Really stupid questions about life as a SWO and anything else not aviation related [mod dog wuz hərə]

[Brett327]

Nobody is busting your balls, shipmate - just questioning your assumptions based on our current experiences of having seen aviator ANAVs work just fine in the fleet.

 

[e6bflyer]

Shipmate? Oh no, you dit-unt!

 

[IC3]

What is considered a pretty competitive OAR score for acession to the SWO community? I have had my my chain look over my package, and it is a really good "whole person" package, I think. I just need to get my OAR score up. For reference, I scored a 48 on exam version 3.

 

[Givemeinfo]

I'm pro-y for SWO and my OR told me to start thinking about what ships to put on my desired list to work on. I know I don't want to be on an aircraft carrier for my first tour so I have less competition getting my SWO pin. Can anyone tell me about their experiences on different types of ships?

 

[BackOrdered]

I'm pro-y for SWO and my OR told me to start thinking about what ships to put on my desired list to work on. I know I don't want to be on an aircraft carrier for my first tour so I have less competition getting my SWO pin. Can anyone tell me about their experiences on different types of ships?

Unless you are a nuke, you won't go to an Aircraft Carrier as a straight stick SWO anytime soon.

Each class has its strengths and weaknesses, but I would say the best for experience are AEGIS ships. Destroyers in particular are the work horses of the fleet and you can count on revisiting one later into your service. Cruisers are also a good experience ship, but I don't know what the distant future holds for that class. FFGs and MCMs I would avoid as they are phasing out. LSDs and LPDs shouldn't be discounted. ALOT of my SWO buddies have been happy aboard them, but as a matter of preference, I would want to learn AEGIS early on.

LCSs are a young class with a very very unconventional bridge watch and a blue and gold team crew. You won't see that anywhere else as a SWO. Going that route early on in your career is up to you. To me it seems like an ideal 2nd tour DIVO or DH ride.

 

[Givemeinfo]

Unless you are a nuke, you won't go to an Aircraft Carrier as a straight stick SWO anytime soon.

Each class has its strengths and weaknesses, but I would say the best for experience are AEGIS ships. Destroyers in particular are the work horses of the fleet and you can count on revisiting one later into your service. Cruisers are also a good experience ship, but I don't know what the distant future holds for that class. FFGs and MCMs I would avoid as they are phasing out. LSDs and LPDs shouldn't be discounted. ALOT of my SWO buddies have been happy aboard them, but as a matter of preference, I would want to learn AEGIS early on.

LCSs are a young class with a very very unconventional bridge watch and a blue and gold team crew. You won't see that anywhere else as a SWO. Going that route early on in your career is up to you. To me it seems like an ideal 2nd tour DIVO or DH ride.

Thank you, that gives me some good information to continue researching on.

Have you stayed on several bases? I've heard that the west coast is more laid back than the east coast, but not much on bases out of the country. What bases would you recommend to put on my list?

Thanks again

 

[BackOrdered]

Thank you, that gives me some good information to continue researching on.

Have you stayed on several bases? I've heard that the west coast is more laid back than the east coast, but not much on bases out of the country. What bases would you recommend to put on my list?

Thanks again

The difference in culture vary from person to person. I thought Mayport was awesome, while I also haven't heard enough good things about San Diego. I even hear glowing things about Norfolk as well.

 

[JamesL37]

I would really like to be on small crafts. How can I be on one as a SWO?

 

[Givemeinfo]

The difference in culture vary from person to person. I thought Mayport was awesome, while I also haven't heard enough good things about San Diego. I even hear glowing things about Norfolk as well.

I guess since it's not permanent I wouldn't mind going wherever the ship I want to be on is located. Out of curiosity have you heard anything about the base in Italy?

 

[BackOrdered]

I guess since it's not permanent I wouldn't mind going wherever the ship I want to be on is located. Out of curiosity have you heard anything about the base in Italy?

I'm not sure how a SWO would get stationed at a NAS, but no.

 

[Givemeinfo]

I'm not sure how a SWO would get stationed at a NAS, but no.

Thanks for the info

 

[BigRed389]

I would really like to be on small crafts. How can I be on one as a SWO?

Finish your first or second sea tour, then ask for it. It's a one or two time gig for a SWO, not a career path.

I guess since it's not permanent I wouldn't mind going wherever the ship I want to be on is located. Out of curiosity have you heard anything about the base in Italy?

You do understand that the ship's homeport is more or less permanent right?

The difference in culture vary from person to person. I thought Mayport was awesome, while I also haven't heard enough good things about San Diego. I even hear glowing things about Norfolk as well.

From crazy people, yes. I've done pit stops now in both San Diego and Pearl...I think you'd have to be seriously off your rocker not to try to go to San Dog or Pearl at some point as a JO.

 

[Givemeinfo]

Finish your first or second sea tour, then ask for it. It's a one or two time gig for a SWO, not a career path.



You do understand that the ship's homeport is more or less permanent right?



From crazy people, yes. I've done pit stops now in both San Diego and Pearl...I think you'd have to be seriously off your rocker not to try to go to San Dog or Pearl at some point as a JO.

I figure I'll probably try for San Diego but we'll see. And correct me if I'm wrong, which is quite possible, but I'm attached to a ship for 2 years, if the ship I end up on for my second tour has a different home port then I move again. I know sailors who have lived on several home ports so I assume that that is how it works.

 

[BackOrdered]

From crazy people, yes. I've done pit stops now in both San Diego and Pearl...I think you'd have to be seriously off your rocker not to try to go to San Dog or Pearl at some point as a JO.

LOL, I see you caught me. OK OK, I hated Norfolk, too. But believe it or not, I have met a few JOs that LOVED it.

And correct me if I'm wrong, which is quite possible, but I'm attached to a ship for 2 years, if the ship I end up on for my second tour has a different home port then I move again. I know sailors who have lived on several home ports so I assume that that is how it works.

Yeah but that is far from common. You will usually know during detailing if a ship will shift homeports. It won't just happen out of the blue.

 

[Givemeinfo]

LOL, I see you caught me. OK OK, I hated Norfolk, too. But believe it or not, I have met a few JOs that LOVED it.



Yeah but that is far from common. You will usually know during detailing if a ship will shift homeports. It won't just happen out of the blue.

I'm sorry I made a mistake in my question. After the first 2 years, when I am no longer attached to the first ship, I choose/get placed on another ship, which may have a different home port correct?