I sat here this morning racking my brain for another term I know something about and could bore everyone with another sea story. This is getting harder because I am running out of good PG rated stories and some stories cannot be “cut”. So browsing the endless list of Navy terms, words, and letters I found what I was looking for. Something I know about and have a story or two to go along with it.

CASREP is short for Causality Report. This is used to report machinery that is OOC or otherwise broken. On Scott we had a fire main pump that was on the CASREP every day I was on board. It was turned off to be checked and would not come up to pressure after that. Anyway a CASREP is done very day from different divisions to be sent to the captain so he knows what is running on the ship and what is broken. He will also be given a list of items that might be unavailable for certain periods of time for maintenance.

Sailors use the term rather freely to discuss equipment that is broke or not working correctly. They will even joke about listing themselves on the list if they have a bad hang over or are feeling a little sick. If something major on the ship breaks a CASREP is sent to operational commanding officer. When we were in the Red Sea we lost a seal in our starboard shaft and could not use it. So we had to send in a CASREP to the Commodore who in turn sent a message to the 6th Fleet, who in turn told Atlantic Fleet, who in turn told DESRON10.

CASREP’s are serious business and are only used for really important problems. A broken light or a leaky valve is not a reason to send a CASREP. However on a dark moonless night in January 1992, I once again had an experience with a CASREP. One was sent off with me as the subject. I was involved in an auto accident in Egypt and hurt pretty badly. Enough so I was medically discharged from the Navy just over a year alter. But, that is another LONGGGGGGG story.

So, I get in this accident and a CASREP is sent off. After it bounces around the chain of command it goes one step farther, the Red Cross. Well, my wife and parents already knew I was hurt, but they then heard from the Red Cross, so they were a little worried. So while I was in the hospital in Germany I was woken up so I could call home to tell my family I was OK. I did call them one other time, but it had been a week since I did call them.

It seems the guy in the ships office sent out the wrong message about the accident. When referring to actual sailors a CASREP is sent out for a death, not an injury. BUT, I can assure everyone, I am here and still going strong.