Again, the one guy didn't come. So the working party got cancelled, and I decided to go help for an hour or so before the 1100 muster and payday weekend liberty brief.
We re-potted four trees, cleaned out old pots, spread new topsoil over other plants and then cleaned up. It was really easy.
I also got to tell my watchbill coordinator about my being gone for the August 14 duty day... and he seemed to already know. He also arranged with me to give me the first watch this Thursday in bldg 52, since that one starts at 0600 (and most people forget).
During the liberty brief, Chief Cruz gave us a stirring "we are a world-class Navy" speech that I like (it's nice to see someone so motivated about the good things here), DC1 told us about two kids that just graduated, and just got caught underage drinking (they'll lose their rating when they go to mast this week). And then STG2 Otto told us to always check the working party list. And we were let go. :)
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Podium, Anyone?
So the second day on Mr. Somebody's working party from the Sub Base... and he didn't come. I checked into the Hold's office and told them Hooten and I were going to the BPO. We saw Mr. Relly going into the lobby when we arrived, so we followed. Strangely, he asked us if we knew where a podium was. The Captain of Naval Base Point Loma was doing an award presentation within an hour or so... and he needed one. We scouted out Martin Hall together, then he sent me to talk to the guy in Bldg 11. I met somebody from the office on the staff smoke-deck, and he said it'd be impossible with that short notice. Great! But I introduced him to Mr. Relly, and they decided the best thing would be to get the one from Holds. Hooten and I procured it after asking around for permission, and got it over to the courtyard at the Navy Gateway Inn in plenty of time.
That's the thing about the Navy... it's so randomly unpredictable!
That's the thing about the Navy... it's so randomly unpredictable!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Day At Rest
It was like a weekend in the middle of the week.
The duty driver from the Antietam was here before muster this morning, but inexplicably, they cancelled the working party. I am a little sad... :) My new working party is also off base, but the one guy who had been on it before said that they haven't come to pick them up in the last three weeks. Gosh.
Today was the base-wide blood drive, so I did that instead. A pint was drawn just before 0900 with ease. I went back to my room afterwords to rest, and ended up finishing the book I started on watch (Monday)... "Life in Mr. Lincoln's Navy". It's all about the enlisted experience during the Civil War... enlisting, daily life (and improvements to it), food, entertainment, weapons, medicine, machinery... I didn't know the Union had 62 ironclads by the end of the war... and what life was like on them. It was very interesting to read, and went by rather quickly.
After three weeks working on the ship, this is exactly what I needed. I also got an hour's nap in after lunch... and watched a couple movies. Here's the shirt I got for donating:
The duty driver from the Antietam was here before muster this morning, but inexplicably, they cancelled the working party. I am a little sad... :) My new working party is also off base, but the one guy who had been on it before said that they haven't come to pick them up in the last three weeks. Gosh.
Today was the base-wide blood drive, so I did that instead. A pint was drawn just before 0900 with ease. I went back to my room afterwords to rest, and ended up finishing the book I started on watch (Monday)... "Life in Mr. Lincoln's Navy". It's all about the enlisted experience during the Civil War... enlisting, daily life (and improvements to it), food, entertainment, weapons, medicine, machinery... I didn't know the Union had 62 ironclads by the end of the war... and what life was like on them. It was very interesting to read, and went by rather quickly.
After three weeks working on the ship, this is exactly what I needed. I also got an hour's nap in after lunch... and watched a couple movies. Here's the shirt I got for donating:
It's a little hard to read at first glance: "I BLEED RED, WHITE & BLUE. Support our troops by giving blood. ASBP (Armed Services Blood Program)
It was an honor to give for the troops. I took the arm wrap and gauze off after 5 hours, but it still needed a band-aid.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Back to the Ship
or Antietam Again...
The driver picked us up around 0820, and I had just gone to pick up a burrito at the lunch-mobile for breakfast. You see, I woke up at 0709, thought I had already missed muster, tore around the room getting ready, and then remembered that it was 0730 I needed to be there. Whew! I had forgotten to set my alarm for some reason. Or either I turned it off... but I don't remember. I do remember I was very tired though. Lots of intermittent dreams between waking up.
It was a bit confusing on the ship too. I couldn't find the people I usually worked with, so I walked over the ship in search of them. I stopped and talked with a DCSN who was painting a bracket, and I soon took over from him. Domo is also a DC'men, and he and I worked on finishing the forward AFFF locker the rest of the morning. We even painted the non-skid... making it look so much better. After lunch I finished it up, then tried to find people again. Painted another bracket, then ended up painting where we started (3 weeks ago) on the fantail, until it was time to leave. Unfortunately, it took forever to get a duty van and driver, and GM2 Lopez took us back after he returned from dropping other people off.
