Navy Life as a Rescue Swimmer

The Tsunami

The Tsunami

            My first trip to the Indonesia was in 2005 when I was stationed on a hospital ship (USNS Mercy).  We went to the Malaysian Island to help thousands people because of the big the tsunami that struck in late 2004. It was my first time ever being in a third world country. I’ve never seen so many helpless people affected by a natural disaster. Everything was destroyed their homes, cars, food resources, and running water. Seeing everything that was affected by the tsunami was awful and horrendous. Young children, women, and men were roaming hopeless in hope to find family and friends that separated them by hits of waves 20 to 50 feet high. The US sent the Mercy and a few other ships to help the countries that were affected by the tsunami. We called these types of deployments “Humanitarian Relief” the US would stock each ship with medical supplies, water, food, and doctors. Whenever countries are struck by natural disasters like this they will ask other countries for help.

            Indonesia was the country most affected by the tsunami. When I first flew into the country it seemed like a big bowling ball just rolled through destroying everything in its path. It was so horrible to see the aftermath I couldn’t even imagine what these people were going through. To have lost everything possible it seemed like the country would have to start all over. If the country would have had the same technology we do in the US they could’ve been more prepared.

            When I first landed we handed out food, water, blankets, and clothing that that the Red Cross provided.  We brought doctors to help with the sick and injured. With high water levels still present some were living on high ridges and mountain tops with nothing but the things they grabbed or could put on their backs. By the end more than 150,000 were dead or missing (The Deadliest). Ever since being there and seeing what I saw, I count my blessings that I live in a country that has everything possible to help with major disasters. I feel so fortunate to call the United States of America my home. Not many countries are well structured like the US. I’m thankful for being raised in the US.

Work Cited

"The Deadliest Tsunami in History?" National Geographic News. National Geographic, 7 Jan. 2005. Web. 3 Mar. 2013.

My Family

My Family

            My family consists of two younger brothers; Kevin who is 20 years old, Jacob 7 years, my step-father Vince, and of course my beautiful mother Kelly. It was just Kevin, my mother, and I till about 2004 when my mother met the coolest guy ever, Vince aka “Vinnie”. My mother worked at the LA County Hospital, where they met. Vinnie is a LA City Firefighter and works at Station #86 as a firefighter and a paramedic.

            When Vince and my mother got married we moved in with him in Harbor City, CA. Vince new my mother came baggage, my brother and I. Even with children from a previous marriage Vince accepted all of us with open arms, treating us like we were his own. Showing us things my true father didn’t, fishing, camping, dirt biking, hiking, and traveling. After the divorce with my father my mother was sadden and depressed. I remember the first date she went with Vince, it was a nice restaurant in Palos Verdes, CA. When she came home after the date she had this glow like she was in love again. She told us all about him and how proud she was that she found love again.

            In 2005 she was pregnant with Jacob, soon after Jacob was born I joined the Navy and left home. I was away from friends and family for six years. I was stationed in Guam, a small island just east of Japan. After my contract was done I came back to the states and began my new life in Thousand Oaks. Vince and the family had moved to Thousand Oaks while I was away. Soon after I followed and found a good job at ALCOA as a quality engineer/inspector. 

            Kevin now 20 years old I try to mentor him to make sure he makes the right decisions. Also, I try to make up the time I lost while I was gone from Jacob. I volunteer for everything I can, camping with him for boy scouts to coaching his baseball little league. As for Vince and my mother I try to have dinner with them as much as I can. I try to precious my time I have with my family. You just don’t know how much you really miss your family until you spend six years away from home. I’m glad to come back home to see the family so happy. It feels good knowing I made my family so proud of the oldest for serving in the military. 

The Unwanted Call

Noriega, Aaron

ENG 101, Weds. 6pm

The Unwanted Call

            It was 2009 when I deployed on the USS Bonhomme Richard. On board there were about 3,000 Navy and Marine personnel to support the ship. Our mission that year was to help the Somalia Government with the piracy going on off the coast. Piracy is very big in Africa. African pirates would board a ship or vessel to steal everything on board or hold the ship for ransom. You might remember some events that happened a few years back when; Navy Seals had saved ships off the coast of Somalia.

            My unit was the only Navy aviation crew on board. We had two H-60 (Blackhawks) helicopters to maintain and do missions with the other Marine Aviation Units. The Marines had an arsenal of combat Cobras, Hueys, H-46 attack helicopters, and Harrier fighter jets.  We were on board to support flight operations especially when the Harriers were flying. We would fly around the ship waiting for anything to happen. I would be dressed out in full swimmer gear for immediate water entry. My job was to wait to get a call that no other aviator would want to hear, “Bird down, bird down” or “Man over board, man over board”.

