Movies and TV Captain Kirk To Command New Navy Destroyer

**Easy 6** · 10-31-2013, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

If I could have gone to a normal ship, I might have considered it - I was six months from going up for E-6 when I got out. But I was due to go back to sea, and for my rating that meant a carrier, and I had no desire whatsoever to be on a ****ing carrier for three years.

I'm interested in why a carrier is suck duty, how is life aboard one different from other ships?

**HemiEd** · 10-31-2013, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

I'm interested in why a carrier is suck duty, how is life aboard one different from other ships?

He was a "blackshoe" and not an "airdale."

Oops, I think he was a Yeoman, so I am not sure.

**Easy 6** · 10-31-2013, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

He was a "blackshoe" and not an "airdale."

Oops, I think he was a Yeoman, so I am not sure.

My Navy lingo is poor, that went over my head.

Having watched most episodes of "Carrier" though, it does look like pretty tough duty on one, they keep those mfers moving steady and are reeeal douchebags about what people wear while on shore leave.

Frazod · 10-31-2013, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

He was a "blackshoe" and not an "airdale."

Oops, I think he was a Yeoman, so I am not sure.

I was a Legalman when I got out. Small community, the only sea billets were on carriers.

**HemiEd** · 10-31-2013, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

My Navy lingo is poor, that went over my head.

Having watched most episodes of "Carrier" though, it does look like pretty tough duty on one, they keep those mfers moving steady and are reeeal douchebags about what people wear while on shore leave.

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

I was a Legalman when I got out. Small community, the only sea billets were on carriers.

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.

Frazod · 10-31-2013, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

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.

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.

**HemiEd** · 10-31-2013, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

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.

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

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.

that explains, thanks.

Frazod · 10-31-2013, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

I'm interested in why a carrier is suck duty, how is life aboard one different from other ships?

See post 40.

**Easy 6** · 10-31-2013, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

See post 40.

Got it

Frazod · 10-31-2013, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

Got it

Your sleeping accomodations for those 10 months:

**Easy 6** · 10-31-2013, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

Your sleeping accomodations for those 10 months:

Yeah, those pathetic looking mattresses always stuck out to me when i watched the show.

Looks like something you get in jail.

Frazod · 10-31-2013, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

Yeah, those pathetic looking mattresses always stuck out to me when i watched the show.

Looks like something you get in jail.

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.

listopencil · 10-31-2013, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

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.

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

bobbymitch · 10-31-2013, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

Your sleeping accomodations for those 10 months:

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.