All you want to know about being a "chop" (Ask your STuPId Supply questions here)

[HAL Pilot]

I get it,.....

Obviously you don't.

 

[phrogpilot73]

I was recently selected for Supply Officer after applying to OCS. I applied for Intel and Information Warfare, but I got Supply.

I don't know the first thing about Supply. My degree was relevant to Intel and Info, not Supply. It's a mystery to me how I got Supply.
But I still intend to accept the offer, in the absence of any other visible options.

I don't much care for the idea of being underway for months and months, or stuck on a ship everyday. Therefore, Supply concerns me.
I was informed that Intel and Info don't normally spend their time on ships or underway, so I wasn't concerned and that's why it seemed safe to apply.

Sounds to me that you bought someone's line of BS hook, line and sinker.

My wife is an Information Warfare Officer. She is currently underway on a ship. With some of her coworkers, who are intelligence officers.

If you don't want to go out on a ship, or deploy, and only want to be fat, dumb and happy in the rear with the gear? The Navy/Marine Corps is not the place for you. We deploy, regardless of our designator/MOS. Period.

While you have admitted your ignorance, you're failing to realize why the dogpile started. It's because you came on her and told people who have deployed, who will deploy, and have more sea time than you probably can fathom that it's not for you. Their response is predictable. Why did you apply for the Navy? This isn't the Air Force we're talking about. Pretty sure all the fancy ads on TV have ships in them...

Honestly, if you joined the military to be on shore, go Air Force, Army or Marine.

WHOA! tiz, I love our friendly neighborhood chop - but I understand that your background is from a little boy so you didn't see many Marines. I'd bet that I have as much deployed time on a big grey ship as you do, and I wasn't attached to one as ship's company...

How 'bout your next sea tour you head to a Gator and get an appreciation for the fact that Marines aren't just chilling on shore duty their whole career!

 

[NavyNukeNFO]

I get it, and I am willing, especially after learning so much from these benevolent educators. There's always something fun about threatening people over the internet. But not as much fun as quoting movies via photo. Love that scene. I was done (also, I thought so were you!) but we both just had to post one more. LOL, psychology. But I declare victory because this is my last one, no really!

If you got "it" this post would have never happened...including all the rest of them that you have made. To have the arrogance to tell Naval Officers to read the constitution...are you F-ing serious? We are all living our dreams, one way or the other. Usually just by being IN the NAVY, so please dont start with achieving what you want and desire and all this other BS that you are throwing out. Pull your head out of your ass and start using it. At this point we cant keep you from being an Officer (sadly enough), so you better get your crap together before your idiotic statements start affecting your everyday way of life in OCS, Supply Corps School, and on your ship.

This is my last advice to you, again about being a CHOP in the Navy. We are VERY big into networking. I can not even stress that enough. Luckily for you still have time. Time to grab ahold of someone that has a clue and actually learn what it is to be an Naval Officer, Supply Corps Officer, and a Military Man in general. Notice the sequence that I put those....Naval Officer first! I dont give a crap about what brand of Officer you are, you are a leader and held accountable from day one. You have a limited amount of time to pull said head from ass and realize what opportunity you given here. This is not Wal-Mart...you dont decide if the pay is enough and look at the hours and try to determine if it is the best fit for you. The hours SUCK, the living conditions SUCK, and the pay is OK. You look at it as you are going to give a part of yourself for LITTLE in return and if you STILL feel like you want to do it...then you do it.

The commercials and the hand outs and all the things they use to get people to join can not really tell you the benefits of joining the Navy. The friends you make, the experiences you share, the memories you take to the grave; that is what keeps, Officers like ourselves, that have commented on your post doing what we do. The honor that we have when someone that doesn't know us comes up and shakes our hand because they know they can sleep better at night knowing there are people like ourselves giving up, sometimes everything, for nothing more then that handshake in return. So pull your head out of the "what can I accomplish" from the Navy and realize that you will be better educated, experienced, well rounded, and networked having joined the Navy than any other job out there. That is a given....what you need to determine is, are you willing to give it all for your country for nothing more than a hand shake. If you are not able to look at yourself in the mirror and say Yes, then please stay home because you will not achieve any of the great things the Navy has to offer. We cull our own that don't belong. If you cant say yes to that question then you will get culled one way or the other. Either OCS, the school house, or the fleet will spit you out back into the civilian world where everyone compares what they get in return for what they do.

So to conclude, all of us strive for accomplishments and advancements and all the other things you retardedly stated that we dont. The most important is that we love what we do and we know we are making a difference by what we do. We are there for our friends that we have made along the way and we are there for the 99% that are too scared to make the commitment that we have made. Whatever you decide, realize there are challenges and things you have to give up, but in the Military there are a LOT more than the other option....you wont make it through them without the commitment and the friends "the ones that have done it before you". Those friends are all of us on this website...you are failing miserably at the second part of making it through the Navy...so either change that or fail....you have to make that decision and move on smartly.

