Rochester (CA 124) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 29 text:

1 . I I 3 l I .V.,N.-...- ONE OF THE FIRST STOPS for the new man is the post office. He files a card to help the postal clerks deliver his mail to him. ,J 4 THE TRAINING OFFICER'S JOB is to fit each man into a division, using the Exec's needs-of-the ship list and the man's preference as his guides. SHORTLY AFTER REVEILLE THE FIRST MORNING IT'S SCRUB-DOWN B 0 0 T from the recruit training camp and scores recorded in the jackets, the inter- viewers got a rough idea of the direc- tion most of the men's interests would take. When each man was called in he was asked his preference. In about three fourths of the cases it was pos- sible to assign men where their personal preferences led them. When permanent assignments had been made, about two thirds of the new boots were in the gunnery department, learning the jobs of boatswain's mates, gunner's mates, and iire control tech- nicians. About one seventh were assigned to the operations department, where they began training to be radar- men, radiomen, telemen, signalmen, and electronics technicians. Approximately the same number went to the engineer- ing department, striking for the nine rates in the A, B, E, M, and R Divisions. The remainder were assigned to supply, navigation, administrative, and hospital divisions. From I Division to a permanent divi- sion is another big step. There were petty ofiicers to meet and a new divi- sion oflicer to know. They were assigned their cleaning stations, battle stations, watch stations. They began learning the trade they had been train- ed to work in. For men who went to deck divisions there was the first intro- duction to the holystone to remember. For men who went to engineering there was cleaning of iiresides to learn. Piece by piece and bit by bit they picked up the tools of their trade. Now they are old salts. Most of them mark their first anniversary in the Navy about the time the ROCHESTER pulls back in to Long Beach. It has been quite a year: from home to recruit camp to the ROCHESTER to the Far East and back to the States, and the first enlistment is only one fourth over. Some of them are seamen and firemen now, some will be competing for third class ratings in February. The group has already distinguished itself. Before the ship left the United States one new recruit was singled out by Rear Admiral Smoot, Commander of the Pacific Fleet Mine Force, for his outstanding appearance and military bearing. Admiral Smoot observed Donald Bosshardt, a hospitalman striker who had been aboard only a few months, while he was on the Long Beach Naval Shipyard grounds. Others have been singled out by heads of departments and the Captain at inspec- tions, by officers of the deck on watch, by their division ofiicers. New men at mast have been few and far between. This fall they will probably be loung- ing about on deck some evening when a new group of recruits reports aboard. Then for a fact they will be old vets, sea daddies with stories to tell, smiling wisely when the topic of conversation shifts to Keelung. Then the story of the boot will be finished.

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my--' ff TTC LOTS OF PEOPLE tell him many things. IN THE PERSONNEL OFFICE his record is WHAT, AGAIN? His sea-bag is The MAA helps him square away his gear. checked and he gets his new liberty card. given a check for completeness. to W. I I I I I A I I 1 I I . 4,'?f,.,flv!,,a I S ,V K aaa r 4 I g . s I I LECTURES BY OFFICERS consume a lot of his time during the Legal Ohicer, the Chaplain, the Training Oiiicer, the Chief the week of indoctrination. He listens to the First Lieutenant, Master-at-Arms, and many others tell him about the ship. is I s II I EM- . ! I ' -Q53 .. L. . WL-,'.g'V:.ft2 I I V, ' ra i I KV., -,a ' N- . 1 1 X 4 W-fl. I , f .ff E: ff V 3 A I QI ' I I , ' ' A T . L! ' 4 , 4. 5 I . A NEW DIVISION OFFICER, and a new job. His new petty olhcers now begin the i training that will make him a real part of the ROCHESTER's crew, doing one. of the jobs that keep the ship moving. Shortly after his permanent assignment is made, he reports to the Training Oliice, where he gets a Seaman's Manual and signs up for his first Navy correspondence course, In the course of his Naval career, if he takes advantage of his opportunities the boot can advance up the ladder to chief petty officer or olhcer level, II II it

Page 30 text:

...Q xr,..Tx - . -F l X 43' 4 I v . , 4 f X ffa X f X X 7X f X f X X w uWf:Zf X xwfw, I , I f ,vffyqr WIJCV H ff 044 f ,fi fi: ff f , ,ff , ' if f' , ,ffff,.,v,,yw. , ' , jvcXy,44!g7-f,77f f'. . I fl , I X, ,QM , W ft g fd QL, ' i if ' 2' V, 523. X f 'WWW Q -L ll ff B Now Set The Special Sea Detail i GETTI s l i r 1 4 i l 4 1 1 i I i i W, GETTING UNDERWAY involves such Completely unrelated tasks as setting up radio receivers, tuning transmitters and getting off the sailiii diary, which includes all of the last-minute changes in personnel aboard the ship.