WORRIED

[rmazey]

My son is leaving today for boot camp.  His friend who is in the navy called and talked to him.  My son is going in as an undesignated airman.  His friend said don't do it.  when choosing his career path no one was there to help him, his recruter could not make it and was told that someone would be there to help but was this the wrong thing to do?  Now what I am afraid he is going to hate it and not get anything out of it with everything his friend said.  As a mom is there anything I can do or say to him.  I really do not know anthing about this stuff and I am very concerned.  My son was all excited to go into the military and now I am not so sure.  He was concidering making a career out of it and now I feel this will change his mind.  If anyone knows what to tell him or suggest to him so I can ease his mind please tell me.

 

[Anti M]

Being undesignated is just the long way around.  He will be out in the fleet almost immediately, unlike the sailors with long A schools and time on their hands to get into trouble.  He will be working the less desirable jobs at first, but the junior new guys always do.  He can learn a variety of jobs hands on, talk to sailors doing the different jobs, volunteer to work in different departments, and decide what truly interests him most. Of course, as an airman, he'll be experiencing the aviation world.  After one year he can request an A school which he qualifies for.

 

In a way, it is more flexible than a contract which locks him into one rate.  He can advance up to E-3 without being designated.  Plenty of time to decide his future if he wants to leave right npow.

 

If he holds out for a contract, he may get a school straight out of boot camp, but what if he hates that rate?  He's stuck.  So the positive to undesignated is his ability to experience the fleet before locking himself into a rate.

 

[Kathy (AOMom)]

Even the new sailors that are just completing A school, get the yucky jobs. They all have to put in the time for duty, watch, TAD (temporary assigned duty) which on a ship means galley duty or painting, even if they have been to A school and C school. Myself I think its a great way to find out exactly what each rate/job he  does like.They are all junior sailors and have to learn the ropes (so to speak) and like it or not have to complete whatever assignment is given to them. My sailor is AO-aviation ordnance- she is with a squadron attached to a carrier, before the ship goes out for deployment they do workups, and training on the ship, she didnt do all the stuff her squadron did, she had galley duty for 90 days. He will have plenty of time to make a career out of it, and when in boot camp they tell them not to decide or even think about making a career out of it until you have been in for at least a year. Its all a process, and he will go through them all, just like every sailor, and get paid like everyone else to do it. Even if he got the rate he wanted, he may change his mind, give him time, he will find out if its for him as he goes along. Best of luck.

[CryptoBiz]

Even as an E-4, after a couple years, I had all the "yucky" jobs...I still cranked, I still chipped paint, I still painted, I still cleaned the heads...EVERYBODY has to do it. What's wrong with undesignated? There's nothing wrong with it? The recruiters say that it is a "way to view the other rates, before choosing your own." It's a true statment, but Anti M said it best as it's the long way around. However, with PTS scaring everybody, if he falls in love with a rate, if it is adequately manned, he's not going to get it. Your sailor will have to choose a rate that has a lower percentage of manning.

[BunkerQB]

Thanks for being here, CryptoBiz. The voice of experience is always more meaningful than hearing it second handed from a mom. That is why Anti M's words are always on target. Kathy has good "horse" or common sense.

@rmazey, my son is a nuke officer on a sub in HI. My son told me that nobody wants (likes) to do cleaning but everyone has to do it sometimes. He will go in on his days off, roll up his sleeves and help his guys clean. He gets a chance to know his guys (and vice versa), the job gets done faster. Even the captain comes in sometimes. Every job is important and is worthy of doing well. It is about being a part of the team. Good luck to your son. His attitude about this will be observed. Don't let someone derail his career before it even begins. If your son is OK with it, don't harp about it.

[Kathy (AOMom)]

So are you calling me horses ass...LOL  I bet you know I love horses and own one!  Hope I havent turned into one! Its all good.

[BunkerQB]

Horse traders are well respected for their negotiating skills, I'll have you know. It's quite a compliment for a member of the female persuasion to be call such. As for turning into a ........  hahahaha.....  you and and I are often blunt and the danger is always there. We can't all be as sweetly blunt as Anti M. LOL.

[Kathy (AOMom)]

So true, but I aspire to be as sweet someday...if the stars are aligned correctly!

[Anti M]

"sweetly blunt"?  LOL, I got sweet from my mom, the nicest woman on earth. I got blunt from my sailor dad.

 

You should hear me when I get going, hehehehe.

[Kathy (AOMom)]

I would love to have a sit down visit with both  you and BunkerBee...I could learn so much!

[CryptoBiz]

I don't think your son should really listen to him; it's his opinion. People in their own rate swear their rate is the best, and if your son is really getting discouraged on somebody's opinion, then he might have a difficult time adjusting because all he thinks about is what his friend said. Tell your son to remain strong, establish his own opinion and do his best. That's all that can be asked...