Stay Chief, or go warrant?

[BMCS Dennis Endicott ret]

Most of the chiefs that I've talked to that went warrant, did so for the money. They believed that they owed themselves a larger retirement than would be possible as a chief-senior chief-master chief. Not many of them considered the jobs better, or their impact on the CG to be greater.

Personally, I believe that you lose your "voice" when you depart the Chief's Corps. I've watched chiefs and warrants interact with commissioned officers during discussions, and there is a directness from a chief that is usually lacking among the warrant officers.

I once asked a CDR how he defined the difference between a Chief and a warrant officer. He said that he would look to the warrant for technical expertise and to the chief for leadership. I thought that comment was pretty telling.

For those of you planning on the transition, what's motivating you? And for those of you that have decided to stay enlisted, what is motivating you?

[BMCM Deane Smith]

I crunched all the numbers and thought LONG & HARD about it and decided to stay enlisted. What it ended up being for me was the opportunity for better jobs.

I looked at the job opportunities as a CWO and as a Senior & Master Chief. There are good jobs available for both. I felt like there were a lot more undesirable jobs as a CWO than as a Senior/Master Chief. I didn't want to spend 8-10 years in jobs I might not like for a little better retirement check. I'd rather go to a WLR/WLIC.

Hopefully my detailer feels the same as I do!!

As a side note, any of you WLR/WLIC guys that are contemplating retirement, I would HIGHLY ENCOURAGE that. Job opportunities on the outside are at an all time high!!

[ETCS David Kroll]

That day had to be one of the toughest decisions in my life. My goal since joining the CG was to retire as a CWO. When the detailer called and said I was making it and what my options were I was very surprised that I had a couple decent billets to choose from.
However, by this point I had heard of too many CWO's that were miserable in their jobs and many(and I mean many) of them told me it was the worst decision they made. I see alot of disgruntled CWO's but very few disgruntled SCPO's. That along with my not wanting to stay 30 years to make it worth it were some of the factors that went into my turning it down.
Any regrets? Sometimes, when I think about what I could have been. Am I happier? I think I'm much happier. My wife always said she couldn't see me as a politically correct officer and I have to agree. For those that know me, you know I can be a little abrasive at times :)
Now I even dismissed MCPO just because I'm happy were I'm at and I have an exit strategy in place to leave the CG. It's been a great 20+ years, but there is life outside of this. Not competing for MCPO was very tough also.
Dave Kroll

[CPO Jarrod January]

I would say it depends on the rating. For me, warrant is very much a leadership position. As an F&S I'll be a department head on a cutter. I'll be SUPPO at most land units. If I move on to Lieutenant I can be a comptroller. All the warrant F&S's I know needed to be strong leaders who would support their department. I want to be in the position to support the other chiefs working in my department.

[PACS Steve Carleton]

For those of you who have the (mis)fortune of being in HQ at anytime, look at the number of CWO's walking the halls and listen to how many times they were acknowledged by senior leadership passing through the halls. -- Cue the cricket noises

When I have been through HQ, Nearly everytime I passed a senior officer, they would acknowledge me with a Good Morning/Afternoon Chief...Look at the gold shoulder boards and you will see an ANCHOR!

[DCCS Keith Wilbee]

For me the decision lies with the amount of billets available. I wouldnt have very many billet selections if I were to make E-8. If I go warrant I have more jobs to choose from. Not that they will let me choose, just more available. The chances for me are better as a CWO. Time to buy a house, and stay some where for awhile. Although the honor and respect that comes with E/8/9 would be better. I hear through my CMC that they are suppose to be bringing E9 pay in alliance with 0-4 pay. That would make E9 better as far as pay goes, but for my rate there is only 6-7 E9's. And no where that I would want to get orders to.

[BMCS Mark Stauffer]

I have thought about applying several times. The money looks good but the happiness of staying a chief is much better. When looking at billets the advantage goes to the chiefs. I counted them up one time, there are 90 available OIC jobs for 7 - 9 and only 45 CO jobs for the Warrants. I'll take my chances of getting an OIC job over the slimmer chance of getting a CO job. Now that I have gotten to the top of the ladder, I don't want to be knocked off and have to start climbing again. It's just my opinion and feelings but 20 years after I retire and I visit a Cutter or Station, I would rather hear them say "Good morning Master Chief" than "Good morning, sir."

[BMCM Deane Smith]

Keith Says...I hear through my CMC that they are suppose to be bringing E9 pay in alliance with 0-4 pay.

