Navy Public Works Center: Fill & Download for Free

Living in a condemned building.When I was in TPU assigned to Groshong Hall, I had to sign a waiver as the building was partially condemned.This has been an ongoing issue with NOB Norfolk.congress/2001_hr/.pdfSTATEMENT OF CAPTAIN STEVEN W. JOHNSON, COMMANDING OFFICERNAVY PUBLIC WORKS CENTER, NORFOLKBEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON READINESS AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORTOF THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEEON CONDITION OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, FACILITIES AND FAMILY HOUSING21 March 2001“Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, I am CAPT Steve Johnson, Regional Engineerfor the Commander, Navy Region, Mid-Atlantic and Commanding Officer of the Navy Public Works Center, Norfolk. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to discuss the condition of our facilities and base housing. As the Mid-Atlantic Regional Engineer, I have responsibilities for Navy facilities in the Virginia Hampton Roads area, at Philadelphia and Mechanicsburg in Pennsylvania, and for the Naval Air Station in Keflavik, Iceland.”“For example, Groshong Hall at Naval Station Norfolk was built in 1973. It has central head facilities and the majority of its sailors are three to a room. The sinks in the heads are separating from the walls, the showers leak to the floors below and there is water damage to walls and floors.”Regarding the Aviation side:“We estimate the aviation facility maintenance backlog to be $90M. For example, the Naval Station Norfolk Chambers Field hangars are deteriorated WWII-era facilities, have high maintenance and energy costs, and can not effectively support modern aircraft squadrons’ missions. Working conditions in the spaces are poor and have gotten press coverage as a cause for pilot attrition. They are 65% oversized – and therefore are more expensive to maintain than they should be.”Yeah folks that's how DoD rolls. Trillions for F-35, but pennies for barracks and hangars.The Admiral had a nice house though.

“Where was your first duty station when you were in the US Navy? What was your rating?”Quick answer:Duty Station: USS Lockwood (FF-1064).This is DESRON 15 (missing one destroyer) in the mid-’70s, comprised of four frigates and two destroyers.Rating: Sonar Technician, Guns (STG)Knox-class Sonar Main Control. The door in the back goes to the 01-level weather decks, port side. That’s right, we faced astern!The long answer.RTC (Recruit Training Command) San Diego, CA9 weeks of training (1976 was the last 9-week course, and NOBODY carried a rifle. Training was 8-weeks, starting in 1977, and included rifles for the Rifle recruits to carry.Training began as a Recruit (Not Seaman Recruit, just “Recruit”). Upon graduation, we were all E-1, either Seaman Recruit (SR), Fireman Recruit (FR), Airman Recruit (AR), Constructionman Recruit (CR), Hospitalman (HR), or Dentalman Recruit. Seamen do Deck and Administrative Ratings, Firemen do Engineering and Hull ratings, Airmen do Aviation ratings, Constructionmen do SeaBee rates, Hospitalmen do Medical rates, and Dentalmen do Dental rates. Based on your enlistment contract, you either have a designated rating path, or enlist as an undesignated recruit. If you do that, then, depending on the “needs of the Navy,” you will be assigned to the Deck or Engineering path.How can you tell by looking at one? At the Recruit level, you can’t. Recruits have no stripes. Just an empty sleeve. Starting at Apprentice (E-2), the double diagonal stripe’s color tells the story. Engineering is red, Aviation is green, SeaBees are sky blue, and the rest are red (on a blue uniform) or navy blue (on a white uniform). Khaki uniforms have a collar insignia instead of stripes.I graduated as a Seaman Recruit.Company 952 — the last “Special Company” in 1976. Special Companies were formed weekly (“Rifle” Companies were formed daily). Special Companies were formed for PR (Public Relations), comprised of the Rifle Team, 50 Flag Team (50 US State flags), Drum and Bugle Corps, and Bluejackt Choir (I was a baritone). We performed every Friday in front of Training Regiment HQ in the morning, and at the graduation Ceremony for the current week’s Graduation Class, on the Preble Field parade ground. Plus, the Choir had the volunteer opportunity to participate in the weekly Mass at the base Chapel. Most of