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Re: OTM Training pays off!

We all became human calculators. People tell me all the time that I am amazing when it comes to numbers. Basic math is so simple because of our exposure and use but I have found that the average civilian has a tough time adding/subtracting/multiplying/dividing. Even phone numbers and zip codes are a simple thing to recall. Sometimes I find myself computing harmonics when shopping or buying gas.


PS. mentally counted to 60 by 7.5's...…….Thanks.

Re: OTM Training pays off!

1970, there were no OTMs. Walking the mats, we did it all. Somewhere along that time, the Navy’s budget got very tight, and we were using red pencils that were so short, you could barely hold them. We were robing stylus from auxiliary and verniers to maintain search areas, and had to resort to using paper clips at one point.

Re: OTM Training pays off!

Nick - I'm splitting hairs here, I know. But the ST (and some ETN/ETR) conversions to OT occurred on 01 Sep 70. No "A" or "M" branches at that point. But that raises a question. Does anyone recall WHO did the maintenance & repair. pre-1970? Logic says it would have been all those ETs, but the only ETs I recall were the cal lab guys. But the STG rating maintained it's own gear as well. So... a mix of both?

All those shortages you mention - man....that sounds rough! I don't remember anything like that. These days though, I'm glad to remember what day it is!

Re: OTM Training pays off!

Got to Coos in late ‘69, we had ETs and a Western Electric Rep. that did the heavy maintenance. We mostly did vacuuming and polished with Brasso wads. The only other maintenance I remember was getting our OPS officer’s neck tie off of a running stylus. Hard to live that one down. Besides the red pencils and stylus shortage, we ran low on gram paper, which allowed us to only cover certain areas. That day he learned where the “OFF” button was.

Re: OTM Training pays off!

LMAO at that one! Man, that's another memory, along with using the ID card to scrape up a "line of interest," and getting the new kid to "talk to the units at sea."

Re: OTM Training pays off!

Did maintenance OTs ever send the new guy to the supply hut for some relative bearing grease ?

Re: OTM Training pays off!

So, what did you win?

Re: OTM Training pays off!

I don't remember the shortages you mentioned, but when i was in Bermuda in '70-'71, there was a major manpower shortage for a while. It seems CNO Admiral Zumwalt wanted illegal drug users to leave the service, and many young men did so. I think a General Discharge under honorable conditions was offered to them. That led to three-section duty for a while, and sometimes a single reader had to read and keep up with stations Dog and Easy both. Morale was low. My supervisor Lloyd Carey was the guy who kept me from going AWOL, because i couldn't get personal leave approved to attend my sister's wedding. I don't know if i would have been allowed to get on the plane anyway.

Re: OTM Training pays off!

Lorren - My first Navfac was Cape Hatteras from 67 - 69 as an ET. Went to Turks from there still as an ET and in 1970 was sent to Key West to attend OT "A" school. This was in the fall and at the same time there was a lot of STs from the Navfac's taking the maintenance course. I think Rasmusson and Cassidy were in the maintenance course while the only ET I can remember in the class I was in was Wayne Renney We used to get together talking about some of the weird problems that would come up, bring them up the next day to find out why certain things would happen to try to stump the instructors until we were called in and told to concentrate of the lesson presented. We would learn the other stuff when on watch. I believe in the original list of OTs, there was about 52 ETs and the rest were STs. Or there abouts

Re: OTM Training pays off!

John, I was there October- November 1970 in the analysts course. I don’t remember there being a maintenance course at the same time. Were your classes behind the “Green Doors”? Do you remember a chief Trimble that was like the head instructor at the time?

Re: OTM Training pays off!

Nick -, I remember Trimble and also Solberg had just shown up that fall as an instructor. My class finished up in December and the maintenance class left shortly before that because I met up with Rasmusson in Arg in Jan. Must have just crossed paths

Re: OTM Training pays off!

John
Sorry, gave you the wrong year. I was in OTA school in September-mid November 1969. Went to Coos Head first NavFac then Guam and finished up at Midway where worked under Master Chief Trimble in PA for my last nine months in the Navy. Had a lot of fun in Key West and can’t remember the names of any of the instructors back then, but thought they were really great pounding things into our thick skulls. Night classes and many rounds of beer on the patio of the EM club helped me get through the school.

Re: OTM Training pays off!

You guys are probably talking about OTCM Jim Tribble. He was in Key West when I got there late 1969 and in 1978 he was the "judge" for my chief initiation at CVB. A unique character, for sure. He passed away in 1990, according to the memorial page.

Re: OTM Training pays off!

