Cross rating to another undermanned rate

[marmac]

There is an old adage-------"the squeeking wheel gets the grease"---

However, I doubt the military is concerned when the "squeeking" is coming from an E-3.

More important things for them to be concerned about in the overall picture.

[Takes1 2 Know1]

Why don't you just go TAD to another ship that's preparing to go on deployment? I've know people in the past that have tried this and it worked out for them in the long run. People have made rank in a relatively short time for volunteering to go TAD, when other people will not. This could get you out of your training rut that you're currently in and the training that you desire. The thing is, you have to do this diplomatically and go through the proper channels.

Originally Posted by Navych1ck

No. I filed a grievance because I repeatedly asked for more training and mroe difficult work for almost a year and I wasn't getting what I kept asking for; all while the others in my division didn't even have to ask.
I have no issues with asking for something, only with repeatedly asking for an excessivly long time and not getting it. I take issue when I'm advised to 'ask more questions' and get ignored when I do so by the very same people who told that to me. I have no problem with not being offered something, only with asking for it and being denied - then getting to watch others at about the same level I'm at in the division get it without even having to say a word.
If I'd kept my mouth shut and never complained, I'd still be in our other work center - the tiny one that hardly has any work to be done - in charge of cleaning two, very small, spaces, not getting the work and training I so desire, miserable out of my mind, probably still living onboard, getting nowhere with my career, and being ignored and forgotten about.

Hell, the way they've reacted you'd think I'd been asking for less work.

[99°]

Everyone's badmouthing of the OP is ridiculous. Development of our subordinates is our job, whatever the rate may be.

Instead of addressing her initial request, you've all resorted to the "well that's the way it is" remark. Have those of you who made remarks along those lines stopped to think, for one moment, that it's "the way it is" because you were indoctrinated to believe that nonsense, and that as you went up in ranks yourself, you bought into that garbage? I highly recommend that everyone here read On the Psychology of Military Incompetence, an excellent book that takes a serious look at exactly how that cycle happens. I am appalled that some of you are defending a chain of command that denies a service member in rate training or 3M quals/maintenance assignments. When I was the Work Center Supervisor, I loved getting Sailors who were eager to learn and excel. I didn't shoot them down, ever, regardless of my personal reservations about them, because work and personal opinions are completely separate issues.

To lend credence to the OP's Chain of Command woes, please open up any Navy Times from, oh, the past 24 months. I'd wager that on average, greater than 25% of them cite a massive breakdown in the chain of command, all across the Navy... usually on the front cover. Coincidence? I think not. My wager is that the organization is rotting from within due to the fact that we promote people not based upon proficiency, intelligence, or any other such measurable metric, but by how well they deal with other people giving them grief and how well they play within the political superstructure. Additionally, implying that someone's personal well being is not worth you worrying about because you have "more important stuff to do" is completely ridiculous. You are absolutely responsible for the well being of your subordinates. If you don't understand that, you're not a leader -- you're a follower who passed some tests and was given some rank. That doesn't make you a leader. Just some food for thought.

Finally, to the OP's original question:
Yes, the Navy may allow you to cross rate. Have you tried routing a special request chit yet? Your chain of command extends all the way to the Commanding Officer, and if you're not getting what you want from your Chain of Command, your route of talking to the CMC was absolutely warranted and correct -- the CMC is your representative, and that person has their job because people like you need a CMC to look out for them. As an aside, I'm sure the CMC would have alerted you if your concerns were unjustified. Also, don't be afraid to nag people. Forgetfulness is often forgiven in the Navy, as people are "SOOOO BUSY". When you nag people in the right way, they'll often want to process your request so you'll leave them the hell alone. Since about 95% of the jobs in the Navy are customer service based in one way or another, it's not optional for people to NOT process your requests. Make copies of things before you route them. People lose stuff, and they're rarely held accountable for it, so you can expect it to happen a lot.

Here's what you can do:
1) Check out Navy Personnel Command's Equal Opportunity website. Read the page thoroughly and all of the references, making sure to understand them. http://www.npc.navy.mil/CommandSupport/EqualOpportunity/Resolving+an+Issue.htm (broken link)

2) Find someone in whom you can confide and speak to "off the record". The Fleet and Family Services Center may be able to put you in touch with a counselor. Again, your routes of speaking to the chaplain and the CMC were absolutely correct. Get this person's advice on how to proceed -- usually, talking to someone alone can help you to feel better.

3) Finally, assignments and such aside, keep in mind that while issues like this do perpetuate the Navy, and they happen everywhere (as evidenced by the condescending and unhelpful responses in this thread), there are proper channels to resolve them. I've found that one of the best tools is approaching people the right way and using the right vocabulary. If you can (cordially) make them understand that they've taken an illogical position, MOST people will concede the point (and thus, the training) to you. A whole lot of surviving the lower ranks is getting people to understand your usefulness and speaking to people in a way that makes them reconsider their position. If you haven't, I'd recommend reading some leadership books like Small Unit Leadership: A Commonsense Approach. While that specific book is targeted toward the Army, leadership principles transcend branches of service. If you can get your leaders to understand that you understand where they are coming from, they'll respect you more, and you'll make a lot more headway.

I hope the above information helps you in your rating conversion, and I hope the above reading material is able to offer you a new perspective. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

[dobermankid]

Originally Posted by Navych1ck

I want to cross rate from STG (sonar technician, surface) to CTI (cryptological technician, interpretive). Both are undermanned. If I met the requirements to cross rate to CTI, might the Navy allow me to do so, or am I stuck?

Did you ever go through with this? If not..

I was the caseworker for change of ratings at Navy Personnel Command, Millington between 2006-2008. Governing instructions for change of rating are: MILPERSMAN 1440-010 & BUPERSINST 1001.39F chapter 6. One thing young Sailors don't realize that if there CO does not recommend approval on your request, it still must be submitted to PERS for final approval/disapproval. Let me know what your status is. I'm in contact with PERS regularly..

[hivoltage]

Originally Posted by Navych1ck

I want to cross rate from STG (sonar technician, surface) to CTI (cryptological technician, interpretive). Both are undermanned. If I met the requirements to cross rate to CTI, might the Navy allow me to do so, or am I stuck?

Good golly the Navy has girl ST's now ,Musta started sometime after Clinton got into Office. How does the whole boy girl thing work on DD's and FF's? I would assume its like a small high school and the CV's and such are the big high schools.

[T-310]

Originally Posted by hivoltage

Good golly the Navy has girl ST's now ,Musta started sometime after Clinton got into Office. How does the whole boy girl thing work on DD's and FF's? I would assume its like a small high school and the CV's and such are the big high schools.

I was a submariner. No women on those things yet. Probably won't happen in my lifetime.

If the OP were a guy, I would say cross over STS, go subs and watch your career take off. The moment I stepped on my first boat as a NUB, I was continually challenged to qualify this station or that station and to obtain my qual pin, the dolphins. I was a QM and made QMC(SS,SW,AW) in less than 10 years. I served the last three years on a carrier, the Vinson, before I bailed out of King Willie's Navy.