I need your help...

Warbirds

This will be long winded, but I am for the first time really asking for the old wisdom that can be found here. I'm in the Navy. I have been ranked the number one E-5 in my squadron the last two years. This takes a pretty good amount of work on my end, but the problem I have is that I have orders to Pensacola Florida as a s.e.r.e. school inst. These are great orders for a "lifer". I'm a airplane mechanic, when bababooey goes bad, I'm the guy who goes and cleans it up. As strange as it may sound without rolling some really major heads I can't stay where I'm stationed now. Right now I have to move to Pensacola, they're called orders, not an invitation. Do to my "fame" I should be able to land any orders I want, but it doesn't seem the case. A very close friend of mine, a Sr. Chief, got me the orders to P-Cola. He's very proud cause' these are the best possible orders a "lifer" (like myself) could get. I love the Navy, but I love good old Lemoore, Ca. for many reasons. I already have the orders to P-Cola, it would cause me raising H*LL to change them, even then I could not promise a spot in Lemoore. So tell me what to do, raise a fit, risk these great orders, to wind up in the Desert, or move to P-Cola, live on the east coast near my brothers, please keep in mind that my Father is busy dying on the west coast in Oregon. Keep in mind, I am, for my rank "untouchable", keep in mind I don't want to anger the man that got me the orders to P-Cola when there was no place else available to go. Keep in mind I fear the Ca. gun laws. Keep in mind my two brothers live on the east coast, keep in mind I may not find a home for my dog to live with me. Please, read this twice, and then help me the best you can. You guys know better than I ever could. There's a few other things to complicate this, not women or cars, but if you don't reply to me on the board, please send me an email before Monday, when one way or another I have to let the Orders lay. Thanks. I don't know what else to do but ask you experts in life.... I feel like this question is a little piece of MOAs' question about life that he wrote on X-mas eve, but this isn't about drinking, or women, or the end of the world, or any of that. Thanks for your help. Really.

R/

Dave


How different the world would be if we could consult the veteran instead of the politician. - Henry Miller

barto

Escape while you can.mho Are you serious about your father dying?
That could have a major effect on your decision.
[:0][:0]barto

Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.-JFK

HAIRY

Go where your mentor thinks is best for you. I'm sure he's thinking not of just this next move but some more along the way.

I'm sorry to hear about your father dying, but you can get compassion leave if you need it. Not to seem cruel or hard-hearted, there is not much for you to do other than let him know you love him. My thoughts are with you.



When Clinton lied, no one died.
"It is fortunate for governments that the people do not think. ADOLPH HITLER"

pabooger

Sounds like you have already made up your mind to go, your just having a bad case of the what if's!!! When you make the right decision you will know!
Pa.


To Ride, shoot straight,and speak the truth
This was the Ancient law of Youth
Old times are past, old times are done:
But the Law runs true, O little son!

greeker375

Dave

I have to concur with Pa. You seem to have made up your mind, however, you also want your cake and to eat it to.

Since you are a "lifer" you are under no illusions that you would always be able to get your way. Further, in life you play the cards you're dealt. This appears to be one of those times. Doesn't sound like bad duty and who knows, this could be the step that propels you further in your career than staying in CA.

quote:Father is busy dying on the west coast in Oregon.

The above quote, is he physically or emotionally "dying" based on your dilema?



the difference between the almost right word and the right word is like the difference between a lightning bug and a lightning bolt

beachmaster73

This will be short winded...go to P-Cola...take the orders your sea daddy got you. At some point you have to trust the judgement of an expert. I'm sure your senior chief knows a good follow on assignment for you from a bad one. If your dad gets any worse you can always get emergency leave or if you are needed to run his business you can get a hardship assignment to his local area later. Beach

n/a

Take the orders...if you are going to be a lifer, make sure you look out for your long term career goals...just think of it this way: You don't have to build that bench now[:D] (I think that was you, wasn't it?)

Eric

All American Arms Company

Veteran Owned and Operated

SamieJ1959

If you intend to be a lifer, don't burn any bridges. Go where your SPO wants you to go. He is getting you a better job yet. You can always move your father to the East coast. Florida is a warm climate just like the west coast.

You get out of life what you put into it. If you put nothing, you get nothing.

juju

I was stationed at P'cola when I was in the Navy, at Ellison field.
I liked the area, good hunting close by, rent was cheap, Beaches were fairly close, people were nice and FLorida has some very good gun laws.

You can always fly to see your Dad if he worsens (military hops out of P'cola are a dime a dozen), it wont hurt your career, you will probably like being an Instructor and a lot of GB'ers are fairly close by.

Shouldnt be a problem finding a place that will let you have a dog, P'cola is a military town and always has been, I think you will like it.

JuJu(go for it, just my .02)

robsguns

I'll keep it short. I can think of many reasons why FL should be a better duty station, just because it is FL. Take the orders. Having more duty stations under your belt is beneficial. Take the orders.
Everything happens for a reason. Take the orders.

