Every day was a longer day this week... getting out between 1530ish and even 1700 once. But once I have in my mind that it's going to be that way, there's no getting frustrated about waiting to be let off. I've kept myself pretty busy every day, even when I had to come up with things to do myself.
Monday was, as I said in the last post, taken up with LOK tests and an NKO course about cyber security.
Tuesday it was more of the same for the division, but I also worked on a fathometer check... one that's notorious for being difficult to understand. I was running up to ask the ETs (electronics technicians) questions all day about this cord or that part or the test equipment itself.
Wednesday, I was directed to work on the division's consumables issue (we haven't had anyone who knows how to order office supplies in over a year... I asked a lot of questions of supply in the last couple weeks) and managed to get a list sent out for a quote.
Thursday was the very late day. I got the quote back from SERV MART (local government supply store), worked on getting that information printed out on the right form and routed with an official USS Truxtun "Action Correspondence Route Slip" to my department head for approval (with running it by my LPO/LCPO first, of course). And there were a couple MRCs that needed completing too.
What made the day super late was a combination of things. My duty section had to run a DC drill, even though it wasn't my duty day. They did this to make sure people were available and not on watch during the full-scale drill. I was assigned as a "Utilityman"; this meant that I set boundaries or smoke screens, or whatever was needed. They did a "white smoke" drill, and I learned how to set a smoke shield around a doorway that responders had to have open for the fire hose to go through.
The drill went pretty well... it's just that the brow cracked right as the drill was getting over, so the brow was secured (no one could leave!). And it was after 1600. I ate dinner, since I was there, and enjoyed the tasty steak cubes that were on the menu. Then I went back to Sonar to continue consolidating our acoustic analysis charts. The brow was repaired and opened around 1630ish, but I stayed a bit longer to finish a certain page I was working on.
Friday was great fun! Did one check, worked on more charts, received a package from the pier for the division, and then got dressed up in my service uniform (khaki blouse, black pants/cover) in order to go to a GMC's (chief gunner's mate) re-enlistment ceremony downtown, on the forecastle of the USS Wisconsin (BB-64). Thankfully, I remembered to go back to Sonar 1 for my 2nd class crow pins before I got to the quarterdeck. I had to take off my 3rd class ones... don't think I've worn the uniform since standing watch in San Diego at school!
The ceremony itself was the nicest I've been to. The Weapons department head was there to read chief's bio, and another Lieutenant (who was a long-time friend) said a few words and gave out the certificates. First, chief was honorably discharged, then after a few words, he took the oath of enlistment again, and even his little kids participated (and got certificates too). Then the party retired to Buffalo Wild Wings by the MacArthur Center Mall for a celebratory lunch. I had picked up STG3 so she could go too, and I drove her home as we left.
Showing posts with label tests. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tests. Show all posts
Friday, April 26, 2013
Monday, April 22, 2013
End of Class, Back to the Ship
All last week I missed my ship getting underway for the first time. Of course, this was planned and accounted for... I had to finish up my Acoustic Analysis class. I finished the final 75 question test with a 96%... believe me that I remember the three I got wrong better than what I had memorized. I missed a couple points on the classifications, but it did not matter. A generic grade of "satisfactory" was pronounced on everyone, and we went our separate ways on Friday. Interestingly, as I was doing errands in Ocean View after class, I saw a destroyer coming in and reasoned that it was my own. And I've since verified that they were transiting at sea and anchor at the time I saw them... what a coincidence!
I was very disappointed to have to shred my beautiful notes, but OPSEC will be OPSEC. Maybe in the future they'll allow us to take them back to our ships again. Not too long ago some student ruined it for us by violating procedures... and now it must all be shredded.
I ended my long time off from the ship yesterday morning with a Sunday duty day. Not a bad way to ease back into it, I suppose. I was so used to being a student that I spent all my spare time before my quarterdeck watch working on the preliminary PQS for ESWS (enlisted surface warfare specialist). I've gone through the common core book and took notes before I sit down with qualified specialists and get the required signatures. And I even worked on it more during my second watch in CSMC, very early this morning. Ten hours of watch was more than enough to get me back into the atmosphere of working on board. :)
But with the last watch comes the unpleasant reality of rolling right into the next working day with hardly anything to show for a descent rest. In fact, between my two watches, I simply crashed in Sonar 1 with a few blankets so I wouldn't have to bother about getting undressed and dressed again... wasting precious rest.
The ship was incredibly busy today with lots of drills. I managed to stay out of them, working the entire day on a "Information Awareness" NKO (Navy knowledge online course) and a few LOK (level of knowledge) tests for Sonar, after I had done the daily and weekly checks. With all this and the ESWS training on my own, my head was near to bursting by the time we were let go. I am always thinking of what I still have to do when I am on board, and with all that comes up, it is a wonder that my brain doesn't explode. :)
I was very disappointed to have to shred my beautiful notes, but OPSEC will be OPSEC. Maybe in the future they'll allow us to take them back to our ships again. Not too long ago some student ruined it for us by violating procedures... and now it must all be shredded.
I ended my long time off from the ship yesterday morning with a Sunday duty day. Not a bad way to ease back into it, I suppose. I was so used to being a student that I spent all my spare time before my quarterdeck watch working on the preliminary PQS for ESWS (enlisted surface warfare specialist). I've gone through the common core book and took notes before I sit down with qualified specialists and get the required signatures. And I even worked on it more during my second watch in CSMC, very early this morning. Ten hours of watch was more than enough to get me back into the atmosphere of working on board. :)
But with the last watch comes the unpleasant reality of rolling right into the next working day with hardly anything to show for a descent rest. In fact, between my two watches, I simply crashed in Sonar 1 with a few blankets so I wouldn't have to bother about getting undressed and dressed again... wasting precious rest.
The ship was incredibly busy today with lots of drills. I managed to stay out of them, working the entire day on a "Information Awareness" NKO (Navy knowledge online course) and a few LOK (level of knowledge) tests for Sonar, after I had done the daily and weekly checks. With all this and the ESWS training on my own, my head was near to bursting by the time we were let go. I am always thinking of what I still have to do when I am on board, and with all that comes up, it is a wonder that my brain doesn't explode. :)
Friday, April 12, 2013
Half-Day Duty and a Week of BAAR
Why is it that the Navy calls a bed what the rest of the world calls a torture device?
:)
Yes, I did toss and turn in my rack on my duty day... and usually it is a little tough on my back, but maybe that was because I was very used to sleeping at home for a while now.
I've been very excited, anticipating going to the Basic Acoustic Analysis Refresher (BAAR) class ever since I checked on board nine months ago. It goes over nitty-gritty Sonar Tech stuff that I haven't had a chance to practice since I learned it over two years ago. In fact, I had forgotten so much, I scored a 25% on our pre-test on Monday... and that's 5% above average. Comparatively, I got an 86% on today's written test, coupled with a 100% on the analysis part. I forgot how I enjoyed doing it, since I know what I'm doing again!
The class lasts from the morning to the early afternoon, so on my duty day, Tuesday, I went back to the ship after class. I was so relieved to know I didn't have watch (so there was no schedule conflict), but when I stepped onto the quarterdeck, the section leader was standing OOD, and she told me I had the evening contact sentry watch. This I did not mind at all, since it's been a few months since I've stood it... and it's during all the duty section happenings, such as sweepers and training. And this was our first really warm day... 89 degrees!... so warm that after the sun went down, the breeze coming off the water was still refreshingly warm to cool. I've never enjoyed a watch so much!
And I had a couple hours before I had to go stand it. I routed a leave chit, and attended two meetings (MWR -morale/welfare/rec.- and then Safety). There was also a fire drill that I got dressed out for, and for the first time on board, actually went on air! I was a boundary-man for Sonar 1, as the drill was right above it. This was a more formal drill than usual... inspectors on board to observe.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Another Indoc, Two Tests and an Anniversary
My first Indoc (or indoctrination - an introduction to a command) was a formal class at Naval Station Great Lakes, and it appears as a week-long class on my CTARS (don't ask me what that stands for - its a confidential list of all the schools I've attended in the Navy). That one started my very first day... but that's a huge training command, and they've got to get people through it. The less formal one I had at the Fleet ASW Training Center occurred within one month of checking in. Here on the destroyer, I just finished Indoc this week, after being here for over two months. Life in the fleet is much more busy and complicated than at shore commands!
But as my brother said, some things in the military never change. I was skeptical that I would learn anything new, since I've been here so much already. Goodness, I'm already a quarter done with Cranking! But it turned out to be helpful, being introduced to certain people's jobs, where I knew people's faces, but not their rates.