Got paint all over my hands... and I took a while scrubbing it off. Will wear gloves tomorrow... if I go. I might give blood instead at the blood drive if they let me.
The driver picked us up around 0820, and I had just gone to pick up a burrito at the lunch-mobile for breakfast. You see, I woke up at 0709, thought I had already missed muster, tore around the room getting ready, and then remembered that it was 0730 I needed to be there. Whew! I had forgotten to set my alarm for some reason. Or either I turned it off... but I don't remember. I do remember I was very tired though. Lots of intermittent dreams between waking up.
It was a bit confusing on the ship too. I couldn't find the people I usually worked with, so I walked over the ship in search of them. I stopped and talked with a DCSN who was painting a bracket, and I soon took over from him. Domo is also a DC'men, and he and I worked on finishing the forward AFFF locker the rest of the morning. We even painted the non-skid... making it look so much better. After lunch I finished it up, then tried to find people again. Painted another bracket, then ended up painting where we started (3 weeks ago) on the fantail, until it was time to leave. Unfortunately, it took forever to get a duty van and driver, and GM2 Lopez took us back after he returned from dropping other people off.
Got paint all over my hands... and I took a while scrubbing it off. Will wear gloves tomorrow... if I go. I might give blood instead at the blood drive if they let me.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Watch on the Barrack's Access
(100th post!)
I had the first watch this morning, the 07-12 (0630-1130). I took over at 0615, and was rewarded by a good shipmate, getting relieved at 1115. I was glad to be able to get my paragraph of writing done before 0630 rolled around... "0615... ASSUMED THE WATCH AND CONTROL OF ONE (1) DECK LOG AND ONE (1) DISCREPANCY LOG. PODIUM AND SURROUNDING AREA ARE FREE OF TRASH AND GRAFFITI. FLEASWTRACEN IS IN FPCON ALPHA. ALL CONDITIONS NORMAL. 0630... ALL CONDITIONS NORMAL." The last three words are repeated every half hour. It's a fine way to tick away the time.
And so is reading! In Great Lakes we were told it was alright to read military-related material while on a watch. It's not allowed in the fleet, I hear, but I suppose I'm enjoying it while I have it. I recently got an E-1 to E-4 suggested reading list book called LIFE IN MR. LINCOLN'S NAVY, and I devoured the first 70 pages (of 150) in my five hours of extremely interrupted time.
The point of the watch is to check ID's and make sure only individuals who should enter the barracks, do. So every other paragraph (at the slow times) I'd have to stop, come to attention and return the salute from people entering or leaving. And after I unfurled the Ensign at 0800 colors, I'd return the salutes from people properly saluting the Ensign as well (many don't). :(
The other half of the day was odd. I ate a very yummy burger for lunch at the galley, and while finishing at 1150, I happened to hear that Hold's were supposed to muster at noon (for the training I kept hearing about all morning, that nobody knew details about). So I went, still in my Service Uniform (watches are in khaki and black). Apparently, it was a GMT (general military training) at the 32nd St. base downtown. I caught a ride on a duty van a bit after 1230. And I was very surprised to learn that this month's installment of "Don't Drink and Drive" was given by a stand up comedian from TV (I can't remember his name). I'm sure we all had more fun than we would have with a powerpoint, and he even made me laugh as he got into it. I was worried though, when all he started with was jabs at celebrities that I didn't care about. But I have to hand it to him. He did a great job with a forced crowd. :)
After some waiting around for the duty van for the return trip, I made it back just as the 1530 duty section 6 muster was going down. Checked in with Chief Jackson afterwords and all was well. Helped pick up trash with some people for a few minutes and then it was time to post. I was so tired! I took an hour-and-a-half nap in my sack before making it to dinner just in time before it closed up at 1800. I had lots of veggies and a leftover hot dog from lunch as we watched the President's impassioned speech about the deadlock over the budget on CNN. Thankfully I was done before he was done and before anybody else could say anything about it. :)
p.s. Ha! Google doesn't recognize the 12 letter acronym for Fleet Anti-Sub Warfare Training Center as an acronym. Or the one for Force Protection Condition, for that matter. But who would? :)
I had the first watch this morning, the 07-12 (0630-1130). I took over at 0615, and was rewarded by a good shipmate, getting relieved at 1115. I was glad to be able to get my paragraph of writing done before 0630 rolled around... "0615... ASSUMED THE WATCH AND CONTROL OF ONE (1) DECK LOG AND ONE (1) DISCREPANCY LOG. PODIUM AND SURROUNDING AREA ARE FREE OF TRASH AND GRAFFITI. FLEASWTRACEN IS IN FPCON ALPHA. ALL CONDITIONS NORMAL. 0630... ALL CONDITIONS NORMAL." The last three words are repeated every half hour. It's a fine way to tick away the time.
