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Really stupid questions about life as a SWO and anything else not aviation related [mod dog wuz hərə]

Max the Mad Russian said:
On Kashin-class, sailors from Aviation Dept who refueled Ka-27 right on helipad (no hangar on those ships), were living just below aft gunhouse and above main gearboxes. They freely spoke to each other near the helicopter with running engines. Being surprised by that fact, I've once went down to that bunkroom and was amazed even more - sitting on bunks, those youngsters were just gesturing. The gearboxes' noice at 25 knots was absolutely deafening, as if you have to sleep just on Marshall stage amplifier during the Motorhead or Slayer gig (Metallica is more melodic, in my opinion). But the guys had somehow used to it and slept with pleasure. Youth...
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Reminds me of the rats nests of wipers rags and old coveralls I would find tucked behind machinery in the auxiliary machinery spaces on the FFG. Every now and then, I'd catch the snipes sound asleep in the pile with blissful looks on their faces. I really did hate to wake them up. . .
 
Well, what USN thinks about the ship's cats? Are there any regulation for those animals? Nothing in particular in Russian Navy except the rule that when the cat is adopted as the "youngest crewmember", this fact has to be written in the bridge watch log, with given name mentioned. After all, the routine cat's name in Russia is Vasily or just Vas'ka (Vasily is the Slavic pronuncation of the common name Basil), when the large cruiser is in commission for decades, and ship's cats are inheriting each other, there would be Vasily I, Vasily II, III, IV, Vasily The Great One, then VI and so on. Just like emperors;-)
Oh, BTW, it would seem to be another rule: cat has to wear the cooper wire as a collar - it seems that with help of this the animals are going better in the harsh electromagnetic environment of the ship.
 
Max the Mad Russian said:
Well, what USN thinks about the ship's cats? Are there any regulation for those animals? Nothing in particular in Russian Navy except the rule that when the cat is adopted as the "youngest crewmember", this fact has to be written in the bridge watch log, with given name mentioned. After all, the routine cat's name in Russia is Vasily or just Vas'ka (Vasily is the Slavic pronuncation of the common name Basil), when the large cruiser is in commission for decades, and ship's cats are inheriting each other, there would be Vasily I, Vasily II, III, IV, Vasily The Great One, then VI and so on. Just like emperors;-)
Oh, BTW, it would seem to be another rule: cat has to wear the cooper wire as a collar - it seems that with help of this the animals are going better in the harsh electromagnetic environment of the ship.
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Current official regulations prevent the carrying of animals or livestock aboard ships except as cargo during contingency operations. That being said, there have been crews who break the rules. In my most recent memory, a cruiser had a homeport shift from Hawaii to San Diego and the Chiefs' Mess brought their goat with them. Unfortunately, the California Department of Agriculture found out and did some investigation of how a goat was brought into CA without the necessary paperwork (CA has very strict agricultural laws preventing introduction of invasive and non-native species) and ended up fining the chiefs and seizing the goat. When Big Navy found out about the ordeal, everyone got fired. It even made the news.
 
AllAmerican75 said:
CA has very strict agricultural laws preventing introduction of invasive and non-native species
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Presumably due to the vineyards sensitivity to the subjects. Interestingly, the Italian vineries look at the problem oppositely - any new creature that may change the soil would be invited. There's very poor soil in Northern Italy after centuries of vine manufacturing...
 
Max the Mad Russian said:
Presumably due to the vineyards sensitivity to the subjects. Interestingly, the Italian vineries look at the problem oppositely - any new creature that may change the soil would be invited. There's very poor soil in Northern Italy after centuries of vine manufacturing...
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There's quite a few animal and plant-based bugs, diseases and other fun stuff we don't have in the US that exist in other parts of the world that we try to keep out, ask any experienced Customs officer, and since California produces a very large percentage of the food for the US I am not surprised they are really strict.
 
It makes sense, no doubts. What is terrifying is nowadays Chinese pracrtise to reject wooden packages delivered by aircargo services with no "proper" fumigation. Chinese. People who carefully distributed this damn covid all around the world.
 
