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The Steve Wilkins Memorial Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) Thread
- Thread starter Steve Wilkins
- Start date
I'd like to say something funny, but you beat me to it.
Just curious, are there threads on SailorBob devoted to getting into Navy as an SNA/SNFO out of college?
I honestly wish that there was. I'll make one.
swerd - I have a SWO pin and I spent a CD Caribbean deployment on a small boat earning it while my CV was in the yards. When I say STAB, STAB, LOOK, STAB is the SWO doctrine, I do not say it in jest.
If the choice was NA, NFO or SWO, I would do my best to discourage SWO without any doubt. If the choice was SWO or staff puke, I'd encourage SWO because I'm not a support type of person. I'm grateful there are people like you that are willing to take the abuse, but it is not a user-friendly community.
Like it or not, aviators will always bash SWOs. We pity them too - but bashing is more fun.
If the choice was NA, NFO or SWO, I would do my best to discourage SWO without any doubt. If the choice was SWO or staff puke, I'd encourage SWO because I'm not a support type of person. I'm grateful there are people like you that are willing to take the abuse, but it is not a user-friendly community.
Like it or not, aviators will always bash SWOs. We pity them too - but bashing is more fun.
Thanks for being honest. I respect your opinion and take your word for it. However, I don't think that it's that bad. And if it is, I am hoping to try and change it from the inside out, starting with my Sailors. That may seem like an impossible task, but I like a challenge.
In the mean time, have fun bashing but I hope it doesn't affect people who don't have military experience.
MasterBates
Well-Known Member
The young ones are so idealistic....
muhahahahahahaah!
muhahahahahahaah!
Look, I was a freaking SWO, dude; two years of my life I'll never get back. I fled to the Brownshoe Side as soon as I could, and it wasn't because the Surface Navy is too happy and relaxed. Polish the turd any way you want, the community is and will remain one big sucking hole of hate and self-flagellation. If there's a way to make an easy job painful, a SWO will find it. Used to be you at least got a nice relaxed four-to-seven months of destroying your liver in Newport at SWO School. Now you don't even get that.
Let me erase all ambiguity: yes, it is that bad. Your Sailors aren't the problem; your Captain and XO probably are, and your Dept Heads definitely are. Let me know how that "change from the inside out" thing works out for you when you try and get them to adjust their world view, Ensign. I hope for your sake that you get a good ship, but I have a feeling your bright-eyed optimism will be a charred and smoking pile within six months of reporting aboard your first boat.
Look, dude, it's the abused-child syndrome. Your bosses were beaten as Ensigns, so they're going to make your life miserable as well because that's the only method of Ensign-rearing they know. You want a good idea of what SWO JO life is really like, read David Poyer's books, especially the earlier ones like "The Circle". Being absolutely dog-ass tired, no sleep in 48 hours with a midwatch to go, a pile of bullshit paperwork in your inbox, and your XO starts giving you shit at dinner because you're lingering over coffee and your CICWO signoffs aren't done yet, and then your DH pitches in with a "And where are those messages I asked you to put together THIS MORNING?" because O-3 fitreps are coming up and he's desperate to fellate the XO... that's the kind of challenge you're in for, my friend.
Saying you want to go SWO because "you like a challenge" is like saying you're going to run a marathon with your crank tied to your shoelaces. Just because it's tougher doesn't mean it's worth doing.
Let me erase all ambiguity: yes, it is that bad. Your Sailors aren't the problem; your Captain and XO probably are, and your Dept Heads definitely are. Let me know how that "change from the inside out" thing works out for you when you try and get them to adjust their world view, Ensign. I hope for your sake that you get a good ship, but I have a feeling your bright-eyed optimism will be a charred and smoking pile within six months of reporting aboard your first boat.
Look, dude, it's the abused-child syndrome. Your bosses were beaten as Ensigns, so they're going to make your life miserable as well because that's the only method of Ensign-rearing they know. You want a good idea of what SWO JO life is really like, read David Poyer's books, especially the earlier ones like "The Circle". Being absolutely dog-ass tired, no sleep in 48 hours with a midwatch to go, a pile of bullshit paperwork in your inbox, and your XO starts giving you shit at dinner because you're lingering over coffee and your CICWO signoffs aren't done yet, and then your DH pitches in with a "And where are those messages I asked you to put together THIS MORNING?" because O-3 fitreps are coming up and he's desperate to fellate the XO... that's the kind of challenge you're in for, my friend.
Saying you want to go SWO because "you like a challenge" is like saying you're going to run a marathon with your crank tied to your shoelaces. Just because it's tougher doesn't mean it's worth doing.
Pure written genius.....Fester, you do have a way with words.
.Look, I am the truck wheel, your dreams are the dude pumping gas:
Dark Horizon
New Member
I keep trying to register for Sailorbob but it keeps asking me for a Secret VIP code. I'm heading out to OCS May 31st and am looking for something to help me pass the time while I'm counting down the days. Anyone know if there is some way to register prior to arriving at OCS
BlackBearHockey
go blue...
Before I ever stepped foot on a warship, I thought, "man, those salty AWers really give SWOs a hard time, but it can't all be true." Then I did my 2/C cruise and saw it first hand for two months, and I thought, "man, those salty AWers know their shit." But, I'm sure it varies highly on the ship and the command. I was on an LSD, and would have liked to have seen some DDG/CG stuff.
OK, so I wasn't a SWO like Fester, and I don't have a way with words like him. But, I have cruised plenty and know or worked with more then a few SWOs. There is no way around it, the Surface Navy is very different then the Brown Shoe Navy. So, by definition, you get different experiences. If a guy wants the unique experience that comes with being a SWO, then let him. If you have been there, no problem telling a guy that you hated it and all. If you haven't been there and done that but have observed the lifestyle and don't like it, then sharing that might be useful. But hey, someone has to drive the ships and I don't see the point in assuming that a guy you don't know will hate his experience in the SWO community not knowing the type of ship he will serve on, who his leadership will be, where he will be home ported and what the fvck he wants out of his 5 years in the first place. Heck, he might just be the hard nosed, back stabbing, workaholic, prick that everyone here seems to think is always running the SWO Navy into the ground. That seems to me to be a good fit then. Why presuppose everyone will hate SWO just because we would or did hate it? And if the guy has signed papers and is getting on the bus you do him no good telling him now he made a mistake. There is just as good a chance you will turn it into a self fulfilling prophecy. The SWOs I knew would not hesitate to confirm it is more work then a typical operational tour as an aviator. That comes as no surprise to those of us that have been around. But aside from the work load (not everyone is as lazy as most aviators) most of the SWOs I knew found their experience useful and are proud of their service. True, many experienced poor leadership. But most also witnessed good leadership, sometimes in their own Chiefs. All found some satisfaction that could not have been found in the civilian sector, thus, SWO life gave them something worthwhile for their service they could not have found as civilians. Isn't that what most guys want out of their military service?
pm sent, or, read my qoute...