The following is a guest post [annual re-posting from 2008)] from Ned Lundquist, a Navy veteran, who created the Job of the Week site and e-mail list, along with the DEFCON-1 list for defense industry positions. He sent the following out this morning to those of us on the DEFCON-1 list, and I thank him for allowing us to post this here. Linseed oil: Some things have an evocative smell. A few years ago, the executive officer of a frigate based at Pearl Harbor called my staff at the Naval Media Center. They had a Sailor aboard the ship who wanted to be a draftsman. The "undesignated seamen" or SN on a ship usually work in the deck force, chipping paint and handling lines. As they see what's professional opportunities are available on board, they can "strike" for a rating, like Radioman or Quartermaster. A "Striker Board" will convene and review the needs of the ship, and the desires of the individual. If the Sailor is squared away, has done a good job with the deck force and the ship needs a Quartermaster (QM), for example, he or she can strike for that rating, and becomes a QMSN. SN Michael Noeth wanted to be a Draftsman. The DM rating was and is one of the smallest ratings in the Navy. There are very few of them compared to GunnerÃs Mates or MachinistÃs Mate, and certainly none aboard a frigate. In this case, the executive officer wanted to do something good for his Sailor. In spite of the fact that the ship was about to deploy for six months, the XO called us and asked if his Sailor could come and work with us to learn the DM rating and be able to take the DM test for Third Class Petty Officer. If he passed, he could become a DM3. If not, he could return to the ship and eventually strike for another rating. For our part of the deal, we had to cover his travel expenses. So, SN Michael Noeth came to work for us. He was placed under the expert tutelage of our First Class Draftsman, DM1 Rhea Mackenzie. Seaman Noeth quickly made himself at home in a back corner of the All Hand magazine spaces. And it was here he set up his easels, canvasses and paints. When I would come by, which was often, I could smell the linseed oil he used for his brushes long before I reached his work area. He would have various canvasses and illustrations that he was working on posted around his desk, as well as examples of artwork he wanted to emulate. He learned his trade from an experience draftsman, created artistic content for the magazine, and became a well-like and contributing member of the command. At our Halloween party, he came in second place in our costume contest. He was a dead ringer "Alex" from Clockwork Orange, and was topped only by an even more convincing Cruella Deville from 101 Dalmatians. Whenever I got near his work area I would be greeted by the smell of his linseed oil, and I knew I would be in for some kind of surprise. Seaman Noeth painted the cover for several All Hands magazines. Top see him tackle these assignments was a joy, probably because he was enjoying his work, and appreciative of the opportunity. On my visits, I would see the many versions and sketches he was working on, and I could see it all come together with the finished product. He took the advancement exam and passed it. As his six-month temporary assignment came to an end, his command allowed him to transfer to my command on a permanent basis as they did not have any billets for a draftsman, and we did. Soon, he moved on to other Navy assignments as a Draftsman, all because his ship wanted to give him a chance to realize his dream, and my command wanted to help him get there. But most of all, because he deserved it. He did, indeed, become a talented Navy illustrator and draftsman. He was assigned to the Navy Command Center where he skillfully created briefings and presentations for Navy leadership. He was doing just that on September 11, 2001, when terrorists forced an airliner to crash into that building. I will remember a bright, ambitious, creative young striker whenever I smell linseed oil. (To see a list of the navy men and women lost in the September 11th attack, visit www.navy.mil.) LW
Read the complete post at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Blackfive/~3/vIjYDYgKuyA/linseed-oil.html
Posted
Sep 10 2012, 12:54 AM
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BLACKFIVE