planning on putting in a warant appointment pkg this year and i am not sure which specialty to persue. i am looking for any input from currrent, past, and prospective cwo(s) in the MSSE or NAV ENG specialty. not looking to start a "who's better" thread so please refrain from those kind of comments. just looking for some good advice or experiences. thanx in advance!
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Chief, I was having the same delimma wondering if I should apply for MSSE or MAT. I was lucky enough to tag along on an inspection the other day with the local MSSE guys/gals. It was interesting, a little on the boring side but a very good cause if you want to keep people safe. We inspected anything and everything that would have possibility to fail. The CWO who was a former MKC had a good motto, "He wanted to put search and rescue out of business". He really enjoyed his job and was very thorough. The only thing I can say about Nav Eng is white hulls. Which isn't a bad thing, I've been to three but I wouldn't want to do that later in my career. I made my decision based on where the better jobs where out of the two. Good luck.
Sitting 6 feet away from the guy that runs the MSSE/MSSD specialties, (who was a former MK) I have heard this discussion a lot.
I would suggest first figuring out why you want to be a CWO, period. That would seem to be the entering argument to help you decide which way to go. If it only about more pay quicker, then pick the one where you think have a better shot. If it is about more pay, well the average sea pay for an MSSE is ZERO dollars, where you can get a ride as a NAVENG. If it about jobs, then what do you want to do? Would you rather deal with Guardians on a regular basis or civilian mariners? Do you want to return to work after lunch? (kidding again! ) I would find it hard to support the 'put SAR out of bussiness' motto as being close to realistic or a desciption of duties though. I know, this seems like getting into that 'who's better' thing you didn't want, but that is not the intent, becuase I know that MKCS is better than either!
If you go MSSE you will be in prevention for awhile. If you go ENG there are many different avenues to go down. And Mater Chiefs opinion is always welcomed too.
thanx for the input thus far. my operational background would probably lead me to the naveng specialty. but... i have collected lots of seatime (12 years sea time and counting) along the way. i am not certain if my family or i want to take that number into the 20+ years mark. definately not against it, just not looking fwd to it. so msse's zero seatime is appealing also. but, will i go crazy sitting in a prevention cubicle at a sector???? well the MCPO brought up another point...i will be putting on my star this year and i will have 12 years left til 30. i have started to crunch some numbers as far as pay would go and initially it appears it would be pretty even money(give or take a few hundred bucks). as far as the "ending with the most money" argument, has anybody else done any number crunching in this scenario(scpo to warrant)? i am also not sure if i would have enuff time to make w-4 and still have the high three pay. but i am relatively confident that i will make e-9 with high three pay by 30 years. any thoughts?
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I did the same thing, went on a couple inspections with a MSS but got the impression that they would be doing the same thing every day. It wasnt for me. I chose to go the Nav Eng road and currently am in the predictor waiting for cuts to be revised. Good luck which ever way you decide.
As far as the W4-E9 pay at 30 goes I did the math an as long as you make W4 it is more. The problem I found for myself is I have to go 30 to make it work. I am at 18yrs now, I thought of hitting 25yos and then see what happens but I just accepted an appt to MSS(eng) so the run begins. I also am an MKC EPO afloat, turn coat,quitter, are some of the nicer names I have heard so far. I was on the 07 MSS list, 08 Naveng list, and the upcoming MKCS list. I am #13 on MKCS w/a cut of 4. First to call won. As far as which to do here's my reasoning: MKCS 76 jobs 15 afloat= tons of desk jobs anyway. MKCM not to many afloat jobs seems like CMC jobs. Not a group hug guy more of a quit whining get back to work guy. Nav Eng Port Eng job= lots of time arguing w/shipyards. Not fun. MSS(eng) they just invented it, ok not really but at least it's new to me and interesting. I am frustrated with alot of things on the MK side of the CG maybe that is why but the run towards retirement makes me want to learn something new. At least I can decide when I am retired what kind of work to do. It sure seems that the inspection jobs after the guard are better paying. That was my reasoning, Good Luck with your own.
I went through the same thing a few years ago, E-8, MSSE or NAV ENG. For me the jobs and the money pushed me towards NAV ENG.
As already stated as an MKCS your job selections/locations dry up, and they get worse as an E-9. After 2010 there won't be any EPO afloat opportunity for MKCS as we will loose the 179's and the FRC's will have E-7 EPO'S.
As for MSSE I noticed if you did not have much experience in the "M" world it was hard to get picked up. However they are creating a lot more MSS posistions with the reorg which should allow for more people to make MSSE/D.
Being a Black Hull sailor and EPO afloat in my career was the kicker. As a NAV ENG you can still do ATON as EO on the 225's and on some of the 140's. For me there are more diverse opportunities in the Naval Engineering field than MSSE or MKCS.
Something that no one has mentioned yet is the possibility of taking the Warrant to LT option. I have almost 21 Yrs in and should make warrant late 09. Then apply for LT after two years and have the possibility of retiring at 30yrs with Commander pay. If we are just looking at the dollars at retirement this would be the way to go. Then you are also looking at the chances of getting an EO position on a WHEC. Either way you role the dice and take your chances. Good luck everyone
Took the appointment to CWO - NAVENG this past June. As an EM, the jobs really became more and more unattractive the higher you go. With as much time I have left in the CG, didn't want to get stuck somewhere with few prospects. CWO really opened up some interesting career opportunities. As far as MSS(E) vice NAVENG, and I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, there are no U/W billets for MSS(E). That could be a good thing, or a bad thing, depending on how you look at it. I've talked to friends who have gone the MSS route, and they love it. For me, NAVENG was the only way to go.
Originally posted by pcdaddy_o: Took the appointment to CWO - NAVENG this past June. As an EM, the jobs really became more and more unattractive the higher you go. With as much time I have left in the CG, didn't want to get stuck somewhere with few prospects. CWO really opened up some interesting career opportunities. As far as MSS(E) vice NAVENG, and I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, there are no U/W billets for MSS(E). That could be a good thing, or a bad thing, depending on how you look at it. I've talked to friends who have gone the MSS route, and they love it. For me, NAVENG was the only way to go.
You really think being a 175 EPO is unattractive? Or did you mean at the E-9 level? I think those 5 E-9 jobs in Seattle are pretty darn attractive., but your mileage may vary.
Antarctic - Yeah, that's the only job at the E-8 level and above that really interested me, but after that... No thanks. Besides, I can still get a 225 EO job, if I want it. All I'm saying is that for me, the move to NAVENG was the one that made the most sense.
