Personal Narrative-My First Submarine Underway

My First Submarine Underway

I was stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and had recently graduated from Advanced Sonar School in Groton, Connecticut. In May of 2000 I embarked on my first submarine underway of my navy career. To have been there was one of the worst moments in my life.
I arrived on the USS Key West full of energy and ready to finally start my job after six months of grueling sonar school. Little did I know my new division had other things in store for me. Immediately I was handed a stack of divisional watch station qualification cards and a sheet of paper with all of the due dates. The next item I was handed was a ship's qualification card which was due in ten months. I was to learn everything about the submarine, from my job
My chief said, "You will be finished with all of your qualifications in six months. If you need anything come to me." Then I asked, "What is the deal with the nub thing?" He replied, "Son, if you know what is good for you, you will just grit your teeth and bear it." I thought it best to get started right away, so I grabbed a book and sat in Sonar to study. By the time the ship was out to sea I had already read everything I needed to get my first interview on the hydraulics system. I walked down to the machinery room and talked to the auxiliary division's Leading Petty Officer. He said, "You are getting an early star aren't you." I replied, "I will have my fish within six months." He went forward with the interview and said, "You will do fine if you know this much every time." Later that day I was studying in the Combat Systems Electronics Space when I heard "Fire in the torpedo room. Fire in the vertical launch system". I did not know what to do, so I ran into sonar and the watch section explained that it was just a drill. Then, of course, everyone laughed at me. The Sonar Supervisor explained my responsibilities for casualty response. After the fire drill we had a flooding drill and a hydraulic rupture