Indoc started Monday the 10th, with... what other than a muster sheet? Then the CO came in ("Attention on DECK!") and gave us the same brief some of us had before on the "commander's intent"... that we're going to be ready for the country any time, any place to PURSUE, ATTACK and VANQUISH any enemy (it's our ship's motto - taken from a phrase used on Commodore Thomas Truxtun's gold medal that Congress struck on March 29, 1800 to award him for the defeat of the French ship of war L'Insurgente in the Quasi-War.) He also talked about how he wants the command to operate with rigor, transparency and I think the last was accountability. And then he touched on our ship's schedule again, which I had practically forgotten about since I've been cranking.
The XO came in after him and touched on things like berthing rules and the fact that all the administrative runnings of the ship are under his domain. We then had the command fitness leader (CFL) talk about the upcoming PFA... always fun to remember that I need to lose weight. :) CSC then came in and asked us a lot about ourselves, then went over the suicide prevention power-point... page by page. (My husband thinks it's funny that a month into cranking and suddenly I get a suicide prevention talk... the timing is odd that way, but no matter what a person's doing they're going to talk about that - since Big Navy has a big issue with it, we have to do it... all the time.) Lastly, CMC came in and talked to us about standards for work and for liberty. There have been some issues lately with people wearing "inappropriate" clothes off the barge.
The next day we talked a little about watch standing and force protection (with MA1), but I've already been through Between the Life-Lines... which is all about that. Next, SIGWO (signal warfare officer - boy, did that one take me a while to de-code while I was working the wardroom) came in and talked to us about OPSEC (operations security) and had us sign a "page 13" (acknowledgement form) - who knows where that term came from - about social media posts... and how we should be careful about how much we say where. CS2, who was also in the class, commented that he knew of a half-dozen guys at the Navy prison he was last working at who were spending 25 years to life for giving out too much information. Whoa. The rest of the day was with HM3... smoking secession, STDs (thank the Lord the projector was broken... no nasty pictures to look at this time), and finally CPR.
Wednesday was a succession of topics covering Tag-Out procedures, electrical safety, oil spills, entering void spaces, HAZMAT, fraud+waste+abuse, safety, ORM, awareness, MAN OVERBOARD procedures, and then finally a little tidbit on schools and doing PQS.
On Thursday the 13th, there was a little interruption to our Indoc schedule... namely, the Petty Officer 2nd Class Examination (mandatory test for 3rd's aspiring to the next pay-grade) held everywhere in the Navy that morning for three hours. It was awful! Hardly any Oceanography questions (which I can do better at) and lots on random equipment from all the fields of Sonar. Pretty hard to study for mine, since the test is classified Secret. That and we've been a little busy coming down to Mayport... and cranking on top of that. Won't find out the results for another couple months.
In the afternoon, we finished up Indoc with talks about (you guessed it!) Sexual Assault/SAPR, 3M (our maintenance procedures), PQS info and financial counseling. A whirlwind for sure. And indeed, before and after these trainings, CS2 and I had to be working on the mess decks. There was no skating off for us, even though we had this class. I even worked in the scullery during our lunch break.
It was my weekend to work right before this too... Friday the 7th I kept myself busy all day, trying to get the wardroom silver untarnished... worked it over with steel wool and cut my hand in the process. Saturday I saw a sea turtle for the first time (lots hereafter) and worked through a power outage during dinner with a flashlight. Sunday, the 9th, I got up to clean up the night's remaining dishes even though I was told to sleep in. Did go back to sleep for a couple hours before the extra-long lunch.
Wednesday the 12, during Indoc, the sewer tanks overflowed onto the mess decks before breakfast and the water was secured through lunch... and we had to use the heads (bathrooms) on a trailer parked next to the barge. The tanks flooded again the next Wednesday the 19, my first day back after my 96 hour liberty.
And that Wednesday the 19th, I caught up on the Damage Control Indoc that I had missed the first two days of due to my anniversary trip with my husband. Turns out all I missed was power-points about the same stuff we went over in boot camp. I copied someone's notes and studied them while we were waiting for DC2 Vigilant (awesome name for a DC man!) to take us on a walk-through of the ship's DC spaces... to show us the fire-fighting gear, the repair lockers, shoring and hoses and the like. Later on, after we were let go, we had a Dress Blues inspection (on the hanger, thankfully!) for the upcoming uniform shift on October 1st.
Thursday the 20th was the DC Indoc test... 100 multiple choice questions. Apart from that, it was my day off from cranking, so after the test I changed into civies and read my Peter Wimsey book for a long time before getting the first bus to the Mayport Naval Station (around 1500).
Friday the 21st was my TWO YEAR anniversary of joining the Navy. Goodness, it has gone fast, and slow. Seems like only yesterday, and it seems like forever ago. As for the day itself, I figured out a secret to keeping the dish-washing machine working better, and we had to hold Quarters on the rooftop due to yet more flooding on the mess decks. Someone was late again that morning, so as our MA promised, the next two early days were cancelled. That affected me on Monday... after working through the weekend. Yay.
Saturday was crazy. They secured the water ALL DAY LONG on the barge. That meant a continental breakfast, and hamburgers grilled on the roof for lunch. We had to carry lots of stuff up there... tables, chairs, food, ice... but it was a very good meal. For some reason, Chief thought after lunch would be a good time to field day (clean/scrub) the galley. That put us all in a very lousy mood. Dinner was pizza and wings... and I hated life until I woke up from my long nap afterwords. Went to bed at 1815 and woke up at 0100... went outside to talk to my husband, and while I did that I saw a manatee nibbling algae off the barge! I had very much wanted to see one, so it all worked out alright! I had done a good bit of fishing earlier in the day and caught a good sized Jack on my cheap pole. I do love that about this place! All the sea life I get to see!
Sunday the 23rd, all of note was I got my shins very mosquito-bitten while I cleaned my fish in the evening. Bad decision!
This week it was hard to keep going after the weekend. Monday I was running a little late, but thankfully no one noticed. The ventilation in the scullery wasn't on in the morning, so I was working in a sauna... FC1 said it was 100 degrees in there. I was really tired, my shins itched like the dickens, and for some odd reason, my left wrist hurt just that day. I wanted to hit something after work, so I consoled myself with crumpling up the 3x5 comment card we were given at our divisional training that morning. I didn't have anything to say that they wanted to hear. Life was better after taking a shower and reading while I did my laundry. I suppose I'll have to un-crumple the card.
I survived Tuesday with the knowledge that it was the only day to get through before my day off today. It was cloudy and cool too... and that helped. Caught and released a couple smaller Jacks in the break times and caught the bus to Mayport to spend the evening and next day far, far away. :)
But as my brother said, some things in the military never change. I was skeptical that I would learn anything new, since I've been here so much already. Goodness, I'm already a quarter done with Cranking! But it turned out to be helpful, being introduced to certain people's jobs, where I knew people's faces, but not their rates.
Indoc started Monday the 10th, with... what other than a muster sheet? Then the CO came in ("Attention on DECK!") and gave us the same brief some of us had before on the "commander's intent"... that we're going to be ready for the country any time, any place to PURSUE, ATTACK and VANQUISH any enemy (it's our ship's motto - taken from a phrase used on Commodore Thomas Truxtun's gold medal that Congress struck on March 29, 1800 to award him for the defeat of the French ship of war L'Insurgente in the Quasi-War.) He also talked about how he wants the command to operate with rigor, transparency and I think the last was accountability. And then he touched on our ship's schedule again, which I had practically forgotten about since I've been cranking.
The XO came in after him and touched on things like berthing rules and the fact that all the administrative runnings of the ship are under his domain. We then had the command fitness leader (CFL) talk about the upcoming PFA... always fun to remember that I need to lose weight. :) CSC then came in and asked us a lot about ourselves, then went over the suicide prevention power-point... page by page. (My husband thinks it's funny that a month into cranking and suddenly I get a suicide prevention talk... the timing is odd that way, but no matter what a person's doing they're going to talk about that - since Big Navy has a big issue with it, we have to do it... all the time.) Lastly, CMC came in and talked to us about standards for work and for liberty. There have been some issues lately with people wearing "inappropriate" clothes off the barge.
The next day we talked a little about watch standing and force protection (with MA1), but I've already been through Between the Life-Lines... which is all about that. Next, SIGWO (signal warfare officer - boy, did that one take me a while to de-code while I was working the wardroom) came in and talked to us about OPSEC (operations security) and had us sign a "page 13" (acknowledgement form) - who knows where that term came from - about social media posts... and how we should be careful about how much we say where. CS2, who was also in the class, commented that he knew of a half-dozen guys at the Navy prison he was last working at who were spending 25 years to life for giving out too much information. Whoa. The rest of the day was with HM3... smoking secession, STDs (thank the Lord the projector was broken... no nasty pictures to look at this time), and finally CPR.
Wednesday was a succession of topics covering Tag-Out procedures, electrical safety, oil spills, entering void spaces, HAZMAT, fraud+waste+abuse, safety, ORM, awareness, MAN OVERBOARD procedures, and then finally a little tidbit on schools and doing PQS.
