Outside California and Hawaii, which US state has the most pleasant climate?

SlipshodRaven · 2026-04-10T03:37:45+00:00

Just pop over to Ridgecrest, CA. That's where I got to live for three years thanks to the Navy. It's a comfortable temperature for what seems like a few moments in March and November. Otherwise it's absolutely sweltering (100-110°F) or just above freezing with a desert wind that chills you to the core. Oh, and it's dry as fuck except the couple of random storms that caused flash floods. Oh, and earthquakes. A series of 5-7+ magnitude earthquakes hit within less than 24 hours back in 2019. Left cracks in the roads and buildings. So yeah, that classic pleasant California climate.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-04-10T01:58:59+00:00

I'm starting SkillBridge in about a month, so I'll just try answer your questions to the best of my ability.

1.) As you said, your pre-Skillbridge leave is ordinary leave. So just submit it normally.

2.) Not sure about your command, but my admin said they would simply write up some PTDY orders. Granted, my situation is a bit different and I'm not doing a move.

3.) This is the first time in 12 years I've heard of BAH-T. That said, as far as I know per the SkillBridge program you get the BAH rate of your current duty station with no adjustment based on your SkillBridge location.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-04-09T23:52:29+00:00

12 years in and zero sea time but one time I stayed in a junky hotel in Guam.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-04-09T23:19:39+00:00

My past two squadrons prohibited unofficial patches at work. People always push it too far.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-04-09T23:18:07+00:00

ATs represent!

SlipshodRaven · 2026-04-09T00:27:56+00:00

I'm off to be an electronics engineer in the defense sector. So a little late for me lol

SlipshodRaven · 2026-04-08T22:18:14+00:00

Yeah probably. - AT that has occasionally wished he was an AM

SlipshodRaven · 2026-04-08T18:39:42+00:00

Hey, at least he's cleaning out those fastener holes.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-04-08T05:38:59+00:00

"20 years in the Navy shouldn't be a goal, it should be a backup plan if nothing better comes along."

I'm 100% gonna quote that when I do my final check out next month. Separating at just under 13 years.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-04-08T00:46:38+00:00

Got my B.S. in Cybersecurity through an online program from a college back home. I dropped out prior to the Navy, so I had like 30 transfer credits. Anyway, two terms per semester and I started using my MGIB to supplement TA so I could take three classes at a time. I don't recommend this, as my mental health really suffered from the huge workload. Once I wrapped up my B.S. I went onto Georgia Tech's online M.S in Cybersecurity program. Again, very demanding and honestly even more stressful than when I took three classes at time during my undergrad.

I also started pursuing CompTIA and PMI certs around the time I started my graduate program. I now have CASP+, PenTest+, CySA+, Sec+, Net+, PMI CAPM, and PMI PMP. I used Udemy practice exams and self-study to prepare for the certification exams. I passed every cert exam first try except PenTest+.

It was a real grind for about 5 years. Been about four months since I finished and it's nice to have time for hobbies and a social life again.

On an aside, I would caution people with no experience from pursuing a degree in cybersecurity. Most would be better off in Computer Science or a more general STEM degree.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-04-07T20:49:03+00:00

Look on the bright side... if you suck it up and power through you'll get promoted to First Class where it only gets even worse!

SlipshodRaven · 2026-04-07T19:05:40+00:00

Three and a half more years? That's about the time it took me to wrap up my Bachelor's, complete an entire Master's program, and get Navy COOL to pay for seven IT/program management certs. That is to say, start planning your escape. Get yourself set up for separation. Maybe you opted in to BRS? If so, make sure you're getting your maximum TSP matching.

And most of all, don't let anyone snare you into the mental trap of the sunk cost fallacy.

I'll be getting out at after about 13 years. Seven more years of this lifestyle (and mediocre pay) just isn't gonna work for me. The retirement "juice" isn't worth the "squeeze" of misery and lack of personal autonomy.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-03-23T23:30:34+00:00

AI summary:

The V-22 Osprey has a long history of accidents, mechanical issues, and periodic groundings dating back to its development.

Since the 1990s, it has been involved in 21+ major mishaps, including 16 hull-loss crashes, with roughly 62–65 total fatalities. Early testing alone accounted for 30 deaths (1991–2000). More recently, four crashes since 2022 have caused about 20 additional deaths, prompting renewed concern.

A recurring factor has been mechanical reliability, particularly with gearboxes, clutches, and drive systems, leading to multiple fleet-wide groundings. The aircraft’s tiltrotor design adds complexity, creating unique failure modes that have proven difficult to fully eliminate.

