An extra duty day... with no watch! After Labor Day now, the ship has gone to three-section duty. And as a benefit to the crew, the Executive Officer put out a late Liberty expiration this morning in order for parents to be able to take their children to their first day of school... and I know one Mom in my division was very happy about being able to see her kids off. I really enjoyed the late expiration too... I slept in, had a wonderful breakfast and time for one episode of Dick Van Dyke on Netflix before I went to work. It was time for lunch only minutes after Duty Section turnover.
Finally found time for a security spot check before I went to eat, and I helped another tech with trying to find the right item for a job to be written, then took care of two maintenance checks during the rest of the day... both needed hazmat checked out... grease and detergent (the grease gun needed loading... what a nasty job that was... I think it would qualify for the TV show Dirty Jobs). However, the LS checking me out the hazmat did it for me... I only helped by holding the can of grease as he dug into it with his gloved fingers. I'd never seen it done before, so that was very helpful and nice of him.
And they both required Danger tags on the relevant circuit breakers... and people in the division were very willing to help out with that too, so it didn't take too long. Every tag-out requires a "second" in order to verify that everything was actually done correctly.
After dinner I finished up the second check, then we had Duty Section training. After that, I finally ordered the expendable parts I've been having a whale of a time trying to order... when I finally got with Supply, it took a few tries to figure out that I needed a certain kind of access to our system before I was able to get to the right screen... and it only took roughly 15 seconds. Incredible how important it is to know what you're doing in the system and have access to it.
If that wasn't enough, I was on the hit list for not having completed an Information Awareness training online (that I had completed back in the Spring). But if they say so, you do so... and I did. Another wonderful hour on Navy Knowledge Online. This one is more creative than most... but an NKO is still and NKO no matter how up to date they get. This time around I didn't get tripped up by the question that requires me to take my CAC (common access card) - commonly referred to in the military as a "CAC Card" - before I left my desk to investigate something in the virtual government office I work in. Hah! So even though my name is printed in the POD for tomorrow as a delinquent, I am not!
Showing posts with label checks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label checks. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013
Inserv Underway and Checks
Tuesday the 20th, was our first day back in port for a good while, and since Duty Section 2 had duty that day, the Leadership decided to give our section a few hours off that afternoon before liberty expired on board at 1800 (to be ready for an early underway the next morning). I thought that was generous, and I certainly enjoyed my time! And I managed to make use of it, stopping by an electronics store to see if I could find a part we need that wasn't available through normal routes.
Since this week was a pre-inserv (the ship's certification) event, they told us our personal stuff had to be out of our equipment room... and part of what I took with me off the ship was pretty heavy: with all the temperature measuring devices we dropped during the last three weeks, I managed to wind seven pounds of excess copper wire (that would have been thrown away) and sold it to a recycling business in Norfolk for enough money to cover the cost of the part I needed to buy. My, how well that worked out!
Sea & Anchor the next morning was relatively early; my station was in Sonar Control, keeping the logbook for when we went active for our first Inserv demonstration. There were some hiccups, but we completed the event satisfactorily in time. Since we were only out for a day, we went back to the old five-hour watch rotation, and I had the afternoon watch with my same watch-mates as the last three weeks. I did one of the quickest checks with an inspector, and not long after, one of the longest checks with another. Before dinner, I went up to the bridge to watch the anchor drop demonstration for a ESWS line-item signature. The OOD, a former Sonar Tech himself, signed it off after I observed the evolution. Before we reached the spot for the drop, we were clipping along at a pretty good pace... and all of a sudden we came upon dozens of dolphins, riding through our wake. They looked as if they were swimming and diving right into our dome, but I'm sure they were too good of swimmers to do that. It's entrancing to watch their graceful maneuvers just under the surface, up through it and down again. After dinner I managed some rest, then got up for the late evening ASW demonstration, in which I found the contact! Yay! I felt useful!
