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  1. AllAmerican75

    USN RIP CDR Hugh "BZB" Magee

    Fair Winds and Following Seas.
  2. AllAmerican75

    SECNAV to Implement Sweeping Changes

    Has the new Billet-Based Detailing stuff made it out to the Air community yet? All the shiny powerpoints make it sound like it will help ease some of these issues; allowing commands to provide feedback to Millington about what their needs are. For example, say you have a CSWI billeted to your...
  3. AllAmerican75

    Old vs New Retirement System

    So as long as after 20 years I walk out of the Navy and into a sweet civilian job making about the same net income as I did in the Navy, I'd be golden?
  4. AllAmerican75

    Old vs New Retirement System

    So I'm an engineer and not a money guy, but BLUF it seems like the Old System is better than the new, yes?
  5. AllAmerican75

    SWO description, career paths, and other basic questions

    Quoted for truth. I've talked with some buddies who are in SCP and they're wondering if they'll ever make O5 due to the fact that everything dried up for their (and many other) SCP designators. As always, Community Managers, Placement Officers, Detailers, and SWOS are all working to make sure...
  6. AllAmerican75

    SWO description, career paths, and other basic questions

    Dude, I was willing to even come to Hampton Roads and work at the Little Creek office but San Dog would be even sweeter; well, except COMNAVHOMELANT doesn't want to go to California. Yeah, I've always found it odd how we as a community push the bonus and try to get people to make a decision so...
  7. AllAmerican75

    SWO description, career paths, and other basic questions

    Roger, I have old gouge then. I spoke with the head of SWDC a few months ago about WTIs and some other projects and he said they were still requiring you to sign the bonus in order to prevent a mass hemorrhage of knowledge. Honestly, shore duty at SWDC seems like it would be a blast.
  8. AllAmerican75

    General Question About Fraternization

    Did he get an LOI? If so, that's a dick move. Everywhere I've been, I've seen LDOs/Warrants given massive amounts of leeway when it comes to fraternization due to the fact that most of them are prior Chiefs and will naturally want to do Chief things since it's a brotherhood and stuff. To tack...
  9. AllAmerican75

    SWO description, career paths, and other basic questions

    Also, be advised that the WTI selection requires that you spend shore duty tours at the Navy Surface Warfare Development Command or whatever it's called now. This is so you can put your knowledge to use revising and devising tactics. Also, because of the vast amount of time and money now...
  10. AllAmerican75

    SWO description, career paths, and other basic questions

    The norm, which is what the SWO community managers, placement officers, and detailers will all push you towards is the traditional two division officer tours, shore duty, then two department head tours, then shore duty, and then finally XO/CO fleet up. All of this should occur on board a DDG or...
  11. AllAmerican75

    SWO description, career paths, and other basic questions

    In the midst of all this bashing, I will say this; if you have a great CO, XO, and a good bunch of DHs, your first tour can be a lot of fun and you can learn a lot. I've had the pleasure to work for and with some great people within the SWO community and they are actively working to fix the...
  12. AllAmerican75

    SWO description, career paths, and other basic questions

    I've never seen the SWO experience encapsulated so perfectly. The only part you forgot is the constant back-stabbing by your peers because they want to look good and kiss ass so they can get their pin faster, or not get yelled at, or get the EP FITREP, or go home early and stick you with the...
  13. AllAmerican75

    SWO description, career paths, and other basic questions

    Also, a quick note about SailorBob: Tread lightly. They take rank and courtesies very seriously over there. Your profile will have your rank or lack of one on it and you will see real world Commanders and Captains posting. Do not, under any circumstances, get into a pissing match with them; they...
  14. AllAmerican75

    EOD Officer?

    How'd you get a tour with a Special Boat Unit? I thought those didn't exist? They are like Sasquatch, everybody knows a guy who knows a guy who's had that tour but no one ever actually gets those orders.
  15. AllAmerican75

    Ship types

    Stuff like that has always boggled my mind, but I guess that's just how the game is played sometimes.
  16. AllAmerican75

    Ship types

    Or they start dropping Warrant packages left and right. Then they end up in the Wardroom as crusty Warrants who are still good dudes and dudettes.
  17. AllAmerican75

    Ship types

    Dammit, HAL, you've succinctly summed my thoughts exactly. I thought I was the only who felt this way. I've known far too many Chiefs who made Chief and then spent all their time in the Goat Locker drinking coffee; but the good Chiefs are worth their weight in gold.
  18. AllAmerican75