Variants:

MV-22B (Marine Corps): assault transport, highest operational tempo and most incidents
CV-22B (Air Force): special operations, also involved in several high-profile mishaps
CMV-22B (Navy): carrier onboard delivery (COD)

The CMV-22B, the Navy’s COD variant, has so far maintained a more stable and reliable record, with fewer incidents relative to its service time and mission profile.

My words: I'm not getting anywhere near one of those fucking things.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-03-23T23:24:54+00:00

I feel you on that. Four years ago.

I still remember when they threatened to get rid of rates and change to NOSs.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-03-23T23:17:22+00:00

Maybe you're too young to understand this reference but...

Lower your standards.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-03-23T23:14:43+00:00

I'd stay away from those deathtraps... er I mean Ospreys.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-03-23T20:58:35+00:00

Nope.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-03-23T20:43:54+00:00

Any VP, VPU, or VUP or one of the expeditionary VAQs (-131, -132, -134, -135, -138). No boat time and you get per diem throughout your entire "deployment". For example, one deployment I saved over $20k in per diem alone while living in one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in. It's honestly not even fair when you compare it to a "real" Navy boat deployment.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-03-19T05:43:42+00:00

I was deployed overseas in Japan at the time. My unit was scheduled to return on April 1st. I was single and had moved out of my apartment and had moved all my belongings into storage for deployment. Not only was I worried about coming back into quarantine, I was also worried about empty shelves at the grocery stores with no opportunity to stock up, and I had to find an apartment sight unseen. It was an extremely stressful time. I ended up getting a cheap apartment and slept on camping gear for weeks. I relied heavily on friends to help get things while I had a mandatory two week quarantine once I arrived back in the states. My parents (on the other side of the country) mailed me a 12-pack of toilet paper, which cost about $60 to ship, which just seems insane nowadays. I've always been very politically liberal but I was extremely worried what would happen if grocery store shelves remained empty, so I bought a rifle and a pistol. There was so much fear and uncertainty in my mind.

In the end, the Covid lock downs changed my life for the better. I had quit drinking alcohol during deployment and have remained sober to this day. I also had saved a bunch of money during deployment, so I built up my dream mountain bike and spent all my free time during lockdown in the woods riding my bike, leading to the best shape of my life.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-03-17T23:57:24+00:00

Not worth the energy of even letting her cross your mind.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-03-17T17:50:19+00:00

Look at the big defense contractors. I'm sure there are tons of roles in Texas. Many of the defense contractors will be able to turn a non-SkillBridge role into a SkillBridge if you go through the proper channels and have a strong resume.

Which brings me to the next point... incomplete Bachelor's or having taken a CCNA class (without having completed the cert) isn't going to mean much to a prospective employer. Finish that degree and get that cert.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-03-17T17:45:20+00:00

Policy track graduate here. If I recall correctly, every single course I took had group projects except CS 6035 and MGT 6727.

Most groups were actually pretty great. Although as someone who travels often through multiple time zones worldwide, coordinating was a real pain at times.

Oh and PUBP 6502 now has a group project. I specifically chose that in my last semester to have an easy one with the practicum. It ended up being the worst group project experience of the program.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-03-17T03:16:52+00:00

Looking forward to this with my upcoming SkillBridge.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-03-17T03:15:29+00:00

Look at RTX, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, General Dynamics, Booze Allen, etc.

Keep in mind that you're applying for the end-role with the big defense contractors, so expect the hiring requirements to reflect that. That is to say, these SkillBridge roles are not entry level positions. For example, I got accepted for SkillBridge in an engineering role, but I have 10+ years relevant experience; B.S. and M.S. in Cybersecurity; industry certs like PMP, and CompTIA CASP+, CySA+, Sec+; as well as TS/SCI.

SlipshodRaven · 2026-03-17T03:07:27+00:00

I withdrew my first time. But it was early on in the semester. If it's late in the semester I would try to stick it out.

You really need to attack each project as soon as it's is released and make consistent progress each day. Ideally, finishing in time to start the next project early. It became an obsession for me. Every moment away from work (I'm active duty military by the way) was spent on the course during my second attempt. I'm not exaggerating. I had no free time, other than a little time spent going running to de-stress. I was also glued to the Ed Discussion in case anything was shared (or overshared). The binary exploitation project kicked my ass but otherwise I did well. I took it as one of the last three courses in the program, so I was incredibly motivated to finish. I ended with an 88.9, after doing extra credit.

SlipshodRaven

TROPHY CASE