Yesterday's Duty Day was by far the busiest and strangest I've ever had.
First, I missed quarters because I had to give my shipmate's purse back to her when she arrived in a taxi because she had left it in my car. We thought our Dress Whites inspection was that morning, but when I arrived the other sonar techs were on watch on the Quarterdeck and told me otherwise. But I was glad I brought them on board... there was an icy wind blowing down the pier that morning, and my garment bag made an excellent wind shield against it.
So again, things were pretty slow in the division. We worked on little discrepancies from our big inspection the week before, and that was about it. But at turnover, I was assigned to be a line-handler for a ship pulling in that afternoon. Of course, they had us come to the Quarterdeck a whole hour before we really needed to be getting things together... and we waited... and waited. Finally, we were told to go stand by the berth to await the ship that would cast us their lines to be slipped over the bollards... and we waited a good bit more. Just as Port Ops told me to move to a different place, the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) pulled into view and soon we were done.
Not an hour later we were mustered again for sweepers amid ship and aft... Chief gave everyone assignments, and told me last of all to "supervise". Huh? Okay. So I tried to be as nice as possible as I pointed out areas that needed sweeping. A bit later we were called again to help with some trash down the end of the pier (E-4 and below) but I came anyway just to make sure they had enough people. Ended up being a false alarm. Then we had training on the Mess deck... Level of Knowledge (LOK) tests for DC (damage control) and FP (force protection) because of our inspection going on. Gosh, I hate those DC tests... so picky... and I haven't even had advanced DC training yet. FP was much easier, as it's more straightforward.
Then just as we finish with that, they call away lighting detail since it's just before sunset. I hear Chief tell the Quarterdeck to have the duty section muster with STG2 Waters for assignment. That's the third time now my name has been passed over the 1MC... first once when doing food service and CS1 needed us in the afternoon one weekend, the second when the CO announced the list of names that had been advanced from the latest advancement exam. Anyway, I assigned people to all the stations and it all got done.
But later on, as I was talking to my husband on the flight deck, I noticed the flagpole light wasn't lit. When I stopped by the forecastle, the Jack staff wasn't lit either. Stopped by the Quarterdeck to let the OOD know, then went to the bridge to investigate. Turns out whoever went up there forgot to flip a couple switches.
I had the mid-watch that night with one of our new ensigns (but he was former enlisted). Plenty to talk about as the Force Protection Officer stopped by for a while. But I was late getting relieved... and because of that, I was wound up enough to get our daily checks done before I went to sleep. Sweepers in the morning was very normal, and I helped sweep just like everyone else. Who knows.
That morning was pretty easy and short. I attached a light cover in the dome room and worked out a check-off list in Excel for a sonar tech who was struggling with it. Going home after a duty day is always such sweet bliss.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Safety Class
On my birthday, and the next day, I had an evening class at the Navy's Safety Training Center at Naval Station Norfolk to become my division's safety petty officer.
I was given half of Monday off, leaving at 1130ish, so that I could have ample time to rest before it started at 1830 (and supposedly ended at 0300). That morning was taken up with a couple checks on the Dome equipment (piping) before we were to do the water to air interchange the next day. But hazmat was closed, so just before I left, the plan changed (the last check required hazmat).
I arrived in plenty of time, and sized up the other 30 students from around the waterfront (one other from my ship) and our instructor, an 18-year veteran with lots of safety stories from 5 different ship platforms in her career. We started off with videos of people doing stupid stuff and getting hurt (just like ridiculousness, except without the host or the annoying guests), then did a pre-test, and walked through the slides with the two other locations over microphones and the Internet (they were in Japan and Korea, I think, so that's why the class hours were so odd). We were let go at 2230 for the night.
Next day I was let off work since I was TAD... at first my division told me it was only a one-night class, but it was confirmed otherwise, so I texted Senior Chief and had his approval. The class got let out an hour earlier too, as we took the test and picked up our reference CD by 2130.
Wednesday the 27th, I was allowed to come in late (1100) as well! What a week! Practically everyone was gone anyway... the only thing I managed to get done was update the divisional safety binder before we were let go in the afternoon for PT at the nearby gym.
I was given half of Monday off, leaving at 1130ish, so that I could have ample time to rest before it started at 1830 (and supposedly ended at 0300). That morning was taken up with a couple checks on the Dome equipment (piping) before we were to do the water to air interchange the next day. But hazmat was closed, so just before I left, the plan changed (the last check required hazmat).
