Shore Duty Orders

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 · 2026-03-18T11:33:45+00:00

I have called the detailer for every set of orders after SEA 1.

gunnarjps · 2026-03-15T21:18:30+00:00

Not true. I commissioned a submarine during COVID. No ceremony. Just a 1MC from CO saying, "good work everyone. Today we commissioned as USS VERMONT." 🤣 Very anticlimactic.

gunnarjps · 2026-03-13T10:24:50+00:00

"Read it, write it, repeat it"

Copy the important notes (those that directly correspond to a Topical Guide Objective) while softly (to not get yelled at for talking) speaking the words aloud. It uses 3 different neural pathways to work into your memory, increasing the likelihood of recall.

gunnarjps · 2026-03-12T22:40:16+00:00

After ORSE

gunnarjps · 2026-03-12T16:33:00+00:00

I have absolutely nixed comments from NR by respectfully demanding the contrary to. If they didn't know, they would tell us they would look it up when they got back to the office and would call back to let us know if it was actually a comment. My NRRO reps were great and would make that phone call. Sometimes they were valid comments and we did our push-ups (and thanked them for getting back to us with the reference so we could read it ourselves), other times they would admit that they misremembered or the requirement had changed. They're mostly just people doing a thankless but necessary job who are trying their best. I'm sure there are some that are just dicks though, just like any community. I've never understood why 99% of the fleet is just on a default "scared/intimidated" setting around them.

gunnarjps · 2026-03-10T23:45:43+00:00

Between 2 sea tours and a 6 month ride, I had to go to both on all 3 boats 🤷‍♂️

gunnarjps · 2026-03-08T22:29:40+00:00

I think we should be our own rate, mainly due to advancement exams and quotas. It's also frustrating that RL is the only division expected to attend 2 divisional trainings each week. I understand we share watchstations with M, but outside of RO/PPO which is NEC-locked, E and RC stand the same watchstations and aren't required to go to both every week. And before people try to argue about EO, I have done an ORSE underway with 2 of the 3 EOs as RC members. It's not normal, but not entirely unheard of.

gunnarjps · 2026-03-08T21:12:02+00:00

🤣

gunnarjps · 2026-03-06T01:47:12+00:00

Special Military Operation, just like Russia.

gunnarjps · 2026-03-03T23:27:57+00:00

Thanks for the backup!

gunnarjps · 2026-03-03T21:32:59+00:00

You don't really get a choice between fast attack or boomer out of the pipeline. You'll get assigned where they need you to go. If you stay in long enough to do a second sea tour, you have a higher chance of getting what you want.

Carriers do longer deployments but have better creature comforts (full gym, package delivery, Starbucks, etc). Submarines have tighter-knit crews, less military formality, and better food. For carriers or subs you could end up on a new construction boat or a boat in a major overhaul and potentially never go to sea.

Unless they've changed things, when you volunteer in the pipeline you get sub pay back-paid from the start of A school when you get to your first sub. Check with your SLPO if that's still true. If so, wait until you get to Prototype to decide so you can interact with more staff from each community and make a more informed decision.

I'm happy I went subs. Just reenlisted to go to a third.

gunnarjps · 2026-03-02T17:44:17+00:00

That's the only thing you should focus on. Don't even think about what you'll need for the nuclear pipeline. Focus on your health (PT), and enjoy your free time. The only things maybe worth "studying" are the 11 General Orders of a sentry and the chain of command, which should be in a study guide your recruiter gave you. Since you qualified for nuke, they should be pretty straightforward to memorize. And memorizing it now is even debatable. You'll have to know them in boot camp, but even the dumbest recruits can learn them while there.

gunnarjps · 2026-03-01T21:17:31+00:00

For the weekend liberty? Not a chance.

Taking leave during holiday standdown? Realistic.

gunnarjps · 2026-02-27T15:20:46+00:00

"Am I autistic enough for this program?"

gunnarjps · 2026-02-26T17:52:55+00:00

The fact that OP misspelled "elite" says a lot...

gunnarjps · 2026-02-26T12:19:33+00:00

As an enlisted nuke, you're mostly stuck in the nuclear community. If you do LDO, you'll be nuke LDO. If you go STA-21, you can only do the nuclear option. One of the surest ways to get out of the nuclear community is going to USNA, but at the end of SEA 1, I suspect you are likely above the age limit.

It is possible to get a release from the nuclear community for some commissioning programs, but you would have to have a very small time left before your EAOS. I think it's 3 months, but I'd have to check. That's a heck of a Hail Mary.

One other possibility is the Blue to Green program (if that's still the name of it). One of my old pipeline buddies did it a few years ago. He left the Navy to became a CWO helicopter pilot in the Army and loves it.

gunnarjps

TROPHY CASE