Friday, April 12, 2013

2006 Deck Log Entries

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  1. 2006-01-04 09:07:02
    Groton, CT
    SSBN 642, SSBN 631, SSN 761

    OK, to quote a famous sailor, I've had all I can stands, I can't stands no more!

    I am hereby blocking all posts that (in the body of the message) contain "http://". If you want to point someone to a URL, either use the web link available when you create an entry, or leave off the "http://" part.

    That should take care of the spammers.

  2. 2006-01-10 18:49:15
    Munster, IN
    Bexar LPA 237 / Iwo Jima LPH 237

    I watched a History Channel program last night. It centered around ops in the gulf and the Carl Vincent. I believe the Vincent's CO and Flag were both pilots. Perhaps there might be a clue as to why the QM rate is fading. In the old days, until WWII, the fleet was big-gun-centric. Now, the fleet revolves around the carrier. Although the carrier has been king since WWII, the CO was still blue-water, black-shoe navy. While flight ops was commanded by a captain (at least a commander), he was not captain of the ship, until now. I guess the point I'm trying to make, is that the elimination of QM might be an indication of a lack or respect for deck rates in general. Especially those punk QMs - who do they think they are? anyhow? Just turn them into an OS and get them off the bridge. All the OOD needs is a phone talker to relay any imformation that the OS might think necessary. Better yet, just type it out and he can read it off of a monitor. The OOD gets the information without attitude. Today the Quartermaster, tomorrow the Boatswainsmate. think not? Ask a sergeant in the Air Force about contractors. Why not replace the Bosun with a contractor? The 1st LT can become a project manager.
    Enough of my rant. My proudest moments of my life was answering up across the bridge in a loud and clear "Quartermaster, Aye!" (so what if the OOD was 5 feet away!)

  3. 2006-01-11 08:58:48

    QM3 Darrington's post was spot on, although I don't think it's just a case of brown shoe vs black shoe. I was aboard a destroyer 35 years ago and the conflict he alludes to was already noticeable then, in the McNamara days. The brass is always talking about naval honor and tradition, but I think it's just their way to keep the ratings motivated. As far as the leadership is concerned, it's all career management. I remember when the the Vietnam-era CNO Zumwalt introduced the fore-and-aft rig uniforms for enlisted personnel in a lunatic attempt to "improve morale". The fact that it was impossible to maintain or even stow these clothes aboard ship was never even considered and reveals how isolated the senior officers were from the enlisted men. Mustangers who had worked their way up from the enlisted ranks or officers who had not gone to the Academy rarely made it past the rank of Commander, regardless of their competence. And we all know what happened to Commander Bucher of the Pueblo. We are replacing our warriors with business majors and our mariners with computer geeks.

  4. 2006-01-13 23:29:15
    Kykotsmovi, AZ

    It's great that I found a site devoted Directly for us "PROTECTORS OF THE KEEL"! I love this rate nothing feels so much better than being out to sea and up on the bridge knowing that your over all responsable for the safety of the ship while on watch. Just to tell a OFFICER that he needs to do this course and you telling him not him telling you. I have one thing to say about the Merger with the OS's i don't see me doing what they do down there i love to see the ocean. don't like sitting in a dark cold place all day long. Plus if the merger does happen oh trust me there will be a Quartermaster Wheel on my cover on the back just to show where my roots are.

  5. 2006-01-16 05:10:57

    hows it going...i just recently enlisted and chose the QM as my rate and i am lookin foward to get to work...and just wondering what i should be expecting

  6. 2006-01-16 13:45:35
    Arnold, MO

    I joined on 20050910 and chose to be Quartermaster. I'm excited to leave. My ship date is 20060621. What should I expect when I leave for boot camp and how is schooling?

  7. 2006-01-25 21:43:54
    Boston, Massachusetts
    USS San Bernardino(LST-1189), USS Lake Erie (CG-70)

  8. 2006-02-19 00:39:51

    I enjoyed the rate very much, especially battlestations torpedo. The art of workiing out a fire control solution took skill and teamwork. A very satisfying piece of work.

  9. 2006-02-21 20:32:20
    Shingle Springs (Great Lakes)

    Well bootcamp is over and I am now in A-school to be a quartermaster. Anyone have any advice for a 22 yr old E-3 getting ready to head out into the fleet?

  10. 2006-02-21 23:40:15

    Good luck, striker. And keep us informed.

