Are stories of the SWO community valid?

[Uncle Fester]

Frigates have their pluses: you get to go places and do missions nobody else does. Sometimes it's because those missions suck, but sometimes it's because it's not high-profile enough for the Aegis boats. In any case, you're not tied to the strike group. And being on a small ship with a small wardroom means that the SWO is less likely to forget where you are in your quals and where you need to go (i.e., get on the watchbill as OOD U/I for an anchoring).

The thing about a good CO/XO making your tour is universal, no matter your shoe color. Good front office means a happy command. Bad front office means life sucks. This is true even when you don't have direct contact with the boss on a daily basis - misery trickles downhill. I've seen both extremes - skippers everyone would follow into hell, and CO's no one would cross the street to piss on if they were on fire.

 

[Wudgles]

The thing about a good CO/XO making your tour is universal, no matter your shoe color. Good front office means a happy command. Bad front office means life sucks. This is true even when you don't have direct contact with the boss on a daily basis - misery trickles downhill. I've seen both extremes - skippers everyone would follow into hell, and CO's no one would cross the street to piss on if they were on fire.

I'd say that's something everyone learns pretty quick. I definitely learned that via my commissioning source.

As far as the "Frigates are ghei, go CRU/DES" thing, my uneducated and inexperienced thought process falls somewhere along the line of: Every community has its good and bad/ups and downs/pluses and minuses. With that said, don't frigates get to do a lot more of the counter-drug ops and other niche missions? Obviously, being a "missile sponge" for a carrier battle group blows, but I'd think that hunting down gun/drug runners could be pretty freaking cool at times.

 

[Flash]

Mrs Fester was 20/400 and got an NFO slot. That's legally blind. Navy doesn't care, as long as you're correctable to 20/20 and no other vision issues (color vision, depth perception, etc).

//Slight threadjack. There is actually an upper limit for vision for SNFO, I remember my glasses were a little bit over it and they 'tweaked' a prescription down right below the limit so I could pass the NAMI. They said it was not uncommon, I never wore those glasses again. Looking at the NAMI waiver guide I am guessing it was my refractive error but I am not at the limit now and my vision is slightly worse, guessing the standards changed a bit.

Legally blind is uncorrectable 20/200 or worse (top of the eye chart is 20/200).

End threadjack//

 

[BigRed389]

I'd say that's something everyone learns pretty quick. I definitely learned that via my commissioning source.

As far as the "Frigates are ghei, go CRU/DES" thing, my uneducated and inexperienced thought process falls somewhere along the line of: Every community has its good and bad/ups and downs/pluses and minuses. With that said, don't frigates get to do a lot more of the counter-drug ops and other niche missions? Obviously, being a "missile sponge" for a carrier battle group blows, but I'd think that hunting down gun/drug runners could be pretty freaking cool at times.

I'd go where the money is...I think that applies regardless of designator or service.

FFGs don't get a lot of money b/c they're already old and broke, and don't really do high profile stuff.

As far as the "cool" factor, from what I have heard from the SWOs that actually did CNT ops, it in no way sounds cool. You either launch helos to run down go fast boats that can outrun your FFG on its BEST day, or do circles looking for semi-submersibles that might be headed up.
Counterpiracy may also sound cool (btw which CGs and DDGs did more of, at least circa late 2009) but it often consists of either picking up dirty stinking Somalis who drop all their shit overboard as you approach to ditch the evidence, who you then roll up, lecture them that they're bad people for being pirates and turn them loose. Or you just standoff and stare at hijacked vessels telling higher every 15 minutes that the pirate on guard is still picking his nose.

This isn't to discourage you but rather to point out that romanticizing the "cool" missions can lead to disappointment as most of that time is incredibly boring and uneventful.

Sure, nobody's shot a live submarine in...decades(?) but I felt more gainfully employed doing a well organized live ASW exercise than any of the CP stuff we did.

 

[johnritenour@co]

I guess I should really thank the SWO Community for teaching me how to successfully appeal FITREPS. I had two of them removed by the kind folks at the BCNR (Board For Correction of Naval Records). Getting a FITREP expunged for your record isn't easy, getting two removed is like making a perfect three (or two on the newer bird farms) wire with bird on fire & both engines flamed out. Of course, having a father who was an Air Force O-6 didn't hurt (he helped me write both appeals). He also stated that even given the difference in the culture betwixt the USN & USAF, what kind of moron slams a guy personally on a FITREP? It is sure grounds for getting it removed (if you know how to play the game).

