After 27 years of service on submarines and two tours of duty as a chief of the boat (COB), I have seen my fair share of new officers check on board for duty. By the time most are ready to load out their sea bags and head down the pier, they have been mentored and guided by many. But how many have stopped and asked a chief petty officer (CPO), “What is expected of me?” The following advice from senior enlisted submariners is designed to help junior officers (JOs) fit in and contribute during their first tour on a submarine.
The first thing a new officer should do after receiving orders to a submarine is read them. On the first page, there will be contact information for the new command. Contact them and ask a few questions. What uniform is required at check in? Where do you go when you get to the base? Will the boat be in her home port, and, if not, where do you go?
Your new executive officer (XO) cannot read your mind. Let him or her know if you are taking leave or if your vehicle breaks down. Sometimes things do not go according to plan; keep the command informed, as they have seen many check-in problems before. A simple phone call to the XO will yield useful information to ease your transition from student to submarine officer.
The check-in process will reveal a lot of information about you to the command. Opinions are formed almost instantly, and you should strive to make a positive first impression. Have a fresh haircut and a sharp uniform ready to go. The commanding officer (CO) will shake your hand and welcome you on board soon after you come down the hatch. Don’t be an officer who the COB has to send away because you did not shave well or have a satisfactory haircut. Be sure to project a sharp image.
Shortly after arriving, you will get a check-in sheet from the ship’s office. Complete it quickly. You will be tasked with other duties concurrently, but you still need to complete this process. Other shipmates will want to welcome you and get you enrolled in various ship programs. There is little worse for a petty officer than having to explain to the XO or CO that the new JO is not part of a program because he or she has not checked in.
Expect to be assigned to a division immediately. Usually new officers are assigned to an engineering division first. This should be a relief. You have been trained well to be in the engine room and most likely will feel comfortable there. Soon you will meet your first divisional CPO.
What will daily life be like? Initially, you will be required to qualify for all watches in the engine room. This process should go smoothly, as you have done this in nuclear power school. You will be given qualification goals and assignments by your new department head. While these qualifications must be completed smartly, there are others that must be completed at the same time.
“Rig for dive” (RFD) is one of the first qualifications you should strive to complete. While under way the boat is always rigged for dive, meaning all the valves and electrical switches are in their required positions for the watertight integrity and safe operation of the boat. In the event of a casualty and flooding, the boat must be able to pump water out and return to the surface if needed. The chief of the watch maintains the complete status of RFD, and when a valve, switch, or system is repositioned for any reason, it must be rigged by a petty officer and verified by an officer. The status of RFD is briefed regularly to the CO, and you can play an important part by being available to the watch chief to verify this expeditiously. Although the newest officers usually complete most of the RFD process, when you are proactive in helping, it will be noticed among the crew.
Meeting your new CPO and division should be one of the highlights of your initial assignment. One of the CPO’s charges is to develop and train the new officers. You can learn much about how a submarine operates and functions if you are willing to participate actively with your division. If you just blend into the woodwork and hole up in your stateroom, you will be missing out on learning experiences. You must be motivated and involved. When you are excited to learn, seek knowledge, and participate, the crew will notice and be motivated to help you succeed.
There are many things you can do to be involved. While in port, the CO normally will have a night work meeting to discuss priorities for maintenance. By communicating with your chief before these meetings, you will be able to speak intelligently at the meeting. It will be evident that your chief is training you. The CO, XO, and COB will notice. The command team has heard almost everything before, and if you try to tap dance your way through a meeting it will reflect negatively on you.
There are other times throughout the day when you can be involved with the division. Officers’ call and leading petty officers’ (LPO) call are held most mornings. These meetings usually are attended by the XO and COB to discuss shipwide items and priorities. Your attendance with your chief or LPO is crucial to understanding what is going on. After officers’ call or LPO call, most boats hold divisional quarters. This is a time for the entire division to meet in its space and receive information and tasking on the daily business. If you are plugged in and contributing, your division will be impressed and things will go well.
Your division will have all types of work that needs to be accomplished. Outgoing message traffic requires scrutiny. Every message released by the command is approved by the CO. Messages from your command often will be seeking guidance, and if you can help word them for easy understanding, help can arrive faster.
Equipment tag-outs are a daily chore done by most divisions. To ensure work on equipment is done safely, there is a detailed instruction to follow. Two petty officers will write the tag-out and route it to the duty officer for approval before hanging the tag and getting the system ready. By inserting yourself in this process you will learn much about the submarine and its systems. There are miles of piping, valves, and electrical equipment to be familiar with. Tagging out these systems is often difficult, and system knowledge is required to isolate a specific piece of gear. By focusing on the drawings and schematics, you can provide much-needed backup in this process and learn how systems work together. Catching an error on a tag-out before it is routed to the duty officer will save the division time and will signal to the division that you are there to help.
Young officers can approach the qualification process in a variety of ways. One of the most useful ways for a JO to learn is to talk to watchstanders in their specific spaces about their equipment. Watching a video on a computer and reviewing a drawing is encouraged, but talking with the sailor who operates the equipment is the best source of information. The sailor can answer questions and provide the deckplate view on how it works and where everything is located. Always seek knowledge from a qualified crew member instead of from another ensign who may not have complete system knowledge. The crew wants to help you pursue qualifications, but you must reach out and seek their expertise. When you work hard, they will work hard helping you.
Your first tour on a submarine will be one of the most memorable experiences in your life. Strive to talk to every crew member. They are all there to help you succeed, but you must earn it. Being involved with the enlisted sailors during maintenance, meetings, and administrative duties and just talking to them will give you a richer experience, quicken your qualification process, and build fond memories of your first tour of duty on a U.S. Navy submarine.
Master Chief Janowski entered the Navy at Recruit Training Command in Orlando, Florida, in 1990. His sea duty assignments include: the USS Florida (SSBN-728 Blue), USS San Juan (SSN-751), USS Frank Cable (AS-40), USS Ohio (SSGN-726 Gold), and chief of the boat on board the USS Louisiana (SSBN-743 Gold) and USS Ohio (SSGN-726 Gold). He also served as command master chief for Submarine Squadron 19.