us participated, for the opportunity to meet girls and have free donuts.We spent the first five weeks doing the same training as the Rifle companies, PLUS early training that the Rifle Companies would be getting in five weeks. While they were doing their final four weeks of training, we spent our time learning, drilling and practicing our routines.FLEASWTRACENPAC (Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center Pacific), San Siego, CA.Sonar A-School, divided into Phase 1 and Phase 2. My four-year enlistment contract only gave me an guaranteed A-School slot and, on graduation of Phase 1, a striker’s designation (a rating).Upon arrival, I was advanced to undesignated Seaman Apprentice (SA) (E-2). That meant that if I failed Phase 1, I would be sent to the Fleet with no striker designation (no rating) and assigned to a ship’s Deck Division (mostly grinding, chipping, and painting a ship’s deck, hull and superstructure). Once there, you’re given exposure to all of the different Deck ratings (everything that’s not Engineering or Aviation), and advised to choose one).At that point, once I finished Phase 1, I would be given my Striker’s badge, and become an STGSA (Sonar Technician, Guns, Seaman Apprentice). Still an E-2. If I failed Phase 2, I would be sent to the fleet as an STGSA, to the ASW Division. Once I finished Phase 2 training, I would be advanced to STGSN (E-3) (Sonar Technician, Guns, Seaman).Phase 1 is basic sonar operations, learning on generic sonar systems, and how sonar works.Phase 2 is advanced sonar operations, learning how to operate a specific sonar system. For surface ship sonar, those were SQS-23, SQQ-23 PAIR, SQS-26CX, SQS-53, or SQS-56. Each one was for a specific class of ships (frigates, destroyers or cruisers).I received training on the SQS-26CX, which was on all frigates (FF) (except Oliver Hazard Parry class) and California class nuclear-powered cruisers (CGN).While going through training, I was told about an advancement option. If I extended my enlistment contract to six years, I would be guaranteed a C-School billet (sometime in the next three years) and automatic advancement to Petty Officer Third Class (E-4), derisively known, in the fleet, as a “Pushbutton Third” because you didn’t earn it by taking the advancement test. In the fleet, STGSNs HATED pushbuttons, because it made their advancement nearly impossible (In the Navy, you are not advanced until somebody in your desired rate has advanced and left an empty slot. Most of the empty PO3 slots are filled by pushbuttons.)The available pushbutton slots are filled well in advance, but if somebody with that slot fails A-School, the slot is open. There’s a waiting list for the program, and if one doesn’t open up, you go to the fleet as planned, on your 4-year contract.I got my pushbutton slot halfway through Phase 2, signed the 2-year extension, and was advanced to STGSN. If I failed Phase 2, I would be sent to the fleet as an STGSN, as before, but STILL on a 6-year contract (It’s not the Navy’s fault if I failed).I graduated, was advanced to STG3 (E-4), and the “needs of the Navy” sent me to the fleet. I would get my C-School AFTER I completed my first sea tour.FTG (Fleet Training Group), San Diego, CAReported on the Fourth of July 1976.Four weeks of required pre-reporting fleet training, 2-weeks of Damage Control training, and 2-weeks of Fire Fighting School.My first duty station, a Knox class frigate, was USS Lockwood (FF-1064), 3rd Division (Part of Weapons Department. 1st Division was Deck, 2nd Division was Guns and AAW Missiles. 3rd Division was Sonar, Torpedoes, and ASROC ASW Missiles). She was home-ported in Yokosuka Japan, part of DESRON 15 (four Knox class frigates and two destroyers), a member of the 7th Fleet. The rest of the ships were an aircraft carrier, USS Midway (CV-41), which carried F-4 Phantoms, A-7 Corsairs and miscellaneous aircraft, and two cruisers, USS Oklahoma City (CG-5) and USS Worden (CG-18). Oklahoma City was the 7th Fleet Flagship.It took a few weeks to get there. I spent one week at Naval Station Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA, waiting for a flight to Japan.Once in Japan, I spent six weeks in transient quarters, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, waiting for the ship to return from sea.The first two weeks, we attended a mandatory inter-cultural training course, to keep us from screwing-up with the Japanese. We