SHIP 09 DIV 111 PIR 4/6/12

[trandles (Ship 09/Div 111)]

Ok, I am a newbie, but here I go starting a discussion.  Are there any other moms out there in this division?

[Blue52]

Ok glad to have found you guys here.looks like the forum on the facebook page will be gone tomorrow at noon.one of the ladies might be making a Facebook page for the group though. Trandles can you post this link over there so the rest of the ladies can find us here.thanks!

[Dawn "Mike's Mom" 09/111]

Lisa created a Facebook page.  Here is the link.

 

https://www.facebook.com/Ship09Div111Pir040612?filter=2#!/Ship09Div...

[tyler'smom88]

I am glad we can still stay in touch! Also it is great that so many are getting letters! Hopefully our last 21 days will go fast!

[trandles (Ship 09/Div 111)]

Not a  problem I will do it right now.

[Dawn "Mike's Mom" 09/111]

Hello Ladies,

 

It looks like this will have to be where we communicate for the next 10 days.  I hope everyone makes it over here.  It's my understanding there will no longer be forums on the FB page anymore, even once RTC comes back online.

 

I got a letter today also!  He sounded really good, said they got new haircuts, "high and tights" which now means they are one of the senior divisions!  He said they now get more writing privileges and can write during the week a couple nights also in addition to Sundays, but that he's been so busy and hasn't had a lot of time to write.  He said this week was going to be extremely difficult as they had to take/pass their Physical Assessment, shooting and the gas chamber (which he was dreading), as well as a major inspection and a written test.  He is really looking forward to April 6th and said it stinks watching all the Divisions walk to the hall in their dress blues every Friday and he can't wait until it's their turn.  The tone was really good, so hopefully as a whole the Division is doing well.

[cory'smom]

Our letter this week talked about their tests and his goals he had for the physical tests. I can't wait to hear from him again to see if he met his personal goals he sey for himself. Maybe if they all did well, they will get another phone call.

[Dawn "Mike's Mom" 09/111]

Yeaaaa.  I vote for phone calls! :)

[indymom]

my son is also in this division,,,i have made a facebook page also for this division,,

[colensmom1992]

I am sorry I have not been on in a while. I have had a lot of family issues going on. Things are slowing down again for juat a bit so now i can breath again. LOL. We have bwen getting letters from my son too. He sounds very positive. He said he hurt his knee but he is pushing on. He hopes he is able ti graduate with his class. He also said thwy are dropping like flies for different reasons. Some are getting stress fractures. I am praying for them all! I can not wait to be able to see my baby again. I hate passing by his room and breaking down. I seem to be getting worse. I just miss him. Is it normal. To get worse with time?

[trandles (Ship 09/Div 111)]

Colensmom1992 - I think it is normal.  I go from being really really excited for him to breaking down crying because I miss him.  It is getting closer to graduation.  I pray that your son gets to graduate on time.  My son's last letter was a lot more positve than all the previous ones.  So that helped me a little bit.  Your son sounds like he is determined that's a good thing.  I will keep you guys in my prayers.

Here is a link to a face book page a bunch of us are at now that they shut down the forums on the RTC Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/Ship09Div111Pir040612

If not I will still be checking in here regularly.

 

[trandles (Ship 09/Div 111)]

Week 5: Week 5 is all learning about firefighting. Topics you will cover include:
Shipboard Damage Control How to Read Bullseyes (locations of compartments and fittings) Classes of Fires Equipment for fighting Fires Survival Equipment Confidence Chamber (fun, fun) Fighting a Simulated Fire
Shipboard damage control consisted of a little bit of everything mentioned. You will learn what X-ray, yoke, and zebra fittings mean. A quick rundown is that out at sea, the ship is set to X-ray meaning that doors marked with an X are supposed to be closed at all times unless logged open in a place called Damage Control Central. There is an exception if there is a "Man Overboard" as you need to take the quickest route to where you muster. If a ship is set to Zebra, most likely the ship is about entirely on lockdown due to a hazardous reason or practice for that. You may hear of the term "Battle Stations", but it is called General Quarters on the ship. Someone will talk over the 1MC (speakerphone located all over the ship) and say that it is General Quarters and all hands are to man their battle stations.
It is an absolute necessity to learn how to read a bullseye. Here is a picture below and I will tell you what it all means:

