Homecoming Plans

Pulling out of Singapore was bitter sweet because while I was tired after three months at sea, it was also dawning on me that the port visits were coming to a close for a while. I had not realized the preparations had already started for a homecoming upon pulling into Yokosuka. As soon as the ship had left the harbor, I was immediately engaged in one of the plans.

Apparently there is an old navy tradition that ships coming back from long deployments receive a homecoming ceremony as soon as they arrive back in port. Traditionally ships going underway from the states complete around six months at sea before returning to port. We had been underway for three months but still it is really the thought that counts. As a forward deployed ship, we go in and out of port regularly or irregularly in some cases.

The plan my skills were needed for was to sell roses to give to family members upon return. The manpower requirements were filled by the chief selects. I programed a K22, a hand held navy cash card reader, to accept payments during lunch. Sailors would be able to hand deliver a flower to their special loved ones. I thought it was a romantic and classy gesture.

As more plans were announced we learned that our pier had been changed to better accommodate large groups of family members, Senior Officers and vendors. One of the prizes during a bingo tournament was to be the first person off the ship. The crew was revved up about seeing their family and friends. I needed to make sure my sailors stayed on task for the week it was going to take to get back into port. Without any family in Yokosuka, I liked to see how much impact this homecoming was having on the crew.

At-Sea Operations

With all the planned operations in port finished, the USS CURTIS WILBUR was ready to begin the deployment phase. First, we had an Officer exchange with one of the Singapore destroyers. Then it was time to leave port and start exercises with the other American ships mixed in with various Singapore forces.

During the course of the deployment we engaged with Singapore aircraft, submarines and ships. Exercises were conducted in many different areas of warfare. Our tasks included hiding from detection by radar and aircraft, engagement of air and sea targets and tracking submarines among many others.

While all this was going on, I continued to rebuild the ship's store and improve on ship services. I had laundry and barbershop running well. With the new items I was able to purchase from the Singapore NEX, the ship's store was becoming popular. The crew seemed to appreciate a full store and the new items I was trying out for the first time. Within the course of about a week, most of the new items were gone. That might sound like a bad thing but the primary purpose of the store is too sell out items as fast as possible and then restock those items. The element I was still missing was that I was unable to restock.

We pulled back into Singapore after about a week of operations for a liberty weekend. We also needed an Officer back from the Singapore ship. I was anxious to get back into Singapore for a few more days. Singapore is an exciting city/country. It marked the first time I was able to open up with sailors from my department during a department outing. I really hope I will be able to do that again in another liberty port.

The closing ceremony marked the end of our mission in Singapore. I did not attend that particular ceremony. I was perfectly happy to just stay on the ship and relax a little before starting the trip back to Japan.

Singapore Bank Run

It was mentioned in a previous post that my funds had been severely depleted in Manila. Although I was not initially aware of there being a source of cash on the Singapore base, through some extraordinary means my SUPPO did manage to work out the logistics of resupplying Disbursing with cash. This was a really painful process, that I still shutter to think about.

First of all, I set some strict requirements before I would get the amount of cash that was required. I needed secure transport from one base to another, that meant armed security through Singapore. I also needed to set up a place to count the funds and contact information for the bank. Considering those requirements, I honestly did not think I would be able to obtain the funds. This was where the nightmare would begin.

Coordinating a time that would work for both me and the Disbursing Office on base was not going well. One of the last mornings in port, I was attending a conference on humanitarian disasters and relief. I was enjoying the conference since I played a significant role during Tomadachi with evacuation efforts. It was interesting to investigate the various problems and solutions of the last few major disasters. My SUPPO tapped me on the shoulder and pulled me out of the conference room.

Evidently he had worked out a last minute deal with the base Disbursing Office but I had to leave as soon as possible. I was already late by the time I got back to the ship. I needed to find an escort from the ship and then jump in the CO's sedan to leave base. After dropping us off outside of base, we waved down a taxi and rode out to the American base. I got drilled for being late, not really my fault, but oh well. I counted the funds and then asked who would be providing an armed escort back to the ship. Evidently the guards present during my count were only there to deliver the funds to that location. That eventually got worked out with a call to base security.

Here is where things got really interesting and confusing. Since personal from my ship were not allowed to carry weapons off ship, I needed other arrangements. After coming out of the Disbursing Office, I was directed to an armored vehicle, basically the same type that makes cash deliveries to banks. I was wondering if I needed to find a pair of handcuffs to attach my money bag to my wrist. The armored truck drove across Singapore and parked just outside of the Singapore base.

This caused more confusion, evidently this operation had not been successfully communicated between American and Singapore authorities. My armed escorts did not have clearance to enter the base. I was told that I would need to leave the truck and enter the base on my own. I flat out refused this offer, and said other arrangements were going to be needed. The two security forces went back and forth for a few minutes and reached an agreement. My one escort from the ship would wait at the gate while the armored truck delivered me to the ship. After the truck returned to the gate, he would be free to walk back. I took the compromise, although my shipmate was not all that happy about the prospect of walking back.

The mental picture I was getting of pulling up next to my ship in an armored truck was quickly realized. It caused some curious looks on the quarterdeck. Two armed guards escorted me up to the quarterdeck. I needed to sign a contract that they had adequately performed their duty and then was finally done. That was a rough few hours, I had to make quite a few decisions and issue orders in rapid succession. I did not feel great setting conditions for Singapore sailors. I am not sure what the chain of command would have been if it came to giving an order with three different commands involved.

Singapore Shore Patrol

Three days into the Singapore port visit and I had yet to set foot outside a military base. I am just going to accept the fact that port visits can become a nightmare for Supply Officers if everything does not go according to plan. This day I happened to be on duty anyways so I was stuck on the ship for that reason. I knew I was scheduled for Shore Patrol that night so that was a slightly comforting thought. At least I would be able to leave the ship.

To get off the base we took a bus to a train station where we could either ride a train into the city or find a taxi. I had to exchange currency at the train station, luckily Singapore is a bit more civilized than Manila so I felt alright in using their ATMs. The drawback of that civilization was than the dollar did not match up as well as it did in Manila.

The next question was where to go or to put it a little more bluntly, where the crew was going. Singapore is a big city but there are a few spots where most of the sailors tend to congregate. The petty officer with me seemed to know where we should go so I followed his directions.

Singapore has a thriving tourism industry. There were plenty of Americans, Europeans and Australians walking around. The population was the most diverse I had seen since coming to Japan. Aside from western cultures, I saw Japanese, Koreans, Indonesians, Indians and Russians along with many others. Singapore is a melting pot of cultures that could probably only be matched in the states. It was interesting to walk around the city and look at the different restaurants and shops. You could buy everything from a steak to ramen. There was a bar that served their drinks in IV bags and another where everything was made of ice.

Considering all the distractions I was having to deal with, I was starting to think it might be a long night for my patrol. Luckily I had the early patrol so most of the crew was not out and about yet. It gave me the perfect opportunity to scout out all the hot spots for later reference. A few minutes before our relief showed up in a duty vehicle, I started seeing crew members arriving. This day happened to be ladies night so I was glad to go back to the ship without having to deal with any issues. The next patrol did not have any incidents either.

Singapore NEX

Since my Chief left as soon as we moored in Singapore, it was now completely up to me to resupply my almost empty store. In Yokosuka, I could order most of what I wanted by email, not here in Singapore. Keeping in mind that my ship was currently sitting in a Singapore Naval Base, I needed to find transportation over to the US Naval Base. That base was about an hour away.

This was a new process for me, I had just started learning how to obtain supplies from the NEX and commissary in Yokosuka. I made a list of everything I was looking for and reminded myself to keep on open mind because I needed to fill my shelves with whatever my crew wanted. I really opened my horizons on this trip. Some of the items I ordered were ones that had never been sold in the ship's store. I added items like sunflower seeds, fruit cups, mints, and Skyflakes (crackers).

When I was paying for these new items, my Captain and XO walked in. They were a little surprised to see all the boxes stacked up but seemed to appreciate the effort. I was very curious to see how the crew would react to all these new items. The only issue to come up, and I was aware of this before coming to the NEX, was that none of the quantities I bought would last long. The store would only be filled for a week or two at most.