"Never argue with an idiot.... They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience."

"I don't have an attitude problem, you have a perception problem."

Ryan

n/a

If its an instructors job, grab it, I know in the US ARMY ifn ya become an instructor, the Rungs on the success lader are easier to reach, Took me a Few yrs in the Army to figure the best route, and becoming an instructor was one of my best choices I made.





"I dont care how thin you make a pancake, it still has two sides"

"A wise man is a man that realizes just how little he knows"

p3skyking

Dave,
Not being married makes it a bit easier and relieves some points like expensive housing in Cali. Housing is affordable in NW Florida. You could even qualify to BUY one!

Pensacola is the birthplace of Naval Aviation. The museum is the best one short of the Smithsonian.

Great seafood, fishing, a 200 rifle yard range just a few minutes away...

The SERE job is a plum as you probably know. A two or three year tour can be done on your head. P'cola does have an airport and MAC flights to the west coast all the time. This is a fine area to live in.

I'm betting you can rent a house and keep your dog, but if you can't, you can bring him over here. I've got a fenced yard and a "few" pups myself.

Best of wishes.
Mike

What men call a hero...is merely a man who is seen doing what a brave man does as a matter of course.
A man who is in love with learning is a man who is never without a bride, for there is always more. L'Amour

Red223

Special duty I.E. recruiting-teaching is rumored to be a must have to get above E-6.

I was asked to be an instructor at Naval Base Ventura last year and told them when he!! freezes over....

I won't be going over E-6 or staying in California, the latter appealed to me.

I'd go for it, If your dad gets worse get a humanitarian back to Lemoore...you'll still have instructor credit in your reports for promotion.

Godspeed and goodluck.

<----has a few weeks left in the land of fruits and nuts...Iraq here I come. (Dave would be exempt from deployment)

whiteclouder

Here's the hard truth. You will go where they order you. If you think an E-5 can effect a `major head rolling', you're delusional. Want to see your `fame' go in the dumper? raise a little hell, or raise a lot of it, whatever. The hell you raise is so insignificant you'll be ashamed you even brought it up. About the time you think you are untouchable, The Man will reach out and slap the snot right out of your nose.

That ol' Chief is who you need to talk to. He's a Chief cuz he earned it, and he can show you how it's done. Let him see the full contents of your note and you are going got get a real surprise, "untouchable?" yeah, right.

Pack your bags, sailor, you're going to Florida.

I wish you well.

Clouder..

TRAP55

DAVE...We'll miss you as one of the "resistance" here in the occupied territories. All the "what ifs" will work themselves out, and later in life you won't have to ask yourself "What the he77 was i thinking?" When opertunity knocks, open the door wide! Good luck to you, TRAP

Warbirds

Thanks for all the input. In a few months, I'm going to pack my stuff, shake some hands and leave Ca. I've spent about four months in Pensacola right after I got out of bootcamp, I had a pretty good time. Clouder, I didn't mean to come off sounding errogant, this is a "special program" like being a recruiter, or pushing boots. Valued by the Navy pretty highly, so it, followed by a tour in Japan, would run me right up the rank ladder. I could have went to the Blue Angels but they're gone almost as much as I am now, I want a normal job where I'm parked in the same spot for a few years. This will do it. Thanks again, all you people who are wise in the ways of the world.

edited for spelling, as usual.

R/

Dave


How different the world would be if we could consult the veteran instead of the politician. - Henry Miller

jsergovic

I've "Road-trip"ed it quite a few times from Philadelphia to Fort Pickens, right across from the base...

It is a GREAT place, maybe the only place I've found complete peace from the world.
There is a Camp Ground, and a lifer RV'er will watch the dog while you get things sorted out.

Norman Dog

Dave, I've never been in the military, so my advice directly regarding your career can not compare with the advice you have already received from those who have been there and done that.

However, I am a son and a father. The best thing that you can do to make your father feel alive and content with his lot in life is to excel in your endeavors and achieve all that is within your reach. Continue to make him proud to be your father.

---

Ideas are far more powerful than guns. We don't let our people have guns. Why should we let them have ideas?

-- Joseph Stalin--

greeker375

Dave

Now that you've made your mind up to move east, don't forget to bring that 7-300 up when you come to Md to visit your brother if there is a place to shoot it wherever he lives. To make it more enticing, I'll bring my .375 H&H Mag and let you have a go at her.
Good Luck on your road in life.

the difference between the almost right word and the right word is like the difference between a lightning bug and a lightning bolt

Rosie

That had to be the most arrogant post I have ever read. "do to my fame" "untouchable" "Rolling some major heads" raising hell. All this from an E-5? Young man you have some growing up to do. I sincerely hope you achieve your goals but for you the road will be rough. How can anyone become such a great man when he spends all his time on the computer? 900 posts on one forum in ten weeks? I wish you good luck.