Going Undesignated

[EMC (SS)]

Ma'am, 
I wanted to clarify what it means to be undesignated. Many people will tell you that it is a horrible thing. I wanted to dispel this as some of the happiest Sailors that I know have started off undesignated. It gives them the opportunity to go to sea on a ship right away rather then coming into the Navy and sitting in a school for 6 months to 2 years. It also provides them the time to see and experience what each of the divisions actually do before picking their rating rather then hear about it from a someone else and guess that it sounds cool.

- What is it? Being undesignated is just that you currently have no rating. This could be for a variety of reasons ranging from failing out of an "A" School to actually signing up for the Navy as an undesignated striker. 

- Will you have to clean and paint? Yes, however so will every single enlisted sailor in the US Navy. I'm a Chief and I am still cleaning and painting. 

- Will you work in the Galley and have to clean dishes and help the cooks? Yes, however this is the same for every E-4 and below reporting to a Ship for the first time. It is known as being a Food Service Attendant (FSA) and every Sailor will do it for somewhere between 30 - 90 days.

- So what is the difference then? As an unrated person when you get to your ship you won't be directly slated to a division. (Electricians (EMs) go to electrical division; Cooks (CS) go to mess division) Instead you work directly for the Command Master Chief (CMC/COB). You will normally be assigned to Deck Division. They are responsible for all of the topside equipment (changes on the size of the ship for specific breakdown) but they normally have the very important job of taking care of anything needed to work on the deck, damage control gear for man over board issues, the ship's quarterdeck and general condition of the exterior of the ship. You will spend your time working on your divisional work load and learning Navy basics like seamanship; flag signals; rule of the road (navigation); damage control; warfare qualifications; using the PMS (preventative maintenance system) and you will be given the opportunity to work with several other divisions onboard. 

-Then what? Well, the standard first sea tour is approxamatly 18 months and then the Sailor will pick a rating that their ASVAB score (it can be retaken with a request to attempt a better score) qualifies them for then they will go to "A" school and will gain a rating. The Sailor's performance will go into the CO's recommendation for what school that they get to attend. So, encourage them to give their level best everyday and have a positive attitude.  After this they may go back to the same ship or be sent to another depending on their desires and the needs of the Navy. There are a few jobs that do not require going to an A-school, the rating Boatswain Mate (BM) would be one example. 

Very Respectfully,
EMC (SS) 

[julieand3]

I'm posting to an old post (dated 4/28/11) but I am wondering how your son's experience was, as my son is also going in undesignated in an apprenticeship program as well.  You summed up my feelings, I just want him to have a great experience when he leaves.  Thank you, Anxious SR Mom 

[silva4navy]

Hi my name is Lesa and I just enlisted last month ! I enlisted with the seaman apprentice (PACT ) program .

My recruiter claims that majority of the people that are happy in the navy started out in the PACT program because they were able to experience all the different rate ! 

But from reading what others have to say I don't want to be the bottom of the totem pole or the ship bitch, I am a hard worker and enjoys studying .... I pick up on things quickly do as I'm told and not complain .

my recruiter tells me that from everything he see's in me he believes It will not take me long to be able to get my   rank up and achieve my ultimate goal of becoming an officer. 

* I enlisted last month and since then have already memorized my sailors creed and chain of command from E-7 as well as the Navy history currently working on my 11 general Orders and PT

Is it too late to get the rate I want ????????

I scored a 57 on my ASVAB as well as I speak 3 languages ( Spanish , Tagalog, English ) and have 45 collage credit 

Im wondering if their is anything I can do to become a yeoman or cryptologist ?

I have taken the online linguists test and passed it !!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated 

[Angie]

You can put in a DAR with your recruiter asking to change rates...BUT that doesn't mean it will happen.  There has to be an opening for the rate for you to get it.  Also you won't be able to change rates in bootcamp or PACT training, you will have to be on board your ship for at least 12 months to request a school (and if you want crypto, you have to go to school).

 

As far as bing on the bottom of the totem pole of the ship bitch...ummm ever jr person is on the bottom of the totem pole, even if they went to "A" school and have a rating, they will still be swabbing the deck and taking the trash out, painting the ship, and doing the dirty work...that is just how it is.

 

What will happen is during bootcamp you will get your orders to your first command, after bootcamp you will go to about 2 weeks of school, after school you may be (normally are) allowed 1-2 weeks leave (aka vacation), than you go to your first duty station.  Once you get to your first duty station you will be put in one division, you will work in that division.  On YOUR off time, you can go see what other people on the ship do, normally they do not move PACT Sailors around from division to divsion so you can see all the jobs.  That just normally isn't done, reason being is the division you are put in needs people to do work, so you are a body to do work. 

 

Sorry to say, most ships don't have many if any YN's or CT's on board, so you won't really get to see what they do. 

 

Regarding the 57 on the ASVAB..sorry that doesn't mean much if anything, it is the line scores that mean something and to get CT like you want you need to have the DLAB and to have at least a 105 on that. 

 

Recommend you talk to your recrutier and ask to put in a DAR for what ever ratings you are trying to get..BUT do not count on that getting approved before you leave for bootcamp. 

 

 

[ScaredmomSandy 9/355]

WOW, I am so glad i found and read this.  My Son, (a Depper) finally went in today undesignated.  I was worried exactly about what you wrote.  Thank you Thank You Thank you

[Angie]

Don't stress over him being undes...come join us on the Undesignated group!  Lots of moms' who have loved ones who are unde.

[ScaredmomSandy 9/355]

Not stressing anymore Thanx to the above and you too.  I will definetly check out the undesignated group.  My Son is just starting BC so have a ways to go.

[lemonelephant]

Undesignated...What's Up With That? is the group Angie referred to in her reply.

You may also wish to join, or at least check out, Boot Camp Mom's, PIR Reference Information, and New Members Stop Here.  There will be a lot of information and support for you in those groups.  Once you know your SR's division number and/or PIR date, watch in Boot Camp Mom's for information about the PIR group and/or go to http://www.navyformoms.com/forum/topics/groups-listed-by-pir-date and join the group to connect with others with loved ones training with your SR.

(Group names within this reply are clickable links.  To join a group, click on the group name and after the group page opens, click on "+ Join..." in the upper right.)

[Kristi]

How did your son end up?

[mom051960]

what is a SN-pact?

[lemonelephant]

SN-PACT is S-PACT (Surface Professional Apprenticeship Career Tracks) and is another way of saying Undesignated Seaman. See Professional Apprenticeship Career Tracks (PACT) Program and join Undesignated...What's Up With That?.

[lemonelephant]

Unless he is entering the Navy as an E-3, then he will advance in rate (pay grade) based on time in service.  He will advance from E-1 (SR) to E-2 (SA) after 9 months, if he did not advance in BC and he doesn't mess up. He will advance from E-2 (SA) to E-3 (SN) after 9 months as an E-2 if he doesn't mess up. He must have 6 months as an E-3 before he is eligible to strike for a rating and take the E-4 (PO3) exam. His pay will also increase based on his time in service.