[bigwill51534]

I'm just drunk, bored out of my mind (wife is watching her damned soap operas...). Anyway, I just thought I'd give a brief idea of what's going on in my life.

To begin with, I moved from Charleston, SC to Groton, CT about a month ago (with the Navy). This was so I could go to school on nuclear welding. This "C" school consists of training on emergency repairs on nuclear reactor and steam plant piping. It's just another resume filler, as we don't do maintenance or actual work with the piping EVER. Or at least, we shouldn't, as we aren't qualified to do any "real" work on the piping itself. If I have to do my job, you'll all be seeing it in the news before I'd be able to tell you about it....

Next, I smashed into a deer with my '97 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, and Geico totalled it out. I ended up making over a grand from the car, as it's value has appreciated over time. Since then, I ended up buying a 1992 Isuzu Trooper. What can I say? It's a 4WD SUV that can easily carry 5 people with luggage, or I could also fold down the back seat and toss in a twin size bed for weekend excursions

I love the area, and have already visited NYC and Boston within the last week-and-a-half. Loved both trips. NYC was confusing, but I had the help of a good friend of mine who moved (back) to the Bronx. He led me in the right direction, and we ended up in Times Square. We hung out there for quite a while, and wandered around the stores. I'm going back in a week or so to visit the Village and to do some real tourist stuff. Expect pics of that (we're going to comedy clubs with me and two friends in uniform). Boston was cool, we visited downtown, had a good time. Took a carriage ride through the city, ate at Dick's Last Resort, wandered through a few market places.

Hmm... Let's see... For the future, I'm going to the USS Augusta (SSN 710). I visited the boat about 2 weeks ago. It was pretty easy to find, as it was the only boat up on blocks in the entire base We're going out on a six month deployment in November of next year, which should be fun. After that, we're going into a shipyard in either Norfolk, VA or Portsmouth, NH for 4 years for a shipyard work (refuel the reactor, refit for piping). That pretty much carries me out for my current Navy contract. I'm planning on reenlisting though (the $60,000 bonus I'll earn helped sway my scale). I'm also reenlisting in a "tax free zone" overseas so I will get the entire bonus TAX FREE. With that reenlistment, I'll be drawn out to 8 years of active duty, 2 years inactive reserves. I'm still planning on sticking out 30 years, though. I don't have anything else to look forward to back home, so why not?

Anyway, that's the sum of my life as of the minute. Sorry if it seems kinda long, but I haven't given any idea of what's going on in my life in a few months. Also, if anyone has ANY questions they want answered in a COMPLETELY unbiased opinion from those in the military, please feel free to ask me. I might not know all of the answers, but I know where to get them.


~Will Courtier~

[MSP]

Sounds like a good plan. I wished that I had gone into the Navy. I could have been reitiring in about 6 years if I had...

Sorry to hear about the Pontiac dude.

[Sparky]

Don't really know what to say to that, but congrats on what you've done so far and thanks for serving our country. Please be more active here, I like to read your posts, and I'm curious to the opinions of someone actually in the military.

Oh, and good luck with everything.

[CHEDaddy]

Originally Posted by bigwill51534

Anyway, that's the sum of my life as of the minute. Sorry if it seems kinda long, but I haven't given any idea of what's going on in my life in a few months. Also, if anyone has ANY questions they want answered in a COMPLETELY unbiased opinion from those in the military, please feel free to ask me. I might not know all of the answers, but I know where to get them.

Puddles, if people want a COMPLETELY unbiased opinion from those in the East Coast shipyard labor sector, I'm sure they'll be coming straight to you.

[bigwill51534]

Originally Posted by MSP

Sounds like a good plan. I wished that I had gone into the Navy. I could have been reitiring in about 6 years if I had...

Sorry to hear about the Pontiac dude.

Yeah, that's the best part of joining the military. I can retire (COMPLETELY) at the age of 48, with a very good pension from the government. I'm also looking at drawing a good amount of money from TSP (the government's own investment program). It's awesome. I will have nothing to worry about when I get to that point.

~Will Courtier~

[mushu]

Che really just wants to know about any cute Seamen.

[bigwill51534]

Originally Posted by mushu

Che really just wants to know about any cute Seamen.

I guess so, but he's looking in the wrong place. I'm a Petty Officer 3rd Class.

~Will Courtier

[CHEDaddy]

No squid is phased by common insult.

