After a week of working hard and staying late... for Sonar, it's another week of working hard and staying late. I mean, isn't the weekend enough of a break? :)
Early Monday morning, I dropped my husband off at the airport and still had time to come home and eat breakfast before changing into my uniform and reporting for duty... at a schoolhouse. We had special Sonar training and drills all week... the first two days for five of my fellow Sonar Techs and I were taken up with in-depth training for the environmental computer system we use to predict what sound will do in water... and therefore help us understand the best setup to use for Sonar.
Starting Wednesday, we had scenarios all day every day... and I was finally able to get formal training on the sonobuoy processing "functional segment"... a fancy phrase we use for a computer program. I'm excited about learning it because it's fun, and it's my next step on the path to becoming Sonar Supervisor.
My duty day was Thursday... since I was busy with Sonar, I didn't have to go to Turnover or Sweepers. After a brief training on the messdecks after dinner, I did some more training with the Sound & Security (engineering person who monitors water systems) watch-stander as he did his rounds. Got some sign-offs for ESWS and my OOD PQSs. Had the Mid-Watch as POOW on the Quarterdeck. I was so tired afterwords that I forgot to call my husband (we talk every night). I got three hours of sleep before I had to get the system up and in training for the day's scenarios; it had to be taken down for my maintenance check on Thursday.
Friday was a big day for Sonar. My Senior Chief transferred to his new command around noontime. We gathered on the forecastle for a medal ceremony, hugged him goodbye, then lined up as side boys as he was "bonged" off the ship. Two bells rung, "full rank and name, departing." [Commanders (O-5) and above get four bells or more (Ding, ding. Ding, ding) whenever they arrive or depart.] Whenever someone completes their duty aboard ship and transfers, they are allowed to be rung off. I was sorry to see him go, but I like our new senior chief as well. It was a busy day, too. Immediately after the ceremony, WEPS told us to go to Sonar for the last scenario, although we were already on the move. And first thing that morning, I had a simulated weapons shoot at an indoor range on base. The actual weapons were there (50cal, M240), but they were connected to a computer program as we fired at a screen. It was pretty fun.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Friday, October 18, 2013
Yorktown II
the Return to Yorktown...
We had Monday off for Columbus Day, and that gave me at least a normal weekend to relax, since I had duty on Saturday. But liberty expired a little earlier on Tuesday for our scheduled underway to Yorktown for a weapons on-load. I was getting a ride home with some other Sonar Techs that evening, so I didn't bother to bring my digital working uniform, as the underway uniform is coveralls. I un-characteristically arrived in civilian clothes to do so. What's the point of changing into a different uniform within an hour or so? None at all. My watch station for the very long Sea & Anchor between Norfolk and Yorktown was in Sonar Control, but as we neared the VA-17 bridge on the York River, I was told to go arm up for Petty Officer of the Watch (it wasn't my duty day, but they were utilizing people from "sister sections"... usually for when we drop down to 3 sections instead of 6). So I was allowed to arm up in coveralls instead of the usual working uniform... and I got to the Quarterdeck (on the flight deck that week) just as we were passing the bridge. Two sections of it broke apart and rotated 90° as we sailed through. Had to stand the watch for about four hours, even though it was only supposed to last a few minutes. The guy on the watchbill was busy with the anchoring detail, so there I was... and without the bell. As soon as the brow was open, the base XO, a Commander, came aboard. We tried desperately to get the bridge to ring him aboard (they always have a bell up there), but they wouldn't for some reason. Not a great way to start. But soon after watch, those of us who had rides were on our way home. Didn't get back to my car in Norfolk until 1800.
Wednesday I worked as Phone Talker for the aft launchers, to make sure everyone's fingers and toes were out of the way below as the missiles came down. And Sonar took on some torpedoes... which were awful to get out of their cases and into the magazine. Just the cases themselves were pretty heavy... and super awkward to carry... I had several bruises on my shins before we were done. Didn't get to leave until 1840.
Thursday I wore a worker's back brace... and boy, did that help! Did a little more Phone Talker, this time up forward in the morning. In the afternoon, Sonar helped out the Gunners with the 240 ammo (which required a two-man carry at 90+ lbs a box). Afterwords, I went down to the deep magazine to help with the five inch rounds. Got off about 1730... and I was all a-glow... my husband was flying in at 1800 to spend the weekend with me (and would have been there for the Tiger Cruise - family ride-a-long - if it hadn't have been cancelled due to a lack of money). But at least I was able to give a tour in-port Norfolk when we got back on Friday. And that way, he and my sister (who was also visiting) got to see more of the ship than if we were underway anyway.
