What did you do this weekend?

For those interested in what Sea Cadets are about, here some visual aids to see what is available to you.

FLEETWEEK

ARKDIV will be staying aboard the SSJOB Friday night, going out in the parade of Ships on the Saturday cruise, and then again spend the night Saturday. Sunday the unit will be involved in a variety of activities on shore.

More information to follow, but the POD was sent out last night by WO Freitas. Please report in through your COC as soon as possible so that logistical arrangements can be made.

SSJOB Overnight

ALL HANDS:

This Friday evening, September 17, 2010, ARKDIV is going to stay aboard the SS Jeremiah O'Brien and have a work day on Saturday.

With this opportunity, ARKDIV Cadets, Parents, Officers, and Instructors will to be able to meet and discuss the 2010-2011 training year.

A POD will follow shortly, but ARKDIV should muster Friday at 1900, and we will perform sweepers on Saturday the 18th at 1400.

Cadets will need to bring coveralls or Dangaree working uniform, a sleeping bag, Pillow, basic toiletries, and money for chow (for 3 meals, $5 each meal).

Report your drill attendance or non-attendance through your Sea Cadet/League Cadet Chain of Command, starting with your Squad Leaders. Report in by 1800 tomorrow, Thursday September 16, 2010. Adults and Instructors staying aboard report to me directly, so that vehicle parking can be arranged.

For questions, please email or call.

INST Gabriel Mikulich

Overnight Aboard the SSJOB!

Just got approval to have Cadets come aboard this Friday, September 17, 2010. Details will follow.

Bay Bridge/Wine Cruise Cancelled

Sorry to say, but we have had to cancel our cruise this weekend. We will be tied to the pier, and instead we will be having a steaming weekend.

I will post updates about upcoming trainings, the overnight program, extended hours, and our upcoming cruises very shortly.

Below are some more pictures from the Memorial Day Cruise.

Pyro division arrives and marches to the ship to assist ARKDIV in cruise assistance.

SN Perry directs Pyro and Cadets Bui and Thomas in lunch distribution.

SR Thomas cleans the heads working with the SSJOB Stewards department.

SR Bui cleans the bulkhead while working with the SSJOB Stewards department.

A Cadet from Pyro division is directed on how to make a heaving line.

BZ ARKDIV!

Another success aboard our Ship! I heard from the O'Brien's Executive Director, Dennis Koller, that Cadets and their parents did an amazing job. Thanks in large part to your participation, the Ship brought in much needed revenue. ARKDIV was pivotal to the success of this event last year, and again this year. I think the amount raised was in excess of ten thousand dollars. As you may have heard, the O'Brien is in need of some replacement of hull plates, and it is estimated that repairs could cost close to a million dollars. Every cent counts right now, and thanks to your assistance, we are a bit closer.


Instructor Karen Freitas said that she was impressed with LPO Tapia's leadership, and how all Cadet's interacted with the Ship's crew. Also, a giant thank you to Nancy Bui, Instructors Tapia, Freitas, Thomas, and WO Freitas for assisting Cadets in their duties. I would like to personally thank LPO Spencer Tapia, APC Rachel Tapia, SR Jake Thomas, SR Nick Thomas, SN Kaitlynne Freitas, RC Weston Freitas, and SR Martin Bui for their contributions. You represented the unit extremely well, and your investment in our ship is very much appreciated.


Additionally, the O'Brien was lucky to have our very own Captain Cogan in attendance. I hear that although it got a bit foggy and traffic was heavy, it was eventful and a good time had by all. If anyone has pictures of the event, please send them to me, and I will post them.

4 JULY 2010 - SSJOB Fireworks Celebration - CADETS NEEDED

ARKDIV, we need you!

The first 4th of July celebration last year aboard the SSJOB was a huge success due to your involvement. We are again having a BBQ, and we need Cadets to flyer the pier and assist where needed. Many Cadets will be across the state at that time, but those not training, you can come aboard for food, fun, and fireworks. This will also be a fundraiser for the unit.

Work parties will begin aboard at 1600 (4p.m.), and you would be working until 1930 (7:30p.m.). Report through your chain of command if interested.

CMA Cruise Cancelled for 29 June 2010

Unfortunately, the cruise to the California Maritime Academy is cancelled. Next up, ecology cruise.

