2008 Transfer Season

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

We're almost at the end of orders being issued and I was wondering how your people fared.
What I've seen isn't the same as some of what I've heard from other units. So far all but one of my guys has orders. Everyone who has orders got their number one pick, except for one guy who got offered something that wasn't previously offered which worked out better for him.
The guys I have coming in all asked for this unit. None of them had it as their first pick, but it was on their list.

[MKC Tony McKinnon]

I am kind of mixed on the whole deal. 2 of my guys dont have orders yet. I got my number 4 pick. I found out my number one pick was on a left over list after the first two sets of orders went out. I am not sure how to feel about that other than "hows does this system supposed to work again"? All in all I am happy, but it is getting harder to explain how the system is supposed to work when it is inconsistant with what the written standard (priorities) are.

[BMCS Burt Ford]

We did pretty good here. I have 4 of 8 leaving this year. My ET1 leaves in May and his replacement comes in this week. My EM2 does not have orders but his replacement got here from PATFORSWA early Feb. I leave in aug and my DC leaves in may and new one gets here in June. Not too shabby for us. Everyone got what they wanted, so far, one to go.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Tony, if you didn't get your #1 pick and it's still open I'd make the call. There's got to be a reason, even if that reason was a mistake. I've had an easy time with the MK AOs the past couple of years... they even hooked up one of my guys that advanced this year by getting him a unit he wanted and setting a transfer date that allowed him to get his year of rated sea time.

[OSC Delain Tate]

Orders went well for us too...all but 1 of the OS's departing got what they asked for, myself included. The OS Detailer had orders cut for all personnel departing by the middle of Dec. No complaints here!

[BMC Russell Miller]

My XPO got her number 5 pick and my incoming XPO had us as his number 10. I heard from some of the other Ant that they still have folks waiting on orders

[BMC Seth Tomas]

We still have a BM3 waiting on orders. He is wanting to fleet up into a different BCN at the unit as he is still filling a vacant billet right now. We are hoping that he finds out real soon.

Anyone else have any BM3's get orders yet?

[BMCM Deane Smith]

Seth...our BM3 is still waiting. We have a BM2 ordered in, but the BM3 is waiting. It should be soon.

As far as this year goes, it seems to be a normal year. I do think they need to do a better job with the initial cuts for advancement. We have an MK1 ordered in and he was 3 away from the cut for MKC. Now that the new cuts have come out, he is above the cut. So, the AO is cancelling his orders and he gets to start over. Not the best way to do business...

[BMCS Nick Pupo]

Things worked out on MAKO as far as incoming.
BM2 got his #4 Pick - CGC NAWHAUL leaves in July
FS2 got is #1 Pick - SFO Chincoteague leaves in mid-july
MKC got his #2 Pick - CGC HADDOCK but accepted CWO and is headed to NOLA. leaves in early July
I got my #5 Pick - CGC HAWKSBILL. CofC in Aug

Incoming: Everybody ordered out has a replacement except the BM2, billet was going to be filled by the BM3. But, I removed his recommendation for advancement and that opened up the billet. Which by the way did not show up on the Shopping list. So if anybody knows of any BM2 who did not get one of their picks and got the list MAKO may not be on it. But if interested they could ask the AO about the open billet.

[BMCM Deane Smith]

My BM3 got his orders today...#1 pick...CGC IDA LEWIS.

[BMC Seth Tomas]

Our Airport Terminal is still empty as far as my BM3 goes...hoping to see something soon for him so he can either sit back and relax or put his house on the market soon.

[BMCS Ian McVicker]

I got my #2
XPO got his #6
EPO got his #2

Other than having to change my COC date, everything worked out pretty good this year.

XPO's going XPO afloat in a BM1 billet, but will be advancing E-7 now that the revised cuts are out. He should be able to get a good job next year though.

[BMCS Nick Pupo]

Ian, same thing happened to my XPO last AY. Got orders then before she reported she found out she was making E-7. Detailer called and told her to wait for a couple weeks to see how things shake out.
Well, she ended up keeping her orders and infact will do a full tour on MAKO as a BMC in a BM1 billet.
I would be guessing but probably also had to do with me being tour complete this year.
But you never know.

