Hello.

I am a female OS2, stationed in Juenau, Alaska, due to transfer in 2009. I want to stay in the CG and get a cutter. My top picks (if available) will be:

WHEC 378- CGC Chase/ Hamiltion (San Diego)
WMEC 270- CGC Seneca, Escanaba, Spencer (Boston)

What do you think about a 270 vs. 378?
How different is the job? This matters to me.
The cutter are on opposite corners of the country. What were some of the last port calls?
Have you lived in either area? What are they like?

Any information (positive or negative) will be helpful. Seriously, let loose!

Thanks,
Neena

quote:

hat do you think about a 270 vs. 378?
How different is the job? This matters to me.
The cutter are on opposite corners of the country. What were some of the last port calls?
Have you lived in either area? What are they like?

Any information (positive or negative) will be helpful. Seriou

One rides like a Cadillac, the other rides like
Wrangler.

Neena;
Please visit the Women Afloat Coordinators Page at EPM. Only three of those 5 cutters have female racks. That means you only listed two homeports and three cutters. As a priority 4, you have a beeter shot than the priority 5s, but you probably want to give the Assignment Officer better choices than that.

quote:

Originally posted by Mightyz90_93:
Neena;
Please visit the Women Afloat Coordinators Page at EPM. Only three of those 5 cutters have female racks. That means you only listed two homeports and three cutters. As a priority 4, you have a beeter shot than the priority 5s, but you probably want to give the Assignment Officer better choices than that.

Wow, I did not know that existed. Thanks MC. I definitely will rework my list . Those are pretty much my desired locations.

If OS's assigned to cutters won't get back-to-back cutters (Priortiy 2 & 3) and I don't think we have OS2's in any Priority 1 billets. Would it be safe to say my only competetion is other Priority 4s?

If this is so, I can't fight the urge to not state the obvious. Everyone desiring sea time should be putting:
Cutter <--
Cutter
Cutter
Overseas <--
Beach <--

Neena;
Wow - it almost seems like you or your boss has actually been paying attention to my Force Notes. Add about 10-20 more cutters in between the 3rd cutter and the overseas, and you would have nailed it on the head. Actually, if you don't get a cutter, the AO will notify you and ask for another Eresume, so you can do all cutters w/o overseas or beach. That second one would be a bunch of overseas, then some inconus on the beach.

Yes, as a priority 4, you will have much less competition than a pri 5. That said, only two different homeports and 3 cutters would have been slim. You are still competing against everyone else who is a priority 4. Maybe a couple of priority 1, 2 or 3 who are in the sandbox (pri 1 & 2) or maybe in special assignments (pri 3). Also, those boats listed are not 'pink OS boats.' They just have some 'pink' racks which can be filled by a BM, MK or OS. It is slightly posible that you could be fighting a Priority 1 MK1. Normally we leave HUNDREDS of racks in female berthing areas empty every year, but maybe not on those three boats this year.

Neena
378 is a better ride. 270 tends to pitch more than roll. Not that you mentioned it, but a 210 is great fun.

OSCS

378’s have superior electronics suites so you’ll learn more on them but for the most part the jobs are similar. If you go to Boston you’ll spend a lot of time doing fishery patrols in New England but they are still eligible to go south. From San Diego you’ll see a good bit of the south patrols but don’t be surprised to find yourself back in Alaska. It is also true that the 378 rides a lot better. As for the home ports well….. You can choose between way too many people in southern CA or way too many people New England.

quote:

Originally posted by CGRC_Supervisor:
Neena
378 is a better ride. 270 tends to pitch more than roll. Not that you mentioned it, but a 210 is great fun.

OSCS

210's are great fun. Did time as a Non-Rate and a short TDY a little over a year ago. However, the last time I checked only female berthing available was for Officers so she is probably out of luck for one of those. Of course they may have changed berthing areas around and there is some room for enlisted on a couple 210's. Have a nice day all.