And so is reading! In Great Lakes we were told it was alright to read military-related material while on a watch. It's not allowed in the fleet, I hear, but I suppose I'm enjoying it while I have it. I recently got an E-1 to E-4 suggested reading list book called LIFE IN MR. LINCOLN'S NAVY, and I devoured the first 70 pages (of 150) in my five hours of extremely interrupted time.
The point of the watch is to check ID's and make sure only individuals who should enter the barracks, do. So every other paragraph (at the slow times) I'd have to stop, come to attention and return the salute from people entering or leaving. And after I unfurled the Ensign at 0800 colors, I'd return the salutes from people properly saluting the Ensign as well (many don't). :(
The other half of the day was odd. I ate a very yummy burger for lunch at the galley, and while finishing at 1150, I happened to hear that Hold's were supposed to muster at noon (for the training I kept hearing about all morning, that nobody knew details about). So I went, still in my Service Uniform (watches are in khaki and black). Apparently, it was a GMT (general military training) at the 32nd St. base downtown. I caught a ride on a duty van a bit after 1230. And I was very surprised to learn that this month's installment of "Don't Drink and Drive" was given by a stand up comedian from TV (I can't remember his name). I'm sure we all had more fun than we would have with a powerpoint, and he even made me laugh as he got into it. I was worried though, when all he started with was jabs at celebrities that I didn't care about. But I have to hand it to him. He did a great job with a forced crowd. :)
After some waiting around for the duty van for the return trip, I made it back just as the 1530 duty section 6 muster was going down. Checked in with Chief Jackson afterwords and all was well. Helped pick up trash with some people for a few minutes and then it was time to post. I was so tired! I took an hour-and-a-half nap in my sack before making it to dinner just in time before it closed up at 1800. I had lots of veggies and a leftover hot dog from lunch as we watched the President's impassioned speech about the deadlock over the budget on CNN. Thankfully I was done before he was done and before anybody else could say anything about it. :)
p.s. Ha! Google doesn't recognize the 12 letter acronym for Fleet Anti-Sub Warfare Training Center as an acronym. Or the one for Force Protection Condition, for that matter. But who would? :)
Friday, July 22, 2011
Last Day So Far
I think this was the last official day with the Antietam, but I hope not.
Chaney and I got there really early; the duty driver came right after muster. I was on the ship and changed into my coveralls when their 0830 muster went down on the fantail. I showed up to it, but Sigala was already forward in the fan room at work. I joined him, and we cleaned up the final touches before we had a early and quick lunch. Went back to work at 1130, and painted the whole deck in the space for an hour. I spent that whole time in the back corner... and finished up painting so that I was standing on one foot, painting around it. Had to sit on the pipes to get it finished. I touched up a bit of the guy's work as I left, and finished the last patch as I stepped out. Gave Sigala a goodbye hug and then found Chaney and we got back to base by about 1400.
Our Ensign said today that I would end up a supervisor in a year. And another of the guys wanted to contradict him and said I'd go to mast for an ARI (alcohol related incident) before he knew I didn't drink. Just another enlisted naysayer.
This is what my face looked like much of the week, but not today for a change. And the coveralls don't really show the extent of the dirt in the photo.
Chaney and I got there really early; the duty driver came right after muster. I was on the ship and changed into my coveralls when their 0830 muster went down on the fantail. I showed up to it, but Sigala was already forward in the fan room at work. I joined him, and we cleaned up the final touches before we had a early and quick lunch. Went back to work at 1130, and painted the whole deck in the space for an hour. I spent that whole time in the back corner... and finished up painting so that I was standing on one foot, painting around it. Had to sit on the pipes to get it finished. I touched up a bit of the guy's work as I left, and finished the last patch as I stepped out. Gave Sigala a goodbye hug and then found Chaney and we got back to base by about 1400.
Our Ensign said today that I would end up a supervisor in a year. And another of the guys wanted to contradict him and said I'd go to mast for an ARI (alcohol related incident) before he knew I didn't drink. Just another enlisted naysayer.
