SSBN. ETV. Will not respond to questions about sensitive or classified subjects. My views are my own and I do not represent anyone.
Hi there!
Edit: since this has been asked several times:
SSBN stands for “submersible ship, ballistic missile, nuclear powered”. That is, the same overall type of ship as the Red October.
ETV stands for “Electronics Technican, Navigation”, because N was already taken by Nuclear Electronics Technicians. I work with everything from interior communications and announcing circuits to Electronics, shipwide atmospheric monitoring, navigational inertial gyroscopes, strategic nuclear missile navigation, and tank level indicators to basic underwater submarine navigation using the voyage management system and even helming the ship itself.
Worst consequence - got myself sent to Disciplinary Review Board with the Chiefs for talking about wanting to commit suicide during a depressive period. Minor consequence - scared the entire chain of command and the Control Room because I set the Fathometer (depth reader) wrong and called out a “red sounding” that we were in danger of hitting the bottom of the ocean.
After the major incident I went to mandatory counseling with the Fleet and Family Support Center. Other than that, I play videogames, read books, and call my family.
Do you play video games under the sea?
Yes! COD Zombies, Super Smash Bros, Mortal Kombat, and other games are always being played in either Crew’s Lounge or Crew’s Mess when there isn’t a meal going on. Of course, make sure you’ve finished all your maintenance and quals first, and make time to actually get some sleep before your next watch.