robcasting

I remember when I was a kid, one of the many lessons my mom taught me was never, ever put a plastic bag over your head.
This lesson I have taken to heart and have put a bag anywhere above my neck.
Until today...
As part of our processing you have to be issued a gas mask that you will carry with you throughout your time in theater.
The main way they test this mask is first you are fitted for it, then they issue you a mask and put it on you. They then add the canister and put a bag over your head. The bag resembles something like a small tent. The bag is being fed air and you sit there and breath deep turn your head in different directions and chew(like you are chewing gum).
After 10 minutes they take the bag over your head...much to my relief I might add.
That was my whole day...Well I did go to the internet cafe and played WoW for a few hours.
Tomorrow is my last full day in Norfolk before I fly up to N.J.
Getting nervous

Labels: Fort Dix, Gas Mask, Iraq, Iraqi Freedom, Navy, NMPS, NMPS Norfolk, OIF, rob Kerns

As I have been preparing to do this I/A I have been looking around the web for info on the process of what I am going to be doing at this training. All I basically know I have to show up and be screened medically and I had to alot of online learning.
So here I am at NMPS Norfolk. I have completed the first two days of my week here so I will break down what has happened so far.
Day one: Show up in uniform. They don't seem too picky on which uniform. Though the orders did point out it should be blues or whites...depending on the season.
Drop off records in front of class room.
Brief from the Officer in Charge.
Brief from the Chaplain.
Brief from the Uniform Fitter.
Lunch
Fit for Uniforms
Records redistributed with everything written down that you need to do.(The more of the stuff you have done before you get there the better off you are.)
Go Home.
Now the home part is interesting as we are currently staying in hotels(no I am not saying which one).
Day two started off with P/T in the morning. Not bad...I'm a bit sore now...but not too sore. The rest of the day was spent going from line to line making sure all the stuff you needed, medically, was done. I was lucky and only had to get one shot.
However, I did have to have an audiogram done and get a fresh set of X-Rays.
The breakdown in the ranks of all the Sailors in my group is amazing. We have over 200 Sailors in the class ranks going from captain to third class and every rank in between is represented! Everyone is getting along and talking...no clicks here.
So tomorrow is P/T at 0630 and then a class at 1 p.m. on the family service center....real snorer there.
So until later...
By the way I am going to try to write on my vacation to Atlanta a bit later.

Labels: Baghdad, I/A, Iraq, Navy, NMPS, NMPS Norfolk, rob Kerns

Well, almost 17 years to the day I got on a plane and headed off to Great Lakes for boot camp...I sit again in the same room I did awaiting my ride to Great Lakes Recruit Training Command.
The room is a little different, I'm a little older but I think it is funny that I haven't been back here since that night all those years ago and here I am again.
Funny...

Labels: Great Lakes, Kerns, Navy

I am not a fan of flying. I really don't think I really ever have been. It really developed for me when I got stationed in Hawaii and I had to fly over water for five hours. Lets face it, if that warning light comes on there is no where to land out there in the middle of the big blue.
However, this is something I endure as it is part of my job.
Leaving Diego Garcia...heck I don't know how long ago it's been. Time gets wishy-washy when you are out here going from country to country.
Anyway, I left Diego Garcia on a military transport KC-10. Talk about no frills flying...me, some cargo and a box lunch I paid $3.85 for. There were also some other people and their lunches too.
So 10 hours of flying between Diego and Yakota, Japan, with no in flight movie or flight attendents. Just me and the cargo.
You know it really wasen't that bad...a bot boring but not bad.
Now I am sitting in the Narita, Japan, airport waiting to get on this HUGE 777 to fly back to the states.
It looks like a sound aircraft..but I still hate flying.
So...in 11 hours I will be in Chicago...more then...I wonder what the in flight movie will be?

Labels: Diego Garcia, I/A, Japan, KC-10, Kerns

Well the weekend has come and gone...and it was eventful.
My Friday was quite full.
First we had a radio remote to raise money for the SeaBee Ball. After four hours of song requests and hamburger sales we raised about $500. Not bad
Next we did our latest hail and farewell for those us coming and going off of D.G. For me, yes I will be returning but the better part of the staff that is here will be gone so I got to say farewell to them...and I got my lunch bought for me by our chief.
A few of us then hit the pool and got some sun...the last real sun of this last weekend I might add.
After that is was back to the barracks room for a few hourse...I fell asleep watching TV.
Around 9 p.m. I met some friends down at "Jake's Place." This is one of our few island bars. I sat down and people began buyig me drinks as a way of saying goodbye. Alot of people wanted to say goodbye...I'm not sure if that is good or bad, but they all bought me drinks.
After a few hours of beer, mixed drinks and a few trips to the dance floor it was time to head to the "Brit Club." This lcub is run by the island Brits(hence the name). I spent most of my time there hugging a lamp and staring out to the ocean.
Needless to say the evening ended with me sleeping on the floor next to my comode wondering if this was really a good idea.
Saturday was spent in quiet reflection...
Saunday I packed and did laundry....
Monday began very very early as the Super Bowl came on at 4 a.m. here. We all went to the Island Room to catch the game and were served a BIG breakfast, and got the traditional D.G. free t-shirt.
So now here I am on Monday afternoon. I am down to one a wake-up till I fly home.
Am I ready to go? Yes! Will I miss D.G.? Yes, I will.
I know after I have been home for about three weeks I will begin to miss the tropical weather and some of the people here. This island has been my home for the last nine months. After I return from Baghdad I will have to do another eight months here...I really don't mind that. However, on my next, "last weekend on the island," I don't think I'll drink so much.

Labels: Diego Garcia, Iraq, Navy

In preparing for this I/A to Baghdad I was instructed to do several NKO courses. Two of them were on proper traveling both inside and outside of the United States. In these courses we are told in this post 9/11 age it is best to do whatever you can to not make yourself stick out. Do not wear clothing that singles you out as a American. With this in mind I was very surprised to go to the Exchange today to pickup a garment bag for my uniforms and all of them have United States Navy written all over them. If we are worried enough to make all of our Sailors do these NKOs teaching us the proper way to travel, shouldn't we follow it up with selling products, in our very own stores, that support the theory?

Labels: I/A, Iraq, Navy, NKO

I know this has little if anything to do with my going to Iraq but it does have to do with the military so I am going to post it here.

My third ship was the USS Theodore Roosevelt(CVN 71). I served on her from the Spring of 2001 till the Spring of 2004. Part of being on this GIGANTIC aircraft carrier is learning a bit of the history of the person it is named for. For us it was obviously the man Theodore Roosevelt or as he was called on the ship TR.

You learned quickly when you came aboard that you referred to the ship as the Theodore Roosevelt or the TR. You referred to man as TR or Theodore Roosevelt.

You never EVER refererred to either as "Teddy."

Why is this?

Well, it is really quit simple. TR hated being called Teddy. He often said that those who called him that were truly unfamiliar with who he was.

For those who are unfamiliar with the ship or the man I can handle him being referred to as Teddy...They just don't know.

However, what chapps my behind is when I see or hear military ads on the life on Theodore Roosevelt where they refer to him as Teddy.

Hello, arent we the subject matter experts here? If we get it wrong how can we expect others to get it right.

So, if for some reason you hear someone talk about Theodore Roosevelt, you now know that it Theordore...not Teddy.

Labels: Navy, Sailor, Theodore Roosevelt, TR, USS Theodore Roosevelt