Dixon (AS 37) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 30 text:

On the way to the Indian Ocean an opportunity was presented to the crew to determine which division was the best. Tugs of war were organized and many people came out to participate and cheer on the crew. When the dust cleared, it was obvious that the hulking monsters of E Division had the most pull on DIXON. While some of the boxers were more skillful than others, each fought their hearts out and provided us a welcome break from the routine.

Page 32 text:

Training One of the continuing functions on DIXON is training. Everyone aboard must be trained and proficient not only in the specific areas of their rating, but also in ship-wide areas, such as General Damage Control and 3M. From the moment a new member of the crew steps aboard, training starts with Indoctrination Division or I Division. This one week course provides the new hand with an idea of how the ship operates, its mission, what is expected of him or her and the chance to meet and talk to many of the influential people on the ship, such as the Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, and others. When a sailor leaves I Division, the ship is no longer as mysterious and frightening as it was when he or she first reported aboard. Another facet of training provided while we were deployed was the chance to crack the books on PACE college courses or a high school completion program. Several PACE classes were held during the cruise with instructors from Chapman College and Central Texas College participating. Many of us gained some more formal education in both our jobs and our personal goals while we were gone.