  11. 2006-02-22 01:25:09
    Lake County, Florida
    USS John Hancock and several US merchant marine ships

    For the person that is asking for advice.

    Make sure you have two weeks of uniforms avilable when you ship out.

  12. 2006-03-15 08:47:04
    Great Lakes IL

    For the person requesting information below. I am almost finished with my Quartermaster A-school her in Great Lakes. Not much I can say for the first 8 weeks in RTC (Recruit Training Command). It wasnt much fun but we all have to do in order to get to the fleet. Once you finish Battle Stations and do Pass and Review things get a lot easier. A-school still has rules similar to bootcamp but is more relaxed. Everything goes by really fast. It seems like just the other night I got off the plane in Chicago and was shipped up to bootcamp. Everything is a mind shock but it is suppose to be. They do their best and succeed in transforming you from a civilion to a full on Sailor in the United States Navy. Good luck with everything and I look forward to being your Shipmate. HooYah -Kevin Stigall

  13. 2006-03-29 11:32:03
    Shingle Springs CA
    Mid April 06- FFG-50 USS TAYLOR

    Well ASCHOOL is over. I am now finally a QM along side all of you fellow QMs. I am heading down to Mayport Florida in mid April to join the crew of the USS TAYLOR. Anyone have any advice or good stories about being on a Frigate? Id love to hear some input. If someone could email me or write me another message on this blog that would be great. Thanks alot.
    -Kevin Stigall

  14. 2006-03-30 11:23:31
    Carver/Baton Rouge/Bergall/Wyoming/Nebraska

    Does anyone know the name of the ANAV onboard San Franciso when it grounded?

  15. 2006-04-07 10:27:55

    Disregard my last.

  16. 2006-04-27 11:29:10
    buffalo, ny
    uss underwood and lcu1680

    i have been a QM for 12 years now, and it is really scaring me that people are losing touch with what the rating is supposed to be about. computers and other electronics are great and useful tools, but what happens when the lights go out? it is really terrifying to think that the new breed of QM's won't know how to shoot stars or use visual aids. it is also a little troubling that questions about these instruments show up on our exams. i am now a reservist and have absolutely no way of getting any of the tech manuals or access to instruments such as the navssi system. as far as the OS merger, a QMC told me last month that we will be merging with BM's to become professional mariner's soon. i guess there will be a few different NEC's inside that rate, such as deck, pilot house, and whatever else they dream up. i wish our input was at least inquired about for all of these changes.

  17. 2006-06-05 17:18:41
    Jonesboro, Arkansas
    Henry M. Jackson, Blueback, Dolphin, CSG-7, MIUWU 112

    The USS San Francisco collision was a tragedy created by the beancounting admirals in Washington. Most of the mistakes made would have been prevented if there was a real QM division. Having old edition charts, the charts not being corrected to the latest Notice To Mariners, not laying 4 hours of Dead Reckoning out in open ocean are the fundamentals of being just an average quartermaster. I am getting ready to get deployed with a reserve Inshore Boat Unit to the middle east. The lessons learned from the San Francisco will be valuable.

    QM1(SS) Eric McGee

  18. 2006-06-07 16:38:55
    Carver/Baton Rouge/Bergall/NAVSUBSCOL/Wyoming/RTC Great Lakes/Nebraska

    There are so many responsibilities required of a Submarine ANAV, that it is nearly impossible to go to sea knowing that the chart, publications, OPORD, interference advisories, SUBNOTE, FACSFAXS, etc are really up to date with all the required changes. To really make this happen there would have to be at least two or three dedicated sailors for this task, not a "borrowed" ET from the NAV division. It also requires downloading pertinent navigational data, including while at sea, irregardless of submarine broadcast traffic. In my days we all knew the drill...of navigational information not being received on the broadcast until RTP, and then once we do get in, having to beg, borrow, and steal to get a recent NTM, chart, or download. I truly believe that a person can be trained properly to fill the void left over from the submarine QM/ET/IC merger, but I also believe some of the basic navigational expertise and experience has left the submarine force, is gone, and will never return. The preparation of charts, second checking, and even third checking, by an experienced person who is repeatedly trained in that specific area of conventional navigation is just simply not there any more. There are still many instances where the ANAV is the sole person performing these actions, and that defines the true failure of the rating merger. I hope the submarine force has gotten better at this since I retired two years ago. As for the San Francisco ANAV and NAV, I do not dare pass judgement, but I have had numerous encounters and I fully understand the frustrations and hardships of a broken system.

