Ship Rider from Panama

My role here is to facilitate the ship’s entry into Panamanian waters. Through diplomatic channels it would take too long and we would be unsuccessful in capturing the “go fasts” and the narcotics. My role here is to call via cell phone since we’re in range. I call my boss. They already have notification that we’re in and around these waters and they give us the go ahead to chase after them. I was chosen because of previous experience doing counter-drug operations.

Back home I am in charge of the transportation department and I am in charge of the building maintenance. The reason I was chosen for this mission is because I have 20 years of Navy service right now and it’s good for me as an officer to get this experience as a liaison between the U.S. and Panamanian navies. It also helps me because I have to learn the different rules as far as pursuing go fasts and learning what lines of communication need to be established to enter different waters. 

V/R

Ensign Jose Camarena, Panamanian Navy

Ship’s Reaction Force-Basic

We’re learning how to safely and effectively search the ship in case of a security alert or a terrorist alert. We’re learning the steps we would take if the ship were infiltrated.

We’re learning how to close out a space with a reaction force and then if there’s a security alert within a space, how to secure them – have the subjects put their hands up, put them on the ground, search them for weapons – things like that. We also learn how to search different hiding spots on the ship.

A typical team would be six people or as many people as needed depending on the kind of security alert. We try to each rotate through different roles on the team so that in a real life scenario any one person could take any position throughout the security alert.

There’s the team leader who will yell out commands to the team, and if you’re the last man you’re always checking the team’s “6” – checking  the back of the reaction team just to make sure know is coming from behind and to help secure spaces.

The first week of the training is for watch standing and for qualifications for the OC (Oleoresin Capsicum) spray and the second week is the security alert reaction force training. It’s two weeks overall.

Personally, I think it’s good to know, especially for the new guys, the things that you don’t go over in your A School or the things you don’t go over in your specific division on the ship. It is separate training and the instructors have had specific training on this so it’s a good change of pace for us and it is good knowledge to know.

I think the most important thing I’ve gotten from this training is to stay aware and to know that different situations happen and to stay calm and to rely on the people who have trained with you. Have their backs and know they have your back.

V/R

Seaman (SW) Aaron Drendel

7 Chief Selects!

I found out about my selection when the CO announced it over the 1MC this afternoon. I didn’t know before the announcement that I’d made it and it’s one of those things where you try not to get too involved as it winds down to the last few days, because on the flipside, if your name doesn’t get called it can be a heart crusher. At the same time you try to stay positive and stay focused and you wish that your name will be on that list.

I was here in the S-1 [Supply Support] shop with the rest of my guys when the announcement was made. We listened to the names being called one by one and once the CO called my name, all hell broke loose in this office. I didn’t get a chance to hear the remaining names being called because there was a lot of yelling and congratulating and commenting going on.

Prior to the announcement, I had my head down and my hands were sweating and I breathing hard and had butterflies. AS soon as they called my name I felt at ease. I won’t be taking any more exams either, and that’s a great feeling.

Today was the official beginning of chief induction, so from now until we get pinned is a lot of blood, sweat, and tears and just trying to keep our minds focused and our ears open. These seasoned chiefs are going to have a lot of wisdom and a lot of leadership scenarios to help us out in our careers. It’s going to be interesting. I’m looking forward to. I’ve been waiting for it for a while and it finally came.  

I reached my 15-year mark in March. This is definitely an accomplishment and a milestone in my career. I was blessed to be selected for chief.

The best advice I can give to the Junior Sailors is that hard work will pay off. Listen to your leadership for wise counsel. Take the tools that you learn early in your career and implement them into your work ethic. All the little things like the attention to detail, caring for folks, and staying late come together to strengthen your package. It’s a unique thing to think about, but although my individual name was called out, it wasn’t just me that got me here. I’ve had a lot of people who’ve supported me from day one. Individuals from all the way up and down the ranks, including my old leadership, new leadership, and also my family and friends have supported me from the very beginning. It was my name that was called, but getting here was a group effort.

I have a couple mentors I’d like to mention and thank for helping me: Mr. Koonce who is out in Japan and of course my current chief, Chief Logistics Specialist Brooks, who was one of the mentors that got me on the right path and really pushed me and gave the encouragement I needed when I was losing focus. 

V/R

Chief Select Logistics Specialist (SW/AW) Josue Negron

Fire Main Maintenance

Senior Chief Engineman (SW) Joel Fletcher explains maintenance conducted aboard USS Underwood (FFG 36).

Right now we have a seawater-circulating pump that normally cools a diesel engine that is powered off the backside of the switchboard off the generator circuit breaker side. The pump is actually bad so we have the pump tagged out. You can run the diesel with emergency fire main back up aligned to it, which we are currently doing. Unfortunately, on the bad pump we had a mechanical seal let go and we also have a butterfly valve and a check valve with malfunctions.

So, as opposed to the fire main coming through a reducer at 32 plus or minus two PSI and going through the coolers and overboard, about 50% of the water is currently leaking by the two valves that have failed, leaking out of the mechanical seal, and going through the suction valve back to the ocean the opposite way of its original design.

What my guys are doing right now is shutting down the fire main to the entire space, tagging out the suction and the overboard valve. They’re removing the piping from the suction and the discharge side of the pump. They’re going to put blank flanges in on the pipes, and that’s going to keep the fire main from going back through the pump, which has a bad seal. It will be like that until the new pump gets here.

This is what’s called a voyage repair. You’ve gotta do what you gotta do to make things work.