Tis the fourth night out and the seas are angry. The ship tosses to and fro, that is, for as much as 100,000 tons of processed steel moves when the seas push it around.
This is one of many trips into the night which I have made the last 12 months. Another chance to train and to prove our worth to the powers that be that we, are in fact, ready for whatever is thrown at us. To date, our only real enemy has been the weather, pounding rain and even snow down upon our decks yet the simulations of a hostile force are ever going on, and in such, we await the moment when it all will come to a head.
“Train like you fight; Fight like you train.”
These words echo in our minds as we repair damage from fake missiles, cardboard fires and plastic wounds. We are graded, sorted and ground up in the machine, coming out scarred and strong and ready to destroy that which opposes us.
We are the strength of our nation; the projection of force which can change a nation’s political policy by pulling up near their shores.
My job is to record the story of the ship and crew as it goes about its days. To partake in the mission, but more so, to record the day to day lives of those aboard so that the nation we call home will know our story.
The Children of our Country bleed for your freedom, and do so willingly.
For whatever reason we came, be it economics, education or patriotism, the Sailors who serve have each stepped up on their own accord and said, “Yes, I will dedicate X amount of years to serve my country.”
And serve we do.
We are each a part of a cog; cog which runs a massive machine; a machine which supports a floating airport. Each of our jobs, in some way, is here to support those few men and women who climb into the cockpit of their aircraft to be thrown off the ship and into the sky.
I have 367 days left before my obligation is complete, and yet, the story of the past 4 years is nothing compared to that which is to come.
I am ready.
