Heck, things might have changed by now, but I doubt it. There was a friendly rivalry and smack between the two.

A "blackshoe" rate was one that didn't have the little wings on the outside of the insignia that differentiates the specialty, between the Eagle and the stripes on their left arm.
Those rates are ones that are usually pretty fundamental to the operation of a ship, but they will also be assigned to shore duty, in support of those functions.
A Yeoman (office person) is needed everywhere, much like a "corpsman" and many other of those types of rates.
The poor Boatswain's mate, now those guys had it rough. Holy crap, no way could I have stuck that out. They had to spend days on end below decks etc.

An "airdale" like myself, had the little wings on the outside of my rate specialty, right below the eagle and the stripes. I was specially trained in aircraft electrical systems. So any ship assignment, would be related to aircraft, not the ship.

That is a new one on me Tim, I don't recall ever hearing of that rate. I remember having to check out with the legal officer when I would transfer, but that is about it.

Jails are probably less crowded. For a brief time my best friend (enlisted in the Air Force) was stationed at Hampton AFB while my ship was inport at Norfolk. I showed him the berthing areas and he was absolutely horrified. In his barracks at the Air Force base he had a room to himself and a bathroom he shared with one other person. You had to be at least a department head (lieutenant commander or above) to get a private stateroom, and the only people who had private heads were the captain and XO.

So basically, as an E-nothing in the Air Force he had better accommodations than all but the top two officers on my ship.

It sucked.

They didn't exist when you were in. The rating didn't exist below E-5 (sort of like Master-at-Arms), and you had be an E-4 to apply for the school.

Lockers?? You had separate lockers? Damn. We were stuck with the under bunk space. And you are right, we loved Zumwalt and his changes. He pretty much put the state-side locker clubs out of business. And after spending 3 days aboard a Kiwi destroyer, I realized that the US Navy was still in the living in the past.

I made E-6 in a little over 4 years and after 6 years had two options: 1) go NESEP and become an officer or got to B-School and make chief, teach A-School or NPS for 2 years and go back to the fleet. I was torn which way to go, until the Bosslady said "Pick what ever one you want, 'cause I'll be in KC. You can visit whenever you want." It seems that I actually had 3 options.

I hated carriers 'cause the prices for everything went up. Whether it was pu$$y or beer. The freakin' locals knew exactly when a big ship was coming in when we couldn't get that info through official channels. It took me little while to figure out how they knew.

Yeah. That's why I encouraged my nephew to go Air Force.

Two advantages to being the Navy (at least back then). You make rank faster, and you got to travel all over the world.

Air Force might have nicer accommodations, but if they're in Minot for three and a half years while you don't get advanced, well, I'll take the berthing compartment on the ship over that shit.

When I was in there were Air Force guys who would RETIRE as E-5s.

You just described why I volunteered EARLY for everything that would get me away from that environment. Subs, Aviation, Seals, UDT, every and anything that came up. The one assignment I had on a ship, USS Butte, lasted 6 weeks and we slept on the work benches in the avionics shop. :D


that explains, thanks.

That sucks. As I recall he's an E-5. He's been in a bit over eight years. He was stationed in Japan at one point, he's in Turkey right now. He seems to enjoy it.

Yeah, that's the thing - had I stayed in I would have made E-6 in just over six years. And had I not been a lazy ass when I first got in I could have made E-6 in four years.

LMAO

I remember watching that episode it was a gas.

Captain James A. Kirk is a native of Bethesda, MD. Wonder how long it will be before his family settles in Riverside, IA.