Trina Letter - Teamwork

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Hey, Navy:

By the time you get this, you’ll have been gone nearly a month. Wow! It doesn’t seem that long, but it’s probably been an eternity for you, especially in those moments when the RDCs have locked their laser sights on you. You know deep down that these guys are doing their jobs and trying to give you the tools you need to survive out on the Blue Water, but that probably doesn’t help when they’re in your face and you can smell what they had for breakfast.

We got your first letter yesterday and everybody was so glad to hear you’re doing well. Bummer about the sit-ups but I know you’ll bounce back, especially after seeing what you went through to get to Boot Camp (doesn’t that now seem forever ago?). Sorry that you’re having to do IT. Sounds like there may be a teamwork problem going on.

A former Navy recruit wrote this on EOpinion:

“The hardest part of boot camp overall was learning to work as a team. If Honor, Courage, and Commitment are the three Navy Core Values, then Teamwork is the invisible fourth. You have to rely on your shipmates every move because you and everyone else suffer the direct consequences when someone messes up. When you’re completely independent, as I was, you’ll find that this is the most difficult task to overcome. I knew how to work as a team and all, but the part about getting punished for someone else’s actions didn’t settle too well with me, but looking back, I can see the reasoning. You have to look out for each other and make sure that everyone is doing their job properly because one mistake in the fleet could threaten several lives. For instance, if the watch on ship falls asleep and a foreign destroyer comes along, everyone on the ship would be blown up. Even if you were doing your job properly, you’ll still be killed. That’s why you have to make everyone is doing what they’re supposed to be.”

As for Moore updates: YM is finally moving out of Kinkead in the Spring. Lara’s surviving WNCC and is talking about getting a job. Danielle went to the Navy recruiter about going into ET (YM was SO happy about that, right after you left) plus she’s still getting queries about her books. As for me, I did a 22-mile bike ride on Friday (11/11). It drives YM nuts.

All my love,
Air Force