  19. ET1(SS) Ryan J. DickinsonApril 12, 2013 at 9:52:00 PM EDT

    2006-07-22 17:56:03
    Moreno Valley, CA
    West Virginia Blue/NRD San Diego/???

    Glad to have stumbled upon this website! Good to hang around with fellow ANAV's. I have never served as ANAV but got certified just prior to leaving my first boat (WVA). I look forward to heading back to sea duty so much, not to mention that recruiting duty isn't exactly like "ANAV'n". Good to have some sort of resource here to stay in the loop.

  20. QM1(SW) Iben Gantt Sr USN (Retired)April 12, 2013 at 9:52:00 PM EDT

    2006-07-24 16:12:41
    Fort Washington, Maryland via West Philadelphia, Pa.
    Carl Vinson; Nimitz, El Paso; Recovery; Boulder; San Jacinto; Oriole

    Years of service: Oct 1980 to Oct 2000.

  21. 2006-08-07 12:56:45
    San Antonio, Texas
    Samuel Gompers, Waddell, Constellation, Ranger, Firm (MSO-444)

    Nothing like being at sea. Rounding Diamond Head at sunrise was awesome! No words to describe to wonder of millions of stars at night, or riding out a typhoon. My old ships are all dead and gone, but the memories are bright and alive as ever!

  22. 2006-08-17 21:20:14
    East Lyme, CT.
    Bluegill SS242, S-47 SS158 & Sea Fox SS402

    USN 07-10-42 to 11-10- 47. Highest rate QM1SS. From the stories about groundings and collisions, I highly recommend that QM's be reinstated as a seperate rate,and trained in basic Marine Navigation. Decrease the reliance on inertial and satellite navigation.

  23. 2006-09-03 09:03:17
    beulaville, nc

    I joined the navy as a QM on aug 30 2006 and was quite excited about it. I ship out for basic in jan. I wanted to be apart of the navigation of the ship. I had a chance to do nuc and all types of stuff, but i saw QM and that was me. But as I've read some of your entries I'm beggining to have second thoughts. with all this talk of merging with other ratings, qm doesn't sound so enticing because i don't know if i will actually be doing what a QM does. So my question is what did QM merge with and is the rating worth it anymore?

  24. 2006-09-04 22:47:37
    East Wenatchee, WA

    I might seem to be out of place here, but I am no stranger to the QM rate. For the last 2 years I have been filling the role as leading QM (have 2 QM2's and 1 QM3 working for me) and the assistant navigation officer on board a patrol craft also I have been through alot of the QM schools, so I feel I have a pretty good grip on the rate. All I really wanted to say was I do agree with all of you that this merger is not a good idea. To abolish a rate that has a long and proud history as QM, for no better reason then becuase the higher up's think that there are to many rates in the Navy is pretty messed up. Also to merg it with OS which is not even close to the QM rate except we do the basic's of navigation. Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents.

  25. 2006-09-07 09:09:05
    Groton, CT
    SSBN 642, SSBN 631, SSN 761


    The work will always be there, regardless of what you are called, so I wouldn't worry about that. Especially if you show an aptitude and enthusiasm for navigation, you can be assured of having that role.

    In my own case I was a QM1/SS when the submarine QM was merged with Navigation Electronics Technician (NavET) and technically I became an ET1/SS. Practically, I still did the same thing-- they weren't sending me to electronics school. In your case, you may well be sent to different schools to learn different aspects of, say, OS (which does have considerable overlap with QM), but by starting out as a QM, and, again, having an enthusiasm for that rate, you should end up all right.

    On the positive side, being able to put "Electronics Technician" on my resume hasn't hurt.

  26. 2006-09-07 09:14:33
    Groton, CT
    SSBN 642, SSBN 631, SSN 761

    RE: my saying "OS has considerable overlap with QM", I see I am contradicting OS1/SW Irish, who should know better than I.

    No OS rate on a sub, so the QMs did perhaps more Mo board / radar / fire control /contact coordination work than on a surface ship: but it's all part of the rate (as is signaling), however peripherally, so it isn't a stretch to claim some relationship. Same as BMs do some navigation.

  27. 2006-09-11 09:37:18

    I do agree the OS rate is probably the closest rate to the current ET(SS) rate. If an OS in the surface Navy could get some basic QM training, then they would be remarkably similar in quite a few aspects. I would suggest starting out as a QM, then if you desire more electronics training, cross-rate to OS. I do agree with Steve Ewing that being a former Sub QM myself, and now a retired Electronic Technician, it has opened up more doors for me on the outside.