[BMCS Ian McVicker]

Nick, the OinC on CHOCK (where he's going) made BMCS, and I believe will be leaving next summer, so I doubt they would let him stay after the new BMC gets there. My bet is he will either be on the Warrant list by then (couldn't talk him out of it), or searching for another job. I'm pretty sure he'll have his OinC certs by then to.

Burt has told me great things about the guy running that cutter, so he should have a really good year. I was just glad to see him get the XPO afloat job, even if it is on a M/M cutter:D

Lucky for him he'll be in Hampton Roads, and there are more than enough job opportunities there.

[BMCS Burt Ford]

Ian, The OIC of Chock is taking his first BMCS SWE this year. You will get to meet him when we are in Yorktown in April.

My XPO made chief two months after arriving here Nick, this year. He leaves next year.

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

It just goes to show that "needs of the service" will trump any instruction or policy that is in place. You can never second gues the AO's. Well, you CAN second guess them, but you will likely never get them "figured out". We just need to trust that there are too many variables that we are not aware of, hold our noses and swallow that bitter pill when we get it. Position / Paygrade mismatches happen all the time. Sometimes they work for the member, as in my case here at my ANT. I got to stay here for 2 years as an "8". Matt is getting short toured this year due to his advancement and I am taking his place this summer. It worked out twice for me now but is a bummer for Matt. Sure didn't work for me when I made Chief though. I guess what comes around goes around in the course of a career.

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

It just goes to show that "needs of the service" will trump any instruction or policy that is in place.

BINGO ............ That is what I have been saying all along.... Glad some one else believes it as well......

Wray.. :cool:

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

Yes, BUT, this leaves one wondering if the service NEED is "now", or if it is some "payback" for a previous "assignment". I am not sure I like the idea of "payback". What ever happened to being in the military and getting "orders"? Not "invitations". We still need a process in place to identify the career oriented individuals that want to take their career in a specific direction and separate those individuals that simply want a job in a geographic location. There is at least one division at HQ that is looking hard at qualification based assignments beyond the ones that we already have. OIC, Surfman... This will be a good start, but at what level do these assignments take effect? How are people going to get their career in line with these qual based assignments if they can't get the positions that they need early in their career because of assignment priority? There needs to be better career counseling in place and a process for the AO's to weed out those "career" minded folks from the "place" minded ones. "Career" minded people should always have priority in my opinion. I like the idea that AO's try to work with people, but it always seems that some get worked with and some get worked over.

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Yes, BUT, this leaves one wondering if the service NEED is "now", or if it is some "payback" for a previous "assignment". I am not sure I like the idea of "payback". What ever happened to being in the military and getting "orders"?

I'm not sure I understand the "payback" part, but those at HQ will use the "needs of the service" when ever they can or need to.

Not sure about the "Orders vs invitations" -- I remember that being a topic on military.com.... anyone that doesn't want the orders they get has the option to get out or retire at the completion of their enlistment. As they should.

Of course it never hurts to "ask" or "try" for something else.. ;)

I can think of a few places, had they wanted, or should I say given me orders to, I would have retired in lieu of....

Wray...:cool:

[BMCS Ian McVicker]

Ian, The OIC of Chock is taking his first BMCS SWE this year. You will get to meet him when we are in Yorktown in April.

My XPO made chief two months after arriving here Nick, this year. He leaves next year.

I could have swore he already made it. Oh well, the way that list has been, might as well just give it to him now.

[BMCS Nick Pupo]

I would agree the AO probably wont keep him there.
I would venture to guess it does have something to do with billet structure of the Unit and tour completion dates of the incumbent OIC. Burt's XPO situation I believe proves that.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

My BM3 got orders...I think it was his #6 pick, might have been #4 ??? but he's going to Hono. That won't be that big of a change from MS.

[BMC Seth Tomas]

My BM3 just got the dreaded "List" via email...he now has until the 25th to prioritize 122 picks! Looks like he is going to have a looonngggg weekend!

[ETC Pat Kaschube]

My BM3 just got the dreaded "List" via email...he now has until the 25th to prioritize 122 picks! Looks like he is going to have a looonngggg weekend!

Is it me or is the E-resume process through DA not being used by the detailers this year. There may be a perfectly good reason for this but I know of four people in four different ratings from E-5 to Chief that have gotten the same e-mail. Anyone know why this seems to be the trend this year? Seems almost easier to get orders out but it isn't what we are told to do or, to pass on the the junior folks.