Keith, what's up with this??

Has anyone else heard this??

[DCCS Keith Wilbee]

Deane,
It supposedly has something to do with DOD entities and the responsibilites of the services to keep there senior enlisted. Pretty vague, but I guess we'll have to wait and see which direction the Guard goes.

[MKC Art Bailly (ret)]

I’m having this struggle right now also. Do I go Warrant or go E-8? The money is not really a big issue for me. It’s more about being happy with my job. I’m like Keith, I’m at the point in my life/carrier were I want to be home more and enjoy my kids growing up. Some of you out the might like those big cities but I don’t and the E-8 jobs are mostly at big bases or 378’s. There are more EO jobs for Warrant but as Dave said I’m not one to be politically correct. I’m more the one who speaks up when something is not right. Especially when it come to the crew. I’m well past the age to ask permission to be excused from the table at meal time’s and hate those who brown nose just to advance their carrier no matter what the impact is on the people that work for him/her. So do I leave Alaska for an E-8 job (there are none in Alaska), or go Warrant and have a slight chance to come back to a 225 for an EO job. For those of you who love the East coast Thanks for leaving the billets in the Northwest for me.

[MSTC_robcox]

I'm really curious as to what will happen with the new "M Insp" warrant program. It will be nice not having to compete with those high achieving Bosun's for warrant, I'm sure some will go toward insp, although I know the # of seletees will be smaller. I don't see any really awesome billets at the E-8 level. Really large ports and some HQ jobs, not really where I want to go next. So I'm seriously looking at Warrant. Just my 2 cents worth.

Rob

[MSS2 Harry March (MSTC)]

Rob I am with you; I applied for warrant last year and missed it by 15 points. The new MI Warrant is very desirable and I will apply again next year. The pay is an incentive and the majority of jobs are in the field we are in now. For a MST making warrant makes sense, you usually move from a Port Ops job to an Inspections job. We’ll see how it goes next year.

[SKCM Linda Reid]

Coming up in the reserve program, at the time when I had to make a choice I really could see no advantage to going warrant. Enlisted folks pretty much got to stay at their local units ... officers were subject to rotation to who-knows-where ever 3 years. Things have changed a lot in the reserve program since then, but that's what it was.

I think I get a lot more respect as an MCPO at HQ than just another warrant.

Hi, Harry!!

[BMC Ken Gouge]

I may be new at this Chief thing, but did any of us really do this for the MONEY? If so, what the @&#$ were we thinking?

Our Commandant is making just over 156k a year. Compare that to the CEO of a struggling little corporation and he's still out matched.

Any of us could do 30 or more, retire as either a E-9 or W-4 and figure about half that much.

Granted that doesn't count our bennies, but we lose alot of those after we put on the bermuda shorts and dress socks. What I do have is job satisfaction, job security, long hours, lots of time away from home port. alot of memories, and friends all over the country.

I have thought about it as well and with the time I have left, for now I have to side with the happiness/respect side of the argument and stay enlisted.

Ken

[OSC Bill Putnam]

For those of you who made this decision a while ago, I'd be interested to hear how/if you feel it affected your credibility as a career counselor to junior personnel. I always remember my first Chief telling me to take advantage of every advancement opportunity I had, at the earliest opportunity I had it. If we fail to do that, can we continue to give that guidance? Though I've never been assigned to a STA I have talked to personnel there (usually the E-3 first tour non-rate or the E-5 COXN) who don't want to compete for advancement because they love their job/location too much. Now granted we have a larger block of time and experience to make that decision at this point in our careers but it sounds to me like we're using that same rationale.

That's not entirely the same I know. The path through 8/9 is certainly continuing to advance. Would those of you who had the chance at 7 to compete and promote to Warrant before you were eligible for 8, give different advice to those of us who still have to wait two years to compete for 8? Look forward to the input.

Bill

[PACS Steve Carleton]

I didn't make the decision to stay Chief all that long ago. In fact the sole reason I took the SWE was to try to go Warrant.

I realized after I put on the anchor and went through CCTI just what it meant to be the Chief. The decision for me came when a young private on gate duty at a DoD facility said good evening Chief. That was when I realized the awesome effect the title Chief has.

I have also decided not to go for Warrant because, I am not particularly excited about the assignment choices for INFO Warrants.

