Today, as I was cleaning the female head with Witte and Hibbard after class, STG1 Cooper, my mentor, came in and told me an LS2 from TSC was waiting just outside the door to speak to me. Not exactly something I'd expect to hear just then. Sure enough, there were two guys from downstairs waiting to tell me that Chief Cruz wanted to see me ASAP. Suddenly, my heart went all-a-flutter. I was told several times that I wasn't in trouble, but that doesn't matter when a person's been summoned by Chief. I have a healthy, respectful fear of her. She looks out for students, but if you mess up, look out: you'll be hearing about it shortly.
Turns out, I was there because the TSC OIC (officer in charge), Lt. Welsh, wanted to see me. She and a few others had heard about, and looked at, this blog, and wanted to know if I'd be interested in helping out the command PR officer with writing from a student's perspective or whatever else. What an opportunity! Of course, I agreed. We'll see what comes of it... I'm excited.
I ran up the stairs back to class (on the 3rd deck) and stumbled over words, breathlessly trying to tell everyone what happened (and that all was well). Last time somebody had to go downstairs, it was bad news. But honestly, I didn't think of that when I was called.
In other notes, I changed the header of the blog yesterday (after duty section muster, when I went on NKO to get my PARFQ form -physical activity risk factor questionnaire- for the upcoming PRT) when I looked at a short training on Navy social media responsibilities. According to that, the official Navy seal (eagle holding an anchor with the USS Constitution in the background) is only to be used in an official capacity. So I quickly replaced it with a simple logo instead (which is permissible if there is no monetary gain, if used appropriately, and if it's clear it doesn't indicate official association with the Navy). And I added a short disclaimer to the side bar, so this should be completely within regulations now.
My duty day was rather easy again... on Supers (no watch). I almost forgot about the afternoon muster, but thankfully, I remembered in time. That would have been silly since I looked down on one of my classmates for sleeping through the morning muster again. It's not hard, what they want us to do; all it requires is paying attention.
As for class, Monday was pretty normal, doing most of the console power-points. Tuesday, we did one lesson in 15 minutes in the morning, had a normal Quarters (with a very motivated STG2 reading the "training" - a few brief facts about US Naval history), then did a 15-minute lab later in the day. Unfortunately, I had forgotten to bring my book, and a lot of the chat in class was on politics... the thing I hate talking (or hearing) about most. Wednesday I made sure to bring my book, as well as on Thursday, and life was better. Today we did most of CADRT (dead reckoning tracer), but still had lots of breaks, as STG1 had a lot of work to do.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Chapter Five
I know this isn't Flag Day, but when I read this passage from the Sand Pebbles last week, I knew I had to post it on here:
"After they made colors Bordelles put them at parade rest and Lt. Collins came to the edge of the grating to talk. As before, Holman was struck by the picture he made in white and gold against the great varnished wheel with the flag rippling red and white above it. Lt. Collins looked down, his thin face unsmiling.
'Tomorrow we begin our summer cruising to show the flag on Tungting Lake and the Hunan rivers,' he said. 'At home in America, when today reaches them, it will be Flag Day. They will gather to do honor and hear speeches. For us who wear the uniform, every day is Flag Day. We pay our honor in act and feeling and we have little need of words. But on this one day it will not hurt us to grasp briefly in words the meaning of our flag. That is what I want to talk about this morning.'
He paused. Chinese quarreled noisily on passing junks. As always, ragged cooling watched from the bank.
'Our flag is the symbol of America. I want you to grasp what America really is,' Lt. Collins said, nodding for emphasis. 'It is more than marks on a map. It is more than buildings and land. America is a living structure of human lives, of all the American lives that ever were and ever will be. We in San Pablo are collectively only a tiny, momentary bit of that structure. How can we, standing here, grasp the whole of America?' He made a grasping motion. 'Think now of a great cable,' he said, and made a circle with his arms. 'The cable has no natural limiting length. It can be spun out forever. We can unlay it into ropes, and the ropes into strands, and the strands into yarns, and none of them have any natural ending. But now let us pull a yarn apart into single fibers-' he made plucking motions with his fingers '-and each man of us can find himself. Each fiber is a tiny, flat, yellowish thing, a foot or a yard long by nature. One American life from birth to death is like a single fiber. Each one is spun into the yarn of a family and the strand of a home town and the rope of a home state. The states are spun into the great, unending, unbreakable cable that is America.'
