I'm trying to change rates to SK, and i was wondering how are the billets distributed in A-School. I'm an OS2 w/almost 3yrs of service overseas. And will i also loose my rank as an E-5? or can i get all my pracs for sk2 signed off if i worked on it in A-School in my off time?

First off, SK is not a rate, it is a rating. (That's an E-2 EPME knowledge requirment)

Second, there is no way to graduate A-School as anything other than an E-4. One of the requirements to advance to E-5 is Time in Rate. Since you seem to have a misunderstanding of what the term 'rate' means, I will explain that E-2 EPME requirement. Rate would be the combination of paygrade and rating - ie OS2 or SK3. You obviously would not have even one day as an SK3 upon graduation, so you would not have the TIR to be qualified for SK2.

Read the PERSMAN, talk with your Chief or maybe even contact your RFMC. He's not quit the SOB some people may think he is.

quote:

Originally posted by 13592689:
I'm trying to change rates to SK, and i was wondering how are the billets distributed in A-School. I'm an OS2 w/almost 3yrs of service overseas. And will i also loose my rank as an E-5? or can i get all my pracs for sk2 signed off if i worked on it in A-School in my off time?

OS2,

When I was in A-School, "the list" and how people were allowed their picks was determined by the class as a whole. My class chose to go by sea time first, then priority. For everyone with the same priority it was then pay-grade and time in service.

How it's handled now, I don't know. I was the class leader, and at the time it seemed to be the fairest way to handle it.

You're going to graduate as an SK3 as your RFMC has stated. Changing ratings is a big career move, and if you think you'll be happier as a Storekeeper, then by all means pursue it. I would caution you to not judge your entire rating based on where you're at now. I was in a similar position with a desire to change ratings, and fortunately found that a change of scenery was all I really needed.

With all respects to your RFMC, you really should talk with some of the senior folks in your rating first, and there are probably some pretty tough questions you'll need to ask yourself along the way. Starting with "What don't I like about being an OS and why do I want to be a Storekeeper?"

I hope this is helpful, if you have any specific questions about the Storekeeper rating in general, feel free to ask.