Moms of Daughters who have a "Rate" of "Machinist Mate"

[Kimi (mom of Kriston)]

Moms of Daughters who have a "Rate" of "Machinist Mate"

Hello:

I am wondering if there are any moms out there that have daughters who are either already working with a rate of "Machinist Mate" or have daughters in training or are planning to go in as "Machinist Mate." I really need to discuss this rate with those that already have an understanding of this field in the Navy. I have concerns about it and I am hoping to alleviate those concerns.

Looking forward to reading replies.

Kathy (kimi)

[Bernadette]

My daughter was trained as an MM but hasn"t been assigned to a ship to use her training yet. I don't think I can be of much help except to say that she loved the training and hopes to get more education in that field. And I always thought she was a "girly girl."

[Carolyn Meyer]

My daughter has been a Machinist Mate since graduating from Great Lakes, Feb. 2005. I guess I won't be much of any help, as I don't know what you mean by "rate"? She has had to study and take some tests to advance to become an MM3 from a MMFN. She is now working on advancing to an MM2, but whatever she needs to be doing and is doing, I don't know. I am surprised that your daughter hasn't been given a ship, Kristen was given a ship right after she was done with A school, and she only had 2 or 3 days notice of leaving to go overseas. I will email/call her to get some info.

With being a MM, Kristen loves her job and reenlisted this past winter. She isn't happy with the ship she is on now, but was moved to a different department and now feels more at home. She fixes everything from a diesel engine to a clothes dryer to an elevator. She is considered an Auxilliary Machinist Mate, which were supposed to be phased out but they are still needed on every ship.

Carolyn

[Kimi (mom of Kriston)]

Hi Carolyn,

Rate: equals job title. My daughters rate has been changed in the middle of her boot camp time and I am trying to learn what I can about Machinist Mate (MM) so that I can have a better understanding of things. Who best to give insight than those with daughters in the machinist mate field. Sure men could give their perspective of the job and some may end up putting their two cents in on what is expected or what they do. I just want to know how it is for a women who has to work down below for hours on end. How they feel about it, have they found it rewarding, is their male counterparts harder on them, or are they treated as equals with such a hard line of work? What all types of task do they perform. Do they get to go above deck at all. Do they get the same treatment as above the deck shipmates do. My questions are endless concerning this job title.

kimi

[Carolyn Meyer]

Hi Kimi,
Finally getting back to reading this and i just got off of the phone with my daughter Kristen. I put across her, some of your concerns about being a MM. Kristen is a conventional(auxilliary) machinists mate. She works alot with more of the regular ships(not nuclear powered, we do still have them!) What she has found out is that you have to be able to hold your own place. If you don't know something, be willing to ask questions and be willing to learn! She has told about some of the women that have come into her department, they were the ones that didn't know about machines, weren't willing to learn, and just sat around and cried, literally. The coworkers could not stand them! Kristen said that the new recruits are trained differently now then when she went through it three/four years ago. The training is now mainly computer with one instructor, when she went through it, there were instructors around all over and it was hands on training. She says that newbies don't know alot!!! You definitely need to know your wrenches! My daughter wasn't the mechanical type so when she picked MM, we were very surprised! Now she can talk garage/shop talk with her Dad and her brothers! She was home for a few weeks last month, but wouldn't fix my clothes dryer, because it wasn't industrial sized!!! So there isn't just one type of machine that they fix, but many different types. Yes, she does get above deck to see the sunshine! Mainly when she has to do watch but there have been times when she saw the bowels of the ship! Main thing is to be willing to learn your job, your daughter will be treated okay.

But then, maybe she will be a nuke? Which is totally different... Best of luck to her!
CTM

[Kimi (mom of Kriston)]

Hi again:

I know your daughter said they get treated well, but are they treated the same as those above the deck? Do they have the same privileges as above deck sailors? Do they get to go off boat when in port and such?? IS there room for advancement as well? I think these are all legitimate questions. :)

Again thank you..
kimi

[JulieR]

I was wondering some of the very same things. My daughter will transfer over to A school tomorrow and her rate is also MM. I am concerned because she doesn't know the first thing about tools and things mechanical. I was very leary when she was given this rate and I'm worried that she will hate it. How long will she have to go to school before they send her out on a ship?