by M. L. Maki
TLD: Thermal Luminescent Dosimetry. A radiation measuring device to monitor crew exposure. The nukes sometimes call it “the little dicky.”
VHF: Very High Frequency. A line of sight radio.
Vice Admiral: Naval Officer rank. VADM (O-9).
Wave off: Order to abort a landing and go around.
Wing Commander: Royal Air Force Officer rank. Equivalent to Lieutenant Commander or Major.
Yankee Search: Active sonar search.
YN: Naval Enlisted rate. Yeoman. Yeomen are the administrative grease that lubricates the functioning of the Navy machine. When an officer has a good yeoman, they guard him or her jealously. It is an unofficial sport to poach one’s yeoman. YNSA through YNMC.
XO: Executive officer. Second in charge of a vessel or unit. Actual rank varies based on the size of the unit. A patrol craft or air squadron XO could be a Lieutenant. On a super carrier the XO is generally a Captain.
X-Ray: Material condition X-Ray. Lowest level of watertight integrity. Only set during a workday in port.
Yoke: Material condition Yoke. Middle level of watertight integrity between X-ray (in port on workday) and Zebra (Battle Stations). At sea yoke is checked at least daily.
Zebra: Material condition Zebra. Highest level of watertight integrity.
THE AUTHORS
MM1 Maki is a retired US Navy nuclear field machinist mate with twenty years of active service, who served on the USS Carl Vinson, CVN-70, and two cruisers. During twelve years of duty at sea, MM1 Maki circumnavigated the earth once, transited the Panama Canal three times, served on the USS Carl Vinson during Enduring Freedom, and earned multiple campaign awards.
Sofia R. Maki has a background in criminal justice and accounting.
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The views presented are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the DoD.