were forbidden from going off base until we graduated. They enforced it by taking our Military ID cards. No ID, you can’t go off base. They checked everybody at the Main Gate (Not just for ID. They also have to approve of your civilian attire at the gate. Example: If your pants have belt loops, they need to be filled with a belt.)The last two days of the class was a practical test. We were divided into groups of four (my group was led by a female Lieutenant). We were given a list of places to go (in Tokyo), things to do, and what proof was acceptable to make sure we did everything (train tickets, Polaroid pictures, etc..). One of ours was to go to the University of Tokyo, find some students, and complete a list of questions. We found a group, and asked them what they were studying.NOTE!!! This is NOT a racist account! It’s what actually happened!“What are you studying?”“Raw.”“What?”“Raw.”“We don’t understand.”“I study to be rawyer.”“??? Oh! Lawyer!”“Hai! Rawyer!”(Native Japanese have a difficult time with the English “L” sound. Japanese has no equivalent.)We passed, and then just waited for our ship.One night, after midnight, they rousted everybody going to Lockwood, “Pack your sea bags and wait for a van.” The van took us to the Tugboat Pier. The tugboat took us for an hour-long ride through Sagami-wan (Sagami Bay), going in circles, waiting. Lockwood finally showed up, doing about 15 knots. She made a beautiful (to an inexperienced sailor) Williamson Turn, scrubbing the speed down to about 5 knots, for the transfer.The transfer was done by Jacob’s Ladder, throwing the sea bag up to waiting hands and climbing about six feet.We arrived after breakfast, but the cooks kept two tables open for us and gave us a good breakfast.Side note. My recruiter was a friend and mentor (and boss for a few weeks while still in high school) before I enlisted. Seeing my huge appetite, he told me “I know you. The first place you’re going to go when you get to your first ship is the mess decks.” He was right! HAHAAfter reporting aboard, getting your berthing assignment (always stow your gear first), and getting all the paperwork finished, we were assigned to a temporary Indoctrination Division. We were given a list of things to do, and spent one day with each division on the ship, to see what everybody else in the crew does. This included all divisions, not just the ones in your own Department.Once assigned to my division they gave me several things.Assignment to a Work Center. There are several Work Centers in each Division. It’s the lowest administrative level, all designed around the 3M equipment maintenance system. 3rd Division had several. (SQS-26 sonar, SQS-35 sonar, SQR-17 sonar, MK 114 fire control system (those were all for Sonar Technicians), MK 46 torpedoes and MK 32 torpedo tubes (Torpedoman’s Mates), and ASROC missiles (Gunner’s Mates, Technical).Each Work Center had a Work Center Supervisor, either a PO2 (E-5) or PO3 (E-4). I was in the SQS-26 Work Center (WS01, I think. It’s been 40 years). My Work Center Supervisor was an STG2.Assignment of a particular piece of equipment to be responsible for maintaining. Mine was the WQC-2 Underwater Telephone. It had three units. The Equipment Unit was in a compartment (Sonar Switchgear Space) deep down in the bottom of the ship (three decks straight down a vertical tunnel, starting on Deck 2 (in other words on deck 5). The top of the tunnel had a “circle X-ray” hatch (which means you can pass through at any time, but have to shut and dog it after passing through — what a pain in the butt!), and an eductor at the bottom (for emptying the bilge). The Control Unit was in Sonar Main Control, on the 01 Level in the forward superstructure. The Remote Control Unit was on the Bridge, next to the Captain’s Chair (horror of horrors to a newbie! Working in front of the Captain!!! “What if I screw up?” Of course, the Captain wouldn’t know if you did or not).Assignment of an equipment space to clean. Of course, being junior man, I was assigned the Sonar Switchgear Space. This included emptying the drip-trays for the two compartment dehumidifiers, and doing “sweepers” every day.Besides being a place that’s hard to get to (I enjoyed it, myself. It helped me stay in good physical condition and kept me away from the more senior assholes, who were too lazy to go down the tunnel), many people didn’t like it, because the compartment was forward of the