Standing watch

I haven't written much about work yet. Mostly because it hasn't been full of too much excitement. Quite honestly, after 12 hours of putting my nose in a litany of large manuals, the last thing I want to think or write about it is work. However, the feel of my work day is transitioning toward the active, hands-on, roles that I told everyone I would be getting into here in Saratoga Springs.

A few days ago, we completed enough checkouts that underscore an understanding of plant systems, radiation, and all around procedures that we can now start to observe actual watches in the power plant. If I haven't told you this, my work site has a running nuclear power plant and engine room just like in an actual submarine. The difference is, this one is on land. Inside, it's just like being on a sub.

I'm scheduled into the watch bill in different places in the engine room and as of today, I've observed 3 watches. Each one of them has been full of all kinds of great student training situations. We have casualty drills where we apply knowledge for handling potential problems out in the fleet. The nervousness is definitely rampant among students. The whole idea is to get us to feel some simulated stress, understand the reasons for plant responses and how to not break equipment.

In the coming weeks, my watches will be more frequent and it's going to be me performing the actions, not just observing. It will be as busy as ever as we still have tests, oral boards, and the all important Engineer Officer of the Watch shifts, the leadership role in the engine room for which all this training is about. More updates to come.

Here I am with the most full mustache I've ever had. Pathetic, but I do save on shaving gear. And yeah, it's gone now.