It has been a long time since my last blog, and in that time so much has gone on in life. I've started my new job at NSWC. I'll be working with the boat support group. They provide the picket and life boats for they're various swimming and diving exercises. At first I was a bit overwhelmed with magnitude of what I am to be responsible for. It was spelled out more than a couple of times," Training can't be rescheduled so be on spot on time all the time. Also I'm going to be the one in charge this time around. On the Princeton I came as a 2nd class so I had lots of time to grow into the job. Now however I have 3 months to be familiar with the job. Not a problem if it were not for the ones that ARE in charge . They either seem a bit hesitant of giving up the importance of being in charge, or have other things that on their minds other than getting me familiar with the job at hand. Then there is the chief that is in charge of the shop. There are many thing that sends shiver when I think of the amount of time I have to work with this guy. Firstly there is his seeming tendency to bow over at the least amount muscle from those above him. This is understandable of course since he is a new chief, and probably a weak 1st to begin with, and feels that he needs to show that he can work with other leaders of different groups on the base or command. However at what cost? A LTCDR from ACU1 stops by the shop and claims he owns the pier on which we park our boats. So chief tells us to move the float and the boats. BM1 Brown had to find a new home for our boats for over the weekend, while BM1 Haskins readied the boats for getting underway. In the end Haskin's decides to call over chiefs head to ask what is going on, bad move. It got us out of moving the boats, but it is never a good idea to jump ones chain of command. On Monday chief got us all together and berated the crowd to avoid singling out the one in question, always good, about going over his head, and it made him look like an idiot. Of course in my mind I had to ask how much of an idiot he would have looked if we had moved the boats and ended and ended moving them back later that day. To caught throw it all, I think he's a pussy, doesn't know any of his people, has no clue as to operations, what boats are up, which ones are down, or any of the like. Now the lack of knowledge could be brought about from lack of being kept informed, which would fall on Brown's lap. However I have a hard time defending him for being a pussy at the expense of ones people. We are in charge because of our people. It is our people that make us successful, or make us look like fools. It is that reason we need to look out for them.
Other than the above examples I like it here at NWSC. I still think the SEALS are still a bunch of prima donna, though they are good at what they do. As I've probably pointed out earlier I love driving boats. It is one of the reasons I stayed a BM. If it weren't for it and other loved activities I would have left the rate for one that is more loved in the Navy. I know that I will be scheduling more than a couple of boat ride for myself a week in order to stay familiar with the OP's.
We got our first new guy since my arrival. This is good for me since a lot of people are due to leave in the next couple of months, and we're already short as it is. The new guy is coming from the C.B. unit on the base, and like all the other fleeters that I know he hated just about every freakin' day of it. They too are prima donna, but unlike the SEALS they lack a sense of Identity. They are Navy people that will never put to sea. In fact they see themselves more as Marines then Navy. So though Fleeters take part in the majority of their operations they are still second rate citizens. I've been hearing stories at how the brass wants the battalions thinking as if they were one unit but neglect to crack down on what it is that separates them. Mainly it is their Goat Locker, If the chiefs don't get along their people won't get along. We only know what our bosses know. Another reason I praise God that I am where I am is that though life on shore duty is boring at least I'm out on average at 1200. While the BM's at the C.B. unit have to stay till 1600 every freaking day. Now that would be too bad if there was something to do but there isn't. It's sweeper all freakin' day. Some of them are so bored there that they've taken up dressing up crafts with fancy work just to kill time. Once again a sign that those that are in charge have about their people. Otherwise they would say to themselves, " Hey these fleeters are coming to shore duty to relax, and this would be the best time for them to take things they can't do while at sea." Some things like, say, get educated. I don't know if this from naivete, or they really don't care. Either way I don't care, I'm happy that I'm at the boat units. I talked to the XO and DOT, that mean director of training, and they seem to know that this is what shore duty is for. So as long as we have their confidence, by getting boats on spot on time, then we are free to pursue other activities. In fact we are strongly urged to do this, its better than the alternative of drinking and getting in trouble.
Wow this is a book and I haven't even covered my leave which was a great transition period from the Princeton to this command. I got to see the rest of the family that I don't normally get to see. Mainly Lora and her kids, got new pic's of her new son. I even got to see Maria and her family in FL. Even though they now live here in San Diego again I don't consider it to be a waste of time since I was able to see the FL that Beau had grown up in. I even got to see Uncle Denny and his son, my cousin, Barry. Wow I took 250 photo on this trip I can't wait till I have to shuffle through the photo's and try to remember what the heck am I looking at.