I arrived in plenty of time, and sized up the other 30 students from around the waterfront (one other from my ship) and our instructor, an 18-year veteran with lots of safety stories from 5 different ship platforms in her career. We started off with videos of people doing stupid stuff and getting hurt (just like ridiculousness, except without the host or the annoying guests), then did a pre-test, and walked through the slides with the two other locations over microphones and the Internet (they were in Japan and Korea, I think, so that's why the class hours were so odd). We were let go at 2230 for the night.
Next day I was let off work since I was TAD... at first my division told me it was only a one-night class, but it was confirmed otherwise, so I texted Senior Chief and had his approval. The class got let out an hour earlier too, as we took the test and picked up our reference CD by 2130.
Wednesday the 27th, I was allowed to come in late (1100) as well! What a week! Practically everyone was gone anyway... the only thing I managed to get done was update the divisional safety binder before we were let go in the afternoon for PT at the nearby gym.
Monday, March 25, 2013
A Long, Short Underway
This eight-day underway (11 MAR to 22 MAR) felt much longer from the very beginning; I'm pretty sure the few days we spent at Yorktown beforehand contributed to the feeling a great deal, but in general, everything felt like it took forever. The weekend we were out felt doubly-long too. I suppose it was because we were so busy, and anticipating it to be quick... and it wasn't quick enough!
I had duty the Sunday liberty expired on-board for all hands (at 2000). Our command treats us like children this way, not trusting us to make it here early in the morning. So people griped... but it wasn't so bad for me. I had to be there all day. I felt bad for the folks who had duty on Saturday though... hard times.
Although the pre-underway check worked just fine on our depth-reader, it didn't work on the way up the bay and the York river. So besides my getting our contractors on my cell phone to come fix it as soon as they could, I was pretty useless during the transit. They did come early the next day and bring it back to life... so it worked out okay.
In Yorktown, the first day, I worked with some civilian contractors on both missile decks, lowering gas-containment chambers down into the launchers. It took a while because they were very heavy (a crane lowered them in) and they had to seat just right in the bottom (they sit below the missiles in the tubes). I got to help with a couple missiles later on. Man! That was pretty neat to watch in operation!
The next day I kept busy below decks... working on some preventive maintenance checks that were required that week. They were all "clean and inspect" checks, meaning all I really had to do was look inside some equipment, brush off the dust and make sure there were no signs of damage. Quick, right? No. In order to look inside (or in one case, pop a filter off the outside of the Sonar equipment rack) I had to tag out the system... hang DANGER tags on all the applicable circuit breakers; and that process makes it take hours. Had to check out detergent from HazMat for the equipment rack too... just in case I needed to dunk the filter in soapy water (never do). Oh, and that specific check is done every month.
Tag outs are what makes it take forever. One check needed eleven tags hung! It's the running back and forth that eats up time. Write the tag in the computer system, go up to CSMC (combat systems maintenance central) with a second person, get the tag after explaining it to the CSOOW (officer of the watch), go hang it, sign it, then come back and wait for the second to check and sign it. After doing the maintenance, go back to CSMC, tell them it's done, get permission to take the tag off and turn the breaker back on, come back with the tag in hand. This I did several times, even after we started the underway.
Also had my second Spot Check, this time with the Operations Officer (3rd in command). These are random, pre-assigned checks on the checks. I sat down with her in Sonar 1 after the Ops brief one night (she was busy all day) and I showed her how I did the check with 11 tag-outs. Our Work Center Supervisor (also my Sonar Supervisor for my watch section this time) threw me into a different spot check with Senior Chief earlier that day, so after receiving a little training from him, I was well ready for my check with Ops.
I was in Section 2 (of 3) this time, and I was the senior junior person (or operator) for the first time (if that makes any sense). Our new girl was also with us, so besides doing some training with her, I was the person that had to do everything. Not that I mind either... I remember a couple underways ago where I had to depend on everyone else because I wasn't qualified yet. It's a continuous circle. And I felt useful in more ways than one... got to do my first corrective maintenance on a repeater we have on the bridge. I had to hang a DANGER tag, as before, but this time all I did was change a light bulb inside the equipment.