 

[BackOrdered]

NavyNukeNFO let it go. Hopefully he will go CRUDES and tell the SWOs ALLLL about his big dreams, I'm sure they will LOVE to listen.

 

[jbalesi]

Just a humble enlisted opinion about Curious' words above... Curious, you have no idea how hard it is for someone who is enlisted to have the privilege to be accepted into OCS. You will never understand. I am fighting to get my OCS package approved, and there are so many LS' out there, some that already have college degrees, that are doing everything in their power to get in, who are dying to have the opportunity to go to OCS and be a Navy Supply Corps Ensign.

If you're still a civilian, do us all who are trying our damnedest to get in a favor and just stay civilian. If you're already regretting the notion of a life at sea then you will hate what you are about to get yourself into, for that is the easiest part of the ride.

 

[TBRaysluv]

Well, I am completely green to this process but I really want to go to OCS and think that I would really like to be in the Supply Corp. I would absolutely do what ever uncle sam says I should do if accepted but I think this would be my preference. So I have a couple questions.

1. How long are deployments?

2. If you get a sub (or a boat?) do you actually get to see the area of the world you are in?

3.If one is currently getting a law degree would they ever utilize this knowledge? I really don't want to be a lawyer hence no interest in JAG but I just wouldn't want to think my 6 figs in Law School Debt was for nothing?

4. Do you have to be a leader by yelling or do you get to lead by utilizing the personnel you are given in a professional manor to execute the objective given? e.g. Do you have to be a mean angry boss to get your job done or can you simply lead by normal office interaction? (I've never been in anything like the military so I have no clue).

5. I understand DADT is over but I was wondering if being a not really flaming but noticeable gay male who doesn't tell anyone my business will cause my life to be a living hell? Like I played football in a deep south high school and was picked at a bit as the pretty boy but it wasn't really bad. I guess I am asking is my life going to be any worse than being on a southern high school sports team?

 

[jbweldon04]

1. Depends on the mission of the ship. Expect to be at sea a lot. You'd be a sailor
2. If you're on a sub, the mission is to stay hidden so I would venture to guess you wouldn't see much. The smaller ships hit more ports.
3. You could be the legal officer of the command. . .
4. Every person has their own leadership style and that can be seen in the Navy. There are knifehand guys who will get on your ass and there are guys who would do anything to avoid confrontation. In my short time in the Navy, I've noticed that the Navy is a business where we wear camo uniforms.
5. Picking on homosexuals is considering hazing and isn't tolerated in the Navy. If it happens to you, and you report them, that person's career is screwed.

 

[TBRaysluv]

Cool thank you so much for this information. How does a legal officer of command differ from someone in JAG?

 

[Spekkio]

Well, I am completely green to this process but I really want to go to OCS and think that I would really like to be in the Supply Corp. I would absolutely do what ever uncle sam says I should do if accepted but I think this would be my preference. So I have a couple questions.

1. How long are deployments?

Depends on the platform. Anywhere from 6 months to 1 year. The kick in the nuts is the workup period, though, where you go out and in on a seemingly random basis for training, inspections, etc.

2. If you get a sub (or a boat?) do you actually get to see the area of the world you are in?

If you're speaking while U/W, you can look at a chart and see where you are. But in a sub, all you'll 'see' is the inside of the boat and on a ship all you'll 'see' is blue stuff and the sky.

Subs actually pull into ports relatively frequently (only 90 days of food and no way to UNREP). Smaller surface ships will pull in more frequently as well.

3.If one is currently getting a law degree would they ever utilize this knowledge?

No. Legal Officer doesn't require a law degree and it won't matter.

I really don't want to be a lawyer hence no interest in JAG but I just wouldn't want to think my 6 figs in Law School Debt was for nothing?

I don't know what you mean by 'for nothing,' but if you want to 'use' your law degree, you'd have to be a lawyer.

4. Do you have to be a leader by yelling or do you get to lead by utilizing the personnel you are given in a professional manor to execute the objective given? e.g. Do you have to be a mean angry boss to get your job done or can you simply lead by normal office interaction? (I've never been in anything like the military so I have no clue).

No. Generally, your Chiefs are supposed to be the heavy hitters when it comes to discipline. You're generally supposed to stay above that.

5. I understand DADT is over but I was wondering if being a not really flaming but noticeable gay male who doesn't tell anyone my business will cause my life to be a living hell? Like I played football in a deep south high school and was picked at a bit as the pretty boy but it wasn't really bad. I guess I am asking is my life going to be any worse than being on a southern high school sports team?

