A copy of an email sent to UVA ROTC 2005 grads giving a more indepth update:

Hey kids,
So I'm going to give you some pros and cons to help you each in your decision making process when comtemplating whether to fracture anankle prior to commissioning..AKA- what's up with me.

I'm in Va Bch now crashing with the parents until meeting my ship in the Persian Gulf on deployment at the end of July for a jaunt in the MED and Africa until DEC 2005ish. Spent a week in Boilwater & Feedwater Test & Treatment School (Engineering Class) atNOB with 3 other new Ensigns out of 25 students. The rest were people who were there getting their EOOW (Engineering Officer of theWatch) and Oil King Quals- meaning they had all been in 3+ years and already knew the material simply there to get the qualification on paper. Needless to say the class kicked all the Ensigns because we had to teach ourselves the basics before "familiarizing" ourselves with a 500pg Naval Manuel. Requirements were to pass 3 Exams and a Labwith an 85%, luckily we (Ensigns) all did. Definitely not an enjoyable time for me, not being an engineer, but really learned a lot for future EOOW and that was the first great looking piece of paper to gointo the service record.

My initial orders were to report to the ship after this class, but they were modified to send me to Commander Naval Surface ForcesAtlantic (COMNAVSURFLANT) so I can be on shore duty and get physical therapy on my ankle. Therapy is going well. Lots of opportunities hereat work- it's funny starting to work at the top of the Chain of Command(COMNAVSURFLANT) and then to the bottom (my ship). My Command answers not far from the CNO. So, being stationed here where there are literally no JOs(3 others?) in my department I basically have my salute plastered up. COMNAVSURFLANTis in charge of all the surface forces in the Atlantic so I get to seequite a bit of Classified info. They had no idea I was coming-- so Ibasically checked in for 4 days and went home. It's been hard gettingi n touch with my ship. We first thought I was going to be COMMO likeFred on San Jacinto, but I got an update from a personal contact onthe ship that I was going to be in Engineering M- Division, MainPropulsion. So, on the initial idea that I was going to be in COMM, Iwas stashed with the N6 Department here as the Assistant ForceCommunications Officer and will be going to talk and observe theEngineering Department. Most of the officers in my division are LDOs and extremely cool. I'm in an office with all Senior and MasterChiefs. Everyone has jumped to teach me stuff-- I think they enjoythe juvenile blood, it's really funny. Because I'm only here for aabout 60 days there isn't anything for me to do. Piece of advice-continue to take intiative. I had to line up everything to keep meoccupied and try to get ahead before I get to the ship. (Medical takesup lots of time- Dentist, Eye, blah, blah, I have to get like 10 shotsnext week for overseas crap!). I'm reviewing navigation & mo-boards,rules of the road (basically all NASC stuff), a Damage Control StudyGuide my ship sent, Divo Quals, and flipping through Bowditch. I'mlined up to take the Defense Foreign Language Proficiency Test(definitely look into doing this if you know a foreign lang, extra$$$$ monthly, talk to the intel Officer probably), get a rifle qualthis Friday with the 1 Marine stationed here!, and sit through a FAPBoard tomorrow (Minor military court type thing). I've been hittin uptons of various briefs with the big wigs and probably going to afuture planning conference for the Navy here shortly with the Ops DepHead. Massively cool stuff.Been missing out not being on the ship, I'll be the newbie for sure but with a good foundation coming from COMNAVSURFLANT. Missing taxfree pay, port calls.. .etc. It's been nice to be able to get my lifeorganized before deploying... but I don't recommend breaking anything,too much hassle. If you're in Va Bch before the end of July hit me upto go to the Beach or something. There is no one to hang out withsince I work with everyone my parents age so I've been really missinUVA and everyone. Anyway, hope everyone is doing well!!