This is what my face looked like much of the week, but not today for a change. And the coveralls don't really show the extent of the dirt in the photo.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Second Week, Antietam
I was all ready to keep working where I left off when we arrived Monday morning. But instead, Seaman Sigala and the CCAT civilian (Corrosion Control... something, something) led me through the ship to the forward part, nearly under the bow. It was a fan room... storing the ship's air conditioning system. They said the entire floor needed the paint & rust chipped up, but as we started messing with a disconnected pipe, water dripped all over the floor and we put off starting until the pipe was taken care of. But just down the p-way was the AFFF storage room that needed a second coat of paint; so I did that until lunch. And after lunch, I went to the fantail and found work cleaning up chipped paint in one of the weapons storage spaces I worked in on Friday. But soon it was apparent it needed more needle-gunning, and I did that, finishing it this time.
Tuesday, Sigala told me to meet up in the fan room. We were all set with a pair of needle-guns, so we went to it. The CCAT guy suggested the "deck-crawler", which is a machine that takes paint off of large areas with rotating teeth; it's about 8 inches wide and 12 long. I worked along the bulkhead by the passageway and in places you'd see right away. Wednesday was more of the same, except in harder to reach places. Utilized a "knuckle-puncher" for getting under the conditioner itself (a tool with a long handle and 3 spikes that vibrated up & down). The Ensign in charge of our group came by when I was cleaning up and thanked me for coming every day and putting out. He called it "above and beyond", which was really nice.
Today we thought we'd be done right away, in fact, that we'd be painting. But the CCAT guy said it needed more chipping. Lots more chipping. And he was right. In the small space behind the conditioner, there was lots of rust along the bulkheads. Since we were an hour late getting picked up, I walked in on Sigala to receive this news. He was glad he didn't have to do it alone! :) Unfortunately, the civilian guy's company owns all the tools we've been using. And tomorrow he's working with a different ship. Whatever we were going to get done, we needed it done by 1330. Did a bunch more work... first working together, me holding the flashlight for Sigala. Then I took over and did some hard to reach stuff as the place was rather cramped. I only took 25 minutes for lunch, and kept at it. I looked like a badger again when I looked in the mirror back on base. Rust stains all around my eyes and cheeks with bare patches from my eyeglasses and mask. Tomorrow there are no more tools, so I assume we will, in fact, paint. Whew! I am tired of getting rusty. Every night I must scrub my face and wrists... the only exposed parts. And I wash my coveralls... they get so filthy.
Tuesday, Sigala told me to meet up in the fan room. We were all set with a pair of needle-guns, so we went to it. The CCAT guy suggested the "deck-crawler", which is a machine that takes paint off of large areas with rotating teeth; it's about 8 inches wide and 12 long. I worked along the bulkhead by the passageway and in places you'd see right away. Wednesday was more of the same, except in harder to reach places. Utilized a "knuckle-puncher" for getting under the conditioner itself (a tool with a long handle and 3 spikes that vibrated up & down). The Ensign in charge of our group came by when I was cleaning up and thanked me for coming every day and putting out. He called it "above and beyond", which was really nice.
Today we thought we'd be done right away, in fact, that we'd be painting. But the CCAT guy said it needed more chipping. Lots more chipping. And he was right. In the small space behind the conditioner, there was lots of rust along the bulkheads. Since we were an hour late getting picked up, I walked in on Sigala to receive this news. He was glad he didn't have to do it alone! :) Unfortunately, the civilian guy's company owns all the tools we've been using. And tomorrow he's working with a different ship. Whatever we were going to get done, we needed it done by 1330. Did a bunch more work... first working together, me holding the flashlight for Sigala. Then I took over and did some hard to reach stuff as the place was rather cramped. I only took 25 minutes for lunch, and kept at it. I looked like a badger again when I looked in the mirror back on base. Rust stains all around my eyes and cheeks with bare patches from my eyeglasses and mask. Tomorrow there are no more tools, so I assume we will, in fact, paint. Whew! I am tired of getting rusty. Every night I must scrub my face and wrists... the only exposed parts. And I wash my coveralls... they get so filthy.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Week-Long Chipping & Painting
Finally it's the weekend! I've gone to the USS Antietam every day (the only on the working party to go every day... making me in danger of having the bad kind of pride that thinks I'm better than the others), when some of the people have excuses every day, and often times, don't come. It was Wednesday when I turned out to be the only one from the working party... but Seaman Sigala and I got a lot done anyway, chipping one area, painting another. Thursday he was busy with watch, so I finished up the grey paint (the second coat) for most of the time. I drove my POV that day and gave everyone a ride back. Today he was around, but it was STG3 Dollhyrniak who assigned us work (he's usually the guy that picks us up and drops us off). I had a storage space on the fantail... and didn't quite finish by the end of the day. It didn't help that it was a late start due to the duty van, and there are a bunch of hard-to-reach spots.
