OK, I'm a Lt. Now What?

As long as you are putting in for places that have your job, you can usually get some place you want. But you are correct about your career. There are certain assignments that you're going to have to take whether you want them or not if you want to progress in your career.
 
Especially if you will be a flyer.

One thing to realize for flyers, you are at the bottom of the barrel, thus back fill. You may get a 22, strike or 16, but there are people who did a bad juju tour to get to the good place, i.e. Elmendorf, Hickham, Langley, etc. Coming straight out of FTU means you go where they need you for manning purposes. I.E. they need X amt of IPs/IWSOs, but also Company and Field grade.

If you want the pretty assignments be ready to pay your dues. This might mean a remote, or a crappy assignment (OH MY GOD NO ALMOGORDO)
Pretty assignments = high demand
Randolph
Eglin
Langley
Elmendorf
Hickham
Ramstein
Aviano

Crappy stateside:
Cannon
Edward
Almogordo
Mt Home
Laughlin
Minot
 
Pima said:
If you want the pretty assignments be ready to pay your dues. This might mean a remote, or a crappy assignment (OH MY GOD NO ALMOGORDO)
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haha lol my grandparents live in alamogordo! that would definately suck to get assigned there. :wink:
 
Bullet said:
And when you get to that 20 year High Shcool re-union, and you meet some old aquantiences who start that bragging game of "Im a Doctor" or "I'm a Lawyer" and they ask "So, what do YOU do?" You get to see the jealousy in their eyes when you reply "not much, I'm just a Major / Lt Col in the XXX". And you can walk away saying "I won".
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I cannot wait for that day.:cool:
 
Bullet said:
And when you get to that 20 year High Shcool re-union, and you meet some old aquantiences who start that bragging game of "Im a Doctor" or "I'm a Lawyer" and they ask "So, what do YOU do?" You get to see the jealousy in their eyes when you reply "not much, I'm just a Major / Lt Col in the XXX". And you can walk away saying "I won".
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Heh-heh. I wore my uniform to my first HS reunion. :thumb:

Certain ******* HS classmates who loved calling me a baby-killer and a warmonger for my desire to serve in the Navy got it shoved right back down their throats that night, and they KNEW it. :biggrin:


As for the advice, the best is what Bullet said about getting to know your NCO's. One guy told it to me this way:

Rules for the JO:

1) Ask your Chief.

2) Do what your Chief tells you to do.

3) When in doubt, see rule 2).

Repeat as needed until you're no longer the FNG. :wink:
 
Zaphod said:
Heh-heh. I wore my uniform to my first HS reunion. :thumb:

Certain ******* HS classmates who loved calling me a baby-killer and a warmonger for my desire to serve in the Navy got it shoved right back down their throats that night, and they KNEW it. :biggrin:


As for the advice, the best is what Bullet said about getting to know your NCO's. One guy told it to me this way:

Rules for the JO:

1) Ask your Chief.

2) Do what your Chief tells you to do.

3) When in doubt, see rule 2).

Repeat as needed until you're no longer the FNG. :wink:
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To take a line from a funny movie:

"...dead on balls accurate!" :thumb:
 
Of course, if your Chief is a POS, it doesn't work as well. :shake:
 
Funny story.
My first squadron, I was doing as Z -so wisely- explained. Obey the Chiefs. By the end of first tour, I was an FCF Pilot (Functional Check Pilot) (When you replace an engine, or wing, or whatever, the plane has to be checked in a very specific manner. Most squadrons only have 2-3 FCF Pilots for consistancy.)
In the spirit of Z's words, I made sure the Chiefs knew that if they needed me to help, to call me day or night (as a bachelor overseas I could do this). I was sometimes called, I always responded.
I was invited to several Chief Farewell parties near the end of my tour. Very well supplied parties. However, I was the only "O" (officer) in attendance. When our Command Master Chief departed, I was invited and attended. Then, at THIS event, the Commanding Officer shows up. Sees me, and asks how I ended up there?
I give the confused, "Uh, they ALWAYS invite me. I thought it would be impolite not to show up...".
Scandal! The CO was always invited after, but he didn't always make it.
Being a good officer is sometimes paying attention to the little things, and making sure the troops (even the senior ones) know that you place them first.
Z is wise. All hail the Z.
 
Hey, somebody taught me. I'm just passing it along. :redface:
 
Bullet learned very quickly to treat the maintenance crews very well, esp. after he lost his wedding ring in the cockpit and they found it...1st assignment!
 
I'm fond of saying "I was properly trained as a JO." First Department Head; LDO LCDR former Boatswain's Mate. Fellow DivO's: 2 CWO4s, a former Bos'n and a former Hull Tech. Next door, 4 Navy Harbor Pilots, all Master Chiefs, either Bos'ns or Quartermasters. Had 5 chiefs, tugmasters, working for me, er, training me, to be DivO for the tug crews. The lessons I learned in how to speak with respect and professionalism to and with the Sailors I was privileged to lead, in learning how to get many things done in a high-pressure environment, in learning how to earn respect over and above the butter bars on my collar -- priceless. Those lessons paid off time and time again in later leadership billets.

And they taught me to drive a stick shift, diesel truck with glow plug, box truck, forklift, tugboat (let me shove the paint float around and scare the pants off a sub skipper with me at the tug helm), mike boat and even let me take a swing at the floating crane ... ahh... I think most officers look back with great nostalgia at the first JO tours when you are as close as you will ever be to the deckplate units. :biggrin:
 
Bullet, I love this post--very well done. -officer
 
Officer,

There is a repository of wonderful men and women who regularly visit and post on these boards and have valuable lessons to pass on to these future officers based on their own experiences in the services. Their dedication to helping the young men and women here stating their own journeys proudly serving our country is admirable.

Me, I just like telling jokes on here and passing on silly stories. I've got a TON of them! :wink:
 
Bullet said:
Officer,

There is a repository of wonderful men and women who regularly visit and post on these boards and have valuable lessons to pass on to these future officers based on their own experiences in the services. Their dedication to helping the young men and women here stating their own journeys proudly serving our country is admirable.

Me, I just like telling jokes on here and passing on silly stories. I've got a TON of them! :wink:
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What guy or gal that spent 20+ in a green bag doesn't? :thumb:

Of course, some are NOT "available" for a family forum. :wink:

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Oh, and one other little tidbit...

If you think the ideas being posited here, i.e. - taking care of the people who work for you, especially the senior ones, only applies to the military, GUESS AGAIN.

It's the NURSES, not the doctors, that keep hospitals running.

It's the SHIFT LEADERS, not the managers, that keep manufacturing plants running.

It's the TECHNICIANS, not the engineers, that keep equipment working.

And so on.... :thumb:
 
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