His voice deepened on the last words. He paused, to let them think about it. It was a new thought and it fascinated Holman. Just by living your life you wound and you wound yourself into the big cable. The cable grew and grew into the future like a living thing. It was a living thing. The thought fascinated Holman.
'No man, not even President Coolidge, can experience the whole of America directly,' Lt. Collins resumed. 'We can only feel it when the strain comes on, the terrible strain of hauling our history into a stormy future. Then the cable springs taut and vibrant. It thins and groans as the water squeezes out and all the fibers press each to each in iron hardness. Even then, we know only the fibers that press against us. But there is another way to know America.'
He paused for a deep breath. The ranks were very quiet.
'We can know America through our flag which is its symbol,' he said quietly. 'In our flag the barriers of time and space vanish. All America that ever was and ever will be lives every moment in our flag. Wherever in the world two or three of us stand together under our flag, all America is there. When we stand proudly and salute our flag, that is what we know wordlessly in the passing moment.'
Holman's eyes went to the flag. It looked almost alive, streaming and rippling in the breeze off the river. He felt that he had not ever really looked at the flag before.
'Understand that our flag is not the cloth but the pattern of form and color manifested in the cloth,' Lt. Collins was saying. 'It could have been any pattern once, but our fathers chose that one. History has made it sacred. The honor paid it in uncounted acts of individual reverence has made it live. Every morning in American schoolrooms children present their hearts to our flag. Every morning and evening we render it our military salutes. And so the pattern lives and it can manifest itself in any number of bits of perishable cloth, but the pattern is indestructible.'
A foul smell blew across the fantail. It was from a passing string of barges taking liquid Hankow sewage back to the fields that fed Hankow. Sailors called them honey barges. The foul breeze made no difference in the bright, rippling appearance of the flag.
'For us in San Pablo every day is Flag Day,' Lt. Collins went on. He was talking easily but earnestly. 'Civilians are only morally bound to salute our flag. We are legally bound. All Americans are morally bound to die for our flag, if called upon. Only we are legally bound. Only we live our lives in day to day readiness for that sacrifice. We have sworn our oaths and cut our ties. We have given up wealth and home life, except as San Pablo is our home. It marks us. It sets us apart. We are uncomfortable reminders, in time of peace. Those of you who served in the last war will know what I mean.'
Heads nodded along the ranks. Holman nodded too.
'It is said there will be no more war. We must pretend to believe that. But when war comes, it is we who will take the first shock and buy time with our lives. It is we who keep the faith. We are not honored for it. We are called mercenaries on the outposts of empire. But I want to speak for you an epitaph written for an army of mercenaries such as we in San Pablo.'
He cleared his throat and spoke solemnly:
These, in the day when heaven was falling,
The hour when earth's foundations fled,
Followed their mercenary calling
And took their wages and are dead.
He paused again. There was some foot shuffling in the ranks. They did not want to take this stuff too personally, Holman knew. Lt. Collins hardened his expression. His eyes bored at them. He seemed to loom above them on the grating. His voice rang harshly.
'We serve the flag. The trade we all follow is the give and take of death. It is for that purpose that the American people maintain us. Any one of us who believes he has a job like any other, for which he draws a money wage, is a thief of the food he eats and a trespasser in the bunk in which he lies down to sleep!'
It shocked them. Holman felt his cheeks burn. That was not the idea he had of himself. All along the ranks they were looking down at their feet.
Lt. Collins talked on, his voice quiet again. He talked about the flag code. There was a lot of it. The honey barges moved by and the air was clean once more. The flag was a Person, Lt. Collins said. The union of stars was the flag's honor point, its sword arm. You always displayed the flag so that it faced the beholders. There was only one time when the flag turned its back on the beholders. Lt. Collins' voice became hushed.
