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.