AY07 ATON OinC jobs

[BMC Scott Coder]

What BMC ATON jobs are you shooting for? Is it too risky or competive to discuss this topic on here. I know our fate is in the AO's hands, but I am curious to where others are requesting to go.

Scott

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

I don't think that its too risky, it could spark interesting conversations. Like....intersting that you haven't listed what ones you wanted first......
There are 19 (?) opening up and only 15 people who screened. I think that if some people were hoping to extend, this might be their year. It's a small enough group of people that, if worked out, everyone could get what they want.

And for those of you sitting for an OinC review board, I wouldn't be surprised if there is a push for certifing people on the AtoN side of the house.

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

For the record... I am fighting tooth and nail to stay here until I am tour complete (08). So if any of you are thinking a job in the high desert is for you... Wait til 08.

Jim

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Jim if you keep talking about the snakes, no one else is going to want that job.

[BMCS Burt Ford]

Stu is right. If 5 out of 6 on the new BMCS list all leave, me included, that makes 24 ANTs with 15 poeple. So some of us should get to stay. And since it cost more to move me PCS than Jim, try his job first. Besides, mine is not on the list :)

[BMC Scott Coder]

I am wanting to return to ANT SF as OinC. I was the XPO there until 05, made BMC and PCS'd out. SF is the only area that my wife can transfer to and keep her current position with her company. It may be a long shot, but I am hoping for this to be my last move. I have plans on buying a house in the Reno/Sparks area and preparing for retirement 5-6 years down the road. If ANT SF falls through I suppose that I will be happy with any ATON job. The further away from PWCS the better for this cat. Besides, 20 year old kids with big guns scares me now-a-days. :cool:
Scott

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

Snakes, Skunks, Osprey, Beaver, and even a Marmout running around the unit. The Orkin man comes every month to spray for "Hanford Projects" (some bug that looks like a combination of a centipede and a super sized earwig) Hanford, Nuclear Waste site up the river, Umatilla Chemical Weapons Depot down the river. This is a terrible place. Please, nobody put in for it. ;)

Pheasant, Quail, Chuckar, Ducks, Geese, Turkey, Deer, Elk...

[BMCS R. Scott Pugh]

Same for Buffalo... please wait until 2008. I sent my AO an e-mail requesting to stay here until 2008 for two reasons. 1) Getting married next March and would hate to have to re-locate the new bride (I know it happens, but I can always ask) 2) the good WPBs open up in 2008!

I know the tropical climate of the Great Lakes is hard to resist, but please hold off on adding this to any dream sheets. :cool:

Scott

[BMC Scott Coder]

I am planning on attending the EPM road show on the 25 JUL. I believe atleast 1 BM AO will be there and I am going to try to get an answer how the ATON OIC shortages can benefit myself and those that want to stay put.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Well I'm still advertising my job as the best job in the CG. We have Puerto Rico, St Thomas, St Criox, and St John. Lot's of Spanish Speakers assigned. Sun, sun, sun. The houses are made out of concrete, and we all know that wolf huffed and puffed and couldn't knock down the brick house, so what chance does a hurricane have down here.......SDAP is up to 375 and you get COLA.

[BMC John Phillips III]

BMCM, so far everywhere I have been stationed, I have been to prior to going there. I was telling my MK1 this the other day and he asked me if I had ever been to Puerto Rico and I said, "Yes." But I doubt they'd let a BMCS (by the time I transfer) relieve a BMCM that is filling a BMC job. That and I have more important things to do than island hop and learn to speak spanish. Oh and for the record, my job is better than yours and it's not being advertised! :D

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

JP3, along with having no bouys, you also don't have a Walmart, a Mall, native sand, .....etc. I've been to Key West, trust me, my job is better. And if you take the time to learn spanish it will help you out when you drive the six hours to go to the Mall in Miami.

[BMCS Dave Considine]

I think Master chief and JP3 should settle this the old fashioned way, red man suits down by the boatswain's hole. With todays technology we would all be able to watch live on the internet!

Dave

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

The only problem with that is that JP3 is so deeply embedded in denial that he can't admit defeat. Even in the face of overhelming evidence.......Just ask him who's the better Chess Player ?

[BMCS Mike Ellis]

Scott Pugh, I think you're safe in Buffalo, it's not even on the list of anticipated vacancies.
Mike

[BMCS R. Scott Pugh]

Mike - let's hope that it stays that way until 2008... Then as they say "Game on!"