    Seasick Swo

    Seasickness comes and goes. Depending on the size of the ship and where you are (topside is usually better than in the plant) seasickness intensity will vary. I typically get a little nauseous and sleepy the first day out no matter what, but after a good nap and some chow, I'm usually good to...
  19. AllAmerican75

    Pilot Lateral Transfer

    I actually went through your shoes about a year ago. The big questions right now are: 1) Do you have your pin? 2) Have you served at least two years in the Navy? These are huge. After that you need to get a flight physical now! ASAP! Also, I highly recommend visiting the NAVPERS website and...
  20. AllAmerican75

    I need help getting SWO information

    Interesting. I'm not a commercial dude nor do I have any desire to be, so all the exposure I've had is dealing with the various USNS types bobbing around and speaking with them, the "deployment cycle" seems to be brutal with long periods away from homeport, and most of those "deployments" spent...
  21. AllAmerican75

    I need help getting SWO information

    Interesting. Personally, I never want to work like the merchant community does. Spending 9 months at sea with only a handful of days in port is not my idea of a good time.
  22. AllAmerican75

    I need help getting SWO information

    You will get this, a LOT of it. People do not joke around when they say SWO life is difficult and that "SWOs eat their young." Swerdna has a good point as well about post-military opportunities. If you like flying drones/UAVs but you hate the military, there are plenty of jobs flying drones as a...
  23. AllAmerican75

    I need help getting SWO information

    Oh boy, where do I start? I have a buddy who's an RPA pilot and he's always posting pictures on the weekend of him flying or skydiving or any of the other myriad of hobbies he has. Me, I've spent 90% of the last 4 years away from homeport. I'm lucky in the fact that I've been able to see my wife...
  24. AllAmerican75

    Polo, khakis, and brown shoes for OCS?

    It's not a bad idea, but you likely won't be wearing any civilian clothes until you graduate.
  25. AllAmerican75

    Ship types

    We had a dude who was 6' 11" on our FFG and he fit. You'll bump your head more, and inspecting for high dust will be super easy, and you may have to modify your rack so you fit in it, but you'll be able get your pin and quals just like everybody else. And yes, you'll get the same quals (OOD in...
  26. AllAmerican75

    Ship types

    Yeah, the PCs are a bit weird in this regard. You'd be WEPS, but you'll be leading a 6 man "department." But if you want to be a WEPS/CSO fleet-up, then go CRUDES early and often. Also, the WTI program would be a big help. Those dudes and dudettes are getting top notch training and are really...
  27. AllAmerican75

    USN Navy Reservist Working With a SEAL Team?

    Pardon the slight threadjack, but how exactly does one end up as an unqualified Reservist? All my experience dealing with Reservists is they came from AD with a warfare pin, were CWOs/LDOs, or had some special skillset that the Navy needed (JAG and Intel types).
  28. AllAmerican75

    Ship types

    I'll echo everything said about the Smallboy Life. You have a smaller crew, but you get exposed to more and you'll get your hands dirty more often. Also, you'll pull into better ports and if you're BMD or an independent deployer you won't have to compete with the carrier and her battle group for...
  29. AllAmerican75

    sTUPID qUESTIONS aBOUT ocs

    The liquid is extremely viscous and feels like peanut butter going in. It's not fun and hurts for days after. Honestly, you're probably not going to get one at OCS unless it's an emergency, life-threatening condition. Even then, you have a full emergency room available in town to fix whatever's...
  30. AllAmerican75

    Questions about being a SWO after OCS

    To all you future rockin' SWOs and SWOdettes, I'm on my second tour on a PC right now. If you have questions regarding the PC lifestyle, just holla at me. I think that's how the kids are saying it these days. Also, if you have Amphib questions, I may not be able to answer them but I have plenty...
  31. AllAmerican75

    Questions about being a SWO after OCS

    I believe LCS is still a 2nd tour only gig. There's a heavy duty training pipeline you have a to pass in order to serve on one. My suggestion is to focus on going to an LSD/LPD or DDG. Cruisers and LHDs are so big and there are so many ensigns, that you will be competing for time doing special...
  32. AllAmerican75

    OCS SWO Ranking and Ship Selection

    Preach, brother, preach! To OP, like it has been said before, if you want orders to Norfolk, it's really easy to get them. As a SWO if you want to go to Norfolk, you'll get orders to Norfolk; heck, even if you don't want orders to Norfolk, you'll eventually get orders to Norfolk. Also, unless...
  33. AllAmerican75

    SWO Numbers

    The best answer is that the numbers vary board-to-board, year-to-year, and class-to-class. My OCS class was heavy on Intel, IP, and IW bubbas. The best advice you'll every receive in regards to Navy selections boards is this: If it's something you really want to do, apply early and apply often.
  34. AllAmerican75

    Engineering civilian job on side

    Isn't that what the internet's for? That and porn.
  35. AllAmerican75

    Ruck marching at OCS?

