PJ!

Class 030-11 started photojournalism today!

We were issued our camera kits, consisting of a Nikon D200, two lenses, and an SB-800 flash with quantum battery pack. We also went out and shot a bit, but mostly it was just lecture. Once I get release permission I'll post some of my photos.

It was mostly just review for me but at least we were allowed to play with the cameras while he was lecturing, actually we were encouraged to do so. I had a fun day. PT sucked though, see the news release below.

More Marine PT

The Navy Detachment exercised with the Marine Detachment this morning at the Defense Information School, participating in the Marine Corps Combat Skills Test.

The exercise was part of an on-going relationship between the two services, said Chief Currey,  the Leading Chief Petty Officer at the Navy Detachment here.

The Combat Skills Test consists of a ¼ mile sprint (under 5 minutes). After the run is an ammo can lift, followed by the CST Lanes Course. The course consists of a 100 yard sprint, j-hook, high crawl, modified high crawl, rescue drag, and  100 yard firemans carry. The second lap consists of carrying two 15 pound ammo cans, throwing a grenade, and carrying the ammo cans back.

The top Navy time was 2 minutes, 20 seconds for lanes.

“It felt like I got sacked by a whole football team,” said one sailor. “[Completing] It really showed Navy determination and pride.”

Navy Center for Service Support - DINFOS Student Detachment (aka, the barracks!)

I know one thing I was always trying to find out about while I was still in boot camp was what life is like here at the Navy Detachment, DINFOS.

The answer is rather nice – it’s really good here.

We’re in a brand new barracks, just been refurbished and remodeled completely, the AC and heat even work!

The first two weeks here are spent in Phase 1. In phase 1, you can have your cell phone, but no other electronic devices, and you aren’t allowed civilian clothes. You still need to make your bed boot-camp style and use issue linens. This is a huge improvement over boot camp, obviously! Still, wearing your uniform off base isn’t great, and you have to muster at 2145 for accountability, lights out by 2200.

After you’ve passed two room inspections, done your General Military Training, and been Watch Qualified, you can phase up (2 weeks in Phase 1 minimum). In Phase 2, you are allowed any electronics, civilian clothes, a personal vehicle if you have one or buy one, and basically your life actually starts. No more evening curfew, lights out at 2300 on school nights, and midnight on weekends.  It used to be you moved into a nicer room at this phase, but not anymore.

After a few weeks of Phase 2, and if you’re keeping your grades up, you can move up to Phase 3. (That’s where I am now!) At this phase the big changes are getting overnight liberty, as long as you put a chit in for it. Curfew is 2300 on weeknights, and 0300 on weekends. Awesome! This is the phase you’ll be in for most of your 6 months at A-school, just keep your grades up and don’t get in trouble!

You can see a picture looking out from my bunk, showing the new wall lockers... Each room has its own head & shower & sink. There are currently 3 people per room. You can see my locker open there, with one of the big hobbies of MC A-school – nerf guns. Everyone has them. Even the instructors at the school have them. It’s a good safe way to blow off some energy.

Each room does have a TV, but the issue TV’s aren’t as nice as the one we’ve got, thanks to our roommate. Ooh-rah hi-def! Currently, there isn’t any cable to the barracks because Comcast is being stupid.

The rooms also have a refrigerator and microwave, unfortunately, no hot-plates or rice cookers are allowed. It’s ok to have a teakettle or coffee maker, though. (Ramen! Nom....)

The chow hall, or Dining Facility (DFAC) serves great, fresh food. Just get used to having the exact same options every meal every day.

Our new barracks have plenty of washers and dryers, too. (pictures coming soon!) In the day room, we have two great pool tables, a ton of couches and a huge TV, and even a ping-pong table.

It’s a nice place to live, I almost wish I was here a little longer than just 6 months, because once we’re stationed on a ship we live ON the ship.

Smithsonian - Air & Space

Three students from the Defense Information School visited the Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institute in D.C. Saturday....

Oh wait, this is the weekend, I don’t need to write in AP style! Ooh-rah weekend!

In all seriousness, we had a great time at the museum yesterday. It was kind a spur of the moment thing, we just hopped in my car and headed down to DC. It was a bit of a rainy day, the perfect kind to spend in a great museum. We spent a lot of time looking at the Sea & Air power exhibit.

I think one of the coolest things there was the space capsules... These were the REAL THINGS! They’ve actually been farther out and faster than any other manmade object, wow...

Then again, they’ve also got cruise missiles, medium range ballistic missiles, and predator UAV’s on display... Something to give you a big of pause.

I’ll throw some photos up later tonight, for now I want to finish writing one of the articles on how life is here, and get some laundry done. 

Colors

Today was my last day on the colors detail for March. The Navy Detachment here at DINFOS gets to be the color guard once every five weeks, split with the other services.

It was pretty cold this morning, but I didn’t mind. I enjoy being part of colors because it reminds me of my commitment to the Navy and the United States.

We go downstairs at 0545 in the morning, and then wait for the base duty van to pick us up. Then it’s over to the headquarters building, where we wait until 0625. The detail clambers out of the fan, forming two equal ranks in front of the flag... Forward, March. Detail, Halt... Halyards, POST.

They unfasten the line from the cleat, and look up in the dark to make sure the lines aren’t tangled. Then the detail leader unfolds the flag and passes it down the ranks, and we clip it only the line, hoisting it up so it’s unfolded and ready to go.

At 0630, the music starts to play, the cannonade in front of the flagstaff fires, and the halyards quickly raise the ensign to the top of the staff, finishing before the music does. As the cannonade fires and the ensign is pulled up and ot of our hands, we turn to face it and salute, holding the salute until after the music stops.

Sometimes the Army is out on the parade field doing morning PT, and they all form into ranks to salute the ensign as it is raised.

It’s quite a bit different than how we do it in the Navy, but it’s the same flag, and we’re performing our missions for the same goals. No matter which branch on the military, we're all here at DINFOS learning the same stuff for the same reasons.

I’m glad to be a part of it, and I look forward to next time.

Welcome

This is a blog.
It's a blog about a Sailor who is in the United States Navy.
More specifically, I'm currently in the Mass Communication Specialist's A-school course, after finishing boot camp February 23rd.
I'm 22 years old this month, and I enlisted in the navy December 15, 2010. That day seems like a lifetime ago.

I'm writing this blog to let future MC's know about what their A-school will be like, especially with all the changes that are happening now, as well as to keep my family and friends informed of what's going on at DINFOS here today. (An inside joke...)

I recommend anyone interested in the MC rating to go view Glenn Slaughter's blog, 'Blogging my way through MC A-school'. He did an excellent job of it, but his information is a little bit out of date now.

Keep checking back, I'll be writing as fast as I can.