That day was the most fun, actually. That morning I was on the muster for shooting the .50 cal machine gun mounted on the side of the ship. Since it was during my watch, I was the first in line to suit up with a helmet and jacket and get to bang away a whole case of ammo into the sea. Had to help carry a couple boxes up to the deck we shot them from... and that weighed 77 pounds... up three ladders! I was out of breath by the time I put it down. But shooting bullets the size of my hand made up for it in a big way!
We had trouble with female berthing once. Somehow the pipes backed up and we had water all over our deck, about a quarter-inch deep. Made it interesting for trying to get into my rack without getting my socks or shoes wet. I think I climbed up in my bare feet and put my socks on after I was up there. Thankfully, it got fixed that night (thanks to those guys who do that nasty job!) and was ready for use in the morning.
We had another Abandon Ship drill as we trained with other ships. When I mustered with my lifeboat on the forecastle for a little training, I felt some tiny snow flakes falling on my face. It was bitterly cold out there, but thankfully not too windy. Not long after that they had to secure the weather decks due to high winds. Whew!
For accomplishments, I got RPPO and CSMC watch qualifications turned in... and made good progress on the 106 lesson of my ESWS book. Also, I enjoyed reading my second-to-last Lord Peter book... "Have His Carcase"... which was very fun, especially since there is a lot of Harriet Vane in it. :)
I had duty the day we pulled in (what nice bookends...) and so I wasn't troubled when it took them a good couple hours to call liberty (to make sure the ship was clean and set up on shore power). We had a fire drill up forward, and because so, I was one of the first to suit up in coveralls, flash hood, mask, air tank, helmet and gloves. I carried the nozzle of the hose to the scene of training (flag with a picture of smoke) and for the first time, actually got training on what's supposed to happen on these drills. Before I've always been left out somehow, because someone else got there first. Got a couple hours of sleep, and then stood the last Petty Officer of the Watch (POOW) watch for the day with the other Lay Leader once again. Once I got the daily checks done and went to turnover, it was freedom!
I had duty the Sunday liberty expired on-board for all hands (at 2000). Our command treats us like children this way, not trusting us to make it here early in the morning. So people griped... but it wasn't so bad for me. I had to be there all day. I felt bad for the folks who had duty on Saturday though... hard times.
Although the pre-underway check worked just fine on our depth-reader, it didn't work on the way up the bay and the York river. So besides my getting our contractors on my cell phone to come fix it as soon as they could, I was pretty useless during the transit. They did come early the next day and bring it back to life... so it worked out okay.
In Yorktown, the first day, I worked with some civilian contractors on both missile decks, lowering gas-containment chambers down into the launchers. It took a while because they were very heavy (a crane lowered them in) and they had to seat just right in the bottom (they sit below the missiles in the tubes). I got to help with a couple missiles later on. Man! That was pretty neat to watch in operation!
The next day I kept busy below decks... working on some preventive maintenance checks that were required that week. They were all "clean and inspect" checks, meaning all I really had to do was look inside some equipment, brush off the dust and make sure there were no signs of damage. Quick, right? No. In order to look inside (or in one case, pop a filter off the outside of the Sonar equipment rack) I had to tag out the system... hang DANGER tags on all the applicable circuit breakers; and that process makes it take hours. Had to check out detergent from HazMat for the equipment rack too... just in case I needed to dunk the filter in soapy water (never do). Oh, and that specific check is done every month.
Tag outs are what makes it take forever. One check needed eleven tags hung! It's the running back and forth that eats up time. Write the tag in the computer system, go up to CSMC (combat systems maintenance central) with a second person, get the tag after explaining it to the CSOOW (officer of the watch), go hang it, sign it, then come back and wait for the second to check and sign it. After doing the maintenance, go back to CSMC, tell them it's done, get permission to take the tag off and turn the breaker back on, come back with the tag in hand. This I did several times, even after we started the underway.
Also had my second Spot Check, this time with the Operations Officer (3rd in command). These are random, pre-assigned checks on the checks. I sat down with her in Sonar 1 after the Ops brief one night (she was busy all day) and I showed her how I did the check with 11 tag-outs. Our Work Center Supervisor (also my Sonar Supervisor for my watch section this time) threw me into a different spot check with Senior Chief earlier that day, so after receiving a little training from him, I was well ready for my check with Ops.