 

[johnritenour@co]

I knew I had adopted the SWO Culture while I was in Jaycee's (Junior Chamber of Commerce). We were playing a version of the Dating (Mating) Game. I was one of the bachelors, and when asked what would your ideal date be, replied as follows...A woman who brings a large jar of chunky peanut butter, a large container of cool whip, a five gallon jug of Wesson Oil, and a weed eater to our first date. (With a passing nod in reference to the Song "Ethel" by Ray Stevens.

 

[RadicalDude]

I knew I had adopted the SWO Culture while I was in Jaycee's (Junior Chamber of Commerce). We were playing a version of the Dating (Mating) Game. I was one of the bachelors, and when asked what would your ideal date be, replied as follows...A woman who brings a large jar of chunky peanut butter, a large container of cool whip, a five gallon jug of Wesson Oil, and a weed eater to our first date. (With a passing nod in reference to the Song "Ethel" by Ray Stevens.

Cool story, bro.

 

[phrogpilot73]

I guess I should really thank the SWO Community for teaching me how to successfully appeal FITREPS. I had two of them removed by the kind folks at the BCNR (Board For Correction of Naval Records). Getting a FITREP expunged for your record isn't easy, getting two removed is like making a perfect three (or two on the newer bird farms) wire with bird on fire & both engines flamed out. Of course, having a father who was an Air Force O-6 didn't hurt (he helped me write both appeals). He also stated that even given the difference in the culture betwixt the USN & USAF, what kind of moron slams a guy personally on a FITREP? It is sure grounds for getting it removed (if you know how to play the game).

Seriously?

Fill out your profile.

 

[BusyBee604]

Fill out your profile.[/quote]

AMEN! For all Officer aspirants: If you don't have the time to even minimumly fill out your profile; why should we take the time to answer your questioons or offer advice? We're not asking for your VISA acct.#/PIN... or your computer Passwords, just a bit of general 'stuffs', i.e. age/gender/marital status, education, military goals, hobbies/pastimes, unique experience, etc. Getting to know a bit about a "newbee" helps us to help you (we have no desire to compromise your anonymity, and we respect your privacy concerns).
BzB

 

[Renegade One]

... my wife usually mocks me with "you sure you aren't a FO?" It can be humiliating...

Ouch...I feel your pain, bro!

 

[bubblehead]

You couldn't pay me to be a SWO.

 

[BigRed389]

You couldn't pay me to be a SWO.

That's pretty funny coming from a bubblehead.

 

[PenguinGal]

I'm not a SWO or even in the Navy (yet, hopefully!). However, my husband is a SWO and I like to think that I have seen at least part of the misery that is SWO-dom.

There are plenty of miserable inspections, underways that provide nothing other than stress for the SWOs :;cough helo quals cough::, and plenty of backstabbing. That being said, as in any other job if you do it and do it well, there can be a heck of a lot of job satisfaction. Knowing that you played a role in leading your division to the highest score on an INSURV inspection that the base has seen in the last decade, breaking launch records with missiles, stepping up and helping vessels in need. Yeah, a lot of stuff sucks but there are good aspects that can balance out the bad if you let them.

*Please note that this message was written by the wife of a SWO who has been hitting the kool-aid pretty hard and will be heading off to NPS for his next orders.

 

[Brett327]

I love the perenial "best X inspection seen in X years." Funny how everyone seems to craft award or eval bullets out of their various inspections that read that way. Such bullshit.

 

[Renegade One]

*Please note that this message was written by the wife of a SWO who has been hitting the kool-aid pretty hard and will be heading off to NPS for his next orders.

PenguinGal: You're fantastic. Thanks for your part in your hubby's career...and I guess "good luck" with your own Navy aspirations? You're exactly the type of spouse everyone wants in their Ready Room/Wardroom. Enjoy the Monterey Peninsula!

I love the perenial "best X inspection seen in X years." Funny how everyone seems to craft award or eval bullets out of their various inspections that read that way. Such bullshit.

Ammo is where you find it. Not everyone has the opportunity to put Naval gunfire against Omaha Beach or bomb the bridges at Toko-Ri...