grunt work!! and it's generally hard!!!

painting, sanding, mowing, scrubbing, cleaning, etc, etc

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LOL-I was down at Station Sand Island here in Honolulu yesterday and there was a non rate that was using a little line painting machine and was tasked with repainting all the parking lines for the base. When I asked him what was next, he said he had to paint all the curbs that were no parking zones red. At least he got to be outside!!

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The only exception is if you are BTM and tactical boat crewman qualified (if the station uses M240s). Then, if you are put on the boat crew for that day, you will get to go underway whenever the mission is scheduled for that day.

Otherwise you will do grunt work, so just focus on getting rated ASAP but in a rate you want (don't get TOO desperate lol) and enjoy your off time.

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LE patrols, SAR, Comms Watch, training, training, training, etc, etc, etc.

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Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.

- Mark Twain

So u just do grunt work around the stations? Mostly maintenance stuff. Wow. lol. Which is better being on a cutter or on land?

Everyone I've talked to has said being on a cutter is better, and I think I understand why. You get much closer to everyone, and you stay busier. At a station everyone just kinda goes in to work and then goes home after their duty period, which is usually only a couple days at a time. On a cutter you spend a week to 3+ months together, doing work and having fun.

I am not on a cutter to know for sure but I am simply mentioning what I know.

If I could do it again I would have put down all cutters in boot camp.<!-- Edit -->

Last Edited : 4/30/2010 4:29:02 AM GMT

It's really a personal preference. My personal preference is being on a cutter over being at a station, but it might be different for you.

Ian, I will agree with what you have been told. My very best friend that I've made in my life came when I was on the Gallatin back in 2000. We still visit each other to this day. Our families are very close too. I have made amazing friends at the land units too, but it's different when you spend every day and night underway with your friends. I wish I could explain it better than that.

I hope to go back to the Gallatin again before I retire. I would love to get my permanent Cutterman's pin (5 years of sea time) all from the same cutter.

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Last Edited : 4/30/2010 4:41:22 AM GMT

Colin has made some tremendous friends, but one in particular left the ship in March for AirSta Cape Cod and the airman program. He will start his A school in a few months. But that was his Sea Daddy! They really have one of those friendships that will stand the test of time, weather the brown shoe/black shoe difference, east coast/west coast, no matter what sort of friendship. I think those friendships are pretty amazing and I have a few of those myself.

I have never been on a ship but when you are literally frozen out of your home at 8 & 1/2 months pregnant, with no place to live and your Chief shows up and says "You're moving in with us until they get you housing!" and you live with your Chief and his wife and their 3 dogs and our dog and the 2 of us and me being pregnant and snow up to my butt outside and when you finally move out of their house and you still love each other... yeah, you'll be friends pretty much for ever!

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I've been to a station and two cutters. I plan on returning to the cutter fleet.

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Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.

- Mark Twain

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That's non rate duty everywhere.

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Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.

- Mark Twain

ive been a dishwasher since i was 14 lol. not sure it would bother me. gota do what u gota do

I'm an Fireman at a small boat station and it's basically comms watch and lots and lots of PMS on the boats. Plus You have to get Boat crew and BTM qualified. Also cleaning the engines on the 47MLB...not fun at all.

I'm an FA*

Well, this doesn't seem too bad! I think I can hack that. I think it's really interesting to hear people say Cutter over Station because almost everyone I know said it the other way around! I think I'll look forward to mess cooking! I'm just ready to be over my civilian duties... mouthy kids, unit searches, biters, being cursed out everyday, and overworked and under-appreciated (couldn't get any worse in that dept!). Very interested in hearing what others have to say about life in these areas.... as well as pointers because I'm scared as all get out!

mouthy kids, unit searches, biters, being cursed out everyday, and overworked and under-appreciated

Small Boat Stations aren't much different.

mouthy adults, unit searches, biters, being cursed out everyday, and overworked and under-appreciated

fixed. story of my life lol.

mouthy adults, unit searches, biters, being cursed out everyday, and overworked and under-appreciated

We used to refer to that as: "Retail Sales."

ha! That's probably very true .... all of it... minus the whole "biting" scenario. To this day, when visiting my parents, my mom sometimes becomes one of those people with customer services reps and I just non-chalantly excuse myself from the building! Just ready to see how delightful this process is going to be. After the 17 hour day I had yesterday, it has to be better! I love kids, but definitely do not forsee having my own anymore!

I love starting battles with customer reps, comcast can't get my bill right, I'm no longer aloud to call customer support I have to go into the comcast building they have here

Try dealing with Tricare.. Whenever I call they wave a white flag, and just give me what I want.

The only thing I ever enjoyed about Comcast was the call to cancel it. I still get a nice, warm feeling deep down inside knowing that none of my money goes to them anymore.

I feel that way about Charter Cable... they tell you a guaranteed price for a year, then in 3 months, it went up! WHAT? I got Directv but even that I had to cancel the internet service. They said I went over my alloted internet usage in NINE DAYS!!! What are they my mother? I cancelled that part of my Dierctv, but I love the tv service!