I was in Section 2 (of 3) this time, and I was the senior junior person (or operator) for the first time (if that makes any sense). Our new girl was also with us, so besides doing some training with her, I was the person that had to do everything. Not that I mind either... I remember a couple underways ago where I had to depend on everyone else because I wasn't qualified yet. It's a continuous circle. And I felt useful in more ways than one... got to do my first corrective maintenance on a repeater we have on the bridge. I had to hang a DANGER tag, as before, but this time all I did was change a light bulb inside the equipment.
That day was the most fun, actually. That morning I was on the muster for shooting the .50 cal machine gun mounted on the side of the ship. Since it was during my watch, I was the first in line to suit up with a helmet and jacket and get to bang away a whole case of ammo into the sea. Had to help carry a couple boxes up to the deck we shot them from... and that weighed 77 pounds... up three ladders! I was out of breath by the time I put it down. But shooting bullets the size of my hand made up for it in a big way!
We had trouble with female berthing once. Somehow the pipes backed up and we had water all over our deck, about a quarter-inch deep. Made it interesting for trying to get into my rack without getting my socks or shoes wet. I think I climbed up in my bare feet and put my socks on after I was up there. Thankfully, it got fixed that night (thanks to those guys who do that nasty job!) and was ready for use in the morning.
We had another Abandon Ship drill as we trained with other ships. When I mustered with my lifeboat on the forecastle for a little training, I felt some tiny snow flakes falling on my face. It was bitterly cold out there, but thankfully not too windy. Not long after that they had to secure the weather decks due to high winds. Whew!
For accomplishments, I got RPPO and CSMC watch qualifications turned in... and made good progress on the 106 lesson of my ESWS book. Also, I enjoyed reading my second-to-last Lord Peter book... "Have His Carcase"... which was very fun, especially since there is a lot of Harriet Vane in it. :)
I had duty the day we pulled in (what nice bookends...) and so I wasn't troubled when it took them a good couple hours to call liberty (to make sure the ship was clean and set up on shore power). We had a fire drill up forward, and because so, I was one of the first to suit up in coveralls, flash hood, mask, air tank, helmet and gloves. I carried the nozzle of the hose to the scene of training (flag with a picture of smoke) and for the first time, actually got training on what's supposed to happen on these drills. Before I've always been left out somehow, because someone else got there first. Got a couple hours of sleep, and then stood the last Petty Officer of the Watch (POOW) watch for the day with the other Lay Leader once again. Once I got the daily checks done and went to turnover, it was freedom!
Monday, March 11, 2013
Short Day - Long Day
All in the same weekend! Friday morning went pretty quickly, actually. Even though the last 40 minutes felt like a few hours (we were itching for freedom!). I made sure the empty XBT canisters got staged in Sonar 1 so they could easily be taken out when we were let go. Other than that, I had my pre-underway check on the fatho, and that went perfectly this time, as I knew what was what, and what to do.
Sunday, however, was Duty Day. I arrived at the last safe minute I could (a few before turnover), and occupied myself rather well until my afternoon Petty Officer of the Watch assignment: I'm nearly finished now with my Safety P.O. PQS. I enjoyed watch pretty well... the weather was calm, and the sunshine and water were pleasant to look at. My legs and feet didn't hurt much at all... probably because it was part of the normal working hours instead of an extra four or five hours standing up after the working day, during the mid and night watches. Not only was it nice out, but I had good company on watch with me. The other Lay Leader was the OOD, and the messenger was interested in talking about the Lord.
Besides all this, the half-hours passed by pretty quickly as I had to make an announcement over the loudspeaker for the people on the ship next to us who had folks working aloft (there are special precautions to take if there are). There was also word to be passed for Eight O'Clock Reports, the striking of 8 bells at noon (signalling all is well), and mustering the duty section for pier sweepers. I didn't find the right entry in the book for eight o'clocks, so every khaki (chief or officer) who came to the Quarterdeck asked about it. :) Thankfully, my OOD was confident and took responsibility for telling me what to say. My opinion of her as an officer was raised.
And GM1 gave me the full quiz for the Force Protection audit: I was caught a little off guard when it came to the six levels of force, but I managed to remember even the maximum range of my pistol! I was pleased with myself for that! And after a brief refresher, I nailed the Navy's definition of "Deadly Force". Verbatim:
"Force that a person uses, causing, or that a person knows or should know would create a substantial risk of causing, death or serious bodily harm."
