quote:

Originally posted by munchichic:
I'd like the banner to annotate his being promoted to Chief if he makes it. I heard that these banners aren't actually made as soon as you place the order; that it's made only just before the event date that you specify when placing the order. Do I have time to wait and make sure he does make Chief before I submit my order for one of the free banners? Also, I'm having a really hard time finding a good quality image of the Navy AT Insignia that I'd like to use on the banner as well. !

After the board announces the selectees he will have about 6 to 8 weeks of training before he is the Chief. It would be more appropriate to have the poster with the ATC insignia on the banner and have it up for when he comes home from the pinning. Announcing that he is ATC Smith before the actually pinning would cause issues because until the pinning he would be ATC(Sel) Smith so it would be better to have the banner for when he is the Chief and not Chief Select. If that makes sense to you.

As to the insignia do a google search for goatlocker org and if they don't have the ATC they will know where to find it.

Kathy

Thank you so much for your help and suggestions. I had never heard of goatlocker before so I'm very excited that you told me about it. I'll search their site to see if I can find the AT Insignia and use it on the banner. I am familiar that the first stage after making board is the training, but considering the situation I think I'm better off just using his first name with the AT Insignia next to it to identify him. It wouldn't be appropriate to put either AT1 Smith (since he'd be newly promoted) or ATC Smith since like you said it wouldn't be official. So I guess I'll just stick with his first name on the banner and find an AT Rate Insignia from goatlocker to jazz it up. I did find the Navy Anchor Seal that I was also going to use on the banner. Here's my idea--I was going to put. I'd appreciate feedback on my idea:

WELCOME HOME! (centered)
*Anchor* NAME *AT Insignia*
SHIP CALL SIGN AND CVN# (centered)
OPERATION MISSION 2008-2009 (centered)

I was thinking of using the design with a strip of the U.S. Flag on the top bar with a white background. Any thoughts? I just don't want this to look stupid!
Thanks again for the help and happy holidays!

Make sure you check with a Chief near you since anything that could be used as your husband thinking of himself as a Chief and not a selectee could cause issues. Even a first name with a crow could cause issues unless the banner is hung after he has been pinned.

Kathy

I think I confused you. I've decided to not use the CPO promotion in any way, shape or form on the banner. I'll just be putting his first name on it, in between the Navy Anchor and the AT Insignia. I was originally thinking of putting AT1 Smith on it but because of the promotion that won't be accurate anymore, and since he may not be pinned until AFTER he returns home I can't use the CPO prefix either. Therefore I'm not using "CPO" or "Selectee" mentioning or annotation whatsoever, nor using his AT1 current prefix. No other CPO insignia or badges; and no AT1 badges just the AT Rate insignia itself which is the image for his department in the Navy which is the same regardless of rank. In other words, I'm not using the badge which COMBINES the rate of AT with the rank of the servicemember. I just want the image of the rate itself, no ranking attached. Sorry for the confusion. Apparently goatloacker doesn't have this and according to their email they can't point me in the right direction to find it either.

FYI the announcements should be out around the 1st of August and pinning would be around the 16th of September. From the time of announcement until the pinning he would be ATC(SEL)so depending on the return of the ship you could label it that way.

I am confused because you mentioned him going for Chief in January but then the waiting. Until the announcements he is AT1 and then he is ATC (SEL) and then ATC, I thought you wanted something to announce that he made Chief and so was just trying to let you know that you needed to be careful.

FYI my husband was an AT for 18 years before becoming an AV so I know the difference between rate, rating and rank.

You might try navy.mil and look for an all hands book because they have the insignia for all the different ratings.

Kathy

Thanks for the clarification. I wasn't trying to insult you or your intelligence so I apologize if I inadvertently did. DH is returning in April but the Chief's exam will be in January. I thought there'd be enough time after him passing the test before he'd be pinned--and hence I could have the banner for his homecoming indicate ATC Smith to commemorate his promotion. I didn't realize it would take nearly a whole year before he would be pinned after passing the test, so I'll just stick to not using the prefix at all. I've spent HOURS online looking for an image of the AT rate and all I can find is the tiny badges that are sewn into uniforms which are of course fuzzy, small and low quality for use on a banner. Thanks for the reference to the all hands book. I had no idea about that so I'm very thankful for that! Thanks again and I'm sorry if I upset you.

Actually passing the test is only the first step. Passing the test allows him to be board eligble. The board meets in July. He will have to be selected from all the other people that are going for ATC and there are no guarantees. I know it is a strain and it is difficult because we had to deal with it 3 times and we were one of the lucky ones that only had to wait 3 years for him to pick up Chief.

Thanks again for that information. I knew he'd have to make board in order to actually be initiated but I didn't realize it would be that long of a process. Guess I'll just stick to using his name on the banner without any rate or rank prefix. I'll just work on a CPO gift when the time comes instead. Thanks so much for all of your time. Now if I could only find an AT insignia image that isn't an embroidered badge!

Could I have the link again please? My old computer up and died in Dec and I just now got a replacement but I lost all my bookmarks. Thanks!

Check your message I sent it to you.

Im prob doin this wrong but dont know how to do these board things. I am just married in and a wreck of relocating, adjusting, and not knowing, where or who can I talk to to get some good ole understanding?

Could someone please send me the link for the banners?

Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by 20824861:
Could someone please send me the link for the banners?

Thanks.

I would be more than glad to send it to you but you need to fix your profile so I can send you a message or you can send me a message with your email address.

hi could you please send me info my husband is army natl guard, due home in may, 2009, i would love to get a banner made up. thanks send via your profile

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mrsjvb,

I'd love to have a banner, please e-mail me the address. Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by 11492887:
hi could you please send me info my husband is army natl guard, due home in may, 2009, i would love to get a banner made up. thanks send via your profile

I sent it to your email. I am sure your hubby will be very happy that you made one just for him.

quote:

Originally posted by 18974576:
I'd love to have a banner, please e-mail me the address. Thanks.

Check your message I sent you the link. Have fun creating your banner.

Better hurry before they are all gone.

just wanted to let you ladies know so IDH isn't going crazying messing google "free military banners" it's the first one on the list.

and don't be like me I didn't realize how long the shipping time was and now its to late. LOL but its all good making one is gonna be fun

Can you please email the link? Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by anniekams:
Can you please email the link? Thanks.

Check your message, I sent you the link.