I stand corrected, it was OTCM Jim Tribble. great sense of humor once you got to know him,

Re: OTM Training pays off!

As stated by Nick - You are right Randy, it was Tribble. At this stage of the game, I am finding it harder to remember what day it is much less names from 50+ years ago. Some times I agree with others because I think they must be right and forget we are all getting older. One thing I forgot to put in my original post on this subject was of the original 900 and some OTs, one or more of the instructors knew every body on the list with the exception of a handful of the ETs who converted either by going through Key West or serving with the individuals at the various sites

Re: OTM Training pays off!

Frog, you ain't alone! :) I went to a bank today and the lady who took care of me was part of a small working group with Christine and me at our church.
The church has been closed for 2 months because of this virus and I didn't recognize the lady today. I would have been embarrassed but forgot how to be :) Back to Tribble...quite the initiation judge. He liked using a "smile wipe" with hot sauce on it. Maybe a thread needs to be started on initiations, with G rated sea stories?

Re: OTM Training pays off!

As one of the very few, probably only one actually, who graduated OTM C school training prior to completing OTA school I have to say I still use my OTM training routinely. Working for the Undersea Warfighting Development Center Detachment at COMSUBGRU-7 Yokosuka Japan the staff consistently asks me how I know all the beamforming and technical aspects of SONAR. And all I can tell them is that old Navy Training, and specifically OT training has never had an equal.

Re: OTM Training pays off!

Michael
BE ADVISED - This is a long, confused "senior ramble." You should do other, more important things than read this; mow the lawn; play with grandkids. Get a colonoscopy! You've been warned.

I suspect you're spot on with your claim. Your comment makes me think of the old "I before E" mnemonic. Something like: "'A' before 'M' unless you're named Lam..." Admittedly stretching both the rhyme and the analogy, but you get the idea.

The only IUSS types I know that might even come remotely close are:

1. Tom Uecker - if memory serves, he was a CT "M" school grad who converted to OTM about 1971. I don't know if he even went through OT M or A school; either one. But he was an analyst at heart.

2. Me - during my STG "A" in "67," there was a big sales pitch going to get guys to extend. For tacking on more two years, we could get A-2 phase tron training, a follow-on "C" school, and "presto 3rd class." When I learned about the Green Doors," I asked if I could extend for THAT training instead. They finally said yes. I went to about 16? weeks of A-2 training, and finished up with a 78 average. THEN I went behind the Green Doors for what was occasionally called "STO" training (I can't remember what the lofar NEC was - 0411? 0611?). Finally, I was off to lofarland. So I DID do electronics training before "STO." But it ain't the same as your claim.

Almost done, I swear.....

In Jan 71 I was back in KWEST for OT Maint school. The A-2 phase of Sonar training was a pre-req! I tried to decline it, told the powers-that-be I already HAD it...etc. no luck. I had to take or my contract would be void, etc....zzz.. So I did A-2 twice! Finished with about a 76 average. So but for "older Bud wiser." MY only real claim to USN training fame is that I attended STG A-2 phase twice!

The sad thing is.. I STILL haven't done my taxes! But I just spent an hour typing this up. At least I have my priorities straight! Best wishes and good health to you and yours.

Oops - almost forgot. You said "...the staff consistently asks me how I know..." That word "asks," in the present tense tells me that "things" are still going on. It's a nice thing to know.

Re: OTM Training pays off!

Thanks for reminding me to do my taxes, Loren. I had forgotten all about them.

Jerry

Re: OTM Training pays off!

Mike Lamczyk, nice to hear from you and I'm happy you're doing well. I always enjoyed working with you!

Re: OTM Training pays off!

Randy, it is so good to see your reply. Because of unbelievable people like you I have had the most remarkable and rewarding professional career. Thinking back to our golden years in IUSS (1970's & 1980's) I can genuinely say I was fortunate to have worked among Giants who were not just great technicians but great people. I barely know my co-workers now but I can vividly remember everyone from the OT community.

Re: OTM Training pays off!

Kind of you to say that, Mike. I'm not surprised you've done well for yourself, you always did. Sometimes I am still amazed when I think back to the dedication and commitment so many had, while making barely livable salaries. Our country got quite the bargain. :). Be blessed, my friend.

Re: OTM Training pays off!

Before the conversion to OT, ETN/ETR ratings did the maintenance and repairs on the radios, transmitters, antennas, and fix sonar system (including tape recorders).

Re: OTM Training pays off!

My expertise in computers and electronics just got better and better. It became my hobby as well. But what I did as an OTM was the best most diverse tech I was allowed to work on. When I get challenged there are so many examples to draw on.

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