This proud Navy dad just got an email from my son who is nearing the completion of his first deployment (STS aboard USS Annapolis) saying he just passed his board in his quest for his Dolphins! My question is about his next statement - that he needed to cut the email short to go study for his "snapshot" that will occur in the next couple of days. Could someone please shed some light on what the "snapshot" is?
Thank you much!
- Terry
Replies
Congratulations to your son and you. My son is on his first deployment on the USS Missouri, into his second month. We did hear from him a few weeks ago while they were in a port. It is hard not hearing, but not as unnerving as when his brothers were in the sand and we heard nothing for months on end. As a dad who has been though a total of 3.5 years of a son or sons in the sand, and now have number 4 in boot camp I can say BE PROUD, BRAG, BOAST and be obnoxious if you want to. You have earned it. Bravo Zulu dad and Fair Winds to you Sailor.
Terry,
When I was an STS on the boats (71-75) a snapshot referred to a torpedo exercise. As a sonar man, your son will be a member of the fire control party (no, they do NOT put out fires!) and so will be integral to the success of any torpedo exercise.
Of course, the meaning could have changed as it's been 40 or so years since I was in!
Rob Jones
former STS2(SS)
Thanks so much for the reply, Rob, and for your service!
I just spent the last week with my son on leave following his 6-month deployment to the Middle East region. He said his "snapshot" was basically the last stage of fish quals where his officers grilled him on damage control techniques on every system on the sub. He donned the firefighting gear and officers put him through some pretty unnerving situations, yelling about fires, etc. and my son had to respond with the correct answers, identifying damage control equipment and procedures, while operating the equipment short of turning on the water valve to put out a fire. :-) He passed with flying colors on his first try!
Again, thank you for the reply!
Terry