Friday, October 8, 2010

Friday, October 08, 2010

McMurdo Station, Antarctica

 

Somewhat busy week. I had Sunday off and was generally unproductive. I did laundry, though.

 

Took my first "9-1-1" call on Monday which ended up being a dud. The call came in from Scott Base and was just a lady asking if the flight to McMurdo landed. This was at 2pm. The flight had been put on a 24-hour delay at 9am. The best we could figure is that the person called Scott Base from New Zealand and they transferred the caller to us on the 9-1-1 line accidentally, instead of the non-emergency line. What we couldn't figure out is why Scott Base couldn't tell them that an Antarctic flight from their own country was cancelled.

 

On the plus side, I think everything (or most of it) is starting to sink in at work. Tomorrow will be my last day in training, and I'll be flying solo on Monday. Our 4th dispatcher's PQ status came in too late for the 15 October flight, so I'm going to be on days for about the next 3 weeks instead of 2. Then, I should transition to the swing shift and, ultimately, night shift.

 

I witnessed Condition One weather for my first time on Wednesday. It was never officially declared on station, but there was about an hour or so where we couldn't see the ARFF truck that was parked right outside the kitchen window. I can now officially say I've been to Antarctica. There was also a Happy Camper school that was trying to get picked up to come back in to town during it, too. They ended up sending a Delta and a van out to get them. I think it took the vehicles about an hour to get out there -- they were inching along and actually drove past the pick-up point. It was a cluster. But, the trucks finally got there, picked the folks up, and brought them back.

 

I also went to Scott Base last night for "American Night." They host it every Thursday and we're all invited to peruse their gift shop (I bought some postcards and a stuffed penguin which I have named Winston) and hang out in their bar. The bar was rather crowded, so I didn't stay very long.

 

I think I might try to find a group to hike Ob Hill this weekend. 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, October 3, 20`0

Sunday, October 03, 2010

McMurdo Station, Antarctica 

First day off. This week has been interesting. Dispatching here is substantially different fromwhat I'm used to. I'm more of a 4-1-1 operator than a 9-1-1. In fact, I haven't even taken a 9-1-1 call since I've been here. I've spent the week trying to learn all the information to do my job. Lots of stuff. Start working days tomorrow and I'll be on that shift for a couple weeks, then I'll probably be going to nights.

  

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Thursday, September 30, 2010

McMurdo Station, Antarctica 

Just a quick update before I hit the sack.

 

Officially started work yesterday. It's different than what I'm used to. We use an old Zetron radio console (VHF...no 800 trunk stuff here) and actual, honest to God, TELEPHONES. :)

 

Haven't taken any 9-1-1 calls in the past two days. Most of the calls are people looking for phone numbers (most of which can be found online) or getting locked out of rooms.

 

Anyhoo...next day off is Sunday and then I move to day shift (I'm currently on a 1500-2300 swing shift). I'm hoping to get some of my pics uploaded on Sunday. 

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

McMurdo Station, Antarctica 

I finally made it to McMurdo!

 

After the flight boomerranged on Saturday, it was delayed for 24 hours the next day. Spent the day wandering around Christchurch again. Went to the museums near Cathedral Square with a group.

 

The next day started off with a 3-hour delay which turned in to a 24-hour delay as soon as we were getting on the shuttles. Ended up going out to Lyttleton for dinner and had some extremely good fish and chips.

 

The flight left Christchurch around 8 this morning and we arrived at McMurdo around 1. Had a welcome briefing, got my room key, met my supervisor, and was taken over to the firehouse to see where I'm going to work. I start working tomorrow at 3pm. Should be interesting. 

Monday, September 20, 2010

Monday, September 20, 2010

Centennial, CO

 

Yesterday was a long day. I was up at 8am. Dad and I left for the airport around 9. Mom was coming down with a cold, so she didn't get to come with us.

We stopped at IHOP for breakfast, and I couldn't find my phone when we left the restaraunt; so, we had to make a trip home. Only to find out I was sitting on it.

So, attempt #2 for the airport. Success. While sitting at the gate, I overheard a guy behind me on his phone talking about starting his "journey" and rattling off destination of DFW, Denver, and LAX. It seemed too coincidental to me, then he said he should be on the Ice on the 25th. What were the odds? I introduced myself and found out that he was working in Supply at McMurdo. We ended up sticking together through the flights.

Other than being delayed 25 minutes, the flight from DFW to Denver was rather uneventful. I met 3 other folks on the plan that weree headed to McMurdo, too. One of the girls had flown from Philadelphia to catch a connecting flight at DFW for Denver. Nobody can figure out that one.

After arriving in Denver, I met some more McMurdo folks, got my luggage, and caught a shuttle to the Red Lion Hotel. Once there, I grabbed a bite to eat, called home, and crashed.

I got up at 5:30 this morning and, after breakfast, boarded a shuttle for Raytheon.

Today was typical orientation stuff. We received our travel funds, luggage tags, and travel packets. Tomorrow is all about safety briefings. Then we load shuttles for the airport and begin our long flight to Christchurch.

It's hard to believe I'll be at a place very few people ever have the chance to go in about 3 days. Wow. 

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Saturday, September 18, 2010

The Woodlands, TX

 

It's the day before I leave. Mom and I managed to cram everything in to one suitcase. 67 pounds worth.

