When you work in a high stress job as I do, many factors come into play that won’t let you do what I do. I work on the flight deck taking care of many of the Navy’s fine aircraft. There are many rules the Navy has to follow, and adjusting you to shipboard life is one of the biggest.
According to Tom Harris of howstuffworks.com , most residents of an aircraft carrier don’t normally get to see the light of day every day. You can sneak peeks here and there in the hangar bay or on the flight deck, but most of the time it’s so hectic that only qualified personnel are allowed to be there. A sailor that works in the engine room or laundry may not see the sunshine for weeks. Although it was only for a two-week detachment, I was in laundry and not being able to see the sun or go outside does get quite depressing.
Safety is the number one priority on any Navy vessel. We perform General Quarters (GQ) and Man Overboard drills to be prepared for any situation that may occur. We also wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) whenever we are on the flight deck, whether it is for a FOD (Foreign Object Damage) walk down or flight operations. First, we wear cranials. Cranials are like helmets with a large piece to protect the back of your head and a small one over your forehead. It holds a pair of earmuffs in it to shield your ears from the loud noises, and a pair of goggles to protect your eyes. We also wear long sleeved shirts and matching float coats of the same color, on top of specially designed shoes and pants. The color identifies what job you do, like green is for an aircraft troubleshooter and purple is for someone who refuels the jets. The float coats help us if we fall overboard and into the water.
Many people don’t realize just how lonely living on an aircraft carrier or other vessel may be. You are separated from your family for six months or more, and you’re stuck on this big boat with no way off. Some people get to the boiling point where they feel they have no place to turn and start contemplating suicide. The Navy, as well as the other branches, has taken the steps to help prevent this. They have a suicide awareness program, and sailors are encouraged to look out for one another.
Most people don’t understand shipboard life until they’ve experienced it. You can try to explain it, but unless someone experiences it for himself or herself, they’ll never get it. Safety is the priority, and making sure our fellow sailors, airmen, soldiers and marines get home safely.

12/12/2006

Author's Note: I wrote this as a research essay for English 101.

Posted on 12/12/2006
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