The advancement results are out, and wouldn’t you know it, Jim made first class….wtf. It hasn’t fully hit me yet that I’ve crossed into the dark side, and will soon become everything I don’t like. Tuesday is the day of the frocking, or promotion ceremony, at which point I’ll be walking around with the chevrons and all the douche-baggery that’s associated with it. Honestly, I really don’t think I’m ready to be a first class yet. I’m just not one of those guys. I’m not a disciplinarian, I can’t sit there with a straight face and listen to some of the ass hattery that comes out of a seaman’s mouth, hell, I don’t even polish my fucking boots.
My Chief was talking to me, in a mentoring type of way, about how all the shit I was able to pull as a second class is pretty much out the window. She said I’m going to go to a new command and I’ll be the LPO, the guy everyone looks up to and whatnot. I’ll have to keep my personal feelings about the Navy (I want out), in check and keep a positive attitude because the younger folks will be looking at me as an example. Do you know how weird that is? I love being a second class. You have just enough power to be comfortable, and can get away with just enough bullshit to keep your crow and still enjoy your off time. As a first class, I just imagine they’ll make me go to the stupid First Class Association meetings, and I’ll have to be someone’s frickin’ mentor, or other stuff that I find to be crap. I won’t be able to go out and get trashed, because this boat will ruin your career in a heartbeat. Maybe I’ll become a Joe Navy asshole eventually, but I don’t see it happening anytime soon. Maybe I’ll be different because I don’t want to make Chief, or blow my way to the top. Whatever.
Comments 12
Congrats!
Posted 25 May 2008 at 7:42 pm ¶Jim,
You are mad you made First Class PO? I don`t buy it. If you really didn`t want to be advanced you should have fail the exam on purpose. Then someone that really wanted it could have taking your place. But you did not, you went into the test doing your best because you wanted to make PO1. You may have your grumblings about the Navy and want to get out but I think even you want the personal satisfaction being advanced.
You don`t think you are ready to be a PO1? I hope to God you are, there will be a lot of people looking for you for the answer. Not only junior personnel but senior as well. A PO1 should be an expert in their rate. Your evals must be pretty good and your command believes you will succeed as a PO1 or they wouldn`t have recommended you for advancement.
If you really don`t want it then refuse to be frocked (which you have a right to do) and wait until you actually get advance to put it on, than you can stay being a precious PO2 for a while longer.
Posted 25 May 2008 at 9:13 pm ¶Congrats man!
Posted 25 May 2008 at 9:58 pm ¶Randy: Good job on calling bullshit, shipmate. I do feel some satisfaction in knowing I advanced, and I’m looking forward to the money, I just don’t think it’s really hit me yet. I’m hoping after the frocking, it’ll dawn on me where I’m at and what I have to do. It’s just a strange feeling. About denying the frocking, I may be cynical, but I’m not a retard. Thanks
Posted 25 May 2008 at 10:02 pm ¶Hi Jim,
Congrats on your new rank! I grew up in and around the Army so I have no earthly idea what your new rank means (nor your old one, but I have seen all ten episodes of Carrier:).
I stumbled on this site when I was looking for information on the taxi murder several months ago. I’ve been coming back here ever since. It’s fun, it’s entertaining, and I think you are a good writer.
You use your site as a sounding board for things you’re pleased with–and things you’re not pleased with. I think that’s good and that’s bad. It’s good because it gives civlians like me a glimpse into Navy life, and it’s bad because we get to see you wrestling with your personal and profession life. And if I can read this, so can your fellow shipmates.
There’s a good scene in Saving Private Ryan where Tom Hanks tells his men you should always complain UP the chain of command, never down.
I don’t know where I’m going with this, Jim. I just wanted to let you know I enjoy reading your posts, and I think you should buy a journal (guys don’t buy diaries).
