Undesignated Airman

[sealsluvhockey]

Hey All, just received a letter from my son stating he got his job assigment and he is not happy. He said he is an undesignated airman. Why does this seem like it is not such a great job? Is it the uncertainty of not knowing what your going to be doing exactly for the next year or so? Any comments you can share would be appreciated. When he arrived at Great Lakes in September he stated he was going to Pensacola for A school after boot, but does this still happen if your an undesignated Airman?

Thanks for your support.......

[proud navy boatswainsmate]

there is an undes A school per say. basically its a basic airman crash course. just a few weeks of general air department procedures and knowledge. once he gets to the ship he will most definately be working in air department. either flight deck, hanger bay or fuels. this can range from fueling aircraft, directing aircraft on the flight deck or hanger bay or working on either the arresting gear or catapults. many different jobs to do within the air rating.

[CrackerjackMom]

Did he have a rate picked out going into BC and then get switched?
I like to think of Undesignated as being a "Temp", they will put him where ever they need a person for a job. (maybe assigned to a ship) While he is there he will get to see all sorts of jobs and talk to the people doing the job. And then he will be able to decide on a job that you would like to strike for.
There are good things and bad things with it has there is with any job. He just will need to stay informed with his higher ups when he gets his orders after A school.
For now just tell him to concentrate on his BC, is that where he still is?
I do believe the Air A school is in Pensacola.

[Molly mom of 2 + 330,701 sailors]

Undesignated has gotten a bad rap --because normally to be an undesignated you have failed out of another rate. And they tend to assosiate that with a negitive thing.
But so many undes and guys who tried to be SEAL/s (this is not an easy task and one that the majority fail out of) Others didnt pass enough tests in their rate. (didnt pass a test-thats it)
Some of the greatest sailors are undes ---they are the hardest working, good morals etc.
Of course like anything else there are the *others* that did something bad to get there.
This Undes lets you explore rates and then choose the one you want to do --- I personally think Undes can be the best thing that happen to you. If you read in the main room you will find wildly sucsessful stories of sailors who were/are Undes.
I do believe that he will still go to P'cola for trainging as that is where all airmen tend to go ---he is airman JUST undes airmen.

[sealsluvhockey]

Thank you, that really made my day!!! :) Have a great one!!!

[Patty]

My son is undesignated Airman and his training was in Pensacola. He was excited when he graduated from this school because his was the first class to ever graduate in the AB hall of fame. Not sure what that is but he thought it was great!! He is now assigined to the Ronald Reagan. Seems to love San Diego and the people that he is working with there.

[sealsluvhockey]

Thanks for the info Patty

[Sue, Nate's Mom]

Hi Undes families.....I just joined this rank today as my brand new sailor left for Pcola two week school and then off to San Diego to work on RR. I was a little unhappy with this, but my sailor wasn't so.....I need to suck it up. He dropped his SEAL contract two months before BC and then couldn't strike another rate before bc......

[Tonya, Mom of Caleb]

Hi Sue and everyone. My son is also headed to Pensacola as undes. Airman. Sue, glad to see you are here, too. I look forward to getting to know you all.

My Sailor has two weeks at A school and then off to Japan in January. He is not upset about being undesignated and looks at it as a good thing to find what he likes. He didn't pick a rate before bootcamp so his options are wide open in his book.