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Fair Winds and Following Seas.

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...

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?

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

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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

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.

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.

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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).

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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.

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

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...

How'd you get my Facebook profile photo?

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...

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...

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.