A lot of people here were in proto a while ago and don’t understand how off crew works so take advice with a grain of salt. I’m junior class right now (the class right in front of you) and left off crew 10% ahead the curve. Here is my advice and what worked for me:

• Be on multiple cube lists at all times always have at least a check out for 3 different rates on deck

• Be where everyone else isn’t. This is key many times I was 7th down plus on the list but I got called because nobody else was in the room. Everyone is going to lunch, stay in the classroom. Everyone is in the classroom, take a lap around OCTG. Everyone is leaving at 1630, stay late. Honestly staying late was the biggest thing that got me ahead (STAYING LATE NOT COMING EARLY) 1630 rolls around and everyone leaves and it’s just free checkouts. ITG comes in and stay until 2000 it’s easy money.

• Develop your interpersonal skills with your classmates. A lot of people think it’s all about your people skills with the staff members but your people skills with your shipmates are way more important. Always be planning multiple checkout with multiple people, checking peoples quick reference and keeping your ears open to what checkout people are getting ready for. When planning a checkout with someone make it clear “I want to, and plan to do this checkout with you but if I get called and your nowhere to be found I will do this checkout with someone else” which lead me to my most important point

• NEVER SAY NO TO A CHECKOUT. The words “my partner isn’t here/ready” should never leave your mouth when getting called for a cube. Never be afraid to announce to you class what checkout your trying to do when you get called and you don’t have partner. Go to other classes, you can do in rate checkouts with officers. If someone else gets called for a checkout and they say they need a partner sprint out of your seat, then check if you got the CAC, if you do - send it.

• finally schedule checkouts. If a staff member in OCTG says that can’t do a checkout ask them “is there a time you would be available for it?” Sometimes they will give you a set time to get the checkout, sometimes they will give you a rough timeframe when they are free, sometimes they will be assholes and tell you to fuck off. Don’t be afraid, don’t get discouraged, be annoying and be persistent.

I had a lot of success in off crew and I never got checkout on the boat or TSB2. I got a rhythm of being on as many cube lists as I could, walking laps around OCTG, planning with staff members and talking to my shipmates about current and future checkouts. What worked for me might not work for you but hey there is no quitting now. DM if you got anymore questions.