  28. 2006-09-23 15:02:52

    I believe that merging the QM and OS rating is a mistake for both ratings. Not because I am unwilling to change, more so for the simple reasons that the QM's just merged with the SM rate and that many QM's are still learning this new rate. If the QM/OS merger is done where does the responsiblites for the SM rate shift to. Not only due QM's need to learn another new rate, but now OS's need to learn 2 new rates.

  29. 2006-09-25 01:30:04
    Aloha, Oregon
    USS Saribachi, USS Roanoke, USS Camden, USS Sides, USS Ford

    Being a former SM1 and having gone through the disestablishment of the SM rating I know that the Navy lost a skill set that it will never get back. They are already talking about doing away with the requirement for CelNav. Get rid of QM's and have how many navigational mishaps? I am all about change for the better, but slow down and think about this one. QMC.

  30. 2006-09-27 19:20:16
    Stockton, Ca
    USS Fitzgerald(DDG-62) and USS Tarawa (LHA-1) COMNAVMIDLANT

    I came into the Navy as a deck seaman so you know how happy I am to be a QM, although I do not like the smoke pit merger conversation qm/os I still think it is better than painting the side of the ship again. And plus the OS's will finally know how to do pim and lay tracks on time.

  31. QM2(EX AW2) CHRISTOPHERSONApril 12, 2013 at 10:06:00 PM EDT

    2006-10-04 13:18:54
    Tampa, Florida

    Just saying hello, and giving a gripe about the damn QM OS Merger.. This problem is the decision is being made way above our heads by men that couldnt plot . They dont understand that our jobs have nothing to do with eachother, With my backround as an AW I understand the radar theory and tactical plotting and stuff, But these guys coming straight from A school (I remind you is like 80-90% computer based) Are screwed because its so much info to take in.

  32. 2006-10-20 19:28:08
    Cucamonga, CA
    USS Rainier AE-5

    Visit the USS Rainier AE-5 web site. Great to see this site finally giving us QM's the recognition we so richly deserve. It is by far, the best rate in the Navy, no question about it.
    I was a QM3 aboard USS Rainier AE-5 in Vietnam back in '68. We had a QM shack with an interior painted all different colors- the remnants of the enamel we used to paint the ships ribbons. It was way cool in the 60's. What a great time. Even if it was an ammo ship. It was heaven for me being a QM as I was an amateur astronomer and a map freak, and I LOVED to steer the ship, especially alongside carriers during replenishment. Wow. What a spectacle. We always knew the latest poop on where we were and where we were going. Surrounded by all the brightest the Navy had to offer. It was well worth being an ammo ship deck ape for nine months to get that job.

  33. 2006-10-25 13:43:43
    Pascagoula , Ms

    Hi all
    RET Rm1 1993
    also served on USS RICHMAOND K TURNER CG-20
    very nice page
    will be back

  34. 2006-11-05 18:21:30
    Astoria, Queens, NYC
    USS Horne DLG-30

    As a SM Striker from 1st Div, I had a buddy who was QM of the watch and he showed me just what a QM does. It was fascinating !
    He used to give me quick lesson on coastal piloting, celestial navigation and operating the radar.
    As an older guy long out of the Navy I read about celestial navigation, piloting etc
    I have a lot of respect for the QMs....a hell of a lot of responsibility and a lot of knowledge and skill required.
    Bravo Zulu
    John Dorry

  35. 2006-12-01 00:50:46
    Randolph, MA
    USS Miller FF1091 and QM A School Sept 81

    The good old days when bein a QM meant something. As long as we knew where we were at, the Chippers, and Snipes were good to us.....these kids dont know how well we got treated for bein a QM....pulled Mess Crank once (E2) and rarely anything other than QMOW or SAT team....loved it was simple

  36. 2006-12-28 07:04:40
    Albert Lea, MN

    OS1 Irish, How the heck are ya man, Served with this guy on the "HAM" hey hit me up, I am stationed in Jacksonville, FL. As far as the QM/OS merger, the Navy has changed too much for me and it's time to hang up the sextant and proceed ashore. No longer are traditions of the sea a way of life, it's politics and money and it's no fun! To all my brothers out there I will forever be a Quartermaster and I wear the wheels proudly tattooed on my elbows!