The unanticipated problem was how to get all these boxes to my ship. Normally items are just trucked from a supply center to the ship but since my ship was on a different base, this was a bit more complicated. My SUPPO ended up contacting the husbanding agent and renting a flatbed truck. This was the first time I had any logistical role. The only thing I can say about logistics at this point is that it is a major headache. Hopefully I will get better at putting all the pieces together at the right place, time and price. I think it is just going to take more practice.

Singapore Opening Conference

The exercise in Singapore officially started with an opening ceremony in summer white uniforms. It was an awesome sight to see everyone their whites. Granted it is by far the hardest uniform to keep clean but leaves quite an impression. A few Sailors, Chiefs and Officers were chosen to represent every department on the ship. A bus was chartered to pick us up from the pier and take us to the conference building. The ceremony highlighted last year's efforts during the previous exercise. It has become an honored tradition for the US Navy to work with the Singapore Navy.

A Singapore Admiral introduced himself and relayed his impressions of the US Navy through his experiences as a young Officer aboard a US warship. It made me wonder how I will reflect on my own experiences over the past few years in the Navy. The long history shared between many of our allies in Asia is a tremendous asset. The next person to speak was an American Admiral. He highlighted the success of our relationship with Singapore over the years and his hope for what the future will hold.

After the speeches were over, a brunch was conducted with some interesting Singapore dishes. The food was great but I was more concerned about not getting anything on my uniform. I socialized mostly with Officers from the other destroyer, including the Assistant Supply Officer who I had meet the day before during the problems establishing port services. Afterward the bus returned us to the ship to start the operation. The day ended up being oddly quiet otherwise, I was able to get caught up on some important projects.

Singapore Arrival

I was coming into Singapore on a high point. My LTT was finished with decent results and a three month cruise was almost over. My depleted ship store could restock on supplies, albeit expensive ones. I had heard stories about Singapore, most of them about just how expensive everything was.

Pulling into port was the first time I wore my summer whites since graduating from Supply Corps School. We were about to start an important conference with at sea fleet exercises to follow. First we needed to negotiate the busiest strait in the world. We moored at a Singapore Navy Base. There was a large American Naval Base not far away on the island but being in the Singapore Base made interacting with an allied navy much easier. A destroyer from Hawaii and a US submarine joined us. For a smaller country Singapore can boast an impressive and modern navy. Their abilities improve every year as they train with US forces.

I wanted to get out and explore the country right away but obtaining port services and stores proved to be difficult. There were numerous problems for both SUPPO and me in our initial dealing with local vendors. The other destroyer was having the same issues. The brutal heat was not making things any easier.

I was still out of cash from Manila so the crew was a little upset. I finally got the money exchanger set up but without much currency, I do not think he did much business. After everything calmed down and essential services were established it was fairly late. I decided to call it a night since I had a watch at two and an opening conference to attend the next morning, this would be my first foray into foreign diplomacy.

Second LTT

After experiencing the first Supply Department LTT, to say I was not looking forward to a second one would be an understatement. I had spent the last few months rebuilding from the first and still had some issues that needed corrections. It was going to take the supply chiefs all of a few minutes to find those issues.

Being underway during the inspection was something new. I had a few other priorities to contend with. Keeping my Disbursing Office hours and making sure all the other services continued to run as scheduled were causing me headaches. These inspections ended up taking on a little bit different tone than I was expecting though.

Most of my records had been examined during the first LTT, so the focus was on training my new records keeper and interacting with the rest of the division. My sailors are extremely hard workers but we all lack for time to train properly. I really appreciated their willingness to pass on some of their knowledge.

They still did an out brief with the captain that highlighted some of the sales division weaknesses. This time the list was much smaller, which was not altogether bad news. I was looking forward to making the necessary corrections with my records keeper. I ended up feeling a little more comfortable with the current status of my division. There will be one more LTT coming before the SMC. So I have one more practice inspection before the real thing. As long as I keep improving, there should not be any problems.

Manila Departure

This was a hectic morning for the supply department. Since there was no US military base nearby for port services, I needed to pay a private company for their support. This meant a rather large US Treasury Check needed to be written in a relatively short period of time. That had me a little on edge.

The other problem facing me in the near future was the fact that the crew had managed to go through the bulk of my cash on hand. Another port visit was coming up in about a week and I did not have much currency remaining. I was not able to obtain much in the way of ship stores given the lack of a military base so this had me worried as well.

Right before leaving we took on board a group of chiefs, they would spend the next week conducting a second LTT for the Supply Department. These were the same chiefs who conducted my first LTT several months earlier while the ship was still in Yokosuka. I was not looking forward to the upcoming week. I will start with that topic on my next post.

Manila Wetting Down

Going along with other typical military traditions like my commissioning ceremony or the several Hail and Fairwells attended lately, this is another celebration marking a momentous occasion for an Officer. A wetting Down celebrates the promotion of an Officer to the next rank. In this instance a Lieutenant junior grade (LTjg) and Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CWO3) were promoted to LT and CWO4.

Unlike commissioning ceremonies and Hail and Fairwells, the promoted Officers are responsible for paying the bill. The amount put aside should be equal to the difference between the Officer's old and new paychecks for a month. The higher ranked an Officer is, the more is expected from them. When multiple Officers are promoted the celebration can be large.

The event took place at the Mall of Asia. I had been to the second major mall several days prior on shore patrol. This one was different in that the items sold were mainstream like a mall you would find in a small city, only this one was far bigger. We arrived at the mall in the afternoon and had several hours to kill before the Wetting Down started. There was a movie theater inside the mall so after a little shopping, we went to see a movie. They are all in English so that was not an issue, the ticket was fairly cheap considering it was in 3D.

After the movie was over we ended up at a steakhouse, there was live country music being played with scenery from the American West. We could request country songs, unfortunately I do not follow country music. Most of us went to a bar down stairs to relax since this would be the last day in port. Afterward the group split up and I went to an interesting bar. Up to this point I had avoided that scene but this particular bar peeked my interest. All the staff were midgets so after you were done with your drinks, you could buy a midget bar t-shirt and have your picture taken with them. They had a wide assortment of beers from all over the world. A number of the crew showed up as we were drinking, that was an interesting night.

Corregidor "The Rock"

Another first for me was the opportunity to go on an MWR guided tour. As great as it was to explore the country a little on my own, I wanted some history and culture mixed in. The Philippines played a vital role during the early part of WWII. The United States had a large presence in the country when Japan invaded. Most of the country was taken over in the course of a few days. The island fortress of Corregidor held out for 27 days.

Corregidor is not an easy place to visit. It sits in the middle of the bay with the only access being a small tour boat. After several hours of heavy pounding from waves that made many of the tourists seasick, we moored at the island. We arrived just prior to lunch so that was our first stop. The island has a modern hotel for those looking to spend more time there. That was where we enjoyed a delicious buffet. The view from the balcony was breathtaking. Our announcer was somewhat surprised to see a group of American sailors with a Japanese tour group. I thought it symbolic of how the region has changed in the last sixty years. The fact that Philippine, Japanese and American people and cultures now peacefully coexist after such a costly conflict serves as an example for other countries.

Lacking for modern weapons, ammunition, food and water and manpower, US and Philippine forces put up a valiant fight. The island had originally been intended to protect Manila Bay during WWI, though it never saw any action during that war. All the batteries had been constructed prior to the outbreak of the first world war. These were quickly taken out of action, leading the army to concentrate on defense. The main factor that lead to the island being able to hold out was an extensive tunnel system.

The bombing inflicted on the island reduced all buildings to rubble. Many of the bombed out remnants can still be seen. They stand as monuments to the ferocious fighting. The only reason fighting stopped was because the island ran out of water without any hope of resupply. This forced an unconditional surrender and Japan took control of the fortress.

The dock where General MacArther uttered his famous words "I will return," still remains in place. The mast where colors were hung during the hold out still stands today as well. In the first hours of General MacArther's return, the flag was returned to the same mast. Monuments and museums have been erected to showcase many of the historical artifacts found over the years. Many of the artifacts are still commonly used in today's military. Statues and plaques stand in memory of the divisions who fought and died on the island.

