My First Submarine Underway

My First Submarine Underway

I was stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and had recently graduated from Advanced Sonar School in Groton, Connecticut. In May of 2000 I embarked on my first submarine underway of my navy career. To have been there was one of the worst moments in my life.

I arrived on the USS Key West full of energy and ready to finally start my job after six months of grueling sonar school. Little did I know my new division had other things in store for me. Immediately I was handed a stack of divisional watch station qualification cards and a sheet of paper with all of the due dates. The next item I was handed was a ship’s qualification card which was due in ten months. I was to learn everything about the submarine, from my job as a Sonar Technician down to the nuclear power plant in the aft section of the ship. I was tracked by a points system in which I had to read and learn as much as I could. Then I was to undergo an interview and if the interviewer felt I knew enough he signed my qualification card. Each signature was worth a certain amount of points and I was to obtain a certain amount of points each week. After division orientation was completed my chief told me to go back to my barracks room and pack my sea bag. I looked at my Leading Petty Officer with a puzzled look on my face. He said, “we are going underway this afternoon for two weeks.” Then he handed me a list of items I needed for the underway. I ran back to my room and packed everything on the list into my sea bag. I returned to the ship just in time for lunch. My Leading Petty Officer instructed me on how to find my racks on the rack bill. Then he further explained that on submarines junior personnel are assigned three guys to two racks. He said, “We work on an eighteen hour schedule, six hours of on watch time and twelve hours off watch. So with three guys to two racks, you will most likely be the rotation guy.” He meant I wasn’t going to get any sleep for the next two weeks.

After I unpacked my sea bag and put everything in its proper place, I stood in line for chow. All of the sudden a guy walked up behind me and shoved me to the side into a wall. He said, “Get out of my way nub.” I asked, “What is your problem?” He replied, “Nubs go to the end of the line, especially new ones that can’t even stand a watch.” Then I asked, “What is a nub?” He replied, “Non useful body.” I then asked, “What makes me a nub?” He angrily said, “You don’t have fish!” he pointed to his chest where his submarine warfare pin was embroidered into his uniform. That was when I realized I had walked into a ten month nightmare. After lunch the ship prepared to leave port. My Leading Petty Officer introduced me to the Commanding Officer and the Executive Officer and then showed me where to obtain studying material for my qualifications.

The division had not received a new guy in about a year. My chief said, “You will be finished with all of your qualifications in six months. If you need anything come to me.” Then I asked, “What is the deal with the nub thing?” He replied, “Son, if you know what is good for you, you will just grit your teeth and bear it.” I thought it best to get started right away, so I grabbed a book and sat in Sonar to study. By the time the ship was out to sea I had already read everything I needed to get my first interview on the hydraulics system. I walked down to