I moved the commas around for it to make more sense... First time I read it, I had to read it a couple times to get it straight. Whoever wrote it must have loved the word "causing". :)
Anyway, it was a good duty day overall.
Sunday, however, was Duty Day. I arrived at the last safe minute I could (a few before turnover), and occupied myself rather well until my afternoon Petty Officer of the Watch assignment: I'm nearly finished now with my Safety P.O. PQS. I enjoyed watch pretty well... the weather was calm, and the sunshine and water were pleasant to look at. My legs and feet didn't hurt much at all... probably because it was part of the normal working hours instead of an extra four or five hours standing up after the working day, during the mid and night watches. Not only was it nice out, but I had good company on watch with me. The other Lay Leader was the OOD, and the messenger was interested in talking about the Lord.
Besides all this, the half-hours passed by pretty quickly as I had to make an announcement over the loudspeaker for the people on the ship next to us who had folks working aloft (there are special precautions to take if there are). There was also word to be passed for Eight O'Clock Reports, the striking of 8 bells at noon (signalling all is well), and mustering the duty section for pier sweepers. I didn't find the right entry in the book for eight o'clocks, so every khaki (chief or officer) who came to the Quarterdeck asked about it. :) Thankfully, my OOD was confident and took responsibility for telling me what to say. My opinion of her as an officer was raised.
And GM1 gave me the full quiz for the Force Protection audit: I was caught a little off guard when it came to the six levels of force, but I managed to remember even the maximum range of my pistol! I was pleased with myself for that! And after a brief refresher, I nailed the Navy's definition of "Deadly Force". Verbatim:
"Force that a person uses, causing, or that a person knows or should know would create a substantial risk of causing, death or serious bodily harm."
I moved the commas around for it to make more sense... First time I read it, I had to read it a couple times to get it straight. Whoever wrote it must have loved the word "causing". :)
Anyway, it was a good duty day overall.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Blown Cover... Again
I lost my backup cover while working topside with the freshwater hoses for the dome, so I resorted to using my cold-weather knit watch cap for the rest of the day. Now there's no question about it: I need to go to the NEX soon. Other than work on the dome, I also finished straightening up the XBT room and separating all the left over copper wire. STG2 and I were let go just before the others this afternoon so we could carry the 40 lb used console batteries to our cars and then drop them off at the recycling place on base.
What a day. Not only was there an accident on I-564 again this morning (that made it difficult for everyone to arrive), but while I was driving out to Virginia Beach tonight, there was yet another on I-264. Never seen such bad drivers as I have here... not even in Miami. I was the first STG to arrive this morning, so I filled in for someone on doing the daily checks and generating the muster report.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Fitting End to the Day
So I fell asleep again after my alarm and woke quite rested, of my own accord, a half-hour before liberty expired on-board for all hands. It's never good to wake rested... on a working day, that means being late. So I flew into my uniform and out the door as Papa did to the window in the Night Before Christmas. I managed to get to Sonar 1 before quarters, and that's what really counts. Today was a story of little issues that caused big headaches. After sweepers, the other STG2 and I tried to write a Danger tag to hang on the circuit breaker in order to tag-out the console for replacing its battery. Except the electronic system wouldn't let us write the correct ID number... even CSOOW had trouble with it when we showed him... Chief had to work on it to get it resolved. And while we were about it, Chief gave me sign-off ability in the system. Finally! Now I'm really worth something to my division!
Once we got the red tag hung, the other STG2 started working on removing the old batteries while one of our assessors had me go over our safe inventories with him. By the time I was done with that, I got the new batteries out of the packaging and watched them be installed, especially since I may be called on to do it myself in the future. And we still had time to go to lunch! (hotdogs and fries today.)
The worst part was after lunch. We had a brief battery test that was easy to do, but then it was put out that we had a big operation involving something else... that ended up not being possible today for several reasons. But as they were deciding how we weren't going to be able to, we hung out waiting for it for three hours. I don't really mind staying late in the day if there's something that needs to be done, but what kills us is when it's a big open-ended question that means we have to sit around waiting past working hours... that is hard to take. I used some of the time to do four or five more pages of my Safety Petty Officer PQS.