            Nights after flight operations were complete and all aircrafts were safely on board and shut down; maintenance crew and flight deck operators would still roam a dark, rocky, and steel metal flight deck surrounded by hundreds of miles of dark open ocean. Minimal light was allowed on the flight deck, so that enemies wouldn’t be able to sneak and attack us by suicide bombing. All you would see around us on the flight deck were little tiny green or red flashlights that would help you do maintenance or work. On clear nights the moon and the stars would light the metal deck and reflect also off the warm blue water to help you see. Picture a metal-floored football field filled with jets, helicopters, cranes, and tow carts to move aircrafts around in pitch darkness; it’s a mess of obstacles of dangerous machinery!  One wrong move and you could trip off the edge of the flight deck and fall over board into the dark water with no land in sight. Hoping someone had seen you fall over; with a bright strobe light attached to your life vest you would activate it in hope of a watchman would see it going off. I couldn’t imagine what that person would be going through after falling 55 feet into the open ocean with water snakes and jellyfishes surrounding you.

            While at sea we had 24 hour watches on different points of the ship for security reasons, or in this case if somebody fell over board. About four months into the deployment I started to notice people were getting complacent and comfortable because of the same routine over and over. Guys were forgetting the simple stuff; leaving rags where they weren’t supposed to, finding tools in the engine and hydraulic bays waiting to cause an accident. People were getting so comfortable I would sometimes catch guys without a safety water vest on. And as a rescue swimmer it was my duty to make sure everybody was safe from anything that had to do with water dangers.  

            One hot evening in the middle of the Persian Gulf we were wrapping up our flight operations for the night. It seemed like an average normal night. Maintenance personnel were walking the flight deck as usual doing the same thing they’ve been doing for the past four months; changing oil filters and adding fuel to aircrafts. Until suddenly, a loud echoing voice goes over the intercoms of ship “Man overboard, man overboard right side!”  As soon as I heard the call go over the intercom my butt rushed from where I was at the time and got to our squadron helicopter.

            Fully dressed out in my swimmer gear, my crew and I brief the situation while starting the helicopter at the same time. All we knew at the time was that a watchman saw something fall over board that reassembled a person. We fired up the helicopter and took flight. 15 minutes had gone by searching the ships water trail. We saw only choppy waves and night fishes in the distant waters.

            When all of a sudden I noticed a bright yellow glow stick followed by a bright flashing white strobe light. I said “Survivor right side 200 yards.” The pilots quickly turned into the direction I called out and turned on his searchlight. The pilot responded with an eager voice “Roger, survivor in sight 12’ o clock, 100 yards.” My crewchief opens the side door and gets me ready to jump in the water. He looked me over to make sure I was good to go and ready to jump.

            The only thing racing through my mind before entering the water was the song by ACDC, “Thunderstruck”. I was so, amped and ready to go; I didn’t know what to expect. With my heart pounding through my chest and my palms sweating from adrenaline, all I could focus on was what was going on 15 feet below me and with my swimmer fins just hanging out the door. Searching and looking before I made my jump, I took a quick sweep to see what the survivor was doing. Trying to see through the choppy water and salt spray blowing around from helicopter hovering over the water. With me still at the door I was trying do a quick assessment of my surroundings. The survivor was conscious; waving and flailing his arms like a mad man. Trying to yell something over the helicopter noise and water splashes I couldn’t understand him. I knew it was clear to go, my crewchief gave me the final signal.

            I jumped into the warm, blue, and muggy water swimming as fast as I possibly could to the survivor. As soon as I got to the frighten guy in blue, my body turned into an automatic tuned trained robot. My special training that I learned quickly turned on and I did my quick checks and signaled to the chopper for pick up. Filled with adrenaline I knew I did it, the wire dropped and hit the water; I quickly hooked up and gave a big thumb up to bring us up.

            A few feet from the side door my crewchief grabbed the wire and swung us inside the helicopter and slammed the door shut. That’s when I knew it was all over. We did everything by the book just like we practiced and practiced over and over it was picture perfect.

            We quickly flew back to the ship and landed feeling proud of the job we knew that saved a life of a fellow sailor. In a quick minute while we were landing on deck. John the survivor, had softly said, “Thank you, whoever you are, thank you.” I responded with my chest up high, “It’s my job!”

            When we landed we were greeted by what looked to be like the entire ships crew. Clapping and shouts of chants of “Yeahs!” and “Woo Hoos!” Nothing made me feel so proud of myself.

            The following morning an award ceremony was held for our helicopter crew for a job well done. I was awarded the Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medal and the Navy Flying Cross. The award that I am most proud of was the Navy Flying Medal, the Navy’s 8^th highest decoration. I can’t began to tell you how many times eyes would always have to take a second glance to actually see that medal on my chest. It’s a very high honor and very rare award to receive while serving in the Armed Services. Till this day I’ll never forget that day that I got that unwanted call. 