[BMC John Phillips III]

Hands down, I am a much better chess player. I only let you win because you were doing my marks! lol

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Talk about over compensating,.....I only did your marks twice a year, and you lost on a daily basis. I think that your signature sign off should be from that other great philosopher Confusedus. You know that the cure for denial is a steady dose of reality.

[BMC John Phillips III]

That's funny cause I thought the cure for denial was to get a job in the carribean hoping around from island to island pretending like you are working :p

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Oh look....a baby wolf.....


Nice diversionary tactic.
Go ahead and say it......denial. You know the first step is admitting that you have a problem.

[BMCS Burt Ford]

Enough chess, baby wolves and island hopping. My job has islands(much bigger than PR), real wolves, bears, moose, walrus, seal, orcas, whales, salmon, halibut, volcanos and earthquakes. But, I only have 80 AIDs, NO BUOYS(not even secondary), no boats and a crew of five, and I cant even spell cheeessss. And my job is not on the message and is better than all of yours....pthhhuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu :p

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Burt, seeing as how you have all that time on your hands, you might want to break up a map. PR is the size of CT. We're talking 35 by 110. How many islands do you have that are "much bigger than that." The Volcanoes and Earthquakes aren't a selling point for me. You make me want it even less with the no boats, no buoys. And all of the other stuff I can get on TV or in a can, and if cooked right....they taste like chicken.

With no boats and no buoys.......maybe the CG forgot that you're there. Do you get CGMS ?

[BMC John Phillips III]

Burt, I would totally enjoy the wildlife there, no doubt! However, you can keep the cold weather.

[BMCS Burt Ford]

What is CGMS?

Kodiak is the country's 2nd largest island behind one of the HI islands. We are soize of CT too. Dont know if the included US territories. Honestly, no boats or buoys does suck. But I get to work with Airdales!

JP3, we are not near as cold as the rest of alaska. The ocean keeps us relitively warm, not FLA or PR wamr though!

I still have a better job than the rest of ya's!

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

How do you maintain your job satisfaction with only 80 ATON? I would love the area with all the fishing and hunting, but.... I have 252 ATON and am not always as busy as I would like to be. At least when it is between seasons. ;)

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Hey we just finished up with the COMDT down here today. He talked alot about how important retaining enlisted Commands are to him. He also said that AtoN is here to stay. After Katrinia, the people with the money started realizing the Homeland Security issues around the quick response in re-opening our ports. So all the talk about privatizing AtoN is just talk.
So Burt, the CG knows that you're there....but because you have no boats...no one wants your job. Jim...sorry ...too many rattlesankes...you're going to have to stay where you are.

[BMCS S. D. Peters]

Burt my job is better than yours. I have 103 shore aids 2 buoys, 9 light houses, a boat and I get a ride with the air station as well. Our annual south trip we have to stop at Goddard hot springs and do public service by testing the water and cleaning up the trash in the area. What a tough life.

[BMCS Burt Ford]

Steve, you are right but you werent supposed to tell.

Thanks for the re-assurance Stu.

Does anyone notice that just us ANT guys are arguing about whose unit is better? Where are the MM folks?

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Well don't anybody get their hopes up about coming down to paradise.......my job isn't on the list. And the list says second and FINAL. I mean final is it, right ? It's a done deal ? Guess I'm staying. Sorry......

[BMCS Burt Ford]

Mine is not there either. Does anyone think it will change when the cuts for '06 actually come out?

[BMCS R. Scott Pugh]

Burt - I would doubt you will see any changes. But hey... I have been wrong in the past. I just know of 3 or 4 BMCSs in BMC/OIC jobs that were told by the detailer they would stay and go tour complete. Heck, one guy even made Senior, got orders to a Chief/OIC job after he got the star and had his Change of Command in May.

Scott

[BMCM Deane Smith]

Burt - I would doubt you will see any changes. But hey... I have been wrong in the past. I just know of 3 or 4 BMCSs in BMC/OIC jobs that were told by the detailer they would stay and go tour complete. Heck, one guy even made Senior, got orders to a Chief/OIC job after he got the star and had his Change of Command in May.


Jim...You must have pissed someone off!

[BMCM Deane Smith]

Well don't anybody get their hopes up about coming down to paradise.......my job isn't on the list. And the list says second and FINAL. I mean final is it, right ? It's a done deal ? Guess I'm staying. Sorry......

Not so fast...

