Ask the Buffer

[Marlin Spike]

  :yellow: :yellow: Ever had a question for the CBM? Feel free to ask.

 

[Journeyman]

  :yellow: :yellow: Ever had a question for the CBM? Feel free to ask.

Everything you've wanted to ask the Buffer, but are scared to ask.
CBM

The Buffer is Back,  Any questions?

You're clearly on a roll. I have no questions.

 

[Good2Golf]

What is the Buffer's relation to the Cox'n?

 

[Edward Campbell]

Why is (s)he called "buffer?"

 

[navymich]

Why is (s)he called "buffer?"

The one that I was always told....


Big Ugly Fat F***er Easily Replaced   

 

[Stoker]

Its a hold over from the RN
We still use the term but its really a nickname now.

From the RN

BUFFER
THE (CHIEF) BUFFER
Naval nickname for the Chief Bo'sun's Mate. As he is the First Lieutenant's
right-hand man and the one by whom he passes orders to the Captain of Tops,
he is considered to be the buffer between officer and ratings.

 

[Good2Golf]

So they're like the Ops WO?

 

[Occam]

So they're like the Ops WO?

Not really, I believe the equivalent of that would be the Combat CPO (coordinates all the administrative needs of the Combat dept) or possibly the Ops Room Supervisor (ORS) (manages the on-watch NCI Ops/NES Ops/Sonar Ops). 

The Buffer nowadays is simply the Chief in charge of the Deck Department, which is comprised of all the Boatswains.  The Boatswains pretty much run all the seamanship evolutions, such as Replenishment At Sea (RAS), coming alongside/slipping, coming to anchor, ship's husbandry, etc.  They would also be the ceremonial experts together with the Nav Comms. 

 

[Good2Golf]

Ah, like a cross between the RQ and NCO IC Tpt?

 

[Occam]

Ah, like a cross between the RQ and NCO IC Tpt?

Quick!  Someone pass me the Army to Navy translator! 

 

[cupper]

Ah, like a cross between the RQ and NCO IC Tpt?

Quick!  Someone pass me the Army to Navy translator! 

Regimental Quartermaster (head supply guy) and NCO In Charge of Transportation (head trucker guy)

 

[Sigs Pig]

Regimental Quartermaster (head supply guy) and NCO In Charge of Transportation (head trucker guy)

Just a short year ago, those two positions were held by a female Private in our Unit.  :

ME

 

[Pat in Halifax]

Regimental Quartermaster (head supply guy) and NCO In Charge of Transportation (head trucker guy)

No, that's not quite it either.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

No, that's not quite it either.

TQMS or DSM (RSM's understudy and stand in)?

All I know is the title sounds like something you'd hear on a porn set. ;D

 

[Pat in Halifax]

I think Occam pretty much answered the question as to what the Buffer does. All five departmental Chiefs (MS, CS, Cbt, Log, Deck-am not including an Air Chief (if embarked) as that individual would never become a ship's Cox'n) are understudies of the Cox'n (RSM) and his/her stand in (when he/she is unavail or on leave) is not always the same person. It's a term of endearment similar to say Tiffy, Old Man, Number One, and now Chief ERA.

Pat

 

[Stoker]

I think Occam pretty much answered the question as to what the Buffer does. All five departmental Chiefs (MS, CS, Cbt, Log, Deck-am not including an Air Chief (if embarked) as that individual would never become a ship's Cox'n) are understudies of the Cox'n (RSM) and his/her stand in (when he/she is unavail or on leave) is not always the same person. It's a term of endearment similar to say Tiffy, Old Man, Number One, and now Chief ERA.

Pat

I believe that's Chief Engineer now Pat

 

[Pat in Halifax]

Hey, personally, I am grandfathered! Laughed when I saw in the sig block of one of the CERAs (who shall remain nameless):
Formally known as the Chief Engine Room Artificer (CERA) | Artificier en chef de la salle des machines

That said, I am curious if the term buffer has been clarified for our brethern in green? And yes, now that you say it, it sounds like it belongs on a porn set, along with head, gland and auto-lubricator!

 

[kratz]

That said, I am curious if the term buffer has been clarified for our brethern in green?

I think they are only green because they do not have their sea legs yet.  ;D

 

[jollyjacktar]

I think they are only green because they do not have their sea legs yet.  ;D

That's why we called the VanDoos who were on the USS Gunston Hall, "Van Spews".  Watching them during a RAS they seemed to be as green as their CADPATS. 

Mind you the Army Ossifers we had on PRE were puking all over the O's heads and elsewhere too boot.  Red wine and steak everywhere, plus clogged shitters!  What a mess...  My LCO's head kept exploding whenever he would hear about the latest event.  ;D  Rough seas, very entertaining.

 

[Journeyman]

I think they are only green because they do not have their sea legs yet.  ;D

Hey, I've got 35 training days with the Navy, and I get along fine with the FDU folks. And having 'co-habitated' with sailors of that opposite gender, I'm OK with that part of the fleet too. But since humans have neither gills nor wings, land seems the logical place to be. 
:cheers:

Now, as for this guy who crews the floor polisher (that's a buffer, right? [since I'd never recognize the porn variant of the term] ), it's a shame he's MIA on this discussion.  9 posts -- 3 of which say "I'm the man" -- then not being around for the work......is that a Navy Chief thing?   
:stirpot:





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