Sailors has been overwhelmingly positive. “All the equipment has been operating smoothly. It is well maintained, and Sailors can execute any workout necessary,” said Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Ryan Holloway, a regular gym user.

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The 24/7 access aligns with the Navy’s broader initiative to provide fitness centers on all installations, which was authorized in March 2024. The policy allows Sailors to work out at any time, regardless of their duty schedules, and accommodates the diverse working hours of Navy personnel. It underscores the importance of physical fitness in maintaining operational readiness.

“From a Navy point of view, having a deployable Sailor is critical. Physical fitness is essential for operational readiness, and a strong, fit force benefits the Navy in the long run,” said Scherette.

For more information on Navy fitness centers please visit www.navyfitness.org/fitness.

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