The island was returned to the possession of the Philippines after American forces pulled out. It had been held by many foreign powers over the years starting with a Spanish invasion. There is still a token military presence, in the form of a retired Officer living on the island who finds and restores artifacts for the museums.

Manila Shore Patrol

The day after the USS CURTIS WILBUR arrived in Manila was my duty day. The ship usually divides the crew into six duty sections. Each section should have enough people to get underway in an emergency. In foreign ports the sections are combined into three for some extra manpower if needed.

My assigned duty was early shore patrol. Shore patrol is broken down into two time periods, early and late. The patrol work in pairs to walk around the popular hangouts ashore and keep sailors out of trouble. I was assigned to a mall fairly far away from the ship. This would actually be the first time leaving the pier for me. Initially, I was not sure if this would be any different from shipmate or shore patrol in Japan.

The mall we went would probably be best defined as a luxury mall. In the five or six hours I spent walking around the mall, I only saw a couple members of the crew. I was surprised how expensive the items in the mall were. I had seen the prices of items being sold on the pier by street vendors, and wondered if items in the mall would be cheaper. I was wrong. The other aspect that surprised me was how heavily armed security was around the mall. They were openly carrying M16s around through the streets and parking areas. Not a new sight for me, but I wondered what American tourists would think about that.

The mall was not that much different than an American one. Many of the brands were American and English was common. American restaurants were scattered all over the mall along with popular clothing and fashion chains. We were told not to go into any of the drug stores as the ingredients used in their medicine were different than those on the ship.

I learned quickly that we had been restricted to a small area of the Philippines for a good reason. The areas we were allowed were far more affluent than much of the country. Thus the extra security measures being taken to keep much of the population from entering them. I was told not to carry a wallet or credit card because of the possibility of theft. I am not aware of any member of the crew being robbed while in port though.

Manila Arrival

As I prepared for my first port visit I was not sure what to expect. This was a foreign country with new customs and traditions. Several of my crew had lived long periods of their lives in the Philippines so they were a great deal of help. My mind was split between the eagerness to set foot on dry land again and managing the upcoming stores onload as soon as the ship moored.

I assumed my usual duties as pilot escort for the arrival. The first change I noticed was when the water turned a greenish hue. I had never seen the ocean quite that shade before. Mountains covered in vegetation appeared on either side of the ship shortly after. I saw the remains of a WWII turret as we entered the harbor. Then unfortunately, I started to see the trash. That would come to represent a certain theme for Manila.

The ship moored without any problems, which was good because vendors were already set up and waiting for us on the pier. This would also be a taste of things to come. Shortly after mooring, there were several important tasks to be completed before liberty could be called. The trash needed to be taken out, stores onloaded and divisions briefed on expectations. This was all accomplished within a few hours. I was kept busy in disbursing converting funds from navy cash cards (debit cards) to cash. American dollars could be exchanged on the pier. The crew had been warned ahead of time to be careful in using Philippine ATMs, so my disbursing funds were drained much faster than I would have liked.

Most of the crew went out that first night we were in port. I elected to stay back and get some rest. We were scheduled to be in port for the next three days so I wanted to bide my time (and money). My other motive was to watch SUPPO interact with the husbanding agent and vendors. I am going to need that knowledge someday.

Operation Tailisman Saber Part III

Several events marked the end of Operations Tailisman Saber. First an Admiral from the carrier stopped by and ate lunch in the wardroom. He toured the ship and talked with all the divisions. It was a big moral boost for the crew when he passed out command coins. He outlined the successes of the operation and what his future plans for the seventh fleet were. It was the first time I had meet an Admiral since graduating from Supply Corps School.

Plans were set in stone for the upcoming port visit in Manila and command instructions were distributed to the crew. The Supply Department started to get busy again preparing for the upcoming visit. Supplies needed to be ordered for both the galley and store and parts delivered. Port services were negotiated based on the needs of the ship and crew. Mail needed to be routed or rerouted depending on where it was. Ship's laundry and barbershop started to work longer hours.

The culminating event for the crew had to be beer day though. It had been eagerly anticipated for much of the operation. At the forty-five day mark of an underway period, a ship is allowed a day of celebration with beer being provided. It is a much needed stress relief while still at sea. Every member of the crew not on watch is allowed two beers. No one was allowed to give their beer to any other person and a command instruction was sent out so no one could claim they did not know the regulations. The concern was that after two months at sea, the alcoholic tolerance of the crew would be low. The celebration went well without any problems and a steel beach picnic was set up for dinner topside. The crew was in high spirits and looking forward to the upcoming port visit.

Operation Tailisman Saber Part II

One of the major tasks for the USS CURTIS WILBUR ended up being plane guard. In the evening when the squadrons come back to the carrier to land one of the picket ships needs to trail behind. This is for several reasons but primarily for the safety of the pilots. The ship's command and control can communicate with the pilots if necessary, and at dusk the mast lights help pilots line up for their approach. If a plane were to ditch, we would be the rescue ship. The carrier would not be able to mount a rescue in anywhere near the amount of time it would take for a destroyer to reposition and put rescuers in the water.

The flight deck was also very busy during the operation. Ready deck became a usual announcement, this is when the nets around the aft flight deck are all lowered so the skids on a helicopter do not risk being tangled. Communication checks with the bridge are conducted and the flight deck crew musters to make sure everyone is ready ahead of time.

Over the course of a few weeks, the operation was played out with UN forces slowly dismantling the enemy forces. I will leave out the details, mostly because it had little to do with supply. Many drills were conducted both on-board and with the help of the other ships. The fighter jets conducted mock bombing runs on our wake at one point while I was on the bridge, that was exciting. We took turns boarding other ships, the Australian frigate also participated in that one. The crew was kept busy with practice exercises throughout.

Operation Tailisman Saber Part I

So I have spent the last few months mentioning this operation, the USS CURTIS WILBUR's schedule for the last half year was built around performing an important role in this event. I will break it down by the set up process, events that took place over the course of a couple of weeks and then the concluding ceremonies.

As an ally of a foreign nation, we follow their laws and customs while in their territorial waters. Australia had some unfamiliar restrictions and observances. The largest impact upon the Supply Department was in how we disposed of trash. In the open ocean, paper and metal is periodically dumped over the side. It quickly degrades in the ocean and no harm is done. A weight is tied around the refuse before being dumped over the side to ensure the waste sinks and does not foul our props. Plastic is compacted into discs and stored until they can be unloaded by a supply ship or port. In Australian waters, the locations of the dumps needed to be reported, many areas were protected because of impact on reefs.

One more additional duty was imposed on the ship. Upon sighting any marine mammals, i.e. dolphins, porpoises and whales or sea turtles, we were required to identify the animal, describe it's activity observed and record the location of the sighting. We did end up seeing one whale although the sighting was fast. There were two official videos describing this process shown to the watchstanders. One was from the US and the other was Australian. No comments on which was better.

The ship positioned just north of Darwin, Australia, not to be confused with the frigate that was still in the task force. Much of the time we could actually see land. There were several in-briefs given to the Officers prior to the operation's start. Much of the operation would be simulated given the need for a large amount of resources and manpower. The simulation and real life operations modeled themselves to represent a current threat that might be faced in the near future. With territorial laws established, the ship in the right position and the briefs done, the operation was about to begin.

Luzon Strait Passage

With tensions calmed down a bit and the US Navy's ability to operate in the South China Sea reasserted, Tailisman Saber was the next mission. We needed to get to North Australia first and the fastest way to get there was through the Luzon Straits. The Luzon Straits is a narrow passage connecting the South China Sea to the Philippine Sea. It has strategic value as well as important natural resources, oil platforms are interspersed throughout the region.

The strait is within the territorial waters of the Philippines so their government was nice enough to provide the task force with an escort. The Philippine Navy sent a frigate and a corvette to guide us. So while in the strait, the task force included US forces, an Australian frigate, and a Philippine frigate and corvette. I am starting to realize how important it becomes to build and maintain international relationships with friendly nations.

