Pre-Commissioning Unit
A pre-commissioning unit or is used by the United States Navy to describe vessels under construction prior to their official commissioning. For example, prior to its commissioning, the aircraft carrier has been described by the Navy as "pre-commissioning unit Gerald R. Ford." However, "PCU" is only a descriptive term and is not a prefix or a part of the ship's official name. Until they are commissioned, U.S. Navy vessels are officially identified by their given name and hull number only with no prefix, such as Gerald R. Ford.
A "PCU" is also the entity that the ships staff is assigned to for training while the ship is being constructed and fitted-out. Prior to reporting to the ship, sailors will report to a PCU at one of two fleet training centers, located at either Naval Station Norfolk or San Diego Naval Base.
