When I was a midshipman, I stood bridge watches , including the helm. Did the same in the fireroom, including spending twenty four hours in the firebox rebricking and recasting the firebox in the boiler, also engineroom - CIC -Sonar, etc. Each ship I served on I would make a point of steering the ship and learning from the master helmsman/woman. Carrier/LHA/LHD aviation CO's do not have that kind of experience and probably think it is beneath them. Point is, it is essential and professional to be involved with training and qualifying watchstanders. Their job is as important as the Captain's. In some ways more important because if the hundreds of actions and checks and details that watchstanders do routinely are not done, everyone is at risk. One of the reasons I love sailors in general and any who I served with in particular.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

So Much Is At Stake, For All Of Us.

Image
  It has been a long time since I have posted. Unimaginable events have taken place, human caused and natural calamities, in abundance. A worldwide pandemic that spotlights the divide between the haves and have nots on a global scale. The world-wide effort of scientists and medical researchers, and most importantly the Pharma companies, to put out an extraordinary vaccine, gave hope and promise to be able to save lives.  Yet, here in the United States we have ignored the imperative to act as one nation and politicized and spread dis-information among our divided citizens to make our response to vaccination and prevention fall way short of the needed steps to get ahead of infections. This willful disregard on the part of some of our leaders to do what is the right thing and act as one in a life and death struggle has cost too many lives and puts at risk millions of people and especially our children, our future.  What can we do? The following is my wist...
Read more
Image
I have decided that if I am going to tilt at windmills, I need to do it on my blog. Facebook is not the place to express my views, opinions, hopes, and dreams for this country, for this world. I am not seeking affirmation or challenging others on their views, but I welcome any feedback.  I have discovered that many of the men and women that have crossed my path, both professionally and personally, are out there and because of our time together have established a connection that I value and am grateful to be able to engage.  We all share the oath we took, some many times over, and believe so very strongly in the core of that pledge, to serve our country and to defend it using our combined strength and will. I hope that my shipmates, friends, and family will use this blog to discuss, argue, and seek solutions and answers to the things/issues/concerns that need answers and our commitment to see through to resolution. 
Read more

Growing Up a Navy Junior. 1947-1965

Image
Growing Up a Navy Junior    I was born during the early post World War II years, 1947. I was the second try as my mother had a miscarriage something I only learned of very late in my life. That kind of thing was ordinary but just not spoken about. Glad my parents kept trying. The post-war mood of America was one of huge relief that the war was over and exuberance that the allies had won, and the future looked safer for all peoples. There was so much going on in the US with demand for workers and farmers to get back to building and producing, and to feeding the population. American industry and agriculture quickly became a major economic force involved in supporting and providing resources to the rebuilding of nations that had been devastated by the Axis countries in Europe and Asia. My father had decided to remain in the Navy and continue to serve as a Line Officer in the Surface Warfare branch. His assignment at the time of my birth was Aide to the Commandant of the Third Nav...
Read more