 From the
beginning of time, man has traveled the seas. In the
early days, he drifted along with the winds and currents,
but with the passage of time he determined places he
wanted to go. Thus, Navigation was born. The early
navigator used landmarks along the shore, but eventually
progressed to using the positions of the sun, moon,
stars, and planets, enabling him to travel farther and away from shore. He developed
precision tools like the sextant for this purpose, along
with mathematical tables and formulas to interpret the
data. Modern Navigation, using Global Positioning System
satellites and radar makes the job much easier, but the
challenge remains for doing it the "old fashioned
way." When the skies are clear, you still find a
Quartermaster topside using a sextant to "shoot
stars." Successful navigation blends all available
methods, techniques, and experience. In this respect,
navigation is both art and science.
A Quartermaster is multi-talented; in addition to
navigating, his duties also include steering and ship
control, communications, meteorology, record keeping, and
supervision of personnel. Quartermasters work on the bridge, and as such occupy a position of prestige and responsibility. They are enlisted personnel who are intelligent and well qualified, as they give meaningful support in guiding the ship and the lives of 5000 sailors safely. A Quartermaster is most familiar with all of the ship's routines and functions, and is always among the first to notice any unusual occurrences. The Quartermaster owns the bridge, the ship's primary control station and the Captain's office while underway. It is the showplace of the ship, and is maintained impeccably by the finest Quartermasters in the United States Navy. The Quartermasters aboard the Independence take great pride in having safely navigated the ship to ports of call all over the globe, and in helping the ship carry out its mission. |
||
The Navigation Department on
board the USS Independence ensures that Freedom's
Flagship arrives at its destinations safely and on time.
The Navigation team is headed by Commander Mark Ackerman,
Navigator, and Lieutenant Gary Penton, Assistant
Navigator. Fifteen Quartermasters , led by QMC(SW) Norman
Graham, assist the "Gator" and Officers of the
Deck by determining the ship's position and recommending
courses and speeds to keep the ship on track, on
schedule, and in safe water. Flight operations complicate
matters because the ship's course and speed are
determined primarily by local wind conditions, and upon
completion of flight operations, the ship may be hundreds
of miles off the planned course. The Quartermaster then
makes recommendations to steer back towards the desired
track.
He is also intricately involved in every
detail of voyage planning. From correcting the charts and
determining the shortest and safest routes, to
ascertaining the viability of each proposed port of call,
the Quartermaster is called on by the Captain and the
Navigator for his expertise. Plans change frequently, so
the Quartermaster is also an improviser and often must
devise new plans on very short notice.