hey guys. anyone out there in either AC or OS i would love to know how you like your Actual job and what your believe are pros and cons of each rating. I am torn between the two. as most of you know AC was pretty much my first choice but my asvab line scores are 10 points short. i got a 61 afqt line scores total 210(need a line of 220 according to navy personel web page). so anyways i can either retake the test and risk getting a lower score or give the OS rating a shot which i currently qualify for.

i know i am the only one that can make a descision but i would love to hear from you guys what you have to say about these two ratings. locally i am getting a neg vibe when i mention OS to my navy buds. They give me the impression it is not very well liked or respected if that makes sense.

OS's tend to get negative buzz because many other rates have this opinion that OS's don't do anything inport, are usually the first ones off the ship. As I have said in other posts, that is not true. It ultimately is up to your CoC when you get off work. On my ship, inport, us OS's worked from 0800-1700 typically. If we were not on board, we were at school somewhere. OS is a hands on rate, so in port there is nothing to do but clean. With that being said, if you get your stuff done early, then yes, you may be the first group off the ship, but that is highly unlikely.

Look at what you want to be on. If you go OS then you will, most likely, be on a surface ship as opposed to being on a carrier.

"C" school for OS includes Air Intercept Controller (AIC). These are the individuals who route aircraft to certain bearings and contacts. AC usually only do launch and recovery on the carrier. OS(AIC)s handle the rest of air control.

And an SS means they all get swim school

If you are an OS and working until 1700 everyday then quite frankly your division sucks. Yes, OS's usually are the first people off the ship, but that is because they don't do maintenance, or much of anything really inport.

Out to sea is another story. OS's usually work 6 hours on 6 hours off, which most people hate because you never get a full nights sleep.

In the end, pick which ever one you think will make you happiest.

quote:

Originally posted by Bluufunk:
Look at what you want to be on. If you go OS then you will, most likely, be on a surface ship as opposed to being on a carrier.

Just a fast note here. The last time I checked, those airplane carry'n ships were still runnin on the surface..

quote:

Originally posted by RiverRat139:

quote:

Originally posted by Bluufunk:
Look at what you want to be on. If you go OS then you will, most likely, be on a surface ship as opposed to being on a carrier.

Just a fast note here. The last time I checked, those airplane carry'n ships were still runnin on the surface..

Yea Yea but a carrier isn't a warship I don't care what anyone says. The planes do the job on those things. But your right, I should re-phrase that to "small-boys".

quote:

And an SS means they all get swim school

hope this one is not a dumb question but whats does swim school consist of in this rating? is that a good thing or bad thing

how long is A school for OS?
is there a sign on bonus for it?
how long is C school?

Just got back from MEPS...OS is my rate....14 weeks at Naval Station Dam Neck , VA right outside VA Beach, VA..It is a cool rate

congrats. you didnt happen to sneak a peak at the availability for AC did you?

no did not get a peek at AC....OS is the way to go..

April05-
actually the A school for OS/QM "A" school across the street from rtc..its not in VA..

Just to clarify a few things...William might be right, but when I was in the Navy, (been out 3 years) in order for an OS to get the AIC NEC, they must go to that specific school. It is not part of C school. Emphant is partially right. OS's do not have AS MUCH stuff to do in port, but there is still maintenance on certain CIC equipment that is not owned by either the FC's or EWs (CTTs). Also, depending on the size of your ship you may have alot of different spaces to maintain. I was on the USS Tarawa, and we had well over 20 spaces to clean and maintain, to include CIC, LFOC, TACC, SACC, Troop Berthings, NWPL, OPS Berthing. OJhendrix, SS does not stand for swim school. April, Dam Neck is a cool place because it is VERY close to VA Beach. Lots of stuff to do there, just stay out of trouble. VA BCH police can be pretty anal about things. OS is definately the way to go...they have many more aspects to their rating then AC's do. Good luck with your decision!

To the previous posting of where OS - A school is today. It is not in Great Lakes anymore. All shippers from May forward are going to Dam Neck, VA...I signed the contract..and saw it on the Navy Rate Computer when I chose the job..You know how they change these sort of things....

thanks guys. looks like im going to shoot for OS. Hopefully it is available when i go up to meps. I have been killing myself with the thought of not at least trying to put in a package for OCS but i just have a gut feeling the outcome will be negative. I have a bachelors in criminal justice with a 2.6 gpa so i know it is a shot in the dark. Hopefully i can get a commission in a few years. I will be going in as a reservist and the sound of a school being in dam neck sounds great because i live about 5 min away. wish me luck ill keep everyone posted

While I'm kind of angry they took their time until I went through that abortive "OS/QM" A school to move it back to Dam Neck, that's good news for the future, if true.

-OSSN-

Had a blast as an OS for 10 years. Work a lot at sea, but get your stuff done in port and hit the beach. And I dont know who this guy is that says you wont end up on a carrier, half of my A school class went to the Forrestal. I was an AIC on a Cruiser great job if you can listen to 3 people talking to you at the same time. Good Luck

im confused about the OS school changing, because i leave august 12 for basic as an OS and i have people in OS school right now that are in school at Great Lakes, i havent heard anything about it changing?