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 I made 7 patrols on the USS West Virginia from November 1996 to November 2000. I was a member of the Gold Crew and held the rating of Missile Technician (MT). Yes, that is different from my previous rating of FTB (Fire Control Technician (Ballistic Missile)). You see the FTB's were rate converted into MTs on October 1st, 1993 (Also called the Black Day of History). Anyone who knows me, knows I loved being an FTB. So much that I stayed in Fire Control and stayed in MCC (Missile Control Center) way to much. But that is a different story that I may get into in the future.
The USS West Virginia was attached to Submarine Group 10 and Submarine Squadron 20. She conducts refit and training operations in Kings Bay, GA (which is located in Saint Marys, GA) and makes patrols in the Atlantic Ocean. The MT's are responsible for maintaining, repairing, and operating the missile launching systems - including electronic, hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical systems. Our working location on the boat is called Missile Control Center (MCC). There are two people on watch at a time, twenty four hours a day, every day, forever (or until they remove all the missiles). I had an OK time on the West Virginia. There were good times and bad. I received many awards (Two Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals and several citations for superior performance) and I got to launch four TRIDENT D-5 Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM) into the Atlantic Test Range.
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