ALCGENL 095/06
SUBJ: ASSIGNMENT YEAR 2007 OFFICER IN CHARGE (OIC) ANTICIPATED
OPENINGS - SECOND AND FINAL UPDATE
A. COMCOGARD PERSCOM ARLINGTON VA 181300Z JUL 06 (ALCGENL 094/06)
1. CANCEL REF A.
BT
NNNN

I guess nothing is final when you can cancel. Isn't that like a do-over?

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

And if I get orders, someone is going to piss me off. :mad:
The more I think about this... If I pissed someone off I would sure like to know about it. (so I can do it again)
When I got the call telling me that my job was going to be shopped, I was told to put in a new screening package to even be considered to stay until I am tour complete. I have always thought that it may be the shortage of ATON afloat at the E-8 level and they needed me to screen. Whatever the case, as the song says "Do it to me one more time", beyond that, it will be on my terms.

[BMCS R. Scott Pugh]

EPM is taking a mulligan... Hold on to your hats and enjoy the ride.

[BMCM Deane Smith]

I feel for you Jim. Hopefully you'll be able to stay...for all of the reasons that you have.

If you can't stay, are you putting in for the Afloat jobs?

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

I put in for the WYACONDA and ANVIL in that order. In my comments, I said that those were the only two that I would take. Even at that, I won't be happy leaving my family for a year, but we knew what we were getting into when we joined the Coast Guard. After 8 units in 16 years (none being co-located), I just don't feel like being short toured again, and I will not move my daughter prior to her senior year. We'll see.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Not that I would ever suggest anything inappropriate, I'm just typing out loud........but if no one put in for Jim's job.........and they transfer him anyway.........I would think that someone is out to get him.
I for one hope they keep you there until your daughter graduates, or you kill off all of those snakes. Let's not forget about the snakes people. Big poisonous snakes......everywhere.

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

You are not just whistling Dixie either Stu. I almost stepped on two about 30 feet apart this spring when I was chasing turkey. Since most of our aids are shore aids, they are particularly dangerous. We even keep snake bite kits here just in case. I really would like to know if I pissed someone off though. Seems to me that each AO has his own set of rules that he is playing by. Have to be careful how much I say because I don't want to put anyone else in my position. AO was actually good to my unit this year. Next year it will be myself and my XPO going together. Just does not make sense. I got the old "position / paygrade mismatch" argument. Facts certainly dispute that argument though.

[LT Arthur Nelson (MKC) (Ret)]

Jim & Stuart,
Obviously I don't know the full story behind-the-scene... but I am kinda surprised at both your latest comments.
You two are always the ones saying no grey areas. Only standards and black & white.
Jim, when you accepted Senior Chief, you knew there is the chance of being transferred when & where the CG needs you. When you say "non co-located" is your wife also in the CG or military?
Like I said, I'm not stepping out of bounds, just better rtying to understand your position w/ possible transfer.
r/
Art

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Art, we're looking at humor as being that sterling quality of a Chief. With Jim's co-located he's referring to the unit. No two units were in the same area. Every two years he's packing up the family and re-locating. Can't possible list the whole story....but here's part of it. Over the past couple of years they've been having a hard time finding fills for the AtoN ashore OinC billets. Some of us went in over billeted, others went before they had certified. The way the rate is moving, we're all advancing. A bunch of people that are advancing are already being told that they're staying put. Some of us that have been told that we're moving, didn't show up on the list. Jim did. I don't know Jim personally....only from these pages. But I know him well enough to know that he knew how the service works. In theory. Now some of are wondering how the service works....in reality. They listed 15 people who screened to fill 18 vacancies. And Jim seems to be the only one who posts here who is listed, and has been told that he needs to compete for his own job.
There are no gray areas. His AOR is infested with snakes. Large poisonous snakes with huge jutting fangs. I don't know why anyone would want it. I would keep him there until he rids every last one of them.

[BMCM Deane Smith]

There's a frustration factor involved. You're never quite certain what will happen. I think that we all know the "risks" of advancing and are willing to accept the outcome...we're talking about senior enlisted here. I'll use myself as an example. I made BMCS half-way through my MM Ashore OINC assignment. I called the AO and was told that I could stay, my job was never on the shopping list. Jim is in a Aton Ashore billet (which I thought we were hurting for qualified OINC's to fill) and he's told that his job is fair game. The frustration is that it doesn't make sense. Maybe if the AO's would share some info it would make more sense. But Jim's right...it seems to depend on who you get on the other end of the line. I'm a big picture kind of guy.

[LT Arthur Nelson (MKC) (Ret)]

OK, now it's making a little more since. Jim (and everyone up for transfer) best of luck and hope it works to your liking.