Do your job like a competent person and no one cares what you do in your spare time (as long as it's within the confines of the law), even before DADT was repealed.

 

[NavyNukeNFO]

Don't go to a boomer if you want to see any foreign countries.

 

[Caesium]

Well, it is a three year old thread but I figure it's sticky'd for a reason so I'll go ahead and ask my dumb question.

Do Supply officers get the chance to do FAO-type shore tours (i.e. Pol-mil stuff like embassy billets, regional combatant commands, work with foreign navies, etc.)?

 

[N4Life]

Do Supply officers get the chance to do FAO-type shore tours (i.e. Pol-mil stuff like embassy billets, regional combatant commands, work with foreign navies, etc.)?

There are a few tours but not many outside of being a Naval Officer working with foreign counterparts. Supply Officers do have PEP (Personnel Exchange Program (PEP)) tours where you are assigned as part of foreign Navy working a Supply type billet, maybe a Joint Civil Military Operations tour at a combatant command or task force. I knew of one tour at an embassy for foreign Military sales but I think that was because they had an office available and not a standard location. Occasionally, you might get put into a non-supply corps billet somewhere just to fill it.

Bottom line, there are a few but not many.

 

[Caesium]

There are a few tours but not many outside of being a Naval Officer working with foreign counterparts. Supply Officers do have PEP (Personnel Exchange Program (PEP)) tours where you are assigned as part of foreign Navy working a Supply type billet, maybe a Joint Civil Military Operations tour at a combatant command or task force. I knew of one tour at an embassy for foreign Military sales but I think that was because they had an office available and not a standard location. Occasionally, you might get put into a non-supply corps billet somewhere just to fill it.

Bottom line, there are a few but not many.

I see, thanks. So that's at least one advantage for SWOs.

 

[Tmurphy]

Good afternoon everyone,

I am an OCS graduate (02DEC) and currently in “Student Pool” in Newport. This week I was NPQ’d from aviation, however I am fortunate for the opportunity to re-designate. With my academic/work background and interest in the community’s variety, I will be applying to be a Supply Officer.

Last week I met a current supply O-5 and we are setting a date/time to talk about his experience and advice. I am hoping to learn about his time on subs and a potential LOR for my application.

Do you gentlemen or ladies have any thoughts or recommendations on interviewing for Supply Corps? Any potential questions or topics they may ask AND/OR any questions that would be in my best interest to ask?

I will be having an interview with a LCDR from the Supply School in the next few weeks. I have a Supply Motivational Statement and Resume prepared. Thank you for your time and feedback.

** I have searched/printed material from Navy sources, articles, and AW Forums (JDtoSupply from 2014).

 

[Pasup]

Hey everyone,

I’m in the process of creating and submitted my package to apply for the Supply Corps. I think I have a pretty good shot, based on some of the statistics I’ve seen as well as some of the threads on this forum (3.7 undergrad in psych, 3.6 MBA, 58 OAR and appraisals from three O-6s). I’ve been lurking for a decent amount of time now trying to find as much info as I can about becoming a Supply Corps Officer, but I was left with a few questions to which I couldn’t seem to find answers. Any assistance with those answers would be greatly appreciated.

1. I saw someone ask about what would be the best ship career-wise for an initial OP tour out of OSCS. The answers seemed mixed, with some saying a carrier or LHD/LHA because of the comparatively large Supply Corps departments (more experience/mentorship and an O-5 or O-6 SuppO) and the ability to get two warfare qual. pins in one tour. Others said a sub or MCM ship because of the independent duty experience. I don’t mind either situation, but which do you all think would look better in the long run?

2. Which type of job would look best on the first OP tour? I’ve seen that most people are either sales, disbursing, or food service; are there more prestigious jobs than this out there, and if so, what are they? I don’t mind doing jobs like these, of course, but again, I want to go with what would be best career-wise (the current plan is to stay in for at least a full 20 years, assuming I make it in at all).

3. After the first OP tour, I’d like to go for an internship, and the ones that looked most interesting were in OPLOG-Planning, OPLOG-NSW, and Business Financial Management. Are any of these more enjoyable than the others? Do any have better career prospects? I was also looking into competing for a Flag Aide spot or trying to teach at NSCS, if it makes any difference.

4. For the second OP tour, I’m thinking it would be best to use what I’ve learned through the internship experience. How possible do you all think that would be given the internships in which I’m interested? Do you have a better suggestion of where to try for, either for a more enjoyable tour or a better career move?

Essentially I want to work my butt off to get as many qualifications and as much experience as I can to better my chances of at least making Commander. I’m probably greatly overthinking this right now, but all the career playbooks they put out say to plan at least three tours ahead, so I’m trying to loosely plan at least until PG School.

Thank you!