The passage went exactly as planned. Although I did not have any specific role to play, I wanted to be on the bridge to watch the events take place. Since the strait is so narrow, all the ships lined up one after the other. The CURTIS WILBUR was positioned in front of the GEORGE WASHINGTON so I was able to have a great view of her. Several helicopters periodically passed over us as air cover. I could look from one side of the bridge to the other and see land in both directions, that was a first since leaving port. Upon leaving the strait we left the Pacific Ocean behind and entered the Indian Ocean. We would cross the Equator shortly after, which is a big deal, but deferred the celebration until coming back. I will go into that in a later post.

South China Sea

The CURTIS WILBUR joined up with the GEORGE WASHINGTON and it's task force a few days later. Along with an American cruiser and destroyer, the Australian Frigate DARWIN was also accompanying the carrier. It was nice to be able to work with them at sea.

The original plan was to proceed to Gaum for resupply with the carrier. A few days later that plan was changed. China intentionally cut a telecomunications line being laid by a North Korean ship and the whole region erupted. The task force was redirected into the South China Sea to help keep the peace.

The main concern turned to setting the proper screens for the carrier while transitioning through a very contested and congested area. China claims the entire South China Sea as its own territory. This announcement confirs ownership of all natural resources within that area, in this case, significant oil fields. North Korea is trying to develop those oil fields and contracting the rights out to other nations, the US included. Other nations have conflicting claims to the South China Sea as well. This is causing large bases and "resorts" to pop up on tiny islands in the middle of no where. Some islands are being constructed and then developed so the waters around them can be claimed.

As the task force moved though the South China Sea, the four picket ships were repositioned depending on the threats faced. We were most worried about missles and submarines from China. Other nations also continuously patrol their islands from the air so that was a concern as well.

In the mean time, what concerned me most during all of these developments was in obtaining supplies for my store. I had already ordered supplies in Gaum before being told that port visit was not going to happen. I had no other prospects of obtaining supplies from any American bases. From that point forward I would need to subsist off of CLF supply ships. I was concerned about this development because supply ships seldom carry all that many goods.

Second Sortie

Sorry, I have not added much to my blog lately. My ship has been extrememly busy on an extended deployment and I wanted to make sure this record is far enough in the past to no longer matter.

The mission started with the second sortie I have had the misfortune to experiance. Our goal was to find and trail a Chinese submarine that had already been detected and tracked from the air. I was told that these kinds of assignments could last anywhere from a few days to a month at sea.

Shortly after pulling out of the harbour, our mission changed to something very different. As it turned out a large group of Chinese surface ships had pulled out of their harbor at relatively the same time and we were best positioned to intercept and monitor their activity. That was when ship life started getting interesting. The goal was to sneak up on the Chinese warships without being detected. That ended up being acheived quite effectively. We joined several Japanese destroyers already monitoring the formation. From that point on we spent the next week documenting the activity of the Chinese group (SAG), while playing cat and mouse with the Chinese destroyers.

We were able to document the daily actions of the SAG and report back anything unusual. The Chinese Navy is becoming more experianced with each passing year. During our observations we witnessed a RAS (refueling at sea), this may have been the first ever completed for the Chinese. It has important ramfications in that the ability to RAS increases the distance a ship can cover without returning to port for fuel.

The other major event to take place was the launching of a UAV. This was the first documented case of the Chinese using unmaned aircraft launched at sea. Our radars tracked the flight and recorded data for scientists to examine at a later date.

We were relieved on station by another destroyer and were then able to proceed with our original mission, Tailisman Saber. This was the first interaction I had seen with an unfriendly ship. I had seen and talked with the sailors on an allied ship and now had witnessed the interaction between two possible foes.

DRY DOCKED DDG

On the last JO training session before our summer deployment, we took a tour of a destroyer, the USS STETHAM, in dry dock. Most ship repairs are completed while moored but every once in a while a ship requires repairs or updates to its hull and/or keel. This requires the ship to use a lock that can be drained of water. The ship is then supported by a system of blocks that keep the keel and sonar dome from hitting the concrete below. It is quite an impressive sight to see an entire destroyer out of water.

It is impossible to get a good sense of how large a ship actually is until you see it out of the water. One of the first things I looked for was where the water line was located on the hull. It seemed surpisingly high, the dry dock was three or four floors below ground and the majority of the ship's structure below the waterline was still below ground level.

One of the main points stressed was the location of the sonar dome. This is the ship's lowest point and also one of the most sensitive areas. Everytime a ship moors or anchors, particular attention is paid to ensure nothing hits the dome. Another point was the system used to prevent rust and deterioration of the hull. Zinc blocks and cathodes are used to center the deterioation on the block or charge the hull. The Surface Warfare Officers spent some time anaylizing the rudders and props but most of that discussion went over my head.

The tour ended up being taped by a military corespondent. Several Officers ended up giving statements at the end. One of my friends emailed me to say he had seen me on televison. I have yet to see the segment since we left port before it was shown. I am very curious to see it at some point.

HMAS DARWIN

During the last day of the LTT, the HMAS Darwin moored across the pier from us. This was an Austrialian frigate, an Oliver Hazard Perry class built by American shipyards. I did some research on it and found out that the first six frigates produced actually went to Australia.

I had never seen a frigate upclose before and the lime green paint made it catch my attention all the more. The steel gray of American and Japanese ships can get old after a while. Frigates are smaller than destroyers, not so much by length but by the superstructure. Seeing the size difference made me appreciate being on a destroyer all the more. A big storm would be much worse inside a frigate.

Not to sterotype, but if this ship is typical of the Australian Navy, the best way to describe them would be to go back twenty or thirty years and look at our sailors. They are allowed to grow full beards and their uniforms include shorts. They also enjoy rations of beer every so often. That was something many of the sailors on board my ship were immediately envious of.

While I was on shipmate patrol shortly afterwards, it was interesting to watch the interaction between American and Austrialian sailors. It was not always easy to tell them apart, that is until one of the spoke. I wonder if the Japanese could tell us apart, even with the accent. They were always surrounded by Americans though so that probably made it a little easier.

The DARWIN hosted a party shortly after arriving for any Officers who wanted to attend. That was the night I had shipmate patrol so I did not get the chance to go and socialize. Everyone on the pier was in summer whites though so the event was hard to miss. Many dignitaries and Flag Officers showed up to greet the Austrailians and from the noise level, it sounded like everyone was having fun.

Supply LTT

The next day following that unfortunate sortie started a new challenge for the supply department. This would entail a week long inspection of all the ship's supply divisions. That meant chiefs looking over all aspects of the department including; supply management, parts and material ordering, food services, mail, laundry, and retail operations. For my part, I am accountable for laundry and retail operations. My SUPPO is accountable for management, parts and food services. Mail is a little different situation.

After a quick introduction the chiefs split up among the three divisions and started looking over our records. This was a little nerve racking because mistakes are always going to be found in records dating back about a year. After they were done evaluating the records, they inpected my spaces and equipment. Then they talked to and conducted training with my Leading Petty Officer and seamen.

I will admit they found some discrepancies in all the divisions, I was expecting that. The whole point of LTT is to find the problems that need to be fixed before the SMC inpection. This inspection is practice for that certifying event. The LTT is not really a graded evolution so to speak. It is practice for what will happen during SMC. The point is to become a little more comfortable with the inspectors and root out potential problems so they can be fixed ahead of time.

The Captain was briefed at the end of the week on the strengths and weaknesses of the Supply department as a whole. The inspectors were thorough and quite frank with my CO. To a degree, I appreciated that they did not hold anything back. At the same time, every little problem started adding up. Now I just need to start fixing all the discrepancies and become more knowledgeable about my operations. Neither of those tasks intimidate me in the least. I am just glad I got through it realitively unscathed.

Sortie

The morning after family day ended the USS CURTIS WILBUR ended up being sortied. A sortie refers to anytime a ship is required to leave port unexpectedly. Sorties can happen for a variety of reasons, this particular one was because a super typhoon was bearing down on Japan. The crew was extemely disappointed because it was the start of a holiday weekend with their family and friends. We left port under clear skies and pleasant seas but that did not last for long.