On Thursday the 13th, there was a little interruption to our Indoc schedule... namely, the Petty Officer 2nd Class Examination (mandatory test for 3rd's aspiring to the next pay-grade) held everywhere in the Navy that morning for three hours. It was awful! Hardly any Oceanography questions (which I can do better at) and lots on random equipment from all the fields of Sonar. Pretty hard to study for mine, since the test is classified Secret. That and we've been a little busy coming down to Mayport... and cranking on top of that. Won't find out the results for another couple months.
In the afternoon, we finished up Indoc with talks about (you guessed it!) Sexual Assault/SAPR, 3M (our maintenance procedures), PQS info and financial counseling. A whirlwind for sure. And indeed, before and after these trainings, CS2 and I had to be working on the mess decks. There was no skating off for us, even though we had this class. I even worked in the scullery during our lunch break.
It was my weekend to work right before this too... Friday the 7th I kept myself busy all day, trying to get the wardroom silver untarnished... worked it over with steel wool and cut my hand in the process. Saturday I saw a sea turtle for the first time (lots hereafter) and worked through a power outage during dinner with a flashlight. Sunday, the 9th, I got up to clean up the night's remaining dishes even though I was told to sleep in. Did go back to sleep for a couple hours before the extra-long lunch.
Wednesday the 12, during Indoc, the sewer tanks overflowed onto the mess decks before breakfast and the water was secured through lunch... and we had to use the heads (bathrooms) on a trailer parked next to the barge. The tanks flooded again the next Wednesday the 19, my first day back after my 96 hour liberty.
And that Wednesday the 19th, I caught up on the Damage Control Indoc that I had missed the first two days of due to my anniversary trip with my husband. Turns out all I missed was power-points about the same stuff we went over in boot camp. I copied someone's notes and studied them while we were waiting for DC2 Vigilant (awesome name for a DC man!) to take us on a walk-through of the ship's DC spaces... to show us the fire-fighting gear, the repair lockers, shoring and hoses and the like. Later on, after we were let go, we had a Dress Blues inspection (on the hanger, thankfully!) for the upcoming uniform shift on October 1st.
Thursday the 20th was the DC Indoc test... 100 multiple choice questions. Apart from that, it was my day off from cranking, so after the test I changed into civies and read my Peter Wimsey book for a long time before getting the first bus to the Mayport Naval Station (around 1500).
Friday the 21st was my TWO YEAR anniversary of joining the Navy. Goodness, it has gone fast, and slow. Seems like only yesterday, and it seems like forever ago. As for the day itself, I figured out a secret to keeping the dish-washing machine working better, and we had to hold Quarters on the rooftop due to yet more flooding on the mess decks. Someone was late again that morning, so as our MA promised, the next two early days were cancelled. That affected me on Monday... after working through the weekend. Yay.
Saturday was crazy. They secured the water ALL DAY LONG on the barge. That meant a continental breakfast, and hamburgers grilled on the roof for lunch. We had to carry lots of stuff up there... tables, chairs, food, ice... but it was a very good meal. For some reason, Chief thought after lunch would be a good time to field day (clean/scrub) the galley. That put us all in a very lousy mood. Dinner was pizza and wings... and I hated life until I woke up from my long nap afterwords. Went to bed at 1815 and woke up at 0100... went outside to talk to my husband, and while I did that I saw a manatee nibbling algae off the barge! I had very much wanted to see one, so it all worked out alright! I had done a good bit of fishing earlier in the day and caught a good sized Jack on my cheap pole. I do love that about this place! All the sea life I get to see!
Sunday the 23rd, all of note was I got my shins very mosquito-bitten while I cleaned my fish in the evening. Bad decision!
This week it was hard to keep going after the weekend. Monday I was running a little late, but thankfully no one noticed. The ventilation in the scullery wasn't on in the morning, so I was working in a sauna... FC1 said it was 100 degrees in there. I was really tired, my shins itched like the dickens, and for some odd reason, my left wrist hurt just that day. I wanted to hit something after work, so I consoled myself with crumpling up the 3x5 comment card we were given at our divisional training that morning. I didn't have anything to say that they wanted to hear. Life was better after taking a shower and reading while I did my laundry. I suppose I'll have to un-crumple the card.
I survived Tuesday with the knowledge that it was the only day to get through before my day off today. It was cloudy and cool too... and that helped. Caught and released a couple smaller Jacks in the break times and caught the bus to Mayport to spend the evening and next day far, far away. :)
Friday, May 25, 2012
Advancement Score
The final scores from my March 8th advancement exam came out Thursday. As I went to the Student Resource Center to check for orders this morning, there were a few others there to check their scores... and they were talking about it. No announcement... just word of mouth.
Success! I scored 1.5 PNA (Pass, but Not Advance) points for my next advancement exam coming up this September. Out of all the STG3s in the Navy who took it, I scored in the 70th percentile, missing the minimum points required to advance by 22 (out of 144). I'm not sure how many STG3s are in the Navy... but according to the Navy, 210 advanced to STG2.
Success! I scored 1.5 PNA (Pass, but Not Advance) points for my next advancement exam coming up this September. Out of all the STG3s in the Navy who took it, I scored in the 70th percentile, missing the minimum points required to advance by 22 (out of 144). I'm not sure how many STG3s are in the Navy... but according to the Navy, 210 advanced to STG2.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Quiz, Test, Now New Topic
That's what short auxiliary classes are like; one yesterday, another today.
Monday morning we had some down time (continued my reading), then we took a 15-question open book quiz, and later reviewed it. I took the trouble to write down the questions and page numbers I found the answers on for my notes. And that came in handy for the 40-question Fathometer final test we had on Tuesday. It was so frustrating, because we had to flip through this extra-wide, 100+ page tech pub to find the pickiest little answers... such as, what hertz does this test point read on this part of the equipment? Beats me. I took a long time (with most of the others) to complete it, and only needed extra help with one question.
Tuesday was also my duty day, but again I was blessed with Supers. So only the morning and afternoon musters.
Today I found out I tied for second, with an 87.5%... which is passing. STG2 said if we failed this, we'd fail the entire set of courses... and possibly be dropped. Apparently, there had been trouble in the past with people not caring about learning the aux's.
Today we started learning our second to last aux. Baldwin and I wheeled the equipment into the classroom from the lab (via the normally off-limits elevator) while STG2 and Wagner managed carrying the 6-inch thick, 8.5"/11" tech manuals. We've moved into another classroom for all of our aux classes. We had time to familiarize ourselves with the manuals, then STG2 pointed out the various components. Otherwise, I only have three chapters left in Battleship Sailor.
I stayed a while on base, reading a little more because I finally had my dental cleaning appointment after class. Once the hygienist started, I was worried she didn't know what she was doing, especially since she poked me in the gums right off the bat. But I completely changed my mind by the end. It was the quickest and easiest cleaning I can remember, and my teeth feel great.
Monday morning we had some down time (continued my reading), then we took a 15-question open book quiz, and later reviewed it. I took the trouble to write down the questions and page numbers I found the answers on for my notes. And that came in handy for the 40-question Fathometer final test we had on Tuesday. It was so frustrating, because we had to flip through this extra-wide, 100+ page tech pub to find the pickiest little answers... such as, what hertz does this test point read on this part of the equipment? Beats me. I took a long time (with most of the others) to complete it, and only needed extra help with one question.
Tuesday was also my duty day, but again I was blessed with Supers. So only the morning and afternoon musters.
Today I found out I tied for second, with an 87.5%... which is passing. STG2 said if we failed this, we'd fail the entire set of courses... and possibly be dropped. Apparently, there had been trouble in the past with people not caring about learning the aux's.
Today we started learning our second to last aux. Baldwin and I wheeled the equipment into the classroom from the lab (via the normally off-limits elevator) while STG2 and Wagner managed carrying the 6-inch thick, 8.5"/11" tech manuals. We've moved into another classroom for all of our aux classes. We had time to familiarize ourselves with the manuals, then STG2 pointed out the various components. Otherwise, I only have three chapters left in Battleship Sailor.
I stayed a while on base, reading a little more because I finally had my dental cleaning appointment after class. Once the hygienist started, I was worried she didn't know what she was doing, especially since she poked me in the gums right off the bat. But I completely changed my mind by the end. It was the quickest and easiest cleaning I can remember, and my teeth feel great.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Last Test, Last Day
A huge weight has suddenly been lifted. I am completely done with testing, and have completed everything assigned in my current orders. For the next three weeks, however, I have auxiliaries classes... so I have a straightforward, uninterrupted and untestable time until 22 MAY for the final completion and official graduation from all my classes.
This morning Baldwin and I had our final practical, and we worked together well finding the foreign object in the levelwind and narrowing down all the power faults, for a final grade of 97%. Found out after Quarters that I got a 93% on the final test... so I don't know exactly where that puts my final overall grade, but I'm pretty sure I stayed at 3rd place.
Whew.
