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View Full Version : The Berthing Barge: The Naval Ship of Hell.


SpaceGhostofArrakis
07-18-2003, 11:14 PM
Well, some of you know who I am. Some of you even know I'm in the Navy. Most more likely associate me with Texas A&M.

Our Ship, the good ship Bunker Hill is going into the shipyards for some plastic surgery shortly. For those of us hard-chargers who live on ship, our barracks rooms won't be ready for a few weeks, so we get to a Berthing Barge. yay!

The Actual accomadations aren't that bad. It's clean, has tile floors, the whole nine yards. The problem, however, is the sudden and drastic change of who my Division is berthed with.

I'm a CTM3, a cryppie. We're as a whole, cryppies are fairly bright. Sure, cryppies can be just as loud and assholish as the next sailor, we're sailors first after all, but mostly we're quieter and tackle such problems in our free time as "Who'd win in a fight, the First Ones or the Galactic Empire"

Well, our Division got moved around a bit, and we're sharing a berthing area with...deck division. If us and Operations are the "smartest 10% (based on ASVB cores)" in the navy, Deck is somewhere down the list. Or they can only pull that or Mess Specialist because of a the apporxmiatly 1 million waivers they had to get in order to sign up. These are the swabbies and paintchippers you see. Not that I haven't down my own fair share of swabbing.

On my little asle we have 6 racks. 5 undesignated seamen, one CTM3 (Petty Officer 3rd class). The reasoning being that, since I'm the most senior I can control and enfore them. Yeah, sounds like a plan, Pffffpt.

These yokels seem to enjoy staying up at all hours talking loudly, playing their music (with earphones on!) so loudly I can make out the lyrics with alarming clarity, and generally seeing how "Stereotypical black" they can be. Perhaps not surprisingly, the black guys in my Division aren't quite like that.

Well, since these idiots like to stay up all night, they have a tendency to sleep in until approximately 15 minutes before muster. At that point I'm probably in my space waiting for morning muster. As a result, they don't pick up their crap they leave lying around the area. Or maybe they wouldn't pick it up if they had plenty of time, I don't know.

As I said, we're going into the yards soon. Today we had a safety standdown so the command could go over Yard work safety. A nice, short Friday, we should have been outta there by 1100. Of course, the Captain (well within his rights) took a stroll through our berthing area.

Guess Fucking what.

We got a big downcheck. After lunch everyone went over to clean up berthing. I had to stay in my space because there's sensitive equipment/information/chairs in there and someone who knew the machines had to watch a contractor. I finally mosey on over at 1345 or so. (lunch having ended at 1230)

This idiots are staying bullshitting about "Hitting it", while they're crap is strewn about the asile. My rack's linen is so tight you could bounce a quarter on it (possibly because of my Cadet days). Theirs looks like a homeless guys slept in damn near all of them. I start tearing into them to do something about it. I'm not a very impressice figure, short, with a speach impediment, and a George Costanzaesque physique and hairline. But, by God, I'm a petty officer and I need to get these goat-felching asses moving.

Said goat-felching asses could care less what I think. I have to dick around with finding a PO1, then he has to dick around getting a CPO to come over and make them work.

We didn't get released until 1700 today. My rage burns.

SpaceGhostofArrakis
07-18-2003, 11:15 PM
Oi, that's full of typos. Coulda sworn I hit "preview".....

friedo
07-18-2003, 11:21 PM
So, can't you shoot them for that? Or make them walk the plank?

If it was me, I'd threaten to make them do frequency analyses on boring monoalphabetic substitution ciphers until their beds are made.

Isn't cryptanalysis fun?

Airman Doors, USAF
07-18-2003, 11:25 PM
Originally posted by SpaceGhostofArrakis
Said goat-felching asses could care less what I think. I have to dick around with finding a PO1, then he has to dick around getting a CPO to come over and make them work.

Said goat felching asses can be reminded what the penalty for insubordination is rather quickly. You are an NCO, right?

