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USS Blog Boy's Deployment Diary--Chapter Two

Not applicable
(Francisco recently sent us the second installment of his Deployment Diary onboard the USS Nimitz.  Click on the pictures to enlarge.  His ship is the aircraft carrier behind the lead ship in the top photo.) nimitz.jpg I refer to everyday as the same day. While being out to sea you lose track of time and you may even loose track on what day it is. I work the night shift so my schedule is backwards from the majority of the ship. Trying to sleep during the day can be a challenge. People are always coming in and out of our berthing area, and in addition to that, our berthing is right below the hangar bay. I count my blessings because when I first checked on board, my berthing was right below the flight deck. Imagine trying to sleep while F-18's are landing above you. There are two reasons why I could get woken up while I am sleeping. The first is that there could be a man overboard drill, meaning I'll have five minutes to get to the forward part of the ship and muster with my division. If a man falls overboard, we want to make sure everyone is accounted for, so we can then tell who fell. The second reason I could get awakened is a low visibility watch. If there is poor visibility outside, I have to go to the most forward part of the ship and act as a lookout. I have had to do this only once.  I could also get woken up if we have general quarters, which is an emergency, perhaps a possible attack, and I need to get to my repair locker so I can help fight any fires.  On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, I have to be up by 1500 because I have math class at 1530. The Navy flies college professors out to the ship so that we can continue our education. Right now, I am taking college algebra through Central Texas University. It takes me about a half hour to get ready and about a minute to get to class. After class is over, I head to the mess decks to grab some fine Navy food. I usually finish eating by 1830. I then head to the front of the ship to muster with my division. This is where our chain of command keeps us informed on our work load, tasks for the people on the night shift, changes in our schedule... the list could go on. After we are done mustering, I head over to my work center which is two decks up from the hanger bay. hangar-deck.jpgI head to my desk, check my e-mail, and get briefed by my direct boss on what needs to be accomplished for the night. During the night, I am in charge of issuing high priority airplane parts to the squadrons, work on various financial reports, or if a squadron needs an engine, I would be tasked with driving a forklift to get the engine from hanger bay three. Our job is to support the air wing with the parts that they need. Bottomline is, if we don't do our job, the planes can't take off. It is a team effort. Our ship is a national asset, and our job is to take the fight to the enemy so we don't have to face them at home.  I am also tasked with working on the flight deck when we receive our groceries. This is a big event since we get hundreds of pallets of groceries. This is challenging because it is rather toasty on the flight deck, the temperature can climb all the way up to 125. So as you can see I have a wide variety of jobs. The job I most enjoy is fire fighting in our repair locker. We are trained to save the ship and to fight the fire until the very end.  Before I know it, it is already 0700, time to muster with the morning crew, head back to my work center to do a turnover. I brief them on all of the night's events and any problems that I had. After this is done, I take a Navy shower, head to my rack, and usually read. I fall asleep and get ready to do it all over again. open-waters.JPG
18 Comments
drew
Adventurer B
Another interesting look at a side of life most Americans, myself included, will never experience. Thank you for sharing this, and for your service!
Francisco_Delga1
Adventurer A
So proud to be a "Navy" mom! Way to go Mi Amor, oh I mean - USS Blog Boy. I'm so proud of you. I guess all those years of me being a drill sergeant (mean mom) has paid off huh? The way I see it, the only difference between a mom drill seargent and the officers you're under, after your mom has reprimanded you, you do get a hug and a I love you. With all kidding aside, I respect and admire you and our military so much. I can't thank you and our troops for all the sacrifices you are making for our freedoms. I'm so blessed that God gave your dad and me the opportunity to go out to sea with you on the USS Nimitz last September and to see first hand how you live and breathe the Navy. I thank the United States Navy for having family days and encourage families to try to experience this at least once. Although it's very difficult to say goodbye when you leave, for this deployment, we have more respect and understanding of what you and all the troops on the USS Nimitz go through. I encourage you to keep working hard, it's going to pay off in the long run. May God continue to bless and protect you and those around you. I miss you terribly (especially the laughter) and I love you very much. You're a great son!!! Mom (aka - officially USS Blog Boy's original drill seargent)
Leah4
Frequent Flyer B
I enjoy your posts! They're very interesting! Please keep us updated as often as you can, & thanks for everything you all do! Stay safe! Leah
Francisco_Delga1
Adventurer A
By the way my mom made that post above, she was using our home computer that is why my name appeard. Sorry for the confusion.. Leah- I am confident that one day u will work at Southwest. Just hang in there. Drew- thanks for your kind words, go America!!! USS BLOG BOY
Leah4
Frequent Flyer B
Thanks, USS Blog Boy! 🙂 By the way, how do you like College Algebra? I took it in college several years ago & had a great teacher; I just didn't like the class because I don't like Math!
