Anchors Aweigh

My progress on my way to join the worlds finest navy.

[futurenavy]

I love my new life and job in Colorado….. but I still wonder every day what life would have been like if I had ended up in the Navy :/

[futurenavy]

Today marks 2 years post-op

Wow. First off, sorry it took me so long to get back on here! The past year has been a whirlwind and so much has gone on.

Anywho! My knee has been amazing. Still gets sore and tired and it clicks and will always be numb BUT that was a given. I can, however, leg press 600+lbs, run a mile, bike, swim, hike, whatever I want. Crouching is still tough but I think I can get there someday.

As for the Navy... I’m afraid that that ship may have sailed. I turn 27 this fall, I’m going back to school, and I just think my only window of opportunity for that has closed. So while I am horribley sad to move on from that dream, maybe someday I’ll do something as meaningful as that.

[futurenavy]

Ran my fastest mile since the surgery

Nothing impressive but 13:50 is a hell of a lot faster than I thought I could do. Needless to say, my knee is exhausted now

[futurenavy]

I get my knee brace tomorrow!

That means I can finally get back to jogging and climbing more. And semi-more-heavy-duty stuff as compared to body-weight workouts.

[futurenavy]

6 months post op

I see my orthopedic surgeon tomorrow for my 6 month check up. He said we can fit me for a knee brace too and hopefully he lets be more active. I'm hoping I can get back to climbing. Fingers crossed!

[lex-for-lexington]

“USS Guam (CB-2). Halftone photo of the ship’s bow during main battery gunnery practice, 1944-45. Copied from the ship’s wartime cruise book, U.S.S. Guam: Her Story, 1944-1945. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.”

(NHHC: NH 90740)

[semperannoying]

Attack on Pearl Harbor

75th Commemoration Event of the Attack on Pearl Harbor6 Photos · Updated 21 hours agoThe 75th commemoration, co-hosted by the U.S. Military, the National Park Service and the State of Hawaii, provided veterans family members, service members and the community a chance to honor the sacrifices made by those who were present Dec. 7, 1941, as well as throughout the Pacific theater. Since the attacks, the U.S. and Japan have endured more than 70 years of continued peace, a cornerstone of security and prosperity in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. As a Pacific nation, the U.S. is committed to continue its responsibility of protecting the Pacific sea-lanes, advancing international ideals and relationships, well as delivering security, influence and responsiveness in the region.

[pbsthisdayinhistory]

December 7, 1941: Pearl Harbor Is Attacked 

On this day in 1941, the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was attacked by 350 Japanese aircraft. Twenty-one ships were sunk or badly damaged, including eight battleships. Almost 200 American planes were destroyed and another 150 damaged. 

Only a week earlier, on December 2, Hawaii had received a message from Washington that began, “This is a war warning.” By deciphering Japanese codes, the United States uncovered plans of a Pacific attack, but did not know the location or time. No one believed it would be Pearl Harbor. The attack at Pearl Harbor entered the consciousness of contemporary Americans more forcefully than any other single event.

In a clip from “The War,” late Senator Daniel Inouye recounts how he was preparing to go to church when three Japanese aircraft flew over his family’s house on their way to attack Pearl Harbor. 

[futurenavy]

Nervous? Maybe?

Guys I only have a few PT sessions left and then after that I'm on my own. Technically I can start more after the new year but I was planning on moving back to Michigan. What if I work my knee too much or don't know if I can do a certain activity? Haha when can I climb again??

[enrique262]

Testing the electromagnetic catapult of the new USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) american supercarrier. 

[futurenavy]

Moving along

Doctor last week said that I'm allowed to jog without my knee brace as long as I'm in a controlled environment, aka PT. I can also increase weight on hamstring curls and increase time on bike. This is when most people have setbacks though. They feel like their knee is getting back to where it used to be so they push it too hard and get hurt. So while I want to profess, I need to be careful not to push myself too hard. I much rather take my time and let my knee heal properly than risk getting hurt. Unfortunately I'm impatient. On a side note, another friend of mine was medically separated at RTC this past week.

[tpmmpt-1]

USS Washington (BB-56) 29 May 1941 shortly after commissioning 

[military1st]

A rainbow falls upon the guided-missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56) following an underway replenishment. 

U.S. Navy photo by Navy Counselor 1st Class Jorge Delgado.

[thisgirlsnavy]

Hi! I leave for basic in 5 days, is it as bad as they make it out to be? Especially being out of shape?

Exciting! As much as everyone loves to put the fear of basic in you, it’s not that bad. There are going to be moments that push you, but there are also going to be a lot more moments of waiting around for something to happen.

And being out of shape, that’s perfect, you want to make progress over boot camp, they LOVE that shit. I think it would be worse to be really in shape and only improving from like 40 push-ups to 45 over the course of 8 weeks. They’d much prefer you to do like 20 at the beginning and improve to 45.

It’ll be challenging, but just listen carefully to all directions, follow the directions, get yelled at whether or not you follow those directions (they love that shit too, oh well), and you’ll seriously be fine.

Let me know how it goes! Good luck! :)

[thisgirlsnavy]

So I leave for boot camp the day before thanksgiving and I was wondering what you could tell about naval deployments. What are they like? What sorts of places did you get to travel to and what are some things to keep busy while out at sea?

Ooo it’s coming up!! What can I tell ya about deployments. They’re exciting and a bit depressing all at the same time. You miss driving a car, new music, new movies, your favorite restaurants, all of that! However, it’s exciting. Because Port Calls are cool. They’re like a little taste test of the country, then you can get out of the Navy and move to Australia like I did. :)

The actual every day underway life can be monotonous: morning clean (or nap time if you’ve got a nice fan room), work day, qualifying whatever you need to (we had a bunch of watches we had to qualify as nukes, plus ESWS and EAWS if you’re so inclined, I was not inclined to the A one), eating 3 pretty dodgy meals or just living off chips and “cheese” dip from the ship’s store, because fuck chow lines. Afternoons/evenings (like you could tell in your berthing), were mostly to yourself, unless there was a GQ drill or something going wrong. I mostly watched a lot of movies and tv shows, though I did mix it up with some knitting, reading a bunch of books, and writing in a journal. Going to publish that someday (KIDDING it is SHIT).

I went to so many cool port calls over my 4 years on the Reagan! Fort Lauderdale (practice run), Rio, Valparaiso, Lima, Santa Barbara (another practice), Honolulu, Brisbane, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Dubai, Dubai, Hong Kong, Sasebo, Busan, and Honolulu a couple more times lol. It was super cool, so many awesome photos and good memories and Hot Australian Rugby Players. Since then I’ve gotten back to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Dubai, and they’re still very cool, though it’s a slightly different experience from visiting with 5000 of your drunkest friends. Both good in their own ways.

You’re going to have a blast, have fun!!

[futurenavy]

I jogged today!

For a WHOLE minute on the treadmill, in my knee brace, at 4mph. Which is almost too slow but it felt really good. I was pooped afterwards but jogging is a big step to increasing some cardio and eventually, someday, getting back into shape.

[futurenavy]

Navy and my birthday

I’m such a nerd. So I have the same birthday as the Navy, October 13. Last year I turned 24 and the Navy turned 240. I realize this is common sense but I’m easily entertained ha. The Navy turns 241 this year and I turn 25… 2 and 4+1=25. And so forth and so on. 26 and 242 (2 and 4+2=6).

I obviously need to do more stuff with my life hahaha