Which would you choose and why? I'm having difficulty trying to choose between the two. I know there's a strong chance that I won't get one or the other - or EITHER - let's just assume that I could choose of them. Which would YOU choose and why? Why wouldn't you choose the other?
I think the Navy should go back to MA requiring E-5 first before coming into the community. Sick of 18-year old Seaman thinking they have the tact and diplomacy to write senior officers and enlisted tickets or the other side of the coin. . .simply caving in to the pressure of senior officer and enlisted.
There are the exceptional junior enlisted who do great in the job. . .but it really needs an appropriate maturity level. And that maturity is sitting at about 1 in 10 sailors for E-4 and below. At the E-5 level that maturity level is much better. Although there are still r-tards all the way up to E-9 and O-6. . .
If you like material handling and accountablity of it, then go SK.
If you like weapons handling and protection go MA.
Apparently they are two entirely different entities. One is not better than the other, they need eachother to survive and operate (along with many other rates).
I think the Navy should go back to MA requiring E-5 first before coming into the community. Sick of 18-year old Seaman thinking they have the tact and diplomacy to write senior officers and enlisted tickets or the other side of the coin. . .simply caving in to the pressure of senior officer and enlisted.
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Part of the problems also lie in the leadership(E5 and up) in not teaching these junior MA's about accountability, officer discretion and being tactful. Remember that when we pure bred MA's came in a truck load of personnel crossed over to just make higher paygrades with very little thought about their juniors(part of the reason they couldnt get the evals required to make E6 and above) and so we are still seeing alot of growing pains. But with all things over time it will get better.
Back in the 70's before the MA rate came to be, the Military Base Police drew volunteers and voluntolds from the tenant commands. The personnel assigned were usually Petty Officers. However,the white shirts worn bore no rate identification whatsoever. If asked,the only ID the patrolman was required to provide was his/her badge number.
