So, hubby and I met while we were both at SUBTRAFAC San Diego (Ballast Point). He taught tactics and Mk117 fire control to PCO’s, and I taught wet-all-over JG’s the difference between trimming a boat and mistakenly blowing tanks. I was running a class once, right when the 688 class arrived on the scene, and the COB was a crusty old Master Chief I’d had many times before. The kids behind the wheels were newbies too, not a dolphin in sight.
I initiated a flooding aft/fire in the laundry scenario. COB looked at the kid in his starched overalls, and waited. The kids were yanking their wheels fore and aft. The Khaki Kid cleared his throat and squeaked “emergency blow!!!”. COB didn’t miss a beat, reached up and slammed the handles, turned around and said, “now, about that fire that has now blown up beyond our control because you just sent everyone to the back of the boat on their asses ….” as the trainer deck was pointed at the sky, alarums were shrieking and I was, as usual, hanging on to my chair, with Khaki Kid’s fingers digging into my shoulders.
I was sure glad that (at the time), women weren’t allowed on boats.
But I had a lot of fun teaching them nubs how to drive a boat.
Peace in, and thanks for the memories, brothah Jack…
