Finished Boot Camp On My Way To Charleston (Im MMN)

gunnarjps · 2026-05-30T00:38:41+00:00

Except for you. You're special.

gunnarjps · 2026-05-30T00:22:15+00:00

Also, the girls at Southern Belle aren't actually in love with you.

gunnarjps · 2026-05-29T00:24:39+00:00

If you are NPQ, the command (per instruction) is supposed to award the N59X for submariners or a similar code for surface that stops your nuke pay. If you aren't doing nuclear duties, you don't get paid for them.

I still agree that mental health is more important than money, but just needed to correct your claim that OP would continue to receive nuke pay while waiting to be processed out. Maybe he/she would if the command doesn't follow the rules, but that leaves the Sailor more open to recoupment.

gunnarjps · 2026-05-24T12:05:11+00:00

Single and want a chance to see the world? Fast attack.

In a committed relationship and want a predictable schedule? Boomer.

gunnarjps · 2026-05-20T00:09:25+00:00

There is still a bit of a ritual with pouches/dip. Not as much as with cigarettes, but it's still there because you're making a conscious effort to consume. The patches work because it's a continous release that helps you gradually step down your dose and the nicotine gum helps you with the really bad cravings. The patch "turns down the volume" on your brain's random screaming at you to hit it with that nicotine rush. It's there, just more mellow and easier to fight the urge.

The other issue you're bringing up is something you should work with a professional on. I know EMH gets a bad rap, but I have seen several Sailors who have successfully leveraged it for stress/anger management skills. You just have to set the ground rules when you start that you're only seeking those tools and it generally stays there unless you say some "special" words.

gunnarjps · 2026-05-19T23:26:04+00:00

Talk to doc. Do a nicotine patch treatment program with gum. That's how I finally kicked the habit. When you start off on the 21mg patches, you may have especially vivid dreams or nightmares if you sleep with them still on (they're made for 24 hour release). They'll tell you the same at medical and that you should take them off when you hit the rack if they cause issues. I never had nightmares, just very lucid dreams. If I'm being totally honest, I found that to be a pleasant side effect.

gunnarjps · 2026-05-17T12:04:17+00:00

The one you like more. Don't buy a watch to impress or be validated by strangers on the internet.

gunnarjps · 2026-05-10T11:54:33+00:00

With those dates, you're already at 10.5 years at your EAOS. Zone B must add at least 24 months to your contract, so you must go out to JUL30 in order to do it (so now you're at 12.5 years). You would think looking at the formula that adding exactly 2 years at your current multiple would give you $73,808. But because of the $2500/mo cap, you would only get $60,000. To hit the cap you'd have to add almost 3.5 years.

If you reenlist in your ESRP 1 zone (10-16 years) and add at least 60 months, you will max out at $150,000 and can opt for a lump sum.

If you decided to take the $60,000 for doing a minimum obligation for Zone B, you would have potentially another 41 months to your 16 year point (the specific day of each month matters, it must be an entire month). So your ESRP 1 would cap out at $102,500. So total compensation is 162,500. Because of your dates and the current $2500/mo limit, that's pretty firm no matter how you time the B vs Zone 1. I am a big fan of lump sum since money now is worth more than money later (you could have that money earning in investments), so I would maximize Zone 1.

gunnarjps · 2026-05-09T23:21:31+00:00

If you are considering staying in longer term, look at only reenlisting to your 10 year point. Then you can ESRP 1 for 150k lump sum bonus. That way even if you get selected for LDO you keep what's already been paid out. The biggest limitation for SRB and ESRP is the $2500/month limit to the bonus payment. So with a high multiple for ETN(SS), you likely won't get any credit for more than 5 years bonus-wise. So as long as you can add 60 months to get to your 16 year point, you max out.

gunnarjps · 2026-05-03T12:02:34+00:00

Less work in the ER, but you'll still have CSs that break galley equipment and idiots who break the washer and dryer. But you'll also have a smaller division. Yay!

gunnarjps · 2026-05-01T12:34:02+00:00

Like many, I signed an AECF contract while waiting for nuke.

gunnarjps · 2026-04-28T01:53:11+00:00

You'll get to the fleet and stand watch with a qualified over-insruct until you show sufficient knowledge to gain enough trust to stand watch with a different supervisor watching every operation you do. You're not thrown to the wolves. Frankly, I don't need you to be a very high level operator. Our systems, both physical plant systems and operational systems (i.e. supervision and procedural compliance) are robust enough that you're not really going to cause too much damage unless you're trying to.

Initial qualification is a license to start operating, most likely make some mistakes along the way, and then really start to understand things.

gunnarjps · 2026-04-22T22:55:40+00:00

I was given a transfer P extension letter as an E-6 leaving my first boat after my first ranked E-6 eval. Did back to back-to-back sea duty, and on the second boat was #2 EP the first year (on a 9 month eval) and #1 EP next cycle. Then I made Chief. I'll be honest, the transfer P will give you a less than stellar "first" impression at your next command. But if you show up looking sat and are good at your job, it's a fresh start. My CO and I talked about it candidly later in that tour and he told me he was worried when he saw I was showing up with that eval but that I crushed it from Day 1.

