Being the the newest check-in at my first Sea-Duty Station out of the FRS, I thought I would post some of my experiences/gouge/fuck-ups to help the next new guy before they make the move from School to "The Fleet."
A little background first (for those who don't know me): I am currently an LTJG with 2.5 years prior-E experience. I was a SS3 in P-3's, so I have a slight advantage in knowing my way around the squadron. I enlisted in '04, commissioned in '06 via OCS, winged 15 October 2008, and checked out of VP-30 23JUL09.
My wife and I drove to NASWI arriving 01AUG09. I talked to my sponsor (who was on leave) for the first time on 30JUL09 (from Couer de Lane, ID) but had gotten a lot of info from a buddy who is an NFO at my new squadron. The best gouge I received from my sponsor was to check in after the 15th of the month.
As a 3P you have a PQS to complete within a certain amount of time...that time starts depending on when you check in. If you check in before the 15th, your PQS start date is actually the first of that month, so you are already 2 weeks behind the "curve". Checking in after the 15th meant my start date isn't until 01SEP09...I get 2 weeks to get ahead. Very helpful when most of your early evaluation as a 3P rides on how far ahead or behind you are on your PQS syllabus.
I checked in wearing Khaki's, good shine, haircut, etc...that first impression is still important...even if you get some shit from the guys for it. I showed at approx. 0715, the SDO stamped the orders, and off to Admin I went. Most people are used to the first 3 days of checking in to a squadron being light days...the same holds fairly true, I DID get home early (1330) but had a lot to do in the interim...much data entry, dropped the records off at the Hospital, dropped off the NATOPS, Logbook, etc.
One thing that your sponsor (or someone) should do is walk you around personally and show you who signs off each line on the check-in sheet, where everything is, the code to the wardroom, etc. It saves you from wandering around, lost, looking like a douchebag. I had two guys really help out; one guy was on LIMPDU so he really had no flying, and the other was willing to help show the FNG around.
Expect some ribbing, shenanigans...it is fun to be had at you expense, but no serious harm is meant...so don't be the guy who is an assbag and takes it personally. You may have a cool FNG patch, or a stupid jacket, etc.
Being a part of the wardroom means dues. My buy-in will be $150, and quarterly is like $30...it's part of being the cool kids with the mugs and bowling shirts...The wardroom treasurer will probably bust yer balls a little until you pay, but it goes for the betterment of your life, don't be reluctant about it. (I've got 2 kids, a wife, 1 salary...it hurts a little, but Mrs. Pickle understands)
Bring cash with you on that first day...you may have to pick up your own squadron patch, you will probably catch food on the run, and CSD always has some good deal going on with some cool shit. Don't be the guy walking around on day 2 with a VP-30 patch, you will definitely get some shit (I have to take this moment to thank our Flight Doc for the heads up and the loaner patch)
Things you need to have on you, or readily accessible, when you walk in the door that first day:
NATOPS Jacket
Original Orders
Log Book
Medical/Dental Record
Military Passport (our command collects and holds on to them)
Bank info (routing/account)
NKO login/password (always GMT to do)
Issued flight gear for the PR's (Airsave vest/Helmet)
2 pens/notepad...lots of shit to write down
Cash ($20 should do)
Checkbook (Wardroom dues)
Stuff I did before I checked in:
Hit up Pass and Tag for decal/flightline badge (you need orders/ID)
Moved into my house (you cannot always get house-hunting leave: this is command dependent)
Studied NATOPS/Job Aid (you will be flying a Stan check in the first week...)
Stuff I wish I had done before I checked in:
Studied a little more
Reviewed the PQS issued to me once before I started studying, to know what to expect on fly/Sim 1
Washed/dried my flightsuit to knock the wrinkles out (looked like a bag of ass because it had some sweet creases from the 10 days it was in my truck)
A more thorough recon of the base to find medical, all the gates, etc.
Finished my travel/dity claim...now I get to spend a few hours later this week/weekend taping receipts/weigh tickets and mailing shit out...
Lastly, copy down all of the new login/passwords you get (SHARP, Flight Sked) and be sure to check that flight schedule from day one...noone wants to be "that guy" on week one.