This morning Baldwin and I had our final practical, and we worked together well finding the foreign object in the levelwind and narrowing down all the power faults, for a final grade of 97%. Found out after Quarters that I got a 93% on the final test... so I don't know exactly where that puts my final overall grade, but I'm pretty sure I stayed at 3rd place.
Whew.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Final Test and My Fourth PFA
Don't know the official word on either yet, but I know I passed both.
Friday's test was twice as long as normal, at 100 questions, and was cumulative. It took forever to complete... they allowed us ample time to finish it up. Overall it was pretty straightforward, but there were those usual few that made me scratch my head forever. I was very glad to get out of there, and ended up falling asleep at home by 1830.
Today's Physical Fitness Assessment (or Physical Readiness Test... whichever you prefer... I hear both acronyms used) went very well. I drove over about 10 min. before it was scheduled to begin. There have been times in the past when I wish I would have arrived that late. There is a lot of standing around waiting for people to check in and for the CFL (command fitness leader?) to get things started. I pinned number 112 (written on a 5" by 8" blue card) to the front of my yellow PT shirt, and got in the line on the far right. Wagner was #111, and also without a partner, so we teamed up.
There were three long columns, probably 150+ Sailors arranged side by side. There were a few brief warm-ups and then we began. Wagner's side of the column went first with the curl-ups. Then we have a short break as the guys with clipboards walk down the row and record the scores. Then it was my turn. Wagner held my ankles and counted reps as I had done for him. I was only 4 shy of maxing the score with 97 in two minutes. We switched again, Wagner busted out lots of push-ups and I counted, amazed. Then a short break and I struggled, doing 44 push-ups, just 2 shy of the max. An Outstanding score so far... good deal.
Then the Mile & a Half Run. Boo. I hate running. But it seemed to go faster today then normal... I guess all that regular PT really helps out. And I managed to avoid coughing my lungs out afterwords; I guess my nose didn't run when I did like it had in the past. And can you believe it? my hurt foot gave me no trouble at all (and feels better today?! good grief!). We start by the port side of the USS Recruit (USS Neversail) and run on the cement pathway around the grass field that used to be the parade ground of RTC San Diego, back in the day, and end in the cul-de-sac behind the medical center, right next to where we did the first two events. With all those people, it really gets crowded at the beginning.
I think my time was 13:39... but all I heard was the "39" part. I was pretty tired by the last quarter mile. I lady passed me by and shouted encouragement to go faster... I met her in the locker room afterwords... she was a chief! Goodness, a very nice chief!
Thank goodness it's over (for six months, at least)!
Otherwise, I felt terrible because I fell asleep again after my alarm went off this morning. Stupid... the day before the last day. I was a bit late, but it didn't affect anyone since everyone was let go because of the odd schedule. We're taking our practicals now, and they say they're going to take 2 hours for each group of two students. So people were to come back for the time they were scheduled for, and Baldwin and I were assigned first thing tomorrow morning. Okay by me. I really appreciate STG1 being understanding like he was. He knows I'm not a slacker, I guess. Still, I could kick myself.
Friday's test was twice as long as normal, at 100 questions, and was cumulative. It took forever to complete... they allowed us ample time to finish it up. Overall it was pretty straightforward, but there were those usual few that made me scratch my head forever. I was very glad to get out of there, and ended up falling asleep at home by 1830.
Today's Physical Fitness Assessment (or Physical Readiness Test... whichever you prefer... I hear both acronyms used) went very well. I drove over about 10 min. before it was scheduled to begin. There have been times in the past when I wish I would have arrived that late. There is a lot of standing around waiting for people to check in and for the CFL (command fitness leader?) to get things started. I pinned number 112 (written on a 5" by 8" blue card) to the front of my yellow PT shirt, and got in the line on the far right. Wagner was #111, and also without a partner, so we teamed up.
There were three long columns, probably 150+ Sailors arranged side by side. There were a few brief warm-ups and then we began. Wagner's side of the column went first with the curl-ups. Then we have a short break as the guys with clipboards walk down the row and record the scores. Then it was my turn. Wagner held my ankles and counted reps as I had done for him. I was only 4 shy of maxing the score with 97 in two minutes. We switched again, Wagner busted out lots of push-ups and I counted, amazed. Then a short break and I struggled, doing 44 push-ups, just 2 shy of the max. An Outstanding score so far... good deal.
Then the Mile & a Half Run. Boo. I hate running. But it seemed to go faster today then normal... I guess all that regular PT really helps out. And I managed to avoid coughing my lungs out afterwords; I guess my nose didn't run when I did like it had in the past. And can you believe it? my hurt foot gave me no trouble at all (and feels better today?! good grief!). We start by the port side of the USS Recruit (USS Neversail) and run on the cement pathway around the grass field that used to be the parade ground of RTC San Diego, back in the day, and end in the cul-de-sac behind the medical center, right next to where we did the first two events. With all those people, it really gets crowded at the beginning.
I think my time was 13:39... but all I heard was the "39" part. I was pretty tired by the last quarter mile. I lady passed me by and shouted encouragement to go faster... I met her in the locker room afterwords... she was a chief! Goodness, a very nice chief!
Thank goodness it's over (for six months, at least)!
Otherwise, I felt terrible because I fell asleep again after my alarm went off this morning. Stupid... the day before the last day. I was a bit late, but it didn't affect anyone since everyone was let go because of the odd schedule. We're taking our practicals now, and they say they're going to take 2 hours for each group of two students. So people were to come back for the time they were scheduled for, and Baldwin and I were assigned first thing tomorrow morning. Okay by me. I really appreciate STG1 being understanding like he was. He knows I'm not a slacker, I guess. Still, I could kick myself.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Watch and the Weigh-In
I've seen a steady progression... I was around 180 lbs before I joined the Navy. During the next year, plus some, I brought it down to 160 lbs, where it returned to after boot camp. Over the first two PRT cycles in San Diego (another year) I kept it down, but it was more towards my limit of 170. For today's weigh-in, I was 5 lbs over, but managed to meet the Navy's BMI standard of taking an arbitrary number (with my height of 68", it is a 59) and subtracting the circumference of the neck (14") and adding the circumferences of the waist (31") and hips (42") to come up with a corresponding body fat percentage. My Navy BMI is 32% (just passing). There is no way that I have that much fat (whine)! But I shouldn't complain. I think there were a couple people in class who weren't so lucky.
I need to be more careful all the time. I didn't starve myself this cycle, like I have done before, and only remained cautious as to what I ate, and how much. I feel like I have better chances at keeping it under control with habits like these, but at the same time I wonder if I'll ever be able to get it down to 160 again.
Sunday was my Duty Day. I was assigned the 12-17 (1130-1630) Bldg. 51 Access Watch. Five hours of standing up behind a podium, checking IDs and saluting for the Ensign and recording "51 ROVER REPORTED. ALL CONDITIONS NORMAL." in the deck log every fifteen minutes. I still wrote this during the last half-hour of watch, even though the fire alarm had gone off in Bldg. 11 (the quarterdeck & schoolhouse) and the fire department arrived... I wouldn't know what else to write. :) My feet were pretty tired by the end of the ordeal; my right foot had even fallen asleep. Just something to get used to, I suppose.
I decided that I didn't want to miss church, even though it would be cutting it close (service starts at 0930 and is a good 20 minutes away). So I went to service in my NSUs, and I'm kinda glad I did. No one there had seen me in a uniform before and I had several nice comments about it. Made me feel proud to wear it. And of course, it helped me explain why I needed to blast out of there right when the pastor finished. It was a great sermon about faith during trials, but he went longer than ever. I made it to the watch on time, but I had no time for lunch. I bought a bag of Doritos and a bottle of water at Liberty Hall right before assuming the watch. Very glad I made myself breakfast that morning!
Mentally, I made it through pretty well by reading the first 50 pages of American Naval History — An Illustrated Chronology of the U. S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775-Present (a MCPON Reading List book). I began with George Washington's gunboats in 1775 and got off watch with the end of the Mexican War in 1848. It goes on for another 250 pages, ending up in 2002. Lots of interesting facts... ships, exploits, innovations, people... all in one place.
Class today was all labs, and my group didn't have time to go before we had to weigh-in... so I spent the three hours asking STG2 questions about the fleet and reading a few dozen pages in Battleship Sailor.
And one little side-note oddity... the gym lacked shower curtains this morning. Apparently, they had been cleaned and just not put back up yet (even when Hibbard asked for them), so it was almost like boot camp this morning... but at least there were stalls!
I need to be more careful all the time. I didn't starve myself this cycle, like I have done before, and only remained cautious as to what I ate, and how much. I feel like I have better chances at keeping it under control with habits like these, but at the same time I wonder if I'll ever be able to get it down to 160 again.