Due to the strong winds and rain (mixed with snow), they secured the brow for a while this afternoon. But when they finally let us off, the wind caught my cover and blew it over the side into the water. Another $10 into the drink. Oh, well. At least I could go home.
Once we got the red tag hung, the other STG2 started working on removing the old batteries while one of our assessors had me go over our safe inventories with him. By the time I was done with that, I got the new batteries out of the packaging and watched them be installed, especially since I may be called on to do it myself in the future. And we still had time to go to lunch! (hotdogs and fries today.)
The worst part was after lunch. We had a brief battery test that was easy to do, but then it was put out that we had a big operation involving something else... that ended up not being possible today for several reasons. But as they were deciding how we weren't going to be able to, we hung out waiting for it for three hours. I don't really mind staying late in the day if there's something that needs to be done, but what kills us is when it's a big open-ended question that means we have to sit around waiting past working hours... that is hard to take. I used some of the time to do four or five more pages of my Safety Petty Officer PQS.
Due to the strong winds and rain (mixed with snow), they secured the brow for a while this afternoon. But when they finally let us off, the wind caught my cover and blew it over the side into the water. Another $10 into the drink. Oh, well. At least I could go home.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Sunrise, Sunset
It's a story of running a little behind, both days... Monday morning I decided I'd rather eat a quick breakfast at home than on the ship. I needed to get out a little earlier since I didn't know what watch I had (and if one has the first, it makes it necessary to be there an hour earlier than usual. But the Quarterdeck didn't have my section's watchbill when I called as I went to bed... so I had to go early. I was just getting on I-564 to the base when I should have been arriving, so I called again to put my troubled mind at ease. They still didn't have the watchbill, but they did know I wasn't on the first watch. So I worried no longer.
Duty section training that evening seemed to take forever. Force Protection was just a quick discussion on the mess decks about proper watch-standing ("standards of conduct"), but damage control training afterwards took at least a good hour. We had a flooding drill back aft, and we had to do it twice, since it went way to slowly at first, people being unsure of what to do and no one taking charge. That means changing into firefighting boots, putting on flash-gear and helmet, re-stowing them, getting them out again the second time, etc. My job was "boundaryman", making sure primary and secondary watertight doors were dogged down and that nobody broke the boundary. I had to stop a couple people not in the duty section who wanted to go back aft to the gym.
After the drills, I only had around an hour before I had to be on watch as Petty Officer of the Watch again (for the mid-watch). So I made myself a couple PB & honey sandwiches in Sonar 1 (as I was very hungry) and sat down at the computer for a few pages of my Safety Petty Officer PQS (personal qualification). Watch took forever, as always, but I got to know the OOD and the duty armorer a lot better.
This morning, although I slept on the ship, I didn't roll out of my rack for a good 15 minutes after my alarm, so I didn't have enough time to do the daily checks before lighting detail and sweepers went down. Not even enough time for breakfast, actually. So I went straight topside, reporting to the Quarterdeck just a couple minutes before sunrise. Assigned to the bridge to turn off the top mast light (for aircraft warning).
[This was the second time I went up there too... I was assigned to handle the prep flag for colors the previous evening. It's a green and yellow pennant used for signalling five minutes before colors or sunrise.]
I managed to have enough time for a quick breakfast after sweepers, although I was a minute or two late to quarters as I was printing up the muster report and it took a good extra five minutes to turn on the computer. It seems like I've been just a couple minutes behind everything these two days. After quarters, I signed for all the security checklists on all our doors then went to duty section turnover, where they assigned me as a duty line-handler for the frigate across from us that was getting underway soon. Even though others had been assigned at training the night before, of course, not all showed up in the morning, so I said I could spare a few minutes away from my division. A few minutes ended up being an hour and a half, as the other ship wasn't quite ready to go. The brow was still attached, the pilot was just arriving, and after that, they were delayed with an engineering issue. It was neat to watch the huge crane behind me pick up the brow as if it was nothing... and then fold itself up again after it was done.