I've found I love working on the ship. I know how to do tasks myself, and it's hard, rewarding work. You can see exactly how much you do! I like the galley on the ship (anything new and different in the Navy is wonderful!), and since we're assigned from a training command, everyone is nice, thanking us for our work and making sure we're taken care of. Today a first class even said he'd check into getting us real protective masks for chipping the rust. We'll see. :)
I've found I love working on the ship. I know how to do tasks myself, and it's hard, rewarding work. You can see exactly how much you do! I like the galley on the ship (anything new and different in the Navy is wonderful!), and since we're assigned from a training command, everyone is nice, thanking us for our work and making sure we're taken care of. Today a first class even said he'd check into getting us real protective masks for chipping the rust. We'll see. :)
Monday, July 11, 2011
Back At It
It was cloudy this morning for a change, though; so it was easier to work top-side. It's amazing how fast the day goes, and how utterly worn out I am by the end of it.
Did more of the same stuff as on Friday... just more. And this time I got to use the sander tool, which spins a very rough sandpaper disc very fast. I was very glad of my painter's mask and personal eye protection I got this weekend.
Falvey and Hooten worked below, and Patterson was with me today. We did a good job together. But when it was time to leave, the duty van was gone inexplicably. Apparently, the quarterdeck didn't pass on the memo to the next watch, and it wasn't reserved like our driver thought. And then we tried his car, but the battery had died. So we waited around til Baldwin (after Hooten's phone call) was able to bail us all out, jump-starting the car and taking some of us back.
Didn't get back until 1700! Even later than Friday!
I do like the galley on the ship. Today it was breaded & baked fish with veggies; tonight at the one on base, I decided to forgo meat... brussel sprouts, mixed veggies & potatoes and a roll. And today was a good day... for both breakfast on base, and lunch on the ship I had a pair of kiwi's! Yum!
Did more of the same stuff as on Friday... just more. And this time I got to use the sander tool, which spins a very rough sandpaper disc very fast. I was very glad of my painter's mask and personal eye protection I got this weekend.
Falvey and Hooten worked below, and Patterson was with me today. We did a good job together. But when it was time to leave, the duty van was gone inexplicably. Apparently, the quarterdeck didn't pass on the memo to the next watch, and it wasn't reserved like our driver thought. And then we tried his car, but the battery had died. So we waited around til Baldwin (after Hooten's phone call) was able to bail us all out, jump-starting the car and taking some of us back.
Didn't get back until 1700! Even later than Friday!
I do like the galley on the ship. Today it was breaded & baked fish with veggies; tonight at the one on base, I decided to forgo meat... brussel sprouts, mixed veggies & potatoes and a roll. And today was a good day... for both breakfast on base, and lunch on the ship I had a pair of kiwi's! Yum!
Friday, July 8, 2011
USS Antietam, Day Two
They came for us! All four of us! ...
Lots of people on the list had one excuse or another, so it was only Falvey and I and two guys. And we got put all different places. So I worked on the same bit of weather deck that I did on Wendnesday, with the same guys from the Deck department (boatswain's mates, or undesignated seaman). Seaman Sigala was in charge, and he showed me how to use a needle gun. It may sound terribly exciting, but all it looks like is a power tool with around eight rods sticking out the end that vibrate up & down extremely fast, making it useful for chipping paint. :)
And chip I did, for many hours. But they seemed to fly by. For this first experience, I enjoyed it. It helped I was working with guys that appreciated me... Sigala kept giving me "thumbs up" to check if I was alright because it was so loud. Ear-plugs & safety glasses... and next time I'm gonna want breathing protection. My nose was covered by the end of it all. :) He also said I was really good at it, and hopes I'm coming back on Monday. :)
At lunchtime, I didn't have anywhere to hang out, except at the galley. A CS1 asked me if I was hungry (it didn't open for another 15-20 minutes), and I confirmed. He told me to follow him, and then to help myself to lunch before it opened! Of course, all the people "cranking" (helping out serving the food or cleaning) were finishing up their lunch while I sat down. Somebody in the p-way (passageway) asked if I was cranking... to his bewilderment... since I was not a regular part of the crew. I explained that CS1 was only being nice. I simply hung out there from 1100-1220, as at 1230 we were to start back to work.
