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iron man · #1 05-10-2012, 01:52 AM

The reason I ask is because I JUST got back home from MEPS and my girlfriend's house being up since 0400. Wanted Seabee but MP and Aviation Mech were the 2nd and 3rd choice and I picked up Aviation. Ship date for that is September 19th, 4 months from now.

swamp snorkler · #2 05-10-2012, 06:09 AM

Good Job picking aviation......... you can have a career after the Military in that with airlines. Seabees are basically contruction right?

Matt G · #3 05-10-2012, 06:49 AM

Was Seabee and MP (Master-at-Arms I'm assuming) booked up? Normally those 2 rates and Corpsman are what the recruiters push. I think you were smart to pick the Air Dale side. As SS said, there will be more opportunities for you once you get out. I would personally look for something with helicopters. In south Louisiana where oilfield is big, so are helicopters! You would probably have a job waiting for you before you seperate. Good Luck!

T-Red · #4 05-10-2012, 07:01 AM

Did four years from 99-03 as an Aviation Electronics Technician (AT) on F/A-18s (VFA-105), now I work for Bristow Helicopters, so as someone stated the helicopters business here is very good, just make sure you get your A&P licence while you're enlisted.

I make oil · #5 05-10-2012, 07:29 AM

I thought you were going USMC?

swamp snorkler · #6 05-10-2012, 07:43 AM

I have a buddy that I graduated with who enlisted in 95', did his 4 years in the Navy working on Helicopters, Came out of H.S. and started working for P.H.I. Now he owns his own company in Taiwan servicing Helicopters. He is doing really well for himself.

iron man · #7 05-10-2012, 11:50 AM

Seabee and MP were all booked up. They wanted to give me Ordinance Loader on F-18s and such but I said no thanks. The ship date for that was June 12... then they tried to give me a submarine job...not a chance in hell.

Gottogo49 · #8 05-10-2012, 11:58 AM

I did three years on a minesweeper, Iron men in wooden ships. Right ...

iron man · #9 05-10-2012, 03:39 PM

Haha. Roughly 130 days until I leave for boot camp. The great thing about this...is I got free Hooters last night for me and the other guys who DEPped in with me and our recruiters too.

yigodiver · #10 05-10-2012, 04:11 PM

Aviation is good, I was an Ordnance loader on F/A-18 forward deployed, very good and fun job! Went to Guam finished college station at Naval Mag, then got to go to OCS, flew for a while got out and spent total of 10 years Went in as E-1 finished as O-3E loved every day of it till I got married and had some kids.

Galveston340 · #11 05-10-2012, 04:27 PM

...I was an AX2 when I got out in '79. Attached with HS-3 out of NAS JAX in Jacksonville,FL. Two deployments to the MED on the USS Forrestal attached to CAG-17. Best duty I saw was a two helo deployment to the AUTEC site down on Andros Island in the Bahamas! Just retired from GTE/Verizon after 31yrs.

You made the right choice by going Airdale!

Hebert · #12 05-10-2012, 05:52 PM

yes..aircraft mech is the best job in the Navy, you work hard and long hours sometimes but I wouldn't have wanted to do ANYTHING else!had a blast!...20 yrs retired Navy Aircraft Mech/NDI inspector here, now inspect air force 707's and KC-10's as a civilian contractor

started out as a AMS(aircraft mechanic,structural) then they changed the name to just "AM".

just my opinion but..seabee's suck..if you want to build things and drive construction equip you dont need to go into the military to do it...MP is worthless unless you want to be a security guard when you get out...again..you dont need to go into military for that......aviation ordnance? not many civilian helo's or planes have bombs attached to them...worthless unless your in the military...

galveston...i spent a few weeks at Autec on andros island in 99...went down there to test a new mine sweeping sonar for our MH-53 helicopters....cool lil place..lots of beer drinking and some good fishing!!

iron man...if ya have any specific AM questions send me a PM..

iron man · #13 05-11-2012, 01:37 AM

While talking to my cousin who is a Crew Chief of a C-130 or a C-5 can't remember, he steered me to the general direction of Aircrewman which in a nutshell is the same thing he's doing. He's done it for 7 years now and just re-upped. My brother said I don't want to do it but I'm the one doing this and not him although he was on a sub. Hell I might like it if I can pick up something I like doing and might stay in for 20+

Capt.B · #14 05-11-2012, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iron man

Seabee and MP were all booked up. They wanted to give me Ordinance Loader on F-18s and such but I said no thanks. The ship date for that was June 12... then they tried to give me a submarine job...not a chance in hell.

That was a very smart decision turning down AO....there is no future in the really real world for BB stackers....This was my mos in USMC....one of my biggest regrets of my life. Get the AP lic and your set....

bmac · #15 05-11-2012, 07:21 AM

Don't forget if you dont like your current MOS but want to stay in, you could do a lateral move to another MOS when your contract is up. They will often offer lat moves as an incentive for re-enlistment.
Some advice...
1. Take the GI bill, its about $100 amonth out of your paycheck for a year, but ends up being worth something like $40k or more when you use it, depending on the school you use it at.
2. Take advantage of Tuition Assistance when you are on active duty. They will pay a portion or maybe even all of your tuition to go to college. Most bases have colleges come on base to teach night classes. These are 4 year accredited colleges.
3. Keep your nose clean. You will be drug tested....alot.

Duck Butter · #16 05-11-2012, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmac

Don't forget if you dont like your current MOS but want to stay in, you could do a lateral move to another MOS when your contract is up. They will often offer lat moves as an incentive for re-enlistment.
Some advice...
1. Take the GI bill, its about $100 amonth out of your paycheck for a year, but ends up being worth something like $40k or more when you use it, depending on the school you use it at.
2. Take advantage of Tuition Assistance when you are on active duty. They will pay a portion or maybe even all of your tuition to go to college. Most bases have colleges come on base to teach night classes. These are 4 year accredited colleges.
3. Keep your nose clean. You will be drug tested....alot.

This^^^, get everything you can out of this, you deserve it.

Don't get caught up with some scandalous girl either, all of them start looking good after a couple weeks.

Think you picked the right MOS, too many people go into the armed forces and pick an MOS that is completely useless in the private sector. Not too many jobs open for an M1 tank weapons system mechanic in the real world, aviation is probably the best choice. Good luck, and stay away from scandalous girls at boot camp, nothing but trouble!