What's with this whole "don't you dare page the CO on the 1MC!," anyway? If you need to find someone quick, isn't the 1MC the way to do it? As did I, much like sub pay.
It's shipboard experiences like the ones mentioned eariler is this thread that make me cringe. Surface Warfare esprit de corp has often suffered from "multiple personalities", but the apparent lack of professionalism displayed towards a visitor-let alone an aviator who is sort of there as an honored guest is really a new low for the surface community as a whole. To all Precommissioned O's- take heed. It's listening and trying to understand stories like this that will make you better Naval Officers. YES- you are the ones who can and will make the changes to improve our Navy as a whole. We're all part of the same company.
The SWO base CO here is the most squared away and fit Sailor I've ever seen in my short stay in the Navy. Maybe it's cuz he's from Texas.
It happens on occasion. Prior to USS Cole, a lot more serious damage was sustained by USS Stark and 37 sailors lost their lives. Aviators and SWO brothers had to fight side-by-side to save the ship USS Stark after sustaining two Exocet missile hits due to complacency of crew
She's actually right about that one. If aviation was the "real Navy," they'd have SWOs regularly commanding aviation squadrons. That said, you blue flyboys must know a thing or two about leadership, because you always seem to go on and command the SWOs' carriers and Gators. -Random stones thrown by the Marine peanut gallery
I don't think you are familiar with my situation. On another note: Anyone want to make "just say no to SWO" t-shirts?
Just buy the "Just Say No to Black Shoes" patch and wear it on your flight suit.....oh, wait...never mind. -ea6bflyr
The aircraft carriers never did belong to the SWOs (technically) and the OPNAV resource sponsor and TYCOM for carriers is N88 and CNAF respectively. The Gator Navy is shared by N85 and N86, but uses CNSF as their TYCOM so you could make the case that they belong to the SWO community, but they share commands and XO billets with aviators (roughly 50%) in addition to a number of other deep draft commands that allow aviators to "practice" before they are screened for the Aircraft Carrier prize. Back in the dawn of Aircraft Carriers, Naval Aviation was still in its infancy and Naval Aviators typically had cut their teeth as SWOs or even submariners before taking to the air so commanding a vessel wasn't new. Fleet Admiral "Bull" Halsey didn't win his wings of gold until the advanced rank of Captain and only after serving in a number of surface commands from torpedo boats to destroyers. Many of his contemporaries were still locked into the paradigm of thinking the battleship was the zenith of command at sea and aircraft carriers were merely support ships that trailed the battleship line to provide scouting services. The attack on Pearl Harbor changed that view literally overnight, but aviators had a firm hold on command of the carriers by then and it wasn't long until the carrier became the premier capital ship.
A quick threadjack: When did the dark combo covers with SDBs go away? I saw a few pictures of it the other day and thought some photoshop trickery was afoot, but I guess it was a legit uniform. I think it looks pretty spiffy. /threadjack
Pictures of it seem to end around the 1950's, so probably sometime just after WWII the black hat fell out of favor. Although, there were apparently a bunch still around in thrift stores circa 1990, as MJ used them as costume pieces in his Dangerous tour:
An old instructor of mine got issued one when he was commisioned in 1960. He said it was on it's way out then and just kinda faded away a few years later.
Screw searching just get a sailor bob account and have all the free entertainment you want. It all starts with the website disclaimer "This forum is for USN Surface Warfare Officers Only! Your application will be reviewed by administrators before it is approved. If it is missing important information it will be deleted." Then they ask you for the super secret squirrel vip # which is the designation number for the arleigh burke class....51 oops guess I let the cat out of the bag. The entertainment is endless.
I like how when I got my account I even said I was an SNA and I was approved. Not that I go on sailorbob ever.
Agreed. I signed up at sailorblob a few years ago. Rec'd my password etc.. Then I started to read a few threads. Needless to say I never visited the site again. Maybe they just a had an unusually heavy week of face palm threads, maybe not. Oh well. Thank you AW members for allowing me to visit here. The folks in this wardroom are bit more rational-most of the time. By the way- your last sentence "The entertainment is endless."- That kind of entertainment often makes me lose sleep at night. SW doesn't and shouldn't have to be a miserable career. Certain commands still seem to allow it though.
+1 You're absolutely right. It shouldn't suck to be part of the best Navy in the world. I know the Sub guys and Aviators seem to have fun and with enough good leadership the SWOs could enjoy life as well. It is very disheartening to hear that my buddies that were gung ho SWOs in college can't wait to get out. I'm currently reading the book IT'S YOUR SHIP by CAPT Mike Abrashoff and he seemed to foster a great atmosphere for his sailors, but to accomplish it he seemed to be constantly headbutting with other SWOs.
I may try to get an account again, I have yet to see the site. The problem is just the nature of the communities. In Supply, pay back is too easily had to want to backstab anyone and if rumor gets around the water front that you could have helped someone and didn't, you are done. What exists for SWOs to prevent "the suck" other than command climate?
I'm no shoe, but am a member of that web site. Shennanigans aside, great deal of useful information located within.
