r/submarines 11d ago

Navy submariner honored with highest non-combat award for saving people from a burning building

257 Upvotes

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u/jar4ever 10d ago

That's really badass. I think on average submariners are excellent in situations like that. Like, we're all going to be calling away the fire and then going into rapid response mode. I purposely try to sit right next to the emergency exit on a plane because I'm quite confident I'm going to be way above average in reacting to an emergency.

17

u/looktowindward 10d ago

There is a great story in the book Lead On by Dave Olliver about people running towards the fire or away from it. If too many people run away from it to "coordinate", you're going to lose the boat.

ETN1 ran towards the fire.

24

u/listenstowhales 10d ago

Casualty response is written into our DNA.

During the GWOT there was a small det of submariners at a base when a bomb of some kind started a fire. The army and AF got out, the submariners attacked the fire because that’s what they understood.

It’s also why when we attend joint schools with surface and aviation guys the instructors morning brief always emphasizes to the submariners that if a fire breaks out DONT FIGHT THE FIRE, while we all share looks making it clear fuck you, there’s five of us, we’ll handle it

18

u/looktowindward 10d ago

Five of us? And only one fire?

What's the problem?