I thought I was on the UNREP (underway replenishment) demonstration, but when I checked the watchbill in the morning, I wasn't on it. So I stayed in Sonar Control to augment the watch team and used that time to finally figure out how to use our new electronic leave request forms. It was a big relief, and it was so much easier than filling out the paper form... it automatically put all the standard information in, including stats on how much leave I had left on the books, whereas before, I had to go look that up on MyPay... which is a pain in the neck (and recently when I checked, not available). Then it was time for my watch, and while I worked on our system for ordering parts, I also generated the day's muster report as the watch before me hadn't done yet.
My Sup sent me back aft for line-handlers during Sea & Anchor, since one of our girls on the line was LLD (light, limited duty). I didn't mind at all since I hadn't been a line-handler for a long time. Sometimes it's nice to be topside... I love feeling the wind in my face and watching our wake as we tore through the water (while we were still a ways out). After S&A secured, and the trash taken out, we didn't have to wait too long for Senior to allow us to go on liberty for the rest of the afternoon. First he had us put the cover on the port torpedo tubes... and that was harder than it looked. But at least I know how that works now, and we got it done.
Today, I had just one check with one of the same inspectors from Wednesday, and it turned out to last close to four hours. There were a few issues we had to fix, along with a few burnt out light bulbs, on top of the check itself. After being let go, and after I enjoyed a wonderful all-you-can-eat sushi on the way, I picked up a special open-purchase order from a business in town, then picked up the electronic part I ordered on Tuesday. Can't wait to enjoy one whole day of staying home and relaxing tomorrow.
Since this week was a pre-inserv (the ship's certification) event, they told us our personal stuff had to be out of our equipment room... and part of what I took with me off the ship was pretty heavy: with all the temperature measuring devices we dropped during the last three weeks, I managed to wind seven pounds of excess copper wire (that would have been thrown away) and sold it to a recycling business in Norfolk for enough money to cover the cost of the part I needed to buy. My, how well that worked out!
Sea & Anchor the next morning was relatively early; my station was in Sonar Control, keeping the logbook for when we went active for our first Inserv demonstration. There were some hiccups, but we completed the event satisfactorily in time. Since we were only out for a day, we went back to the old five-hour watch rotation, and I had the afternoon watch with my same watch-mates as the last three weeks. I did one of the quickest checks with an inspector, and not long after, one of the longest checks with another. Before dinner, I went up to the bridge to watch the anchor drop demonstration for a ESWS line-item signature. The OOD, a former Sonar Tech himself, signed it off after I observed the evolution. Before we reached the spot for the drop, we were clipping along at a pretty good pace... and all of a sudden we came upon dozens of dolphins, riding through our wake. They looked as if they were swimming and diving right into our dome, but I'm sure they were too good of swimmers to do that. It's entrancing to watch their graceful maneuvers just under the surface, up through it and down again. After dinner I managed some rest, then got up for the late evening ASW demonstration, in which I found the contact! Yay! I felt useful!
I thought I was on the UNREP (underway replenishment) demonstration, but when I checked the watchbill in the morning, I wasn't on it. So I stayed in Sonar Control to augment the watch team and used that time to finally figure out how to use our new electronic leave request forms. It was a big relief, and it was so much easier than filling out the paper form... it automatically put all the standard information in, including stats on how much leave I had left on the books, whereas before, I had to go look that up on MyPay... which is a pain in the neck (and recently when I checked, not available). Then it was time for my watch, and while I worked on our system for ordering parts, I also generated the day's muster report as the watch before me hadn't done yet.
My Sup sent me back aft for line-handlers during Sea & Anchor, since one of our girls on the line was LLD (light, limited duty). I didn't mind at all since I hadn't been a line-handler for a long time. Sometimes it's nice to be topside... I love feeling the wind in my face and watching our wake as we tore through the water (while we were still a ways out). After S&A secured, and the trash taken out, we didn't have to wait too long for Senior to allow us to go on liberty for the rest of the afternoon. First he had us put the cover on the port torpedo tubes... and that was harder than it looked. But at least I know how that works now, and we got it done.