Sunday was my Duty Day. I was assigned the 12-17 (1130-1630) Bldg. 51 Access Watch. Five hours of standing up behind a podium, checking IDs and saluting for the Ensign and recording "51 ROVER REPORTED. ALL CONDITIONS NORMAL." in the deck log every fifteen minutes. I still wrote this during the last half-hour of watch, even though the fire alarm had gone off in Bldg. 11 (the quarterdeck & schoolhouse) and the fire department arrived... I wouldn't know what else to write. :) My feet were pretty tired by the end of the ordeal; my right foot had even fallen asleep. Just something to get used to, I suppose.
I decided that I didn't want to miss church, even though it would be cutting it close (service starts at 0930 and is a good 20 minutes away). So I went to service in my NSUs, and I'm kinda glad I did. No one there had seen me in a uniform before and I had several nice comments about it. Made me feel proud to wear it. And of course, it helped me explain why I needed to blast out of there right when the pastor finished. It was a great sermon about faith during trials, but he went longer than ever. I made it to the watch on time, but I had no time for lunch. I bought a bag of Doritos and a bottle of water at Liberty Hall right before assuming the watch. Very glad I made myself breakfast that morning!
Mentally, I made it through pretty well by reading the first 50 pages of American Naval History — An Illustrated Chronology of the U. S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775-Present (a MCPON Reading List book). I began with George Washington's gunboats in 1775 and got off watch with the end of the Mexican War in 1848. It goes on for another 250 pages, ending up in 2002. Lots of interesting facts... ships, exploits, innovations, people... all in one place.
Class today was all labs, and my group didn't have time to go before we had to weigh-in... so I spent the three hours asking STG2 questions about the fleet and reading a few dozen pages in Battleship Sailor.
And one little side-note oddity... the gym lacked shower curtains this morning. Apparently, they had been cleaned and just not put back up yet (even when Hibbard asked for them), so it was almost like boot camp this morning... but at least there were stalls!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
In the Hundreds
Monday was something of a surprise. PT was pretty regular, as were the power-points and lab on the TSP (torpedo settings panel). But after class I had a couple emails from Lt. Castro about meeting up again to talk about formatting, so I arranged with her to meet right away. When I parked in the TSC lot at the NEX, a petty officer was pulling out of his spot, but then stopped, got out of the car and called to me. It was ET1 Jordan, the recruiter-in-charge at Bellevue when I first met the Navy! I knew he was stationed in San Diego now, but I never thought I'd run into him! What a nice coincidence! We chatted, but we couldn't for long as we were in the middle of the parking lot.
The meeting with the LT went well. I hadn't had a clear picture of what exactly she was looking for, but I do now. More of a journalistic approach, with date and place, and even a "thesis". I've been so used to blog writing, I didn't consider someone would want a who-what-when-where-article written like a history paper. But that's what I've got to do.
Tuesday we had no Quarters because the staff had a meeting, or something. This was our test day, though, on the XBT, LAMPS, & TSP. I took the longest time, beating my brains out over two questions... but otherwise it was pretty easy. Wednesday morning, I found out I pulled off a 100%, making it my 3rd in the last 4 tests. Still in third place, but now at a 97.54% (behind Trimpe at 98.67%). There was a lot of down time, but we also started the H&SG (handling & stowage group - for the acoustic sensor). Signed and got my copy of my first evaluation in admin... I officially "meet standards". :) The last thing we did was finally discover the insides of Bldg. 12: ASW command's set-up of the H&SG. But it was just a quick walk-through to get formally introduced to the heavy machinery. Actual practice will come a little later.
Today, I ran circuits with Witte and Hibbard on the volleyball court for PT. A good workout, indeed! So glad to be able to push myself harder with other people. Retired Senior Chief Jerry taught us today. He gave us schematics (as he did back when he taught us the Power Supplies) for the hydraulics and power circuits for the H&SG. Again we broke out our colored pencils and traced some of the lines so we'd better understand what did what. Most of the day was taken up with the 84-slide Functional Interfaces power-point. Gosh! So much!
Back at home I finished the final few pages of the very readable 600-page novel The Sand Pebbles. It marks the fifth book I've finished in class... and tomorrow I'm going to start Battleship Sailor from the MCPON's suggested reading list. It's a personal account of a radioman 3rd class on the USS California from 1940 to 1941. Promises to be very interesting.
The meeting with the LT went well. I hadn't had a clear picture of what exactly she was looking for, but I do now. More of a journalistic approach, with date and place, and even a "thesis". I've been so used to blog writing, I didn't consider someone would want a who-what-when-where-article written like a history paper. But that's what I've got to do.
Tuesday we had no Quarters because the staff had a meeting, or something. This was our test day, though, on the XBT, LAMPS, & TSP. I took the longest time, beating my brains out over two questions... but otherwise it was pretty easy. Wednesday morning, I found out I pulled off a 100%, making it my 3rd in the last 4 tests. Still in third place, but now at a 97.54% (behind Trimpe at 98.67%). There was a lot of down time, but we also started the H&SG (handling & stowage group - for the acoustic sensor). Signed and got my copy of my first evaluation in admin... I officially "meet standards". :) The last thing we did was finally discover the insides of Bldg. 12: ASW command's set-up of the H&SG. But it was just a quick walk-through to get formally introduced to the heavy machinery. Actual practice will come a little later.
Today, I ran circuits with Witte and Hibbard on the volleyball court for PT. A good workout, indeed! So glad to be able to push myself harder with other people. Retired Senior Chief Jerry taught us today. He gave us schematics (as he did back when he taught us the Power Supplies) for the hydraulics and power circuits for the H&SG. Again we broke out our colored pencils and traced some of the lines so we'd better understand what did what. Most of the day was taken up with the 84-slide Functional Interfaces power-point. Gosh! So much!
Back at home I finished the final few pages of the very readable 600-page novel The Sand Pebbles. It marks the fifth book I've finished in class... and tomorrow I'm going to start Battleship Sailor from the MCPON's suggested reading list. It's a personal account of a radioman 3rd class on the USS California from 1940 to 1941. Promises to be very interesting.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Dragging, Tuesday Through Thursday
That's what happens if you don't take a nap! I've had trouble these last three days, getting up and at 'em. Tuesday morning I fell asleep immediately after I swiped my phone's alarm off... and then next thing I knew, STG2 Root called and asked what was going on. "It's five?!" was my reply. And I was in class at 5:30. He broke us for breakfast when I sat down in my chair, so I immediately went home again for a bit of eggs and oatmeal. It was nice we had the extra time, because this was our Whites inspection at Quarters. I led everyone in the Creed for the third time.
First on a timer at the overflow parking lot across the street. Second in the women's locker room in the gym. My pants are a little tighter than they used to be, and they shortened them too much in boot camp... needless to say, I need a new pair.
Tuesday was also our test day on the consoles and the CADRT. It was very tricky, because there were two versions of each that we needed to keep straight. Don't know the exact score yet, but he's told us that no one got below an 85% (which would mean mando).
Wednesday I set the alarm differently, so I thought I'd get up better. Nope. But I made it to PT with about five minutes to spare. It's easier to get up and go on PT days, simply because a t-shirt and shorts (and usually a sweatshirt) are much faster to get into than the t-shirt, socks, trousers, boots, blousing straps (for the bottoms of the trousers), blouse and cover of the working uniform. I did the first bit of the workout on the elliptical, then followed Witte and Hibbard over to the volleyball court for a great abdominal workout, just us three. Very glad I had my book... all we did all day was our practicals. And STG1 Fletcher assigned me the last of the five groups with Nordgren. I read over 50 pages in the 3+ hours I had to wait. At one point everyone's chatter was bothering me and I was getting pretty cold just sitting there, so I took a walk around the third and second decks of the school and then came back. Much better. I had to do that a couple times in Ops, I remember. :) The practical itself was just fine. Actually went through an MRC (maintenance requirement card), verifying it with the MIP (index page), tagging out the "PP" (power panel) and "removing and replacing" the battery on the CADRT. We were given 100's.
Today, I had to sprint to the gym from my car in order to make it on time; and I got there seconds before STG1 came to muster us. (ARRG! So angry at myself!) I was seriously tempted to just go home, since my backpack with my uniform was still in my car. But I did the right thing, came back and worked out. Bench-pressed, shoulder-pressed, pushed-up and called it a morning.
Back in class at the normal 0715, we had STG2 Root back. He forgot to bring our tests back, but after I suggested it, he printed out the cumulative score from the last two weeks combined. I passed up Wagner, climbing to 3rd place with a 97.0% behind Trimpe and Witte. Today we went through the slides for the XBT (expendable bathythermograph - measures temperature vs. depth) and the LAMPS (light airborne multipurpose sonobouy system - talking with the helos). We only have three weeks left to this course, and only three more short topics, the final, and last practical. I also read a bit between us figuring out what we were going to do for our class party.
Oh, and Hibbard (from my RTC division) got orders to Washington State today. That's made me think seriously again about how short my time left at this command is. Three of the four on the bottom of the class ranking have been given orders now. What a silly coincidence! They joke that they did it on purpose. :) So I checked my orders today in the Student Resource Center, just to make sure the new ones haven't posted yet... and they didn't.
