I'm due to PCS next summer, and my wife and I want to have another baby. I missed the first one and I think my wife will stab me if I miss the next one. I'm looking at going to a 225, will I know my schedule far enough in advance to pull that off? Or should I look elsewhere?
There is no real way of answering that question, to be frank. Too many variables are involved, when (and if) your spose gets pregnant, what the OPTEMPO of whatever particular unit is like at the particular time you are having a child.
Far be it for me to tell you to go to land, however that might be the only way to have at least a 90 percent plus chance of being there at the birth.
That being said, a decent command or Chief's mess should be able to push TAD orders to a land unit for a month or so if your 225 is out underway. That's what I would do.
Yeah, that's true. I suppose it would really depend on exactly where I am at exactly what time. Thanks for the insight. I'm not looking for land at this point in my career, but I just might have to suck it up and do it so i can see at least ONE of my babies come in to this world.
I would not worry much about it, personally. You cannot predict what will happen, so what is the point of worrying about it? Pick a billet that A) you think will be ENJOYABLE for you B) In a place that is enjoyable for your FAMILY and C) Good for expanding your PROFESSION. In that order. And you will be fine.
Case in point, I have a EM2 who is expecting his first kid in the end of October. There is a decent enough chance that we will be either underway on a 90 day ALPAT or a 6 month Deep Freeze. He is my most dependable EM2, a real asset, and it will hurt to leave him behind. Do I care? HELL NO I am pushing for him to stay back. Why? Because that is what a good Chief does, in my view. No one guy is so vital to a ship they he should have to not be able to see the birth of his child. We are not fighting insurgents here folks, let's have some perspective.
Take care of you people and they will take care of you, the Guard, and thier shipmates. No one needs a LAMS or Academy to tech them that.
Originally posted by Dromon: I'm due to PCS next summer, and my wife and I want to have another baby. I missed the first one and I think my wife will stab me if I miss the next one. I'm looking at going to a 225, will I know my schedule far enough in advance to pull that off? Or should I look elsewhere?
I AM CURRENTLY ON A 225 AND WE ARE UNDERWAY MORE THAN A WHITE HULL .. BUT THE COMMAND IS A LOT MORE LAID BACK AS FAR AS GIVING PEOPLE TAD ORDERS AND SO THAT THEY CAN BE THERE TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY.. ON MY LAST BOAT A 270 I HAD TWO SHIPMATES MISS THEIR CHILD BEING BORN BECAUSE THE COMMAND WANTED THEM TO GET UNDERWAY EVEN THOUGH THEY DID NOT HAVE CRITICAL ROLES THAT COULD HAVE NOT BEEN COVERED.. THE SCHEDUAL SUCKS THOUGH WE JUST HAD TWO UNDERWAY PERIODS THAT WERENT ON THE SCHEDUAL A MONTH A PIECE AND ABOUT TO GET UNDERWAY AGAIN AFTER ONLY BEING IN FOR 4 DAYS..FOR 3.5 WEEKS. : / PICK WISLEY
THE SCHEDUAL SUCKS THOUGH WE JUST HAD TWO UNDERWAY PERIODS THAT WERENT ON THE SCHEDUAL A MONTH A PIECE AND ABOUT TO GET UNDERWAY AGAIN AFTER ONLY BEING IN FOR 4 DAYS..FOR 3.5 WEEKS. :
S-C-H-E-D-U-L-E
Yeah, it really sucks when you join a seagoing service and then discover they actually expect you to spend a lot of time at sea......
I also suspect you pull into port during that one month period a bit more often then a WHEC does.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ex_CG_GM,
EX_CG_GM although, a WLB may pull in more often then a WHEC, that does not meen there is any more down time for the member. although a WLB may be in port more often, they are also underway more often. They traditionally have less Charlie period with more technically advanced equipment, requiring more experienced technicians and more time to repair. Many WLB's log more underway hours with a smaller percentage of technicians per machinery. Case in point Optimally Manned. Dromon, go with what you feel is right and do what you can to be there. No body can say you will be home for the birth of your child no matter where you PCS to. Good Luck.