[BMC John Phillips III]

Jim, I bet you can't wait until May 10th.

Oh Whacking Day,
Oh Whacking Day,
Our hallowed snake skull-cracking day.
We'll break their backs,
Gouge out their eyes,
Their evil hearts, we'll pulverize.
Oh Whacking Day,
Oh Whacking Day,
May God bestow His grace on thee.

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

Stu, I could not have said it better myself. I turned down CWO to stay here for the good of the family. I took the SWE cold, not expecting much, but low and behold, I made "8". OK, There are risks that I am aware of, and if the game was played the same accross the board, then I would be much more accepting of my fate. Unfortunatly, that is not the case. AO's all seem to have their own agenda. They all make these road trips and spread the word that we can all read in the PERSMAN, but when the rubber meets the road, it is a completely different story. I would just like to get the Paul Harvey version of "The rest of the story".

[BMCS Burt Ford]

And they issue a "Second and Final" Anticipated openings message and canx it to issue the "Socond". Now lets see what changes come about when we finally get teh cuts for the 06 SWE.

[BMCM Deane Smith]

I think it's ironic that the "Cancel" message came out right after we started talking about it on this board...makes you wonder who's lurking & reading.

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

Maybe my AO is lurking and reading. Hey AO, if you are, call me!!! :rolleyes:

[BMC Scott Coder]

You never know who is lurking in here. My lips (fingers) are sealed until I have OIC PCS orders for (where I want) in hand. I had questioned the Assignment process in the past, and things just got worse for me. I would not batt an eye to find out that allot of folks get there "intel" from here and FREDSPLACE. :(

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Don't relax too much once you have orders in hand. I've had them in hand and never got to the unit......... beware of the needs of the guard. They tried to warn Caeser and look what happened when he didn't listen.......

[BMC Scott Coder]

Is there any good news :confused:

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

The good news is that only 15 screened for 19 billets. The good news is that if you want an ANT you're probably going to get one. If you're looking for an area ..........good luck.

[BMC Scott Coder]

I am putting only ANTs down on my ADC. ANT San Fran is my #1 and I hope that I am "lucky" enough to get it. :cool:

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

If there are "lurkers" here getting "intel" that they are using against someone, then they are "cowards" in my opinion. This site is open for everyone to see and your real name is attached to your words. If someone takes issue with something said here, or questioned, then they should make their opinion known. Off line if necessary.
Most recent "revision" has only 16 ANT's on it for E-7. Mine is still one of them. In case you are interested, it was 109 here yesterday and supposed to get even warmer this weekend. No wonder the rattlesnakes are taking to the water to cool off.
I, for one, tired of walking on eggshells around the AO's many years ago. If they don't want to hear my opinion, then don't listen, don't "lurk and read"... I have just seen and been a part of way to many contradictions to the assignment process as it is published to believe that it is followed by all AO's. I do think that there are some that make every effort to do so, but that only makes some members "victim's of the system" when not all are playing by the same set of rules. I am not asking for any special favors. All I want is to be treated the same as everyone else. Nothing more and nothing less. There will always be "exceptions" to the rule and that is fine. However, the reasons for the "exeptions" should at least be made known to the people that are effected by them. In my opinion, I think that being an AO can tend to lend itself to a certain sense of "positional power" and even "arrogance" among some (not all). Scott, if you questioned something and things got worse, then that would just add fuel to my opinion. I have talked to many folks that have had conversations with an AO on behalf of their unit that also adds fuel to my opinion.
I think that "E-Coast Guard" should be shelved for a while and attention should be paid to something else that is broken. The Enlisted Assignment Process. Not just for OIC's. I have seen far to much of it in other areas as well.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Well I just submitted my request. I'm asking for all of the open black hulls except the AXE and the WYCONDA. Watching the Field of Dreams is the closest I ever want to get to Iowa, and from what I've heard of Morgan City, my "Happy wife, happy life" program would be out the window. I put in my comments that I'll be submitting a package for those Silver Badge jobs if the message ever comes out, but the deadline for the OinC requests are next friday.
I wonder if they'll post a proposted vacancy list before that..............

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

I brought the ANVIL from Corpus Christi to Charleston, where she now calls home. We spent the night in Morgan City. That was plenty for me. May be good for others, but not for a kid from the NW.

[BMC John Phillips III]

I helped bring the MALLET from Corpus to the Yards in Bayou La Batre, we passed through Morgan City :p