C Programs
Onboard MLC Alameda, I was assigned to procurement and logistic. One of my job is to order supplies through the Federal Stock System and post the expenditures to the unit's ledger. The old way is still manually generating messages to order and manually posting expenditures to the ledger. I programmed and implemented a Milstrip log program written in 'C' language and ISAM as the database engine. Using the Federal Stock System's 80 character column is very complex, this is inherited from the punch card of the 50's. Any one character mistake could mean chaos on supplies and dollar amount (e.g. one wrong number on the National Stock Number could mean a pad of paper or a tire for an F-16 jet fighter). While the program I wrote cannot prevent all inaccuracies, it reduced chance of error and/or flag certain conditions. The Milstrip log program can generate formatted messages or narrative messages, generates status of shipments which we provide the person who ordered the item, save an ASCII file of expenditure codes and amount. The ASCII file of expenditure codes and amount is then fed to the accounting ledger automatically using a similar DOS batch command or Unix shell script. Since using the program, manhour is reduced to order items, accounting inaccuracies is reduced drastically. Ordered messages also infoed the Cutter automatically by using the Cutters Plain Language Address. This program is used by MLC Pacific for about five years.
While I was in the Coast Guard, the organization has a weight program that mandates to check member's weight on their birthday and on surprise urinalysis exams. Everything is done manually and no software automation tool is available. I programmed and implemented a Weight computer program. The Weight program is written in 'C' language using ISAM as the database engine. Based on official Coast Guard weight matrix for male and female, I created several file tables for lookup values. The program keeps track of peoples weight and generates needed reports. Information is saved on the disk using ISAM as the database engine. Several reports are available (e.g. birthday weigh-ins based on months, prints out form CG-3307 to be put permanently in the member's service record.) The weight program is complete with user's manual. The Weight program was given a favorable review by MLC New York in their newsletter. Since then I distibuted the weight program to over fifty Coast Guard Units spread out to different locations (Florida, Michigan, Texas, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Maine). I have tried unsuccessfully to get it evaluated by Coast Guard headquarters in Washington D.C. for official Coast Guard wide implementation. The Weight program saved manhours and keep records accurately.
While I was stationed at the Cape Cod Canal, I noticed that one of the requirement to be fully qualified to be a watchstander is to take a quiz that contains 100 Questions and Answers. The 1st lieutenant will just xerox the quiz and the member will take it. I programmed and implemented a computer program that can generate a quiz and pick questions randomly. The Quiz program is writted in 'C' language using random access file as the primary method of storage to the hard disk. These program is easily maintained when some information needs to be updated. Results of the quiz is printed with date/time stamp and placed in the member's training record.
Onboard Coast Guard cutter Morgenthau, unclassified messages can be read similar to today's e-mail, however only subjects and date time group are available to view and then you have to highlight the subject/datetime group read the message. There's no way to find a word in the body of the message, you have to read each message to find what you are looking for. Depending on the traffic message and your job responsibility, some people have to sift through hundreds of messages everyday. The Message finder program ask for the user's keyword and range of dates to find the message. Each message is search for keyword and once it's found, it generates a report to the screen or printer of the subject and date/time group of the message. This is a very helpful utility tool.