First, let me start off by giving you my quick bio.

I joined the Navy when I was 17 as an AZ(Aviation Paper-Pusher). My first duty station was at North Island on Shore Duty, then I went to Guam on Sea Duty. I got out of the Navy as an AZ2 after 4 1/2 years because they wouldn't let me cross-rate to something more interesting. Without any break in service I immediately enlisted in the Army for 3 years as a 88M (Truck Driver) and was deployed to Iraq for 15 months. This past December I got out of the Army. (If you think the BS in the Navy is bad you need to check out the Army!) I am still in the Army Reserves and am trying to go back Active Duty Navy and finish my last 12 years and retire. I haven't been to MEPS yet so I don't even know what they will offer me but I have these three ratings in mind: MA, EO and RP(FMF).

I would like to hear from some MA's about what kind of sea duty other than going to the boat that there are.

I don't think that I have any questions from the EO's but any EO's feel free to leave input about how you like/dislike your rating.

RP's: How hard is it to get "C" School (CREST) and those that are with the Marines how do you like it?

I would prefer input from MA's, EO's and RP's or anyone knowledgeable in these areas. Thanks everyone!!!

Moving to Joining. While you're there, do a serch on prior service. You'll be lucky if you can pull it off, and it will be a long, hard road.

As an EO, you will be attached to an NMCB unit, and most likely be deployed again. The rate is like anyhting else, it's what you put into it.
Used to be you made rate quickly in EO, but now SW/BU seem to be making it even faster. Thanks to OIF/OEF, and the Navy seeing what those rates can do, and are so paramount to contingency operations

quote:

I would like to hear from some MA's about what kind of sea duty other than going to the boat that there are.

MA's oppurtunities to go to a ship are small until you reach E6 and you have to get pretty lucky to see a ship at all.

Having said that sometimes you may be assigned TAD to do security for MSC ships depending on the command you are at.

What are you wanting to do as an MA?

MA is pretty overmanned at E5 and up so you may wind up taking a paygrade cut as your now at around 6 months of broken service if they even offer it to you at all.

MA2(EXW)