The ship was part of a small formation, all of whom left port at the same time to escape the typhoon. About a day after leaving, the typhoon hit us while we were out at sea. These were definately the roughest seas I have experienced so far. With the crests regularly breaking over the bow and submerging the forecastle, this was not a good time to be out. I was able to tough it out for about a day before getting sea sick again. The next day I spent all afternoon in my rack, a good portion of the crew were doing the exact same thing.

The next day, the ship was given permission to start back into port. This would take several days as we circled behind the worst of the typhoon. We were also given permission to increase our speed. This helped significantly reduce bobbing through the swells. The knowledge that we were headed back home did not hurt either. Although I have to admit that ending up being the last ship in the formation to moor was a bit irritating.

Family Day

I was recently introduced to a new Navy tradition. Before a ship goes out on a long deployment a day is set aside for sailors to bring their families on-board. This gives the family a chance to see the ship and meet with the Captain and officials from the base. These people are there to assist the families should there be any problems while their significant others are deployed.

The day started with lunch and then an awards ceremony for some of the crew. Having grilled hotdogs and hamburgers on a base in Japan was somehow a bit comforting. There are not all that many families attached to the members of my crew though. The majority of the sailors on my ship had their billets to Japan chosen because they were unattached. These does not really apply to Officers and Chiefs but for the junior enlisted, single is preferred.

The officials set up shop on the mess decks after the award ceremony ended. I picked up a few interesting brochures on tours around Tokyo. I also learned that I am probably going to have to wait until next year to climb Mount Fuji.

I was kept busy providing sodas and opening up the ship's store for the families. Various members of the crew had suddenly lost their Navycash cards, the only means of paying for items out of the ship's store. So I replaced those for them and then monitored the store for a little while. It was nice to be able to take the day off and meet a few new people, some of whom I had helped evacuate during the crisis.

Fire Training

I ended up taking a second class at the fire school on base after having completed my Locker Leader Class. This was a basic firefighting class. I had completed this same course while at OCS so this was meant as a refresher. The training was centered on how to maintain and use the Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). This is the Navy equivalent to a fire fighting suit. They are very similar in design.

We ended up in a classroom for the first few hours going over the necessary duties, equipment and safety involved in the process of firefighting. Firefighting in done in teams and each person has an assigned position and role to play. Everyone from the nozzleman to the plugman needs to know what he/she needs to do in an emergency.

After the classroom portion was finished it was time for the practical exercise. We had a quick dry run of the environments where we would be putting out the simulated fires. After that it was time to suit up. We grabbed our suits, boots, gloves, masks and SCBAs. After inspecting all the equipment, we then attached the oxygen bottles and tested them. We put on the suits and boots and then slung the SCBAs over our shoulders and strapped them on. The masks fit over a fire retardant hood so the entire head is covered by several layers. This also makes the ensemble very hot. Once the air supply connection had been tested we were ready to start firefighting.

I was a plugman for the first demonstration, meaning it was my responsibility to turn on the water from the fireplug and make sure a constant supply was coming out. I was then switched to the hose team and moved up to the nozzleman position. I was still holding the nozzle when the team was told to back out of the compartment. We call out the movements in turn one at a time down the hose while going backward so no one trips over the person in back of them. This is true of any commands called out. In the firefighting suits it is difficult to hear what people are saying.

The second demonstration was conducted in a more confined space. This meant fewer people could operate inside the space. Obsticles were also encountered that needed to be worked around. The hose also needed to be braced on several corners. Positions on the hose team were switched up more often in this case.

It is unlikely that I will need to suit up while serving as a Repair Locker Officer but the point is that I know how to do it. I do not envy the people who are required to suit up during the main space drills. Those suits and equipment are a pain to put on. They get uncomfortable pretty fast.

OC Spray-Yeah!

I had completed my SRF-B class several months previous but had been unable to go through the final trial due to the start of my damage control locker leader classes. The last evolution was being sprayed in the face with OC spray. You may not be all that familiar with the military term for this spray so I will refer to it as "pepper spray" from now on.

One of the chiefs and a large part of the crew had been eagerly anticipating this for a while. Back in the states, it is common to see military sentries carry pepper spray. The theory is that we need to experience the pain that comes with using the spray. Of course if I follow that logic, since sentries are also equipped with batons, does that not mean we need to be hit with them as well? Every sentry carries a loaded firearm too.

All the participants left the ship after lunch time and went across the base to an isolated field so we would not hit any bystanders by accident. I ended up being the last one sprayed since I needed to be present for a general quarters drill before I could leave the ship. I escorted the second to last person around the course after he was sprayed so I would know where to go when I was sprayed next. Then it was my turn.

I stood with my back to the Chief holding the spray can with my eyes closed and upon his call performed an about face. With my eyes still closed, he sprayed a cloud over my forehead and eyes. Then I was told to open my eyes a wait a second. The pepper spray has a delayed reaction, it takes a second or two before the nerves in the eye react. Then the pain becomes excruciating and you have no choice but to shut your eyes again. I had to wait until I could open my eyes to see how many fingers Chief was holding up and then start the course.

The first obstacle was a person holding a punching bag which needed to be punched and kneed. After a minute, a take down using pressure points was then required before moving on. Pressure points are painful even in practice and mock situations. I then grabbed a padded baton before arriving at the next station. At this point I was between two punching bags held by people. I used both ends of the baton to hit the punching bags on either side. Then I moved on to the last station which required me to block incoming blows by deflecting them with the baton in guard positions. Then I was told to conduct another take down and run back to the start line.

This was only the beginning of the pain because pepper spray sticks to skin, there is no easy way to get it off. Even after washing my face off in a hose, I endured reflash after reflash trying to get the pepper out of my eyes. All I could do was face into the wind, which luckily was fairly strong that day, and try to open my eyes as long as possible. This allowed my tears a small window to flush out the peppers a little at a time. Keep in mind the pepper is getting into my nose and mouth. My nose was constantly running while I am choking and still trying to open my eyes.

After about an hour I was taken back to the ship with only minor pain still lingering. I stuck my face in front of a fan for about another hour while my forehead cooled down. Now at this point most people consider the experience to be over but the pepper spray has one more nasty surprise. Eventually you have to take a shower to get the remaining spray off your forehead and eyelids. I was warned about this, I did not use any soap or try to scrub my forehead. I still had a bad reflash for the next half hour after the shower. The following day I had another reflash in one eye during a Navigation brief.

Pepper spray is really nasty stuff. At least I can check that off as been there done that now. I do not have quite as much of a fear of it now. Some of the Officers and Chiefs have been sprayed so often, it is a yearly requirement for the ship's reaction force, they are becoming almost immune to it.

Back to Normal

Not much of any importance has happened lately, so I will just fill in a few new details with this post. In the last month the only ship movement was a berth shift for a few days. The ship was actually birthed at a spot normally reserved for the carrier. The CURTIS WILBUR completed its repairs while there and then moved to a different birth afterward. The schedule is now based mostly on certifications and drills prior to a big underway this summer.

I was moved from being a phone talker to a Locker Officer during damage control drills. Most Officers start as phone talkers so they can learn from the Damage Control Assistant (DCA) while in CCS. We learn how to effectively communicate with the Locker Officers and watch the overall picture. For the last couple of drills I have been learning from an experienced Locker Officer prepping to take over for her at some point. As a Locker Officer, I do not have the overall picture any more. I am responsible for more specific duties in managing a locker. That includes a team and their equipment along with maintaining lines of communication.

I was able to experience Cherry Blossoms for the first time. I was a little dismayed by how short the season is. For a few weeks the pink and white petals are breathtaking and then the tree is left bare for the rest of the year. Most of the normal festivals were canceled or subdued due to the recent tragedy. That did not bother me that much though because I had duty over both the weekends when the festivals would have happened.

The Executive Officer (XO) turned over with a new XO. I had just felt like I was starting to understand him when he left. He had an interesting temperament, but always encouraged me to do my best. I considered him a good friend towards the end of his tour. Now I will need to adjust to a new leadership style. From the last few interactions, I think the new XO will be a good role model for me as well.

