US Navy Signalman E-3

I thought I'd post a little something about who I was in the past. I use to be an E-3 Signalman for the US Navy back in 1989. Here is a picture of a sailor doing his thing with the semaphore flags and a pic of me (last year) standing at a signal light aboard a ship that we SM's use to do morse code with.

The following is a brief description of a Signalman's (SM) duties:

SMs stand watches on signal bridges and send/receive messages by flashing light, semaphore and flights. They prepare headings and addresses for out-going messages; process messages; encode and decode message headings; operate voice radio; maintain visual signal equipment; render passing honors to ships and boats; and display ensigns and personal flags during salutes and colors. They perform duties of lookouts; send and receive visual recognition signals; repair signal flags, pennants and ensigns; take bearings, recognize visual navigational aids and serve as navigator's assistants.