Real-Life Communication
You've just signed up for the navy. You think you'd like to specialize
in naval electronics, and perhaps become a sonar technician. You don't know
much about it and want to learn more before you commit yourself.
You
attend a lecture with a sonar technician, who tells you all about the career.
Listen carefully, as this is one of the first communication skills you'll
need if you take on this career.
"Being able to concisely inform your
superior of what the problem is and what steps you're taking to repair it
will make it easier for him to do his job and for you to get the support you
need," says Brad Browne, a sonar technician.
Reading skills are needed
to follow thick instruction manuals. Writing skills are also important. "Writing
skills are essential for keeping track of the work that has been done, so
that other people don't duplicate the work you've already accomplished."
The
sonar technician clears his throat and tells you about his career. This is
what he says:
"My job overall consists of maintaining,
repairing and to a small extent operating sonar systems and navigation systems
on a warship. These systems include active sonar (the ones that ping and then
listen for a return ping from a submerged target) and passive sonar (which
only listen, picking up any noise in the water).
"Other navigation
systems include compasses for steering the ship, GPS systems for finding our
position, depth-finding sonars to make sure the ship won't run aground and
speed log systems, which measure the ship's speed through the water.
"These
systems are all tied together through computers so that the operators can
get as much information as possible. In effect, the ship has a miniature Internet
between the various computer systems' sensors. This intranet links the sonars,
the radars, the weapons, and the navigation systems together electronically.
Maintaining these links is another part of my job.
"On an average day
alongside (when the ship is in port), I show up at work between 0700 and 0730.
By 0800, we're off to work at various tasks. Every month, there are specific
tests and checks that have to be done to various pieces of equipment.
"We
have to check power supplies, air filters, power outlets and more. We have
an hour for lunch and then at 1300 it's back to work. At 1400, we go to the
cleaning stations. We're our own janitors on the ship, so every day we sweep,
mop and wipe up for an hour. At 1500, we put our cleaning gear away and lock
up for the day. When the ship is at sea, the days are considerably longer."
You
have many questions for the sonar technician. These are just a few that you
ask:
- What is the difference between active and passive sonar?
- What do speed log systems measure?
- What does "alongside" mean?
- Are a sonar technician's days usually longer in port or at sea?