These notes were awesome. I think closing guarenteed BM "A" School was the best thing that we could have done for our non-rates that want to go to school. I have a few SN on the bottom of the list; personally, they're fully qualified, they've done their non-rate time, and they'd make excellent BMs: they deserve to go to school. I have a few strikers as well, but seeing the BM "A" school list at 250+ is overwhelming. I'm glad this gives a chance for our hardworking non-rates to be awarded the chance to go to school faster since there will be more seats.
Have your seaman completed the PQS? What ever happened to striking the rate? When I meet someone that has just returned from BM "A" school I just roll my eyes. It's sad really.
My strikers have, yes. What happened to striking the rating is that it is a lot easier to route a chit saying "hey boats, put me on this list" rather than order the striker package, print out the pracs, study for navruls, pass it, study for bm3 eoct, pass it, study for epme4, pass it, in addition to getting your epme and bm3 pracs signed off.... I just think that non-rates that have done their time, seen senior leadership at many levels, and have "been there, done that" will make way better BMs; especially considering our rate so heavily relies on experience.
Originally posted by drsingle: Have your seaman completed the PQS? What ever happened to striking the rate? When I meet someone that has just returned from BM "A" school I just roll my eyes. It's sad really.
drsingle:
I take exception to your comments regarding BM "A" school graduates. I went to "A" school in 1981 after serving 1.5 years on the CGC CHENA. By striking and then going to "A" school I became a well rounded BM and learned things at school that I did not learn on the CHENA. I went on to be XPO of a WLIC and WPB. And then OinC of an ANT and 2 afloat units. I retired in 2005 as a BMCM after 25+ years.
By "rolling your eyes" at Coasties that have just returned from "A" school you are showing poor leadership. What you should be doing is taking these young BMs under your wing and teaching them the things they did not learn at "A" school so that they may become better BMs.
I made BM3 only due to the impatience of some BM2's at my station. I had completed every task listed on the PQS at one time or another, and was already making watch/crew lists and other admin tasks. It came down to two BM2's, a BM3 or two, and myself sitting down and recounting every task I had done, and signing the entire thing off. I had ordered a test and took it the next day and passed it. Made third two months later.
So my question is, for Mr. Muscatelli I guess, why haven't your SN's who are ready for third class just done all this? Not saying I'm any better than them, sometimes it just takes sitting down and looking at your book and saying, holy hell I think I've already done all this.
I have one getting pinned on next month, and the other just passed his EPME last friday... but at such a high pace station (on top of being co-located with sector), they don't always get the attention they deserve. My origional intention for this post was to appreciate MC Leask for listening to the fleet in terms of removing guarenteed BM "A" school. I have nothing against normal A schoolers that did their time as a non-rate and then went to school. I have a problem with someone being in the CG for 5 (boot and A school, not actually at the unit) months and already being a third class petty officer at their first unit.
I myself am on the BMA school list #189. I was getting frusterated at the whopping "10" names they were clearing on the list a month. I am releived that they are suspending the boot to A-school recruiting tool. I've been at my station for 1.5 years and am ready to move on. Striking is not my thing I enjoy the classroom surrounding. Thank you for posting the rating force notes it was helpful. As of now more hurry up and waiting and waiting and waiting.
I have had a couple kids go from boot to BM "A" and they had a lot of problems. One qualified watch and when she found out she had to drive boats and run crew she wanted out. BM School is an excellent way to learn the rate as I did in 86. I also had two years as a non rate to learn from the bottom up. I am glad they stopped the boot camp to "A" school program.
I just think that non-rates that have done their time, seen senior leadership at many levels, and have "been there, done that" will make way better BMs; especially considering our rate so heavily relies on experience.
you're right...um, no. they see senior leadership at many levels, where at a station with 20-25 people if that? a small cutter or ant? don't know about that either. maybe a bigger boat, i'll give you that. but being on a cutter isn't always going to teach them enough to be an average bcm or cox'n. just like being at a station isn't going to always train them well to the ops side of the house onboard cutters.
personally i could care less if one wants to strike or go to school. my opinion, which all it is, is they should strike to learn all they can while on the school list. sure a couple good supervisors can train someone, but think if those same supervisors sent that individual to school to further enhance their education.