I do not believe that my not competing for Warrant sends a negative message to my subordinates. I believe that by working hard toward advancement to 8 and 9 shows them that I am serious about advancing myself and making my Rate a better Rate. In the PA Rate, the sole 9 is the RFMC. I feel that I can make a difference in that role, rather than putting on a shoulder board and being called sir.

[BMCS Dennis Endicott ret]

Bill raised an interesting question in his last post. If I forgo an opportunity to become an officer (commissioned or warrant), have I settled for less?

My answer...no.

Only in the movies are officers the shakers and movers of the Coast Guard. In the real world, we all know that the enlisted ranks perform 99% of our actual missions.

A "promotion" to warrant or commissioned officer is not a move up. It is a move sideways. It's like a teacher becoming a principal. That teacher is not achieving new heights in his/her profession. He/she has moved on to a new profession. A principal may be part of the education system, have a great deal of authority over teachers, and make more money, but at the end of the day, he/she is not a teacher.

Remaining an enlisted man or woman is not settling for less. It is a deliberate decision made from dedication to duty, a passion for our profession, and a desire to be in front leading, rather than in back pushing.

That last line may have been a bit harsh on the officer corps, but damn if it doesn't ring true.

[ITC Steven Grimes]

"Remaining an enlisted man or woman is not settling for less. It is a deliberate decision made from dedication to duty, a passion for our profession, and a desire to be in front leading, rather than in back pushing."

This may be the case in some instances. What I see is people passing it up because they have reached a point where they would rather have geographical stability, or homesteading ability, which ever you prefer. Others turn it down because they do not like the orders they are about to receive either underway or the opposite coast where they have family and are comfortable. Although I myself would prefer if people turned it down with your reasoning in mind.

[MKC Robert L. Cook]

For the record I want to go warrant but here is my argument for staying chief.

We need valued members to stay Chiefs because it is the most important area of leadership in and to the CG. Chiefs are the pivot point between junior enlisted people and the officer Corp. Without the vauleable experience our chiefs have I believe that we would have a major breakdown in the effectiveness of our workforce.

Reason two. We need experienced people to teach our junior members how to do their jobs. The experience the "Chief" has or draws from is often time the only reference that is to be had, like a book or techpub the chief's successes and failures are critical to his leadership ability and serve as a template to be followed so that the people who come behind don't make the same mistakes.

Reason three. Chiefs are able to work with each other through networking and discussion to come up with solutions. No other group has the benefit of being so inter-related to each other. Officers do have networks but are often hindered by their evaluations and drive for promotion. Chiefs get it done.

[BMCS Shawn Vredenburg]

Dennis: I loved your Teacher/Principal example so much I'm going to steal it! Especially for Boatswain Mates, going warrant often entails becoming a paper-&itch instead of a boat-driving leader!

While probably 8 of the 10 best Station jobs are Warrant, to me that doesn't justify the 300 or so absolutely horrible Warrant BM jobs that would drive me to suicidal ideation (Dir Aux? Ewww!).

But that's just my opinion!

[BMCM Deane Smith]

Shawn,

You only mentioned shore assignments. What are your thoughts on U/W BOSN assignments? Or, do they drive you to suicidal ideations as well?

Just curious.

[BMCS Shawn Vredenburg]

When I looked through the Warrant Billet Manual and making up my mind on whether to go BMCS or Warrant, I remember highlighting all of the warrant jobs that I would like. The afloat ones were the WHEC's, and the 3 WPB CO jobs. There were probably 15 Station jobs, and 2 or 3 other jobs. So a total of about 30 Warrant Bosun jobs that I would like to go to (including the WHEC's that typically go to the non-operational type BM's first).

30 billets out of about 350. I think that's about an 8% chance of getting what I considered a decent job (and while I think that CO of a buoy/river/construction tender would certainly be a decent job, I have no ATON background).

Looked at the BMCS billet manual (before JRR) and saw that the majority of those jobs were good.

That was it for me. I'm not in this for the money...that'll be my next career!

