UNITED STATES NAVY

      "Battle Stations"

  BST-21 (USS Trayer)

              Challenge Coins

*** Battle Stations Scenario's ****

The Battle Stations 21 experience will begin once recruits are in their racks for the night. The general quarters
alarm is sounded over the 1MC (ships announcement speaker) instructing all recruit teams to man their battle
stations within five minutes.

In no particular order, the events are:

ABANDON SHIP
Recruits are briefed about the USS Indianapolis, a heavy cruiser that was attacked at midnight on 29 July 1945 by
a Japanese submarine. Recruits simulate abandoning ship by jumping off the high-dive platform and mustering in
the water in groups.  On a historical note, the world's first operational atomic bomb was delivered by the
Indianapolis, (CA-35) to the island of Tinian on 26 July 1945.
Just 4 days later, at 14 minutes past midnight, on 30 July 1945, midway between Guam and Leyte Gulf, she was hit
by two torpedoes out of six fired by the I-58, a Japanese submarine. The first blew away the bow, the second struck
near midship on the starboard side adjacent to a fuel tank and a powder magazine. The resulting explosion split the
ship to the keel, knocking out all electric power. Within minutes she went down rapidly by the bow, rolling to
starboard.

EMERGENCY SORTIE
Based on the experiences of ships’ crews that got their ships quickly underway on 20 September 1989, prior to Hurricane
Hugo whacking Charleston. Recruits must demonstrate basic deck seamanship skills under duress.

FORRESTAL ESCAPE SCUTTLE
Recruits are briefed about the flight deck fire caused by a weapon exploding on USS Forrestal in July 1967. Each team
must pass each member through a "hot" vertical escape scuttle without touching the sides.

INVESTIGATE AND RESCUE
Based on a hazardous material spill onboard USS Holland (AS 32) during a shipyard overhaul in 1992. Recruit teams don
OBA’s and investigate a smoke-filled, dark compartment to rescue shipmates.

MAGAZINE FLOODING
Recruit teams in a magazine store room are required to move 100 cases of three-inch rounds to another store room while the
magazine is flooding. Based on what happened when USS Tripoli (LPH-10) struck a mine in the Persian Gulf on 17 February
1991.

MASS CASUALTY SCENARIO
Based on the 12 October 2000 terrorist attack on USS Cole (DDG-67) in Aden, Yemen. Recruits must provide first aid to injured
shipmates and transport them to safety, navigating obstacles in a dark, noisy environment.

REPEL BORDERS
Actual experiences of a river patrol boat commander on the Mekong River in Vietnam make up this scenario. Recruits must shoot
the M-16 and 9mm pistol in low-light conditions while wearing a gas mask.

SHAFT ALLEY RESCUE
Recruits utilize stretchers to move a victim through an obstacle course in the engineering spaces. Based on the rescue of hundreds
of sailors from below decks on the USS Oklahoma on 7 December 1941.

STORES ONLOAD
Based on the loading of stores on USNS Comfort, which left its berth in Baltimore just 24 hours after the WTC attacks on 11 September
2001 to provide assistance to victims and rescue workers in New York Harbor.

SHIPBOARD FIRE FIGHTING
Recruit teams must organize as a fire party and extinguish fires. Based on the actions taken by the crew of USS Stark (FFG-31), which
had to fight shipboard fires after being hit by two Exocet missiles during the Iran-Iraq war in 1987.

COMPLETION (CAP) CEREMONY (always last)
Recruits are assembled in ranks in a large room with three displays highlighting the Navy’s core values: Honor, Courage, and Commitment.
Recruit Division Commanders then replace their “RECRUIT” ball caps with “NAVY” ball caps.   This is a pivotal moment for the recruits,
because it signifies the end of boot camp; and they have earned the right to be called United States Sailors.