We had Monday off for Columbus Day, and that gave me at least a normal weekend to relax, since I had duty on Saturday. But liberty expired a little earlier on Tuesday for our scheduled underway to Yorktown for a weapons on-load. I was getting a ride home with some other Sonar Techs that evening, so I didn't bother to bring my digital working uniform, as the underway uniform is coveralls. I un-characteristically arrived in civilian clothes to do so. What's the point of changing into a different uniform within an hour or so? None at all. My watch station for the very long Sea & Anchor between Norfolk and Yorktown was in Sonar Control, but as we neared the VA-17 bridge on the York River, I was told to go arm up for Petty Officer of the Watch (it wasn't my duty day, but they were utilizing people from "sister sections"... usually for when we drop down to 3 sections instead of 6). So I was allowed to arm up in coveralls instead of the usual working uniform... and I got to the Quarterdeck (on the flight deck that week) just as we were passing the bridge. Two sections of it broke apart and rotated 90° as we sailed through. Had to stand the watch for about four hours, even though it was only supposed to last a few minutes. The guy on the watchbill was busy with the anchoring detail, so there I was... and without the bell. As soon as the brow was open, the base XO, a Commander, came aboard. We tried desperately to get the bridge to ring him aboard (they always have a bell up there), but they wouldn't for some reason. Not a great way to start. But soon after watch, those of us who had rides were on our way home. Didn't get back to my car in Norfolk until 1800.
Wednesday I worked as Phone Talker for the aft launchers, to make sure everyone's fingers and toes were out of the way below as the missiles came down. And Sonar took on some torpedoes... which were awful to get out of their cases and into the magazine. Just the cases themselves were pretty heavy... and super awkward to carry... I had several bruises on my shins before we were done. Didn't get to leave until 1840.
Thursday I wore a worker's back brace... and boy, did that help! Did a little more Phone Talker, this time up forward in the morning. In the afternoon, Sonar helped out the Gunners with the 240 ammo (which required a two-man carry at 90+ lbs a box). Afterwords, I went down to the deep magazine to help with the five inch rounds. Got off about 1730... and I was all a-glow... my husband was flying in at 1800 to spend the weekend with me (and would have been there for the Tiger Cruise - family ride-a-long - if it hadn't have been cancelled due to a lack of money). But at least I was able to give a tour in-port Norfolk when we got back on Friday. And that way, he and my sister (who was also visiting) got to see more of the ship than if we were underway anyway.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Friday, School; Saturday, Duty
Friday, I never even saw the ship. I was TAD (temporarily assigned duty) to the Maintenance University at the TSC (training support center) building on base for a class in job writing (which was informative and useful!). Afterwords, I went to Servmart quickly for a few quotes for open purchase, then went home.
The next morning I went in early in case I had the first watch... and I did. I was topside rover, and therefore had to get a little wet in the morning misty rain. It had rained steadily for a couple days so there was a bit of water on the decks. By the afternoon, though, it had stopped and the sun came out. I spearheaded the effort to get the standing water off the missile deck... using my brand-new push-broom that had arrived from supply on Thursday... and it worked wonders. I used a bunch of the afternoon to get those open purchase requests ready to be routed up the chain of command on Tuesday. Went to bed really early so that when I got up for the last watch (petty officer this time) (I was doubled up this time from no fault of my own... we didn't have enough qualified people for everything because some people were on leave), I would be wide awake... and it worked. Did the daily checks right after disarming, then it was time for turnover, and then home for two days off in a row.
The next morning I went in early in case I had the first watch... and I did. I was topside rover, and therefore had to get a little wet in the morning misty rain. It had rained steadily for a couple days so there was a bit of water on the decks. By the afternoon, though, it had stopped and the sun came out. I spearheaded the effort to get the standing water off the missile deck... using my brand-new push-broom that had arrived from supply on Thursday... and it worked wonders. I used a bunch of the afternoon to get those open purchase requests ready to be routed up the chain of command on Tuesday. Went to bed really early so that when I got up for the last watch (petty officer this time) (I was doubled up this time from no fault of my own... we didn't have enough qualified people for everything because some people were on leave), I would be wide awake... and it worked. Did the daily checks right after disarming, then it was time for turnover, and then home for two days off in a row.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Truxtun in the News!
Here is an interview with HM2 and my CO, for their parts in the film Captain Phillips, which opens today.
That's pretty cool!
That's pretty cool!
Here's a photo of the ship from her last deployment:
And here's one from the film:
Thursday, October 10, 2013
"INSURV"
Yet another Naval abbreviation, meaning: Board of Inspection and Survey.
In anticipation of this event (that we've been preparing for all year), liberty expired at noon on Sunday... although I had duty that day (so it didn't affect my liberty). This was the second duty day in a row where I did not have a watch! But now that INSURV is upon us, we are back to six-section duty instead of the three-section duty we've endured this last month.
Monday was an early underway for all the INSURV demonstrations... like Small Object Avoidance (SOA) for Sonar in the morning... weapons, anchoring, boats, full-power run, and finally, our own system demonstration at night... where we tracked a little emitter and made like we were going to shoot it to prove that our system is operational. And we successfully passed it in record time!