Lucky bastard swabbies, getting NCO as an E-4....*mutter*

SpaceGhostofArrakis
07-18-2003, 11:31 PM
Originally posted by Airman Doors, USAF
Said goat felching asses can be reminded what the penalty for insubordination is rather quickly. You are an NCO, right?


Yeah, those yokels got an ass chewing from the Command Master Chief (E-9).


Lucky bastard swabbies, getting NCO as an E-4....*mutter* [/QUOTE]




Well, you know, we got to work and take tests and whatnot in order to get to E-4. Unlike some services I could name.


Actually, CTM's get automatically advanced because our schools are so damn long.

SpaceGhostofArrakis
07-18-2003, 11:33 PM
*Curses at repeated typoing.

I blame the Rage(tm)

Airman Doors, USAF
07-18-2003, 11:34 PM
Eat my propwash, sailor. :p

SpaceGhostofArrakis
07-18-2003, 11:39 PM
Hey now. I don't got anything against the Airforce. I dated a Airforce chick in "A" School.


That said, I sure do wish I had apartment style barracks. And better food. And a Bikeriding PT Test.

Airman Doors, USAF
07-18-2003, 11:50 PM
The bikeriding PT test? That's so last year.

I'd be ashamed to tell you what my PT test was this year, so I won't.

Mama Tiger
07-18-2003, 11:56 PM
Airman Doors, Young Tiger is going in the Air Force soon -- he was scheduled to start in November, but just passed the computer programming test so it's up in the air now -- but any news on an actual PT test would be welcomed! He's not exactly a jock type, so I'm trying to persuade him it's not going to be as bad as he thinks. Please don't tell me I"m lying to my own dear son. :eek:

SpaceGhost, I hope those yokels got something that sticks with them longer than an ass chewing -- even from an E-9, if they're that bright to begin with, what are the chances it'll stick?

Syntropy
07-19-2003, 12:00 AM
Yo. Airman. Get those feet off that desk. Stand at attention in the presence of an officer, dammit. Now hear this: Your superior attitude is not even justified. That sailor never once insulted you.
Back off.

That said: Our pilots can land on an aircraft carrier that looks like a postage stamp during a gale in the middle of the ocean. Yours can't even FLY in a gale.

Airman Doors, USAF
07-19-2003, 12:08 AM
Maybe, but at least I don't have to have my name sewn on my ass. I can remember what it is just fine with my solid third grade education, ma'am. ;)

Syntropy
07-19-2003, 12:18 AM
They let you SPEAK when you're at attention in the Air Force? Ah, well, they don't even make you go through a real boot camp, what can I expect?

Still, envy the s*** out of you guys for the space program, though.

Syntropy
07-19-2003, 12:49 AM
haha, airman. As you were.
Besides, I haven't been active for going on 7 years, now....
BTW; thanks to both of you. I'm proud of the job you do, even if I don't agree with the politics behind it.

Klaatu
07-19-2003, 12:50 AM
Damn squids, always whining....wait till the jarheads read this.

Plus you air force pukes always had air conditioning, and the best food. Bite my Army ass. <Grin>

Bravo Battery 1st/79th FA, Fort Ord, late 70's.

Syntropy
07-19-2003, 01:04 AM
Ah, yes. The Army. Where all you need to know is how to march.

Klaatu
07-19-2003, 01:19 AM
I beg your pardon. When we were around AF or Navy types, we didn't march, we RAN to find out where the real food was. :)

Syntropy
07-19-2003, 01:26 AM
:p :p :p :p good on ya!! Although, after eating a couple MRE's, I gotta wonder what you were stuck with.......

casdave
07-19-2003, 09:32 AM
Those button pushers always seem to think they are smart, but of course its the ones who keep the buttons working who really are, they just don't make a fuss over it.

margin
07-19-2003, 09:53 AM
Yeah, yeah, yeah, but it's the Army linguists who enable youse guys to even understand each other. I mean, who's on the front lines, waving the nice big speakers that might as well say, "Shoot ME! Not, not that zoomie, there! Shoot the geeks over HERE!"