Josh

quote:

Originally posted by stretchy72:

quote:

Originally posted by CGRC_Supervisor:
Neena
378 is a better ride. 270 tends to pitch more than roll. Not that you mentioned it, but a 210 is great fun.

OSCS

210's are great fun. Did time as a Non-Rate and a short TDY a little over a year ago. However, the last time I checked only female berthing available was for Officers so she is probably out of luck for one of those. Of course they may have changed berthing areas around and there is some room for enlisted on a couple 210's. Have a nice day all.

Josh

Yes, you are correct. My options as a Female OS are 378 & 270. No 210's for me.

I wouldn't write off the Seattle boats. Seattle is an incredible city. The Midgett and Mellon get a healthy mix of Southpats and Alpats. I can't say much for the polar rollers because I've never been u/w on one but I hear they are great if your single. I'd take Seattle over Boston any day!!!

378's on West Coast go back up to Alaska. 378's on East Coast do only southern patrols (with the exception of our 1 D1 patrol last year).

The Dallas will have some openings in 09 for females. We have a cool command and go to some cool places.

270'? Not my cup of tea and many Os' I've talked to don't like them too much. But they do have shorter patrols (or will soon).

OS1

270 isn't my bag either. Crew of a 210 with the requirements of a 378. Some are in better shape than others, but the 378 in general is a much more habitable and capable platform...IMHO of course.

700 club all the way!

quote:

Originally posted by rd1sean:
270 isn't my bag either. Crew of a 210 with the requirements of a 378. Some are in better shape than others, but the 378 in general is a much more habitable and capable platform...IMHO of course.

700 club all the way!

Crew of a 210? Holy smokes! My OSC must have a really good hiding spot!

quote:

Originally posted by Puddlehopper:
Crew of a 210? Holy smokes! My OSC must have a really good hiding spot!

The point I was trying to make is that we try to make a 270 do a 378 job with 75 fewer people...not that your OSC may or may not be hiding in the MSB. I remember when a nameless 210 found that hiding spot the hard way.

Smarty pants

Check out the 270's out of Portsmouth, VA.

Just got some interesting numbers from EPM.

The math may seem a little tricky, but here it is:

We have 418 OS billets afloat which is 22% of our billets.

We have 407 females in the rating, which is 21.3% of our workforce. 21.3% of 418 is 89.

We currently have 85 women afloat which is 20.8% of our female workforce. So, we are within 1/2 a % (or 4 people) of being an "equal" level afloat between men and women.

Now, here is the scarry part: As in most years past, there are currently 98 racks afloat that are empty and in female berthing areas.

Fairly solid evidence that there is no disparity in our rating of the availability of sea time for the fairer gender!

No one has mentioned the Alex Haley or Acushnet. So sad There is female berthing on the Haley, there's no reason any female OS can not get orders for a lovely tour of Alaska.

The purpose of requiring sea duty for advancement is to get people to acquire certain skill sets in the rating that can only be achieved afloat. Becuase of the equipment on the two 'bastard class' boats mentioned, I would not suggest putting them high on a choice if you want to learn those skills.

quote:

Originally posted by Mightyz90_93:
Fairly solid evidence that there is no disparity in our rating of the availability of sea time for the fairer gender!

Good to hear (or read). I have also "heard" that if I made OS1 out of Juneau, it would be harder for me to get an u/w billet.

quote:

Originally posted by Mightyz90_93:
The purpose of requiring sea duty for advancement is to get people to acquire certain skill sets in the rating that can only be achieved afloat. Becuase of the equipment on the two 'bastard class' boats mentioned, I would not suggest putting them high on a choice if you want to learn those skills.

M/C I agree to a point; however, more skills would be learned on either ship vice sitting on the beach. On the Haley you get experience at most of the comms gear that is available on a 378 or 270 and you get a little bit of experience in CIC with the 40 radar, SCCS, and flight ops. Additionally, since these cutters have a smaller complement of personnel onboard, an OS can be a boarding team member, which helps when you have LE questions on the SWE.