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

When I was looking at Warrant a couple of years ago I was looking at both jobs and location. I liked the though of a 175', the CGC Hudson, or the CGC Matinicus. I thought about the jobs in Puerto Rico and Fla. and the possibilities that were present. Money came secondary as I wanted to stay afloat and my sea pay would take a hit by going warrant. Also like Deane I crunched the numbers and realized that I would have to commit ten years to make W-4 to make more money as E-9 which I could make in three years. I would also probably have to do a tour on a 378 or 225 before getting my own command agin. If I went 8 which I was already certified to do I was almost guaranteed to go form one command afloat position to another. I realize that this decision is different for BMs that for other rates because of the diversities that our rate allows. The BMs that refuse to sit for the OinC review have no chose but to go warrant. EMs as an example can either go warrant or go to a 378. I know that 175's are now open to EMCS but you get my point.
When I got the call for warrant I was offered the 378 in Ca. My wife was in the hosptial, about to delivery my son 14 weeks prematurely and the decision to turn down warrant came very easy to me. I was never a fan of calling warrants fence jumpers or anything of that sort, the decisions you make in your career are are your own. I have found that the most vocal opponents to warrants have applied for the process themselves. I don't regret applying for the process or subsequently turning it down. I never had the fear that had I gone warrant, people would not show me the respect that my rank deserved. Mine was a decision based a multitude of factors, but decided by one.

[ETCS David Kroll]

Good Point Steve,
ALot of are getting old and tired when CWO presents itself and yes geo stability does play a big role. I know it did when I turned it down. But if a CWO billet came up here, I might consider it, but again its because its here. For alot of people it is the money, some its location, and others its jobs. I think the job portion is mainly in the operators rates where CWO may put them behind a desk. For us support pukes, we are already behind the desk.
Again good viewpoint.
Dave

[ETCS Dale Bailey]

I wrestled with the idea of going warrant while I was an E-7, but, after one day at work with the star on, I knew I had made the right choice. Have never considered warrant again.
Dale

[BMCS Dennis Endicott ret]

Good for you, Dale. And, nice to meet you today.

[ETCS Dale Bailey]

It was a pleasure meeting you as well Dennis - and it appears you have some quality folks going through the CCTI.
Dale

[ETCS Robert Kelley]

I put in a package for CWO not long after earning my anchor because I thought it was a logical step in the promotion chain. I was an alternate that year and never got an offer. Over that year I did some serious thinking about the available jobs and job satisfaction, I never applied again. I have worked with a few great CWOs and don’t mean any disrespect but I no longer consider it a promotion. Maybe once the CWOs who are former Chiefs get to join this forum we can get some input from those who made the move.

[BMCM Deane Smith]

Robert,

Your post got me thinking. I wonder CG wide how active the CWO's are in the Chief's mess? I only see a small portion of them at the CCTI, maybe a couple at charge breakfasts. I've heard a lot of new CWO's state that they would stay "True" to the Chief's mess. Once a Chief, always a Chief. But, how many are actually doing it? Not too many from where I'm sitting.

What are the CWO's doing out there? Are they helping the Chief Corp or have they forgotten their day?

[MKC Jo Ledbetter]

We have two Warrant Officers on Long Island that are very involved with our CPOA activities and the CCTI (Breakfast through Dinner). I'd mention them by name, but they're Boatswains, and you know how bashful those Bo's'ns are..... ;)
That's about 20% of the active duty CWO's in the area. Not a great percentage, but we sure appreciate the ones that do get involved. Quality and consistency may be more valuable than quantity in this arena.

[BMC Richard Cheyney]

Ok....here we go with post number two....(thanks again for the welcome).

I am gonna do it! I am taking the leap from BMC to CWO2.....(cue cricket sound yet again). Does this make me a traitor?.....I hope not.

First I will say, I am not making the leap because I cannot make "8". I have made preparations to do that if for some unforeseen reason I change my mind at the last second (doubt it). I screened for OIC (M/M) ashore and afloat. I had my OIC picks all lined up in the event I didn't make the cut. I think for the most part I was prepared.

My reasoning, without typing a novel, why not advance/promote as far as I can? I am not sure if I will pursue CWO - LT, but why close that option to me. I know at this point I will be staying until they send me home.

Please know this, my anchors will ALWAYS be the proudest part of my uniform, even if I have to wear them where they can't always be seen.

Are there any other BMC, BMCS', making this leap or am I the only one crazy enough to admit it? :eek:

[BMCM Deane Smith]

Richard,

You only have to stay true to yourself & your fellow Chief's. I would hope that no one would call you a traitor, that would be stupid. You have to do what's right for yourself and your family. Maximizing your retirement is definetely worth the jump. Just make sure that you are 100% committed and not just doing it for the money.

And, if you do make the jump...just don't jump out of the Chief's mess.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Ric, just ask anyone who would call you a traitor how many times they applied for warrant. Ask the ones who say never how many times they thought about it. And don't worry about the ones that answer that with never, because they're liars.

