Undesignated...What's Up With That?

Oh, she really enjoys working and "flying" on the LCAC's. She just got back in July from deployment with the USS Boxer. She can't wait to go again. While she was out she got to do all sorts of jobs. And when they told her she was a BM she was working in some of those jobs and now she would really like to become a BM. She is just having a rough time right now due to what seems to be circumstances beyond her control.

PNBM, thanks so much for your information, I have forwarded it on to her.
I know she is not just lying down she is fighting. She said it happened to some guy also, but he is not even worried about it. Thats what frustrates her, the fact that this happens to her and she really cares. Others could care less, they just want out in four years. She at this point would love to stay.
Which brings me to one last question, for now :). Within the 4 years is there a time limit that you need to be rated, if you go in undes. Especially since she does talk about hoping to reenlist if she can. She has been in over 18 months.

Welcome Shauna, glad you found us, we are a great group for support.
My son is Nuke on a sub. It is a tuff school, Although he finished and has been on a sub for a almost 2 years, I think sometimes he would like a job with a little more physical and exciting aspect. It is mostly just looking a computer screens. So you never know.
I'm sure you son will do fine when he gets to the Reagan. I know now it is a very tough on him as well as you. Just encourage him and be there for him while things are falling into place.

PNBM, I will pass that information along to Tara.
We are so lucky to have you here, thank you for taking the time out to answer our questions. This past few weeks I have been a sounding board for Tara, which I know helps her but, it has been great to be able to pass on some real information that will help her. Instead of just the usual Mom support.
Believe me I tell her the credit goes to you and the Navy for Moms "Undesignated crew." Thanks to all.

Good morning.......ahhh make that afternoon to all. I have been catching up on the posts I missed. Good to see you back Molly, what great things you are doing, are such a bundle of energy.

Sheila good luck to your sailor on the exam. He will do great. And of course to anyone else.

Thanks again to PNBM for all your help and advice behind the scenes.
All I can say is 'What a guy" for everything. Especially when you talked about not taking the advancement test so as to leave a spot for someone else. What an unselfish thing to do. Gave me goose bumps and tears.

Wamom congratulations to Blake on his PIR. Sounds like you had a great time with him. PIR as the best. He should be able to come home before he leaves for Japan. Here is hoping so anyway.

PNBM, please know that my thoughts are with you as you go on this journey. You defiantly sound like you have the attitude of defeating this obstacle.

That was a very cool video, it looked like a lot of Tara's pictures of when she was on deployment, and when she gave us tour of the Boxer. Thanks.

Wamom, that is great that Blake will be home for some time before he leaves.

I think.......It is a program where the councilor puts names to see what jobs you can take test to advance or strike for. I'm sure PNBM can explain it better.
I just heard about that since Tara's mess up. I think it is a new thing replacing a 1306 form.

Thanks for asking about Tara. Things have settled down for her. Probably quicker for her then it did for me. You know how it is.....sitting on the side lines not being able to do much. I will post the Tara story as soon as it's all official.

Hi Everyone, I have been a way for a few days, we went camping along the coast, it was beautiful. We did some hiking and just hanging out on the beach.

Patty what fun to have Wes home, he looks great in the new uniform.

Wow I can't believe it is almost time for Tucker to PIR, that went fast, at least for me it did. LOL! Yes two crackerjacks walking with you will be the best. There will be many Kodak moments. Aaron attended Tara's PIR, what do they call the girls uniform crackerjackies??? Either way it was a very proud weekend. :)
Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Wow we are a quiet bunch this weekend. Hope everyone is doing something fun.

Princess first off Happy Birthday to your Sailor. Since my kids have been in the Navy its a combination of 5 birthday between them that they have not been home to celebrate. And 4 Christmas that I have only had one or the other. Like Molly said it just makes the times when you do get together all the more special. I don't know if we ever get used to it, i think we just shift our feelings around to suit the times.

Holy Cow Molly battlestations already!!!!! Go Tucker!! Let us know when you get the phone call. Not to scare you, just to let you know, we never got the phone call from Tara till Thursday afternoon around 5pm, we were already in Great Lakes. Her division was the last one on Wed night. It was a nerve wracking day, but we just figured no news was good news.
Keep us posted.

