Bucket List

One of the best activities to pass the time on deployment (especially Saturday nights and Sundays – if you’re not on watch!) is watching movies. I’m amazed with the amount of movie knowledge that some of the crew members possess. It’s almost as if they watch and research movies as a profession! Many of the sailors onboard add to their movie collection in every port and spend the first few days of each underway watching them. Dedicated movie watchers will agree that a couple hours of a good movie outweighs a couple hours of much needed sleep.

Most of the sailors that I interact with while on watch or down in the spaces are surprised when I mention some of the movies that I have not seen. This usually occurs when I don’t recognize a popular quote or scene from a classic movie. While on watch last night, I decided to make a list of “must-see” movies. Because I didn’t want to become overwhelmed with dozens of movies at once, I agreed on ten movies to watch.

Before anyone asks, yes I’m an American and yes, I’m a naval officer.

Top Gun

Star Wars (IV, V, VI then I, II, III)

Caddyshack

Office Space

Snatch

Animal House

Boogie Nights

Airplane

Robin Hood (Prince of Thieves)

Indiana Jones (just the first three movies)

Other recommendations are more than welcome!

Slider: Goose, whose butt did you kiss to get in here anyway?
Goose: The list is long, but distinguished.
Slider: Yeah, well so is my Johnson.

Can I Get A Spot?

I’m leaning over the weight rack; my hands are wrapped around a set of dumbbells. One more set. C’mon, push it. I take a deep breath and pickup the weights. I make my way to the bench and carefully lower and position the dumbbells in front of it. I hope the ship doesn’t roll. I sit down on the edge of the bench and begin to focus; my body slowly rocks back and forth. I need this set. Another week and a half and I’ll be using 100’s. I search my play list for a song and choose Follow, by Breaking Benjamin.

I wipe my hands on my USNA mesh shorts and stand up. I crouch down and re-wrap my hands around the dumbbells. Don’t be a pussy. In an instant, I’m standing up again and positioning myself over the bench. I sit down and meticulously balance the weights on my legs. 35 pounds over my body weight. Not too bad for dumbbells. I lean forward and visually check my grip. Good to go. I close my eyes and repeat a portion of the lyrics. Enlighten me, reveal my fate, just cut these strings that hold me safe.

I lean back and thrust my legs upward, moving the dumbbells from my quadriceps to my chest. Throw this shit up. I push the dumbbells up and extend my arms; the dumbbells hover directly over my eyes. Every muscle fiber in my chest is burning and my triceps are slowly swelling with numbness. I got this. I slowly lower the weights until they reach the side of my chest, and with everything I have, I explode upward and complete my first rep. Halfway done (the first and last reps are the hardest, so I consider the set to be halfway complete after the first rep).

I complete the next three reps with relative ease, but on the fourth rep, my left wrist buckles slightly. The dumbbell shifts in my hand and it takes all of my strength to recover and extend the weights upward. My arms are shaking slightly and I feel my grip slipping. One more rep. If you want it, take it.

Aggressively, I attack the dumbbells. I’m a quiet and soft spoken person, but my grunting says otherwise. Finish this shit. I push the dumbbells upward and my left arm encounters a sticking point. At this time, the ship rolls slightly and my left arm surges upward. I complete my sixth and final rep.

I lower the dumbbells to the floor and sit up. I turn down my music and after resting for a few seconds, I stand up and return the dumbbells to the weight rack.

That roll saved my ass.

Reality Check

Papua New Guinea is a beautiful country; tall mountains, active volcanoes, and lush and exotic vegetation cover the island (mainly due to the lack of industrialization). Unfortunately, the people of Papua New Guinea live a very poor lifestyle. The average income is just under 2200 dollars a year and only a fraction of the country’s children attend school on a regular basis.

