dealing with a weak chain of command? (Navy)?

Question

im kind of hoping someone thats been in the navy a long time or retired navy reads this.

basically im trying to see how a permanent duty swap would work, in order to get out of my current duty station. you see its not that i hate where i am, or anything like that.

simply its just not beneficial for me to be at my current station. I am a fleet engineering rate, Machinery Repairman who is stationed with the Seabees. I dont hate the seabees, but, i simply cannot learn my job here. dont have the proper tools, etc etc. and when i approach my chain of command about certain things they want me to do that i simply cannot do because i dont have the proper tools, they look at me like im lying.

the truth is, i am 1 of 2 people with my job in my battallion out of 700 people. no one here understands my rate.

its a lot of rambling, but basically how would i go about getting the ball rolling on trying to duty swap out of here.

Answer 1

Have you talked to your Command Career Counselor? When I did a duty swap, he was the one that got the paper work started. Also in order to do a duty swap, if that's what you really want, you'd have to find someone who is willing to swap with you, it's been my experience that they won't look for one for you.

Answer 2

Don't expect to actually get into OCS as an enlisted person. Recruiters say it's easier to go OCS after you enlist, but that's a flat out lie. There are very few OCS slots allocated to prior enlisted personnel. It's not impossible but it's not easy either. Second, unless you've already got an assignment to BUDS (which is highly unlikely) you'll find that's also much harder to get into than recruiters make it sound. BUDS is an elite course and they won't take just anyone. 75-80% of those they do take don't finish the school because they simply can't make it. If you do make it to the school remember that it's insanely physical but that's not what gets you. If you can tough it out mentally, you'll make it through because they'll train the physical into you. Now to answer your question, as an E-3 you will have no authority to give lawful orders. That won't happen until you're an NCO (non-commissioned officer) or an officer. NCO ranks begin at E5 for Navy (I think) and Air Force and at E4 for Marines or Army, but not all E4s are NCOs. Coporals are, but Specialists (Army) aren't. Navy could begin NCO status as a Petty Officer (E4) but I'm not entirely sure about that. Will E1-E2 ranks follow your direction? That really depends on how you give direction and whether you're in a position to give that direction, as well as whether or not you've earned their respect. E1-E3 are effectively the same as far as lawful orders, but there is a chain of command, especially when in training situations where an E3 could be training you or an E4 or an E6. Within the same rank it's going to go by job responsibilities and time in grade/time in service. Good luck, and keep safe.

Answer 3

The Navy might be different, but I was in the Army. When I tried to change duty stations my company officers and NCO's gave me the run around for months. I had to talk to my battalion commander before I could get anything accomplished. After that, it was just a matter of filling out the right forms, and off I went.

Answer 4

OK, here is the reality of things. Duty Swaps do exist on paper, but actually having them happen in real life, slim to none chances. First of all you have to swap with someone that looks just like you on paper. Do you know another MR, E3 and below, as I am guessing you are, stationed with another SEABEE Battalion with the same job as you? You also have to have the same time in rate and time in service as the other person. Then you have to get your chain of command to buy off on the idea as well as the other person's chain of command. Then if it costs anything to swap you two it isn't going to happen. Since SEABEE's aren't stationed everywhere in the Navy you are going to have an almost zero change of this ever happening. You are either stationed in CA or MS right now or you are forward deployed overseas. You already said there are only two MR's where you are at so again you are screwed because you are filling a specific billet. I know you want to do the best for yourself, but the swap isn't going to happen. What you need to do is stop talking to your chain of command about how you want to swap. That will destroy your eval because you are looking like a cry baby and they Navy hates that. Next, most people don't learn their job from anyone but themselves. The Navy is the worst at helping its own. You need to go online and order all of your Navy Courses for MR3, MR2, MR1 & MRC plus your BMR. You need to get the bibs for your next exam and go locate all referenced material on the bibs and start reading A LOT. You will need to learn your job in theory and on paper before you learn it in real life. Then when it comes time for you to re-enlist and transfer you need to make sure you get real orders to a place that has the tools you need to do your job. Go to a carrier where they have two huge machine shops with all the tools. Then you will learn your job hands on. Other than that you might be smart to get close with your command RPPO and an SK or two. Learn what you need to do to order the tools you need to do your job the right way. Other than that, you are just like most junior Sailors in the Navy, you want to do a good job and learn your rate, but you can't. Do what you can with what you have and when you get to your next command in a few years you will be set with all the issues you are hacing now. Endurance is a big part of the first few years in the Navy. Stop standing out like a sore thumb at your command for all negative reasons and start doing something positive before you become the target of your senior people. It will happen if you keep this stuff up.

Answer 5

In the Army we have the 4187 - Request for Change of Status form; I don't know it's Navy equivilant. Submit this to your company level unit. Give it about a week for them to process and then check up on it. If no luck, then submit it again. After that move to your Battalion level and give them about 2 weeks to process it. Still no luck, try it again and then move to you Brigade level increasing the processing time by about a week or two.

If after all that you still have no resolution or answer as to why you are being denied your request go to your local IG (Inspector General) and file a complaint. They should be able to find an answer as to why.

Good luck and be patient.

Answer 6

you can look into no cost swapping.. but that would entail finding somebidy the same paygrade and NEC willing to swap out with you.. and if what you are saying is true, doubt you will have much luck.

you can try and request early return to sea, but your Command would have to be willing to gap the billet.

Answer 7

The chain of command may be weak, bu tit's the only chain of command you have.