You Want Me To Do What...?

0430: "Reveille! Reveille! All hands heave out! UNREP gear will be issued at 0515."

A steady stream of sailors pour from the inside of the ship donned in lifejackets, hard hats, and chem lights (glow sticks). We are headed to man our stations as part of the underway replenishment (UNREP) detail. It's so windy topside, I'm getting blown off balance and the sea spray wets my face. Most of what I see are figures lit only chem lights, scurrying about the deck to prep for the upcoming event.

Underway replenishments are one of the most dangerous evolutions we perform.We have to get into what we call 'battle dress' in which watches, rings, and dangly things are to be removed, sleeves are rolled up, and pant legs tucked into our boots.

Off in the distance a glimpse of our supply ship can be seen. The ship will replenish our inventory of fuel, food, repair parts, mail, and other goods. Our helicopters can airlift pallets of supplies from ship to ship, but fuel lines must be brought over by other means; man power. (This is the part of being a sailor that the recruiter fails to mention...) Along with about 15 other sailors, I will be responsible for hoisting a fuel line from the supply ship to our ship. Practical and simple enough in theory, but in reality its a game of tug of war with Goliath.

The task is initiated when both ships give the ready sign. they aling themselves so they are traveling at the exact same speed, totally parallel from each other with noly about 300 ft between themselves. Doing so causeing a strong current in the water that seperates the two. The pilots and their team of navigators must be extremely vigil with constan corrections in their efforst to maintain positive control. In the pilot house they are unable to see what i can see...The water below looks violetn; like a river you may fo white water rafting in. Except here, if you fall in, you drop 30 ft firts, and then get sucked under a moving naval vessel props fully engaged. (ill just let you chew on that). The sight makes us that much more apprehensive about what we are about to do.

When the ships are in place, a shot line the size of twine, is shot from one ship to the other using a modified rifle. The line is collected and pulled in by the line handlers (thats me!). The mear repitition of hand over hand movement is enough to start a burn in your shoulders, let alone the progressive weight of the line as it gets larger and stronger.

The size of the line is finally sturdy enough to handle the bulky fuel lines. From the supply ship they hook their fuel line to their end of the rope and let the fun begin! The added weight and tension is enough to get all 15 of us huffing and puffing.

With rhythmic commands of  "heave! heave! heave!" comes an agonizingly short give to our rope. Again, we heave!, heave!, heave! and our muscles protest. Fatigue is the biggest challenge, until it begins to rain. It whips our faces and slicks the rope. Tap outs become necessary to hold our ground. For a split second we lose minimal ground, but with potentially catastophic consequence. The front line handler gets danerously close to going overboard. This brings on quick fierce commands that cut through the rain and a renowned sense of 'oh shit!' felt by all. We've regained our grip physically and mentally; our tired muscles and the rain forgotten. We heave simultaneously for what seems like ages and the memory of pained muscles return.

Finally, the command to "avast!" came. It is quickly followed by the command to snap and lock the fuel line in place. It seemed a daunting task, but our mental strength, more powerful that our physical after the threat of losing a  fellow sailor, rang true. With one last perfectly synchronized heave, the fuel line was locked in! Victorious hollers from below, where the fuel line is actually connected, gave heed that we were successful. Resounding sighs of releif and grunts of triumph flared throughout us line handlers.

I want to give a shout out to all my friends who were there that day! It was crazy stressufl and unnerving task, but we came together and got the job done. Hooya!

This was a particularly stressful UNREP. We will be doing these several more times throughout deployment. Prayer is much appreciated!

NavySpeak of the Day:
Unsat; short for unsatisfactory. Used informally like slang
"The lunch menu was so unsat today!"