Photos From my last deployment out to sea

[PanthaSan]

My 2nd daughter was a "Boats" for 4 years on an LDS, the USS Germantown. She absolutely loved it.

When she signed up, I asked what a Boatswains Mate does and she replied, "I will paint, scrape barnacles and party in places all over the world my friends will never see.." :lol:

It was a great experience for her and she was deployed to the Gulf twice, dropping off and picking up Marines.

[Anybodyhome]

Retired BMCM(SW) here.... didn't know there were that may "Baby Boats" on this board.

Lot of people don't realize that carriers (aircraft and helicopter) are but one of the very few ships that sends the shot line rather than receive it from the delivering oiler.

I lost track of how many underway replenishments, just for fuel, I did during my career. I remember at one point I was closing in on 200 and the 1st Lt tried to make a big celebration of it.

[Mvp2014]

What exactly does a typical Navy officer do? Not being a smartass, just genuinely curious.

masturbate

[N1kkadeemuz]

Well just to clear things up, I am not a seamen, I'm a crew chief on C17's in the AF. I get to fly around the world to all kinds of places and party it up...minus the extreme large amount of dudes, cooped up on a boat. Haha

[Anybodyhome]

There are far more airplanes in the ocean than there are ships in the sky, my friend.

[Davidson Deac II]

I'm thinking of joining up after college just for the experience. Would you recommend it?

Depends on you. For me looking back, it was great. I got to travel the world, see things that most folks never see. I have been to Cairo, Jerusalem, Istanbul, Rome, London, Venice, and a lot of other places. I learned a lot, and it helped me with my current career. Most people are glad they joined, but not all. So it depends on whether you can handle spending a lot of time at sea, and the rigors of military life.

[Anybodyhome]

I was heavily recruited to play basketball for a prominent ACC team in the early 70's before an injury cost me that opportunity. I hadn't really prepared for anything else and my teenage tunnel vision put me in a tough spot.

I retired from the Navy in 1993 after 20 years. I traveled the world, been to countless countries and have done things most people cannot even imagine. I went on a safari in Africa and hiked Mount Kilimanjaro. I've been in combat and I've taught a group of 6 year old Chinese kids basketball. I celebrated Christmas in Perth, Australia, New Years in Sydney and I survived a helicopter crash in the North Arabian Sea.

I spent 145 straight days at sea, fished for Mahi in the Indian Ocean, watched friends and shipmates die, saved a fisherman from his disabled vessel and delivered a child on a boat.

My wife, whom I met and married after my career, is a CEO with an MBA running a business and does very well for herself. But if you asked her today or any other day, she'd trade all of that for the experience of a military career, regardless of tenure. If it were 4 years or 10 years or 2 years, if she has one regret in life, I think this is it.

I had a wonderful career. I spent 17 of my 20 years on ships and loved going to sea. I accomplished everything I wanted and then some. I saw and did things I never thought possible and when I retired, I did so with no regrets. I knew it was time to go and I didn't miss it once I was gone. But I did love it.

[Chimera]

When/where would a sailor be in combat from 1973-1993?

[Anybodyhome]

When/where would a sailor be in combat from 1973-1993?

Seriously? Read history much?

[Davidson Deac II]

When/where would a sailor be in combat from 1973-1993?

Off the top of my head, Persian gulf for one. My ship (USS Iowa) was there around 1988 or so, and right after we left, some of our cruisers and destroyers started getting into scraps with Iranian gunboats.

[Chimera]

Seriously? Read history much?

Yes, seriously. Maybe we have different definitions of combat. The combat I've been involved in is far, far, far away from sailors not called SeaLS. Just being in the area and collecting combat pay isn't "in combat."

[Anybodyhome]

I was on a ship that conducted operations within the Persian Gulf and was involved in several firefights with primarily Iranians, although there was some speculation there were Yemenis involved as well. I was topside and controlled 2 .50 cal and 2 20mm chain gun crews.

Sorry that you feel your version of combat and what you were involved in is far beyond what anyone else could comprehend or even compare to. Sorry my being shot at ranks nowhere close to what you went through, but I don't know what that is and I don't know you so I won't assume.

[Chimera]

lol u mad?

[Anybodyhome]

Not in the least- you asked/scoffed- I answered. Pretty straight forward.