The top line is a must know if you are to find your way around any ship.
The beginning number is what deck or level you are on. The quarterdeck will be on the main deck which is always 1. 1 is your starting point. If you go one ladderwell below this deck, you are on the 2nd deck. Going one ladderwell above the 1st deck and you well be on the O1 level. O is the letter and not a number.
The second number tells you the frame of the ship that you are at. By looking at the number 202, I can tell that most likely this is an aircraft carrier as they go up to 250 or so frames. If you were to read 10 or 20, you would be at the front of the ship.
The next number is also very important as you can tell which side of the ship you are on. Even numbers designate port side, while odd numbers designate starboard side. An easy way to remember this is (PESO) Port is Even, Starboard is Odd. As the numbers get bigger, the further you are from the middle of the ship. The zero in that pictures tells me that it is at the middle of the ship going from starboard to port.
The last letter is not as important as the 3 numbers before it. This letter simply designates the type of space it is. The L in the pictures stands for living space.
There are 4 types of fires aboard Navy ships: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta.
Alpha is the most common being ordinary compustibles like paper. Bravo is your liquids such as oil and fuel. Charlie is the electrical equipment. Delta is combustible metals such as if an aircraft is on fire.
You will learn how to locate and oprate numerous types of survival equipment including EEBD's and SCBA's. It is vital that you pay attention when they tell you how to use them.
Near the end of the week you will have the "confidence chamber" which is a nice way of saying gas chamber. It was one of the worst feelings of my life. I recommend trying to sneak holding in your breath as breathing the gas in will make you gag and your eyes aren't really affected too much.
The last day will consist of fighting a couple of fake fires with your division. It's kind of fun, but it gets hot and sweaty so be prepared! ------------------------------- 5-1 Day: - Basic Damage Control - Portable DC Pumps (evacuating water)

[trandles (Ship 09/Div 111)]

5-2 Day: - EEBD/SEED - OBA/SCBA Note from Craig: I don't normally add comments, but now we are getting into areas that you guys haven't a clue. So I will explain some of the acronyms when I think you guys won't understand. EEBD = Emergency Escape Breathing Device It provides the wearer with 15 minutes of breathable air. It is to be worn until you can get topside during evacuation from below deck... spaces. The EEBD is designed to provide respiratory and eye protection in an atmosphere that will not support life. With the proper training you should be able to activate and don an EEBD in less than 30 seconds. EEBDs are not to be used for firefighting purposes. ------------------------------- SEED = Supplemental Emergency Egress Device Personnel working in engineering spaces wear supplemental emergency egress devices (SEEDs) on their belts for easy access. When a main space fire is called away, the watch stander should use the SEED to proceed to an EEBD. The watch stander should obtain an EEBD and don it when not in danger of immediate harm from heat or flames. Because the SEED lacks protection for the eyes and nose and has a short operational time, it is a supplemental device. However, it is immediately available for the engineering watch standers and is easily operated on the run. ------------------------------- OBA = Oxygen-Breathing Apparatuses The oxygen breathing apparatus (OBA) is a self-contained device that generates oxygen through a chemical process and lets the wearer breathe independently of the surrounding atmosphere. Currently, the OBA is the primary tool used by firefighting teams. The effective time limit of the oxygen supply is in excess of 45 minutes. For personnel protection you should set the timer for 30 minutes, allowing 15 minutes to leave the area and return to fresh air. ------------------------------- SCBA = self-contained breathing apparatuses SCBA are less bulky than OBA's and allows for greater ease of movement and has a cylinder of compressed air that Sailors carry on their back instead of the bulky OBA canisters which were carried on the Sailor's chest. The SCBAs also have a gauge with constant pressure so fire fighters know how much compressed air they have left. They have carbon fiber version of cylinders with either 30 or 45 minutes of compressed air. In addition, SCBAs are much quicker and easier to refill. The SCBA's cylinders can be refilled with compressed air and then reused. In fact, the quick-fill adapter can hook straight up to a fill station, and without even taking the pack off, can be refilled. Since Sailors are now dealing with a compressed air cylinder on their back, they must be more cautious of movement. Both OBA and SCBA are used to fight fires aboard ships