Posted 26 May 2008 at 2:28 pm ¶You know, there are many times I disagree with what you write but your experiences and your perspective are yours, just that, and mostly I try to take on what you write as another view, something to learn from.
Posted 26 May 2008 at 7:08 pm ¶But this time, even after your answer to Randy, I’m just…not the least bit sympathetic. Life is hard and you have it harder than anybody and now that you scratched your way to 1st class you don’t want it and despise other people who already have it. Jeez, cry me a river. Like Randy said, don’t take it. Leave it for somebody who does want it. Maybe somebody for whom the Navy does not totally absolutely suck, day in, day out; or somebody who can see beyond the end of his nose and might want to help other people who are putting up with the same thing, whether they are junior or senior to you.
I think it has a lot less to do with not wanting PO1 and initial shellshock of suddenly finding yourself with a whole shit load of more responsibility than you had previously.
Should do nothing more than take this with a grain of salt. Congrats on PO1 though, few of my buddies missed it by only a few points.
Posted 26 May 2008 at 9:06 pm ¶Ok ok, perhaps I was really a whiny baby about this one for no reason. I don’t know what it is, but I’m just not the type of person that swells up with pride for my accomplishments….I just kind of feel dumb.
I was frocked today, and to tell the truth, it felt pretty awesome. Everyone was busting my balls calling me IT1 in an exaggerated tone, but it still felt pretty cool. I had my first First Class PO Association meeting and ended up outside chipping paint on a bus stop with some fellow Firsts and some junior POs. It was pretty hard, but I sort of felt like I was actually doing something, even if it’s as lame as chipping paint.
I think the reason I seemed so cynical is because I didn’t want to face the fact that I would have to grow up a bit. I can’t sit here and bitch about the Navy all day because of the younger guys. I have to bite my tongue whenever I want to say something sarcastic, because of the younger guys. I can’t bitch and gripe about something our Chief, DIVO, Dept Head, etc. does, because of the younger guys. It’s hard to see myself as someone who has to be an example, or someone who has to put on a certain face to make sure good order and whatnot is kept up. I’m also a little worried that some of the guys who I think are good friends, and are some of by liberty buddies might think I’m a douche…and that sucks. I’m starting to understand, even though it’s my first day, what it entails and I just have to get used to it. Maybe I should have waited to post about it, after it all hit me and I tried it out for a few days.
I know I’m an incessant complainer and whiner, but I really am glad I made it.
Posted 26 May 2008 at 11:00 pm ¶Well i know how you feel on the advancement thing. Hell when i made simple third class i really didnt feel like i deserved it since i knew other better at my job than me. But the difference is i lost my frocking two days after i got thanks to a nice stupid trick i pulled. But you should do good. You should be one of the better 1st’s ive met cause you ahte the same bullshit the rest of us lowly peons do. Congrats
Posted 27 May 2008 at 5:35 am ¶Jim,
Congrats my brother!! I know you will do your best and then some.
Posted 27 May 2008 at 12:58 pm ¶Congrats and welcome to the club. Now is your time to remember all the things that you didn’t like about the people you worked for, and strive to be better than them. It’s not that bad for the most part as you will see. Yes, increased administrative tasks and even more crap to take from the Chief, but increased job satisfaction. You will soon see that quite the sizeable portion of most First Classes are content with where they are, so it’s easy to excel at this level too. Keep the press on Jim. The next stop is a set of Anchors brother!
Posted 04 Jun 2008 at 11:51 pm ¶Jim, without people like yourself and some others, there wouldn’t be any PO1’s calling BS on some stuff. Just a bunch people jockeying for position to make CPO and kissing ass. There’s alway need for the guy at the FCPOA meetings saying “hey wait a minute” instead of nodding their head to what the SOY or future SOY is saying. Also need that guy to stand up for the little guys and train them instead of living off the labors of others holding a coffee mug, and at night trying on their secret set of khaki’s…
Posted 14 Jul 2008 at 7:24 pm ¶Post a Comment
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