Ratings US Navy Question?

Question

So Im losing weight pretty fast and I expect to be in enough shape (by MY standards, 180 pounds and able to pass the Marine corps PFT, I hope to be able to pass it with a good score by the February of next year)

I went to the recruiter a few weeks ago (navy) and we talked but said I cant sign any papers until I am at a right weight. He told me to look at some of the ratings I liked.


The only ones I like are
AW- Aviation Warfare system Operator
SECF- Submarine Electronic Computer field



AW- I really like the rating because It allows me to travel. I would also like the chance to attend SERE. The main thing though is that there is alot of variety, I can be on land with an aviation unit or I can be out to sea (which I would love to do). I also like the fact that it gets out out and about a bit. The thing about this rating that I am worried about is the fact that I dont want to work on a p-3 and sit infront of a computer watching for subs and ships. I want to be on a C-2 or a Helo as a loadmaster Aircrewman. I also have a friend who is an AW on both a C-2 and a Helo and LOVED it, he got to ride on planes, see the world and when his carrier was inport, he always got to get liberty because his helo would most likely land at a local airport.

SECF- Nearly Every male in my family were or are on submarines, If at ANY reason I cannot go on helicopters or C-2 (like if I find out there is a 95% chance that I will NOT go to a HS squadron) then I would like to go into the SECF program. I would like to do Sonar, this is the only way that I would LIKE to do sonar (I feel that sonarman keep the boat running in the right direction). I also like the brotherhood and tradition along with the submarine service. The stories that my dad tells me sound like it could be something that I would enjoy as well. The thing that I dont like is that I would like to handle weapons as well as have a general technical experience (I only plan on serving 6-8 years at a minimum) and I dont think that Sonar tech would give me any time with the weapons (rifles, machine guns, and sidearms)

Which one would you pick and why?

Answer 1

A couple of times a year the Navy posts a CREO message that lists what jobs are overmanned, undermanned and at intended manning levels. This list has been fairly elusive to the general public for the past couple of years but I have come across recent CREO listing on some websites from "Navy Counselors". NAVADMIN 024/10 is the latest listing.





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Navy_ratings list most of the common jobs in the Navy, you will go to one of these first before you go to sub school - just in case you fail out of sub school they can send you to a ship - except in the case of the aviation rates.



Personally, I like seeing daylight/moonlight/sunrise/sunset/stars and breathing fresh air. So my decision to stay on top of the water was already made. Death would be quicker if there was a major accident on a submarine and if your ship sunk you'd have to worry about sharks while waiting for rescue.



Best thing to keep in mind is do something that interests you and that might have an easy translation to a civilian job. The things that your family has done in the Navy suited their tastes but you may not like the work or find out that being under the ocean isn't your cup of tea.



But if I had to pick between your two choices, I'd go AW. I flown around on all sorts of aircraft and flying through the clouds is pretty fun - but I've always seen it from an helo AW perspective and not from a P-3.

Answer 2

AE - Wire repair/Electric Generation - I don't see those going away anytime soon! AT - Avionics - Yep, aircrafts are getting more and more dependant on computers/radar/etc. AM - Air Frames, Hooyah, Air Frames! Yeah, definitely need the body of an aircraft for it to fly. Hydraulics are nice too. AD - Mechs, yeah engines are important. PR - It's alright if you want to pack parachutes for a living. I guess it would be good if you want to be a jump instructor. AME - Probably not as useful, but they do deal with most of the safety features (fire extinguishing, ejection seat, onboard oxygen, etc) AO - I would think is fairly useless in the civilian world. Don't really need to worry about weapons much. AZ - Administration work is always useful for people looking for that type of career. I would definitely think AE, AT, AM, or AD is your best bet. Of course any aviation rating can volunteer to go to the line shack and learn line maintance. Also, you can get your final checker and Plane Captain qualifactions. All of those will definitely help you with civilian jobs, because you'll basically learn all about inspecting aircrafts for defects, leaks, and avionic errors. You also learn the hand/wand signals needed to communicate with pilots. Also, any rate can go eventually be part of Quality Assurance. Which I would think looks very good on a resume, since you are able to supervise maintence and a safety observer.

Answer 3

when I joined, I wanted either HM or MA. Both were SEVERELY overmanned at the time (right at the time at the last major downsize. here is a tip, in the year that you have the potential of waiting in DEP, you WILL get the rating you want (as long as you qualify). Trust me, the longer you wait, the higher up on the waiting list you go. So say you come in wanting to be an AW (which I highly recommend, plenty of friends are AWs and they LOVE it). in that year, you will be offered every rating that has an opening, this is the ONLY way to get an overmanned rating in an overmanned Navy. You wait, eventually it will come up. Also, if you like weapons, look into the ND and EOD ratings, PERFECT feeder rating for SO (seals)





And in your condition (being a fat body), you'd be a shoe in. Being at your low, and now starting to get fit for a good portion of your life, you will always be motivated. trust me, it may not seem easy, but BUD/S is not as physically hard as you think. I was a medical standby for BUD/S and a majority of former fatties that I saw in BUD/s passed. Why? They were motivated NOT to fail.



So I say go this route

Wait for AW, it WILL come up eventually



OR



Go ND or EOD (qualify) and spend a couple years diving. then try for SEALS





Please, do not think I am a SEAL, I was only a medical standby and I have seen many portions of SEAL training (I hear about the rest)



I have rarely seen any SEAL recommend BUDS for anyone NOT already in the Military.



I have seen them reccommend them ONLY to overweight people who are getting fit........I have explained why.



Do it, good luck and god speed











TOTALLY forgot, this isnt J.........I just use his account from time to time.

Answer 4

AW is overmanned and you are not likely to be offered it.



SECF would be a good job but it's going to be a 6 year enlistment.



I'd pick SECF.

Answer 5

SECF is a 5 year program.