Why I think Ike Bites Department: Rx Author: Justin Heim Era: 1975 Date: 08/30/05 I spent two years on a cruiser (USS Mississippi - HOTB--Home Of The Bone). I was cut to the "old" ways of sailing with no women. I reported to IKE and found that the air was different. It was a "kinder, gentler place" with tampons and maxi pads clogging the drains, et cetera, et cetera. New sailors were being brainwashed with lifer propaganda and bribes. It was so bad that I got reprimanded by the CHENG for proudly wearing a PAPER CLIP (People Against People Ever Re-enlisting, Civilian Life Is Preferred.) My dungarees that had 7 names lined out and were faded so badly that they looked like dress whites never saw the light of day again. Pissing in drain funnels in the engine room was frowned upon and there was talk of putting heads in the plant to accomodate the ladies. (I wonder if that ever happened?) I sure hope that the tomb is still alive. I did have a couple of good times though; good stuff like eating urinal cakes and having pubic hair tumbleweed races in berthing. IKE BITES!

ragged uniforms Department: Rx Author: Peter Era: 1982 Date: 08/30/05 Speaking of ragged uniforms - I think the only place on the ship the had non-skid on the ladders were the RAR and MMR. - So you could fairly easily tell someone in RX/ENG by the ragged pants hem where they would brush against the steps walking down the ladder. Some people (Stu Lang comes to mind) had the bottom of their pants so completly abraded at the bottom they looked like rags. So much so they looked like street people.

Ragged T-Shirts Department: Rx Author: Charlie Era: 1980 Date: 08/30/05 Remember how we could lose the blue shirts in the plant (except during ORSE, of course) as long as we had on a T-Shirt. We used to wear the holiest possible (no, not in a religious sense) for a little extra ventilation. All except Ian, who would show up with his damn military creased dungaree shirt and never sweat a drop. Of course, the khakis came out with guidelines on our T-Shirts after they saw too many ragged shirts.

Stu Lang Department: Rx Author: Charlie Era: 1980 Date: 08/30/05 Stu not only had the most ragged cuffs, he was generally a slob. He made Jim Squibb look like a GQ magazine model.

Ragged uniforms/lifers Department: Rx Author: Mike Era: 1989 Date: 08/30/05 It was Christmas Eve and my roommate and I had duty the day before. We had a work day and we were finally getting off the pig to go home. My roommate was wearing a pair of boots that started to pull apart in the front, and had put some tape on it to hold it together. We get to the brow and some lifer first class says, "Where do you guys think you're going?" "Uhm, home...it's Christmas Eve." "Not with those boots you're not." My roommate looks at him and says, "No, I'm not kidding. Go and change those shoes or you aren't going home." So, we had to go back down to berthing and find someone with the same size shoes that would lend them to us so we could go home ON CHRISTMAS EVE!!!! Gee, I wonder why more people didn't re-enlist?

Quarterdeck lifers Department: Engr Author: BT2 Dupler Era: 1998 Date: 08/31/05 One time on a Sunday afternoon, I had just come back from leave. I always wore a pair of camo pants when I drove long distances because they had like 20 pockets and were loose and comfortable(the older style). Well, I park the car after my 12 hour drive and walk down to the Quarterdeck. Here is the exchange that took place. ME-permission to come aboard. QW-Not in those pants you will not. ME-AH what? QW-Those pants are a uniform item. ME-FOR WHO not you or me. These were not issued to me I bought them. QW-You cannot mix civilian clothes with uniform items. ME-Look I just came back from leave these are my driving pants, so we have 2 choices. Either I come aboard and change into "good" pants or I take them off right here and walk across the brow in my underwear.(Then I looked at the security guy to see if he was pissed off yet or not. He was looking at the QW like he was a moron.) QW-Alright go ahead, but I will remember you. Why did the jackasses always have that watch?

