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I just made GM3 and I am currently stationed at the US Naval Academy, up for orders in June...I am going to be able to get orders to whatever sea duty I want thanks to a VERY senior boatswains mate I work with and I'm looking to find out how life is in Japan, both on base and off. My basic questions are : 1. Would I be able to move off base, how long would that take? 2. What is the liberty policy for E-4, I have heard they are sticklers on liberty in Yokuska..? 3. Most likely stationed on USS George Washington...whats that like? 4. What does a GM3 do on-board the ship? If you have any helpful hints or advice, please let me know, as well as where you would choose if you could go anywhere...
I don't think that you'll be able to move off base since you're E-4. The majority that get to move off base are E-5. There's a strong possibility that you may have to live on ship or live in the barracks. If you're married, there is a long waiting list, something like a year or so.
The liberty policy varies depending on the incidents that have occurred on/off base. If there have been some liberty incidents then your rank will be a determining factor of when liberty expires. I've heard some instances where liberty would expire at midnight for E-4 and below.
I don't know what it's like to be stationed on a carrier, but on a destroyer there's probably about 6 GM's that operate and maintain the five inch guns. When doing a weapons onload, there will be working parties that you will be in charge of, mostly ensuring that the rounds are where they need to be and ensuring they have the proper inventory for deployment i.e. powder, practice rounds, willie pete. Also during general quarters, you will be in charge of about five people that will help load the five inch with powder and rounds. When underway I never see the GM's so, I don't know what they're schedule is like, but if there's one thing that I have seen all the time is that they work on the 5 inch guns making sure that they work; if the gun doesn't work the whole ship knows about it, so there's some pressure lol.
Generally, on a carrier, you'll find that you specialize in something, so you won't be a jack of all trades like on a destroyer. If you're content with that, then you've probably made the right choice to choose the George Washington. As for choice of duty station I would say pick Hawaii, but that's just me.
Also, one thing that I also forgot was that you will need to go "cranking" which means you will be a food service attendant on the mess decks for about six to nine months. Everyone, that's E-4 and below has to do it.
How true...during Nam my son was a radio operater on the Oklahoma but still had to do the mess detail on first arrival aboard the ship. He hated it but survived. Steve
How would you be stationed on the GW, when the GW will be out to sea very soon?
From what my boyfriend tells me, yes, there are sticklers on liberty in Yakosuka.He is hardly ever free.
He also tells me that they indoc you on another ship entirely, then after your classes are over with you are finally moved onto the GW.
Last edited by Colddiamond102; 03-19-2009 at 04:43 PM..
Reason: Cut months.
How would you be stationed on the GW, when the GW will be out to sea in June? It leaves port in May.
From what my boyfriend tells me, yes, there are sticklers on liberty in Yakosuka.He is hardly ever free.
He also tells me that they indoc you on another ship entirely, then after your classes are over with you are finally moved onto the GW.
If they're going out to sea and coming back, he will stay in TPU. If they are going on westpac, they will fly him out.
Exact date wasnt given, and dates change all the time...how does the month hurt?
The ships schedule is classified whether it is official or not. I could understand telling family members, but disclosing that type of information on a message board isn't very wise.
Thank you. I am really hoping to make 2nd in september, and get a C school in transit, but fingers crossed!!!! do you think it'd be better to be on a destroyer or amphib than the carrier, or just different??? your preferences?
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Exact date wasnt given, and dates change all the time...how does the month hurt?