In the last hour of work we painted over the areas the guys had honed to bare metal with a red primer coat. It'll get the finished Navy-grey tomorrow, probably. Got back to base at 1630... rather late working day for a Friday, when Holds usually posts at 1030. Gosh! I'm wiped out. Had dinner after I got another room key at the hotel, then cleaned up! Never enjoyed a shower more... and I'm finishing my laundry right now. It's the dirtiest my coveralls have ever gotten. :)
Lots of people on the list had one excuse or another, so it was only Falvey and I and two guys. And we got put all different places. So I worked on the same bit of weather deck that I did on Wendnesday, with the same guys from the Deck department (boatswain's mates, or undesignated seaman). Seaman Sigala was in charge, and he showed me how to use a needle gun. It may sound terribly exciting, but all it looks like is a power tool with around eight rods sticking out the end that vibrate up & down extremely fast, making it useful for chipping paint. :)
And chip I did, for many hours. But they seemed to fly by. For this first experience, I enjoyed it. It helped I was working with guys that appreciated me... Sigala kept giving me "thumbs up" to check if I was alright because it was so loud. Ear-plugs & safety glasses... and next time I'm gonna want breathing protection. My nose was covered by the end of it all. :) He also said I was really good at it, and hopes I'm coming back on Monday. :)
At lunchtime, I didn't have anywhere to hang out, except at the galley. A CS1 asked me if I was hungry (it didn't open for another 15-20 minutes), and I confirmed. He told me to follow him, and then to help myself to lunch before it opened! Of course, all the people "cranking" (helping out serving the food or cleaning) were finishing up their lunch while I sat down. Somebody in the p-way (passageway) asked if I was cranking... to his bewilderment... since I was not a regular part of the crew. I explained that CS1 was only being nice. I simply hung out there from 1100-1220, as at 1230 we were to start back to work.
In the last hour of work we painted over the areas the guys had honed to bare metal with a red primer coat. It'll get the finished Navy-grey tomorrow, probably. Got back to base at 1630... rather late working day for a Friday, when Holds usually posts at 1030. Gosh! I'm wiped out. Had dinner after I got another room key at the hotel, then cleaned up! Never enjoyed a shower more... and I'm finishing my laundry right now. It's the dirtiest my coveralls have ever gotten. :)
Thursday, July 7, 2011
A Walk Around the Barracks
Here's a few pictures I snapped around the barracks, so even though I can't bring visitors in, you can still take a tour:
Above these two is the courtyard between the north and south wings of the building... from my wing. Lib Hall is to the right and the access door in the tall building. The two hallway pics are looking to the left, and then right from my door.
The head, two doors down to the left from my room.
My storage space. In the cabinet drawers, I keep shoes in the first... sweats/pajamas in the second... and NWU's & Coveralls in the bottom.
So here is solid evidence that it's not really worth going in to look at. :)
Never Mind... Part Two
So far it's been a comedy of errors... again. :)
Eight of us were ready to go right after muster this morning. Muster was a little different because the fire alarm to the A school building sounded off just before we were supposed to. IC1 walked through the ranks checking off names because everything was too loud and over-crowded. But by 0800 (and after colors) we were sitting outside the Holds office, ready to go with our coveralls in hand.
We waited until 0930 before they told us to come back at the 1230 muster and to "not get in trouble" until then. They can be pretty serious though. Today I saw somebody I know get in a duty van in dress whites with seabag, along with Chief Cruz. DRB for not coming to any muster one day. Yikes. Makes me want to be on point.
So I went back to the BPO for the next hour... met up with Pinasco in Bldg. 82 and was glad to do my old job of inventories with her. Seriously doubt they're going to get us for a mere hour's work, so I think the rest of the day will be pretty normal. Excluding of course, the fact that admin lost my itinerary page for my September leave request. Printing that right now and will drop it off before I go to chow. What a day. At least they told me on a day when I was able to fix it. :)
PS... (at 1730)... There was no more duty. We're assured they'll pick us up tomorrow. As a side note for today, they've been painting the Red Deck. Pretty soon it will be all red again, and not just bare boards with traces of red; the way it has been since I've been here.
Eight of us were ready to go right after muster this morning. Muster was a little different because the fire alarm to the A school building sounded off just before we were supposed to. IC1 walked through the ranks checking off names because everything was too loud and over-crowded. But by 0800 (and after colors) we were sitting outside the Holds office, ready to go with our coveralls in hand.
