Undesignated...What's Up With That?

Not on my toes Julie, I know exactly what you meant. It is very true. A lot of info gets lost in the translation to our sailors from us. I certainly did my fair share of asking.. It is going to work out for them with or without our help.

I think we do it more for ourselves then for them. But...... you know once a mom always a mom.

Hey everyone. Thanks for the welcome. As a wife I like to know whats going on and thankfully my Hubby is really good at sharing. Even though it his his career those decisions affect us as a family. As we just got settled here hubby isnt sure what to do and im trying to let him make the decision on his own with minimal input. If he tests into a rate on his ship. Great. I like this house and Virginia. If he applys and gets into the A school he wants well thats great too. Even though he said we would be here 4 years. I as a wife know theres no binding contract to anything.

Julie: Congrats to your sailor on his award thats awesome. And omg how do you survive in that heat. I would melt..

Julie: We love it here. Your right its pretty and green. I hope you didnt try to drive. lol. Ive been here for almost 5 months and the traffic still drives me crazy. I try to get to hampton and end up in Virginia Beach. LOL! My cousin lives outside of Phoenix and I visited her once and it was just too much for me.

Welcome Miranda, love your profile picture.

Congratulations to Cory on his award.

Thanks. It is one of my favorites. My hubby says I can't post my absolute favorite one. Hehe. He might be embarrased. :)

Just stopping by to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July, have a great weekend!

Hi, I'm Arwen. My son Chris just washed out of IT school in Pensacola with only about 2 hours of coursework remaining. He ran up against his final deadline and came up just short. The sad part is that he was high GPA for his class and was up for a promotion. He just doesn't work fast enough.

So he's back in holding, and oddly happy. As much as he loves playing with computers and was fascinated with the coursework, he is a big, physical guy and didn't relish the thought of 20 years behind a desk. His orders were to go to a high-stress DC Beltway duty station. With that assignment he probably would have never had a chance to go to sea (once he specialized in that stuff he'd be too valuable on shore), something he really wants to do.

I almost wonder if he didn't subconsciously sabotage himself to get out of his unwanted orders.

So, now he really wants to become a Seabee, which was his first choice a year ago when he went to MEPS. Does anyone know what an undes seaman has to do to become a Seabee? He absolutely does NOT want to become a Bosun's Mate or anything like that. He wants to work with his hands and his brain to create things, and he wants to "play with guns."

We don't know when - or if - he will be returning to Great Lakes. We're hoping he gets redesignated to another school and will be able to go straight to that school. Sometimes sailors are on hold in Pensacola for months before they find out what their fate will be.

I have some questions for those of you whose sailors have washed out of a school.

How long does it take to get to the next step? Do they have to go back to Great Lakes for undes training, or can they go directly to their duty station? And do they go through a career counselor to see if there is another school available to them first? Will he be allowed to turn it down if he doesn't want the job?

msvines your answers seem correct. Arwen your son could possibly be offered another rate that is available for him, if he choose not to take it he may chose to go undesignated and wait for something else to come along. But they will tell him his options.

I know last year the deadline for approval to take the test in Sept was sometime in the first half of August for my daughter. Pete may know the actual date.

Well, he had a decent ASVAB score - 77 - with few low line scores, so he might have some decent options. There are a few things he definitely does NOT want, and would rather go undes than take those schools.

My son is at G.L. now does anyone have someone there? He states it is difficult again because after being so free in Pensacola it is more like boot camp again. He enjoyed the freedom he had in FL. Something about a crazy schedule of 4 on and then 2 off.

yes, he is in Seamanship school at GL. He was in IT training but now he isn't. He states the school is just 10 days but will be there for a month and then has 1-2 weeks liberty?

Michele, I think you mean 1-2 weeks of leave. Usually when they finish school they get 1-2 weeks of leave (paid vacation) before reporting to their first duty station. Most sailors go home for those weeks.

Michele, how long did your son have to wait, from the time he was dropped from IT school until he learned of his fate? And how long after that before he actually left Pensacola? My son was dropped last week, and is already going slightly nuts waiting for some kind of indication of what his future will hold. He really wants another school (specifically something Seabee).

What is the difference between leave and liberty? But yes he will be coming home. We live in Illinois about an hour from base so we have been seeing him on weekends. He is then going to San Diego and has a ship and assingment. He states that will be his home base for the next 2 years.