As for work with my division these last two days, it was more interesting than normal. We had some STG and OS inspectors doing spot checks on our maintenance, and I was able to pass one that I had only first done last week. It went smoothly, and I was able to point out everything without getting nervous. Also, we set up some heavy metal for handling torpedoes on the aft missile deck and I learned yet more about our systems. Day-to-day life in the Navy seems like a never-ending class. :)
Duty section training that evening seemed to take forever. Force Protection was just a quick discussion on the mess decks about proper watch-standing ("standards of conduct"), but damage control training afterwards took at least a good hour. We had a flooding drill back aft, and we had to do it twice, since it went way to slowly at first, people being unsure of what to do and no one taking charge. That means changing into firefighting boots, putting on flash-gear and helmet, re-stowing them, getting them out again the second time, etc. My job was "boundaryman", making sure primary and secondary watertight doors were dogged down and that nobody broke the boundary. I had to stop a couple people not in the duty section who wanted to go back aft to the gym.
After the drills, I only had around an hour before I had to be on watch as Petty Officer of the Watch again (for the mid-watch). So I made myself a couple PB & honey sandwiches in Sonar 1 (as I was very hungry) and sat down at the computer for a few pages of my Safety Petty Officer PQS (personal qualification). Watch took forever, as always, but I got to know the OOD and the duty armorer a lot better.
This morning, although I slept on the ship, I didn't roll out of my rack for a good 15 minutes after my alarm, so I didn't have enough time to do the daily checks before lighting detail and sweepers went down. Not even enough time for breakfast, actually. So I went straight topside, reporting to the Quarterdeck just a couple minutes before sunrise. Assigned to the bridge to turn off the top mast light (for aircraft warning).
[This was the second time I went up there too... I was assigned to handle the prep flag for colors the previous evening. It's a green and yellow pennant used for signalling five minutes before colors or sunrise.]
I managed to have enough time for a quick breakfast after sweepers, although I was a minute or two late to quarters as I was printing up the muster report and it took a good extra five minutes to turn on the computer. It seems like I've been just a couple minutes behind everything these two days. After quarters, I signed for all the security checklists on all our doors then went to duty section turnover, where they assigned me as a duty line-handler for the frigate across from us that was getting underway soon. Even though others had been assigned at training the night before, of course, not all showed up in the morning, so I said I could spare a few minutes away from my division. A few minutes ended up being an hour and a half, as the other ship wasn't quite ready to go. The brow was still attached, the pilot was just arriving, and after that, they were delayed with an engineering issue. It was neat to watch the huge crane behind me pick up the brow as if it was nothing... and then fold itself up again after it was done.
As for work with my division these last two days, it was more interesting than normal. We had some STG and OS inspectors doing spot checks on our maintenance, and I was able to pass one that I had only first done last week. It went smoothly, and I was able to point out everything without getting nervous. Also, we set up some heavy metal for handling torpedoes on the aft missile deck and I learned yet more about our systems. Day-to-day life in the Navy seems like a never-ending class. :)
Saturday, March 2, 2013
In & Out
Last week we came back in from our month-long underway, but I only had a few days before I took a 4-day leave to spend with my parents and husband; and what a wonderful break it was! But when I came back, I had to stay on the ship for three straight days, although we were only getting underway for one.
TUESDAY 19:
Liberty expired on-board early all week... and Sonar got two new people! I was assigned to help STG3 and STG1 check in, and that constituted my entire workday. Even though we were let go in the early afternoon, we managed to get half the sheet signed off. Checked them in with Senior Chief, our Division Officer and Department Head, our Master-At-Arms for berthing, the Naval Counselor for career stuff, got the ball rolling on their Navy Cash Cards (for use at the ship's store), set up their ship's mail, signed sheets with the Force Protection Officer, and met a few others.
WEDNESDAY 20:
Was my DUTY DAY. More check-in work (including with the CO). Had to
pack up all our personal gear from the underway and cleaned up Sonar 2 & 3. Went through the desk in Sonar 2 and found a sea bag in the back corner that belonged to a Sonar Tech that was long gone from the ship. Polished brass in the
dome cage with the rest of the division before they were let go in the afternoon. On my own in Sonar 1, I studied my Safety PO qualification on the computer at the desk; we had no duty section training due to
the busy ship's schedule so it was a quiet evening. For watch, I stood my very first Petty Officer of the Watch watch on the last rotation and I got to know the OOD (officer of the deck - in port) pretty well. As interesting sides, we had a skewed brow from the movement of the ship and had to get ahold of the Port Engineer to fix it. Just as we were almost done, there was another toxic gas alarm on the refer deck and we had to advise everyone coming aboard.