Aerospace Engineer

Aaron Noriega

ENG.101, Weds. 6pm

Aerospace Engineer

            I chose aerospace engineering for my career path because of my seven years of aerospace training from the military. Combined I have over 3,000 hours of training on flying, maintenance of aircraft, aerial gunnery, missile defense, combat rescues, and air support. With this knowledge and background I feel that I have the general idea and skills to accomplish my education goals.

            The job description starts with a detailed time lined of events starting from our ancestors looking at birds in the sky pondering how they’d one day soar through the open skies. They would attempt to strap wings made of whatever was around them. It wasn’t till the 18^th century when humans started floating with balloons. Till finally two men finally took flight in 1930 with the first airplane.

            From commercial airliners to astronauts, everyday engineers study and invent new ideas for people to travel faster and cheaper or put mission plans together to send more things into space. You must have a vast knowledge of aeronautics and astronautics to move up the chain of command. Much work is needed to develop something new for the world to use or do something new everyday. Testing and development is the key to all of the engineering we do. Without it we would probably fall out of sky being test dummies for flights on airplanes or rocket ships.

            Salary can vary on position held, education level, and experience. Ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 or more a year. Companies that an engineer could be considered for employment would be Boeing, Lockheed, and NASA. Advancement can depend on the person’s ambition and interest to develop and invent new ideas for the company. Companies are looking for improvements of an existing product, energy efficiency, or creating a new patent for airplanes or spaceships. Starting from a little a grunt working on engines trying to figure out why oil keeps leaking from it to a CEO running a multi-billion dollar company, it’s really all up to you.

From the Ferguson’s Career Guidance data base it states:

Aerospace Engineers who offer their services directly to the public or perform work that affects the life, health, or property of the public must be licensed as professional engineers (P.E.). Every state and territory, as well as Washington, D.C., has its own licensing requirements. For specific information, contact the board of engineering examiners for the area where you wish to practice. (McDavid, Richard A., and Susan Ecahore-McDavid)

            As an entry-level applicant you would need a bachelor’s degree in of course, aerospace engineering, but through this recession I’m sure prior experience is a must or a master’s or greater would be expected. That being, said I have a great adventure that lies ahead of me.

“McDavid, Richard A., and Susan Ecahore-McDavid.”

Texting and Driving

Texting and Driving

            I do have to say that I text everyday on my phone while driving everywhere. There’s not a moment when I don’t have my cell phone with me. It’s a new age and generation when it comes to communication with others around the world. Everywhere I look and everywhere I go I see somebody texting or doing something on their cell phones. I’ve seen kids leaving from school crossing the street while texting or doing with their phones. Cell phones have become a menace to society. Laws have been passed for driving; banning the use of a cell phone while driving. I remember reading an article about texting and it said, “That there are about 6,000 deaths and a half a million injuries caused by distracted drivers every year.”

            What’s next, cell phones implanted in your head? It would probably make things a little safer on the roads. This would probably stop a person from holding a phone in one hand and the other on steering wheel, while trying to stay in one lane and looking ahead for stopped cars.

            New cars are being made where phone are connected via Bluetooth implementing everything to be displayed on face plate of their radio. I still think that it’s a distraction from you keeping your eyes on the road. What will cell phone companies and car makers come up with next?

Reality TV

Reality Television

You have to watch “Duck Dynasty”. It’s one of the funniest reality TV shows. It’s about the lives of the Robertson family on the A&E channel.  Now, if reality TV shows are real, my personal opinion about reality TV is that they’re over paid actors still improving. It’s “Hollywood”! C’mon, Hollywood made a film based on my job in the Navy and it what was nothing like I did in my daily military life.

            Hollywood can be misleading in reality. You’ve got to be very fortunate to live off profits of a multi-million dollar company that they own, manufacturing duck callers. I mean, this big redneck family own this business and live somewhere in the South and are millionaires. They do all kinds of things on the show, from making hand made duck callers themselves to blowing up duck hunting hideouts made out of mobile homes in trees. Now, if this is real or not? I don’t know.

            Times are changing fast and kid’s minds are like sponges. They absorb everything. So, it’s very hard to filter what’s real and what’s not to them. I try really hard to bite my tongue in front of friends and family when I am at their house and they put on a reality show, because the things they show it boggles’ my mind. For instant, “Jersey Shores”. Have you watched that show? That show is nuts. But, who knows if it’s really real. I mean, I know that these people get picked some how and they get placed in a house, party, and drink all day. I think by M.T.V. showing this show hurts society because it makes people think it’s ok to party like animals and get arrested on TV.

            Screenwriters are running out of ideas but, there is reality shows that do show good meaning. For instance “Intervention”, it’s about people with addictions. Like drugs, eating disorders, gambling, alcohol. But, the family gets together without the addict to know so, they can do an intervention and help them and send them to a rehabilitation center.  So, my conclusion on reality shows is that there’s some good and some bad shows. But, the question I have is, are they all real?