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.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
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!
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!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
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.
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.
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.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
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.
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.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
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.
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.
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.
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