Today, I had just one check with one of the same inspectors from Wednesday, and it turned out to last close to four hours. There were a few issues we had to fix, along with a few burnt out light bulbs, on top of the check itself. After being let go, and after I enjoyed a wonderful all-you-can-eat sushi on the way, I picked up a special open-purchase order from a business in town, then picked up the electronic part I ordered on Tuesday. Can't wait to enjoy one whole day of staying home and relaxing tomorrow.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
On Top of the World!
Coming in Monday morning, I had no idea how I'd spend my time... there wasn't anything to do as I was aware of. Ha! I was busy all day! Started off right away, coming in from Quarters topside... Combat needed our equipment online, so there was some starting and restarting to do. Then after sweepers, I had to do it some more. Afterwords, I found out my tasking for the week... accomplish the check we've been having problems with for months, and the check that none of us have ever done before... going aloft and checking our antenna on the top yardarm of the main mast. No one in the division was aloft qualified, so that was my new mission.
First, I wrote and got a response from the manager of the specific check I was still trying to finish. It took all day, but that's understandable, as he's based in Washington State, and three hours behind us. Then it was a matter of getting aloft qualified in a day. Ship's force was going to go aloft the next day, so I decided I would make it happen. Both checks would be lost if we didn't get them done this week.
I got with the ETs for the rest of the line-items (I've had a couple trainings before, but never enough), then had an oral board with ETC (electronics tech chief). This passed, I decided I'd write up another list of things to order that got left of the first order, and I had just about finished when the 50-man working party for unloading the ship's food stores was announced as inadequate. They needed more bodies, so I went to the mess decks and spent a solid hour helping move generally very heavy boxes (some frozen) from one person to the next in the main ladder-well. When I finished with this, I walked my aloft qualification around for four or five signatures, including the XO and CO.
Tuesday was rather busy as well. I was worried all morning that the ETs were going to leave me behind from going aloft (always have to do it in pairs for safety), but it was sort of out of their hands. The ship wouldn't allow anyone aloft all morning for some reason. So I worked on getting the fatho check done, but of course, the test equipment needs looking at by an ET first. I remembered the aloft check required a tag-out, and according to procedure, needed to be tagged out by taking out the fuses to the distribution box. That required getting the right safety gloves from tool issue, and routing a "energized work chit" to be signed off by the Captain. I managed to get 3 minutes to eat lunch (spaghetti and meat sauce) while on my way to look for my Department Head (lieutenant). Once the Captain signed it, the CSOOW (combat systems officer of the watch) helped me write the tag, as none had been done before by anyone on board.
So following the checklist on the work chit, I pulled the fuses associated with the correct gear (to keep us safe from radiation while aloft), then headed up to see the ETs. They were very helpful, and dropped everything to help me by being my safety observers (and showing me how to get up there). I was warned I might get scared once I saw how high it was, but as I told them, heights don't bother me in the slightest if I know I can't get hurt (when I'm tethered to something... and I can hang on). And goodness, what a view from up there! After the clean and inspect check, ET2 took me up a few feet more to the very top for some pictures... boy, was it fun!
The rest of the day was pretty relaxing... five-hour, "sit down and monitor the alarms" watch (during training!), a good rest, and then more tags to run in the morning!
Also of interest, last week the females had to move out of our usual berthing so that the deck could be redone (needed it badly in places), so yesterday, I was shown where the new one was, since I had never been there before and would need to move in for my duty day today. This morning, I picked out a bottom rack for the day, put brand new sheets on it, and stowed my PT gear and toiletries. When I got my t-shirt and shorts out for this cycle's BCA (weigh-in), I remembered why I like the top rack so much better... it takes a bit of struggling to open up the rack at the angle so low near the deck. And I passed the weigh-in, thank goodness! A highly profitable day.
Today, my LPO told me that I was the first Sonar Technician on the Truxtun to ever go aloft!
First, I wrote and got a response from the manager of the specific check I was still trying to finish. It took all day, but that's understandable, as he's based in Washington State, and three hours behind us. Then it was a matter of getting aloft qualified in a day. Ship's force was going to go aloft the next day, so I decided I would make it happen. Both checks would be lost if we didn't get them done this week.
