Does that answer your question?
The Subpar Group Co-Creator and I were recently talking about the Fed cutting interest rates by 50 bps (aka .5%). The conversion between bps and percentage points is simple..just divide basis points by 100. What does this have submarining, you ask? Well, it reminded me of a story from Chemistry class at NNPTC and the importance of reporting specs in their proper units.
Back in the fall of 2016 during a CMR exam review ENS [REDACTED] complained to an instructor that he received no points for writing the [REDACTED]2 spec in ppm instead of ppb despite the answer being technically correct - he divided by 1000. This moment is seared into my brain because ENS [REDACTED] wanted a few extra points to increase raise his grade from a 3.75 to a 3.79 and I got a 2.08 on the test and just wanted the exam review to end so I could be put out of my misery.
The instructor informed the class that if you ever reported [REDACTED]2 in ppm instead of ppb to your CO, you would be disqualified faster than you can say, “Reactor Scram!” A back and forth ensued between the instructor and ENS [REDACTED] and it finally ended when the instructor said, “look you’re just going to have to trust me on this. It would be impossible to explain to you why what you did is wrong without sending you to a boat for a few months.” At the time I didn’t understand, but now -looking back through my qualified periscope lens - it makes perfect sense.
I told this story to our Co-Creator and he actually disagrees with the instructor and thinks ENS [REDACTED] should have received credit for his answer.
We need your help. Please vote below. The loser will have another scope rotation added to their tab.
1: Yes - if the number is mathematically correct, who cares?
2: No - reporting [REDACTED]2 in ppm vice ppb is a GCE and you deserve to fail PNEO just for thinking about it.
The log sheets are written with the exhausted (or hungover) condition of the average Sailor completing them (as well as the reviewer). Identifying a situation that might require corrective action involves first seeing the red circle is needed. Any departure from the simplicity risks topplong the whole system!
I’m pretty sure that was me … or at least the same thing happened to me, when I was in power school in the fall of 2017 (not 16). I still think I should have gotten the points.