I was excited to be the one to "bong on" the CO when he arrived (4 bells, "TRUXTUN, arriving" over the 1MC) but he came after I was relieved.
THURSDAY 21:
After checking my weapon back in with the gunner's mates and grabbing breakfast, I signed for yoke (material condition of doors and hatches) and did the muster report (STG3 did
the daily maintenance). Although the ship was very busy in general with inspectors, our division didn't have much going on. Our check-ins got set up with Medical and a few others though. Conducted sweepers back aft and let go by our Division Officer (DIVO) in the afternoon. Checked out on leave with STG1 as the OOD,
and I drove STG3 home as we left together.
FRIDAY – MONDAY OFF! And it was very fun indeed! We saw Jamestown, the naval base, Les Miserables (the new film), then drove over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, walked the beach at the state park, and the last day, drove down to North Carolina to see Kitty Hawk and Roanoke Island.
TUESDAY 26:
Another DUTY DAY; I made myself ready for a 3-day underway as we had to stay on board the night before Thursday's early morning underway. Arrived
very early after dropping off my husband and went to Sonar first to drop off breakfast before officially checking back in from leave on the Quarterdeck. Went to duty section turn-over as usual, and before lunch managed to eat all the leftovers from the Macaroni Grill. Had an MWR meeting after lunch, then started work on the Fatho pre-underway check which lasted through Sonar's drill. Worked on ESWS after
everyone left, and tried to complete another check. Training on mess decks was short
and sweet; we talked about what to do if there was a swimmer near the ship and how we would attack an Alpha fire in a forward space. Was POOW again for the mid-watch, and the OOD (former Sonar Tech, now officer) and I talked about the schedule, the
command and what it was like for him to become an officer. Was able to talk with my husband briefly before and after watch.
WEDNESDAY 27:
Woke up by CSOOW 15 minutes before my alarm to check all the Sonar spaces for flooding. Ended up being a false alarm and I did the
dailies after changing into my uniform. Had a quick breakfast because of duty sweepers on
the Quarterdeck and Aft Missile Deck. Finished up muster report as Quarters
started, and called away for the duty section setting up blocks on the flight deck because of the base drills. Finished the
Fatho check with my LPO, signed for that and the other in CSMC as well as train on another for our antenna. Did some training with FC1 for the CSMC watch station, then attended a Sonar drill in the afternoon. Called Dad at dinnertime, went to the Navigation brief after than, then waited for Chief for a half-hour for my CSMC oral board, passed it,
and called my husband.
THURSDAY 28:
And finally, the underway! Early breakfast, set Sea & Anchor soon after. Little trouble with the Fatho because of what we had to do for the check the day before, but had it working in no time. Ended up being a two-hour watch including the SOA inspection we had. The most fun I had this underway was helping the Gunners load our 5-inch gun before lunch. I helped pass the ammunition, praise the Lord, which was canisters of gunpowder three-and-a-half feet long! My only Sonar watch was after dinner (section 3 of 4) in which I went to another Navigation brief and did some training on our job-writing system. Can't wait for the day when I don't need training every time I turn around.
FRIDAY MARCH 1:
Before we returned to port, we had an early CONREP (connected replenishment) RAS (replenishment at sea). This was the first I participated in, as I replaced an STG3 who was on emergency leave. It was so bitterly cold in the wind that within minutes my face, hands and legs were getting numb. In fact, the moment I stepped out the port break onto the forecastle ("foc'sle"), the wind was coming by so fast I could not breathe for a moment (until I turned my head away). When the line and cable were finally across, (we'd rotate as we walked the line across the deck... too difficult just to pull) I was the first in line as we sent it back over to the USNS vessel. Then we were rotated in to help with the distance line (line up forward with little distance-marking flags to show the OOD exactly how far we were from the other ship). About a half-hour after we finished (just time to eat my bagel from breakfast), we were called away for FWWD (fresh water wash down), my station being on the aft missile deck with weapons department. Thankfully, it wasn't quite as cold (we weren't in the direct path of the wind there), but still enough to the point where I was glad of my earmuffs. While this was still in progress, Sea & Anchor was called away for getting ready to enter port. And we were pier-side on schedule! Had to wait for shore power to get connected before we were allowed to take out the trash and leave for the weekend. What a day!
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