Anyway, besides the fact that he aint a soldier and has no idea what a valuable opinion from a military member would be, there is a reason for his projected assignments. The Navy has/is gotten rid of all of their maintenance consultants and contractors. General Dynamics - Electric Boat is about to fire half of their workforce (again). I have some friends there (over the last 15 years), as well as with other (former) Navy contractors. The Navy is moving all maintenance and (any) rehab work into the Navy. The Contractors are getting the final nail in the coffin.

The only reason Electric Boat is making another sub (maybe their last) is so the talent isn't scattered before the Navy can fully assimilate the process for posterity.

Private industry for Navy sub and ship work will be measured in singled-digit thousands at best in the next few years. The whole thing is closing down.

[hans5849]

I ship out in Febuary/March for the coast guard.

[ninefivezero]

Good to hear from you again. Sounds like you have your life in order, stick around and post more

[Jishory]

yeah dude good to see you still stick around, crappy you moved to the other side of the country but glad you like it. i had been kicking around the idea of enlisting in the navy after college but i know i wont do it so asking any questions would be pointless for me. how are you and the wife? hows the bike running?

[bigwill51534]

Originally Posted by CHEDaddy

No squid is phased by common insult.

Anyway, besides the fact that he aint a soldier and has no idea what a valuable opinion from a military member would be, there is a reason for his projected assignments. The Navy has/is gotten rid of all of their maintenance consultants and contractors. General Dynamics - Electric Boat is about to fire half of their workforce (again). I have some friends there (over the last 15 years), as well as with other (former) Navy contractors. The Navy is moving all maintenance and (any) rehab work into the Navy. The Contractors are getting the final nail in the coffin.

The only reason Electric Boat is making another sub (maybe their last) is so the talent isn't scattered before the Navy can fully assimilate the process for posterity.

Private industry for Navy sub and ship work will be measured in singled-digit thousands at best in the next few years. The whole thing is closing down.

OK, where to begin... First of all, the Navy is cutting the number of sailors as well as ships/boats to decrease spending, and is also rebuilding many of the submarines and ships to perform multiple missions. Where during the cold war we needed strength in numbers, we are allowing technology to do the jobs of many men. That allows us to operate much more efficiently with less trouble.

Next, with cutting shipyard workers... Yes it had to be done. Once again, the Navy is attempting to cut spending. We are trying to do more work in house, and are trying to deal with the NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) directorily, without having to deal with the shipyard workors. Also, we are now able to operate submarines and ships for much longer periods of time than we have ever been able to. The boat I'm going to was commissioned in 1985, and has seen no shipyard time at all. It will be refueled and refit in 2007, and will be operated for another 25 years. Why do we need tons of shipyard workers when we aren't visiting shipyards but once every 25 years? This also should show you why we aren't building new boats anymore. We are converting our current boats to do other tasks, but aren't building new. This is the case as in the new SSGN class of boats. They are basically old Trident ballistic missile submarines that are being converted to carry batteries of Tomahawk missiles (126-150, from what a buddy of mine believes). I have two of my classmates being assigned to one of these boats within the next few months.

I'm not offended by your comments, other than you attempt to attack character rather than anything else. I don't mind debating on these subjects any more than you mind belittling others. I know what I do, and why I do it. I am proud of my job, and of the people I work with. Also, just remember... I might not agree with what you say, but I'd give my life in a heartbeat so as to give you the right to say it.

~Will Courtier~

[bigwill51534]

Originally Posted by Jishory

yeah dude good to see you still stick around, crappy you moved to the other side of the country but glad you like it. i had been kicking around the idea of enlisting in the navy after college but i know i wont do it so asking any questions would be pointless for me. how are you and the wife? hows the bike running?

Yeah, I really didn't want to move, but I'm trying to make the best of it. I really like being up this way, as I can go to Boston/NYC whenever I want. Just different surroundings than what I'm used to in Iowa My wife is doing well. We're visiting her parents in SC over Christmas, so she's excited for that. Thanks for asking.

As for the bike, she's still running strong. I need to replace the Primary cover gasket, as it is leaking out the 80w/90 grease for the primary chain. That blew out a day or two before the move. It's only a $3 gasket, and is easy to change. In the move, something fell on top of the bike in the back of the moving van and broke part of the fairing... I was planning on replacing it anyway, and it didn't hurt the functionality of the bike, but it still sucks... I'm hoping to have it all fixed by Spring so I can ride again before I go out next Fall.

~Will Courtier~