We had just started a game of Wallyball during lunch when Chief walked in. "I need to borrow the NUBs for a minute." As ordered, we stepped out. "We just got a phone call a half an hour ago. You two are going on a ride. Finish this game, then pack your bags and be ready to go tomorrow morning." I'll see you all in about a month!
That's how I went on my first deployment! It's great, you work your butt off, but when you get back, all the people who didn't go are still nubs, and you're qualified to stand watch and have done maintenance and are therefor useful.
WOW! you got a lot of warning. I would get: "Get your bags, you are leaving as soon as your aircraft is ready to fly. Do not make any phone calls or tell anyone that you are leaving. We do not know where you are going or how long you will be gone." My orders would read: "to proceed in conus or out of conus as directed by...." I lost a lot of girlfrineds thanks to those deployments.
I'm back from a month under the sea. I saw hydraulic leaks, fires, flooding, radioactive spills, steam leaks, and even a rocket launch. Through all this I was amazed at the technology and effort put into silencing machinery and maintaining quiet about the boat. The biggest challenge was keeping the boat quiet after Taco Tuesday. Apparently the Navy didn't share the technology with Nasa. Its good to be back on dry land!