Liberty is like a weekend off, or after work. It usually involves a strict distance limit, between 50 - 350 miles, depending on what school/command they are at. It's usually just for a night, or for a weekend, and usually have 12- 72 hours before having to report for muster.

Leave is the same as paid vacation. Sailors can travel almost anywhere in the world, as long as they inform their command where they will be during that period of time. Leave time can last from a few days to a month, depending on how much they have earned (they earn 2.5 days per month) and how much time their command allows them to use at a time.

My son just found out yesterday that he lost his SWCC contract because of his hearing. He graduated BC 2 weeks ago and now he is on hold. He has already changed ships 3 times since graduation! Finding this website yesterday not only helped ease my worries, but his too! Now he has to play the waiting game until they decide what to do with him. He said he is undesignated, but I am not sure if he has been told that officially. He really wants Seabees. I don't think they have given out Seabee contracts in months though. I think it will all turn out well though. I have already seen a change in my son! I am so proud to be a Navy mom!

Chris finally knows what's next. He's going to seamanship school to go undes to the fleet. This was his choice, he was offered two schools, yeoman or aviation electronics. A paperwork job would be the end of the world to him, and he doesn't want to work on aircraft, so he chose to go undes in order to have more options later.

He leaves for Great Lakes later this week. I know he'll spend next week in indoc, but does anyone happen to know how long holding is for seamanship school?

He was told he is probably going to Washington State, which is great with us because we're about to move to Washington State (if I get the job I applied for). The Seattle area bases and the city we plan to move to are still about 200 miles apart, but that's a doable distance for long weekends.

I'm looking at Longview, about 2 hours south of Bremerton, near Mount St. Helens. I'd rather live near the volcano that already blew than one that is overdue (Hood/Rainier).

Hey everyone. I haven't left a comment in here for awhile, but i have read all the post. I see some folks here that were from BUDS with my husband. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.. we just have to have patience. My husband is now starting off his deployment as of today. He is currently flying out to meet his ship. ::sigh:: Hopefully these months fly by fast!

That is great! Congrats!!

Shelia, that sounds wonderful, a wedding on the beach!
Congratulations to them both!

What a beautiful picture Sheila, I know you are beaming from ear to ear.
They look so happy, Congratulations again.

Chris flew out of Pensacola today for Great Lakes. He was supposed to go yesterday, but the traffic was terrible and he missed his flight. Meanwhile he can't call to keep me updated because he accidentally packed his phone charger and sent it home in the mail. Hopefully he gets a new charger quickly.

He managed to pare down to two seabags, a garment bag and a suitcase. He sent home three large boxes and a seabag. Wow do they accumulate stuff!

Hopefully in three weeks he'll be packing again to come home on leave.

Husband left the day before yesterday for Great Lakes from Pensacola for school. He was part of the group that had to stay in a hotel for two nights. crazy. But my husband called about an hour ago and said that their plane made it there.

Welcome to our corner of the world ILoveMySailor. Sounds like things are moving along for your husband.If you have any questions ask away. We are a great bunch here. Read through the posts, there is a lot of info here.

Steph, my son was supposed to be part of that group, but missed the flight due to traffic issues. I'm kind of glad he did, now!

Happy birthday to my son, Nick. 23 today! He is officially undesignated now. Sitting around Great Lakes getting very antsy! They have moved him from ship to ship. No schooling yet. He is going stir crazy. He did however get paper work today for Japan. USS Denver. I am nervous and apprehensive. I just wish I knew what he was going to be doing! I guess we will have to be patient and see! We are very proud to have a son serving in the Navy! Happy birthday Nick!!!

My son is going to the Denver too, and he arrived at Great Lakes this weekend. I bet they end up in class together.

Ask him if he knows a REALLY tall guy who just arrived without luggage (airline lost it) and has spent the last three days in dress whites. That would be my boy.

By the way, the Denver is about to be decommissioned. Our guys will not finish their tour on her, they will end up sent elsewhere.

When I talk to him, I will definitely ask him. =)

Also, thanks for welcoming me here. I am so excited about moving to San Diego. My husband just found out that he is on hold for a week before he starts school! Ugh, I am getting sort of sick of the "hold" thing. lol.

Arwen, I will ask him! And we wondered about the Denver. I don't know what is considered "old" as far as ships go, but 1964 seemed a little old to me! Not that I am old. I was commissioned in '64!!! Ha ha!
And thanks Dawni! That made me smile!