'That is at a military funeral, when one of us who has lived and died honorably goes to join the staff of the Great Commander,' he said. 'Then our flag lies face down on the coffin and clasps the dead man in its arms. I am not ashamed to believe that in that moment the spirit of the dead man passes directly into our flag. That is our special reward, who keep the military faith.'
He said it quietly, looking at them quietly, and went right on.
'So may we all live and die honorably, each in his own time,' he said. 'And now in closing, I want to read you what Calvin Coolidge, our Commander in Chief, has to say about our flag.'
He pulled a white card from his pocket and read: 'Alone of all flags, it represents the sovereignty of the people, which endures when all else passes away. Speaking with their voice, it has the sanctity of revelation. He who lives under it and is loyal to it is loyal to truth and justice everywhere. He who lives under it and is disloyal to it is a traitor to the human race everywhere. What could be saved, if the Flag of the American Nation were to perish?'
He sighed and put the card away. He seemed abruptly smaller and less intensely present. He went forward, walking rapidly and looking at no one. Bordelles took over to dismiss the formation.
Afterward, the men stood around on the fantail. They were oddly quiet. Holman waited for someone to say something sarcastic. When men had been touched underneath, that was how they put themselves right again. Holman did not want to be the one to start it. No one started it."
by Richard McKenna, 1962, Naval Institute Press edition, 1984
"After they made colors Bordelles put them at parade rest and Lt. Collins came to the edge of the grating to talk. As before, Holman was struck by the picture he made in white and gold against the great varnished wheel with the flag rippling red and white above it. Lt. Collins looked down, his thin face unsmiling.
'Tomorrow we begin our summer cruising to show the flag on Tungting Lake and the Hunan rivers,' he said. 'At home in America, when today reaches them, it will be Flag Day. They will gather to do honor and hear speeches. For us who wear the uniform, every day is Flag Day. We pay our honor in act and feeling and we have little need of words. But on this one day it will not hurt us to grasp briefly in words the meaning of our flag. That is what I want to talk about this morning.'
He paused. Chinese quarreled noisily on passing junks. As always, ragged cooling watched from the bank.
'Our flag is the symbol of America. I want you to grasp what America really is,' Lt. Collins said, nodding for emphasis. 'It is more than marks on a map. It is more than buildings and land. America is a living structure of human lives, of all the American lives that ever were and ever will be. We in San Pablo are collectively only a tiny, momentary bit of that structure. How can we, standing here, grasp the whole of America?' He made a grasping motion. 'Think now of a great cable,' he said, and made a circle with his arms. 'The cable has no natural limiting length. It can be spun out forever. We can unlay it into ropes, and the ropes into strands, and the strands into yarns, and none of them have any natural ending. But now let us pull a yarn apart into single fibers-' he made plucking motions with his fingers '-and each man of us can find himself. Each fiber is a tiny, flat, yellowish thing, a foot or a yard long by nature. One American life from birth to death is like a single fiber. Each one is spun into the yarn of a family and the strand of a home town and the rope of a home state. The states are spun into the great, unending, unbreakable cable that is America.'
His voice deepened on the last words. He paused, to let them think about it. It was a new thought and it fascinated Holman. Just by living your life you wound and you wound yourself into the big cable. The cable grew and grew into the future like a living thing. It was a living thing. The thought fascinated Holman.
'No man, not even President Coolidge, can experience the whole of America directly,' Lt. Collins resumed. 'We can only feel it when the strain comes on, the terrible strain of hauling our history into a stormy future. Then the cable springs taut and vibrant. It thins and groans as the water squeezes out and all the fibers press each to each in iron hardness. Even then, we know only the fibers that press against us. But there is another way to know America.'
He paused for a deep breath. The ranks were very quiet.
'We can know America through our flag which is its symbol,' he said quietly. 'In our flag the barriers of time and space vanish. All America that ever was and ever will be lives every moment in our flag. Wherever in the world two or three of us stand together under our flag, all America is there. When we stand proudly and salute our flag, that is what we know wordlessly in the passing moment.'
