I'll be going to basic on Jan. 15 and have been thinking about striking the BM rating. I was wondering if this is a good idea, or what kind of other options are really available. Right now I'm kind of leaning towards BM to be able to see some kind of action like boardings, and even possible diving. I was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts about this, or any advise that they could otherwise lend me.

-Jeff (soon to be an enlisted E3)

Good idea,
By striking you'll be able to see first hand exactly what each rating does before you decide for sure.
MK isn't a bad rating either if you want to do boardings and you think you'd rather be an engineer.
I graduated from Cape May 15JAN01... it's really beautiful there this time of year.
Advice I wish I got... bring whatever you shave your face with at home to Cape May. Otherwise it's disposable bics.
Good luck!

Finish Boot Camp, and go to a unit. If you go to a station you will work with BM's and MK's, if you go to a Cutter you will get to see other rates. If you don't want to get stuck in an engine room, make sure you are a SN when you graduate from Boot Camp. After boot camp is all over go to your unit, do the non-rate thing for a while. Then you can choose to strike, or go to school. Being a non-rate isn't a bad thing to be.

-Porter