Upgrades ...
I ordered a new phone from Sprint. I was able to get on their SERO employee discount plan, $30 a month for 500 min. with unlimited text and data. Seeing as data is included I figured it would be a good time to get an internet capable phone. I didn't like the Treo's or BlackBerries with the face mounted keyboards, to bulky when using as a phone and too narrow when using the keyboard. That's just me though plenty of folks rave about them.
I'm getting more involved with the project I'm on at work. Previously they had me working on the documentation (which I had the most previous experience with out of anyone on the team), but now I'm getting more involved with the testing and data analysis. Our project lead has a 'deal' with us, if we don't mind doing more of the 'hard work' he'll go to all the meeting for us. I like this plan a lot. Most of friends in the department complain about the sheer number of meetings that take place and how they stay late just to get the actual work done. Aside from that it strikes me as the way things should be done. One person is in charge and is knowledgeable about all the aspects of the project, because he is the one to attend the meetings and delegates the sundry action items to the rest of the team. He knows who is responsible for what and he is responsible for reporting the information to the other groups who may need it; thus he also knows what has been communicated and by whom. All in all I think it cuts down on the "well wasn't so-and-so supposed to be doing that" and the "didn't so-and-so get in touch with you about how to proceed". Of course it leaves essentially zero time for the project lead to be an engineer, which I think is why most project leads don't go down this path ... they want to still be engineers.
J
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Drill weekend ...
So last weekend was my first drill weekend. Since I was new to the command it consisted of 'Indoc', getting all the newcomer paperwork type stuff out of the way. Of course it coincided with the annual Readiness Review for two of the units at the reserve center. The Readiness Review is to make sure all paperwork, medical / dental info, service record, bank information, etc. is up to date with the Navy so there will be no problems when you are called up to deploy. So instead of just our 'indoc' group there were a hundred plus people all trying to get shots, dental checkups, x-rays, record updates, etc. It was waaaaaay less organized than I imagined it would be. Of course the "military bearing" is significantly relaxed in the reserves (well at this command anyways), it was a bit of 'culture shock' seeing gaggles of officers leaning against the walls. There was an ONR (Office of Naval Research) unit going through the annual review, which was decidedly officer heavy.
So the first day I spent ALL day going through the medical stuff ... and still had nothing to show for it at the end of the day (no sign off on the checklist). Thankfully, the second day had the units under review running a PFA (Physical Fitness Assessment) so the 'indoc's didn't have to wait to see any of the other staff.
Next month will be indoc with my specific unit. I'm currently attached to a carrier support unit. So our annual 2 weeks a year training will be aboard one of the carriers. I have no idea how I'm going to be able to find my way around a carrier in just 2 weeks. During weekend drill we work on shipboard drills (firefighting, damage control, etc.), and in rate training (advancement preparation, General Military Training, etc.), and of course the obligatory PT (Physical Training) session. Next month is also a change of command ceremony as we are getting a new commanding officer of the unit.
The command did make a point to highlight that mobilization is a "when" not an "if" these days. With that said, you are only up for deployment once every 3 years (unless you volunteer). Of course being on an aircraft carrier (in a non-flight deck rate) is probably one of the safest places to be.
J
So last weekend was my first drill weekend. Since I was new to the command it consisted of 'Indoc', getting all the newcomer paperwork type stuff out of the way. Of course it coincided with the annual Readiness Review for two of the units at the reserve center. The Readiness Review is to make sure all paperwork, medical / dental info, service record, bank information, etc. is up to date with the Navy so there will be no problems when you are called up to deploy. So instead of just our 'indoc' group there were a hundred plus people all trying to get shots, dental checkups, x-rays, record updates, etc. It was waaaaaay less organized than I imagined it would be. Of course the "military bearing" is significantly relaxed in the reserves (well at this command anyways), it was a bit of 'culture shock' seeing gaggles of officers leaning against the walls. There was an ONR (Office of Naval Research) unit going through the annual review, which was decidedly officer heavy.
So the first day I spent ALL day going through the medical stuff ... and still had nothing to show for it at the end of the day (no sign off on the checklist). Thankfully, the second day had the units under review running a PFA (Physical Fitness Assessment) so the 'indoc's didn't have to wait to see any of the other staff.
Next month will be indoc with my specific unit. I'm currently attached to a carrier support unit. So our annual 2 weeks a year training will be aboard one of the carriers. I have no idea how I'm going to be able to find my way around a carrier in just 2 weeks. During weekend drill we work on shipboard drills (firefighting, damage control, etc.), and in rate training (advancement preparation, General Military Training, etc.), and of course the obligatory PT (Physical Training) session. Next month is also a change of command ceremony as we are getting a new commanding officer of the unit.
The command did make a point to highlight that mobilization is a "when" not an "if" these days. With that said, you are only up for deployment once every 3 years (unless you volunteer). Of course being on an aircraft carrier (in a non-flight deck rate) is probably one of the safest places to be.
J
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnddd we're back ...
... I'm home. YAY! The last month or so was very hectic what with me being section leader and all. There was always a fire to put out, always something screwing up what should be 'the routine'. Never enough sleep.
I still managed to get the DMG (Distinguished Military Graduate) award. Which put me at the 'front of the line' for the small graduation ceremony (my parents came out to visit and pictures will be forthcoming).
I'm in a kind of daze now. I flew in Sunday night and spent Monday just vegetating (after checking in at the Reserve center in San Jose only to find the person I need to speak with is out of the office). It feels so strange not to have a fire to put out, or someone coming to me with a problem, somewhere I HAVE to be or something I HAVE to do (not to be confused with things I SHOULD be doing).
I'm at my parents place for the rest of this month, and I'll be going back to work next week or so (need to meet with the Navy Reserve folks first to figure out exactly is going on).
That's all for now. I'll probably post again about reflections on the whole experience, but that will have to wait until I can wrap my brain around them all.
J
... I'm home. YAY! The last month or so was very hectic what with me being section leader and all. There was always a fire to put out, always something screwing up what should be 'the routine'. Never enough sleep.
I still managed to get the DMG (Distinguished Military Graduate) award. Which put me at the 'front of the line' for the small graduation ceremony (my parents came out to visit and pictures will be forthcoming).
I'm in a kind of daze now. I flew in Sunday night and spent Monday just vegetating (after checking in at the Reserve center in San Jose only to find the person I need to speak with is out of the office). It feels so strange not to have a fire to put out, or someone coming to me with a problem, somewhere I HAVE to be or something I HAVE to do (not to be confused with things I SHOULD be doing).
I'm at my parents place for the rest of this month, and I'll be going back to work next week or so (need to meet with the Navy Reserve folks first to figure out exactly is going on).
That's all for now. I'll probably post again about reflections on the whole experience, but that will have to wait until I can wrap my brain around them all.
J
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