Graduation presents - Have you thought of what to buy? Want some ideas?

[Craig]

Hey ladies...

Have you thought of a graduation present for you freshly minted sailor?  Having been doing this stuff so long, I wanted to give you a couple of idea.  They are the CAC card reader, and a rating coin.  Both are really good (and cheap) gifts. 

 

The CAC card reader:

Let me explain it, so you'll understand it.... 

The Navy limits what civilians can see when they use the internet on the Navy website. They don't want everyone to know everything. So when active duty sailors want to look at future duty stations that are available, or a wide range of other things (ie their medical reconds, dental records, their personnel file, their PFA test scores, dream sheets, evaluations...etc) they can. All they do is hook up the CAC card reader to their personnel computer, insert their CAC (Common Access Card) which civilains call the ID card,  Once the sailor inserts the CAC card, and their own password, then the server knows beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they are talking to the active duty sailor.

Personnally, I believe a sailor without a CAC card reader is a fool. There is so much info they can find using it. A carpenter is useless without a hammer. A sailor is useless without a CAC card reader. It is an extremely powerful tool that most sailors fail to use.  My nephew is already looking at possible duty stations, and he isn't even in "A" school yet.  They cost ~$20.  Very cheap.  Make sure you don't but the ones at the NEX because they don't work because they don't have the software included.  I bought one at the Microcenter and it worked perfectly.  Personally, I like the one at the Micro Center since it can do 63 different things besides being a "Smart Card Reader", and because it's cheap. Unlike the NEX model, the Microcenter comes with the software and is totally "Plug-n-Play".  It's a no brainer.  I say this everytime, but I will say it again, your sailor will think it's a stupid gift.  However, once they play with it, and see's how powerful it actually is and how he can search for things from the comfort of his own room, he will think it's the best thing since slided bread.  Again, the power it has is awesome..

.http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=...

 

Some of your sailors will have really short "A" schools.  One item in "A"  school is your sailors fill out a dream sheet to put down places that they would like to go.    These dream sheets stay in your record forever and when a new one is submitted, the old one just moves one sheet back in the main computer database.  One thing is you don't want is to look like a fool and put in for some duty station that your rating will never go.  Say you put in for Liberia Africa, the only rating that can go there is the Intelligence Specialist (IS) rating.  So everytime your orders comes up, the detailer will get a laugh and wonder why a Machist Mate (MM) ever put in for something that couldn't have ever been possible.  It doesn't look good, even if the sailor is fresh out of boot camp.  It shows they didn't take the time to see what billets (places) that they could actually go.  Yes, they can use the CAC card readers at their career counselors office  but they have 50 others sailors waiting for the same computer.  So just pay the measly $20 for the reader and do it from the comfort of your own barracks room. 

Some will tell you, when they finally get to their final duty station their command might issue them one, but by then it's too late.  To me, paying $20 for the possiblity of getting an awesome duty station is worth it.  Heck my kid got 3 years of shore duty in Hawaii, but he knew how to play the game (and he has an awesome father ~ha)  

 

If your sailors have problems loading them up (which they shouldn't).   Here is an article that was in the Navy-Times. I guess this guy runs a help desk for those having trouble with their CAC card readers. My nephew said it was so easy to connect up, but what is easy for some, may be hard for others. It's funny, because the guys an Army guy, but I guess the Navy thought it was so good that they wrote about it....

Here's the article, and the website listed is www.militarycac.com

The second thing is a rating coin....

To me, this is an awesome thing too. 

The coin is just a cool thing. My son actually gave me mine.  And I totally love it.  Sadly, but happily, I will be passing this coin along now to my nephew who just graduated bootcamp Sept 2nd, and will be attending CTT "A" school. Just to start a family tradition, I will be passing the coin onto him. He will be the "Keeper of the Coin" for the family now. I'm hoping he will pass it to the next CT in the family.

Most of you won't understand the joy it is seeing this coin being passed along, but as a sailor, I do....

It's cheap, and I think this one will mean the most personally. It will show that you took the time to learn about their rating, and that you totally back them. Have it engraved if possible.
Just a thought....
https://store.nwtmint.com/Navy/Rate/ALL

 

[Craig]

I'm not one to end something on a sad subject (ie the ring thing)....    so....

 

Frankly, I think you wives and GF are really messing up!

 

If I was a woman, and my guy was in boot camp, I would buy Pinocchio underwear for him.  After PIR, and in the hotel room, I would say "Lie you bastard, LIE!!!!"...

(and yet, another great PIR gift...)

 

[Missing my son Shp11 div 268i]

Now I am going to get a Navy boyfriend to try this....Hope my son won't mind! Rofl

[Missing my son Shp11 div 268i]

I found the same card reader at Barnes and Noble for $17.95

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/clearlinks-cl-uc-200-63-in-1-usb-20...

[Craig]

Missing my son - You could get a Navy boyfriend, however, they all have "Frogs" by now....

I just know someone will ask "What are Frogs", who will it be?

[Missing my son Shp11 div 268i]

I'll bite What's a FROG?

[angeltoe]

Thank you so much, I was totally clueless. I saw some where a nice watch too but I would rather get both of these. Thank you Oh Wise Sailor!!

[Craig]

Chalk up another victim of my jokes...  I knew someone would breakdown and ask....  

[barbsz (ship 07 div 079)]

Hi Craig,

I was looking into getting the rate coins for my boyfriend's graduation. I would like to engrave it but I'm running through my head of what to write. I've been looking at quotes to put on there. Would you have any ideas?

[lesliet--son came home:(]

I purchased one of the card readers for my son for PIR and 1 week before PIR was told he was going on on a medical condition. I was wondering if anyone would interested in buying one would want to message me and buy the one I purchased. I purchased the one from the link above so it is exactly what is recommended.  I don't need it and obviously my son won't be needing it as well.:(  It was $20.00 plus shipping. If interested, please send me a personal message. Thanks!