we didnt do that down in the hole. it is good to see them having a good time while on deployment. but it makes me glad i left after 12 years. definately NEW navy

 

I had the pleasure(?) of serving on teh USCGC Durable when teh first female was assigned to a ship in teh USCG. Ens. Beverly DeAngeles.
SHe was a punk-rocker out of New York.... showed up at muster prior to gettting underway one morning and forgot to take off her makeup.......lightningbolts painted from her eyes to her chin and long feather earrings...... Cpt was NOT impressed, but we all got a laugh! She wasnt allowed on boarding parties, or boat crew duty..... nice gal, but no tmuch of a leader...

 

Did you mean, "a few minutes".

 

I have to re-certify every year for rescue diver (think commercial diving) and was at a swift water training in Rochester, NY with a gal from the Coasties.
I had asked her about the truth versus fiction of that Hollywood movie "The Guardian", she said typical Hollywood bull. What does 'boat crew duty' consist of, basically?

 

Well, my experience is a few years ago, and the Gaurd has grown a little since
"back in teh day" , rescue swimmers were the lowest on teh food chain.. its what the new boots got assigned to , 'cause it took no real skill and kept them out of the way.( yep, did my stint at it when first got out of basic) There was no "training school" for it nor was it a MOS....what I have seen of the movie looked ridiculous to me...
boat crew duty was " ready boat"... Boarding or Man-Over-Board alarm goes off, you have to have the boat manned, lowered from teh rail and underway in less than 3 minutes. Choas when your first learning it, but a heck of alot of fun! I was Coxswain, which meant I ran the boat, I was Capt. the minute the lines were cast off the ship. Lots of fun memories of the things we did in those small boats...chases, boardings,etc..........

 

I thought the USCG was the most professional dudes!! I have gotten boarded three times: international waters, diving, and once when I was laughing so hard rowing the dinghy out to the boat, someone thought we must be drunk. scared BROWN if ya know what i mean! homeland security woo hoo! lucky I have all my paperwork organized and in plain site- I did not want to make any sudden moves!!! and their fast boats held my heavy cruiser in a nine knot current. coming up from diving to look at the new versions of the M16 was not a site I want to repeat. sharks and barracudas got nothing on the CG. treated very professionally and they were confident NOT arrogant, I am sure you know what i mean. very impressed afterwards.
We volunteered our river location for any medical emergency landings because of them. we are the only direct access for boaters needing medical help, 20 miles each way to a hospital. normal marine rules for any distress calls too. River people will call but US and Canadian CG can only do so much.
They loaned us 2 EPIRBs for the rescue calls, and I have a radio authorization ID number for transmitting from my boat with the Canadian CG about three clicks down river (North). All dealings with them were responsible, competent and a good dose of humor. They let me strap in for a roll on the 40 footers.
what else could I do? I made them Buffalo beef on weck sandwiches and German coleslaw......I am a gal after all. Hats off to you Chris! lot to be Proud of..

 

P.A.D.I. Divemaster, Recovery Diver, Cavern / Cave rescue Certified and used to work for a company that did barge inspections as a tender... that was all back in the 80's tho, havent doen any of it in years..
One of the fun things I have gotten to do in my life was helping map out Bonne Terre Mines when the company i worked for bought it and opened it as a dive resort...

 

The females cause a problem if you aren't careful!!! We had a good movie or two circulating on 24 MEU. Starred some good Navy chicks! I worked for MAA for a month or two, and I was always catching someone out on the catwalk after dark getting down with it.

 

Yep, we do search /rescue/recovery and entanglement, wreck clearance and some archeology site work (boooorrrrring). started maybe the same way you did- toss gear in pool, jump in when it settles at 12 foot and put it all on.
not used to all this cuddle and hand holding now, but luckily I voluteer so I can leave when it gets irritating....

Bonne Terre must have been both creepy and a blast (no pun intended)!!
cannot imagine that place after being in a salt mine here or silver mine out West......yeah, caving is psychological and gear first!! I did the easy ones too (Florida devil's system).....I would rather do the rotation of diver, tender, emt, equipment tech, dive officer. I like it when I can see everyone is on the same page. National Geographic and NOAA will take volunteers but the physical is pretty strict. I would fail 'cause I had a head injury.
Again, Hats off to ya! can't pick on ya too much now cause i sorta got respect along the way grumble grumble HEY! I'll just get GEICO to mess with ya.........!

 

That's this day and age, no common sense anymore. all or nothing from teh government too... oh well.

okay- very non navy here....what is MEU or MAA
I know what the last statement means
good to see ya posting!!

 

MEU--Marine Expeditionary Unit--we get assigned to a Navy strike force and go ride on a boat for a few months

MAA--Master At Arms--Navy Security/Police on the ship