Undesignated seaman

[JAS-WA]

My son perforated his eardrum while performing exercises for the basic enlisted submarine school.  Therefore, he can no longer stay in the submarine program.  He has been in the Navy for four months.  After his submarine training, he was on track to do go to A school to become a sonar tech.  After his injury, the navy offered him a medical discharge or an undesignated seaman position on a surface ship.  He chose the latter.  From what I have found on the web, this may be a very difficult path in the current Navy without much hope for advancement.  Any advice you can give me, will be appreciated.

[BunkerQB]

I know a member in my San Francisco Bay area group whose son went in the Navy right out of high school "undesignated" he is now at the Language school. They sent him to Japan for a year, painting the deck, scrubbing, etc. The road is longer and harder but he is at least IN the Navy instead of out looking for a job and he does have opportunities. Tell him to do the best he can WHATEVER assignment he gets. Tell him attitude is important. Find ways to let his superiors know that he is capable and willing to do more.  Tell him to keep an eye on jobs that he thinks he will would like to do. Tell him to keep pushing himself.  No one can hold him down except him.

[JAS-WA]

Thank you BunkerQB.  I'll follow your advice.

[CMD]

My son graduated bootcamp last May as Undesignated.  That was the only option he was offered, due to an incident showing questionable judgement that occured when he was still in high school.  He joined the Navy after a year of college because he was tired of school and he 'wanted to see the world'.  He went to a month long training at Great Lakes and was then flown to his ship in the Persian Gulf, the USS Vicksburg.  He spent 5 months deployed with the ship and is now stationed in Mayport Florida.

He has loved it.  He has done a little of everything, from driving the ship to painting to helping with helicopter landings to working in the kitchen.  He has tried to strike for several rates and finally just got Boatswain's Mate.  He is happy he has a rate because he needed that to take the E-4 test.  He hopes to eventually take pilot's school.

It's been great for him.  He saw several foreign ports and enjoyed seeing all the different jobs on the ship.  He liked being at sea and he is trying to be an alternate for another ship that is deploying to the Persian Gulf this summer.  According to him the 'grunt' jobs like cleaning, painting and kitchen duty are shared by all whether they have a rate or not.

I was worried, like you, about this course but after a year I am very pleased at how well he has thrived.  Most of his buddies from Bootcamp have been going to school all this time and are envious of all the adventure he has had.  I only hope it continues to be a positive experience for him.

[BunkerQB]

CMD, thanks for dropping in and letting us know how your son did. Of course, I want to commend him for having the right attitude and work ethics - goes a long way in making something out of "less than 'perfect" circumstance. You have a great kid there.

[Saipan]

It is what you make of it, please don't worry about not advancing momma, it's possible.  Why some think if it as a career 'death sentence' I don't know but it is possible as long as you put the effort into it.  My husband is an LS1 who joined undesignated 13 years ago and made First Class in less than 10 years.  He's now up for E-7, advancement is possible.  He also has never gone to A school, just C schools.

[JAS-WA]

Thanks for sharing CMD and Saipan.  My son has a great attitude and I know that once he gets on a ship, he'll have a blast and will make the most of it.  I just hope he gets his orders soon.  They warned him he may have to hang around Groton doing guard duty until the next fiscal year which begins in October.