[BMCS Dennis Endicott ret]

I agree. There are definate drawbacks to being a warrant, and I really don't consider it a promotion, but there are some great warrants out there.

[BMC Richard Cheyney]

Well that makes it easier coming from real Chiefs although this forum wasn't known to me before I really made my decision but as I said before......

I am extremely PROUD of my anchors and I truly beleive, you can't be a good warrant without having been a good Chief first!

Thanks folks!

[BMC John Greenwell]

Senior Chief Endicott,
So far what I have read on all the threads I agree with you whole heartedly. But this one touched a cord with me. Although I value your opinion very much your attitude on this one is very far off base. For a person who has the knowledge and ability to move up in rank not to accept a position that could make a tremendous difference in the future of the Coast Guard in my opinion be a very bad choise. Moving up to the officer corps can help the Coast Guard in a lot of ways.
1. If a enlisted member, especially a Chief, moves up to Warrant and then picks up LT than that member can help establish a better espree de corp with the enlisted folks among the officers in his unit. A better understanding of enlisted needs and desires. Especially if that member moves up to O-5 or higher.
2. You have to admit that Officers make the vast majority of the real decisions that effect enlisted members. These officers make policy and change effective policies we have today. Some of these policies get changed all the time and sometimes it hurts the enlisted ranks. If this prior enlisted officer was one of the ones that are effecting these changes then that officer would have a better understanding of needs of enlisted members.
3. Of course the money issue is also a major factor. When it is all said and done and you are retired from the Coast Guard you have to find a job. Most employers I have talked to don't understand the difference better an enlisted E-5 to E-7. All they know is that you were enlisted. But if you tell that employer you were a commisioned officer that makes a big difference in pay and status of your next career.

Thank you for your time.

[MKC Tom Hodge]

This June I make the "jump" into the officer corps by accepting CWO. I came into the CG with two goals. 1) I wanted to wear anchors and be the best Chief I could be and 2) I wanted to eventually wear the propeller of Naval Eng. By accepting CWO I have fulfilled both of those goals. How often in our lives do we really get to o something like that. I hope to always be accepted into "The Mess" and I intend to support the Chiefs as I have since Jul01.

I worked for many CWOs through the years and I always found each and every one of them to be different from a regular officer when it came to leading and getting things done. To me they were more like Chiefs with shoulder boards.

Tom :cool:

[MSTCS Dave McClintock]

Any day now I should be getting a call from the CWO detailer and will be turning down CWO. I understand the junior CWO's get to pick billets after the other CWO's have chosen their jobs but the list of billets I recieved last week from the Detailer was truly horrible in my opinion. Glad I made E-8 last fall so this decision is a no brainer for me. Also, if you look at the base pay for E-8 versus CWO over 18 years, I will make an extra $3.10 a MONTH over the W2's! Can you say padding the retirement fund! :D

[MSTCS Dave McClintock]

Well doesnt that just figure?!?! :eek: CWO Detailer called me and offered me MSD Peoria Illinois! Im from Champaign Illinois and both my wife and I's families are all there. I ended up turning CWO down since I just transfered here and have no intention of doing much past 20 years. Funny how life works out. Every individual and situation is different. Sometimes it works for you and sometimes it doesnt. Good luck with whatever path you choose.

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

Dave, I like your attitude.
John, You have some good points. However, decisions that directly effect enlited folks always involve at least one CMC. If you want to be an advocate of enlisted issues, don't jump ship and join the "O" corps. Bust your @$$ and become a CMC. Preferably a gold badge. I had a meeting with a MC from my district last week that I have known for a while. He tells me of the respect that he recieves from the officers as well as the enlisted with two stars on his collar. Much more so then when he had one star. If you want the $$$ then go for it. You need to look out for #1. If you want to look out for the enlisted corps, CWO may not carry the influence beyond your unit that you think it might. Just my thoughts.

[BMCS Roland Ashby]

A friend of mine who currently at GMCS has decided to go warrant. His rational is that there are only about 9 GMCM billets. Not a lot of choices! As a MSS CWO, he has the opportunity for 274 different billets.

I had not considered this has a reason for going CWO before, but his rational makes a lot of sense. Any thoughts?

[SKC Ronald Brumble]

That is the main reason that I hear.

Billet choice is a very big concern with the folks I see day in and day out.