You are so right. Don't even think about that. Get packing!

I just realized that Tucker is graduating the Columbus weekend, that is when Tara graduated. We got to have Tara on Monday, I hope Molly gets Tucker an extra day.
Good to hear from you PNBM.

Welcome Kathleen, yes you will get some good info on this site. Hope all works out for your son.

Congratulations on the new grand son Julie.

Hello Everyone!! I had the priviledge of attending PIR today with Molly!!
Here is a picture of Tucker (Sailor #2), Molly, and Colton (Sailor #1)!!

She is having a blast visiting with both Sailors, so I thought I would post an update for y'all!!

Tucker got his orders today!!!

He is headed for Japan! He will be on the USS Blueridge!! This is called the Finest Flagship of the Navy" because it has the Admiral of the entire 7th Fleet aboard!! He will be doing LOTS of traveling!!

Way to go Tucker! Congrats to all.

Welcome tstokes, you came to the right place for all sorts of undesignated information.
Is you son in boot camp or out already?

He could have another opportunity to pick a rate in the 3rd or 4th week. But he just want to stay undesignated.
You should read back over the previous pages and you may get a lot of your questions that you have now answered.
So is all this Navy stuff is new to you? This is a great place to be for answers and support. And the Undesignated group is the BEST of the BEST!

Thats great to be an E-3 coming out of PIR. MA is a good rate if he is interested in police work after. Especially if he is just planning on staying 4 years. He should have something he can use when he gets out. If he is thinking he wants to stay longer then he has time to see what the Navy has to offer. My advice would be if he is interested in that, and it comes up go for it!

We can give them all the information and advice but once they are on their own they will do what they want.

Welcome to the roller coaster ride, it's called The Navy! LOL!!

Not sure about just passing into AT4, but if that is the case I pretty sure he would have to be an AT for at least 18-2 years before he could try for MA.

PNBM will have the answer the other part

Welcome Kelley, if it is support you want, you will get it here.

Tara is still in limbo. She is seems to always be waiting on answers or approvals, and feels she should not leave, there for she has still not been home since deployment. She is just starting to get a little antsy.......and I can't stand it anymore!!! So....... I am hoping plane next Friday and we will have a girls weekend till Monday evening. I'm hoping this will be good to carry her and I till Christmas if Thanksgiving doesn't happen.

Thanks funny Julie that you hung up on "Rod". I'm glad he got to call back.
Sounds like things are going well for him. Good for Cory.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

He defiantly sounds like a great person, you did good Julie!

E, 1,2,3,4 ect is a pay grade.
So if Cory is a 3rd class Petty Officer then he is an E4.

Molly, The timing of my two sailors has pretty off ever since PIR also. They ave not seen each other in over a year now. I hoping that we all can get together some time this spring, there is some rumbling going on with my son schedule that it may just work out.

Thanks Molly, Both times that Tara went through Hawaii Aaron was underway, I think they lucked out and had a few hours together last Jan. Last time we were all together was last Oct. We went down when Aaron pulled into San DIego for a weekend......but then Tara had duty on Sat and Aaron was suppose to have duty on Sun. Luckily he changed his to Sat. So we had a few days together her and there. We put ruts in the road going back and forth from Pendelton to San DIego.
I'm really hoping that next spring works out too. Even if I were a betting women, I wouldn't take that bet. :)

Enjoy your time with any son at anytime.

Sheila, love those phone calls in the middle of a good sleep. Glad you got to talk to Martin.

Hey everyone, I'm back from a great weekend with Tara. We did the girly thing, slept in late went shopping, did lunch, strolled around San Diego and Ol Town. It was so good to see her.

I'll throw my 2 cents in.... I think you can take the test even before you finish your school. I'm just going by what Aaron said. He took the PO 3 before he was done with prototype school. There is a lot you won't know by not having done the job yet but there is always the chance. And if you don't pass at least you get your points and the experience.

Proud Navy BM......We need verification!!!!!

