Less than a week after we pulled back into port we had a fairwell dinner for seven Officers who were about to complete their tour on board. Every time an Officer leaves the Curtis Wilbur there is a celebration in remembrance of their contributions to the ship. Each ship does this a little differently but we present our departing Officers with a portrait of the ship and a plaque. Around the portrait is a large border for every Officer to write a personal message. It is somewhat similar to receiving a yearbook and having your friends write messages in it.
This fairwell dinner was a little more special since we were losing seven of our Officers. We went to a restaurant out in town, TGI Friday's. Yes, this chain of restaurants is now in Japan just like McDonald's and KFC. After the Captain introduced each Officer, each of us congratulated him/her and shared a little history with the wardroom. This could be a funny tidbit or fond memories of time spent together. We try to keep the occasion fairly light-hearted and focus on the future.
Not to sound selfish here but as these Officers leave, bunks in staterooms will open up for the next most senior Officer. I should have access to a stateroom in less than a month. Honestly though, I have gotten used to living in the berthing. I valued several Officers' experience and advice over the advantages of having more space. Life in the Navy goes on though for the Officers still left serving on the Curtis Wilbur.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Qualifications
I started getting qualifications the second day I arrived on board. When a ship is in port, the main duty for Officers is Officer on Deck (OOD). There are multiple pages that need to be initialed by qualified watch standers. I had to "UI" every watch and observe what happens during each period of time. I learned how to perform morning and evening colors, flag etiquette and proper honors rendered for senior Officers among many other aspects. This knowledge was tested by a board which signs off the last requirements. I was almost done when the ship went underway for the second time. All that is left to do now is route the qual sheet up the chain of command.
When a ship is underway the entire crew is on board. That means plenty of people for training and qualifications. I spent every night training for basic damage control and 3-M (maintenance). These skills are what set the U.S. Navy apart from all the other Navies in the world. Being about to trouble shoot problems out at sea enables us to sail all over the world for months on end.
Every Officer is required to do weekly spot checks on their divisions. Work and repairs need to be done quickly and correctly. It is up to the Division Officers to ensure their departments are staying on schedule and doing proper maintenance. Before they do their spot checks, Officers need the same basic training they expect their seamen to follow. I am almost ready to start doing spot checks on my guys.
I did receive some bad news on one of my main qualifications though. Apparently since I have bad depth perception, I am not allowed to be a Helicopter Control Officer. I found this out after having completed HCO school and landing a couple of helicopters. That was not a good day but I think I may try qualifying for weapons and operations instead. I think I like the idea of being in control of Tomahawk cruise missles more than landing helicopters anyway.
When a ship is underway the entire crew is on board. That means plenty of people for training and qualifications. I spent every night training for basic damage control and 3-M (maintenance). These skills are what set the U.S. Navy apart from all the other Navies in the world. Being about to trouble shoot problems out at sea enables us to sail all over the world for months on end.
Every Officer is required to do weekly spot checks on their divisions. Work and repairs need to be done quickly and correctly. It is up to the Division Officers to ensure their departments are staying on schedule and doing proper maintenance. Before they do their spot checks, Officers need the same basic training they expect their seamen to follow. I am almost ready to start doing spot checks on my guys.
I did receive some bad news on one of my main qualifications though. Apparently since I have bad depth perception, I am not allowed to be a Helicopter Control Officer. I found this out after having completed HCO school and landing a couple of helicopters. That was not a good day but I think I may try qualifying for weapons and operations instead. I think I like the idea of being in control of Tomahawk cruise missles more than landing helicopters anyway.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
2nd Cruise
I took some seasickness medicine (Dopamine) before the ship left port this time so no seasickness. The excitement started before we even left port. A seaman cut his hand open while compacting trash and had to be taken to the hospital. He didn't have to go on the cruise but I am not sure that kind of injury was worth it. My sales division was down a man so two guys had to do the work of three, that wasn't fun.
The whole point of the cruise was a live fire exercise with shells fired from the five inch gun. Every ship has to be periodically tested on their equipment and accuracy. We sailed out to an island with a couple other destroyers and took turns shelling it while several marine inspectors watched from a helicopter. First we had to get rid of a few Japanese trawlers, they left pretty quickly when they found out three destroyers were about to shell their position.
The Curtis Wilbur was the second ship up for the live fire. While we waited for the first destroyer to finish we practiced evasive maneuvering and I was able to watch the main gun being practice fired. When the inspectors were ready for our ship to start the exercise, I landed my first helicopter. The Captain was nice enough to point that out to them later.
My ship passed the firing exercise and that put everyone in a good mood on the way back. The Captain decided to let all the junior officers navigate the ship during practice man overboard drills. We dropped a flare in the water and then circled back to recover it using different maneuvers. The point was to put the ship along side the flare close enough for search and rescue teams to recover the flare (person).
After most of the officers had a chance to practice giving out directions, it was time for a more experienced officer to show off his skills. This time I was the man overboard. No, I didn't get thrown overboard, they hide me in a room just off the bridge and sounded the general alarm. When someone is suspected to be missing from the ship the first action is to muster everyone with their departments and take roll. It took my division about ten minutes to decide I was missing and another five to filter through the other people who hadn't reported in. Mental note, don't fall overboard; that much time in the water without a survival suit would have killed me.