And this afternoon I had my first interviewee for my new job. I am such a booter! I knocked on the door before coming in... just to make sure. The chief was very friendly... he came into the office in PT gear after I had arrived, having forgotten all about it. I listened to the others talk with a Senior Chief while he changed. There was a double-pinned, undesignated seaman there, talking about getting out. Nobody can find her an A-school! So Chief and I went to a room upstairs for the interview, and it was very interesting. I told him about myself first, then we got into how he got into the COOL program and what he's been doing. He's a Damage Control guy, wanting to get into FEMA or Homeland Security when he retires in five years. It was an interesting little conversation. If the half-page I write about it ever makes it online, I'll be sure to link it! :)
First on a timer at the overflow parking lot across the street. Second in the women's locker room in the gym. My pants are a little tighter than they used to be, and they shortened them too much in boot camp... needless to say, I need a new pair.
Tuesday was also our test day on the consoles and the CADRT. It was very tricky, because there were two versions of each that we needed to keep straight. Don't know the exact score yet, but he's told us that no one got below an 85% (which would mean mando).
Wednesday I set the alarm differently, so I thought I'd get up better. Nope. But I made it to PT with about five minutes to spare. It's easier to get up and go on PT days, simply because a t-shirt and shorts (and usually a sweatshirt) are much faster to get into than the t-shirt, socks, trousers, boots, blousing straps (for the bottoms of the trousers), blouse and cover of the working uniform. I did the first bit of the workout on the elliptical, then followed Witte and Hibbard over to the volleyball court for a great abdominal workout, just us three. Very glad I had my book... all we did all day was our practicals. And STG1 Fletcher assigned me the last of the five groups with Nordgren. I read over 50 pages in the 3+ hours I had to wait. At one point everyone's chatter was bothering me and I was getting pretty cold just sitting there, so I took a walk around the third and second decks of the school and then came back. Much better. I had to do that a couple times in Ops, I remember. :) The practical itself was just fine. Actually went through an MRC (maintenance requirement card), verifying it with the MIP (index page), tagging out the "PP" (power panel) and "removing and replacing" the battery on the CADRT. We were given 100's.
Today, I had to sprint to the gym from my car in order to make it on time; and I got there seconds before STG1 came to muster us. (ARRG! So angry at myself!) I was seriously tempted to just go home, since my backpack with my uniform was still in my car. But I did the right thing, came back and worked out. Bench-pressed, shoulder-pressed, pushed-up and called it a morning.
Back in class at the normal 0715, we had STG2 Root back. He forgot to bring our tests back, but after I suggested it, he printed out the cumulative score from the last two weeks combined. I passed up Wagner, climbing to 3rd place with a 97.0% behind Trimpe and Witte. Today we went through the slides for the XBT (expendable bathythermograph - measures temperature vs. depth) and the LAMPS (light airborne multipurpose sonobouy system - talking with the helos). We only have three weeks left to this course, and only three more short topics, the final, and last practical. I also read a bit between us figuring out what we were going to do for our class party.
Oh, and Hibbard (from my RTC division) got orders to Washington State today. That's made me think seriously again about how short my time left at this command is. Three of the four on the bottom of the class ranking have been given orders now. What a silly coincidence! They joke that they did it on purpose. :) So I checked my orders today in the Student Resource Center, just to make sure the new ones haven't posted yet... and they didn't.
And this afternoon I had my first interviewee for my new job. I am such a booter! I knocked on the door before coming in... just to make sure. The chief was very friendly... he came into the office in PT gear after I had arrived, having forgotten all about it. I listened to the others talk with a Senior Chief while he changed. There was a double-pinned, undesignated seaman there, talking about getting out. Nobody can find her an A-school! So Chief and I went to a room upstairs for the interview, and it was very interesting. I told him about myself first, then we got into how he got into the COOL program and what he's been doing. He's a Damage Control guy, wanting to get into FEMA or Homeland Security when he retires in five years. It was an interesting little conversation. If the half-page I write about it ever makes it online, I'll be sure to link it! :)
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
199th Post and a 99%
It was test day... 50 questions (short answer & multiple choice) jumping around from the T/R Switch to the Transmitters to the Beamformer, and back again. It was a little tricky to keep the switch and the transmitters separate, but I went slowly enough to keep it all straight. Only didn't read far enough for the one question, hence the 99%. Rather satisfactory, I'd say.
We had PT on our own today, so I combined methods. Biked for 15:00 (3.16 mi, >100 cal.), then went across to the volleyball court and did a couple circuits, including lunges, push-ups, scissor kicks, and 4 minutes wall-sitting. Ouch! :)
My two classmates who share my duty section both missed this morning's 0630 muster (right after PT). I thought for a second that I missed a memo... but no, they both screwed up. And Chief Decker was wonderful and said he'd let me go from the afternoon muster if I got Chief Andrews from the schoolhouse to okay it... and he did. My instructors took care of it while I took the test. I love my chain of command.
We had PT on our own today, so I combined methods. Biked for 15:00 (3.16 mi, >100 cal.), then went across to the volleyball court and did a couple circuits, including lunges, push-ups, scissor kicks, and 4 minutes wall-sitting. Ouch! :)
My two classmates who share my duty section both missed this morning's 0630 muster (right after PT). I thought for a second that I missed a memo... but no, they both screwed up. And Chief Decker was wonderful and said he'd let me go from the afternoon muster if I got Chief Andrews from the schoolhouse to okay it... and he did. My instructors took care of it while I took the test. I love my chain of command.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
To Start a Week
Monday's PT was solid... 30 minutes on the bike. There's a new, more comfortable machine that sits a person upright, just behind the half-dozen older models in the gym. This I dutifully stayed on for a full half-hour and sweated profusely, as I always find myself to do on those things. I think it said 6 miles on the digital readout. Pretty good. As for class, we had a couple more power-points along with a brief lab of the Transmitter cabinet.
Tragedy has struck us lately though: one classmate's mother-in-law passed away recently and she was out of class on Monday, returning from the funeral. On the very same day, another classmate was called out of class because her mom had just passed away. They're going to try to keep her in our class if they can. Only missing a couple days, I hear. Her absence was acutely felt today :(
Today, we did a short two lessons on the next segment, and took our practicals (before tomorrow's test, because of the abbreviated week), and I was able to pull off a 100% with Barrow (our conglomerated name being "Barters"... kind of a class tradition for calling out the names of the people in the lab/practical groups... recently I've been part of "H2Owin"... lol). Because I studied up beforehand, I was able to answer a voltage question correctly; even though STG2 thought it was wrong, I ended up being right.
FPCON Bravo was put into effect yesterday, and it continued into today as they ramp up for the Delta drill this Friday. We had to show our IDs as we entered the schoolhouse. And Quarters this morning was normal... and we had our scheduled inspection, this one easy at least, because we didn't have to change uniforms (it was in NWUs). Five of our guys got hit on haircuts, however.
Tragedy has struck us lately though: one classmate's mother-in-law passed away recently and she was out of class on Monday, returning from the funeral. On the very same day, another classmate was called out of class because her mom had just passed away. They're going to try to keep her in our class if they can. Only missing a couple days, I hear. Her absence was acutely felt today :(
Today, we did a short two lessons on the next segment, and took our practicals (before tomorrow's test, because of the abbreviated week), and I was able to pull off a 100% with Barrow (our conglomerated name being "Barters"... kind of a class tradition for calling out the names of the people in the lab/practical groups... recently I've been part of "H2Owin"... lol). Because I studied up beforehand, I was able to answer a voltage question correctly; even though STG2 thought it was wrong, I ended up being right.
FPCON Bravo was put into effect yesterday, and it continued into today as they ramp up for the Delta drill this Friday. We had to show our IDs as we entered the schoolhouse. And Quarters this morning was normal... and we had our scheduled inspection, this one easy at least, because we didn't have to change uniforms (it was in NWUs). Five of our guys got hit on haircuts, however.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Reviewing
It was a very good week for me, test wise. A pair of 100%'s does very nicely.
However, Monday and Tuesday were drags. I started off our free PT 0500 Monday the 12th with a 1.5 mile run on the elliptical in 14:00. Then I went to the basketball court for peace and quiet as I spent the next 15 minutes doing push-ups and scissor kicks. The rest of the workday slowly crept by as we went through a couple power-points. I nearly finished USS OLYMPIA: HERALD OF EMPIRE in class, but ended up finishing the last page after class the next day, as it was due that night. I loved reading about the proud old cruiser, and her famous captains, Dewey and Gridley. So interesting to learn about its missions before and after the Spanish American War, as well as the details from the famous battle. I had no idea she was the one who bore America's Unknown Soldier back from France in 1921... or little about the ceremony itself. Lots of neat pictures of the crew and ship too.