Our ship had the President of INSURV, RADM Robert Wray (here's a YouTube video of him) onboard during our underway. Nine crewmembers were selected to have dinner with him on the mess decks to ask questions and I was one of them. When we pulled in the next morning, he had an All Hands call on the flight deck and he gave a motivational talk about the importance of INSURV, illustrated through the story of Dewey at Manila Bay... "You may fire WHEN READY, Gridley." INSURV is all about readiness, so it was very apt.
That afternoon I had an "in-port check" with a Lieutenant Commander on our fathometer. The next day, Wednesday, I did checks with a Chief on a couple more of our auxiliaries, and received a bunch of open purchase items from Supply, which was finished up today.
In anticipation of this event (that we've been preparing for all year), liberty expired at noon on Sunday... although I had duty that day (so it didn't affect my liberty). This was the second duty day in a row where I did not have a watch! But now that INSURV is upon us, we are back to six-section duty instead of the three-section duty we've endured this last month.
Monday was an early underway for all the INSURV demonstrations... like Small Object Avoidance (SOA) for Sonar in the morning... weapons, anchoring, boats, full-power run, and finally, our own system demonstration at night... where we tracked a little emitter and made like we were going to shoot it to prove that our system is operational. And we successfully passed it in record time!
Our ship had the President of INSURV, RADM Robert Wray (here's a YouTube video of him) onboard during our underway. Nine crewmembers were selected to have dinner with him on the mess decks to ask questions and I was one of them. When we pulled in the next morning, he had an All Hands call on the flight deck and he gave a motivational talk about the importance of INSURV, illustrated through the story of Dewey at Manila Bay... "You may fire WHEN READY, Gridley." INSURV is all about readiness, so it was very apt.
That afternoon I had an "in-port check" with a Lieutenant Commander on our fathometer. The next day, Wednesday, I did checks with a Chief on a couple more of our auxiliaries, and received a bunch of open purchase items from Supply, which was finished up today.
Friday, October 4, 2013
At the Movies!
We got to preview the movie Captain Phillips on Friday... the scene I was in was cut, but I didn't mind too much. The film was really exciting! We all cheered when the Truxtun first came on the scene. They changed the hull number to reflect the Bainbridge's number... DDG-96. I know a few people who had scenes... our captain now, was XO then, and he played the XO. My Leading Petty Officer (LPO) was part of the team that arrested one of the bad guys in the end, and in the last scene, the medical chief who treats Tom Hanks is really a second class like me... and we know each other pretty well, as she comes to church on board.
The screening was on the Joint Little Creek/Fort Story base in Virginia Beach, and I managed to get a front row seat in the crowded theater. In addition to the regular previews, there were ads about the consequences of sexual assault, and the playing of the national anthem. Only in a military theater!
The screening was on the Joint Little Creek/Fort Story base in Virginia Beach, and I managed to get a front row seat in the crowded theater. In addition to the regular previews, there were ads about the consequences of sexual assault, and the playing of the national anthem. Only in a military theater!
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Quickie
Everyone had to stay on board Monday night (I had duty anyway) for an early underway on Tuesday, just for one day out. But Monday sped by for me anyway... I had the first watch (contact sentry on the pier), then I worked very hard getting all of the open purchase and parts that got delivered that morning onto the ship. Then my Divo (division officer) requested some open purchase, so I went to SERVMART (government contracted suppliers) to get a quote. Picked up trash in the parking lot for the duty section on my way back to the ship, then made sure the request got routed up the chain of command.
Tuesday, underway, Sea & Anchor was very early. In the afternoon I organized Sonar 1 a bit more, especially with the new label maker we had received the day before. To help prepare for the evening's Sonar events, I helped carry some equipment to the helo hanger for programming. When I had done all I needed to, I went out on the flight deck to breathe some fresh air and watch the sunset. My watch didn't start until just before our scenario, and it was another quick success to be proud of. Afterwords, I still had the dailies to do, so the watch was over before I knew it. It was a very long day!
This morning we had another Underway Replenishment (same station as before) and I was able to see the sun rise from the horizon, just as I had seen it set the night before. This was followed by a FWWD (freshwater wash-down) on our beautiful new decks, and then Sea & Anchor right after that. We field-day'd the spaces in Sonar as we neared port. Talk about a busy morning!
Tuesday, underway, Sea & Anchor was very early. In the afternoon I organized Sonar 1 a bit more, especially with the new label maker we had received the day before. To help prepare for the evening's Sonar events, I helped carry some equipment to the helo hanger for programming. When I had done all I needed to, I went out on the flight deck to breathe some fresh air and watch the sunset. My watch didn't start until just before our scenario, and it was another quick success to be proud of. Afterwords, I still had the dailies to do, so the watch was over before I knew it. It was a very long day!
This morning we had another Underway Replenishment (same station as before) and I was able to see the sun rise from the horizon, just as I had seen it set the night before. This was followed by a FWWD (freshwater wash-down) on our beautiful new decks, and then Sea & Anchor right after that. We field-day'd the spaces in Sonar as we neared port. Talk about a busy morning!
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