Since Saturday, we have been participating in the Pacific Partnership. This is a program put together by host nations involving countries such as The United States and Australia (a total of ten countries are participating) to provide medical and humanitarian aid to the region. The Pacific Partnership grows every year and this is the fifth consecutive year of operation.

Each participating country donates time, supplies, and working parties in order to provide services to the local communities. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent on medicine alone in an effort to provide comfort and relief to ailing individuals. Large amounts of construction supplies have also been donated to the country in an effort to build school buildings and water towers for small villages. Many of these small villages haven’t had running water in over 10 years. Can you imagine living without running water? I can’t.

Yesterday, I participated in a medical project on the small island of Kokopo. After traveling 45 minutes on ash covered roads (the island experienced two volcanic eruptions in 1994), we arrived at a Catholic School where the project was being held. At 6 am, there were close to a thousand people clinging to the chain linked fence waiting in hopes of seeing a doctor. Many Papua New Guineans carried their health records (which looked like small coloring books) and upon inspection, I was shocked to see that many of them haven’t seen a doctor since they were born.

As individuals were let in the gate (the PNG Army was in charge of providing security), they were able to choose one of four medical categories available to them: optometry, dental, adult medicine, and pediatric medicine. For many of them, this was a rare opportunity to receive medical attention on a one-on-one basis that would help alleviate years of pain and discomfort. Common health issues in Papua New Guinea include diabetes, tuberculosis, tooth decay, trouble breathing (most likely due to the volcanic ash in the air), sexually transmitted diseases, and skin disorders.

At the end of the day, the medical staff treated 1,049 individuals. Many of these individuals were able to receive two weeks worth of medicine and vitamins – something that they will not forget for a very long time. As we left the school grounds, we observed hundreds of people preparing to spend the night outside for the chance to see a doctor the next day.

Knowing that I was headed towards a warm plate of food and a secure place to sleep made my heart sink slightly. What a reality check.

Welcome Home

On Wednesday evening, Shelly and I adopted our second pet. Our first pet, Riley, was an energetic, loveable, black and white cat. Like most cats, he preferred certain people over others, and if you weren’t one of his favorites, he would let you know (sorry Ali!). One of his favorite things to do (besides lounging on the counter tops) was to wake you up in the middle of the night with his loud and obnoxious collared bell (you know how I felt about that bell, Shelly!). Unfortunately, Riley did not make the trip out to San Diego with us. In the end, Riley proved to be a little too lively for Shelly and when we heard that a close friend of the family adored him, we decided that it would be best to let him go.

Yogi, a beautiful long-haired German shepherd, is the newest addition to our family. We adopted him through the Coastal German Shepherd Rescue, a program based in Southern California dedicated to finding quality homes for German shepherds. I first heard about this organization through a colleague of mine (TRAINO) and when I shared this information with Shelly, we quickly fell in love with the idea of rescuing a puppy.

The phrase “nothing comes easy” is the best way to describe the adoption process we experienced. Initially, we were not able to adopt Yogi because of breed restrictions at our current residency. Once Shelly recovered from this letdown, we started to look for another dog. Three days later, we found a Labrador retriever that we couldn’t resist!

“Everything happens for a reason.” This is what I told Shelly when she gave me the bad news – we couldn’t adopt the Lab because we live on the second floor (according to a “community rule,” large dogs are only allowed in first floor apartments). I immediately accessed an electronic version of our contract and carefully read the section pertaining to pets. I verified that Yogi was on the restricted breed list and then found a regulation that stated that there were no maximum weight restrictions for dogs. Armed with this new information, we dug in our heels and prepared for what was going to be a long and emotional couple of weeks.

Over the course of the next week, we spoke to friends and family about possible solutions and even started to put together a list of grievances. We were severely mislead when we were told our apartment was “pet friendly” (we specifically stated that we would be adopting a LARGE dog when we toured the complex) and mistreated when we interacted with the leasing office representatives. One day into the process of requesting military assistance for civil disputes, we received news that corporate headquarters approved our request for a companion pet (for companion pets, breed and size restrictions are waived).