Holman's eyes went to the flag. It looked almost alive, streaming and rippling in the breeze off the river. He felt that he had not ever really looked at the flag before.
'Understand that our flag is not the cloth but the pattern of form and color manifested in the cloth,' Lt. Collins was saying. 'It could have been any pattern once, but our fathers chose that one. History has made it sacred. The honor paid it in uncounted acts of individual reverence has made it live. Every morning in American schoolrooms children present their hearts to our flag. Every morning and evening we render it our military salutes. And so the pattern lives and it can manifest itself in any number of bits of perishable cloth, but the pattern is indestructible.'
A foul smell blew across the fantail. It was from a passing string of barges taking liquid Hankow sewage back to the fields that fed Hankow. Sailors called them honey barges. The foul breeze made no difference in the bright, rippling appearance of the flag.
'For us in San Pablo every day is Flag Day,' Lt. Collins went on. He was talking easily but earnestly. 'Civilians are only morally bound to salute our flag. We are legally bound. All Americans are morally bound to die for our flag, if called upon. Only we are legally bound. Only we live our lives in day to day readiness for that sacrifice. We have sworn our oaths and cut our ties. We have given up wealth and home life, except as San Pablo is our home. It marks us. It sets us apart. We are uncomfortable reminders, in time of peace. Those of you who served in the last war will know what I mean.'
Heads nodded along the ranks. Holman nodded too.
'It is said there will be no more war. We must pretend to believe that. But when war comes, it is we who will take the first shock and buy time with our lives. It is we who keep the faith. We are not honored for it. We are called mercenaries on the outposts of empire. But I want to speak for you an epitaph written for an army of mercenaries such as we in San Pablo.'
He cleared his throat and spoke solemnly:
These, in the day when heaven was falling,
The hour when earth's foundations fled,
Followed their mercenary calling
And took their wages and are dead.
He paused again. There was some foot shuffling in the ranks. They did not want to take this stuff too personally, Holman knew. Lt. Collins hardened his expression. His eyes bored at them. He seemed to loom above them on the grating. His voice rang harshly.
'We serve the flag. The trade we all follow is the give and take of death. It is for that purpose that the American people maintain us. Any one of us who believes he has a job like any other, for which he draws a money wage, is a thief of the food he eats and a trespasser in the bunk in which he lies down to sleep!'
It shocked them. Holman felt his cheeks burn. That was not the idea he had of himself. All along the ranks they were looking down at their feet.
Lt. Collins talked on, his voice quiet again. He talked about the flag code. There was a lot of it. The honey barges moved by and the air was clean once more. The flag was a Person, Lt. Collins said. The union of stars was the flag's honor point, its sword arm. You always displayed the flag so that it faced the beholders. There was only one time when the flag turned its back on the beholders. Lt. Collins' voice became hushed.
'That is at a military funeral, when one of us who has lived and died honorably goes to join the staff of the Great Commander,' he said. 'Then our flag lies face down on the coffin and clasps the dead man in its arms. I am not ashamed to believe that in that moment the spirit of the dead man passes directly into our flag. That is our special reward, who keep the military faith.'
He said it quietly, looking at them quietly, and went right on.
'So may we all live and die honorably, each in his own time,' he said. 'And now in closing, I want to read you what Calvin Coolidge, our Commander in Chief, has to say about our flag.'
He pulled a white card from his pocket and read: 'Alone of all flags, it represents the sovereignty of the people, which endures when all else passes away. Speaking with their voice, it has the sanctity of revelation. He who lives under it and is loyal to it is loyal to truth and justice everywhere. He who lives under it and is disloyal to it is a traitor to the human race everywhere. What could be saved, if the Flag of the American Nation were to perish?'
He sighed and put the card away. He seemed abruptly smaller and less intensely present. He went forward, walking rapidly and looking at no one. Bordelles took over to dismiss the formation.
