What is your reason for going to D17? If you want to see AK, you will see a lot more (and experience a lot more) if you take XShiprider's advice and select a cutter.
I served onboard the now-decommed CGC STORIS out of Kodiak and saw and did things that I will remember forever.
Originally posted by FedRich: What is your reason for going to D17? If you want to see AK, you will see a lot more (and experience a lot more) if you take XShiprider's advice and select a cutter.
All I can say is that this was not his recruiter's idea!!!
Originally posted by Jayman89: Any preference as to which one is "better" for a non rate? A 110 or a black hull? Thanks again.
Jason
Although the job of a non-rate is pretty much the same no matter where you go, different boats have different missions...which will have an effect on what you do. Everyone will give you a different opinion.....the only one that matters is yours. I would suggest calling around to different units....tell them you are joining and are interested in what they do on board. Then, you can decide for yourself.
Originally posted by Seagull1965: Take a black hull if you want to learn the BM rate. You will learn more on a tender than a 110 IMO.
Having served on two black hulls and a 110 in what are now BM billets, I don't think that is very accurate. Very little ATON stuff is part of the BM Rating (which is defined in large part by the EPQs). That is tough to say as I prefered by black hull tours. A non rates exposure to the BM world on a 110 is probably a little deeper. There is a better chance that a nonrate will be performing BM work on a 110, like standing bridge watches ABOVE that of helm/lookout. Navigation and Ship(boat) Control is one of the most corp skill sets of the BM rating and the non rate does more of that by neccesity on a WPB than a WLB/M
Having served on two black hulls and a 110 in what are now BM billets, I don't think that is very accurate. Very little ATON stuff is part of the BM Rating (which is defined in large part by the EPQs). That is tough to say as I prefered by black hull tours. A non rates exposure to the BM world on a 110 is probably a little deeper. There is a better chance that a nonrate will be performing BM work on a 110, like standing bridge watches ABOVE that of helm/lookout. Navigation and Ship(boat) Control is one of the most corp skill sets of the BM rating and the non rate does more of that by neccesity on a WPB than a WLB/M
IMO any black hulled cutter would be better to start out on if you are looking to go BM. If you start out this way, you can learn all of the ATON stuff as well as the weight handling gear, R&S, deck maintenance, and seamanship. Some of the black hulls conduct law enforcement and SAR also.
