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My daughter's a DC and she's really not liking it. She's currently in A-School and has yet to go out to the fleet.  I'm looking for advice about the realities of the job from other DCs because she says she hasn't really been able to get a realistic picture about the actual job from her studies.  I'd like to be able to pass on some advice to her from people who do it.  Any input would be helpful.  Thanks!

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PS: She's read the official "job description." She is looking for real-time experience -- and whether they like it or not when they're actually doing it.

I actually just had my Sailor write a letter to another Sailor in A school to help provide some encouragement. If you'd like, you can email me, and I'll forward the letter to you to send to your daughter. Brandi. brandiwhyne321@yahoo.com.

I am a mother of a DCA and I cant really tell you alot but my son would probally be glad to email her to give her some insight to what to expect. this may be helpful? 

 

My son went in un-designated damage control.Eng/Fn.... attached below is what it means.... he loves it... he's not much of a book worm for education so this was a win win situation for him he went right off to a ship after basic Navy school after boot camp

there was a mom on here who's daughter was not enjoying A school for Damage Control I wish her recruiter had let her know about un-designated

 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. 

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