Is this your first time aboard the USS RICHARD B. RUSSELL (SSN 687) on the coldwarboats.org website?
If so, there are a few things you need to know.
First, you're dink. Get hot, get qualified, and don't expect to see sunshine until you pin your dolphins on. Sound familiar? Well, I'm not your sea-daddy, but there really are a few things you need to know.
One, you need to REGISTER - that tells us who you are, how you are connected with Cold War submarines, and a gives us a way to contact you. We have a routine newsletter that goes out once or twice a month, so make sure you are signed up for it when you go through the registration process. We in the submarine community are pretty fussy about posers and pretenders, submarine life being a pretty good filter for those sorts of things, so we ask you use your real name and contact information. If we decide you're not being straight up with us, your access will disappear faster than a water slug.
To register, click on the LOG IN / REGISTER link in the upper right corner of your browser window on any page. Then find the "Not registered? Submit your registration by clicking here!" link, and do what it says!
Everyone is welcome, former crew members, family or relatives of crew, friends of crew members, sailors in support roles for the submarine fleet, and even people who are just interested in life in submarines in general. But you do have to register.
Registering gets you access to many features on the site. Think of registration like qualifying submarines. Until you're qualified, you can't touch anything. But once you pass your board, life gets easier, and a whole lot more fun!
When you respond to the confirmation email that completes your application AND we authorize your registration (sorry for the delay, but it prevents malicious attacks on the site), you will be able to LOG IN. To log in, use the tab in the upper right corner.
Once you are logged in, you can start exploring and reconnecting with old shipmates.
Get registered, log in, and feel free to wander around. Unlike the boat, you can't break anything, and it can't hurt you, so feel free to explore. Take a few minutes and read the Welcome Aboard Tour, to help orient yourself, and don't be afraid to ask for help if you get stuck.
Welcome Aboard!