Chris is having a nightmare time of it in Great Lakes. He STILL doesn't have his luggage, still wearing the dress whites he put on Saturday morning.

It's been crazy, Chris has been checking in and doing required stuff, not allowed to have his cell phone on him. Meanwhile the airport luggage delivery guy has been trying to call him to meet. Chris can't leave the front gate, the delivery guy can't come through the front gate. Mass pandemonium, cats and dogs living together in sin... oh, wait, that's Ghostbusters.

Well, anyway, he says he never thought digis would sound so good. He is sooo tired of his whites. And he WAS so proud of them. Now he never wants to see them again, LOL.

Hi all. My kid went in undesignated after a long and interesting ride. Suffice it to say he joined the bachelor's degree completion program and was accepted into OCS as a NFO. That didn't work when he didn't pass his final run time before OCS in Nov (he had swine flu at the time, but he'd flunked one prior the day after his Grandfather's funeral so that was that - bless his heart it's all in the timing!). He ended up working in the recruiting offices in Nashville and Cookeville TN. where he was waiting for an opening in Nuke school since he already has a BS degree, great test scores, top secret clearance, etc. We were starting to joke that he would retire before he went to boot camp!

First week of July out of the blue he got orders to report to GL with no rating which was a bit of a surprise. So, there he is. I'm sure it'll all work out one way or another but it is a challenge as a Mom to let it go - it's his career and he needs to figure out how to make it work. The Navy has paid him for the last 3 years and he does owe them. I appreciate having this site to share the angst! :-)

Sorry for not updating Chris' situation. He got his luggage last night. After 3 days in his whites, well, let's just say I hope he doesn't need them again soon. They're going straight to the cleaners.

He's already settled down to a routine. He's terribly bored (going back to Phase I after the near-total freedom he had before is frustrating to him) so he's taking the time to enjoy a few books.

He did say he was never so happy to see his digis.

My son is heading for San Diego on Saturday. His ship is currently deployed so he will be at temporary holding unity??? This will be his first assignment, wow I can't believe it. I'm sure gonna miss him-I must seriously try not to cry when he leaves. He has been at a base near bye coming home on some weekends for the past month and is now on leave for 5 more days. He tells me this will be his home base for the next 3 years. Well, at least its not too far. I'll have to make some trips to visit.

Hoppi, it has got to be hard on a fleet returnee who's been in the fleet for a year or two to suddenly be back in a near-boot camp atmosphere. Is there anything they do for fleet returnees to help them adjust to the shock of it?

He really had a hard time at GL after returning from Pensacola. He said the food was awful and it was like being imprisoned, although he did get leave on some weekends. He has not had his first mission yet. I am nervous and dealing with the anxiety of him leaving and knowing I may not see him for another year. I can barely write it and certainly can't say it.

PNBM, I wasn't referring to my son, simply speculating on a general concept. Eventually my son will be a fleet returnee, when he earns a school, but I was thinking of how frustrating it must be to feel like you're stepping backward instead of moving forward.

Son just got to San Diego Saturday, he is at a temp housing unit. He has no idea if his ship is in or out or when it will be coming back. I hope his spirits pick back up once he knows when he will be deploying and what he will be doing. He sounds down.

Chris received his travel itinerary today. He comes home Friday. They are giving him a flight almost all the way home, but at the most inconvenient airport possible. LOL, at least it's a 10 hour round-trip, rather than the expected 10-hour one-way. We weren't expecting the Navy to pick up the tab to get him this close to home, so I find I must muffle my complaints.

Sterett

We're getting conflicting information about Chris' uniform needs for when he hits the fleet next month. He's going to the USS Denver in Sasebo.

His instructors said they should have a minimum of 10 coveralls in their seabags when they report to their ship, yet a uniform directive he received says that use of coveralls is restricted, and use of coveralls is to be replaced with digis when the uniform changeover is complete next month.

He hasn't heard from his sponsor yet, and he wears an uncommon size that has to be special ordered, which takes time.

So, does anyone know what he should be buying? Coveralls or digis?

Boats, you say "most" undes go to deck. Where to other undes seamen go?

My son states he will be painting and chipping paint. Can anyone tell me anything about this job. He stated something about having to paint the bottom of this ship, how do they do this. Any info for a curious mom would be helpful. I believe he Deploys in October but is already on board.

So when they are out to sea they don't get into the water to do painting and chipping?

Does he get into water to do cleaning, scrubbing off barnacles etc.