Any news is good news!

[sketch]

I think ill be keeping this thread updated with the news I get from my recruiter.

I am going into MEPS next week to for an inspection since its been awhile now that I had my physical. During the phone conversation I had with my recruiter he mentioned that my name is either at the top or near the top of the "list" to get a position now. I don't know if hes bsing me or not but as the title says any news is good at this point. Hopefully Ill be DEPing in in the next 2 or so weeks :).

After my mom, sister, and aunt, you guys will be the first to know when I DEP in :cheesy:

[MacSteve]

awesome! good luck!

[justjared]

hooyah dude! let us know if you get the rating you want to!

[sketch]

So just got done with my inspection, good for another 30 days. Got a bear claw and coffee outta it all too hah. Did some talking to most of the guys at my recruiting office, and decided I am interested in either IT because im already very proficient in computers, Helicopter rescue, and AO Ordinance. One of my recruiters (Ronald Pierre Jr, AO2) is AO and told me all about it. It sounds like hard work but it sounds very fun. Im torn between doing something I am already good at (computers) or going with something physical that will keep me active and strong (I enjoy a good hard days work, used to work in metal fabrication shop.).

[MacSteve]

i seroiusly doubt if your scores are good enough for IT that you won't be offered AO man. Not sure about helicopter rescue.
I'm an IT and I love my job. and its not all computers, you do cool shit too, not just boring stuff like "my computer won't turn on!#@@@ IT's come fix nao!"

[sketch]

Oh cool. Is there anything specific you can tell me about the position?

I'm not sure if i understood your post though. Were you saying, because I scored so high they wont offer me AO. Or did you mean that if it comes up they would let me take it?

[MacSteve]

it won't come up because you scored so high.

its a lot of radio communications (like setting the machines up and encrypting them), message processing, both unclas & classified, and computer work.

[sketch]

Hmm that kind of bums me out. Id like to have the option to go for it, not only because it somewhat appeals to me, but also because, given the times and the slow nature of positions opening up, I want to have as many options as possible.

[MacSteve]

sorry dude, navy's not gonna give ya hard 22 hour days on top of a ship if you show you would do better indoors fixing intelligence equipment. they use what you do best.

[Retired Navy Chief]

Sort of .... there is a fine line between giving a job that you are most qualified for and what you will ENJOY the most !!

If you truly enjoy your job ... you will excell at it ... goal accomplished !!

If you are QUALIFIED for the job that you want ... ask for it. Just because it isn't on the list that they show you at MEPS doesn't mean that you can't get it ... it doesn't mean squat !!

ASK FOR IT !!!

Cheers,
PISTOL

[sketch]

Thanks for that. The main reason for my disappointment stems from the fact that it is a position I am positive I would enjoy, and because its an option I want open. Jobs are extremely hard to come by right now in the civilian side, and just as hard to come by in the Navy right now. I want as many options open as possible that I know will work for me. I wanna ship out ASAP. It would really suck to find out an AO position came up and I was never informed. Could mean another 3-6 months of waiting.

[Retired Navy Chief]

An option for you that could help you leave earlier would be to sign up "undesignated" as an Airman. You wouldn't have a guaranteed rate, but you would be in the aviation community and from there you could "strike for" (apprentice) AO.

Just be aware ... that you may stumble on an aviation job that you like better and end up striking for that instead !! At least you would have an opportunity to see what each of the jobs do BEFORE you obligate for one specific rate.

***** There have been undesignated sailors who wanted to strike for a particular job and not being allowed to do it because there was no openings at the time. It's a gamble.

Cheers,
PISTOL

[MacSteve]

just to piggy back on what pistol said, so you get the full understanding..

if you go in as undesignated, after bootcamp you will go to a school for 2 weeks and go to a ship. You will paint, scrape rust, clean dishes, whatever dirty work needs to be done, and the days will be long. Once you make e3, you will have to strike for a job because you can't progress further to e4 as undesignated.


So while it will give you an idea about jobs you may want, heres just a heads up that theres a downside to the position.

[sketch]

That's good to know. I don't think at this current moment I am willing to take that risk but who knows. I have no idea how long I am going to be waiting still, and each day that goes by I feel a little more desperate and anxious to get going.

[Retired Navy Chief]

Don't let the fact that you won't have the "guaranteed job" worry you too much .... you HAVE to have a rate at some point and the Navy is not just going to let you rot scrubbing pots and pans.

As an avaiation apprentice ... chipping and painting is not going to be your daily routine. You will be sent to a shop within the aviation community .... could be learning to work on helicopter engines, could be loading bombs on fighter jets, could be learning the ins & outs of running the catapault on a carrier ... or you could be doing paperwork.

You will have the opportunity to talk with those in the other jobs and possibly get to work with them ... and subsequently strike for the job you want.

Needs of the Navy will come first though ... if you want to be an ornanceman and they are really short-handed in the mechanic shop ... then you will be assigned to work with the mechs. DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO STRIKE FOR MECH .... keep that in mind.

Cheers,
PISTOL

[MacSteve]

I'm not going to say you can strike for any job because I'm not 100%... but I know a few IT's that were former airmen. So as undes you can also talk to people about their jobs to get an idea since you won't be able to work everybody.

[sketch]

So had a potentially great event happen today. My recruiter gave me a call around 5pm asking If I was free Wed. We are going to go to MEPS Wednesday morning he says, to see about digging up some potential open positions. I'm trying hard not to get my hopes too far up. But if I am very very lucky, I may get the number 1 item on my Xmas list, a ship date.

Also I found out that my deceased fathers adopted father was either an MCPO or a Command Master Chief during World War II. He operated primarily on US Submarines. I plan on finding out more solid details in the near future when I can acquire some of his old military effects. Either way though, It is very exciting to find out I had such an honored individual in my family, especially one who served during WWII.

[Retired Navy Chief]

So had a potentially great event happen today. My recruiter gave me a call around 5pm asking If I was free Wed. We are going to go to MEPS Wednesday morning he says, to see about digging up some potential open positions. I'm trying hard not to get my hopes too far up. But if I am very very lucky, I may get the number 1 item on my Xmas list, a ship date.

Also I found out that my deceased fathers adopted father was either an MCPO or a Command Master Chief during World War II. He operated primarily on US Submarines. I plan on finding out more solid details in the near future when I can acquire some of his old military effects. Either way though, It is very exciting to find out I had such an honored individual in my family, especially one who served during WWII.

Very cool ... on all fronts. Good luck at MEPs ... keep you eyes and mind open. There are good jobs and some that they just need to fill. Do what fits YOU.

Keep us posted.

Cheers,
PISTOL