Tuesday was a bore because it was Duty Day. Listen to me complain! LOL! I was only put out that I had to endure the galley: the 0630 muster falls right when I would normally go home for a good breakfast of my own after PT. That and I had to return to base at 1500-ish for the 1530 muster, and only after that mercifully short session, could I return home, change clothes and relax. But I'm sure that at some later date I will pine for days as easy as this. The only thing we did in class was our practice labs...
...because Wednesday was our test day. I again took just over two hours to complete it. I racked my brain trying to find the answers on at least two or three... but I finally did. When most of us were let go at 1100 (two were still working on it) STG1 Gonzales told me he needed to talk to me out in the p-way. As Witte first needed to talk, I was left to worry and wonder whatever I did to deserve it... but only for a brief moment. We spoke just outside the door and he let me know that I was the only person so far to ever get a natural 100% on one of the difficult tech-doc tests. He wanted to let me know they'd have to look at the questions again (because their goal is to not let anyone get above a 98% outright), but also he wanted to congratulate me. So that was pretty neat!
And PT Wednesday morning was good, although I had very seriously not wanted to get out of bed. It was another set of circuits on the basketball court as a class... and the lunges and wall-sits made by butt hurt only a little, compared to the ordeal of 5 or 6 days of severe stiffness the last time it happened. Progress! :)
Thursday was alright. I did another solid set of PT, running 1.5 mi. on the treadmill in just about 14 min. again. I barely made it back to class at the arranged 0715... besides breakfast at home, I made my bed and washed & dried all my dishes. Class was rather slow... I got to do my practical first, and chose to do it with Baldwin (we had done the lab together) and we got a hundred (as everyone else did). Other than regular cleaning at the end of the day, and a couple power-points at the end, I started my fifth book for interim reading in class... The Sand Pebbles (a recommended Navy reading list book - and it's a page-turner!).
Along with that milestone, I witnessed my third open Captain's Mast for this month's GMT. The first guy was there for being UA (AWOL). He had been put on FEP (extra PT people in the morning) because he couldn't show up to work on time. So he missed FEP 4 times in a row... and went to Mast. "I forgot to set my alarm" was the plea. rolls eyes. The Captain was extremely lenient... only 7 days restriction and one month's 1/2 pay... and a one-page essay about how he should fix his problem... one every day for 45 days. LOL! And if he's late or misses an essay, he'll get the whole punishment, so he'll have to think about the consequences for once. The other guy cheated on his final exam in A school and will be re-rated... or administratively separated if they feel like it. While more interesting than a regular GMT (it's neat to see our CO in person), I'm getting tired of these dopes who don't think and don't care. There were little comedies: first guy tried to refuse the CO's order to remove his full sea bag (as an illustration of the weight of decisions) and the MA nearly pounced on him. The second guy looked like he was going to fall over; he was shaking as he executed a very sloppy about-face to leave. I was home by 1430.
Today was short and sweet. We finished two slideshows, and did the lab for this week's piece of equipment: the T/R switch. Because of its sturdy and simple design, it wasn't upgraded with the A(v)15 system, but remains as legacy equipment from the days of the 53C. So in other words, the lab was easy and straightforward. I was even able to troubleshoot for STG2 when he was showing us how to take a reading on test ports.
A fine week, indeed!
However, Monday and Tuesday were drags. I started off our free PT 0500 Monday the 12th with a 1.5 mile run on the elliptical in 14:00. Then I went to the basketball court for peace and quiet as I spent the next 15 minutes doing push-ups and scissor kicks. The rest of the workday slowly crept by as we went through a couple power-points. I nearly finished USS OLYMPIA: HERALD OF EMPIRE in class, but ended up finishing the last page after class the next day, as it was due that night. I loved reading about the proud old cruiser, and her famous captains, Dewey and Gridley. So interesting to learn about its missions before and after the Spanish American War, as well as the details from the famous battle. I had no idea she was the one who bore America's Unknown Soldier back from France in 1921... or little about the ceremony itself. Lots of neat pictures of the crew and ship too.
Tuesday was a bore because it was Duty Day. Listen to me complain! LOL! I was only put out that I had to endure the galley: the 0630 muster falls right when I would normally go home for a good breakfast of my own after PT. That and I had to return to base at 1500-ish for the 1530 muster, and only after that mercifully short session, could I return home, change clothes and relax. But I'm sure that at some later date I will pine for days as easy as this. The only thing we did in class was our practice labs...
...because Wednesday was our test day. I again took just over two hours to complete it. I racked my brain trying to find the answers on at least two or three... but I finally did. When most of us were let go at 1100 (two were still working on it) STG1 Gonzales told me he needed to talk to me out in the p-way. As Witte first needed to talk, I was left to worry and wonder whatever I did to deserve it... but only for a brief moment. We spoke just outside the door and he let me know that I was the only person so far to ever get a natural 100% on one of the difficult tech-doc tests. He wanted to let me know they'd have to look at the questions again (because their goal is to not let anyone get above a 98% outright), but also he wanted to congratulate me. So that was pretty neat!
And PT Wednesday morning was good, although I had very seriously not wanted to get out of bed. It was another set of circuits on the basketball court as a class... and the lunges and wall-sits made by butt hurt only a little, compared to the ordeal of 5 or 6 days of severe stiffness the last time it happened. Progress! :)
Thursday was alright. I did another solid set of PT, running 1.5 mi. on the treadmill in just about 14 min. again. I barely made it back to class at the arranged 0715... besides breakfast at home, I made my bed and washed & dried all my dishes. Class was rather slow... I got to do my practical first, and chose to do it with Baldwin (we had done the lab together) and we got a hundred (as everyone else did). Other than regular cleaning at the end of the day, and a couple power-points at the end, I started my fifth book for interim reading in class... The Sand Pebbles (a recommended Navy reading list book - and it's a page-turner!).
Along with that milestone, I witnessed my third open Captain's Mast for this month's GMT. The first guy was there for being UA (AWOL). He had been put on FEP (extra PT people in the morning) because he couldn't show up to work on time. So he missed FEP 4 times in a row... and went to Mast. "I forgot to set my alarm" was the plea. rolls eyes. The Captain was extremely lenient... only 7 days restriction and one month's 1/2 pay... and a one-page essay about how he should fix his problem... one every day for 45 days. LOL! And if he's late or misses an essay, he'll get the whole punishment, so he'll have to think about the consequences for once. The other guy cheated on his final exam in A school and will be re-rated... or administratively separated if they feel like it. While more interesting than a regular GMT (it's neat to see our CO in person), I'm getting tired of these dopes who don't think and don't care. There were little comedies: first guy tried to refuse the CO's order to remove his full sea bag (as an illustration of the weight of decisions) and the MA nearly pounced on him. The second guy looked like he was going to fall over; he was shaking as he executed a very sloppy about-face to leave. I was home by 1430.
Today was short and sweet. We finished two slideshows, and did the lab for this week's piece of equipment: the T/R switch. Because of its sturdy and simple design, it wasn't upgraded with the A(v)15 system, but remains as legacy equipment from the days of the 53C. So in other words, the lab was easy and straightforward. I was even able to troubleshoot for STG2 when he was showing us how to take a reading on test ports.
A fine week, indeed!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Testing, Testing... 1,2,3
Three tests this week!
I may have been more confident about the written test on Tuesday, but Wednesday morning I found out I only had a 93% (after a couple give-backs), which is one of my worst grades so far. Oh, well. That afternoon we took the accompanying practical exam, and I was in the last group with Barrow. He and I did beautifully, scoring a perfect 100%. So my overall grade should improve from last week's let-down of 95.99% (and fifth place) since practicals are weighted more (I think it's 60%/40%). And since we went last, we helped STG2 get the cabinet back to normal. He had undone the outputs from circuit breaker 4... and he had trouble getting the nuts back on... so I volunteered to do it, and it was easy, since I have comparatively small fingers. Was in an excellent mood by the time I got home. :)
Today, I had no class. It was my first STG2 Examination... and it was awful! 200 multiple-choice questions covering everything from acoustics to sexual harassment, and lasting 3 hours. There were even questions about how you got points from the test I was taking! I have no expectations of actually making second class... and I'd rather not yet (best to be in the fleet for a while)... but I don't think I need to worry. I feel that I for sure got roughly 20 out of the 200, but then again, it is graded on the curve. I do hope I passed, because that will count for points on the next test... PNA points (Pass, but Not Advance; due to availability of billets). We'll see.