I got with the ETs for the rest of the line-items (I've had a couple trainings before, but never enough), then had an oral board with ETC (electronics tech chief). This passed, I decided I'd write up another list of things to order that got left of the first order, and I had just about finished when the 50-man working party for unloading the ship's food stores was announced as inadequate. They needed more bodies, so I went to the mess decks and spent a solid hour helping move generally very heavy boxes (some frozen) from one person to the next in the main ladder-well. When I finished with this, I walked my aloft qualification around for four or five signatures, including the XO and CO.
Tuesday was rather busy as well. I was worried all morning that the ETs were going to leave me behind from going aloft (always have to do it in pairs for safety), but it was sort of out of their hands. The ship wouldn't allow anyone aloft all morning for some reason. So I worked on getting the fatho check done, but of course, the test equipment needs looking at by an ET first. I remembered the aloft check required a tag-out, and according to procedure, needed to be tagged out by taking out the fuses to the distribution box. That required getting the right safety gloves from tool issue, and routing a "energized work chit" to be signed off by the Captain. I managed to get 3 minutes to eat lunch (spaghetti and meat sauce) while on my way to look for my Department Head (lieutenant). Once the Captain signed it, the CSOOW (combat systems officer of the watch) helped me write the tag, as none had been done before by anyone on board.
So following the checklist on the work chit, I pulled the fuses associated with the correct gear (to keep us safe from radiation while aloft), then headed up to see the ETs. They were very helpful, and dropped everything to help me by being my safety observers (and showing me how to get up there). I was warned I might get scared once I saw how high it was, but as I told them, heights don't bother me in the slightest if I know I can't get hurt (when I'm tethered to something... and I can hang on). And goodness, what a view from up there! After the clean and inspect check, ET2 took me up a few feet more to the very top for some pictures... boy, was it fun!
The rest of the day was pretty relaxing... five-hour, "sit down and monitor the alarms" watch (during training!), a good rest, and then more tags to run in the morning!
Also of interest, last week the females had to move out of our usual berthing so that the deck could be redone (needed it badly in places), so yesterday, I was shown where the new one was, since I had never been there before and would need to move in for my duty day today. This morning, I picked out a bottom rack for the day, put brand new sheets on it, and stowed my PT gear and toiletries. When I got my t-shirt and shorts out for this cycle's BCA (weigh-in), I remembered why I like the top rack so much better... it takes a bit of struggling to open up the rack at the angle so low near the deck. And I passed the weigh-in, thank goodness! A highly profitable day.
Today, my LPO told me that I was the first Sonar Technician on the Truxtun to ever go aloft!
Friday, April 26, 2013
Questions, Questions
Every day was a longer day this week... getting out between 1530ish and even 1700 once. But once I have in my mind that it's going to be that way, there's no getting frustrated about waiting to be let off. I've kept myself pretty busy every day, even when I had to come up with things to do myself.
Monday was, as I said in the last post, taken up with LOK tests and an NKO course about cyber security.
Tuesday it was more of the same for the division, but I also worked on a fathometer check... one that's notorious for being difficult to understand. I was running up to ask the ETs (electronics technicians) questions all day about this cord or that part or the test equipment itself.
Wednesday, I was directed to work on the division's consumables issue (we haven't had anyone who knows how to order office supplies in over a year... I asked a lot of questions of supply in the last couple weeks) and managed to get a list sent out for a quote.
Thursday was the very late day. I got the quote back from SERV MART (local government supply store), worked on getting that information printed out on the right form and routed with an official USS Truxtun "Action Correspondence Route Slip" to my department head for approval (with running it by my LPO/LCPO first, of course). And there were a couple MRCs that needed completing too.
What made the day super late was a combination of things. My duty section had to run a DC drill, even though it wasn't my duty day. They did this to make sure people were available and not on watch during the full-scale drill. I was assigned as a "Utilityman"; this meant that I set boundaries or smoke screens, or whatever was needed. They did a "white smoke" drill, and I learned how to set a smoke shield around a doorway that responders had to have open for the fire hose to go through.
