Text 8499, 146 rader
Skriven 2006-12-05 13:38:44 av Ruth Haffly (1:396/45.28)
   Kommentar till text 8437 av Carol Shenkenberger (6:757/1)
Ärende: Savannah 492                                             [1]
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Hi Carol,

 CS> 'something').  Ships of my size are the largest ones that dont do
 CS> that.  Anything bigger than us, does.

RH> OK, I thought you might have something available.  Steve usually stash
RH> some granola bars in his desk--they were very handy for the long hours
RH> a first sgt.

 CS> Well, there's normally a loaf of bread and some peanut butter hanging
 CS> around. Also single serve breakfast cereal boxes.  Thats in the
 CS> Chief's mess only. Officers and the other enlisted dont have access to
 CS> much at all outside meal hours.

As I recall, the galley in Kunia was only open limited hours but there
was a snack bar type thing open the off hours. Better'n nothing.

 CS> with our ship design, abetted with the type of funding we get for
 CS> of us also have a 'flag galley' (for the 1-3 star and his top officers
 CS> but it's too small to be used for more than them).

RH> Too bad there's no "snack bar" type arraingement.  Probably could be s
RH> up in something the size of the flag galley if food was fixed "to go"

 CS> Naw.  You'd have to be in the Navy to understand but that wont work.
 CS> Forbidden terratory <g>.  It's called 'blue tile' because
 CS> traditionally all the officers area had blue deck tiles as opposed to
 CS> whatever colors the rest of the ship had.  Kinda a 'keep out' zone for
 CS> enlisted to even walk there unless they have business in the area.
 CS> Not to be used to transit from one side of the ship to the other and
 CS> stuff like that.

OK, it just seems to be mostly empty space that could be better utilised
in a situation where space is at a premium and people need something to
eat at odd hours. I do understand the "keep out" but it just doesn't
meet the logic test completly in my (civilian) book.

 CS> On a CVN and other big-decks (Mine is classed barely as a big deck and
 CS> on some aspects is considered 'medium'), they have a line that almost
 CS> never closes and when it does, the one on the flip side of the ship is
 CS> usually open.  On the Stennis, thats the far forward starboard side,
 CS> and the far forward port side is for the few hours when the starboard
 CS> is closed.  Hamburgers, hotdogs, and french fries pretty much though
 CS> you may find a few other items. Between the 2 of them, food is hot and
 CS> ready 22hours a day.

That's what is needed, available food.


 CS> The XO has mentioned briefly that he'd like to shift such a bit, or so
 CS> I am told by scuttlebutt (rumor=scuttlebutt).  It's a logistical issue
 CS> with our ship design, abetted with the type of funding we get for

 CS> I like my current XO I might add.  Good fellow.  Very approachable.

RH> Good. Haveing a positive relationship between officers and enlisted is
RH> vital, especially for the person who is the main liason.

 CS> Yes, that would be the CMC and the XO.

Or sergeant major and XO on battalion level, Command SGT M on brigade.


 CS> delegation thing.  (basically I brief the XO and he takes the info to
 CS> the CO as needed).

RH> Sort of like a command and staff meeting? Steve had those weekly with
RH> the battalion group and I guess more often on the company level.  On t
RH> battalion level, the commander usually took overall charge, with the X
RH> doing the sub delegating.

 CS> Yes, very much so.  Me, I dont so much have 'meetings' as just walk in
 CS> when I need to and see if the XO has a few minutes.  He normally does.

I think Steve's unit in HI did a more formal scheduling but it was small
enough that people saw each other on a regular basis coming and going.

 CS>  When I need a set schedule, I do like I did last week.  I told the XO
 CS> I was ready for the quarterly briefing and would like to do it before

Yes, the "fun" QTBs (quarterly training briefs).  I could count on Steve
spending extra time at the office before one of those was due.

 CS> the new rear Admiral came to visit us.  He set me up for a 1630 the
 CS> night before the RADM visit in Okinawa and we just sat at his table
 CS> and went over things. My Training Officer had gotten pulled for some
 CS> other task same time so wasnt there.

 CS> Pretty much started with a 'summary sheet' and hit the top 4 schools
 CS> areas then from that, with specifics. Explained how the 'numbers game'
 CS> worked on several of themand what we'd (I'd) done to address the
 CS> points which needed work.  Then I gave him a copy of the newest NEC
 CS> lists (Navy Enlisted Classification Code, schools that make you a


Always good to start with a summary and go into detail off of it.


 CS> specialist at something, similar to your MOS SPEC codes i think).
 CS> Like most briefings, it took longer to put together than it took to
 CS> give it.  Left him happy with a folder of info broken into bite-sized
 CS> pieces that he could use as a fast reference.  That sort of breakdown
 CS> is critical as it's a bear to keep track of 1,100 people and some
 CS> 5,000 schools needs split among 14 warfare areas.

Break downs usually avoid breakdowns. (G)

 CS> XO likes how I break such down for him into usable bits, almost like a
 CS> TV newscaster uses short 'sound bites' to tell a big picture.

Yes, and it bugs me sometimes when I want more information.  I can
recall when some newscasts did only 2-3 stories in their half hour but
in more detail and with only one reporter.  Bouncing from one person to
another, each one giving only 90 seconds or so to a story doesn't give
as comprehensive a story all the time.  Sound bite journalism is good
for a generation with short attention span tho so I"v got to put up with
it. (G)

 CS> I get kinda scared sometimes of the job I have.  It's 1.6M annually on
 CS> (the one I work for transfers in 3 weeks and is away on house hunting
 CS> leave just now.  He's good with the stuff i am not good at so it's
 CS> been a decent match).


RH> If they didn't think you could handle it, you wouldn't have been given
RH> the job.  I know, it is scary at times all you're responsible for and
RH> is good to have people around that can fill in for your weak areas and
RH> vice versa.

 CS> Yes, very comforting to have a backup on the things I do have one.  My
 CS> old 'Traino' is a good soul but doesnt have the inate understanding of
 CS> the schools

In time, look at how long it took you to get the full picture.

>> CONTINUED IN NEXT MESSAGE <<

---
Catch you later,
Ruth
rchafflyNOSPAM(at)NOSPAMearthlink(dot)net  FIDO 1:396/45.28

... 90% of being smart is knowing what you're dumb at.

--- PPoint 3.01
 * Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)