    They let you carry it on your back now? We carried them in our arms. It was more fun than terrifying, if I'm honest.
  36. AllAmerican75

    Engineering civilian job on side

    Like PenguinGal said, there's some leeway in how that counts. Also, since there's no Aeronautical Engineering PE license, it won't matter if that's his preferred flavor of engineering. But you're right, if he's not in the AEDO/EDO/CEC community, it'll be hard for him to find that wiggle room...
  37. AllAmerican75

    USNR OFFICER TO USN OFFICER?

    The board that handles lateral transfers and redesignations also handles Reserves to AD transfers. Go to the website and read the MILPERSMANs that are listed. As was said above, it's two separate boards who handle FTS and "real" Active Duty. It's possible to do this but it's difficult and they...
  38. AllAmerican75

    Engineering civilian job on side

    I'm not an aviator but I am an engineer and an OCS grad, so take my advice for what it's worth: OCS is going to suck and you will have little time to coordinate going back home to work. But, if your PE is really important to you, you can still earn it while in the Navy. Your job as a Naval...
  39. AllAmerican75

    Becoming a SWO, what to look forward to

    Sadly, not much had changed when I was on board. The plant was held together with blood, sweat, and tears. They had lost a potable water tank due to intrusion from the sea, had to swab up fuel oil from the deck plates every morning because it wept from all of the tanks, and the GPS would...
  40. AllAmerican75

    Becoming a SWO, what to look forward to

    That's old school right there. We at least had CBSP on the Fightin' 56. But I did deploy on USS UNDERWOOD during her last cruise and she still had NMARSAT which was no bueno.
  41. AllAmerican75

    Becoming a SWO, what to look forward to

    It's a lot more like COPS than it is Act Of Valor. If you want to do VBSS, get used to doing weighted pull-ups now. The school is lots of fun, not crazy hardcore PT-wise, but you do a LOT of climbing up caving ladders in full gear. I'm a big guy so I was hauling close to 300 pounds up the...
  42. AllAmerican75

    Becoming a SWO, what to look forward to

    What is this specialty you speak of? As a SWO you're a jack of all trades, or at least expected to be. Air Warfare (kill missiles and planes), Surface Warfare (kill ships and boats), Undersea Warfare (kill subs not whales), Anti-Terrorism, Amphibious Operations, Humanitarian Operations...
  43. AllAmerican75

    Becoming a SWO, what to look forward to

    Oh, and watch! Lots of it! Like a SWO commander once told me: "If you go to sleep in the same day you woke up, you're wrong." Thankfully that attitude seems to be changing with all of the incidents at sea lately. Transitions to a fixed watchbill with down time to sleep and rest are now becoming...
  44. AllAmerican75

    Becoming a SWO, what to look forward to

    You say that now, until you find yourself in a warm, hidden spot in Aux 2, and you haven't slept in nearly 48 hours. That pile of greasy rags will look pretty darn welcoming under those conditions.
  45. AllAmerican75

    Stupid Questions about Naval Aviation (Part 3)

    Wait, wait, wait. Don't you want more hook-to-ramp clearance, rather than less?
  46. AllAmerican75

    sTUPID qUESTIONS aBOUT ocs

    Yeah, I remember the banquet being far more constrained because it was a small venue, whereas there was only a sign-up sheet or something to that effect for the actual ceremony. I was in a winter class so everything happened indoors and the NAPS Gym or whatever they're calling it now had to fit...
  47. AllAmerican75

    Becoming a SWO, what to look forward to

    How'd you get my Facebook profile photo?
  48. AllAmerican75

    sTUPID qUESTIONS aBOUT ocs

    Yes, because the gym and facilities can only hold so many people. As a class, we traded tickets so people with larger families/friends could have more tickets. You probably won't be able to invite everybody but you can probably get everyone you need there. BT I can't get multi-quote working...
  49. AllAmerican75

    Becoming a SWO, what to look forward to

    Again, this is dependent upon what ship you're on and what is going on in the world. For the most part, your underway schedule is pretty well set and you will at least have a couple of months' notice before you get underway. If you are on a ship in Japan, Bahrain, Rota, a BMD-capable ship, or an...
  50. AllAmerican75

    Questions about being a SWO after OCS

    This times a thousand! OTCN jacked up my OMPF so bad, I'm still trying to square it away and I've been in the Navy almost 4 years. Those jackwagons have no idea what they're doing when it comes to paperwork.
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