New girl looking for some answers...

[rmb]

Hey everyone, I'm new here so you may have to bear with me. My boyfriend ships for BC on March 6th, and the closer that date comes the more anxious I get. I've pretty much accepted the fact that BC will be hell for both of us, but we'll get through it. He's an AD, so he'll be in Pensacola for A school (correct?). But what I'm really worried about is what comes after that. Do they get any kind of choice in where they're assigned after A school? I'm in college, so moving to be near him probably isn't an option for me - is there anyway to know how often I'll get to see him? Or how often he'll be on a ship? I did have one question about BC - when should we know about his grad date? Because if he leaves in March as planned, there's a good chance his PIR will be right in the middle of my finals, and I'd like to know as soon as possible so I can do everything in my power to be there.

Thanks in advance, and sorry if this all seems kind of frazzled, but that's about how I feel; it just seems like there's so much to figure out sometimes...

[meagan5220]

First off I would suggest reading through past discussion you will see tons of tips and advice on how to get through BC. Also his ship date might get moved up my husbands did...by about 5 months or even moved back so just be rady. Idk where AD school is but it should say on his contract wher he is going and how long it should be, but you also have to know there are hold times not only before their classes start but sometimes even for orders after they finish A school.

 

As for where they go. Some rates apparently still get to choose from what there is available based on how well they did in the class. My husbands rate was told to fill out a dream sheet and the top ppl would get their top picks. Not true. He was second in his class and got so far away from any of his picks it wasnt even funny. Some kid at the bottom of the class got my husband's first choice. So its def where the Navy needs you... not ppl but you. Usually the ships have deployments of about 6-8 months and I cant remember how long technically there is between deployments bc the ship my husband just got assigned to apparently doesnt follow that rule in any way shape or form. You can look up the rotation but my husbands rate is like 5 years sea duty, 3 years shore. Most guys get sea first unless they are needed elsewhere.

 

You can estimate his grad date its usually about 8 weeks from when they leave but its not always the case. But he should send a form letter by week 3 with the date and who he put on his guest list.

 

Hope that helps some. Feel free to ask away or look through old post. People have asked questions you might not have even thought about so you can get info you never knew you needed. Its a learning process. Thats why we help each other out. Just pay it forward

 

[chelsealoo]

I think it depends on his rate whether or not he will have a "choice" on his duty station. By choice, its generally east or west coast, nothing more specific and only if he does very well in A School.. (this is the information we recieved from our recruiter) My SR is a SeaBee so this may not be correct for your guy.. You will know his grad date when you recieve his form letter, a week or so after he arrives at RTC.

[KP (ship 09 Div 291)]

Boot camp is really not as bad as it seems! the first couple weeks are very hard but after that it gets lots and lots easier!! My husbands division got to end up making about seven calls total during bootcamp, which is very unusual, but your boyfriend could get lucky too!  You really miss looking forward to receiving letters and being appreciative of all the little things!

Like previous posters said, it really depends on what the Navy needs. They have certain billets to fill and they have to fill them, regardless of what a Sailor may or may not want. My husband is a completely different rate, but my sister is dating a Sailor that is in Pensacola right now and graduates A school in a couple weeks and every single guy in his class got assigned to a ship. He said that he wont know exactly whats going to happen until he gets to where the ship is. Every rate has different sea and shore duty rotations, so youll just have to research how his rate runs.

 

There is SO much to learn in the Navy, it is so overwhelming. Just breathe and use this site and Google alot! Thats what I did and my husband tells me that I know more about the Navy than he does! lol. But don't ever just take someones word for it, make sure he talks to the right person about all decisions. Another word of advice, I strongly advise that your Sailor be very proactive in finding out any information he needs or may want to know. My husband has been and we have received so much help from people. I know other wives that husbands just sit back and are lazy and they honestly have no clue what is going on.... which is very frustrating to a significant other who is curious and wants to be in the loop! :)

[Anti M]

These ladies answered your question so well, I have little to add.

