Posted By otnasirk on 18 Apr 2011 09:17 PM
I see.At least you got the rate that you wanted.I am definitely wait for x amount of years to get to ME school.It is my rate and my fate right?
So what's it like beinh an ME now?what are you guys working on now?

I recently switched out of a career I was VERY unhappy in so my viewpoints are going to be a little skewed.  As a result, I absolutely LOVE everything I've done with the ME field (and with the PSU field).  I am still getting trained up and the switch of responsibilities hasn't taken full effect so it's a little bit of everything at the moment.  Since I'm at a PSU, it's all about being deployable ready.  Therefore, it's training, training, and more training should I get the call to go somewhere.  Personally, I feel like it was 2nd best decision I've made in my life (getting married being the #1...I know I'll catch some flack for this but she gave me $40 for lap dances for my bachellor party...can't be too bad, right?).

Either way (sorry I got sidetracked), as an ME you can be shoreside or boatside at a PSU so you get to see a little of both worlds without being forced into one over the other.  Also, you get a TON of trigger time at the range because of all the quals (now proficiencies) you are required to have.  Plus, I got signed up for extra training and, to put it like my wife said, I "get paid to shoot guns and play with remote controlled boats."  How can life get any better than that?

Awesome awesome awesome Lurker22!That's the kind of job i am really looking at.I also switched from Electrical Engineering to Administration of Justice in college because of the things you guys do!I also really interested in firearms and things like that.I also like the fact that you guys are training most of the time.That's really great!

And yes,#1 is getting married.We don't want to sleep outside when we get home right?!LOL!

Oh and 1 stupid question,can you strike the ME rate?And what are the likely hood of every station/district to be in need for BTM or BO?

Posted By otnasirk on 04 May 2011 12:42 PM
Oh and 1 stupid question,can you strike the ME rate?And what are the likely hood of every station/district to be in need for BTM or BO?

I don't think you can strike ME (someone else can correct me if I'm wrong) because the Master Chief of the ME Academy was saying that they were pushing for more ME's to get through the school.  I know a lot have lateralled over but I keep hearing they (the proverbial they) would rather have someone that graduated from ME school than someone that lateralled.

Whether or not a station or district needed BTM's or BO's depends on the unit and how everyone's transfers are coming up.  One unit might be in dire need because all their BTM's are transferring in July.  Another might have staggered theirs out better and only have a couple leaving.  Being a BTM is a collateral duty so any rate can be a BTM within that unit.  You just need to have command authorization in order to attend the school.  Just like there's an app for that, there's a chit for that.

Thanks for the info Lurker!I would like to be a BTM while i wait for ME "A" school.But anything can happen during my non rate days as what everyone is saying (which is good).

TheLurker,so whats your primary duties/assignments now?

Since I'm at a PSU, my assignment is to be deployable within a short amount of time. Therefore, I have lots of training to complete (sometimes online and sometimes in the field). I've also volunteered for collateral duty to help my unit out. I'll be taking over as PT coordinator for the unit as well as a couple other things that have come up. But basically in between deployments, everyone at the unit regardless of rate has been doing trainings in order to be deployment ready when the time comes.

Thats awesome!I am really looking forward in to ME.Hopefully i'll get stationed at PSU and i am ready to get deployed anytime
Thanks for sharing sir.Keep me up to date whenever you can!