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Originally Posted by LoBlo
Here's another question (I have a billion of them... becuase I live vicariously thru other people :p ... and I'm researching for the sub novel that I will one day write when I'm old enough to retire  )...
... since subs aren't deployed year-round... how much time off do sailors get between deployment?
For example, I've heard that USN SSBN have two entirely different crews... what does the 2nd crew do during six whole months of shore time?.... besides party? I'm thinking training of course, some paper shuffling problably... but other than that seems like there should be a lot of opprotunity to relax with the family and friend for the next 6 months. Am I right? |
It would be nice if it were that easy. SSBNs do have 2 crews(Gold crew and Blue crew0, so only one is deployed at sea at any given time. That just means that the off crew works out of a building when off patrol. They are busy training, preparing for the turnover loadout/refit, and also taking some leave if they can. Just like everyone else you just get 30 days of leave a year. They are fortunate to get to work pretty much 8-5 M-F on offcrew time with little watchstanding. But far from an R&R time. Closer to being like shore duty.
SSNs on the otherhand have only one crew and still spend 50%+ of their time actually at sea. Difference is when they are in port 1/3rd of the crew min needs to be on board at any given time. That is a sufficient number to set sail if required and maintain a safe/secure watch on the boat 24X7. Essentually that means 3 section duty. So once every 3 days you don't go home. You would typically have to stand 6-8 hours of duty watch on your duty day. Of course none of this precluded you from working the other weekdays you didn't stand duty, often beyond the 8-5 workday. So you could actually expect to get a Saturday AND a sunday off about once a month in port. Assuming you were not in some kind of workup or god forbid DINQ!
Not sure we have discussed quals much, but that is where the word Dinq is derived from. A derogatory shortening of delinquent. Meaning off the required pace for qualifications, earning your dolphins. Esentually anyone newly assigned to a sub must obtain a qualified in submarines status within 1 year. This can be extended slightly with the Captains permission, but that pretty much means you are a perm. DINQ and will probably still get some flak from the boys even after getting qualified.
A great breakdown can be found here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_Warfare_Insignia