The whole point of the cruise was a live fire exercise with shells fired from the five inch gun. Every ship has to be periodically tested on their equipment and accuracy. We sailed out to an island with a couple other destroyers and took turns shelling it while several marine inspectors watched from a helicopter. First we had to get rid of a few Japanese trawlers, they left pretty quickly when they found out three destroyers were about to shell their position.
The Curtis Wilbur was the second ship up for the live fire. While we waited for the first destroyer to finish we practiced evasive maneuvering and I was able to watch the main gun being practice fired. When the inspectors were ready for our ship to start the exercise, I landed my first helicopter. The Captain was nice enough to point that out to them later.
My ship passed the firing exercise and that put everyone in a good mood on the way back. The Captain decided to let all the junior officers navigate the ship during practice man overboard drills. We dropped a flare in the water and then circled back to recover it using different maneuvers. The point was to put the ship along side the flare close enough for search and rescue teams to recover the flare (person).
After most of the officers had a chance to practice giving out directions, it was time for a more experienced officer to show off his skills. This time I was the man overboard. No, I didn't get thrown overboard, they hide me in a room just off the bridge and sounded the general alarm. When someone is suspected to be missing from the ship the first action is to muster everyone with their departments and take roll. It took my division about ten minutes to decide I was missing and another five to filter through the other people who hadn't reported in. Mental note, don't fall overboard; that much time in the water without a survival suit would have killed me.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
FEG Audit
A few days after we pulled back into port, some inspectors decided to pay my ship a visit. The FEG Audit is conducted once every eighteen months and the previous Disbursing Officer had warned me that the ship was due for its next one. They are meant to be surprise inspections but as I knew it was coming, it was not a total shocker.
There was only so much they could grade me on as I had less than a month of experience. That was one point that had me on edge. All of the records were still from the departed Disbo. I did not have all of my letters of authority, which could not really be helped. They mostly used it to teach me what I was doing right and wrong and give me a few new contacts. I really appreciated that, it confirmed that I was mostly on the right track.
I was afraid that I might not pass the inspection due to some major mistakes they caught but passed with a satisfactory performance. They mentioned some aspects I could improve on and some corrections I needed to make. I can only improve from here so I plan on knocking their socks off when they come back in about eighteen months. It was reassuring that all my funds were completely accurate, now I just need to keep them that way.
There was only so much they could grade me on as I had less than a month of experience. That was one point that had me on edge. All of the records were still from the departed Disbo. I did not have all of my letters of authority, which could not really be helped. They mostly used it to teach me what I was doing right and wrong and give me a few new contacts. I really appreciated that, it confirmed that I was mostly on the right track.
I was afraid that I might not pass the inspection due to some major mistakes they caught but passed with a satisfactory performance. They mentioned some aspects I could improve on and some corrections I needed to make. I can only improve from here so I plan on knocking their socks off when they come back in about eighteen months. It was reassuring that all my funds were completely accurate, now I just need to keep them that way.
Seasick
My first time going to sea was short but definitely not sweet. We needed to do a Change of Command Ceremony at sea so that entailed a short voyage to show off the ship to a new Captain. It lasted about three days with one day focused on the ceremony. The first day was great, I spent some time on the bridge as we were leaving port. One of my collateral duties is to escort the harbor pilot to the bridge. One of the chiefs took a very unflattering picture of me as I was trying to absorb everything going on around me.
The second day I got violently ill and spent most of the afternoon with my head on my desk. Every time I tried to walk any where I mostly just ended up banging into the bulkheads. I skipped dinner, that ended up being a good decision. As I was continuing to go downhill, it suddenly occurred to me that if I actually required medical attention no one was going to be able to get in the disbursing office without cutting through a wall. The outgoing CO ordered me to go to bed instead of attending the Officer's meeting that night. I latter heard they just used my lack of attendance to make fun of me. I only threw up once, I guess it could have been worse!
The third day consisted of the Change of Command Ceremony and bonging off the former Captain. The ceremony was conducted on the mess decks and latter broadcast to the crew. All the Officers attended in person and then celebrated with cake and ice cream afterward. I was on the bridge again while the ship came back into port and docked. Goodbyes were exchanged as the Captain departed the ship for the last time. I did not have much to say to him as I shook his hand, I only knew him for a few weeks. I do look forward to working with the new CO and continuing to learn my way around the ship.
The second day I got violently ill and spent most of the afternoon with my head on my desk. Every time I tried to walk any where I mostly just ended up banging into the bulkheads. I skipped dinner, that ended up being a good decision. As I was continuing to go downhill, it suddenly occurred to me that if I actually required medical attention no one was going to be able to get in the disbursing office without cutting through a wall. The outgoing CO ordered me to go to bed instead of attending the Officer's meeting that night. I latter heard they just used my lack of attendance to make fun of me. I only threw up once, I guess it could have been worse!
The third day consisted of the Change of Command Ceremony and bonging off the former Captain. The ceremony was conducted on the mess decks and latter broadcast to the crew. All the Officers attended in person and then celebrated with cake and ice cream afterward. I was on the bridge again while the ship came back into port and docked. Goodbyes were exchanged as the Captain departed the ship for the last time. I did not have much to say to him as I shook his hand, I only knew him for a few weeks. I do look forward to working with the new CO and continuing to learn my way around the ship.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)