Navy Supply?

Question

I have recently completed my MBA and have been in contact with Naval recruiters about becoming a supply corp. officer. After OCS and "A" school, I have been told that most junior officers are assigned to a ship that deploys at 6 to 9 months at a time.

My question is whether or not a typcial supply corp. officer would be expected to leave the ship for any form of combat? I was under the impression that as a member of the staff corp., a supply officer would not have the authority to lead men/women into battle.

Thank you for your time!!

I have also been informed that I would have the opportunity to choose submarine, surface warfare, or aviation within the supply corps. With those 3 opportunities, I believe that I would choose surface warfare and aviation as my primary selections.

My follow up question is what these options would dictate....For example, I imagine that aviation would more than likely have me serving on a carrier. And to go beyond that, what are the advantages/disadvantages of serving on carriers as opposed to smaller ships?

Thanks again!!

Answer 1

Officers do not attend A school.

the chances of them allowing you to become a VBSS Officer are about Nil..at least at first. Maybe on your second tour. In any event..95% of the Boarding and seizing is done by the Coast Guard detachment on board anyway.

as a staff officer, you have no combat related authority..unless every DH and URL or RL DIVO ends up dead..including CHENG. Your entire life will be spent filling out reams of online paperwork, explaining to the DH why he can't order that part he wants and explaining to the CO why Combat is missing a part.

Answer 2

You won't be placed in an ashore combat position. You might, (small chance, but it can happen) be sent ashore to manage a supply depot in a rear area, usually a port complex. You are quite right, they wouldn't even DREAM of putting some MBA-type in charge of anything dealing with direct combat, because they know you haven't a clue as to what that is all about. If push came to shove, some Marine or Army NCO would be in charge of that, if there were no officers from either branch to organize defensive actions. Trust me, all YOU need to worry about is keeping OPTARS and inventories balanced, and all 1250's and 1348's processed in a timely manner.

Answer 3

Advice from an ex-sailor. First of all you would be a Navy Officer. Their main duty is paperwork. You will not see combat nor fight in it. You will be telling your chief to tell his men what to do while you sit around and make PowerPoint presentations (which are usually horrible). You are basically signing up for a job that will keep you out to sea. You will be in charge with no idea what you are really in charge of. If you do become an officer, take this advice. Listen the blue shirts (enlisted). They have been trained on all the equipment and know exactly what their job is and yours. Don't pull any of that I'm an officer, I know everything and I am better than you crap. It just pisses them off and they will refuse to work for you. Trust me. Be a good one and have fun. You will enjoy it!

Answer 4

The Navy has "Line Officers" and LDO's (Limited Duty Officers) as well as Warrant Officers.
A Line Officer can be put in charge of any unit therefore even a Supply Officer can be put in charge of the Gunner's Dept.
Don't join if you are worried about going into combat!

Answer 5

Normally, your job will be on a ship, but in today's fight, there are sailors in Baghdad, and they have to be supplied too. As an officer, you may or may not be leading sailors in combat on the ground, but you may still be on the ground in a combat zone.

Answer 6

Leave teh ship to fight, no. Stay on board and man a battle station, yes.