I may have been more confident about the written test on Tuesday, but Wednesday morning I found out I only had a 93% (after a couple give-backs), which is one of my worst grades so far. Oh, well. That afternoon we took the accompanying practical exam, and I was in the last group with Barrow. He and I did beautifully, scoring a perfect 100%. So my overall grade should improve from last week's let-down of 95.99% (and fifth place) since practicals are weighted more (I think it's 60%/40%). And since we went last, we helped STG2 get the cabinet back to normal. He had undone the outputs from circuit breaker 4... and he had trouble getting the nuts back on... so I volunteered to do it, and it was easy, since I have comparatively small fingers. Was in an excellent mood by the time I got home. :)
Today, I had no class. It was my first STG2 Examination... and it was awful! 200 multiple-choice questions covering everything from acoustics to sexual harassment, and lasting 3 hours. There were even questions about how you got points from the test I was taking! I have no expectations of actually making second class... and I'd rather not yet (best to be in the fleet for a while)... but I don't think I need to worry. I feel that I for sure got roughly 20 out of the 200, but then again, it is graded on the curve. I do hope I passed, because that will count for points on the next test... PNA points (Pass, but Not Advance; due to availability of billets). We'll see.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Just Another Week in the Navy
Monday was duty day, so I made sure to check the watch-bill right after our free PT. During class we finished up power-points for the Data Processor, U845. I then had to return to base for the 1530 muster, and that all went off without a hitch.
Today, we took our 5th test... on the generic MCEs (mission critical enclosure) and the 845. It had other stuff thrown in from earlier weeks, but it was pretty straightforward. Don't know my score yet, but I know I did just fine. More confident than last week; I was able to find most things just fine. I'm just mentally tired after a 2.5 hour test.
Also of note today, we listened to a new lecture this morning for 25 minutes, so STG2 Root could complete a video for some teaching requirement. I volunteered to press REC once we figured out how to operate the little video-cam. And on that note, I confidently led over a hundred people at Quarters this morning in the Sailor's Creed. And during our class's NSU inspection, I was able to sound off without hesitation as well. He hit people on creased blouses and unmarked covers... but not me. I know, because I follow beside him while he inspects and mark down what he says.
I had lost a few pounds this weekend, and generally, I felt much better that way. There's definitely more to go, but at least there is progress.
Today, we took our 5th test... on the generic MCEs (mission critical enclosure) and the 845. It had other stuff thrown in from earlier weeks, but it was pretty straightforward. Don't know my score yet, but I know I did just fine. More confident than last week; I was able to find most things just fine. I'm just mentally tired after a 2.5 hour test.
Also of note today, we listened to a new lecture this morning for 25 minutes, so STG2 Root could complete a video for some teaching requirement. I volunteered to press REC once we figured out how to operate the little video-cam. And on that note, I confidently led over a hundred people at Quarters this morning in the Sailor's Creed. And during our class's NSU inspection, I was able to sound off without hesitation as well. He hit people on creased blouses and unmarked covers... but not me. I know, because I follow beside him while he inspects and mark down what he says.
I had lost a few pounds this weekend, and generally, I felt much better that way. There's definitely more to go, but at least there is progress.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
You May As Well Know
I am tired of being embarrassed in practical exams. Usually we are thrown into a situation and expected to know what to do off hand. I suppose I should have known on the first hand to go straight to the flow chart in the Tech Doc from the long lab we had with Senior, but my first thought was to look at the LED indicator stuff for 871 (since the one was out)... and I traced it through on the schematic (STG2 liked that I could do that, but it wasn't what we were supposed to do). I'm tired of being expected to do things that we've only done bits and pieces of before. Not to mention, that I didn't know how to interpret a critical thing in the flow chart, and a few things on the schematic (like how to test the power supply... how the in and outs worked).
And so Hibbard and I have to re-take the practical tomorrow (and if we do it perfectly, we'll get a 90)... meaning I will probably drop at least 3 places in class (labs are weighted higher than written tests). And that is what hurts my pride the most. Yes, now I understand how troubleshooting with the Tech Doc works... but I'm not the best (or even up there with them any more). So very sorry for not figuring it out by myself. Call me stupid.
So I shouldn't really complain, because we've learned and we're moving on just fine. I'm just embarrassed and very tired of being so; my intense pride has been trodden on... again.
The morning started out with an hour of non-guided "study"... where everyone else chit-chatted. Then we had breakfast (I love being able to come home and cook) and then had Quarters at 0730, as normal. Came back to the classroom, test started at 0800 and we were given some extra time past the 2-hour limit to finish the last couple questions. I was done a quarter after 1000... and then I went right into the lab.
And so Hibbard and I have to re-take the practical tomorrow (and if we do it perfectly, we'll get a 90)... meaning I will probably drop at least 3 places in class (labs are weighted higher than written tests). And that is what hurts my pride the most. Yes, now I understand how troubleshooting with the Tech Doc works... but I'm not the best (or even up there with them any more). So very sorry for not figuring it out by myself. Call me stupid.
So I shouldn't really complain, because we've learned and we're moving on just fine. I'm just embarrassed and very tired of being so; my intense pride has been trodden on... again.
The morning started out with an hour of non-guided "study"... where everyone else chit-chatted. Then we had breakfast (I love being able to come home and cook) and then had Quarters at 0730, as normal. Came back to the classroom, test started at 0800 and we were given some extra time past the 2-hour limit to finish the last couple questions. I was done a quarter after 1000... and then I went right into the lab.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
New Stuff!
Old news from last week's test: I'm now at 3rd with a 97.47%.
Yesterday and today, retired Senior Chief Jerry has been teaching us the PDUs (power distribution) and how to initialize them. Starting to follow the schematics now, learning what relay turns on what circuit, to what piece of equipment. Gave us a quiz this morning that's helping us learn how to use the Tech Doc for referencing specific information... and tomorrow, there's going to be one on tracing some schematics. Should be pretty difficult... I needed help a couple times today, just to wrap my head around it... but I did get it so far. I'm enjoying doing something more than just book-learning from dry power-points... for the first time, really. Sure we've had labs in the past for operating the system, but it's not the same. This is like a combination of methods... hands on book-learning. :)
Tuesday we had Dress Blues inspection after Quarters, which went just fine, and this morning was PT. We were promised a hard workout with the instructor, but he deferred until next week, as his PRT is tomorrow.
Yesterday and today, retired Senior Chief Jerry has been teaching us the PDUs (power distribution) and how to initialize them. Starting to follow the schematics now, learning what relay turns on what circuit, to what piece of equipment. Gave us a quiz this morning that's helping us learn how to use the Tech Doc for referencing specific information... and tomorrow, there's going to be one on tracing some schematics. Should be pretty difficult... I needed help a couple times today, just to wrap my head around it... but I did get it so far. I'm enjoying doing something more than just book-learning from dry power-points... for the first time, really. Sure we've had labs in the past for operating the system, but it's not the same. This is like a combination of methods... hands on book-learning. :)
Tuesday we had Dress Blues inspection after Quarters, which went just fine, and this morning was PT. We were promised a hard workout with the instructor, but he deferred until next week, as his PRT is tomorrow.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Notes About Class
We labored through a couple power-points today. I was very tired the entire time. Workout this morning was good... I went from push-ups to the elliptical to crunches to more push-ups to rowing to more elliptical and finally, lower back exercises. Need to get Baldwin to get there on time though. He was late again. So I'm going to muster him a quarter till every day.
Our grades from the last test were printed up... I'm at 5th place with a 96.8%. Witte is 1st at 98.8%. I'm not going to be jealous... :) I've had some mental blocks about using the references that I need to shed.
Our grades from the last test were printed up... I'm at 5th place with a 96.8%. Witte is 1st at 98.8%. I'm not going to be jealous... :) I've had some mental blocks about using the references that I need to shed.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Test #2
Well, yesterday was the written test. It was more difficult than the first, in that I didn't realize I needed to use the terminal for finding out the answers to command line functions. The whole business of getting into a screen that can manipulate hardware and software is sort of beyond me. It feels unreal... and foreign to my poor, non-technical sensibilities. But with a little help, and near to the end of the two hours allotted, and after the angry tears stopped... (felt rather helpless and hopeless... and that I had gotten into the wrong rate... and what was I doing there anyway?)... I did just fine with a 96% (94 originally, but there was one give-back).
Today we waited a good long time for things to get started (I suppose that was the same yesterday too), I read a bunch more in "In Harm's Way", and then STG1 Gonzales had to teach us a lesson for his teacher's certification, then one-by-one, four of us took our practicals... and we all got 96%'s so far. So it's a solid 96% total for me this round. I've practically given up worrying about my place in the ranking, and my score is alright so far. And we found out that Kosi's orders from yesterday are also to Hawai'i; his first choice. DDG 93. So some of us are hoping that'll stay true for us all. :)
Today we waited a good long time for things to get started (I suppose that was the same yesterday too), I read a bunch more in "In Harm's Way", and then STG1 Gonzales had to teach us a lesson for his teacher's certification, then one-by-one, four of us took our practicals... and we all got 96%'s so far. So it's a solid 96% total for me this round. I've practically given up worrying about my place in the ranking, and my score is alright so far. And we found out that Kosi's orders from yesterday are also to Hawai'i; his first choice. DDG 93. So some of us are hoping that'll stay true for us all. :)
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