I just attended a Hail and Fairwell for two Officers leaving the CURTIS WILBUR. As much as I hate to say it, these are becoming a little more routine. The majority of the Officers leaving are better known by others. This is going to start to change as my seniority as a junior officer (JO) continues to increase. I am no longer considered to be one of the newer Officers and will probably start to take a more active role in training new Officers soon.

On a less solemn note, a new Officer was also introduced during the Hail and Fairwell. He was commissioned through OCS so it was interesting to reminisce with him. He is the first of a new set of Officers the ship will be filling it's billets with this summer. NROTC and the Naval Academy are about to commission their seniors. There are about a half dozen new Officers set to arrive so the department heads and chiefs are going to have their hands full. I arrived during a off period for turnovers. For several months previous and several months after my arrival there were no new Officers scheduled for ship billets. This is going to be interesting to say the least.

Operation Tomodachi (Friend)

The CURTIS WILBUR originally had orders to cruise to Okinawa in support of the George Washington as part of the seventh fleet. We started by going south but then our orders were changed. Instead it was decided that we would be of greater assistance in continuing to support Operation Tomodachi. That meant dealing with radioactivity again. I was issued my Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) suit along with the gas mask I already have. As the ship traveled close to the affected zone, we stopped producing fresh or "potable" water by osmosis. That meant limited water supplies for about twenty-four hours. Considering what the Japanese are going through on a daily basis, I did not have much trouble enduring that.

We were assigned a box to search for abandoned craft. Once found these craft would be returned to their rightful owners. Entire lively hoods were lost when the tsunami swept their boats out to sea. We were assisting the Ronald Reagan strike group in establishing and searching a grid. With each ship being assigned their own box along the coast assisted by aircraft from the Reagan and shore bases, the operation was definitely efficient.

After about a week of searching, the CURTIS WILBUR completed the assigned search area. This marked the end of our part in the operation. There was a reception for Japanese Officials on the Ronald Reagan followed by a parade of American and Japanese warships in formation. That was the last act of my first operation. I feel privileged to have participated in such a meaningful action. The Japanese have a very real appreciation for the US military now. Upon returning to port, we mooring alongside a Japanese Destroyer. While I stood the first OOD in port watch, a Japanese Ensign boarded the ship to ask our Captain to join theirs for a formal reception. He thanked the ship for our efforts in aiding his country.

Back On Board

A few days after the military airlift stopped the CURTIS WILBUR pulled back into port. This was the first time I was able to watch it arrive from the pier. It gave me a little bit different view, I am usually on the bridge during these operations. I watched the mooring lines as they were set and listened to the commands being given.

I was anxious to get back into my office and figure out how everything stood and what inevitably got messed up in my absence. It would take me the better part of the next week to get my records in order and quite a few headaches. My funds were all accounted for and I was able to correct and update my records so that made me feel much better.

The next challenge was in gathering the necessary supplies for the ship's store. The order my ship put in was only about 35% filled. Navy supply lines had been stretched thin with the extra demands placed on them. We ended up filling in some of our stocks with purchases from the NEX and commissary. The important part being that the store shelves were full and ready for the next deployment. Which would be starting on the following day. The ship's carefully planned schedule got thrown out the window due to ongoing relief missions.

Organizing a Voluntary Evacution of Yokosuka

Since my ship had left me on shore to participate in the rescue efforts, I was trying to find some way to contribute. Most Supply Officers are actually shore based, there are only so many positions on a ship. I was having a rough time though because just about every ship had already left for the relief mission and the base was quiet. Then the nuclear power plants started to leak radiation.

That changed the situation overnight. Many of the dependents of those on the ships suddenly did not feel safe being in Japan anymore. I could not really blame them since I was not entirely sure I was safe. As I watched the news coverage over the course of the weekend, the power plants only seemed to leak more radiation with each passing day. I was instructed to muster with the Temporary Placement Unit (TPU) Saturday and Sunday, that was a bit unusual since we usually have the weekends off absent being on duty.

The voluntary evacuation plans started Sunday afternoon. I was instructed to work with a Master Chief from my ship in coordinating a volunteer evacuation for the dependents of my ship. First we needed to establish a line of communication with the ship. Once this was done, we started to receive evacuation requests from the ship's crew. The personnel office on the CURTIS WILBUR would relay information on each family to us one at a time by email. We would then send these emails to the Personnel Services Department (PSD) for further processing. Eventually we created a list of all the dependents volunteering for evacuation.

I thought that was going to be the end of my duties, having submitted all the names for flights out of Japan. It ended up just being the beginning. This would be the start of a process that would take the better part of a week to complete. Much more information was needed than just the names of the people wanting to leave. We needed copies of their passports and several signatures. Unfortunately that meant most wives had to come into base and make copies of their passports. Master Chief and I ended up setting up a cubical inside PSD to make it easier for people to find us. That was where the majority of resources we needed were located.

I ended up calling each family one at time asking for different types of information. I needed basic information on who was taking private flights, passports and even family pets. Each packet of information was eventually assembled and the process of making flight reservations started in earnest. In the beginning we were criticized for moving too slowly. The problem was the amount of paperwork and number of people wanting to leave. We got the bulk of the paperwork completed after a few days and then were just waiting on reservations to be booked.

One Year Down

March 12th marked the end of my first year as a commissioned Officer in the Navy. It made me reflect on what happened in my life during that year. Beginning with my graduation from OCS and ending with having served as the Assistant Supply Officer for six months on board the USS Curtis Wilbur in Japan. I have been stationed in four different cities across the country and world. Starting in Newport, RI traveling to Athens, GA for supply corps school. From there I took a Helicopter Control Officer class for a week in Coronado, CA on my way to Yokosuka, Japan. I have had countless ups and downs and times of exasperation and exhilaration. Was it everything that I expected, definitely not.

It was much tougher than I ever imagined but also more fulfilling because of the blood, sweat and tears I put into my efforts. There were several times when I thought about giving up, in OCS and in the first few months after turnover on the CURTIS WILBUR. I made so many mistakes along the way but I am stronger for having made them. I anticipate making many more in this journey before I am finished.

Many of the people I have met along the way are lifelong friends now. They have added to my strengths and improved my weaknesses. I am physically and mentally stronger than ever before. I have matured by leaps and bounds out of necessity. My confidence improves with each additional responsibility given and completed. I really do see the Navy, with both its positives and negatives, has the right career and lifestyle for me. In one more year I will be promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade (O-2). I am looking forward to that!

Earthquake in Japan (9.0)

I would be remiss if I did not mention the fourth strongest earthquake ever recorded. As luck would have it, I was on shore when the earthquake started. It took me a minute to figure out what was happening. My first indication was the power being shut off. That was actually quite annoying because I was writing an email to my ship at the time. Then the building started shaking. I live on the second floor so the shaking was a little more pronounced, but I could not help thinking about the people up on the tenth floor.

What started to get scary was when the shaking did not stop. It went on for about five minutes while I was trying to decide if it was worth the risk to try going down the stairs to the outside. I ended up just standing in a door frame. One of the reasons I chose my current apartment was because it was a new building with modern amenities and features. The Japanese people are the best in the world at designing earthquake proof buildings. None of my belongings were moved so much as an inch. However, I was outside when the aftershocks started with a number of other Americans.

We all started commenting about the possibility of tsunamis, thinking about what had happened in Indonesia not all that long ago. We had no idea where the earthquake had occurred. All the power was stilled knocked out along with cell phones. Not long after warning sirens started going off. They were impossible to understand at first but then they started making announcements in English and I heard the word "tsunami."

My building also happens to be built at the top of a hill, making it one of the highest structures in Yokosuka. I was not concerned about being in a flood zone so much as my friends still on base. Luckily the naval base is situated inside of a well protected harbor behind several natural land breaks. Those breaks absorbed the waves before they reached any "naval assets." The initial news reports coming out right after the tsunami hit were correct about all assets being accounted for.