No gratitude any more.

Slithy Tove
07-19-2003, 10:29 AM
Boy, this one sure takes me back! Except, instead of temporary berthng, when I was in, we berthed with the Aviation Boatswain's mates.

See, regulare Boatswain's Mates (the "deck apes" of the OP) can take some pride of craftmanship in macrame, but when he's not waving at an aircraft, your average ABM is the biggest drunken slob afloat.

So us Admin types are berthed with them. Although the ABW's didn't consider us to be total "faggots," (that stereotype is awarded to the hospital corpsmen), they did see us a a bunk of pencil-neck pencil-pushers. So what I offer was learned firsthand, uphill.

The only advice can give the OP is the same advice he's already heard: "use your crow" (the black eagle on your sleeve). Never, ever, take any shit from anyone you outrank. Never apologize to for giving a lawful order. And when you're dealing with deck apes, you must always be prepared to come down on them like a ton of bricks. Unlike your rating, they are not gentlemen. However, they can still be very good men, if lead properly.

Don't take the "you're not in my chain of command" crap. The captain definitely is - and they know you can go up to the master at arms shack and get them on his list." (Also, never go around yelling "I'll write your up! I'll write you up!" You'll sound like Barney Fife. Let that power always be an unspoken threat.)

The deck petty officers will back you up. They've got more to lose themselves if they come to some shithead's rescue.

Trust me, righteously opening your lungs out on some maladjusted punk will be the most cherished memory of your service.

Baker
07-19-2003, 11:28 AM
Originally posted by margin
Yeah, yeah, yeah, but it's the Army linguists who enable youse guys to even understand each other. I mean, who's on the front lines, waving the nice big speakers that might as well say, "Shoot ME! Not, not that zoomie, there! Shoot the geeks over HERE!"

No gratitude any more.

Wow, margin, are you a 98G? Or do they call it that anyomore? I was a 98G2LKP. I did my language classes(Korean) at the Defense Language Institute, Presidio of Monterey, from Early September of 1974 to early July of 1975.

I was at Camp Humphries in Korea for thirteen months, from 1976 to 1977. Ah, the good old days of the Army Security Agency.

Military Intelligence, the classic oxymoron.

SpaceGhostofArrakis
07-19-2003, 06:27 PM
Originally posted by casdave
Those button pushers always seem to think they are smart, but of course its the ones who keep the buttons working who really are, they just don't make a fuss over it.


That would be me. I'm a Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance), the other CT's just operate 'em.

chique
07-19-2003, 06:51 PM
Is "Camp Corry" still open, or did you go through A school someplace other than Pensacola?

SpaceGhostofArrakis
07-19-2003, 07:07 PM
I went to Corry High, yeah.

Now CNC Corry Station.

Coldfire
07-19-2003, 08:38 PM
So... you outrank them, yes? Then what's the problem?

Aren't they supposed to follow your orders, lest you be held accountable for their failings? I'd say the good thing about rank here is that it doesn't matter you're short, or look like George Costanza. You're the boss in this scenario.

SpaceGhostofArrakis
07-19-2003, 09:35 PM
The Problem is the USN, while not quite the "first name basis" that a service that shall remain unnamed is, is a little bit lax E-5 and below. Because were still "Junior sailors" even if we are noncomms.

These particular yokels just happen to be a bunch of lazy asses who could care less.

astro
07-19-2003, 09:35 PM
How do they control the historical naval tendencies toward cannibalism and buggery in such tight quarters?

E-Sabbath
07-19-2003, 10:14 PM
What, at the same time? New meaning to getting yourself a piece of ass...

SpaceGhostofArrakis
07-19-2003, 10:36 PM
Originally posted by astro
How do they control the historical naval tendencies toward cannibalism and buggery in such tight quarters?

"It ain't gay if underway, it's queer if it's by the pier."

margin
07-19-2003, 11:10 PM
Baker I'm a 97 E, after being a Psychops in Russian/French. And I served in South Korea! Dude, come to the re-union.