At sea jobs (Operations Specialist)

[alexandra]

My daughter just graduated Boot Camp and awaiting to start A School soon. I'm super proud of her accomplishment but super worried knowing her job more likely will take her out at sea. Will she like it? Would like to hear from anyone else with a son or daughter out at sea or have the same job. I hear that her job will not necessarly take her out unless deployed. How long if so? Meanwhile does this particular job keep her working on the fleet and living in dorms or barracks in land?  

 

worried mom

[Anti M]

If she is assigned to a ship, she will deploy when the ship deploys. That's about 8 months more or less, at a shot. There will also be shorter underways and drills and exercises at sea. She will go when the ship goes.

Living quarters: normally in a berthing area onboard ship with other women in similar rates. When the ship is in port, she might have to live on the ship, although the Navy is trying to get enough barracks to house all the junior shipboard sailors during port times. This is better for their morale and sanity. If she is an E-5 or above, she will likely be given money for an apartment. If she is of a lower paygrade, she still might receive a housing allowance for a place to live, but that depends on what the ship is providing and what the barracks situation is. Some sailors just pay out of their own pockerts to share with friends so they don't havbe to sleep on the ship! There are many scenarios, the worst is living on the ship in port, following by a barracks room, followed by her own place.

If she is on shore duty, she will live either in the barracks or perhaps have her own place. The Navy likes to keep their junior sailors on base in barracks, so unless those are full, she should expect that. If she is assigned shore duty, she wouldn't go out with the ships unless there was a strange extreme circumstance, and it would be temporary. However, it is unusual for a sailor to get shore duty the first set of orders, the sea/shore rotation always starts with a sea tour (two to four years).

As to whether she will like it or not, that's up to her. It isn't easy, but some sailors love the challenge.

[alexandra]

Thanks so much for that info. I'm sure she'll like it and I'm just getting ahead of myself. New to the having a family member in the service. I'm glad I found this helpful website.

[Kathy (AOMom)]

Well a lot of jobs are out at sea. My daughter has been out (not deployed yet) and she likes it, its challenging for her. If she doesnt like it, there really isnt much you can do to change it at this point.
My daughter is attached to a carrier, but lives on a Naval Air Station in barracks. If your sailor is assigned to a ship, she may be living on the ship even when its in port. Deployments average 6 months, some are longer. You can still have contact with her even while out to sea, the ships have email and phones.

[alexandra]

Thank you. I'm probally just ahead of myself and already worried for her. Do they have options of where they like to get stationed? What exactly does deployement mean?

[Anti M]

In general Navy use, a deployment means a ship doing its job at sea. They go to various ports, and they patrol deep at sea. For example, in the Pacific, this is called a Wespac (western pacific). The Navy has several different fleets, and there is some overlapping of zones, especially in hot spots such as the Persian Gulf.

When you hear a phrase such as "troops deploying to Iraq", that is something different. That's an individual or unit assigned to an overseas location for a temporary duty assignment. Don't let "temporary" fool you, that can mean a year or more. Don't worry about that yet, just clarifying the use of the word.

The phones and email on the deployed ships are through the military, not personal devices. That way the ship can control the flow of communication, and shut down extraneous signals when the need for security arises. The phone lines can be long, and the shared computers in high demand.

Most of the A schools don't offer a choice of duty station the first time out. A few schools still offer a pick of assignment to the best students, but that is happening less and less. She may have the chance to fill out a dream sheet, but that provides no guarantee.

For now she is safe at school, so relax and enjoy her training time.

[alexandra]

thanks again

[Kathy (AOMom)]

My daughter was top female in her A school so she got to pick orders (that were available) first, she wanted to be squadron and happens that there were orders for squadron. So its not really an option, just to her it was the best pick of the orders.

[alexandra]

thanks

[Carrie72067]

this was very very helpful to me as well. i am in the same situation as Ms. alexandra. reading the post seemed as if i wrote it myself. my son just graduated yesterday and is on his way to A school as an OS. i'm so proud of my son and excited for his journey into the USNavy. I so needed to hear (read) this page today. thank you for sharing.

[jdmom]

Great questions and answers, my son does not leave for boot camp until March but has already been wondering the different aspects of being an OS and where he may be stationed. He has gotten a lucky break as he has a new recruiter and she was an OS so has been able to really talk to him about what his job will be.

[SkittleBittle77]

Hey there Jdmom,
I actually just signed a couple weeks ago for OS. My ship date is April 19th. I also share the same concerns and questions, but anything you can tell me about OS and OS school, let me know!
Thanks a bunch :)

[Angie]

OS "A" School is in Great Lakes, you go to school all day long. Sometimes the top of the class gets first choice of the list of orders that are out there, but that isn't happening very much.

OS's can and are stationed anywhere there are ships. They have little work to do while in port, so they end up cleaning and painting a lot. When they get underway they have long hours they work and little time to themselfs due to the work they do. My hubby was an OS for 23+ years, retired last year and got a GREAT job due to having been an OS in the United States Navy. I would say about 60% of his office where OS's before they joined the company, as it was better for the company to hire them as they didn't need much if any training.

My hubby loved his job! The part that did suck is that being an OS they can and do go to Iraq, Afgan, HOA. Which he ended up being deployed with the troops on the ground. Most OS's who have been in for a little bit that I know have all be on the ground.