After a long and hard fight, victory was ours. Welcome home, Yogi!

5466

The centerpiece of the United States Naval Academy campus is Bancroft Hall. It is the world’s second largest dormitory and is located on the banks of the Severn River. Bancroft Hall is just one of the many reasons to visit Annapolis, the sailing capital of the world.

Every summer, approximately 1200 young men and women begin their Navy career as a Fourth Class Midshipman (also known as a Plebe). During Plebe Summer, the Plebes are assigned random roommates for seven weeks and then given new room assignments based on their performance over Plebe Summer. For a whole year, Plebes look forward to becoming a Third Class Midshipman (known as a Youngster) and being able to choose their roommates for the upcoming academic year.

Once roommates are chosen, the next step is determining what room you will occupy with your closest friends. Rooms in Bancroft Hall vary in occupancy (from two to six people) and in size. First Class Midshipmen have first choice in picking rooms, followed by Second and Third Class Midshipmen respectively.

My favorite room during my four year stay on the “USS Bancroft” was room number 5466. Located in the fifth wing and on the fourth deck, it is a thigh-burning 122 stairs to the top! When the opportunity presented itself, I usually took the elevator. Because it is against Midshipman regulations to use elevators (unless injured or in an emergency), I was always ready to fake a sprained ankle at a moments notice!

My roommates, Tim and Chris, made living in room 5466 a memorable experience. Our personalities combined to create a fun and welcoming atmosphere that every late night visitor enjoyed. Our respect for another was a large part of the camaraderie I experienced at the Academy. Tip-toeing across the room while someone was sleeping and wearing headphones late at night are examples of considerate actions that took place on a regular basis. We looked out for and supported one another through the ups and downs of Academy life.

In addition to having great roommates, room 5466 was also great because of its amenities. Our favorite amenity was the refrigerator (thanks Chris!) we were allowed to have because we were First Class Midshipmen. Due to the spacious layout of the room, we were able to accommodate our guests with a couch and papasan chair! These pieces of furniture made our room the place to be for movie nights and watching sporting events. We also had two shoe racks in the room which helped tremendously in keeping our closets smelling fresh (as long as we remembered to use Febreeze!). Next to the refrigerator, we converted a wooden bookshelf into a makeshift cupboard and stored our snacks neatly (until a mouse found our food!). All things considered, we were living the good life.

To be honest, I miss seeing Tim run around the room in his whitie tighties. I bet Chris does too.

Are We There Yet?

45 days down, 45 days to go (this is counting the double day that exists when we cross the International Date Line). Today is a special day for me while on deployment – halfway day! Everyone deals with the stresses of deployment differently, and over time, each person settles into individual routines and habits that work best for them.

One method I use to get through each and every day is the single day approach. This entails picking out an event or evolution from the PoD (plan of the day) and working towards that point in time. Everyone’s favorite events (besides steel beach picnics and FIFA game nights) are the one to two hour time frames when there is nothing scheduled in the PoD. These are the times when I study and take notes as well as tend to divisional duties. When I’m too tired to study and when I don’t have time sensitive issues to take care of within the division, I definitely take advantage of this time and enjoy a nap!

Setting goals is another technique I utilize. Goals give me something attainable to focus on and allow me to move smoothly from one task to another. Many of my short term goals are related to SWO qualifications and personal fitness, while my long term goals are related to career progression. For me, the key to accomplishing set goals is maintaining a proper balance between work and personal life. Luckily, I’ve been able to do this with no problems whatsoever (some commands are really tough on Junior Officers and look down upon activities such as sleeping and working out if you’re not qualified).

