View Full Version : Headin' Out
ABH Oldtimer
08-18-2010, 12:05 PM
Two weeks of leave went by, just like that. Tomorrow I leave for Virginia and Friday I'll be living proof that the fleet does in fact exist. Any suggestions for my first days on an aircraft carrier?
I can't give anything specifically toward a Carrier. I do have some for you though:
1. When you report onboard, you will probably be quickly befriended by what seems to be a nice guy/gal. After a while, you might notice that he/she never leaves the ship (restricted) and is always doing extra work (extra duty) and is ubber negative about the ship, the command, the division, etc. DO NOT LISTEN TO HIM/HER and start to believe what he or she is saying. Form YOUR own opinions, not someone elses.
2. The command will be what YOU make it. Make it a positive one by working hard on your quals and getting qualified. When you are working in your rate, bust your rear. When you are working outside your rate in the galley, berthing compartment, again do YOUR best. There will be others around you that will slackers, don't sink to their level. As a fine example, take a look at the accomplishments of MacSteve. He has been kicking butt and he is being nominated for the Blue Jacket of the Quarter. That is a nice compliment. However, it takes hard work and initiative. You CAN achieve this honor as well, it just takes your dedication and hardwork.
3. With your new found freedom and cash, if you buy something stay away from sleezy businesses that exist in and around Norfolk regardless of if it is a car, computer, phone, whatever. If you have questions about if a business is sleezy, ask your chain of command (LPO, LCPO), they will help you, these sleezy businesses will and often rape young sailors and their families.
acer87
08-18-2010, 02:42 PM
3. With your new found freedom and cash, if you buy something stay away from sleezy businesses that exist in and around Norfolk regardless of if it is a car, computer, phone, whatever. If you have questions about if a business is sleezy, ask your chain of command (LPO, LCPO), they will help you, these sleezy businesses will and often rape young sailors and their families.
haha theres a big article in our dep/recruiting office about stuff like that. All the new recruits are pretty much made to read it.
ABH Oldtimer
08-18-2010, 04:17 PM
DK3: Thats sounds advise. I saw alot of people like that back at A-school. They always told the new students how bad it sucks, but it only sucked because they brought it on themselves. I hope i can keep my spirits up when im working outside my rate. Im not too excited about having to work in the galley.
VaBchMom
08-18-2010, 07:27 PM
Don't believe all you hear about the Norfolk/Tidewater area. Been here a long time and it isn't like it was years ago believe me. There are tons of reputable businesses, car dealers, etc. just like anywhere else. It's cleaned up a great deal from those old days......
I didn't say there wasn't reputable businesses, all I said was stay away from the sleezy ones, and I still stand behind it. There is always someone out there trying to steal money from a nieve young, Sailor, Marine, Airman or Soldier! Those are the ones I warn against!!
That's why I advised him to contact his LPO and/or LCPO to find those businesses when it comes to major purchases.
Retired Navy Chief
08-18-2010, 08:04 PM
General advice ... not ship specific:
1. Two ears & one mouth .... for a reason. You will be bombarded with important info about your new life that you need to absorb fast. Can't do that if you are too busy flapping your lips to listen.
2. Listen to your LPO and your Chief. They will not let you fail.
3. Step up to the plate and do your mess duty without complaint. We all have to do it, best thing you can do to make it pass quickly ... is to enjoy it. Believe it or not ... there are a lot worse jobs and tons of people who would gladly take your place ... just to have a steady paycheck and benefits.
4. Use your off-time to learn your ship. This is VERY important. When you leave the pier ... there is no 911 to dial ... it's YOU and your shipmates only !!
5. Oh yeah ... and did I mention ... listen to your LPO & Chief ??
Cheers,
PISTOL
VaBchMom
08-18-2010, 09:28 PM
Gotcha DK3.....;)
KYmom
08-19-2010, 06:16 AM
Even reputable business's will try to sell you stuff you don't need and interest rates that help them out not the sailor.