Collision Bulkhead. That’s the first bulkhead in the hull that is one piece, going down from the Main Deck (Deck 1). If the ship gets in a collision, the stuff forward of the Collision Bulkhead is supposed to crumple, including any sailor who just happens to be there at the time.Assignment of a watch section, watch station, battle station, abandon ship station, in-port watch-section, in-port watch station, etc.. At sea, my watch and battle stations were in Sonar Control, as a Sonar Operator. In-port, my watch-station was on the Quarterdeck, as the POOW (Petty Officer Of the Watch), the armed assistant to the in-port Officer Of the Deck. I was armed with a Colt 1911A1 .45 pistol.Given three PQS (Personal Qualifications Standards) cards: Ship Damage Control, Sonar Operator, and POOW. I couldn’t stand those watches, except “under training” until I was qualified. No stress there, of course. LOL.Given a “sea daddy,” the guy who is responsible to train me on everything I needed to know to function on a ship. Of course, they put me under the Division’s only STGSN, who hated me, instantly, because I was a pushbutton third. He was the first person I ever had a fist-fight with (HE attacked ME, because he was pissed at something he thought I had done (I didn’t, but “perception is reality”).So, I was an STG3 (a surface ship sonarman).At sea, I stood watch (four hours on, eight hours off) in sonar, and off watch, spent my normal workday maintaining whatever they told me to, and cleaning whatever they told me to.In port, when in in a “working” port, we were in four sections (restricted to the ship one day out of four), where I stood two four-hour watches on the Quarterdeck. In a “liberty” port, we were divided into five sections, where I stood THREE four-hour watches every day (to maximize everybody’s “liberty” time).In a “working” port (Yokosuka, Japan, Chinhai, South Korea, Subic Bay, Philippines), we had an eight-hour work day, M-F. In a “liberty” port (Taipei, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bunbury, Australia, Bandar Abbas, Iran), there was no “work day” and each person was responsible to accomplish scheduled maintenance work on a “liberty” day. The maintenance schedules were watched, daily, by the supervisors, and if Thursday rolled around and you had’t finished that week’s maintenance, your liberty was canceled until you did. The duty section did all of the “sweepers” during the day.For unmarried crew, the more senior men would often rent an apartment off-base in Yokosuka. Everybody else lived on the ship, 24/7/365.

As far as I know, there were at least two: Leopoldo O’Donnell, and Juan Negrín. The former was Prime Minister several times under the reign of Elizabeth II (1856, 1858–63, 1865–66). The latter was the last president of the II Republic (1937–1939), during the war time.There have been a number of ministers though, both before (either democratically elected, or appointed by the King), during, and after Franco times. The ones I’ve managed to find:Leopoldo O’Donnell: Army (1854, 1858–63, 1865–66), Foreign Office (1858), Navy (1858), Ultramar* (1863),Nicolás Estévanez Murphy: Army (1873)Fernando León y Castillo: Ultramar* (1881–83), Interior (1886–87).Juan Alvarado y del Saz: Navy (1906), Tax Office (1909–10), Justice (1916–17), and Foreign (1917)Leopoldo Matos y Massieu: Labor (1921–22), Public Works (1930), Interior (1930–31)José Franchy y Roca: Industry and Trade (1933)Rafael Guerra del Río: Public Works (1933–34)Antonio Lara Zárate: Tax Office (1933–34), Justice (1936), Public Works (1936)Andrés Orozco Batista: Industry and Trade (1934–35)Juan Negrín López (yup, he doubled as the President): Tax Office (1936–38), National Defense (1938–39)Camilo Méndez Tolosa: Army (1962–69)Luis Carlos Croissier: Industry and Energy (1986–88)Jerónimo Saavedra Acevedo: Public Administrations (1993–95), Education and Science (1995–96)Juan Fernando López Aguilar: Justice (2004–07)Jose Manuel Soria López: Industry, Tourism and Trade (2011–16)O’Donnell, Lara, Orozco, and Méndez were born in the island of Tenerife, everyone else in Gran Canaria. The list is quite skewed towards Gran Canaria, and this may be because most of them were in office after 1920. In the previous centuries, Tenerife was the clear political center of the Canaries, so I may be missing people here…*Ultramar: the Ministry of Ultramar (literally, “overseas”), was in charge of the colonial territories.