One of my favorite things to do when I’m feeling stressed is planning for when I get back to San Diego. Before leaving for deployment, Shelly and I were able to start exploring the region (after two weeks of unpacking and situating the apartment!) and realized just how lucky we were to be living in such a beautiful and fun part of the state. I can’t wait to go wine tasting in the countryside and discover all of the hiking trails that surround our home. Also, I’ve always wanted to be a beach bum (even if the weekends are the only time I can go!) and I can’t think of a better place to start than San Diego.

With a little bit of luck, the second half of deployment will be as successful as the first half. With a positive outlook and an upbeat spirit, nothing can sink this ship!

The Mustache Mafia

No-shave chits are often allowed while underway for extended periods of time. Attaining a no-shave chit is relatively easy and can be accomplished by donating 20 dollars (the amount changes from ship to ship) to the ship’s MWR fund. Overall, it’s a win-win situation for the command. Sailors donate to a worthy cause (MWR assists sailors experiencing hardships) and in return, don’t have to shave until the next port visit. Most sailors end up shaving every few days, but there’s always a few who take full advantage of their genetics and grow Chia Pet like beards.

Another trendy (but not so fashionable!) look you’ll find onboard sea-going vessels is the mustache. For men, the mustache is definitely one of the hardest looks to pull off. In my opinion, the most difficult step in growing one is the initial growing phase. A lot of men experience uneven facial hair growth and end up running around the ship for a few days with what looks like a small rodent sitting on their upper lip. If you’re looking to stay single, I highly recommend this course of action.

Most sailors are proud of their mustaches (usually because of how creepy they look), and onboard the USS Vandegrift, there is an abundance of eerie mustaches. However, one mustache rises above all, and surprisingly, it’s not because of its ability to frighten small children. In fact, you can probably hide a small child in this forest like mustache as well as store enough food to feed a developing third world country. Also contributing to its uniqueness is the survivability factor – it survived a steel beach picnic in which it caught on fire!

And the winner is? TRAINO!

The Passdown Log

From time to time, certain watchstations (bridge watches in particular) onboard maintain passdown logs – small, hard covered green notebooks filled with useful information regarding events or evolutions that took place on watch. When properly used, passdown logs contain a great deal of knowledge and improves overall situational awareness for oncoming watchstanders (usually in bullet format). When used improperly, passdown logs contain quotes and phrases (boldly written or creatively hidden) that provide hours of entertainment.

Today, I happened to find a passdown log. The following is just a sample of what I found (you can only imagine what I’m not sharing).

“Cleanliness is godliness.”

“Don’t pester CCS (CCS is an engineering space onboard) about SWIT (seawater inlet temperature) or CHENG (the Chief Engineer) will flip his shit.”

“Conducted small arms training. Looks like fun.”

“Watchstander’s head smells god awful. Evidence found of a hobo living there. MA1 informed.”

“Where are the strawberries?”

“Crossed the 180th meridian on a westerly course. Did not see a line in the water. United States Coast Guard informed.”

“Taylor Swift. Always a good choice.”

“Passed some islands.”

“You don’t swallow in front of God.”

“No yelling today.”

“She’s getting sandwiched.”

“We’re gonna stuff the bird at 2300.”

“Located the moon utilizing the star-chart and confirmed its existence.”

Sailors, not kids, say the darndest things.

Watchstanding Essentials

Since I have been on deployment, one thing has remained the same – around the clock watchstanding on the bridge and below deck. The bridge team is responsible for operating the ship in accordance with the Captain’s Standing Orders and other various manuals and publications. In the belly of the ship, engineering watchstanders operate and maintain the ship’s propulsion equipment (there are many more important watchstanders that help meet the ship’s mission requirements that I will describe in later posts). As a Junior Officer, I stand Conning Officer on the bridge. It’s a humbling learning experience. The central focus of this watch is to gain experience on the water and improve seamanship and navigation skills.

