Comments

• 

  Paul Jacobs April 11, 2017 at 3:35am

  Has anyone had someone graduate PR "A" school in Pensecola?  I know it won't be like PIR, but wanting to know what to expect.  Possibly thinking of going down for son's graduation
• 

  Val February 12, 2017 at 4:47pm

  Sorry to hear that she ended up with a job that isn't what she wanted. I am surprised that the detailer at MEPs did not explain the job to her (my son was given a print out explaining his choice).

  To answer your question, it is difficult to change ratings. I have known two people who were able to switch jobs (mostly because they were in an overmanned rating), but it doesn't happen very often.
• 

  CathieRenee February 12, 2017 at 12:25pm

  Gerard... just for the sake of accuracy... "Rate" refers to a sailor's pay grade and "Rating" refers to a sailor's job. So, I will assume you are referring to the possibility of a rating change for your sailor. Sailors do change ratings but I don't know any specific details.

  I have found that recruiters and even websites are not accurate or updated when it comes to ratings descriptions and qualifications. In some cases, I think the recruiters just do not know.
• 

  Gerard A Martina February 12, 2017 at 11:34am

  Cathie, thanks for the quick feedback. To clarify, she entered as an AS with the guaranteed AS A school. That wasn't/isn't the issue. Part of the problem is that the recruiter sold her on the idea that she would be working on the aircraft airframe area. As a civilian pilot, I am well aware of the opportunities for post military work as an IA or even an IAP. Most of those are centered around airframe experience. My daughter was not aware of the total picture of the AS rate as she probably took the recruiter's word for what she would be doing. She would have had no reason to request a rate change at RTC because she didn't know what lay ahead until she got to Pensacola and school. Either way dear, a change in rate at Great Lakes is probably a great deal easier BEFORE A School than after. I spent time both on shore as well as at sea, and there seemed to always be someone looking to change rates and it did happen. I had 3 cruises to VN as well as hospital duty at GLNH . We would love for her to maintain/regain her original dream of making the Navy a career choice, so I was asking how difficult the "rate change" policy is in "Todays Navy".   
• 

  CathieRenee February 12, 2017 at 11:05am

  Gerard...did she enlist as an AM or AS? The AS job description is "Aviation support equipment technicians perform preventive and corrective maintenance on aviation support equipment, aviation mobile firefighting units, material handling equipment, hoisting and lifting devices, and associated components and systems; service, inspect, test, troubleshoot, and repair gasoline and diesel engine systems, transmission systems, hydraulic, hydrostatic, and pneumatic systems, steering and suspension systems, cryogenic systems, electrical systems, gas turbine compressor units, electrical and hydraulic power generating equipment, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems (excluding avionics support equipment); manage support equipment assets at different command levels; and provide training in operation and maintenance of aviation support equipment.^[1]"

  Either way, I would think either rating would translate easily to a civilian job.

  Also, I don't know what you mean by this "new Navy's policy regarding DEP assignments of rate prior to RTC." I don't think this is anything new. My son's rating was changed during RTC in 2004.
• 

  Gerard A Martina February 12, 2017 at 10:13am

  perhaps this is a crazy question from an old corpsman regarding the new Navy's policy regarding DEP assignments of rate prior to RTC. My daughter was "told" "informed" that her aviation rate in "A" school would entail aircraft frame maint. and repair. As it turned out her "A" school was as a mechanic on peripheral equipment as an AS. She completed A school and has been assigned for 3 years to a marine air station doing this. She has informed me that she can't change/request a change in rate for at least 2 years and then she would need to either extend or ship over early for another A school. The short of it is that she will not stay in the Navy doing this job and it would appear that her entry level E-3 status and E-4 exam coming up in March(she only has 8 months in), is a sweet and sour deal. She would love to participate in the STA-21 program, but that is a backlogged list of hopefuls. Advice/Comments anyone? Thank you in advance. 
• 

  Chuck June 19, 2015 at 4:00pm

  Dates for the 2015 NAS Oceana Air Show.

  http://oceanaairshow.com/

  NAS Oceana Air Show

  September 19-20, 2015
• 

  Chuck April 1, 2015 at 5:06am

  Hello back at you Kenneth!  I have 2 Airdales. One on the east coast and one on the west.
• 

  Kenneth March 29, 2015 at 8:29pm

  I would like to say hello to all of the airdale dads out there. I was an airdale when I served and my son is one now. he is stationed on the USS George Washington he has been in for almost two years and we are very proud of him
• 

  NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary February 15, 2014 at 12:56am

  From a tourist standpoint Hawaii truly is gem a breathtaking paradise. Had several relatives who lived there for years but have since relocated here on the mainland. I've always wondered why... I gather every beautiful gorgeous place one travels too may have the same effect until you actually make it your home then the reality of every day living kicks in... But I also believe of course everyone's situation is unique so for some this may be a perfect fit and others not... http://spousebuzz.com/blog/2013/06/why-hawaii-living-isnt-really-pa...