No more Seaman!

[Muppet]

Congrats brother.

F.M.

 

[CDG]

When I made 3rd class, my arm was black & blue for a week. I've heard now things have changed though.

Just wait to you get your pin, go through Shellback, Chief's initiation, etc. Man, those were good times. No other service carries on tradition like the Navy does.

Meh. Shellback ain't what it used to be either. You have the option of not even participating if you don't want to. And I believe they banned making the Wogs crawl around on the non-skid and shit. Certain rates still carry on the tacking of the crows when making rank (like GM and BM). Never got my ESWS, so I don't know what they do with that.

 

[FatGrat]

Congratulations, I hope you take your new leadership role seriously. It will pay off in the long run.

 

[CDG]

I just know E-4 was always a big thing amongst our Corpsmen. E-4 is technically an NCO in the Navy, just like it is in the Marines. The load of responsibility varies though I'm sure.

Indeed it does. An E-4 in the Navy has a responsibility level comparable to a senior E-2 or junior E-3 in the USMC. With something like the FC rate, where almost everyone automatically gets E-4, everyone else that's brand new to the command is the same rank as you, so being an E-4 really just means a bigger check. You're going to be the division's bitch since you are the most junior guy. It's not like you can just go grab some E-2 or E-3 to come clean your shit for you or whatever. Honestly, E-4s really only have NCO type duties in certain rates. Engineering, GMs, BMs, and MAs all will generally have E-4s tasked with some responsibility. Typically your workcenter supervisor (sort of like a squad leader) will be an E-5, and then your Division LPO will be an E-6. There may be other E-6s, and they will have some responsibility but not much. Typically the Chief will get taskings from the Divison officer (usually an 0-1 or 0-2), pass them on to the LPO, who will pass them on to the WCS, who will mete out the individual assignments. The other thing to keep in mind, and this used to irritate me to no end, is that respect for rank is pretty much non-existent in the Navy. Guys watch their shit around Chiefs and Os, but telling an E-4, E-5, or E-6 to "Fuck off. Do it yourself." is not an uncommon occurrence. The culture of the Navy is such that there is no real magnitude of respect placed on rank below E-7.

 

[CDG]

Working down in the engineering (mechanical) spaces where it's 100+ degrees all the time. And working with the cooks, washing dishes, serving food, dumping trash, etc.

Not many guys work Engineering for their cranking tour. Typically that is only reserved for the undesignated firemen. The exception to that rule being if the kitchen is over-staffed, or engineering is under-staffed. If you can, try to get into the Wardroom. Way better work environment and shorter hours. Better food to steal too. ;) And you are sorely mistaken when you say that you work WITH the cooks. You do fucking everything for the cooks while they sit on their asses and play cards or watch TV.

 

[IT101]

Guys watch their shit around Chiefs and Os, but telling an E-4, E-5, or E-6 to "Fuck off. Do it yourself." is not an uncommon occurrence. The culture of the Navy is such that there is no real magnitude of respect placed on rank below E-7.

Agree with the first part. Second part is very job specific. No offense CDG, but GM's are very brazen and will tell you to f--- off if you ask them to do anything they don't *feel like* doing. In other jobs, like BM's, you will get your ass handed to you physically and verbally if you spout off. Hell, they'll run you through the ringer if the other person has a day or two more time-in-rate than you.

You do fucking everything for the cooks while they sit on their asses and play cards or watch TV.

Wholeheartedly agree. Though I couldn't work in the Wardroom, playing waiter to some spineless, inexperienced newbies.

 

[CDG]

Agree with the first part. Second part is very job specific. No offense CDG, but GM's are very brazen and will tell you to f--- off if you ask them to do anything they don't *feel like* doing. In other jobs, like BM's, you will get your ass handed to you physically and verbally if you spout off. Hell, they'll run you through the ringer if the other person has a day or two more time-in-rate than you.
.

True. BM is really the only rate where this occurs though. I think that's due to the fact that a BM3 is typically in charge of a bunch of undesignated seamen. BMSNs or even BMSAs are treated far differently that undes guys, but they are far fewer in number than the undes seamen are. Those anchors on your shoulder make a huge difference.

 

[Chopstick]

Congrats!

 

[SkrewzLoose]

I'd rather be someone's bitch as an FC3 than a BM3 in charge of the undes crew.

 

[SkrewzLoose]

Meh. Shellback ain't what it used to be either. You have the option of not even participating if you don't want to. And I believe they banned making the Wogs crawl around on the non-skid and shit. Certain rates still carry on the tacking of the crows when making rank (like GM and BM). Never got my ESWS, so I don't know what they do with that.

Yep, from what some instructors told us, you can opt out of the shellbacking initiation and correct on the non-skid as well.
Never got your ESWS, what exactly DID you do in the Navy??

 

[parallel]

Yep, from what some instructors told us, you can opt out of the shellbacking initiation and correct on the non-skid as well.
Never got your ESWS, what exactly DID you do in the Navy??

ESWS = Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and, at least when I was active duty, the vast majority of shipboard personnel did not qualify and only roughly half were even trying.

