Night shifts

[coldtown]

Are there officer trades within the CAF that lend themselves most (and least) to the idea of overnight shifts? whether regular or reservists. Thanks

 

[PuckChaser]

No, despite the loosening of medical restrictions, the CAF is not looking to hire vampires. Sorry, you'll have to work a majority of the time during the day.

 

[OldSolduer]

No, despite the loosening of medical restrictions, the CAF is not looking to hire vampires. Sorry, you'll have to work a majority of the time during the day.

 

[Eaglelord17]

Would the Naval Officer trades not spend a decent amount of time at sea on night shift? Not 100% sure as I never really bothered to learn what type of system they were running.

 

[stoker dave]

Would the Naval Officer trades not spend a decent amount of time at sea on night shift?

I can speak a bit about marine systems engineering officers (MSEOs).

Ships at sea operate 24 h/day. Operations such as refueling can be scheduled for any time (although during the day is 'normal').

MSEOs (once they have finished their training) don't normally stand designated shifts but are expected to respond to incidents around the clock as may be required. Equipment failures have a maddening tendency to occur in the middle of the night MSEOs are required to respond to incidents, oversee operations, and be 100% aware of all times of the state and condition of a huge amount of complex, aging machinery. It can be a demanding job.

Similarly drills and exercises can occur at any time (again, during the day is 'normal'). ('Day' being defined as about 0600 - 2000).

My experience is decades ago but I suspect things haven't changed too much. Others may want to chime in about CSEOs, supply officers and NWOs.

 

[Underway]

There are a lot of Officer trades that work shifts regularly, and a lot that work night shifts. Aerospace control, Naval Warfare officer come to mind. Also if your in a headquarters and Duty Officer you'll be working nights.

As far as night work though, if its operational you work a lot of hours, nights/days/weekends. Mission first. Combat arms folks don't sleep a lot when fighting or training.

The only ones getting regular sleep are the aircrew!

 

[SeaKingTacco]

There are a lot of Officer trades that work shifts regularly, and a lot that work night shifts. Aerospace control, Naval Warfare officer come to mind. Also if your in a headquarters and Duty Officer you'll be working nights.

As far as night work though, if its operational you work a lot of hours, nights/days/weekends. Mission first. Combat arms folks don't sleep a lot when fighting or training.

The only ones getting regular sleep are the aircrew!

I have no idea what ship you sailed on, but I have more than my fair share of night hours over the water.

Trying to convince some XOs that it is a really bad idea to expect the aircrew in the Wardroom at 0800 for morning prayers when we landed on at 0300hrs and are going to flying stations again at 1700hrs, is a bit trying.

 

[Underway]

I have no idea what ship you sailed on, but I have more than my fair share of night hours over the water.

Trying to convince some XOs that it is a really bad idea to expect the aircrew in the Wardroom at 0800 for morning prayers when we landed on at 0300hrs and are going to flying stations again at 1700hrs, is a bit trying.

I was more joking about getting 8hrs crew rest than night hour shifts there. Mea culpa.

 

[OldSolduer]

I have no idea what ship you sailed on, but I have more than my fair share of night hours over the water.

Trying to convince some XOs that it is a really bad idea to expect the aircrew in the Wardroom at 0800 for morning prayers when we landed on at 0300hrs and are going to flying stations again at 1700hrs, is a bit trying.

Sometimes you can't tell a Heinz pickle f@ck all.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

I was more joking about getting 8hrs crew rest than night hour shifts there. Mea culpa.

The rule says 8hrs uninterrupted rest, not sleep. The uninterrupted sleep “bar” was just too high onboard a ship.

It was also fun watching the face of the XO who pulled a black flex FIREX mid day, only to be told by me that , congratulations, he had just re-set the crew rest counter to zero and tonight’s flying program was now cancelled…

There is a good reason for all this. I have personally fallen asleep in flight. Not good. I know the TACCO that fell asleep while in a Sea King in the Dip in the Gulf of Mexico. He woke up, looked around and realized to his horror that the entire crew was asleep. He very carefully woke the pilots and the AESOp, then checked his log and realized they had been asleep for 45 mins. Somehow, the anolog Coupler kept them in a stable hover that long, without human intervention…

 

[Underway]

There is a good reason for all this. I have personally fallen asleep in flight. Not good. I know the TACCO that fell asleep while in a Sea King in the Dip in the Gulf of Mexico. He woke up, looked around and realized to his horror that the entire crew was asleep. He very carefully woke the pilots and the AESOp, then checked his log and realized they had been asleep for 45 mins. Somehow, the anolog Coupler kept them in a stable hover that long, without human intervention…

I know the pilot from that flight! Its a crazy story. Landed on the ship with fumes in the tank.