Stingerpup

Well, I , for the most part, don't really care one way or another. If I really wanted OSC that bad, I could have begun to play the politics game years ago. I have only submitted a package one time so far, and this year will be the second.

Oh, I don't ever let my sometime 'sour graphish' comments get in the way of my actual pride in what I have done. My service is one of the biggest things in my life (since I have been doing it since I was 17), and I wear my uniform with pride also.

BTW, did you get the word that the QMs are being absorbed into the OS rating? Effective '07, is what the message traffic I read says. One of the three oldest rates in the Navy, going away. It's a sad day I tell ya!!

01350banshee

Bubblehead QM's went away in 1996 when they merged NAVET's, Radio/ESM ET's, IC's and QM's together into Navigation ET's. The rate has not been the same since . They got somewhat smart and split the rate between Nav and Radio ET's a few years after the merge because of lack of qualified personnel . When I go out to ride Sub's every so often it's a sad situation watching so called Equipment Specialist Flop and Twitch/Monkey #~(k over how to troubleshoot broken equipment while underway.

smoke_pedal

I have been in 4 1/2 years, E-6 now. I was advanced on jan 15th. If I EP this time around, I will be up for the chief's test next january. I don't play the political games, and suck you know what, so I don't think I will make the EP as a first class. I have enough work to do without worrying about all of the collateral duties (and the related stomach pumping) that they expect a EP first class to go through. I am a good technician, and I lead my guys through a AA rating on UD, have been LPO afloat since I was a second class, and had 3 senior seconds working for me. Now I have nothing good to say about the chain of command. My division was the only one on the whole ship to pass 3m certification, all of the others failed miserably, the 3 largest workcenters, except damage control, and these guys still say my priorities are messed up? I guess I am just not EP material, this navy is going the way of the mexican legal system.

shortround

Made E-6 and Ltjg same day(April 27, 1972). ADM McCain (CINCPAC) pinned me. Medically retired 4 months later. Recalled to AD Feb 75. Been full time Army Guard since '78. Made E-7 Feb 2005. MRD Jan 2009. Will retire as O-4.
37 yrs, 7 months in right now.
If it's what you like to do, keep going at it.

wonderingwhatIwillwearwhenIretireShortround out

PistolWhipt

Just out of curiosity ... when you say all say that you don't "play the political game" .... what exactly are you talking about ? I can't tell you how often I hear this statement (verbatum) every single year after the board results come out and feelings get hurt.

Making CPO is not about being political and playing games. It is about using all the resources available to you to get the mission done, take care of your sailors and making things happen.

When I was a PO1, I formed up my sailors 3 times a week and we ran in formation all over the base ... I wasn't told I had to, it wasn't mandatory , but the fact that no other division did that made it the right thing to do. Believe me, I caught all sorts of flack from my under-achieving peers over it. "Pistol is just sucking up and trying to make SOY ...or whatever".

When I pushed lots of extra hours during cruise to polish up our spaces and get them 110% functional ... again, I was accused of polishing the apple to the O's and CPO Mess. Especially when the INSURV team took the time to make sure the CO knew how squared away his Repair Division was (right in front of the entire wardroom / CPO Mess) and how jacked up the others were.

While it did end up that my evals shined over theirs ... that wasn't the goal. My goal was for NONE of my men to fail. The didn't fail the PRT, rather they LED the PRT ... the Div-O always gave them all the time off they needed when we were back in port instead of fixing discrepancies like the others. Thus, they had the ammo to hold their own when it was their turn to go up for awards and SOQ/SOY boards.

It is the leaders obligation to help his people grow ... even if it isn't the most popular thing and even though noone is telling him to do it. Their growth is your growth ... no whining is necessary, just GOYA and make things happen.

PISTOL

smoke_pedal

I am just saying that I won't get an EP in the competitive environment that not only asks you to do your job, but when there is an OS that has nothing else to do besides collateral duties, and an EN that works twice as hard, and twice the hours, how do you expect them to get any collateral duties. While the EN is working, the OS is sucking the captain's earlobe, and getting the EP. I won't get the EP, but I will make chief. Maybe it will happen the first time I am eligible. The chief's board sees what is in your record, not in your stomach. When I already have an associate's, and most of the competition doesn't have jack.

sinton

Sitting on my fair share of ranking boards I can tell you that this issue is brought into consideration many a times. A good ENC would bring that up the differances in jobs/work loads and why "his people" don't have the collateral duties that the topsiders have.

Stingerpup

Political game = command enamored collateral duties.

I am a professional. Nearly every evaluation I've received since I was an OS2 has rated me with rating knowledge/performance 4.0 (old scale) and 5.0 new scale. I typical spend my time ensuring I can do the best job as an 'OS' as I can. As an LCAC navigator, that meant ensuring my track was laid, and all of my equipment operated at 100%.

As a prior LPO at sea, I spend time creating a training syllabus for my CIC team, and conducting training. This ensured that our CIC did its job in the best way possible. Additionally, I interacted with all members of my division so that I could recognized when they had 'things' going on.

The collateral duties I speak of are things like CFC, Navy Relief, etc. While they have a place in every command, I've seen many a PO1 take these duties so that they are on an evaluation. They show a 'welled rounded' leader, and someone that takes on 'more' than is required of them and supports the command.

OK, I'll support the commands mission, they can support the command.

And for the record, I don't ever get hurt feelings over the board. Since I know my evaluation doesn't carry those marks.

My evaluation has phrases - "skilled leader", "commitment to mission accomplishment", "recognized system expert" and "mentor". These are things that are important to me. But sorry, no CFC key person, Treasurer for FPCOA, etc. Those kinds of things are for the politicians.