We waited until 0930 before they told us to come back at the 1230 muster and to "not get in trouble" until then. They can be pretty serious though. Today I saw somebody I know get in a duty van in dress whites with seabag, along with Chief Cruz. DRB for not coming to any muster one day. Yikes. Makes me want to be on point.
So I went back to the BPO for the next hour... met up with Pinasco in Bldg. 82 and was glad to do my old job of inventories with her. Seriously doubt they're going to get us for a mere hour's work, so I think the rest of the day will be pretty normal. Excluding of course, the fact that admin lost my itinerary page for my September leave request. Printing that right now and will drop it off before I go to chow. What a day. At least they told me on a day when I was able to fix it. :)
PS... (at 1730)... There was no more duty. We're assured they'll pick us up tomorrow. As a side note for today, they've been painting the Red Deck. Pretty soon it will be all red again, and not just bare boards with traces of red; the way it has been since I've been here.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Never Mind What You Were Told Yesterday
And it was just yesterday afternoon that I commented to STG1 Harvell (when I met him in the NMT office while getting a leave chit signed) that my duty on Holds is something that I can anticipate from day to day. Heh!
Although IC1 assured us females, that were pulled out of regular working parties for TAD (temp. assigned duty) to the USS Antietam, that we wouldn't have to go because it was an all-male ship... well, never mind.
They told us at muster today that the watchbill had changed... so after I got a late breakfast at the Taco Mobile (was very tired from staying up til 1am for my 2-hour, barracks rover watch last night), I checked it, thinking I'd be at the BPO as always. But there I was assigned to the Antietam. There were two groups going, and it took everyone a while to figure out which was TAD and which (it was mine) was only a working party that would be picked up and dropped off here on base every day. Only 8 of the 13 of the working party ended up going, and we didn't get to the ship until about 0930.
I don't mind the assignment at all. It helps that I have nothing planned in July, as for people visiting... but it's good to be doing the Navy some good. The ship's Captain, XO and CMC spoke to us in the galley before everything got going. They're in the middle of preparing for the ship's scheduled In-Service (mandated by Congress for every US ship every 5 years or so). It's such a big deal... apparently the inspection is conducted for a solid week by Captains and Admirals, ready to be critical. The ship prepares for it for months, and if it doesn't pass, the Captain can be relieved and the ship decommissioned. Gosh! And they need this ship to replace an older ship out serving right now! The Great Inspection occurs in a bit over a month, I think.
So they weren't exactly ready for us to do our assigned jobs before lunch. So we were shown over the ship, and especially in the SONAR spaces... by Sonar Techs! The Ensign a few of us were assigned to (for chipping rust & painting the weather decks) was very cool. He did a little of the tour himself. He knows what to do for the job, and he listens to his Seamen.
We had lunch in the galley... hamburgers (and I think it was coconut pie that I had as well). The Women's World Cup was on TV, and we had a bit of time to kill before the 1230 muster back on the fantail. Everyone on the ship was nice to us... very helpful about showing us where to go. There was one female head for officers that we could use. Had to wander around in Officer Country to use it though. And we had two officer's berths for changing from NWU's to coveralls. Thankfully that was near the galley. It's very difficult to keep your bearings right away as to where you are on board; cruisers are pretty big.
We did end up working pretty hard today. Our first job was to wipe up the sea salt that had crystallized on the smooth edges of a weather deck. This took quite a while... and then we broke out some sand paper and started heaving to against the rust spots on the same smooth areas. Tomorrow we're going to break out the sanders... because the Captain didn't like us doing it by hand (I think I agree). He came upon us once in his coveralls while we were sanding and asked us how we were doing, where were we from, etc. Very nice guy! :)
And we didn't have to wait long for the duty van to take us back, either. The van was out when we were supposed to be done, but the driver that took us stayed with us until it got there. That was a big difference between this and the Benfold. Due to the sunburn from that last ship duty, I brought along sunscreen this time, and it helped a lot! Got back to base around 1630, and almost fell asleep in the van by the time we did.
Although IC1 assured us females, that were pulled out of regular working parties for TAD (temp. assigned duty) to the USS Antietam, that we wouldn't have to go because it was an all-male ship... well, never mind.
