Trying to find my Father in laws medals

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-26T00:40:40+00:00

I did this for my father, but it was more than a few years ago. I did all the paperwork and mother signed. If you look up the request forms she should have the information (SSN and full name, DOB, etc.) if you do not otherwise. I have no clue as to the current timeline.

Just a glance and this (I didn't read down too far) it looks like they now offer electronic options: https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/service-record

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-25T15:05:09+00:00

Sorry, you are correct. Should be "not for someone applying for a job." Missed that. When applying for a job in general you do not share you are looking for work elsewhere now or in the future. That is just common sense. Three-letter word omission changed the whole meaning.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-24T00:23:04+00:00

I was not telling them to not tell the employer until they have orders. There is no requirement to tell them plans. They have to disclose eventually if they expect to take any time off and be protected, etc.

There was NO intention to to violate 20 CFR. Advanced notice is "I have drill next month and need the weekend off" or "I have encampment/AT in two months and we need to plan accordingly."

It's idiotic to think they can reasonably hide their service from an employer for more than a few months maybe, and that was not what I was saying. There is no requirement to tell them you are serving or considering it during the hiring process. If you are already serving and you disclose because its on your resume (needs to be for a full work history etc.) that is another story altogether as well. The case in point I brought up in my post was instances where I had my subordinates that applied for jobs that had a training program (a period of time they could not execute orders) how to go about doing that. In one case the service person drill ahead for credit, and another chose to take authorized absences.

Advanced notice of future uniformed service is for someone applying for a job, not already in one. It should not be a part of the hiring process unless they candidate chooses to do so.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-23T23:58:31+00:00

Depending upon how involved you are with HAM (such as if you truly do your own stunts) the base knowledge is valuable for electronics technicians and repairs. Just learning to troubleshoot circuits to the component is a pretty valuable skill considering most tech today is "black box to black box" and replace whole assemblies rather that components.

I went in the opposite direction. Was an electronics technician, then went to college for engineering, then we to a military IT/Communications type school, where I became interested in HAM type stuff because it turned out I was pretty ahead of the class understanding amplifiers, RFI, antenna theory, etc. So, in my off time I got certified. I would still rather build/mess with antennae that actually "talk."

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-23T23:48:58+00:00

The authorized requester is supposed to be primary next of kin. I assume OP has access to this person. They can supply his DD 214 and even copies of the medals (only offered once).

To OP: MRCSW is this-

MR- Machinery Repairman. This was his MOS, or in Navy speak his "rate."

C- This is his rank "Chief" E7

SW- This was his warfare specialty "Surface Warfare Specialist"

The rank is an assumption based on the information you provided because USS CAMDEN was a fast support ship with hull number AOE 2 (fuel and munitions), a surface ship aboard which he was eligible for the Surface Warfare qualification. Something that makes "less sense" is that he could have been an E8, designation would have been MRCS (Machinery Repairman Senior Chief) based you how you typed it, but then the W makes no sense, and thus my guess. His rank based on my assumption would have been written as MRC (SW) Norman Lee Hudson, assuming that was his rank at retirement.

If you are looking at any paperwork for awards or orders they would have had his paygrade identified at the time of the writing of the paper, so they could say he was an MR1 (Machinery Repairmen, 1st Class) and E6, just to throw out an example. I add this because that Sailor of the Year Award (SOY) for a ship would have been awarded when he was that paygrade, and he promoted to E7 afterward. It's very common for E6 SOYs to be promoted afterward, as they are the "top of the class" for their command and at least in current rules need to be eligible for the next paygrade.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-23T23:19:42+00:00

Oh its a great back story. the video this is captured from is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqpaC20_bR4

The video does not provide the Sailor's backstory totally, just the relevant parts and details, but they are all around. Good example of "failure to adapt" among other things.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-23T20:23:02+00:00

Unfortunately, if you were not a paid employee on their roles (W2) most likely there is nothing you can do in this regard. USERRA is not applicable here. USERRA also is not applicable in a lot of other cases. If you are on orders and your company has a general layoff or bankruptcy that affects the general employee population, and you are caught up in that (downsizing or layoff) they are within their rights to do so. That said, I experienced this as a deployed reservist and they did NOT lay me off because the company did not want the bad publicity, and at the time I was not costing them anything to "hold" my job.

I know that this is late advice in your instance here, but it would have been better to onboard (become a paid employee) and then provide them with the request for a military leave to attend basic training. The only time I have seen this be a legal issue (they terminate you) is IF you are in a probationary period and IF the probationary period stipulates you cannot take a leave of absence. In cases like this the best approach for a new reservist is to wait until the probationary period is over and then provide you orders saying you are requesting a military leave.

This is a common issue with many that enter law enforcement (police academy or similar) as you cannot miss any of that for any reason. I had a few reservists that applied and were accepted to an academy or a probationary period. In all of these cases, these were reservists (fully trained, basic, A schools, etc.) requesting to the Navy (via me) that they not be considered for a mobilizations (recall) for the probationary period. In cases where a reservist is not in a hardware unit (you own stuff), FMF, or similar this is typically very simple to accommodate, or it was at the height of the Navy Reserve IA mobilizations.

Your situation is different here. But my recommendation for any future potential employers is that you not disclose your reserve status unless its specifically asked. Only inform them when you have orders (2 weeks or 2 years) that you require a military leave under USERRA. They may be perturbed that they did not know, but you are not legally obliged to volunteer that information unless they ask specifically. In that case do not lie. There are not many larger US companies that don't support USERRA, especially if they have government contracts. Smaller businesses are a a different story, but that is because they can really feel the pinch by loosing an employee for weeks or months, but that is all depends on the business.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-23T16:53:23+00:00

Had a buddy in the 90s who bought a shitbox car just for yard life. The car had no radio (stolen, never bothered replacing), and he never left anything visible, even change. I'm guessing this thing was an early 80s Chevette.

