Through out my time in the navy there have been those that have questioned my sanity for staying in as long as I have and there are times when I believe them. No more so now. After the beaching the XO found out that there was only one person on board the ACB and reamed the Dept. Head a new one. Who in turn share this pleasure with the divo and chief. The XO mandated, more forcefully this time, during O-Call that never will a boat get underway without a coxswain and a second. To help out The ASDV was given over directly to Macs hands. Unfortunately the week was already a house of cards to begin with because of the vast quantities of Operations, and each one requires seemed to require at least 4 to 5 boats. It seems that SQT is starting its dive phase at the same time that 2nd phase is finishing its dive portion of training. Monday and Tuesday were rough but Thursday and Friday were murder. Not one person it seemed didn't stand a double watches. I had everybody E-6 and below on a boat. I spared no person from the pain. I On Thursday I participated with a 3.5 mi. swim in the morning poured over the next weeks watchbill in the afternoon, then participated in an evening operation that finished about 2100, went home, slept until 0300 and started all over again.
On Friday, so I was told on Thursday, the department head was going to speak to the division. At said venue there was going to be an open mic period in which period in which the group can express their concerns. It turned out that it was going to just the departmental LCPO spewing the company line. I can't say that I envy ENC Lazaga's position though. I think he too believes that this is a bad idea but feels he must bite his tongue in order to show a united front. I don't agree with the biting ones tongue part though. I feel a leader must be up front with his people. One must remember that the unwash hoards are as intelligent, as the leader. Especially since the leader was once part of these said hoards. In short they can tell when one is shitt'n them and will come to the conclusion that they are being shit on.
However that wouldn't be the end to this chain of events. At the offset there is being disgruntled. Then after a few weeks of 21 hour days there will be fatigue, and on top all this the Engineers are not where they need to be, mainly keeping the engine up. In the end what one gets is laborers who could care less what they're doing, too fatigued to do their job correctly if they could give a care, working with faulty machinery. Can you say Kibble and Bit? That is what may happen if during a night dive operation an ACB must traverse through a gaggle of divers with nothing to warn him of their presence except a couple of chem-lights floating on top of the water, or miss seeing a Yacht entering the bay in time to do much but watch chowder a couple of students.
Of course all this would pale if we could believe our masters were continuing the fight to nix this stupid order, or at least modify it to lessen its impact on the worker bees. But I don't even have faith in that. It's kind of hard to have such faith when ones chain of command will side with the instructors without so much as a resemblances of a fact finding mission. Nope, one dirty letter from the phase chief and auromatically it is our fault. 'I would rather you be hot or cold,' if we suck then we suck wind, but do not kiss me on the cheek then slap me on the other.
All through this week I kept asking if it were too late to go recruiting. Hell I what I wouldn't give to go back to sea. I extended on board for the soul purpose of retiring on shore. Through it all I try to keep perspective. I here out of Gods will and this testing is for a reason. In the end I shall gain a new perspective, bind this crew into a tighter unit, maybe something I couldn't even fathom too far down the line to percieve. Whatever it is I must stand firm against this enemy that would have me run and steal from me this blessing that the Lord is preparing for me.