Gunnersmate rating

[Tank102]

Hello again so its my understanding that the MA rating is extremely overmanned and that I probably couldn't get into the rating anytime soon. So if not my second choice would be Gunnersmate, how would one go the small arms route or do you not really have any say so on the matter? Would it be possible to cross rate into MA at a future date when it is no longer overmanned? How much range time does a GM get while on deployment? And lastly do most GM's get sea duty during their first enlistment or do they get stationed on land like at Crane naval base? Thanks again for any help and sorry for all the questions

[VaBchMom]

Hello again so its my understanding that the MA rating is extremely overmanned and that I probably couldn't get into the rating anytime soon. So if not my second choice would be Gunnersmate, how would one go the small arms route or do you not really have any say so on the matter? Would it be possible to cross rate into MA at a future date when it is no longer overmanned? How much range time does a GM get while on deployment? And lastly do most GM's get sea duty during their first enlistment or do they get stationed on land like at Crane naval base? Thanks again for any help and sorry for all the questions

I've got a question...what's Crane naval base? I know someone will answer your other questions.

[sassatease]

My cousin is a GM and his deployments have gone from 4 to a little over 6 months. They do get sea duty their first enlistment. He is just joining his new LCS ship the Independence and their deployments are either 4 or 8 months out of the year. They switch in and out with the other LCS ship I can't remember the name of right now.

[VaBchMom]

The ships are:

USS Freedom (LCS-1), USS Independence (LCS-2), USS Fort Worth (LCS-3), USS Coronado (LCS-4),USS Milwaukee (LCS-5), USS Jackson (LCS-6), USS Detroit (LCS-7), USS Montgomery (LCS-8), and the USS Little Rock (LCS-9).

[Tank102]

Vabeachmom Crane naval base is a base here by my fathers house in Bloomington Indiana and to the best of my knowledge is an ammunition depot. Sassatease thank you for answering one of my questions.

[VaBchMom]

I'm from the Chicago area and obviously knew about GL and we had a naval air station in Glenview till BRAC had it closed a couple of years ago. I had never heard of this base....you really can learn a lot of stuff on this site! :smile:

[DK3]

GM's are assigned to almost all ships that have arms. The GM"s maintain those arms (small arms and the big guns) as well as ammunition, etc. As far as the 5" guns, etc, if you are assigned to a ship that specialize inn those weapons, you would be sent to C school to learn those skills.

Bases have armories as well and while on shore duty, you could be assigned to one of those billets. You wouldn't be assigned to a ammo depot just because you are an GM. Just the needs of the Navy.

As far as cross rating into MA, wouldn't count on it, especially anytime soon because it is overmanned.

[Tank102]

Ok thanks again DK3. How often do GM's get to actually shoot the weapons they maintain? I would think quite a bit am I right? My grandfather was a GM and then later joined the UDT team and then SEAL team when they came to be so I will talk to him about it too but I'm sure things have changed a lot since then

[DK3]

Not that often. However, when underway, the GM's will set up a range on the flight deck or fantale in order to give training to the crew and the various security teams on the various weapons. That happened approximately every 6 months or so.

[Tank102]

Ok thanks, what about those on a VBSS team? Do they get trigger time often or no? And if that's something I would decide to pursue how would I do so?

[DK3]

Read post #9 above about the crew and various security teams. ;)

About how to join a VBSS team, ask Steve, I think he volunteered for that team if I remember correctly. But the first thing you will have to do though is to get through Boot Camp, A School and then get to the fleet and then get all of your qualifications complete before you would be allowed to volunteer for such a team.

[Tank102]

Gotcha sir thank you once again. Sorry for all the questions I just like to learn as much as possible before I commit atleast the next 4 years of my life.

[DK3]

No problem, that's what we are here for!

[Tank102]

One more question, if I get to enlist as an MA and then later decided to cross-rate into GM how hard would that be? I understand that I would atleast need to finish my first contract out right? Then re-enlist into GM?

[DK3]

I'm not sure of the current rules as to how quickly you would be able to crossrate. One of the Active Duty folks will have to advise you of that time period.

The CREO listing for MA is showing that
E4 Overmanned
E5 Manned at appropriate level
E6 Overmanned.

The CREO for GM is showing that
E4 Manned at appropriate level
E5 Manned at appropriate level
E6 Manned at appropriate level

So, with that information, I think it would be safe to say that crossrating would be easy to do. Of course, you will have to be a hard worker (as a MA) and in general be an outstanding sailor at your command in order for your chain of command to recommend the crossrating.

[sassatease]

It's the USS Freedom that they switch out with.

[Navy GM]

Hello again so its my understanding that the MA rating is extremely overmanned and that I probably couldn't get into the rating anytime soon. So if not my second choice would be Gunnersmate, how would one go the small arms route or do you not really have any say so on the matter? Would it be possible to cross rate into MA at a future date when it is no longer overmanned? How much range time does a GM get while on deployment? And lastly do most GM's get sea duty during their first enlistment or do they get stationed on land like at Crane naval base? Thanks again for any help and sorry for all the questions

I am a GM2 currently stationed in Sicily. My first command was with a Naval Mobile Construction Battalion, and now I am here. If you want to shoot a lot and handle small arms, which is what I do, you would need to be attached to spec war or the Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC). The Seabees are NECC, and I was able to get the SAMI instructor school as well as advanced small arms repairman school. I did a tour in Iraq, a tour in Africa, and a tour in Afghanistan with them. I am a straight small arms gunnersmate, which sounds like that's what you want to do. The only problem with this is you don't get to choose your first command, i just happened to get lucky. You would have to go needs of the Navy, do your time at your first command and then when you get to pick orders, go to a command you would want. If you want trigger time and to shoot a lot, I would recommend trying to go Riverine after your first command. They have a lot of funding, good schools for GM's, and an excellent arsenal. Also, to be a SAMI instructor, you need to be an
E5 so make that rank! good luck in your travels, brother.