Aviation rates can also be assigned to air wings or squadrons.  They still deploy, some with the big carriers, some to overseas locations.  Those deployments match the ships, six months plus.

[meagan5220]

I think I learned most of everything I know from you Anti M  lol :) I forgot about squadrons though.

[rmb]

So what exactly is the difference between being assigned to an air wing or squadron vs a ship? And sea duty vs shore duty?

[meagan5220]

I dont know all the differences between a ship and a squadron exactly. but a ship you are only on that ship and you do what it does. You live where the ship is stationed and you are assigned to  shop on the ship that does various things on the ship. A squadron is usually stationed elsewhere from the ship, my husbands are in California and Virginia I think. and they have a job dealing with the airplanes that are a part of the squardon or helicopters. Like my husband is an aviation mechanic on the ship and they work on parts that get taken off the planes and the squadrons have their own mechanics that work on the actual planes themselves. Anti M might know more of the differences. I heard one wife say the squadrons deploy more than the carriers but a wife of a squadron on my husbands ship said they dont. so idk. Sea duty means they will typically be deploying on a ship or squadron throughout the years they are on sea duty. They get sea pay and are attached to a ship or squadron usually. Shore duty is more land based. not to say they do not deploy but they usually are not deployed and not on a ship. Like recruiting, or teaching is considered shore duty or in my husbands case if he got orders to work on planes at a base its shore duty. They dont get sea pay while they are on shore duty. I am new to all this relatively so as far as I have gathered that is the general gist. Again Anti M or more seasoned wives might know more :) And anyone feel free to correct me if I am wrong :)

[Anti M]

Shoot, I just lost my log answer I typed ...

Sea duty means the sailor is attached to a deployable unit or command.   Both ships and squadrons deploy, often together.  How often?  Who knows these days, we aren't supposed to know.  A lot lately.  Does one deploy more than the other?  Yes, no, and maybe.  

Shore duty means the sailor is attached to a non-deployable unit.  This often looks a lot like a day job with duty days.  Can a sailor deploy off of shore duty?  Not usually, although they can go "TAD/TDY"  which is temporary duty.  That can be to another C school to another command, or to a ship if they are desperate for a body in that rate. Unusual though, very unusual.  

Overseas orders can be either sea or shore duty, it depends om the location (isolated) and the command (ship or shore).  Accompanied or unaccompanied, it gets complicated.  Unaccompanied overseas orders are one reason many couples marry before A school ends, when the orders are issued.  Very junior sailors cannot take dependents overseas.  

[meagan5220]

I hate when I lose it! Thanks for clearing it up. I get the concepts but find it hard to put into words!

[Brittany proud Navy Wife :)]

My hubby just got done with Cschool. He isnt AD, he is AE so things will be diff but I can only share what he did. In his Aschool class they wrote a list of Stations on the board, the guys didnt get to go based on grade - they drew cards. Then went in that order. First person got to choose what he wanted and so forth. Sailors under E4 with dependents cant go overseas first duty station, and sailors with any kind of moral waiver cant go overseas as their first duty station.. for this reason Hawaii Shore and Guam where left on the board after my hubbys entire class picked!

He was attached to a Squadron for P3s, which our too big for to landon on a boat so if he ever gets sent out it wont be on a ship. Its likely hell never see a boat. He also has shore duty at a training squadron. He got a Cschool at the same location as his perm duty station.

But every rate and expierense is diff. I dont know anyone that is an AD, but for AEs in pcola that method of choosing seems to be the norm right now. We knew ppl 3 or 4 classes ahead of hubby and they all got their orders that way.

[rmb]

Oh goodness, that does sound complicated, but that clears up a lot. I'm in school and we don't plan on getting married soon, so sadly, I probably won't be able to move anywhere with him unless I can do classes online.

Thanks so much, all you ladies are so awesome. I already feel a little more like I know what I'm doing :)