Most of the town was without power all night. The base went on emergency power so they never lost the ability to operate. I thought it lucky that the earthquake happened on a Friday afternoon because that meant I did not have any reason to report to base until Monday. On the other hand, the fact that I was stuck at my apartment without power and cell service made it impossible for me to be contacted and accounted for.

I decided to try and get some sleep after the aftershocks slowed down and wait until morning to plan my next move. The power was restored at some point during the early morning and cell phone service was restored. After recharging my cell phone, I found no less than half a dozen calls from my ship. Evidently I was one of the last people to check back in so the ship was worried about what might have happened to me. When I restarted my computer, my email showed a number of people, including my parents, trying to contact me.

Most commands had their people return to base for a muster but mine remained out at sea. I was curious if the ship would return to base to make sure everyone was all right. The CURTIS WILBUR ended up staying at anchor and was then reassigned to help in the rescue missions. They left me behind on base to finish my damage control class. I was not sure what to think, since coming to Japan I had never been separated from my ship for more than about a week. A rescue mission was going to take much more time than that before it was complete.

Damage Control Class-CBR

With the first half of my damage control class complete it was time to move on to the chemical, biological and radiological portion. Modern warships are built to withstand these types of threats. Navy personnel need to be trained on how to operate under unique and potentially very dangerous situations. The best option is to seal the ship and move out of the area but that may not always be possible. The main problems start when the materials enter the skin of the ship.

The navy has many different chemical tests and equipment that can indicate the presence of an agent. For chemical and biological we can test either the air or questionable liquids. Once identified these can either be removed or isolated. Treatments vary based on the specific agent; nerve, blood, blister, choking and rioting. The main concern are nerve agents because they are most likely to kill, the others are generally used to create casualties.

Nuclear weapons and radiation are another aspect dealt with caution. This topic was more interesting to me with some background in biotechnology. Learning about the different types of radiation and shielding in addition to the fireball and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) gave me a new perspective on the topic. The proper protective equipment (PPE) is emphasized. From a supply perspective, it is critical to maintain correct inventories and replace outdated items. Gear has different expiration dates based on use, storage and care.

Even the best protective gear can only last so long though and there is no way to protect yourself from radiation. Radiation has a cumulative effect and once a certain level is reached a human will not survive. The Navy measures this amount in rads (R), using equipment similar to a Geiger Counter. The only solution to this exposure problem is too establish shifts in deep shelters that permit key personnel to be replaced before permanent damage results. This doubles the amount of time that can be used to leave the area.

No matter what threat is being faced, the Navy has well established regulations for decontamination. There are several procedures to remove hazards without exposing the crew but eventually personnel will need to exit the ship. This exposes them to the offending agent. That agent must be removed prior to reentering the skin of the ship. We were able to don the protective gear, perform various tests using actual equipment and observe the decontamination procedure during one of the last days of class.

Damage Control Class-Wet Trainer

A few days after finishing SRF B I started taking a damage control class. This class lasts for almost two weeks. The plan is for me to eventually become one of the Repair Locker Officers on the ship. I was wondering what my next collateral duty would be. I guess I just got my answer. The first week is all about controlling fires, smoke, flooding...etc after either accidents or battle. I just finished that week when I took the exam.

My favorite day was the lab conducted in a wet trainer. I had some training during OCS in a similar environment but it was a little too fast paced for my liking plus I was little sleep deprived at the time. This training was much better. We learned how to make shoring, patch pipe ruptures and stop the ship from flooding. After being shown several demonstrations of how to set up the proper shoring it was time to test our skills under a simulated emergency condition. The training facility built a real life compartment based on US warships and then incorporated important damage control elements to solve.

The class was split into two teams; enlisted vs. Officers. The enlisted team consisted of mostly chiefs with a few petty officers. The Officers were either Ensigns or Lieutenant Junior Grades. There were a number of Supply Officers from several other ships. The enlisted team went first and we were able to watch. They made several mistakes that cost them far too much time. They plugged the smallest holes first before moving onto the largest and hardest ruptures. When they finally got to the biggest problems, the water level was becoming a major issue.

When it was our turn we plugged the biggest ruptures first and then moved onto the smaller ones. I was one of the guys holding a steel plate against the hull keeping it in place against the water pressure flooding the compartment. The plate had to be held in place long enough to brace it with wood shoring. After that I was assigned to watch the shoring, making sure it stayed in place. One of the other groups made the mistake of not placing a sentry on their shoring and the instructors knocked it down. In the meantime the chiefs thought it would be funny to blast me with a hose from up above trying to get me to leave my post. The simulation turned out to be quite a bit of fun even if we were all drenched.

SRF B Class

I did not have much going on last week so I signed up for an overdue class. SRF B is a course that covers everything related to keeping the ship secure from base security to basic self defense. The first three days were what we in the military like to refer to as "death by powerpoint." We discussed issues like security levels, how to conduct counter survalence and what to look for in personal and vehicle inspections. Deadly force is big issue to base and ship security personnell. The military is expected to make nearly perfect decisions when it comes to handling weapons and deciding on the correct actions to take.

The last two days of class were much more hands on. We conducted mock simulations of pier and ship searches using pistols, mace and handcuffs. Those are extremely dangerous situations. The chief who trained us gave us about a 30 percent chance of survival in real conditions. Then the next day, we practiced the techniques we had spent the previous days reviewing. These were practical exercising involving hand to hand combat, batons, knives and guns. We were taught how to use blocks to evade punches and knives.

When using batons there are very specific rules to follow. Never raise the baton over your head. A person in military uniform raising it over his/her head equals national televison. Most of the time it should be clipped to a belt that may also hold a pistol and OC spray. Actually using the OC spray (pepper spray) has its own rules.

We were taught how to use pressure points to subdue unresponsive or indebriated individuals. I thought those were a little harder to figure out. If done right they are extremely effective though. As an added bonus we were able to watch a ju jitsu grapling lesson.

The most interesting part to me was on how to disarm a gun pointed at you. There are a couple of different strategies that were taught depending on the situation. The most obvious being the distance between yourself and the person holding the gun. The moves actually are not all that difficult but you better know exactly what you are doing.

New Ensign

The Hail and Fairwell may end up being the last event I plan for CURTIS WILBUR. A new Ensign checked on board last week and has already assumed many of my George duties. I was prepared to give him ample time to get used to life on the ship before handing over a bunch of extra duties but my fellow Junior Officers were not of like mind. There were several issues that had come up during my reign as George, so I can see why they wanted a quick turnover.

As the Disbursing Officer, I was not comfortable using Wardroom funds without the Wardroom Treasurer being present for purchases. The other major problem found was that I could not pickup Wardroom mail. As a Supply Officer, I was technically supervising the mail operation. It turned out to be a conflict of interest. So the first day on board the ship all my duties were turned over to the new Officer.

Most of the George duties are fairly simple but there were times when I ran into a brick wall. I am curious to see how someone else copes with the challenges, and the inevitable headaches. I am more than willing to help him learn how to accomplish some of the more unusual tasks. There were plenty of times when I needed help, now it is time to return the favor.

George Duties

As soon as the ship returned to port, it was time to start planning a Hail and Fairwell for two of the newest Officers. I had been hailed during one such event and had attended one more since joining the CURTIS WILBUR. I would describe it as a kind of informal ceremony, except that I got ribbed for calling it a ceremony in the mass email I sent out to the Wardroom. I quote, "Does that mean we have to wear our dress blues?" Seriously some Officers have no life.

The only other major event I had handled as the George up to this point was the New Year's Gift Exchange with our sister Japanese Destroyer. At the outset I did not imagine how much trouble this was going to be. The trouble started when I asked the Wardroom for ideas on where they wanted the Hail and Fairwell to be held. At first no one gave me any suggestions. With a little pestering I did end up getting a couple of responses. Traditionally the event had been held at American restaurants either on or around the base. I wanted to try something a little different and go to a Japanese style restaurant.

After researching the suggestions, the Wardroom decided they did not like either one. Quite frankly their choices were a tad on the expensive side. For a special outing, paying for ambiance and quality did not seem so out of place though. So I ended up picking out a restaurant of my own choosing and made a reservation just to make sure I had something reserved in advance.