They told us at muster today that the watchbill had changed... so after I got a late breakfast at the Taco Mobile (was very tired from staying up til 1am for my 2-hour, barracks rover watch last night), I checked it, thinking I'd be at the BPO as always. But there I was assigned to the Antietam. There were two groups going, and it took everyone a while to figure out which was TAD and which (it was mine) was only a working party that would be picked up and dropped off here on base every day. Only 8 of the 13 of the working party ended up going, and we didn't get to the ship until about 0930.
I don't mind the assignment at all. It helps that I have nothing planned in July, as for people visiting... but it's good to be doing the Navy some good. The ship's Captain, XO and CMC spoke to us in the galley before everything got going. They're in the middle of preparing for the ship's scheduled In-Service (mandated by Congress for every US ship every 5 years or so). It's such a big deal... apparently the inspection is conducted for a solid week by Captains and Admirals, ready to be critical. The ship prepares for it for months, and if it doesn't pass, the Captain can be relieved and the ship decommissioned. Gosh! And they need this ship to replace an older ship out serving right now! The Great Inspection occurs in a bit over a month, I think.
So they weren't exactly ready for us to do our assigned jobs before lunch. So we were shown over the ship, and especially in the SONAR spaces... by Sonar Techs! The Ensign a few of us were assigned to (for chipping rust & painting the weather decks) was very cool. He did a little of the tour himself. He knows what to do for the job, and he listens to his Seamen.
We had lunch in the galley... hamburgers (and I think it was coconut pie that I had as well). The Women's World Cup was on TV, and we had a bit of time to kill before the 1230 muster back on the fantail. Everyone on the ship was nice to us... very helpful about showing us where to go. There was one female head for officers that we could use. Had to wander around in Officer Country to use it though. And we had two officer's berths for changing from NWU's to coveralls. Thankfully that was near the galley. It's very difficult to keep your bearings right away as to where you are on board; cruisers are pretty big.
We did end up working pretty hard today. Our first job was to wipe up the sea salt that had crystallized on the smooth edges of a weather deck. This took quite a while... and then we broke out some sand paper and started heaving to against the rust spots on the same smooth areas. Tomorrow we're going to break out the sanders... because the Captain didn't like us doing it by hand (I think I agree). He came upon us once in his coveralls while we were sanding and asked us how we were doing, where were we from, etc. Very nice guy! :)
And we didn't have to wait long for the duty van to take us back, either. The van was out when we were supposed to be done, but the driver that took us stayed with us until it got there. That was a big difference between this and the Benfold. Due to the sunburn from that last ship duty, I brought along sunscreen this time, and it helped a lot! Got back to base around 1630, and almost fell asleep in the van by the time we did.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Duty Day
It was an early morning after the Fourth of July... 0630 muster outside the Red Deck. My duty day is pretty simple though. Besides that all that was on my plate was a two-hour barracks rover watch in Bldg. 51. A couple guys were commenting how stupid it is, since instead of having to wander all four floors, one could just post behind the building and keep a watch on all 8 doors that were not supposed to be used, except in emergencies. And that was the reason for the extra watch. People were using them. I think they made the rule to control entry to the barracks, and to make sure we are used to using a type of "quarterdeck" (although this is just an access).
We didn't have to do anything extra at the 1530 muster... just be there. Since the heat was pretty intense in the sun, Chief moved us onto the Red Deck where he talked a bit about watches. How we are supposed to be assertive and challenge authority (respectfully) when something does not make sense.
The rule is to stay in uniform on your duty day... so I stayed in NWU's to go to the NEX... and through chow and in Lib Hall... even though it was oppressively hot in the computer room. This July weather is crazy. Much warmer than June.
Watch itself went really quickly. We're supposed to report to the access watch every 15 minutes... so the first couple rounds I did walk all four decks, shouting "Female On Deck" every time I rounded a corner on the 3 male decks. Thought doing all those stairs was overkill though, so I spent the rest by going out behind the building and watching the doors.
We didn't have to do anything extra at the 1530 muster... just be there. Since the heat was pretty intense in the sun, Chief moved us onto the Red Deck where he talked a bit about watches. How we are supposed to be assertive and challenge authority (respectfully) when something does not make sense.
The rule is to stay in uniform on your duty day... so I stayed in NWU's to go to the NEX... and through chow and in Lib Hall... even though it was oppressively hot in the computer room. This July weather is crazy. Much warmer than June.
Watch itself went really quickly. We're supposed to report to the access watch every 15 minutes... so the first couple rounds I did walk all four decks, shouting "Female On Deck" every time I rounded a corner on the 3 male decks. Thought doing all those stairs was overkill though, so I spent the rest by going out behind the building and watching the doors.
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