AllAmerican75 said:
Current official regulations prevent the carrying of animals or livestock aboard ships except as cargo during contingency operations. That being said, there have been crews who break the rules. In my most recent memory, a cruiser had a homeport shift from Hawaii to San Diego and the Chiefs' Mess brought their goat with them. Unfortunately, the California Department of Agriculture found out and did some investigation of how a goat was brought into CA without the necessary paperwork (CA has very strict agricultural laws preventing introduction of invasive and non-native species) and ended up fining the chiefs and seizing the goat. When Big Navy found out about the ordeal, everyone got fired. It even made the news.
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many many many years ago my Uncle was a CWO2 on the Coral Sea, he had a small fish tank on board, he had to have had that thing secured quite well.
 
exNavyOffRec said:
many many many years ago my Uncle was a CWO2 on the Coral Sea, he had a small fish tank on board, he had to have had that thing secured quite well.
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Plenty of stories of hidden fish tanks and what not but sadly the days of ships cats/dogs/goats/bears are gone.

Of course the reason ships had goats and cats were because they served a purpose back then as sources of fresh milk, potential emergency food, and mousers.
 
Hi all, would love to hear from some current or former SWOs that could provide some insight on how tough being a career SWO can be on your knees and/or joints. Haven’t found super clear answers while searching throughout the site, so just gonna post a question here.

Some context, I am a 26 y/o M who has been working with a recruiter to get my package submitted for the SWO boards. I’ve been looking into doing this for over a year now. I’m excited about this opportunity and would love to be one.

The problem is that I had a knee injury and surgery in college over four years ago (patellar dislocation - MPFL reconstruction surgery). While was able to recover and play sports after the surgery, I still get some occasional pain, stiffness, and crunchiness associated with it like going up and down stairs. I was cleared by the doctor at MEPS. I can still run a sub-9 minute 1.5 mile, play pickup basketball, softball, swim, and play other sports, referee lacrosse games, and can do a set of single 10-15 single leg squats to a bench. I would say I am more athletic than than the average person.

If I am to become a SWO, I do not want to have any knee issues jeopardize my team or my own safety or the mission of the ship as a whole. I understand that I won't be doing SEAL type of stuff as a SWO and the potential range of things I could be doing is very large, but I would love to know from some current or former SWOs, how physically demanding on the knees is the lifestyle? Or the joints as a whole? Would I be setting myself up for failure as a SWO? What was physically the hardest thing you had to do?

Staying in shape shouldn’t be an issue, I love to exercise in any capacity. My recruiter says I’ll be fine but I can’t really trust if he’s just trying to pump his numbers or actually thinks so.

Thanks in advance
 
j3ttywap33 said:
Hi all, would love to hear from some current or former SWOs that could provide some insight on how tough being a career SWO can be on your knees and/or joints. Haven’t found super clear answers while searching throughout the site, so just gonna post a question here.

Some context, I am a 26 y/o M who has been working with a recruiter to get my package submitted for the SWO boards. I’ve been looking into doing this for over a year now. I’m excited about this opportunity and would love to be one.

The problem is that I had a knee injury and surgery in college over four years ago (patellar dislocation - MPFL reconstruction surgery). While was able to recover and play sports after the surgery, I still get some occasional pain, stiffness, and crunchiness associated with it like going up and down stairs. I was cleared by the doctor at MEPS. I can still run a sub-9 minute 1.5 mile, play pickup basketball, softball, swim, and play other sports, referee lacrosse games, and can do a set of single 10-15 single leg squats to a bench. I would say I am more athletic than than the average person.

If I am to become a SWO, I do not want to have any knee issues jeopardize my team or my own safety or the mission of the ship as a whole. I understand that I won't be doing SEAL type of stuff as a SWO and the potential range of things I could be doing is very large, but I would love to know from some current or former SWOs, how physically demanding on the knees is the lifestyle? Or the joints as a whole? Would I be setting myself up for failure as a SWO? What was physically the hardest thing you had to do?

Staying in shape shouldn’t be an issue, I love to exercise in any capacity. My recruiter says I’ll be fine but I can’t really trust if he’s just trying to pump his numbers or actually thinks so.

Thanks in advance
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Not a SWO, but I spent 18 months as an enlisted sailor on an LHD, 3 months on a DDG as Air Boss, and another 24+ months deployed on a CVN.

You will climb a lot of "ladders", also know as steep stairs. I'd be more worried about coming down. I'm near 50, and my knees are fine. I did rupture an Achilles :D, but I think that was a combo of genetics, lifestyle, poor stretching, and maybe a dash of years spent in shitty Belleville boots.

My personal, non-doctor, recommendation would be to buy a set of lightweight, low-drop boots. That should help you actually used your lower leg muscles coming down ladders instead of stomping down.
 
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