Pistol, you may not agree with me, but that is your right as an initiated CPO. But I've seen more of my type NOT make CPO, and those that have the check marks as 'command support' are wearing khaki. Who is the better CPO material?? IMO, those that put the men and mission first, but obviously that isn't always the case.

DirtEater

I'll be reporting to my last ship for a 17 month tour this Monday. After that, I'll retire at 20 years. Presently, I'm a QM1(SW). I made it in '98, and I'm really bummed about the merger. If I understand right, they won't merge E-6 and above until mid year 07, and I'll retire Sep 07. Man, my last 6 months in the Navy will be as an OS. Unreal!

Now, as far as the butt-kisser type Navy politicans (and those of you that fit the bill know deep down inside that you are) it works for some sailors, but it can't for me. Being a nut-hugger is not in my nature, and some of the champion nut-huggers I've worked with over the years have made me sick, seeing just how fake they are, and how they are out for nobody but themselves. Pathetic, but it seems to work.

Stingerpup, I thought you were out in Oceanside last I spoke with you via PM?

PistolWhipt

Stingerpup,

There is no doubt in my military mind that you are a true Navy Professional. You wouldn't be trusted with the position that you have as well as being allowed to drive that high dollar piece of aluminum if you weren't .
You are 100% right when you talk about the people who eat up the choice command collateral jobs leaving nothing for the working man except the scraps. Have you talked to the CMC about rotating the collaterals ? This isn't something that is generally given much thought until you point out that when they leave Joe Topsider in a good collateral for so long that noone else has a chance to learn about the program let alone try to run it better.
This is something that came to light at our last SOQ board ... our CMC was behind it 100% and it has helped bring in some healthy competition.

I'd also like to point out that what you do on your off time carries a lot of weight when you include this into your eval input. What do you do on your off time to help your career ? I can't tell you how much mileage I got just from being a foster parent. I'm not saying that you have to go that far, but things like being a Big Brother to an under priviledged child, regularly volunteering at an old folks home, assisting the local recruiter by speaking in the high schools (you have the prime job to open the kids eyes !!) .... lots of things like that will help and really don't eat up a lot of your precious off time.
Better yet ... drag all of your juniors out as a group to do something like this once a month ... and then invite the CMC to come and help (gives him a chance to get out of babysitting duty, shows your subordinates that the CMC is interested in what THEY are doing ... as well as puts you in a good light when you are held up against Joe Topsider during ranking boards).
While many will argue that this is a form of politicking ... fine, if you want to call it that, I choose to think of it as doing the right thing to help your people grow.
Your juniors can all use these things in their own input for evals and SOQ/SOY boards. Help them help you.

Your degree will carry you quite a ways in the New Navy ... and you are right again, your peers are lagging behind. DON'T STOP ... KEEP GOING !!

Keep pushin' bud ... don't give up. I darn sure never had the top dog evals and SOQ/SOY in my record ... but I believe that my persistance and thinking outside the box paid off. It will for you too.

PISTOL

Stingerpup

I was, but that was before my two year battle for spousal co-location was deemed a victory for the visiting team.

I transferred to NRD Omaha as a staff/support member in January, and have been hating life in an office. Unfortunately, I exceled again, and was recognized for managerial and computer skills. This got me sent TAD to Oakland for 45 days to support Region West. And this TEN bleepin' days after my wife finally gets to the house.

I've got 30 days left of this TAD and then I am going home again. Hopefully, this will be the last time I am out of the house.

Stingerpup

Not giving up, but not pushing the envelope.

I am back with my wife after a 4.5 year split. I am not saying I am giving up, but I am all about my relationship with my wife. I get to commute 41 miles each way now, and spend my nights at home, living a normal life.

I am the LOWEST man on the totem pole in my office now, so I just go with the flow.

Hey, I am the assistant PFA guy now, with the XO leading the way.

Only 6 enlisted sailors in the office.....

I have heard several different things about what will happen to me when I get back home from this TAD. The last thing I heard was either USSTRATCOM, or MEPS Omaha.

You get one guess at the one I want.

PistolWhipt

Roger all Don'cha just love it when they "reward" a guy with time away from home ?? Not much incentive to do your best is there ??

I know which one I would choose too .... good luck !!

Cheers,
PISTOL

robert chilton

Man I should have been a nuke or something. Been in for 6 years and rose fast for being a bee. I have taken the 1st exam 4 times now and finally am to a point where I can make it if I score a perfect score on the test and they are generous on the advancement that cycle. Hasnt really left me much encentive to attempt to make rate or suck up a collateral duty.
We just got our new LPO in a few weeks ago, doesnt take over for another month or two so has been the ops guy, but what a collateral duty hog. Runs FEP and a PRT coordinator along with holding the credit card and a few other things I cant remember. Seems like productivity took a nose dive in the last 2 months. Gets to work an hour after the rest of us on PT days and is always to busy to go shopping. I dont think a project has been finished on time since he got here. I honestly think that colateral duties need to be gotten rid off. Make them a full time position like they do for the warfare pin guys in the training department. This would leave them time to do their primary job.
I have seen alot of yall talking about the new navy vs the old. Heres a question for ya. What do you think about the DON pulling people off shore duty and sending them to the middle east for a year? I just cant figure out how they feel the need to do this to us guys on the bottom then turn around and have the CNO calling for a smaller navy? Seems like they are doing everything in their power to mess up family lives and mariages of their "most valuable resources". Dont get me wrong. This is not a whinning kind of a thing but just seems like some seious misguided leadership from the bottom. What do yall think?

Stingerpup

I actually hoping for the STRATCOM billet. I had orders there first, until I found out my last command had hosed up my security clearance.

I just need to have my fingers in the game (still) and doing admin work at a MEPS just doesn't cut it.