Afterward, the men stood around on the fantail. They were oddly quiet. Holman waited for someone to say something sarcastic. When men had been touched underneath, that was how they put themselves right again. Holman did not want to be the one to start it. No one started it."
by Richard McKenna, 1962, Naval Institute Press edition, 1984
Friday, March 23, 2012
Checking In
Yes, that's all I had to do today. FPCON (force protection condition) DELTA has been set today for training, meaning they have locked down the base. So class is cancelled and I'm stuck off base (darn?). :) I had to check in with STG1 Fletcher before 0715, so I sent him a text when I woke up at 0648. Feels so good to sleep in.
Yesterday, in anticipation of all this going down, we didn't have to come in until 0700. We were let go a few minutes after 1000, having accomplished nothing at all... beyond me reading a couple chapters in The Sand Pebbles. But it was hard to focus with all the chit-chatting going on. It would be impossible to remember all the topics of conversation.
Yesterday, in anticipation of all this going down, we didn't have to come in until 0700. We were let go a few minutes after 1000, having accomplished nothing at all... beyond me reading a couple chapters in The Sand Pebbles. But it was hard to focus with all the chit-chatting going on. It would be impossible to remember all the topics of conversation.
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!
Friday, March 9, 2012
Grade Point
Results from the first two tests were posted this morning: 96.24% overall, tied for 4th place with Nordgren. We went through the next two power-points today, General, Physical and Documentation Description, and Functional Interfaces... about 150 slides altogether. In the waiting times I read in a new book from the library about the USS Olympia, which I've visited in Philadelphia. The details about the battle of Manila Bay were quite interesting.
Witte says it takes about a month for the scores from the advancement exam to get posted.
Finally, it's the weekend! I slept for 4 hours when I got home.
Witte says it takes about a month for the scores from the advancement exam to get posted.
Finally, it's the weekend! I slept for 4 hours when I got home.
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.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Yay!
The week is finally over. We had one short lab this morning, then went through power-points on the next section, the Data Processor cabinet. Three people had to re-take their tests, so there was also a lot of down time.
I was surprised to find that the watch-bill for Monday's duty hadn't been posted yet when I left today. I guess that means I'll find out Monday morning... just check before I start the day. Lucky 5am schedule!
I was surprised to find that the watch-bill for Monday's duty hadn't been posted yet when I left today. I guess that means I'll find out Monday morning... just check before I start the day. Lucky 5am schedule!
Other News
In my rage, I forgot to record for Monday... we had labs with Mr. Fontane, and in class we did yet another quiz. I think that made three quizzes in preparation for Tuesday's test. PT was pretty normal, and there was some talk about our schedule changing.
Wednesday, I re-took the lab with Nordgren and did just fine. A final of 90% was awarded, and that was fine by me. And with the 94% on the written portion, that meant no mando, and that I was competently aware of how to find answers in the tech doc.
Also, our cleaning assignment changed... we are now in charge of the student heads on the 3rd deck, instead of the staff locker-rooms. Witte and I did what we could while most of the class started their two hours of mandatory extra study.
PT was very hard though... I'm still feeling it now. It was Witte, Hibbard, Trimpe and I who volunteered to do his circuits with him. Butt-kicks, sprints, grapevines, and power skips, interspersed with push-ups, leg lifts, squats and lunges in place. And we finished with a two-minute wall sit. Those last three are what I'm still feeling... I haven't worked out my legs like that for a long time.
Wednesday, I re-took the lab with Nordgren and did just fine. A final of 90% was awarded, and that was fine by me. And with the 94% on the written portion, that meant no mando, and that I was competently aware of how to find answers in the tech doc.
Also, our cleaning assignment changed... we are now in charge of the student heads on the 3rd deck, instead of the staff locker-rooms. Witte and I did what we could while most of the class started their two hours of mandatory extra study.
PT was very hard though... I'm still feeling it now. It was Witte, Hibbard, Trimpe and I who volunteered to do his circuits with him. Butt-kicks, sprints, grapevines, and power skips, interspersed with push-ups, leg lifts, squats and lunges in place. And we finished with a two-minute wall sit. Those last three are what I'm still feeling... I haven't worked out my legs like that for a long time.
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