Oh, yes, there is one that came to my mind similar to Chief's #3. One of the most important task you will have obviously is Damage Control. You will be assigned to a watch section. Don't know about AB's, but just in general, you might be assigned to a Repair Locker. A Repair Locker is your Shipboard 911 for Damage Control. Even though it isn't your rate and you might not enjoy it, do it and learn it. You life and the life of your shipmates might depend upon it.
I thought of this about 3am (EST) this morning. I was trying to think of some more advice for you. I remember we had a guy report onboard the Caron as an E3. Within 4 months, he was a brand new E1. Why? He REFUSED to work with the duty section repair locker he was assigned. Why did he refuse? It's not his Rate and as a result, didn't have to do so despite being ordered to participate by a DC2, DC1, MAC. Finally the CMC tried to deal with him and gave up, put him on report. Bingo, Captains Mast!
ABH Oldtimer
08-19-2010, 08:56 PM
Captains Mast! O.o Thats ok, I plan on doing whatever it is they have me do to the best of my ability. Im in North Carolina for the night making a pit stop. Tomorrow I meet up with a shipmate and make the last leg of the trip. I cant beleive im reporting in tomorrow...oh lord.
ABH you will be fine. When you see the Ike, you will get a lump in your throat at how big that ship really is, trust me! Then eventually, you will fall in love with that ship, afterall, it was your first!
Relax! You and your shipmate are going to be fine! We have all reported onboard our first command before. You are a newbie, BUT you have been trained, right? Remember Boot Camp and A School?! Just follow your training in how to report. you WILL learn the Fleet enviroment after a few months, but at this point, just remember your training. If you do that, you won't go wrong!!!
Anxiety is fine, just don't let it overtake you!!!
Move it Shipmate!
VaBchMom
08-19-2010, 10:24 PM
Welcome to Hampton Roads!! :woohoo:
Well, I guess if the wife and I do go to Norfolk, I will have to meet up with Steve (assuming he get's orders to Norfolk, VaBchMom (possibly Dad), Nick and ABH.
Anyone else? Don't want to leave anyone out!
VaBchMom
08-20-2010, 09:42 AM
You sure do! And ABH...one of the best sights is when you're coming east on 64, just before you go through the HRBT you'll see the ships at NOB (not all of them obviously) and it's nice view.
I forgot about that. That is true, very awesome sight!
ABH Oldtimer
08-21-2010, 01:26 PM
Holy shit...I live on an aircraft carrier! I tell you what, I must of looked like a idiot walkin' up to that ship with my head tilted back and my mouth open just staring at it. It wasnt bad checking in, everyone was real helpful and nice. Ive already gotten lost a few times. I have it figured out real good now how to get to the berthing from the hangar bay, and from the berthing to the flight deck. Thats it though. I dont even know how to get to the galley X(
I didnt get to see anything cool on the drive in though, too much traffic for a fella from Bama. Even with the GPS I was having trouble.
Im good to go though, I checked in last night and got settled. They told me and my buddy to just chill out and take the weekend off and to just come back Monday ready to work.
Great job ABH. Have a good weekend off. Find out how to get to the mess decks. Look around town some. It not bad. But for us southern folks it can be frightening.
VaBchMom
08-21-2010, 04:52 PM
Yup, 64 both east and west bound can be challenging coming up and going through the HRBT (this is the abbrev. of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel) but you'll fit in as soon as you stop saying the whole thing...just call it the HRBT or the tunnel. :laugh:
Retired Navy Chief
08-22-2010, 12:29 PM
Welcome to the fleet, shipmate !!
Pretty impressive ship, ain't she ??
Enjoy your weekend ... make sure you're ready for Monday ... that's when the adventure really begins !!
Cheers,
PISTOL
MacSteve
08-22-2010, 01:46 PM
haha sounds like a blast. I can't wait to see mine.. one day.. lol.
whats the policy on civvies?
dragonsi
08-22-2010, 06:29 PM
Thanks everyone! This post was helpful to me as I have been assigned to the USS Carl Vinson in San Diego,CA. I arrived at my new command a week ago and am awaiting my ship to come back from underway. Meanwhile, I am stuck at TPU. So I have been exploring the area via trolley or on foot. Pretty big place and lots to do.
