Posted by Jim on June 18, 2008
Saturday is our first day taking the cadets we have to chow. We all sit together for the last time. After this it will be by Division. I called Anna to make sure she is okay and on her way. She is finishing up getting showered and dressed, and will be dropping Brighid off shortly. To keep the 10 that arrived early, I started showing them how to fold their gear.
A few hours later I get a call from Anna via a message when she called the divo’s cell phone. My AT&T service is nill in the ship, but Nextel works great. She left a VM, then called again. When we moved a few feet, the signal was lost. A call back to her, and she told me to check up on Brighid. She had a problem getting to MCPON Hall. Brighid got left with someone. They said she would get here.
I went to medical, and they had not seen her. Down to Admin, and they did not know about her lost USNSCC national ID card. I explained to them that we were using a paper copy. They were not informed by the XO, who happen to walk by. He explained that it was okay, and I went back up to the compartment. She made it to the right building, so she is good to go. In the ladder well, she passed me walking down, sobbing hysterical. “I want to go home……” I told her to let go of my uniform, and continue to her division. And I went back to mine.
That night we were out chow and I felt a burning in my head, like a cigarette pushed into the sin on my forehead. I looked up and she was across the galley staring at me. I mentioned it to the other Assistant Division officers. In the evening, we attended a mandatory briefing on the code of conduct, hazing and harassment. During the briefing, I feel the burning again, and there she is, leering from across the room. After the briefing, everyone was marching out. I pointed her out to the Ensign standing next to me. I turn around so she cannot see me. He says she is wearing a first class petty officer crow. And then he sys “She is coming over here”. “No she isn’t” “Yes, she is and she looks upset”.
Next thing I know, there is a tug on my arm, she is hysterical and blubbering “I don’t want to be here, I want to go home” I told her to fall in, go back to her division, and repeated it till she left. Then I had to listen to the drill down on keeping her in formation and under control. Smooth move Brighid, getting me in trouble.
I went back to the compartment, told the other Officers about it, and said “wahh, this place sucks, look, they put me in charge, that’s how bad it is.WAAAAhhhhhh” And had a great laugh about the entire situation.
Posted by Jim on
Graduation ceremonies for the regular sailors was a very impressive event. I was able to sit on the second deck and with great seats, see the entire ceremony. Very impressive. And since I have been a participant in was exciting to be able to see it from the stands for a change.
The afternoon discussion was around what we can do to make things run smoother.
Late Friday night we picked up 10 of those cadets from the Twin Cities Squadron. The consensus was to split them up to make it a boot camp experience.
A long day that is just the start.
Posted by Jim on
I went to the main gate because I forgot where RTC was in relation. They gave me adjusted directions, I went to the RTC gate, and was on base. Due to all of the construction, I parked at the Chapel grinder and took a walk to figure out where I had to go. As I walked across the gravel, the left and right corframs broke apart on me. Back to my car, put on the regular leather dress shoes. Luck would have it that a Senior Chief RDC showed up. He pointed me to the long route around the construction.
Found the USS Enterprise, walked in, checked in with the XO. Then to my compartment, met the Division Office, LTJG Potter.
Should be a great time here, and it is definitely exciting to be back on base.
Posted by Jim on
Thursday and time to leave Minneapolis for RTC Great Lakes. Last minute decision, I bring everything with me. The dry cleaning I can leave at the Marriott with Anna to get dry cleaned. All the suitcases might come in handy for me to bring stuff back, and also to California. Better I have 3 bags then Brighid has 2.
In a last minute DOH moment, I call the Minneapolis CO and ask if the Twin Cities Division has anyone driving down to the base that could use a lift. He appreciated the call, and let me know that he had no officers going, but they were car pooling down a large group of cadets on Friday.
The drive itself was longer then I expected due to all of the rain and the construction. I managed to make it past two intersections before the were closed due to all of the rain in Wisonsin. There was a huge amount of flooding north of Madison, and some man made lake at the Wisconsin Dells flooded. I went past Johnson Creek, and 5 minutes later got a phone call asking how far I was to help me avoid that closure. Good timing.
One I drove past the Milwaukee International Airport and Franklin, I was surprised at home close it was. The longest part was the last 5 miles. When I was last here, in 1985, I never drove around. Only cab rides to the local hobby stores, or to the mall to go shopping or to the movies. I did make a run to the base golf course but I think we walked to that. Very different driving around. I saw the double deck trains and then I knew I was close. And then the Strip was gone - the landmark of bars that never closed and shops that sold all kinds of junk you never needed.
I don’t know if I could possibly get 600 more Tweeple in...