 

I head to Denver tomorrow (by way of DFW) at 12:05. I'll spend two days therre for orientation, then head to LAX for a few hours lay-over (where I hope to see a friend that lives out there). After that, I fly for 12 hours to New Zealand, catch ANOTHER plane for Christchurch, and spend a coule days there getting my Extreme Cold Weather gear. Then, I board a C-130 (or similar) for McMurdo.

 

It's going to be a long week.... 

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Sunday, September 12, 2010

9:53 PM

The Woodlands, TX, USA

It's been a few days. I've basically been spending them gather things to take when I'm not working. My last shift should be the 6p-6a on the 15th, then it's all ahead full. It feels weird the closer Sunday gets.
Dad and I went to REI today and got $600 worth of cold-weather clothing and such. Most of it was on clearance. The pair of Jolbo glacier glasses were on sale for $60 instead of the listed $120.

The Haul:
1 Beanie with windstop
1 pr glove liners with windstop
1 fleece zip-up sweatshirt/liner
1 orange down vest
1 pr utility pants
1 pr midweight long bottoms
1 pr sunglasses

Tomorrow I'm going to see about getting new glasses and get cracking on packing.

-Brandon

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

The Woodlands, TX, USA

 

Now to pick up where I left off.

 

I submitted the NIMS certifications and got a call from Capt Pahl a few days later. He put me through to HR who offered me two positions: alternate for Win Fly and primary for Mainbody. There wasn't enough time for me to complete all the paperwork and medical exams for Win Fly (which would have lleft in the middle of August), so I accepted the Mainbody flight.

 

Then the fun began....

 

The next day, I started getting emails with all kinds of paperwork to complete and send back. I had to schedule a physical and dental exam, neither of which I'd had for years. I think the last time I'd been to the dentist was 2003, when I was still in college. Fortunately, no cavities were found. I still have two wisdom teeth, though. One has come straight in and the other is empacted. The physical went well and nothing of note was found on the 12-lead. I submitted the medical and dental paperwork and continued to wait, assuming I would either be cut from the program or told I needed my wisdom teeth extracted to qualify. But that didn't happen. I have decided, though, to have them excised after I get back and get some time-off at work saved up again. And maybe talk to thee dentist about Invisalign and a nightguard.

If nothing else comes of this, going through the process to qualify for the ICE got me off my butt to get a primary care physician and dentist.

 

While I was completing all the exams, I talked to my boss at work about this. Admittedly, I'd told him nothing about what I wanted to do until I got an offer from Raytheon first (you only make that mistake ONCE.) I had the conversation planned out in my head before hand, and our meeting went like I expected.

After breaking the ice with him, I explained that I had put in an application to work for Raytheon in Antarctica whe ith absolutely no expectation. I further explained that I wanted his input on the opportunity. I pointed out that I would make his second employee to do this. His concerns were me up and leaving MCHD like when I first got hired or just never coming back. I went on a spiel about how fortunate I feel to work for the company and how much work I had put in just to get the opportunity to work for them

I interviewed for MCHD three times before they hired me. Now I've been here for 3 years and have every intention of coming back. I know they can't gaurantee me a full-time position after my LOA, but there are usually part-time position open. I could always teach trumpet lessons, too, to make up the ends.

 

Okay. Today's mission after I catch some sleep -- REI

 

-Brandon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Saturday, September 04, 2010

Saturday, September 04, 2010

The Woodlands, TX 

Dad mentioned that I should keep a journal about my journey to Antarctica. It sounded like a good idea, so here it is. I will maintain a hand-written journal and use this method to post on the Internet for all to see.

I suppose I should start with a little background on what goes on in Antarctica. Antarctica (the "ICE") is a heavily researched continent and any country wishing to conduct research down there has to agree to the terms set forth by the Antarctic Treaty.
For the United States, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is responsible for our contry's research. the NSF sends out bids to provide all support services to their efforts (custodians, construction workers, firefighters, radio operators, etc.). The current company task with this service is Raytheon, a military contractor. Bids are for ten-year lengths and another company should have taken over this last year; but for whatever reason, Raytheon was granted a one-year extention while NSF completes the bid process (of which Raytheon entered but did not make the last 3.)
I say all this just to provide a background on how itt works down there. The division of Raytheon I'll be working for is the Raytheon Polar Service Company. I don't anticipate the current status of Raytheon basically filling a lame-duck role will negate my experience in any way.

Now to the three important questions:

1. What convinced me to do this;
2. What am I going out there to do;
3. What's involved?

I actually applied for a few positions during last year's Austral summer and got as far as being sent the specific applications for those positions (none of which I remember, now). Nothing happened. That year, though, one of my cowerkers went down there too work at the South Pole station (US has 3: McMurdo, Palmer, and Amuundsen Scott South Pole), and that's where I initially got the idea.
I applied for this Austral summer season on a whim, with no real expectation. In addition to the other jobs, I also applied for a Dispatcher position with the McMurdo Fire Department since I've been dispatching EMS and Fire for 3 years. I also applied for a Communication's Operator at MacOps. I received the application for those specific positions, submitted them, then sat back and waited.
About a week after my birthday, I got a ccall in the morning from Capt. Neel Pah with the Antarctica Fire Deparment asking if I would be interested in an interview. I told him I was and asked when he'd like to do it. It ended up with him calling me back 10 minutes later with the dispatch supervisor conferenced inand we had the interview.
In my tshirt and shorts.
I received an email from Capt Pahl the following day requesting some NIMS certificates that he had negllected to mention during the interview as being mandatory for hiring. He also stated that they would like to offer me a possition, but needed that paperwork first.


Okay.....I have to