I am happy to report that the class had had a wonderful first week of fun, laughter and all out good times. They have been resting well, enjoyed a quick jog this morning and have learned some really neat stuff! I'm sure they'll be resting well this weekend and we look forward to seeing their bright happy faces on Monday morning. Week one down...nine to go! R/The Chief - -
This is true, Stan. They have completely done away with anything remotely resembling hydraulics, electronics, cannons, torps, etc, etc. Basically it has become the wonderful world of small arms. A number of years ago those in higher places decided to put out a survey that would determine what skills needed to be taught at "A" school. Given that those who initiated the survey already had the outcome in mind, i.e. shorten the school length, they made sure to ask questions geared to eliciting the responses "proving" that these extra weeks of schooling were not necessary and that they could be learned by OJT out in the fleet. The only problem with that is that most GMs today are ashore and never see a cannon, most by their own choice, and by the time they do they are ill prepared to do the job. But I digress... Yes, it is only 10 weeks.
Thanks for the info Gunner. Frankly, it sounds kinda boring. I was never that fond of smal arms.
I would think though, considering the complexities of some of today's weapons, that relying on OJT to really fully understand them is a mistake. I know learning to adjust something like the old 5" projectile hoist took a bit more knowledge then spinning a wrench and waiting to see if it worked!
As I recall we also had one week of explosives training. Got to play with Primacord, TNT, C-4 and a variety of other stuff.
I see the results played out on a regular basis of this poorly thought out concept. Take A GM1 or GMC who has spent the majority of his career at an Armory, Group, or Lord forbid an MSO and cut him orders to a big white one with a MK75, then send him to school right before he executes those orders. Meanwhile his subordinates are in the same "C" school as him and they get to the ship and they are all at the same experience level, which is basic. Your result? A MK75 that spends the majority of it's time casrep'd and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on sending tech reps, both active Coast Guard and Navy civilians to correct casualties or replace brokedick gun mounts. In the end I wonder just how much money they think they truly "saved" the Coast Guard. I guess in a way they did save the "Coast Guard" money as Naval Ordnance is funded by Navy funds.
quote:
Originally posted by Ex_CG_GM: Thanks for the info Gunner. Frankly, it sounds kinda boring. I was never that fond of smal arms.
I would think though, considering the complexities of some of today's weapons, that relying on OJT to really fully understand them is a mistake. I know learning to adjust something like the old 5" projectile hoist took a bit more knowledge then spinning a wrench and waiting to see if it worked!
As I recall we also had one week of explosives training. Got to play with Primacord, TNT, C-4 and a variety of other stuff.
Something similar is what gave me the chance to go to Nam on the Mellon. The 1st class and the other 2nds had little experience with a 5". I had been on 4 WHEC's by then. I wandered over and spoke with the GMC on board and he wangled orders for me to get transferred just before the ship sailed for Nam.
Only trouble we had that entire deployment was when a servo went out.
Originally posted by Ex_CG_GM: Something similar is what gave me the chance to go to Nam on the Mellon. The 1st class and the other 2nds had little experience with a 5". I had been on 4 WHEC's by then. I wandered over and spoke with the GMC on board and he wangled orders for me to get transferred just before the ship sailed for Nam.
Only trouble we had that entire deployment was when a servo went out.
Stan, you ever get a chance to ride a bucking 5”? We had the fine control syncro go out in the train indicator/regulator during an anti-air shoot during REFTRA. Fun ride.
One of these days I'll figure how to post pictures here.
A broken “piano wire” (contact that switches from course to fine synchro drive control) will cause the same symptom of a oscillating or bucking 5”/38. The piano wire would break or wear all the time. Easy to replace, pain in the posterior to get to; had to remove all the nuts off the top of the indicator regulator to get to the wire:
Second time I've posted this pic tonight: 5"/38 Gun Shoot on CGC MIDGETT (circa 1982) fired and picture taken from the Mk 56 GFCS Director:
The Director operator could also make the 5"/38 "buck" during remote control transmission (or "T") checks by moving the gun in & out of pointing / no-fire zones....
Everyone sailed. As I recall we started with 3 GM 3's (I was one) a GM 2, GM 1, and GMC. Had a couple strikers as well.
two of us made GM 2 on the deployment and 1 striker made GM 3.
Lots of transfers when we got back!
As for the synchro going out, it was our very first shoot in Nam and just as we received the "Commence Fire" the synchro failed, gun slewed all the way to starboard and we fired just before it hit the stops. Lots of cork on the bridge wing......
Having been prior service for several years and now with the CG for an overall total of 25 years, I have to say that I too remember "how it was back then". That being said, given what we have to work with (how the course is driven by the O/A), I think that these folks coming through are still wanting to be hard chargers. One or two fall through the cracks from time to time but I can't help but think that my guys are sending a decent "apprentice" out to the fleet. -Perhaps a bit partial.....I know that we work hard to make em' ready to continue learning. The current class on board has come out of the gates hard and strong and yes...there's a fair amount of them who are in fact looking forward to packing their sea bags and heading out to sea! For those of you out there in "the fleet", I would strongly encourage you to sit your young lads down when the occupational survey comes out and have them fill it out. If you don't know, the O/A is what drives their EPQ's and thus, drives what ends up being taught in the school house. Week two of GM-A 04-08 coming to a close. They are having a true blast with my GM2 and their early AM P/T. They are sharp, motivated, paying attention and willing to jump as high or higher then asked. More to follow as the weeks progress. Regards, GMC
I know this is completely off topic... but After reading through this one, I am somewhat distressed that I didnt get a week of explosives during my tenure at "A" school...
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Source: Wiki 5"/38 