I am responsible for the safe navigation of the ship and report directly to the Officer of the Deck. The Officer of the Deck is an experienced ship handler, who is approved by the Commanding Officer, that is responsible for the overall safe operation of the ship (this is the watchstander who vetoes my orders on the bridge, usually with just cause!). Other watchstanders on the bridge include the Junior Officer of the Deck, Quartermaster of the Watch, Boatswain’s Mate of the Watch, Helmsman, and lookout. The Quartermaster of the Watch (usually called “Wheels”) maintains appropriate charts and navigation instruments needed for transit across the seas. The Boatswain’s Mate of the Watch (usually called “Boats”) is responsible for the professionalism and overall actions of the Helmsman and the Lookouts. The Helmsman drives the ship, adjusting the speed and course of the ship when ordered to do so. Lastly, the Lookout stands watch on the bridge wing and ensures that the bridge team is aware of any potential navigation hazards.

Over the past five weeks, I’ve gained a lot of knowledge from my peers, technical manuals, navigation publications, and hand-me-down notes. The one thing I had to learn myself? How to get through a painfully slow watch (the kind of watch when you see NO other vessel for six hours and run out of things to talk about). I get through these watches by utilizing what I like to call “watchstanding essentials.” It’s more of a list than anything else.

Hard candy – lifesaver candies are exactly just that, a life saver.

Water – when your eyes need a break from scanning the horizon, water is a great refresher. Also, if you drink enough of it, you’ll get that “I have to pee” feeling and will no longer need to pinch yourself to stay awake.

Gum – refreshing breath is always a plus. Between the candy and the gum, I should probably see the dentist when I get home!

Snacks – usually a protein bar or a granola bar of some sort. When water no longer suppresses my appetite, this is my go-to essential!

Caffeine – now that I’ve greatly reduced my soda intake, it works really well as a pick me up. “Boats” usually makes a soda run halfway through the watch.

Sometimes, I don’t mind the slow watches. I enjoy walking out onto the bridge wing and watching the sun set during evening watches – it’s very peaceful and gives me an opportunity to reflect (something that I don’t get to do enough of!). Nights when high illumination or perfectly clear skies (allowing constellations to appear) exist are relaxing as well.

It’s a welcome surprise when I look down at my watch and realize how fast a slow watch can pass.

Addictions

My life is full of them. Just when I think I have them under control, they return even stronger than before. Tim, my college roommate and best man, explained it best when he told me “you’re an extremist – you either pour all of your time and energy into the things you believe in and love, or you completely resist them.” I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Some of you are probably thinking “Rene, what has been your worst addiction?” Sadly, it has been an off and on love affair with a video game – World of Warcraft (also known as World of Warcrack). If you ever hear someone say “it’s not just a game, it’s a lifestyle,” take a step back and try to understand their perspective. They’re at the point of no return – they will either spend more time playing the game or they will snap out of it and quit. Unfortunately, it’s as hard to remove yourself from the game as it is for a smoker to give up cigarettes. I’ve experienced this frame of mind, and believe me, it takes a hold of your life. If you are having trouble believing this, search the internet for World of Warcraft testimonials. You will find posts describing real life experiences caused by this addiction. A few examples include losing jobs, failing out of school, divorce, and even death. Yes, individuals have keeled over while frantically clicking their mouse buttons and smashing their keyboard.

On a much brighter note, I have one addiction that I will never be able to break (no, it will not kill me…I can’t say the same for my wallet though!). I am guilty of being addicted to my wife, Shelly. I know, it sounds mushy and extremely corny (some of you are probably questioning my manliness at this time). Many individuals have told me that the magic of being a newly wed will slowly fade. That may be the case for most people (I hope not though!), but it isn’t true for me. Even when we have small disagreements, I love being around and spending time with Shelly. To be honest, I don’t mind tackling the larger issues either. Even when we can’t seem to agree on a solution, it’s nothing to worry about (I’ve learned that this is the appropriate time to pour a couple glasses of wine and start apologizing). I do what every man in his right mind would do – give in.

I may have lost the battle of the wills, but I still have make-up sex to look forward to!