Laurie7
Explorer A
Franciso, Great blog! As exhausted as I can get at working "a double," I can't imagine putting in the 24 hours a day that you do. Thanks for keeping us safe! And tell your mom she did a good job with her boy.
Greg4
Explorer C
Question on southwest I am fairly new to learn about swa so my question is did SWA just go into dulles to just select a few special cities to add out of dulles and thats it or are they going to add more direct cities out of dulles or what? I am just Shocked that swa has not added more cities from there route map for the new dulles airport city. any one else confused on this swa city?
Mary23
Explorer B
Thanks for the interesting post. As a former Air Force I see how much more responsibility you have. We did our job each day and then were free, no kp or other tasks. My father in law served on the USS Indianapolis for a short time and he never talked about all the different tasks that were required on a ship. You are doing a great service for our country and hope all goes well for you. I wish the media would take a little time to report on the good that the military does each day. I don't envy you working the night shift. Will that rotate? we used to do 3 swings, 3 mids, and 3 days and then have two days off. God bless and I look forward to your next post.
Francisco_Delga1
Adventurer A
Greg, I am by no means an expert, but usually when Southwest adds a new city they grow as they see fit. It is not wise to grow too fast because lets say they opened dulles with 100 flights and half of those flights were empty, Southwest would then be losing a lot of money and would have to raise fares across the system. Southwest likes to grow gradually so i would say be patient. Mary J, sorry to say but we do not rotate, i like my schedule the way it is. I am used to working nights now, if they changed me to days my sleep patterns would be destroyed. You are right i wish the media would report some of the good, but sadly they report the bad. Your father in law has my respect, the Navy was by all accounts difficult back then. They had it much harder than we do. I am sure he never heard about a blog back t hen. Laurie, i will pass on the word to my mom or you can. She luvs to e-mail.... she could use an e-mail friend when i am away her e-mail address is yoliefaith@msn.com .. thanks for your kind words Leah, I hate math!!!!!!!!!!!!! But i have to learn to luv it, i need it for my major in accounting, USS BLOG BOY USS BLOG BOY
Leah4
Frequent Flyer B
Ha! 🙂 I've never used my College Algebra. When do you graduate? Quadratic formula (I can't type how it actually looks): x=negative b + or - the square root of b squared -4ac over 2a. It looks really weird like that. I hope things are going well, & am looking forward to more posts! Again, thanks for everything you all do, & God Bless all of you!
Francisco_Delga1
Adventurer A
quadratic formula is -b+- the square root of b squared - 4 AC over 2A. well when i get out of the Navy i have to decide what school i am going to and when i do i would have about a year and a half of studies. I want to work at Southwest so i might have to take some night classes. Evertyhing is going well. if you want to e-mail me its much easier.. francisco.delgado@cvn68.navy.mil
Laurie7
Explorer A
"Quadratic formula?" Ummm...yeah. Sure. I know what y'all are talking about (ahem!). Excuse me...but I was hired for my sparkling personality. Or so I tell my SWA superviors when my ticket counter petty bag is off by $1.45
Patti
Explorer C
My nephew is on the USS Nimitz! Thanks for a look into your world. AND thank you for serving our country so proudly! Semper Fi!
ben_giron
Explorer C
As a retired SKC myself, I can understand what you are going through. Keep up the good work. Fair winds..........
FriendofBlogBoy
Frequent Flyer B
Francisco, So, what do you do during your spare time to put a little excitement into your dull and boring life? LOL Seriously, your posts are a wonderful insight into the REAL life of our military, especially onboard a floating city like the Nimitz. Too many movies and TV shows glamorize military duty and fail to reveal the TRUE sacrifices that so many people like you make for us every day. I appreciate your stories and pictures and e-mails, but even more, I appreciate your service! Saluting his friend on the high seas, Kim 🙂
Phil_Willman
Adventurer C
Joining the EBB in saluting the USSBB!
Francisco_Delga1
Adventurer A
ITS HOT OVER HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 90 DEGREES 100 PERCENT HUMIDITY............................ Thanks Kim for your kind words.. Military life is not easy but its worth it. There is no greater honor than to serve ones country. USS BLOG BOY
FriendofBlogBoy
Frequent Flyer B
Speaking on behalf of the USSBB, the EBB thanks the PW! LOL 🙂