It means to me:
- I knew every member of my boat be it Nuke or Cook and everyone in between.
- I showered in 3 minutes and knew how to wipe it down afterwards.
- I could carry at least 5 cups of coffee to Control or MCC.
- Always brought a drink or a snack to a watch stander when getting a checkout. It wasn’t a bribe, it was a sign of respect.
- I know the value of a head break.
- Stood watch while married guys went home when we pulled into port.
- Traded smut magazines
- Talked about… Scratch that…. Dreamed about girls out loud.
- Went on liberty with the best bunch of friends.
- Went weeks without a message home.
- Was made to get serial numbers off waters slugs, and locate relative bearing grease.
- Sent guys to request to blow the DCA.
- Stood in awe of starry nights in the middle of a quiet ocean.
- Drilled until I could barely stay awake.
- Cleaned bilges.
And through the nicknames and ass grabbing and other excitement, I joined and was accepted into this brotherhood, earning my dolphins, having experienced Stress and possessing basic Submarining skills.
Not all of those skills are on a qual card. It’s about taking shit and getting along with people. It’s knowing who you are as what you’re made of.
There is no running away, no quitting when you don’t like it. You work and bust your ass! And you become a Submariner!