The deckplates

Elvis (impersonator) re-enlists submarine sailor

By Sam Fellman on September 5, 2012 Navy, The deckplates

Sailors have chosen esteemed figures, from master chiefs and admirals to astronauts and pro football players, to reenlist them. That circle now includes an Elvis impersonator. Electronics Technician 1st Class (SS) George Melton, a 26-year-old and self-described Elvis fan, was enlisted Sept. 1 by an Elvis look-a-like at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, in what may be the fleet’s first re-enlistment by an Elvis impersonator. “I have always been a fan of Elvis,” said Melton, who serves on the attack submarine Missouri and is coming up on his seven-year mark, according to a Navy Newsstand story. “I have read a…

Sailors near bottom of 'best jobs' list

By Sam Fellman on April 12, 2012 Ratings, Survey, The deckplates

In their annual career survey, an online job bank ranked one of the nation’s toughest, proudest and most critical occupations as the third-worst job to have: sailor. In fact, the CareerCast.com survey didn’t appear to appear to distinguish between the services; the category was named “enlisted military soldier,” but the photo accompanying it features four models in Navy uniforms (BDUs, crackerjacks, flight suit and summer whites). Only lumberjack (first place) and dairy farmer (runner-up) edged out enlisted as the worst-of-the-worst. (To be sure, newspaper reporter was not far behind at fifth-worst.) The survey, aimed at those considering different careers, arrived at…

Gay sailors coming forward in wake of DADT

By Sam Fellman on September 20, 2011 Facebook, Life at Home, Navy, The deckplates

The law banning gays from serving openly ended Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. Now that it’s history, gay sailors are coming forward in ways ranging from showy to subtle. Others are simply blunt. One of them is Master-at-Arms Seaman Casie Jude, who’s posted in Italy. In a Facebook update on Tuesday she wrote, “Dear Navy: I’m gay. Duh.” One of her commenters replied, “I knew it!!!” Another sailor coming forward is Lt. Gary Ross. The 33-year-old surface warfare officer was married very early this morning at a small ceremony in Duxbury, Vt. to his partner of 11 years, Dan Swezy. It…

This will be your life, cont'd

By David Larter on November 5, 2010 Life at Sea, Navy, The deckplates, Video

To follow up on a discussion from earlier in the week about Navy recruiting commercials, it seemed necessary to illustrate the point with this week’s bored sailor video. Remember a few years ago when the Navy purchased the rights to Godsmack’s then-hit song Awake? Despite the jokes about the commercials, the heavy guitar riff soon became not identified with the band’s hit single but with Navy recruiting efforts. In other words, whoever pushed to purchase the rights to the song for the Navy’s commercials had pulled off a stroke of marketing genius. Godsmack’s star faded somewhat in the wake of…

Attention recruits: this will be your life

By David Larter on November 3, 2010 Life at Sea, Maintenance, The deckplates

Navy recruiting ads are something of a running joke in the fleet, especially among junior enlisted personnel. The commercials invariably show sailors performing the most exciting and extraordinary tasks they perform throughout the world every day. Often those commercials are backdropped by a soundtrack of either shredding guitar or Saving Private Ryan-esque rolling snare drums and blaring trumpets. But what the commercials don’t show are the rather mundane and monotonous tasks sailors perform on a day-to-day basis, even though those tasks are every bit as vital as oft-used video clips of SEALs hitting the beach or DDGs test-firing SM3s. They…

You really 'like' me (social media edition)

By Dave Brown on October 28, 2010 Facebook, Navy, Officers, The deckplates

Petty officers are likable folks. You name it, they’ve got it: Bravery, work ethic, patriotism — even lovely singing voices. Now there’s even a Facebook page to prove it. As of this writing, the group dedicated to “liking” petty officers has north of 14,000 “likers,” with the goal of hitting a cool million. As for the similarly goaled naval officer group? Only 999,993 to go!

Seven in Seven

By Lance Bacon on April 22, 2010 Aviation, Carriers, Congress, Environment, Foreign navies, Maritime operations, Military Sealift Command, Navy, NECC, ordnance, Recruiting, SEALs, Ships, Submarines, The deckplates, The greenside, The Middle East, The Pacific, Washington

The Navy nabbed a lot of headlines again this week. Leading the way is news that the Green Hornet on Thursday took to flight – the fighter jet, not the super hero. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet was powered by a 50/50 blend of biofuel and JP-5. That same day, a U.S. military jury cleared a Navy SEAL of failing to prevent the beating of an Iraqi prisoner suspected of masterminding a 2004 attack that killed four American security contractors. Two others will soon have their day in court. And on Wednesday, the Navy implemented its first change in 17 years to…

Happy birthday, chiefs!

By Lance Bacon on April 1, 2010 Chiefs, Historical, Navy, The deckplates

Master Chief Petty Officer Jeffrey Covington, command master chief of U.S. Fifth Fleet, kicks off the Southwest Asia Chief Petty Officer Association picnic. (Photo by MC2 Class Jason T. Poplin) Maybe he made you scrub the deck for no apparent reason. Maybe he has a permanent scowl on his face. But it’s the chief’s 117th birthday, so wish him well! Did you know that some of the first chiefs made only $70 per month? Or that there were more than 200 chief ratings after World War II? If you want to hone your goat locker knowledge, here is a good…

A day aboard Truman — the XO

By Lance Bacon on March 30, 2010 Aviation, Carriers, leadership, Life at Sea, Navy, Officers, Personnel, The deckplates

Scoop Deck blogger Lance M. Bacon just completed a 24-hour embark aboard the carrier Harry S Truman. This is the play-by-play. Truman’s XO knows it’s the sailors who make the difference, and he has some strong initiatives to take care of them, their families and their Navy. (Photo by Lance M. Bacon) 2030 Fresh out of the metal shop, we sat down for a one-on-one with the XO, Capt. John “Oscar” Meier. Most of our discussion will be used in a forthcoming story, so keep an eye on Navy Times. But Scoop Deck can tell you this: Meier is someone…

A day aboard Truman — Unsung Heroes

By Lance Bacon on March 30, 2010 Aviation, Carriers, leadership, Life at Sea, Maritime operations, Morale, Navy, Shore duty, The deckplates

Scoop Deck blogger Lance M. Bacon just completed a 24-hour embark aboard the carrier Harry S Truman. This is the play-by-play. 1800 Scoop Deck has laid down the challenge. We have a couple of open hours, and we want to spend them with some deck plate leaders, some sailors who are never in the spotlight and some petty officers who are making a big difference. MC1 (SW/AW) Denise Davis of the public affairs office answered that challenge well.

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