Glad I am not the only one intending to do my job to the best of my ability and then some. DK3 you hit it on the nail! Those words of advise are my intentions in my new career in the Navy.
DK3 you hit it on the nail! Those words of advise are my intentions in my new career in the Navy.
Good deal Shipmate!!! Keep it so and we will see you rise in rank in a few years to be a great leader, just like ABH, Seth and MacSteve!!!
Retired Navy Chief
08-22-2010, 06:57 PM
Thanks everyone! This post was helpful to me as I have been assigned to the USS Carl Vinson in San Diego,CA. I arrived at my new command a week ago and am awaiting my ship to come back from underway. Meanwhile, I am stuck at TPU. So I have been exploring the area via trolley or on foot. Pretty big place and lots to do.
Glad I am not the only one intending to do my job to the best of my ability and then some. DK3 you hit it on the nail! Those words of advise are my intentions in my new career in the Navy.
Have you gone downtown to the Navy Pier to take a tour of the USS Midway ???
That is a vital piece of naval history that is a must see !! An old shipmate of mine retired and is working there as part of the crew.
Cheers,
PISTOL
dragonsi
08-22-2010, 07:01 PM
Dang! I knew I missed something! There's so much here! How could I have missed this? Oh well! I'm putting this on my list of things to do soon. Thanks!
ABH Oldtimer
08-24-2010, 04:51 PM
MacSteve: the civillian clothes policy as far as i can tell is pretty basic. when works over, slip em' on and head out. you can wear them on the ship during liberty and all as well. obviously your clothes have to be respectable, no holes, no flip flops, etc.
So, what has life been like in the fleet so far? How did yesterday go? Can you find the mess decks now?
Well, I guess if the wife and I do go to Norfolk, I will have to meet up with Steve (assuming he get's orders to Norfolk, VaBchMom (possibly Dad), Nick and ABH.
Anyone else? Don't want to leave anyone out!
I might get stationed there NSF mobile lol
I might get stationed there NSF mobile lol
Oh, that would be great if you do! What's your PRD?
Oh, that would be great if you do! What's your PRD?
Nov11, 1 year and 2 months!! lol
If you do end up in Norva, we will have to schedule one big Cafe get together!!!!
ABH Oldtimer
08-25-2010, 02:56 PM
DK3: fleet life is ok so far, its pretty chill right now. I did find the mess decks, I know my way around pretty good now. They put me to work though for sure. I was luggin' huge buckets of paint from the 8th deck up to the flight deck today....phew. Tomorrow we'll be painting all day. Im gonna get a taste of life at sea here in a lil while, pretty excited about that. Also were moving into the ship yards to get ready for the next deployment, they say thats when the real work will begin.
Main thing im concerned about now is my wedding is suppose to be next month, sept 18. Im in the hole on leave right now since they gave me two weeks of leave, but i had not earned that yet. I did the recruiter assistant program when I was on leave, thats suppose to give me 5 days back. If the command excepts it, I'll have 1 day of leave on the books. The LPO told me he'll let me go 5 days back in the hole for my wedding if thats the case. But if the command doesnt except the RAP duty, then I'll already be 4 days in the hole. Which would mean I cant go home for my wedding. So basically im going down to personel tomorrow to find out if they'll take the RAP duty, if not...no wedding
Yes, you will absolutely "love" the shipyards. Yes, that is where a lot of hard work takes place!
Here's a suggestion for you when you first get underway. The morning of getting underway, I ate only a half breakfast and lunch until my inner ear settled. Dinner depending upon how I felt was usually a full meal. Of course, I know a carrier doesn't rock like a tin can would but just a suggestion that did help me that was passed on to me by DK1.
How long are you going to be in the shipyards?
ABH Oldtimer
08-25-2010, 03:37 PM
from what i've heard its gonna be there for 6-7 months
ok, that's not too bad. But you will work your rear off in the yards.
Have fun and enjoy your first underway period!
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.