I'm a "Boats" that spent some time on NSW Boats... given that, most won't be surprised that I've told many a fucker to piss off or eat nonskid, collar insignia notwithstanding.

Back when I was in the best kept secret in the Navy, we didn't have a fancy school and new compound. We were basically equal parts trained/hazed by SEALs and SEAL wannabes until we got the NEC. It was great fun and I really miss those days. I would wager that one of the reasons they now have the closed loop SWCC community is because of fuckers like me... LOL.

Congrats on your "Crow", push button or not... although, you REALLY need to have someone "tack" that thing on or it might fall off.

 

[IT101]

ESWS = Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and, at least when I was active duty, the vast majority of shipboard personnel did not qualify and only roughly half were even trying.

I'm a "Boats" that spent some time on NSW Boats... given that, most won't be surprised that I've told many a fucker to piss off or eat nonskid, collar insignia notwithstanding.

Anymore, not getting your ESWS makes you look like a shitbag. My ship made it borderline absurdly easy, but I'm not complaining.

Love that second half. As an IT, I can tactfully get away with doing that, but even I envy your background.

 

[parallel]

My ship made it borderline absurdly easy...

This is what happens when something becomes a bullet on one's eval versus a legitimate accomplishment.

 

[IT101]

This is what happens when something becomes a bullet on one's eval versus a legitimate accomplishment.

Just like the idea of volunteer work! People spoke of when it became mainstream, a plea from the CNO for people to give to their communities. Now some people use that as a method to "standout", forsaking their real jobs just to get that volunteer bullet. Our NC1 on my ship was involved in everything from DC Training Team to FP Training Team and everything in between, but not so good at the actual job.

 

[CDG]

Never got your ESWS, what exactly DID you do in the Navy??

Lol. I had dreams of being a bar-fightin', NYC gun carryin', beach volleyball playin' Frogman and figured it didn't matter. I was in the Fleet for 3 1/2 years before going to BUD/S, and after I DORd and went back to a boat for the last couple months I was in I just didn;t give a shit and wanted to get out. Not the right attitude to have, but it was how I looked at it then. If I could do it over again,I would have gotten it.

Also, if you get your ESWS before your number is called for cranking, you can avoid having to do that.

 

[SkrewzLoose]

ESWS = Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and, at least when I was active duty, the vast majority of shipboard personnel did not qualify and only roughly half were even trying.

I'm a "Boats" that spent some time on NSW Boats... given that, most won't be surprised that I've told many a fucker to piss off or eat nonskid, collar insignia notwithstanding.

Back when I was in the best kept secret in the Navy, we didn't have a fancy school and new compound. We were basically equal parts trained/hazed by SEALs and SEAL wannabes until we got the NEC. It was great fun and I really miss those days. I would wager that one of the reasons they now have the closed loop SWCC community is because of fuckers like me... LOL.

Congrats on your "Crow", push button or not... although, you REALLY need to have someone "tack" that thing on or it might fall off.

There's an 18 month "time limit" on getting your ESWS now. I'm not sure how harsh your talking-to is if you don't meet that timeline but that's the way it goes.
So were you telling people to piss off/eat non-skid because they were yelling at you for painting over a rotating gun mount, or did they start it?
I'll have the nice Asian lady at the NEX sew this one one. I'll worry about getting my arm punched until it's numb when I make 2nd class.

 

[IT101]

There's an 18 month "time limit" on getting your ESWS now. I'm not sure how harsh your talking-to is if you don't meet that timeline but that's the way it goes.
So were you telling people to piss off/eat non-skid because they were yelling at you for painting over a rotating gun mount, or did they start it?
I'll have the nice Asian lady at the NEX sew this one one. I'll worry about getting my arm punched until it's numb when I make 2nd class.

Yeah, the 18 month time limit is kind of semi-enforced, depending on who your local Chain of Command consists of. I was the super, shit hot SysAdmin (yeah, right...) on my boat, so I was afforded some leniency. It screwed me for applying for JCU, though, but live and learn.

 

[Scotth]

Congrats on the promotion.

Not knowing much about the Navy, which guy are you in this picture?

Someone has to try an pickup the clipart slack. Mara has been dropping the ball lately.

 

[CDG]

Yeah, the 18 month time limit is kind of semi-enforced, depending on who your local Chain of Command consists of. I was the super, shit hot SysAdmin (yeah, right...) on my boat, so I was afforded some leniency. It screwed me for applying for JCU, though, but live and learn.

I thought the time limit only came in once you made E-5? I swear I remember it being that once you made E-5, you had 18 months to earn whatever pin was applicable. ESWS, Air Warfare, Seabee, EXW, whatever.

 

[IT101]

I thought the time limit only came in once you made E-5? I swear I remember it being that once you made E-5, you had 18 months to earn whatever pin was applicable. ESWS, Air Warfare, Seabee, EXW, whatever.

You are correct- I chalk up my lack of clarification up to being on mids (and a terrible memory). I know I overshot that by a significant amount, but that's irrelevant to the overall idea.

To be honest, though, it still goes back to the CoC and how much they push for ESWS quals since some divs were even pushing their senior (hard to mak E-4 rates) E-3's to get qual'ed.