[MKC Art Bailly (ret)]

That’s what I’m battling with now. There are 73 E-8 MK’s and about 400 CWO jobs also I’ve been looking at were the jobs are and CWO picks look much better. But the Wardroom is the draw back for me. I’ve seen way to much a@@ kissing going on in there and their always talking about being politically correct and that I am not. Hmmm, what to do-what to do. Still haven’t made up my mind yet

[BMC Chris Gempp]

Concur.Thats what I hear also and I am considering the same thought

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Art, I've sailed with seven different Warrant EOs on the three cutters that I've had big enough to have one. One guy was a complete idiot, one a complete jackass, but not one of the seven was PC. They were engineers, first and foremost. The Academy teaches them proper table manners. The A$$ki$$ers were puckering prior to becoming CWOs. I think most COs would rather have an EO with dirty nails than one with a dirty nose.

[SKC Ronald Brumble]

Well, in that situation who knows how we would act. I for one would hope that I would not do that in that position. I would hope that I would just be myself. After all, just what can they do to you as a CWO, really? Make you stand more duty, write some bad OER's? A bad OER is not going to end the career of a CWO. Come on, most of us at that point should not be afraid to be ourselves. Yes you might have to dress up and bring out those table manners. But is it that bad?

[MKC Art Bailly (ret)]

There are some wardrooms out their where you have to ask the captain permission to site down to start eating and request permission to leave when your finished. At 41 I will not do that. I quit asking my father for permission to do anything a long time ago and I think that is a little over the top. There is a difference when it comes to being told what to do for your job but taking it that far in the wardroom it just too much for me. It's just a power hungry CO flexing his muscle's. I’m not ready for those type of a** kissing games.

[BMCS Nick Pupo]

Hummmmmmmmm, not going to put in for warrant because you may have to ask the Capt to sit down. I dont have a problem with that, required or not if I had to I would do it out of respect.
Dont you have to ask to go on leave?

[MKC Jo Ledbetter]

It is a military custom to request to "join the mess"/leave the table in the wardroom? What would the difference be between displaying wardroom etiquette and saluting the Ensign (national), then saluting the BM3 (OOD) and requesting permission to come aboard your own ship? Clearly a Chief Petty Officer outranks a BM3. :confused:

Jo's Unvarnished truth - When anyone says, "SOME wardrooms out there...or SOME units out there...", well - that just makes me take the opinion that the USCG is masquerading as a military service. Obviously we are not nearly as proficient in naval customs and courtesies as the DOD. :o

Perhaps the CCTI and Chief's Call are not the only traditions to be fading away. :(

From the Naval Reserve Manual - "Maintaining proper etiquette in the Wardroom is very important. For example, always wear the uniform of the day while in the Wardroom. As a visiting officer, it is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the proper procedure for joining the Mess. On ships with one Wardroom, it is customary to address the senior officer present at the meal and ask permission to join the Mess. For example, if the executive officer (XO) is present, ask, "May I join you XO?" He will acknowledge you with a nod or a reply such as "Very well," or "Please." In some cases, you may have to ask with loud voice to be heard over the general conversation in the room. Note: It is customary to address senior and department head officers on ship by their function i.e., Captain, XO, OPS, SUPPO, WEPS, etc. If you do not know a particular officer’s job, ask him to join the mess using his rank e.g., "May I join you Commander?" Follow this procedure for every meal.
After receiving permission to join the mess, take a place at the table."

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Git em Jo.....there's a big difference between what some people refer to as a$$ki$$ing games, and Military Customs and Courtesies.

[MKC Tony Balcer]

Well said Jo.
Here is something I would like to add on that. It all starts with us. When I first got to my current unit I noticed a lot of nick-name calling and stuff like that. It got so bad that the EO said something to the MPA and I had to step in and put the boot to it. It took them a little while to get used to it. (imagine feeling strange about doing what you are supposed to, I just don't get it) But I think now we are a lot better off.
MKC Tony Balcer
abalcer@cgctahoma.uscg.mil

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

Well I officially declined appointment to CWO today so I could stay in this forum and share my wisdom with you all. (and if you believe that is the only reason, you probobly should get a urinalysis)

[FSCS Craig Beisiegel]

The reason that I never attempted to go for CWO is that I am an FS and I would have basically had to learn a different rate, SK. Nothing against SKs, but if I had wanted to be one, that is what I would have been!

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Well Jim, I for one, am glad that we're not losing you. We need to keep some of our most vocal people enlisted.

[BMCS Dennis Endicott ret]

That goes for me too, Jim. Thanks for sticking around.