The drill went pretty well... it's just that the brow cracked right as the drill was getting over, so the brow was secured (no one could leave!). And it was after 1600. I ate dinner, since I was there, and enjoyed the tasty steak cubes that were on the menu. Then I went back to Sonar to continue consolidating our acoustic analysis charts. The brow was repaired and opened around 1630ish, but I stayed a bit longer to finish a certain page I was working on.
Friday was great fun! Did one check, worked on more charts, received a package from the pier for the division, and then got dressed up in my service uniform (khaki blouse, black pants/cover) in order to go to a GMC's (chief gunner's mate) re-enlistment ceremony downtown, on the forecastle of the USS Wisconsin (BB-64). Thankfully, I remembered to go back to Sonar 1 for my 2nd class crow pins before I got to the quarterdeck. I had to take off my 3rd class ones... don't think I've worn the uniform since standing watch in San Diego at school!
The ceremony itself was the nicest I've been to. The Weapons department head was there to read chief's bio, and another Lieutenant (who was a long-time friend) said a few words and gave out the certificates. First, chief was honorably discharged, then after a few words, he took the oath of enlistment again, and even his little kids participated (and got certificates too). Then the party retired to Buffalo Wild Wings by the MacArthur Center Mall for a celebratory lunch. I had picked up STG3 so she could go too, and I drove her home as we left.
Monday was, as I said in the last post, taken up with LOK tests and an NKO course about cyber security.
Tuesday it was more of the same for the division, but I also worked on a fathometer check... one that's notorious for being difficult to understand. I was running up to ask the ETs (electronics technicians) questions all day about this cord or that part or the test equipment itself.
Wednesday, I was directed to work on the division's consumables issue (we haven't had anyone who knows how to order office supplies in over a year... I asked a lot of questions of supply in the last couple weeks) and managed to get a list sent out for a quote.
Thursday was the very late day. I got the quote back from SERV MART (local government supply store), worked on getting that information printed out on the right form and routed with an official USS Truxtun "Action Correspondence Route Slip" to my department head for approval (with running it by my LPO/LCPO first, of course). And there were a couple MRCs that needed completing too.
What made the day super late was a combination of things. My duty section had to run a DC drill, even though it wasn't my duty day. They did this to make sure people were available and not on watch during the full-scale drill. I was assigned as a "Utilityman"; this meant that I set boundaries or smoke screens, or whatever was needed. They did a "white smoke" drill, and I learned how to set a smoke shield around a doorway that responders had to have open for the fire hose to go through.
The drill went pretty well... it's just that the brow cracked right as the drill was getting over, so the brow was secured (no one could leave!). And it was after 1600. I ate dinner, since I was there, and enjoyed the tasty steak cubes that were on the menu. Then I went back to Sonar to continue consolidating our acoustic analysis charts. The brow was repaired and opened around 1630ish, but I stayed a bit longer to finish a certain page I was working on.
Friday was great fun! Did one check, worked on more charts, received a package from the pier for the division, and then got dressed up in my service uniform (khaki blouse, black pants/cover) in order to go to a GMC's (chief gunner's mate) re-enlistment ceremony downtown, on the forecastle of the USS Wisconsin (BB-64). Thankfully, I remembered to go back to Sonar 1 for my 2nd class crow pins before I got to the quarterdeck. I had to take off my 3rd class ones... don't think I've worn the uniform since standing watch in San Diego at school!
The ceremony itself was the nicest I've been to. The Weapons department head was there to read chief's bio, and another Lieutenant (who was a long-time friend) said a few words and gave out the certificates. First, chief was honorably discharged, then after a few words, he took the oath of enlistment again, and even his little kids participated (and got certificates too). Then the party retired to Buffalo Wild Wings by the MacArthur Center Mall for a celebratory lunch. I had picked up STG3 so she could go too, and I drove her home as we left.
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