Oh darn!!!!:( I got there thursday afternoon and got home last night. We were in the gaslight one day, and Coronado one night. I meet up with a friend of mine from another Navy site that pulled in on a Tiger Cruise. But most of my time was spent with Tara near Pendleton in Oceanside. She zips down to SD like it's nothing. Maybe next time.

R/R ???? :|

Of course, I knew what you meant!! I'm a little slow. LOL! That was the ship that my friend came in on. We met for dinner on Thursday night in Coronado.

Here I go again, "O"? I guess I didn't go by it.

Yup, missed that, maybe next time.

Hey Julie, sorry to hear about Cory, I hope he will get something he will enjoy. Such is the life our sailors, they just have to ride the waves!
But why do we always get stuck in their wakes?
Ok enough with the puns.

Wow, we have been a quiet bunch lately, things must be pretty good for our sailors right now.
My son just left for his 6 month yesterday. So here I go again for the second time this year.

Bravo Zulu to Tucker!!!

Welcome sealsluvhockey, Your lucky that you found us, we will all be here to try to answer your questions. Tell your son to hang in there, he needs to be patient.

Welcome Sangiovesse, We all jump for joy when we can get advice from someone who is in right now or has been there.
We will give you a few.........what do think ladies?.......a few hours before we start asking questions. :)
Thanks so much for joining us.

Molly, Tara got hers while on Deployment. So I guess it's a yes.

Thanks so much Julie.

Hey Sheila and Patty, it's been a while, sounds like everyone is doing good. I'm glad Wes is happy in San Diego.
Thanks for the compliments on my girly. The guy was her shipmate that she studied with on the Boxer for her ESWS.

Sounds like great news coming from everyone. Yea!
Nice pictures Sheila, you have one good looking sailor there r. I wish him much success to him will all the he is learning.
Tucker ship sounds awesome, good for him.

Wamom, yes this when it is probably harder on us then it really is on them. I had many of those phone calls from one of my sailors. I would hang up with that queazy feeling in my stomach. And by the next time I spoke to them they were fine.
I'm sure it must be a bigger adjustment when you are in a different country and sent right out to sea. Like wise Sheila has said, we just need to be supportive and encourage him. I bet in a few more calls he will be like...."me? I never said those things....gotta go my friends are waiting".

Hang in there, we will be here for you.

Great news for Tucker! I know you guys will have a great 24 days together.

So glad you got together with PNBM. I'm sure he was wonderful to meet. You can just read his thoughtfulness in his post.
I'm sure you passed on a huge hug from us all.

Unfortunately we never connected. Unless he calls today. But I am sure he is anxious to get on his way down there. We will just have to catch up with him sometime when I am down in SD to see Tara again.

Patty great news on Wes. Hope all goes well for him.

Oh! the dreaded empty house......hate that. We've all been there and done that and it never gets any easier.
But so glad you had a great time with Cory. Glad things are going good for him and is happy.

Hello everyone, I think we will all be pretty busy the next couple of days, so I will take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
Take time to relax and enjoy.

Well Tara her roommate and a Marine friend pulled in at 5am. They are all sleeping right now. My guess is they will get up in time for a turkey dinner breakfast.
They will be here till Sunday.

We ended up with 11 at the table, Tara's best friend growing up was home from college with a friend, so they came for dinner, plus the 2 that came with Tara and then our usual group. A good time was had by all. It went way to fast.

Tara and the gang left early this morning. My turn Julie to deal with the empty house :(

It seems that Tara's Marine friend (Mike) is a little more then just a friend, if you know what I mean!! He seems to be a very nice guy. A little quiet, but he was coming out of his shell by the time the weekend was over. Hope we didn't scare him off. Will see, how it goes.

Hope everyone is enjoying the rest of whats left of the weekend.

Ooops just saw we have new member, Welcome LM Coll, and a late Happy Thanksgiving.

Hey Molly that happened to me with another group on here. I had a lot of catching up to do.:)

Best of luck to Tucker, I'll be able to tell Tucker what not to do. I think Tara has the corner market on making bad choices in her undesignated career.

Seriously Tucker will do great he is assigned to a great ship.