Hopefully this helps someone on the first 3 days...more to follow on the PQS, Stan check, and Taxi Pilot shenanigans...
Pickle
A little background first (for those who don't know me): I am currently an LTJG with 2.5 years prior-E experience. I was a SS3 in P-3's, so I have a slight advantage in knowing my way around the squadron. I enlisted in '04, commissioned in '06 via OCS, winged 15 October 2008, and checked out of VP-30 23JUL09.
My wife and I drove to NASWI arriving 01AUG09. I talked to my sponsor (who was on leave) for the first time on 30JUL09 (from Couer de Lane, ID) but had gotten a lot of info from a buddy who is an NFO at my new squadron. The best gouge I received from my sponsor was to check in after the 15th of the month.
As a 3P you have a PQS to complete within a certain amount of time...that time starts depending on when you check in. If you check in before the 15th, your PQS start date is actually the first of that month, so you are already 2 weeks behind the "curve". Checking in after the 15th meant my start date isn't until 01SEP09...I get 2 weeks to get ahead. Very helpful when most of your early evaluation as a 3P rides on how far ahead or behind you are on your PQS syllabus.
I checked in wearing Khaki's, good shine, haircut, etc...that first impression is still important...even if you get some shit from the guys for it. I showed at approx. 0715, the SDO stamped the orders, and off to Admin I went. Most people are used to the first 3 days of checking in to a squadron being light days...the same holds fairly true, I DID get home early (1330) but had a lot to do in the interim...much data entry, dropped the records off at the Hospital, dropped off the NATOPS, Logbook, etc.
One thing that your sponsor (or someone) should do is walk you around personally and show you who signs off each line on the check-in sheet, where everything is, the code to the wardroom, etc. It saves you from wandering around, lost, looking like a douchebag. I had two guys really help out; one guy was on LIMPDU so he really had no flying, and the other was willing to help show the FNG around.
Expect some ribbing, shenanigans...it is fun to be had at you expense, but no serious harm is meant...so don't be the guy who is an assbag and takes it personally. You may have a cool FNG patch, or a stupid jacket, etc.
Being a part of the wardroom means dues. My buy-in will be $150, and quarterly is like $30...it's part of being the cool kids with the mugs and bowling shirts...The wardroom treasurer will probably bust yer balls a little until you pay, but it goes for the betterment of your life, don't be reluctant about it. (I've got 2 kids, a wife, 1 salary...it hurts a little, but Mrs. Pickle understands)
Bring cash with you on that first day...you may have to pick up your own squadron patch, you will probably catch food on the run, and CSD always has some good deal going on with some cool shit. Don't be the guy walking around on day 2 with a VP-30 patch, you will definitely get some shit (I have to take this moment to thank our Flight Doc for the heads up and the loaner patch)
Things you need to have on you, or readily accessible, when you walk in the door that first day:
NATOPS Jacket
Original Orders
Log Book
Medical/Dental Record
Military Passport (our command collects and holds on to them)
Bank info (routing/account)
NKO login/password (always GMT to do)
Issued flight gear for the PR's (Airsave vest/Helmet)
2 pens/notepad...lots of shit to write down
Cash ($20 should do)
Checkbook (Wardroom dues)
Stuff I did before I checked in:
Hit up Pass and Tag for decal/flightline badge (you need orders/ID)
Moved into my house (you cannot always get house-hunting leave: this is command dependent)
Studied NATOPS/Job Aid (you will be flying a Stan check in the first week...)
Stuff I wish I had done before I checked in:
Studied a little more
Reviewed the PQS issued to me once before I started studying, to know what to expect on fly/Sim 1
Washed/dried my flightsuit to knock the wrinkles out (looked like a bag of ass because it had some sweet creases from the 10 days it was in my truck)
A more thorough recon of the base to find medical, all the gates, etc.
Finished my travel/dity claim...now I get to spend a few hours later this week/weekend taping receipts/weigh tickets and mailing shit out...
Lastly, copy down all of the new login/passwords you get (SHARP, Flight Sked) and be sure to check that flight schedule from day one...noone wants to be "that guy" on week one.
Hopefully this helps someone on the first 3 days...more to follow on the PQS, Stan check, and Taxi Pilot shenanigans...
Pickle