For those that did not know, not only were we hoping to stay aboard, but CMA also has a ship simulator, and it would have been nice to get underway and then try your hand being underway in the simulator. Although we were not able to do it this time, this may be something we can work with the Regional Training command in securing in the near future.

GREAT JOB on Memorial Cruise!

I wanted to again say great job by both ARKDIV and PYRO Division on the Memorial Cruise. I have received more praise for your involvement than ever before. Keep up the good work!

I have misplaced my Camera, but I will post later an update about this evolution with some more pictures of Cadets in action.

Next Cruise Date - May 29

If you are a Cadet who has a specific interest in a particular Ship's Department, or has a strong desire to get underway, the next cruise date is May 29. The goal for this cruise is to use selected Cadets to spend half time training with Departments of interest, and the other time assisting with the training of the PYRO DIVISION in familiar shipboard duties (Captain's runner, crowd control, greeting passengers, security, food distribution, & refuse disposal).

If you have a strong interest in the SSJOB, please contact Warrant Officer Freitas ASAP. Let him know which Department you are interested in serving with (such as Engine, Deck, or Stewards). Ideally we are looking for 4 to 5 Cadets, who will head up each work party.

Please note that space is limited, so positions will come to those who reply first.

Watchstanding

Watchstanding is the first and most basic skill you will learn in the Navy, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine. If you remember, your 11 General Orders as a Sentry revolve around keeping a watch (here is a tip to remembering them).

On the O'Brien, watchstanding can mean pier side duty, look out duty, anchor watch, steering the ship, working in the engine room, fire watch, and a variety of other duties aboard. Watches differ from when in port and when underway. While in port, work days are usually 8 hours while underway watches are usually 4 hour increments. As cited in the BMR at Chapter 3 page 4, a 24 hour day is separated into 7 watches. There are two "dog watches" to insure that everyone has the chance to have chow. As referenced in the Merchant Marine Preliminary Manual that was given to sailors who sailed Liberty Ships, watches are set up a bit differently than the Navy.

When you go to sea for the first voyage you will in many respects find yourself in a new and different world. This is particularly true of time at sea.

A day at sea is divided into watches of four hours each. You work for four hours and then comes eight hours of free time of watch below. Watch below implies that your time is your own. After eight hours of your watch below you "turn to" (work) for another four hours. Thus out of a day you work a total of 8 hours. The three watches are the 12:00 to 4:00, 4:00 to 8:00 and 8:00 to 12:00.

Bells are struck every half hour in each watch. Four, eight, and twelve o'clock A.M. and P.M. is eight bells. Thus eight bells is struck six times a day. At eight o'clock at night, for example, eight bells is struck and a watch is relieved. At eight-thirty one bell is struck, on the bridge. At nine o'clock two bells is struck. At nine-thirty three bells is struck, and so on until eight bells, which is twelve o'clock. At twelve o'clock, eight bells is struck and the sequence continues. When striking bells do so with a sharp, deliberate jerk on the lanyard leading from the bell to a position accessible to the man at the wheel. Bells of two or more in number are struck in pairs. For example if you were striking six bells it would sound like this: dong dong (space), dong dong (space), dong dong. If you were striking three bells the first two are struck as a pair and of course the third is struck singularly. Lookouts who repeat bells answer with the same number in a similar fashion.

Watches are always changed at eight bells and the watch below, which is the relieving watch, is called twenty minutes before eight bells. On most merchant ships one bell is struck at twenty minutes before eight bells. This indicates to the standby that it is time to call the next watch. It is also customary to strike seven bells in the four to eight A.M. watch at seven-twenty and seven bells in the eight to twelve watch at eleven-twenty. This permits ample time for the relieving watch to get meals. It is the routine in the engine room to relieve the watch ten minutes before eight bells. At this time two bells is struck, in the engine room. This however is not bridge practice.

It is always a good policy to relieve the watch a few minutes beforehand. This is not only nautical courtesy. It serves a practical purpose, especially at night, when it permits you to better accustom your eyes to the darkness.

You will be dealing and practicing a variety of watches when you come aboard. Previous to coming on board, please make sure you are familiar with your General Orders, and have reviewed chapter 3 of the BMR.