Upon meeting with the XO, he decided it would be in the Wardroom's best interest to just do something on base instead. I am not going to lie, that was disappointing and a little irritating. I had wanted to do something different to set this Hail and Fairwell apart from ones done in the past. I did learn some vital lessons from the experience so it was not a total waste of effort.

First off, Officers are very good at following a chain of command or making decisions on their own. They are after all, natural leaders. Trying to make decisions in a group setting without any acknowledged leader is absolutely agonizing. This brings to mind something one of my petty officers said, "N.A.V.Y stands for Never Again Volunteer Yourself." I thought that a particularly poignant comment and reflective of what occurred here. I would have been more successful in choosing a couple of restaurants from the outset and then letting the Wardroom decide which one they liked the best. That way the choice would have been made for them but they still would have had a voice.

First Mission After Trails

Our first deployment ended up being a short one, no complaining here. The CURTIS WILBUR's mission was to be a moving target for attack helicopters. This was part of their certification process and intended to keep the pilots sharp. There were some additional safety precautions added to the daily routine.

The helicopters would be using lasers to simulate the firing of anti-ship missiles. If the laser reflected back off a radar dish positioned on the flight deck then they scored a hit. These lasers are quite powerful though, so all none essential personnel were ordered to stay inside the ship. Anyone looking directly into the laser would be blinded. The watch standers on the bridge were handed special glasses, all other portals were covered.

The weather ended up taking a turn for the worse with eight foot waves at one point. As I was informed, this is fairly typical weather for this time of year in Japan. I started to feel sea sick again after a few days. With the weather conditions continuing to worsen, the mission was called off. On a brighter note I got the chance to observe operations in Command and Control (CIC). I am thinking hard about qualifying to stand watches in CIC since I am no longer medically qualified to be the Helicopter Control Officer.

Sea Trials

With all the stores loaded on board it was time to start prepping for our sea trials. I did not have a large part to play in the next few days, since I do not have the technical expertise to manage most of the ship's equipment and systems. I know many of our systems were repaired and upgraded. The crew needed to prove that we could still function under all conditions so there were many drills to perform, that meant meetings and extra training.

The CURTIS WILBUR left port at the end of the month and stayed out at sea for several days. Most of the tests performed during that time went smoothly. I was just glad to be back out at sea actually doing something that seemed worthwhile. Our last few days were spent loading ammunition and weapons.

The last night out at sea was a somber one, one of the Officers would be leaving the ship upon our return to port. We had a small celebration in the wardroom and gifts were exchanged. I was sad to see him go, he had offered me advice and encouragement during my first few months on the ship. After the ceremony was over I had a shift as Officer of the Deck (OOD) on the bridge. Although I had stood OOD many times before in port this was the first time I was standing it underway on the bridge. This meant I was the senior Officer in charge of maintaining a lookout. Luckily it turned out to be a boring watch, this was one time I was not looking for any excitement.

Stores Onload

After about three months of refurbishing the CURTIS WILBUR is back in fighting shape. It was getting really boring there during the last month or so. Going to work evey day knowing your ship is stuck in port with nothing to look forward to except the ringing of hammers and welding all day. It was actually beginning to feel like a regular 8 to 5 kind of job.

The first problem to overcome before going underway was provisioning the ship. Since going into SRA, the crew had been subsisting off the base galley. We needed food and supplies in mass quantities. That meant a large amount of time and manpower was spent in working parties moving and onloading stores. I tried to help as much as I could. Officers are supposed to "supervise" the work, I do not agree with that particular viewpoint. I got right in the middle of the working party and started moving boxes.

Since coming on board I have noticed a certain disparity between the junior enlisted and the khakis (Chiefs and Officers). I can understand that senior personell have more important management aspects to take care of on the ship, but does that mean we are not allowed to pitch in on the physical aspects every once in a while? If I want to scrub a wall or join a working party, I really do not see any problems with doing so. I have never been one to stand around and watch others work, that seems wrong to me. Being told several times now that "khakis" do not do that type of work is infuriating.

After we finished with the provisons for food service, we moved on to various items for the ship's store. This onload was more interesting, the items for the ship's store have to be watched a little more carefully. There is only so much you can do with frozen vegetables or chicken but cans of soda and candy bars are a different story. Luckily the crew was good about getting the job done and I did not have the problems I was worried about. They actually kept reminding each other not to do anything questionable. I really appreciated their effort and honesty. Being able to work alongside them and share in the dynamic gave me an appreciation of how hard they toil each and every day.

Department Head!!!

Newly refreshed from a week off the CURTIS WILBUR I reported back on board with the realization that the next few weeks were going to be tough. While I was having fun traveling around Japan, my shipmates were hard at work refurbishing the ship. Since there are only two Supply Officers serving on board destroyers, my department head took over for me while I was away. It was my turn to cover for him while he took leave. I went from being in charge of two divisions to running four and being the ultimate authority on every decision and action involving the supply department. I was now in charge of food service and logistics. These are two divisions you really don't want to screw up.

My daily schedule had some drastic changes. I went from spending most of my day in the disbursing office to traveling all over the ship. Something was going wrong on a daily basis; a part was not getting ordered or being lost in logistics or food service was running out of paper plates. The number of meetings I needed to attend doubled overnight. I was now responsible for briefing the Executive Officer (XO) and Commanding Officer or Captain (CO) every afternoon. That made me a little nervous to say the least.

I screwed up a ton of stuff at first but then started to get the hang of it. The chiefs and petty officers were a really big help. I would have fallen on my face without them. At first I tried to be everywhere at once but quickly realized I was killing myself and started to delegate. I turned sales over to my leading petty officer (LPO) and left food service with their chief (CSC). Logistics was a nightmare, with both their chief (LSC) and first class petty officer (LS1) gone, they were struggling as much as I was.

I got some good advice from the operations department head (OPS) about how to respond to the added pressure I was under and some suggestions on staying organized. The XO was probably my biggest help, he reviewed all my briefs before I presented them to the CO. He made suggestions on daily projects and kept me on track when I was about to lose it. Up until this point, I had not interacted much with him, mostly because I was trying to stay out of his way, but I have a much better understanding of what he expects now. The same goes for the rest of the senior Officers on the ship.

This was trail by fire, just like every other major step I have taken so far since joining the Navy. I have come to realize that these are tests meant to train me for the next progression. Just as OCS trained me on how to lead as an Officer and Supply School taught me the basics of a Supply Department. This gave me yet another look into what the future holds about four years from now. These experiences are extremely challenging and painful at times but at this point I am no stranger to a little blood, sweat and tears.

Exchange Ceremony

Right after returning from my leave period I needed to finish a project I had been working on for about a month. Every year American and Japanese commands meet and exchange gifts as a goodwill gesture. Since I serve on board a destroyer our Japanese counterpart is also a destroyer. My assigned task as the George Ensign (newest Ensign) was to order a large Christmas wreath for the exchange.

At first glance, this did not seem like a difficult proposition but it ended up being a real pain. The funding for this wreath needed to come from the wardroom. So I needed to talk with the wardroom treasurer. There is a certain set amount we are able to spend on gifts to foreign nations. I got both those issues resolved and went to order the wreath from the Navy Exchange. Once there a new problem arose. I was unable to provide an exact date for when I would need the wreath prepared. I ended up making a guess, luckily it turned out to be a fairly good guess.

It ended up being quite a large wreath, requiring two people to get it up the brow. It was windy and I wasn't risking it getting blown overboard. We put it in the wardroom and left a trail of needles and red berries along the way. The crew thought that was funny until they had to clean it up.

The day of the ceremony, I was asked to present the wreath to the Japanese Captain. As soon as my Captain was done with all the formalities of the occasion, the delegation stepped off the brow and I presented the wreath to them. Since I had been in the wardroom with the wreath for most of the event, this was the first time I noticed their gift to us. The Japanese Captain gave us two Kadomatsu. I would rather not describe the plants, I wouldn't do them justice. They are certainly unique and they have a deep rooted history.