Navy Week Tampa Bay is in full swing, and sailors have traded life in the sub for sunny Florida, at least during Navy Week. 10 Connects shares the stories of the men of the state’s namesake, the Navy sub USS Florida.

Command Master Chief Randy Huckaba, Chief of the Boat (COB) and one of the leaders aboard the sub, is loving the warmth and the sun. So much so that he told 10 connects that he was thinking of spending his retirement in Tampa Bay.

Most people imagine the interior of a sub as dark and cramped, certainly not for those who are claustrophobic; not so, according to Huckaba, who shared about certain areas in the sub where he can even afford to swing a golf club. One can even physically run inside the vessel, the COB said, and there is no shortage of cardio-workout gear, some of which can even “rival some of the nicest gyms in the area.” There is certainly no reason to feel cramped, and the COB said that he has not seen anyone with this problem on board so far!

The USS Florida is run by 160 crew members at a time, and there are two complete crews who take turns doing that. The Gold crew is beached for a three month stretch, serving as guests of honor during Navy Week. They are on hand to share what they do and why they do it – and maybe why young men and women should consider doing it too. In the meantime, the USS Florida is somewhere at sea, manned by the Blue Crew.