Haircuts Department: Rx Author: Mike Era: 1990 Date: 08/31/05 Let's face it, nucs did not really practice "military bearing"...and didn't really give two shits about it. My roommate from Ike was a Va. Beach local. His father was a retired senior chief and worked for sublant. One day, my roommate and I were over at his parents' house. His father had an old Navy buddy over and we were all shooting the shit. After awhile, my roommate's dad says, "So what's going on with Ike these days?" The old Navy buddy says, "What are you talking about?" Roommates dad; "These guys are nucs on the Eisenhower." Old Navy buddy; "These guys are in the Navy??!!" Us: "Yeah -- we're stationed on Ike." The guy looks at us and says, "Your hair is a little long, isn't it, boys??" I guess it was time for haircuts.

Military Bearing Department: Rx Author: Charlie Era: 1983 Date: 08/31/05 Yeah, most Nukes were misplaced civilians on loan to the Navy. On our evals, the military bearing score was relative to being a Nuke, so even the worst slobs got at least 3.4. However, when I was TAD to Safety, the Aviation BM Chief got to do a set of evals on me. Everything was 3.8 to 4.0 except military bearing. I rated an unimpressive 3.0. This was the eval that was current when I went to see Capt Clexton on my destruction of government property charge, so I'm sure that went over like a turd in a punchbowl with him.

Department: Rx Author: peter Era: 1984 Date: 08/31/05 I think the (lack of) military bearing in Nukes should be put in context. Nukes were promoted a bit quicker than many others - plus we had all traded 6 years of our lives to start out as a 3rd class, so a Nuke E-6 may have only had 4-5 years in - and no intention ever of reenlisting. Contrast that to a conventional E-6 with 1 or 2 renlistments under his belt, a firm commitment to the Navy, and respect for authority. So in regards to "attitude" and military bearing we were more akin to conventional E-3/E-4s. And many of the E3's I saw on the ship were every bit as cavalier in their military bearing as we ever were. Also, as E-5/E-6's we were assigned all the crappy jobs normaly relegated to conventional E3's (eg. swabbing decks, painting, etc.) so our attitudes were molded accordingly. If I had spent my days drinking coffee and writing up work details for non-rates, I too, may have paid more attention to grooming standards and to my uniform. As it was, 12-16 hour days in 100 degree heat - mopping, chipping, and painting - made me inclined not to want to "play nice".

WANNA KNOW HOW IT WAS? IT SUCKED Department: Air Author: Betsy Era: 1998 Date: 09/01/05 THIS IS FOR RX (JUSTIN). I'M SO SICK MEN WITH YOUR KIND OF MENTALITY! I'M A FEMALE. I WAS AN ABH1 WHEN I GOT OUT. IT WAS STUPID MEN. WHEN I THREW MY WARFARE BOOK OVERBOARD I KNEW IT WAS TIME TO GET OUT! I WAS TIRED OF FIGHTING AND HAVING TO PROVE MYSELF. I FOUGHT BE AN ABH. I PASSED ALL THE HAZINGS! I WAS SICK OF IT'S A MAN'S JOB. WELL ASSHOLE YOU GOT ALOT OF LAZY ASS MEN THAT AREN'T WORTH A FUCK TOO!! YOU TELL ME WHATS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE. AIR DEPARTMENT, 500 POEPLE AND ONLY 50 WOMEN. YES WE HAD TO INDOCRINATE THEM ON PLUMBING BUT THEY DIDN'T PISS IN A CORNER OR SHIT IN THE SHOWERS AND THINK ITS FUNNY. THAT WAS GOING IN IN THE MEN'S BERTHING OR WIPE THEIR ASS WITH A JERSY AND FLUSH IT? I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO GO WORK AT CAMP DAVID TWICE IN MY CAREER, HAVE YOU? I TURNED IT DOWN. AM I A DYKE NO. I'M 5FT 2 AND 117LBS AND I HATE HAVING TO EARN RESPECT OF JERK LIKE YOU. IKE WAS FILTHLY AND WHEN YOU ASKED SOMEONE WHY IT'S LIKE THAT THEIR ANSWER WAS ITS 20 YEARS OLD! HOW STUPID IS THAT?