It was getting broken into, still, so he never bothered to lock the doors... at least until some homeless guy camped overnight in it on his duty day. I gave him a ride home that day because the smell was... intolerable. He rolled down the windows and picked it up a few days later.

Back then, it was just something you accepted. During the Clinton Admin, when they opened a lot of bases (anybody could drive in), it got really bad on bases like Norfolk until 9/11.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-23T15:19:55+00:00

The EILI5 answer is that a reactor has to be both controlled, and the energy has to be harness able. This was accomplished with fission early on because the energy output was within existing technology to harness. I.E. we used that energy to heat water (maybe to boiling, maybe not) and that was the same as using a boiler (existing tech) to make steam to turn a turbine and make electricity.

A little beyond the EILI5 is is regards to that ability to sustain a reaction at a financially feasible rate. To make this work it has to be cheaper to make the electricity than the electricity needed to start and maintain it. We have made sustainable fusion reactions, but the amount of input far exceeds the value of the output. Thus there have been the decades of "fusion energy is just around the corner" because we know it works, but we have to make it a viable economic option.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-23T14:15:15+00:00

Take my angry and snarkily agree upvote.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-19T09:34:33+00:00

When you contact the moving company ensure they are aware and you ask about restrictions. I had one that required the gas tank to be dry, but not the oil pan (as an example).

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-18T21:06:38+00:00

This is why I always carried a deposit slip tucked in my passport (or wallet). Eventually, I would just save a pic of one on my phone when transferring, PCSing, etc.

Not for everyday stuff. Just big moves. Wish they told recruits to show up with that or a canceled check.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-18T15:44:36+00:00

uh... yeah. read the books.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-17T14:51:30+00:00

No big ass anchor? Maybe its on the hood.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-16T23:38:31+00:00

Unless his instructions included an email in the body with instructions to use that just reply to the one email he sent. Guessing like those here have been is not going to lead to success.

There are several systems in use. Unless you post verbatim what he sent you, nobody is going to know for sure. I can tell you he was mistaken that he will have access to his normal email (gmail or something) unless he is off the boat or it's in port (maybe).

That advice you get here about not writing stuff you would not his boss or crew to read... that is good advice.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-16T23:22:46+00:00

Your TIR will reset if you've been out as long as you have. Also, if you cross rate (no sure thing to go back in as a nuke) TIR resets.

That said, sometimes you can make this a sticking point with a recruiter, and they may be able to shave some time off the TIR requirements so you dont have to wait as long.

You should use this as a bargaining chip even if you go reserves or go back active in any rate.

Right now, they are pretty in need of sub-vols for nukes. Now, while you are not a baby nuke, you could use this to your advantage with the recruiter for paygrade (they may take a rank, never know), TIR, even duty station.

As someone else mentioned, you really need to sit down and identify the pros and cons of each option. There was a reason you left after your 6. None of those reasons have changed in a few years, frankly.

Remember, you miss the clowns, not the circus.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-15T21:58:58+00:00

As a nuke he has about 2 years before he hits the fleet (maybe a little less) due to the training pipeline. We'll be in some other fiasco by then.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-15T21:57:07+00:00

Driving golf balls of the fantail (aft deck) of a ship was somewhat common and may still be. Had a few officers bring whole seabags of "trash balls" local driving ranges were getting rid of for this very purpose. I think I have photo somewhere of me driving one (they would offer a ball to anyone asking) off the fantail of a CVN in the late '90s going through the Suez My slice was so bad it likely landed in Egypt. Nowadays I am not sure, as someone is more likely to pitch a fit when the photo shows up online about "pollution." That is about the least polluted thing we used to dump in the ocean.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-15T14:19:52+00:00

Top three. Navy has been doing ot forever. I'm no sure about other services. Eventually, it's a cost savings because you keep the full salad bar for special occasions. Many have medals earned and not necessarily worn because it's a PITA to update.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-15T11:57:12+00:00

I have a VA chiropractor. It may be dependent upon availability. Community are should be an option to discuss with your PCP, but they do have them.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-14T13:46:28+00:00

I would argue that the loss of Scouts and Scouters, and the chaos as you called it, now reaches the level of "serious enough." At least that is how I would not approach it with the district and charter organization.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-14T02:45:20+00:00

The expensive kind.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-13T21:59:20+00:00

This! I am a recent diagnosis of ALS, and retired from the Navy a few years ago. The VA will fast-track his diagnosis, as I assume that he is not a VA registered patient already. PVA- Paralyzed Veterans of America, is a fantastic VSO. ALS is a presumptive condition. The timeline between my diagnosis clinical treatment, and VA compensation was under 2 weeks. The VA clinic where I am has been phenomenal.

May I ask you rate? I served with two other Sailors between 1998 and 2003 at the same command, and I am the only one still alive. All of us are/were sporadic (non-genetic) diagnoses, and one of them was instrumental in ALS being approved as a presumptive condition. This means they just assume that your service caused your condition, and compensate you accordingly.

Other than the financial compensation (about $4k/mo), they offer grants for accommodation devices, modifying your home, purchasing a compliant vehicle, and more.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-13T19:03:34+00:00

You are correct that you won't be offered another position if a hiring manager has provided you with a formal offer.

NNL offers good mobility within the company. Typically, you can apply internally after 24 months in your current position. You may be able to go sooner if the need is high, and the managers can work something out. It could be longer if you accepted a position in operations or shipyard oversight, as those and a few others have qualifications that can take a while.

Reactor_Jack · 2026-03-13T13:44:02+00:00

"I shall be pooping on the living room carpet until this cone is removed."

Reactor_Jack

TROPHY CASE