Reaching the Dolphins.

[bkilbour]

I am sorry that I haven't been able to get online for such a long time - I'm currently out on deployment right now, aboard the USS Ohio (SSGN 726). I was able to get a moment on a port call here in Pearl Harbor, and decided to check in.

When you check into your first submarine, you have to work hard to qualify - that is, know the ship and procedures so well that you earn something called your dolphins, a battle pin on all uniforms;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USN_-_Submarine_Officer_and_Enlisted.jpg

I started working yesterday to earn the silver pin, which is for the enlisted.
The problem about qualifying... it's hard. you work a lot already at the jobs they give you, and then you spend the rest of your day doing checkouts, lookups, writings, drawings of systems, etc. It ends up consuming your life on board, and the many in the crew look down on you intensely (second class citizenship, really) until you have qualified.

Please pray that I would continue to be able to make God #1, the center of my life, and please pray that He will help me! I'm going to be pulling quite a few all-nighters for a long while (hopefully I can get it done in six months or less, but I have ten to do it).

Thanks,
Blake

[Tsukuyomi]

I'll be praying Hang in there and keep at it ^O^

[FllMtl Novelist]

I'll pray too, Blake.

[Lynna]

I'll be praying ^_^

[bkilbour]

Thank you all for the prayers! I just got back, and thanks to the Lord's help, I made it through in one piece.
Being back is a really good feeling, and I had a good amount of progress on my quals that would not have happened without the Holy Spirit encouraging and comforting me the whole way.

Hooyah!