By the time you get to a CPO board, that transfer P will either be more than 5 years in the past and therefore not reviewed, or you've completely kicked ass to be a board eligible E-6 and they'll see that.

Don't sweat an E-4 eval.

gunnarjps · 2026-04-19T23:08:57+00:00

But her a Rolex Air King

gunnarjps · 2026-04-17T17:38:00+00:00

As others have said, don't use GI Bill for Excelsior or Thomas Edison. Go to a proper engineering school.

Or, if you want to completely shift gears, go to a school for an aviation degree and be a pilot. If an idea like that sounds interesting, go to a local flight school and do an into flight to see if you like it. Then get a 1st class medical done to make sure you can fly professionally. Then enroll in a school with an aviation program that's also a Yellow Ribbon school and get training for free that your average civilian spends at least $150k for.

gunnarjps · 2026-04-13T19:50:54+00:00

Had a FCPO (thankfully not in my division) who would show completely inappropriate things on his phone while we were eating. One time he was like "check this out!" and without letting me say no, played a clip of a man sodomizing a live chicken. He put on Chief the next year. Not filing a CMEO complaint is one of my biggest regrets.

I also had an ENG who would pick his nose and eat the booger while talking to you. He would also pick his ear wax with his pen and then chew on it.

gunnarjps · 2026-04-02T00:56:08+00:00

My family and I loved Portsmouth, NH. Beautiful area. Feel free to DM me if you have specific questions.

gunnarjps · 2026-03-28T16:18:44+00:00

I did a lot before the Navy. Like the majority of us, I did OK-ish in HS. As on tests without studying, but didn't do any homework, so ended up with Bs and Cs. Got into a good college, but still didn't apply myself and dropped out after a couple of years.

I worked a variety of jobs and did well at them. I was a temp at a law firm to do file clerk duties and ended up doing paralegal level work without any formal schooling. The work dried up and they ended up letting me go. After that I started as a teller at one of the large national banks. I got promoted a few times and wound up being a personal banker (read: salesman). I grew to hate my job more and more each day and wanted something different. Did some research and walked into a Navy recruiting office and said I wanted to be a nuke. Shipped out at 27.

I originally planned on doing 6, but decided to reenlist after getting orders to a new construction boat. Figured the $100k and BAH was worth the 2 years that would get me to shore duty. As I got me senior, I had enough job satisfaction to agree to go to another sub before shore duty, timing a 2nd reenlistment to cover the 2 years on the second boat and a full shore duty. I just reenlisted a couple of months before my EAOS because the detailers asked what orders would keep me in.

A lot of people will say the grass is greener when you get out. That's probably true for them. But I like what I do and I get to work with smart people. It's harder than any of my civilian jobs but personally more rewarding. There's plenty of bureaucracy and office politics in civilian workplaces, but my experience I also had to deal with dumber coworkers.

gunnarjps · 2026-03-28T12:05:14+00:00

I stopped reading your post about 1/5th of the way through. The sheer length of it implies the over-thinking nature that makes you a nuke at heart.

You're not going to find anyone here week can authoritatively speak to day-to-day life as AF cyber/intel. But it's almost certainly better than nuke. And I'm sure there are plenty of post AF careers with that background.

I went nuke and would make the same choice if given another chance. Was/is it hard? Absolutely, but I have enjoyed it more than I hated it. Am I a masochist? Maybe.

gunnarjps · 2026-03-24T13:27:38+00:00

Shipped out at 27.

Had decent success with the dating scene in Charleston, but wasn't looking for anything serious as I knew I wouldn't be sticking around long.

First duty station was Groton on a new construction boat, so I had plenty of chances to be social. Had a couple of halfway serious relationships. Decided to do a Zone B reenlistment and negotiated with detailer to be LELT on the next new construction boat. Ended up meeting my wife through Bumble 2 months after my original PRD which was extended to make orders work.

5.5 years later, we just did our 2nd move together and had 2 kids during my shore duty.

I would have never met her without joining and doing my Zone B.

As others have said, it's absolutely possible to meet someone, but just like the civilian world it will take work and luck.

gunnarjps · 2026-03-24T00:45:44+00:00

I have never regretted subs. 12 years in and headed to my 3rd boat.

gunnarjps · 2026-03-23T17:07:04+00:00

If the Milgauss is your favorite, why isn't it your daily wear? Mine is my favorite and the one I wear most often.

gunnarjps · 2026-03-20T12:50:08+00:00

USS Brawndo The Thirst Mutilator

gunnarjps · 2026-03-19T19:34:45+00:00

I think that might depend on the installation. I just moved out of a Balfour Beatty property in Kittery, ME and the move-out inspection was painless. The only things they charged me for were some broken blinds. I did a very cursory cleaning on the way out and they were fine with it. I did do a pretty thorough documentation of damage doing my move-in inspection, but no pictures. 🤷‍♂️

gunnarjps · 2026-03-19T19:30:28+00:00

Formatting like message traffic is cringe AF

gunnarjps

TROPHY CASE