17 April 2009

Well I made it through my first day of work on my ship! I never really knew what jet-lag was until this trip. I went to bed around 11:30 pm, but woke up around 2 am and just couldn’t get back to sleep. So, after tossing and turning for a while, I got up and called Liz and talked with her for a bit. Then tried to get some rest since it was going to be my first big day. I got up when my alarm went off at 6 am, even though I was already awake. I did some push-ups, took a shower and got dressed in civilian clothes. I got my seabag packed with just my uniform stuff and PQS manuals. The officers met in the lobby at 7 am and we carpooled over to the ship.
I got a temporary rack in the Chief’s berthing to stash my stuff, but no locker was available. I changed into the uniform of the day, coveralls and steel-toed boots. I don’t have a command ball cap yet, so everyone said to just go uncovered even if I’m outside. I had some breakfast, from the galley, and ate it in the wardroom. Either the other officers don’t eat breakfast or they had already eaten, because I was the only one in there. Pretty tasty, I had scrambled eggs with cheese, peppers, onions, and ham. I also had some bacon, a pancake and some juice that tasted kind of like Tang.

The first thing on the POD (Plan of the Day) was to do a “Fast Cruise” at 0830. Basically we just went through all the ship’s various watch bills and manned them up, ran some training simulations since we were still moored to the pier. My first job was to UI (be Under Instruction) for Helm Safety during Sea and Anchor detail. Basically I just make sure the Helm and Leehelm are executing their jobs correctly, hearing the CONN (conning officer, the one that drives the ship) correctly. That was my first experience with PQS (Personnel Qualification Standards), getting things signed off as we were executing them. That first one didn’t go so well, but since the ship has been in the yards for 3 months I guess the crew was a bit rusty. We went through the various watchbills throughout the rest of the day, pausing for lunch. I got my first experience to announce to the Pilothouse (bridge of the ship) that “ENS Reed has the CONN.” Thankfully I didn’t actually have to do anything as the CONN, but it sure got my heart pumping.

Right before lunch all the officers met in the wardroom and we had the JORG/BULL Ensign pinning ceremony. We actually found out that ENS Kyle Sherman commissioned on DEC 12th as well, but since his ceremony was in OR, and mine was in RI, I still ended up being “Sr.” to him by about an hour or so. So, he was pinned as the JORG. My sponsor, ENS Matt Smart, was pinned as the BULL Ensign. Everyone had a big kick out of that since our commission dates were so close, and I guess ENS Sherman was so looking forward to me checking on board so that I could be the JORG. After that we had lunch, and watched some of the new James Bond film in the wardroom.

Once we were finished with the fast cruise stuff, there were some awards given out to top off the day’s work. Captain (LCDR Horpayak) introduced me to the whole crew at that time as well. That was about 4 or 5 pm. We got changed back into civilian clothes and carpooled back to the flats. ENS Smart and I then went over to the Naval base. He went to the gym while I got my haircut (“hi and tight” marine corps-type haircut, sorry Liz!), got some laundry detergent and dryer sheets, and a cell phone that I can use while I’m here in Bahrain. Not too bad, $33 phone, $10 Sim card, and prepaid about $66 for 780 minutes. Then I went to the gym for about 15 minutes as well and did some chest work out.Once we got back to the flats I took a shower, started some laundry, then ordered a sandwich and ice cream and brownie since I was starving even after eating dinner. I was also able to borrow my roommates computer to jump online and check e-mail and Facebook. I called Liz and talked with her for a bit then got to bed around 11 pm.