I havn't been independent duty on a boat but I have been at my current unit for almost 4 years, it all depends on the unit, how much support you have and your unit. I say do it, you will lears, get to go underway for a few and get a look at the other side. If you have a chance I would jump on it.
I am currently in a independant duty as a SK. I would definetly recommend that you try it.It won't take long on that boat for you to realize if you really want to be stationed on a boat. I would recommend that you bone up before going because its a lot more then you think it is. Independant duty is the way to go if you want to step up to the challenge.
I did a tour on CGC Mobile Bay and let me tell you first of all, it was no playground. As the SK onboard all financial reports, statements, budget, etc is handled by you; only after you've worked on the buoy deck all day and/or stood helm watch for 4+ hrs. Not to mention standing duty and collateral jobs your command may or may not task you with. It was almost like my SK job was 2nd nature. I honestly had to come in on the weekends and handle procurement/stores in my off time.
The experience and knowledge I gained bar none helped me advance to 1st class. I actually miss it.
Originally posted by SK8king: I did a tour on CGC Mobile Bay and let me tell you first of all, it was no playground. As the SK onboard all financial reports, statements, budget, etc is handled by you; only after you've worked on the buoy deck all day and/or stood helm watch for 4+ hrs. Not to mention standing duty and collateral jobs your command may or may not task you with. It was almost like my SK job was 2nd nature. I honestly had to come in on the weekends and handle procurement/stores in my off time.
The experience and knowledge I gained bar none helped me advance to 1st class. I actually miss it.
Good luck mate.
The Main place he was to be found was sitting on the messdeck drinking coffee. Trust me I saw it first hand. That is really why he had to come in on the weekends.
I'm currently an independent duty SK2 on a 225. I don't mind independent duty that much, it's nice at times; overwhelming other times. It's cool cause you get to do things your way for the most part, but it's definitly challenging. I guess the main thing I don't like is after we get back from being underway for a week and a half or two, I'm so far behind cause I can't do a whole lot of work underway. I'm on the bridge most of the day as a QMOW or helmsman; FPD doesn't work underway anyway so there's not a lot I could do even if I wasn't on the bridge. But when we pull back into homeport I usually have 2 PES reports to complete, PR's and MILSTRIPS to process, a couple pallets full of deliveries, updating PCA, and then updating the budget and making sure all the PR's and supporting documentation are filled out and then filing all the receipts. During all this I'm also pretty busy helping people out with other miscellaneous SK stuff.
One good thing I kind of like is I'm that after a couple weeks of being inport I get kind of burned out doing SK work so it's nice to almost forget about it for a couple weeks and do something different. Same thing after a week underway, I get sick of being on the bridge and I'm ready to go back to being an SK.
I reported this summer, so I'm still in the process of getting qualified on everything, so that is taking up a lot of my time. I'm sure once I'm qualified I should get some more free time, especially when we are underway.
To SK8king I feel you brotha. Being on that bouy deck from sun up to sun down and then going up on watch another 4hrs is no joke. To Coastie21083 hang in there man it will get a little easier once you are qualified. To the guy that's thinking about going Independant duty now you have a good idea what you are up against. If you want the challenge come afloat and get it.
The Main place he was to be found was sitting on the messdeck drinking coffee. Trust me I saw it first hand. That is really why he had to come in on the weekends.
Originally posted by SK8king: I did a tour on CGC Mobile Bay and let me tell you first of all, it was no playground. As the SK onboard all financial reports, statements, budget, etc is handled by you; only after you've worked on the buoy deck all day and/or stood helm watch for 4+ hrs. Not to mention standing duty and collateral jobs your command may or may not task you with. It was almost like my SK job was 2nd nature. I honestly had to come in on the weekends and handle procurement/stores in my off time.
The experience and knowledge I gained bar none helped me advance to 1st class. I actually miss it.
Good luck mate.
You worked on the buoy deck as SK on the Mobile? I find that hard to believe, unless you volunteered. I'm on one of them 140 barges right now and I stand helm for the buoys. It's not bad though, only 12-16 hours a day...
