Been Awhile

[ChattanCat]

Hey Bishop! Great to hear that things are going well. Missed this ghtead yeasterday, so I hope you take a belated welcome back.

[Navyguy]

Congrats on making it out of RTC alive shipmate. I was stationed there for 3 years and every winter I thought I would die. If you get stationed in VA after "A" school, look me up.

[berserkbishop]

A Cunningham in the Navy, theres a first...

;)

From an ex matelot to a new one, have fun, its a great life and experience.

The easy bit is over, and joining ships company (Or what ever you yanks call it, thats what we called it in the Royal Navy services) and learning and performing at their level is the hard part...(but not that hard...)

I might of missed it, but what branch of the senior service did you sign into?

(I was going to say her majesty's, but that doesnt apply to the US)

All the best

Phil C


oops just spotted it MM = Marine Mechanic?

MM is machinist mate, but yeah, basically a marine mechanic.. . . . I start school next Tuesday. Thanks again all for the kind words and advice.

Bishop

[Jock Scot]

I hope you don't mind me asking, but is the US Navy regarded as the "Senior Service" by the other US Armed Services? I am not wishing to start up an inter service war here chaps! In the UK and I think the Commonwealth too, the Royal Navy is the Senior Service.

[davedove]

I hope you don't mind me asking, but is the US Navy regarded as the "Senior Service" by the other US Armed Services? I am not wishing to start up an inter service war here chaps!

What exactly is meant by Senior Service? If it means the oldest service, then the US Army has that title, with the US Navy almost as old.

[Jock Scot]

What exactly is meant by Senior Service? If it means the oldest service, then the US Army has that title, with the US Navy almost as old.

Oh crumbs my father will be turning in his grave,as a son of a Royal Navy man I should know the answer, but yes, I think the RN are the oldest arm of our services. It also matters when it comes to order of precedence, for example, a RN Lieutenant is equal in rank, but senior to, a Captain in the army, or a RN Captain is equal in rank, but senior to, a full Colonel in the army.

[Macman]

In the UK and I think the Commonwealth too, the Royal Navy is the Senior Service.

You are correct; the navy is the senior service in Canada too, Jock.

[###KILTEDKIWI###]

Sorry to take this off track for a quick stint...

Easiest way to sort this is...

When you have interservice parades and guards etc, who is leading...(senior service leads in commonwealth countries)(i presume it would be the same)

MM is machinist mate, but yeah, basically a marine mechanic.. . . . I start school next Tuesday. Thanks again all for the kind words and advice.

Good on ya mate, you joined the "power branch" as we called it, cheffies and stokers are the hardest workers, the rest are passengers...(wait for the backlash here)

I was a Marine Electrical Mechanic (dual trades - started with 32 in class finished with 7...) then went on to specialise in fitter / turning and welding trades (Marine Technician as they are called now)

All the best.

[###KILTEDKIWI###]

Oh yeah, whast the sign on period for the puss over there?

it is (or was) 20 years...

[Cerebite]

After 20 years of active service a US service member can start collecting retirement. A Reservist qualifies for retirement at the same time but can not start collecting until they reach 65 [hopefully they will change that soon]

A basic first enlistment is 4 years unless you have committed to a long training pipeline in which case it will be 6 years. When I initially enlisted I obligated for 2 years of school [Nuclear Electrician] followed by 4 years of service.

BerserkBishop are you training to be a conventional MM or a Nuke? Did you volunteer for Submarine Service [which "sort of" has its own tartan already as discussed elsewhere on this board]?

best of luck, Chief