When I was at the SPO Conference in Topeka in August, VADM Papp was talking about restructuring at HQ, reducing the amount of officers, and pushing support billets out to the field units. I don't believe he gave any kind of time frame.
let's see... I retired Nov 2006. For several years prior to my retirement the issue of station yeomen was "buzzing around". So I wouldn't get too excited about it... The excitement might be a little premature.
There have been YN2's at small boat staions for many years. There is nothing new about that. Not all stations, but about a half dozen or so. There have also been SK2's at stations. More of the stations have the SK type.
An SK is much more useful at small stations then a YN. Since most of the answers from the YN community are I have to call PERSRU, or it is the member's responsibility, they actually don't benefit that many people. I was XPO at a small station and between the HS and I we handled all of the YN work. Not that difficult. At least the SK can handle the budget.
Ever heard that old yarn about a Coastie reports in to the new command, hands over their personnel jacket, and the YN says "who's been handling your records because they're all fouled up."
Two or three years later, he PC's again. He hands over his personnel jacket to the new YN and hears ""who's been handling your records because they're all fouled up."
I Dont think a YN at a station is a benefit either. Theres not enough work for them to do in my opinion taking care of only 20 to 30 people. I dont know what those XPOs do all day with all their time.
Not trying to make hate, just trying to keep it humorous!
XPO's time is taken up by many important functions. They have to go for a morning walk with their coffee, I mean ensure people are working, spaces are clean, and things are in working order. They have to answer important emails from various other high ranking people, I mean check out Fred's Place. They have to conduct training, I mean take a nap while the video is running. All told XPO's are very busy doing very important things. Now run along YNGRL, I have to get back to work....
Originally posted by YNGRL: I Dont think a YN at a station is a benefit either. Theres not enough work for them to do in my opinion taking care of only 20 to 30 people. I dont know what those XPOs do all day with all their time.
Not trying to make hate, just trying to keep it humorous!
I would LOVE to serve at small boat stations...Not JUST because there is one close to home, but because it frees up the BM1 and XPO from having to deal with issues that are MINE to deal with and it gets them into the water more and they can focus on their training and getting the station in order for the STAN team as well as any other issues at hand.
YNs are very capable of handling SK issues as well. IN DC, I did the SK job there with procurements, bookkeeping and ordering supplies. I was able to keep a modest budget and assure that we had the materials needed on a monthly basis.
We're not interchangeable, there are several YNs that are NOT trained as SKs and vice versa..but some of us are and all of us should be, as needed/required.
As far as fun factor it would be fun to get back to a station. As far as job wise, it would be boring and Useless. The amount of work a 60 man station deals in a month is nothing that a capable YN can not handle in a few hours. Doing my time on a 180 was quite worthless, other than standing watch, other quals I spent about 3 hours a week actually doing YN work. Not to mention what kind of YN's are they going to send to Stations a 3rd? 2nd? Half these YN's are still not capable of doing their job or knowing the vital areas of responsibility they really should before going to a independent duty billet. Sending a 1st would be a waste of valuable experience to train our under qualified YN3's and YN2's. Same issue with some 1st class that were able to test well and move up under the radar.
If YN's want to really have a taste of Independent duty. Go work on a black hull or white hull, even get dirty and go for a fun one and a Red Hull.
In addition, this rumor has been floating around since the 90's when I joined.
"YNs are very capable of handling SK issues as well. IN DC, I did the SK job there with procurements, bookkeeping and ordering supplies. I was able to keep a modest budget and assure that we had the materials needed on a monthly basis."
The real question is did you do the job right? I know of many BMs/MKs/YNs that think being an SK is cake.... until they get the threat of jail time. I can say I do a little YN work but I'd never say I could do the YNs job.
That's the proverbial fly in the ointment, isn't it? I think this is a great idea. Customer Service Rule #1: The closer the support is to the customer, the better the support.
However, if I can put a YN3/2 on a black hull taking care of 50 people, or I can put him in ashore taking care of 300 people, where am I better off spending that resource? It could certainly be done, but as you said, it's going to be BORING! And, the CG would need to create some sort of Independent Duty YN Course. Maybe even on-line... But it would definitely need to be done.
The alternative? Send a YN1 to a Station that has 60 people. Same problem... He can go take care of 60 people, or he can work at the Sector and Audit a 1,000 records. Which one is better?
Originally posted by Brendelin: As far as fun factor it would be fun to get back to a station. As far as job wise, it would be boring and Useless. The amount of work a 60 man station deals in a month is nothing that a capable YN can not handle in a few hours. Doing my time on a 180 was quite worthless, other than standing watch, other quals I spent about 3 hours a week actually doing YN work. Not to mention what kind of YN's are they going to send to Stations a 3rd? 2nd? Half these YN's are still not capable of doing their job or knowing the vital areas of responsibility they really should before going to a independent duty billet. Sending a 1st would be a waste of valuable experience to train our under qualified YN3's and YN2's. Same issue with some 1st class that were able to test well and move up under the radar.
If YN's want to really have a taste of Independent duty. Go work on a black hull or white hull, even get dirty and go for a fun one and a Red Hull.
In addition, this rumor has been floating around since the 90's when I joined.
SO you could send the ones that the CO and/or the warrant agrees on for duty. (some kind of screening) There are independent YN's everywhere. I would not send a YN3 but I would send a YN2. All Yn's are not dumb and know jobs or can at least function with manuals....
