Petty Officer

[kermit315]

"Good afternoon, Petty Officer."

"Excuse me, Petty Officer."

"How are you today, Petty Officer?"



I have always been called ATx (insert appropriate number, 3,2,or more recently 1) when spoken to by fellow Sailors. On the boat, when called Petty Officer, I remember telling people "Just call me AT1". At work, it was always "Hey, AT2 (or 1), can you come to maintenance, I need to ask you a question". "AT2 (or1), I have a question." You guys get the idea.

Well, I am in Pensacola, going through 9502 JIT school at Corry Station, which is a training base. Every single Sailor and Marine that passes me says one of the first phrases I typed here. And, when I get to NATTC on NAS, it will be worse. I cant tell them not to say it, in fact I am to encourage it because it is still a Semi-Boot Camp environment.

It doesnt bother me in the least. I am proud to be a First Class Petty Officer, but damn it takes some getting used to to hear it all the time, essentially going from zero to 60 in 2 seconds.

Anywho, just my little vent for the day. BTW, JIT sucks, I hate public speaking, but I figured by doing this I would be able to get myself past it. It seems to be working, but I am still real nervous.

Jamie

[Doheny]

So....

ATx is lower than a PO? Shall we assume you've been promoted? If so, congrats!

[kermit315]

no, it was either AT3, AT2, or AT1, depending on when in the timeline you would chose to pick out. I am still an AT1. Think of my reference like an algebra question. x= 3, 2, or 1, depending on how far back you go.

All E4-E6 Are Petty Officers, E7's are Chief Petty Officers, E8's are Senior Chief Petty Officers, and E9's are Master Chief Petty Officers. But, to shorten it up, we are referred to by our rates, which is our rating (in my case, AT) and a number denoting which class of Petty Officer we are ( in my case, currently, 1st Class, so 1), meaning I am used to hearing AT1 instead of Petty Officer. Its all training commands here, so everyone is still in boot camp mode, meaning I will be hearing Petty Officer for at least 2 years, then hopefully (if everything goes right) Chief Select, then Chief.

[Fjold]

You get that from trainees, especially if they're fresh out of boot. You'll find that even the staff at training commands pick up that habit from hearing it so much.

[kermit315]

yeah, I expected it, just didnt realize at the time that it would be sooooo much, if that makes any sense.

[Once A Marine]

As far as Marines go, if you aren't an HM (who are just docs), you're a PO. Easier for us to remember since we don't ourselves by our MOS. Just the way we do business.

[kermit315]

I get that, but even thats dependent on location. I got ATx from Marines in my first squadron, because it was integrated. Its similar to calling Gunny "Gunnery Seargant" every time you see him/her, not wrong, just not what fleeters are used to.

[SDJim]

"Good afternoon, Petty Officer."

"Excuse me, Petty Officer."

"How are you today, Petty Officer?"



I have always been called ATx (insert appropriate number, 3,2,or more recently 1) when spoken to by fellow Sailors. On the boat, when called Petty Officer, I remember telling people "Just call me AT1". At work, it was always "Hey, AT2 (or 1), can you come to maintenance, I need to ask you a question". "AT2 (or1), I have a question." You guys get the idea.

Well, I am in Pensacola, going through 9502 JIT school at Corry Station, which is a training base. Every single Sailor and Marine that passes me says one of the first phrases I typed here. And, when I get to NATTC on NAS, it will be worse. I cant tell them not to say it, in fact I am to encourage it because it is still a Semi-Boot Camp environment.

It doesnt bother me in the least. I am proud to be a First Class Petty Officer, but damn it takes some getting used to to hear it all the time, essentially going from zero to 60 in 2 seconds.

Anywho, just my little vent for the day. BTW, JIT sucks, I hate public speaking, but I figured by doing this I would be able to get myself past it. It seems to be working, but I am still real nervous.

Jamie

Gee I never used to complain when people would say "Good morning Master Chief . . . "

Seriously, go easy on the booters. They're just trying to be generically respectful. Just wait till you get into the school house, It will get worse.

JIT . . . What can I say besides be glad it isn't the 4 week long BIT.

Public speaking does not come easily to most people. Go with the flow, make it through and before you know it, you'll be explaining the General, Physical & Functional Description of the ________ (fill in the blank). Just watch your ummm's and ah's. You'll get the joke when you do your first self-evaluation.

Also something to think about, your coming off of a very demanding sea tour to shore duty. Take some time to unwind, go to college and get that ever important Master Training Specialist. You'll be surprised later on how important that Qual will be in later life. Even in this crappy job market, the folks that are retiring / getting out are getting multiple job offers due to their MTS.

Remember, this to shall pass, get through JIT and into the school house where you can really turn into an Instructor.

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Way back when I was much (much) younger, my dad took me to the now defunct Alameda NAS when he was still active and I remember it was "Master Chief Petty Officer" this and that to him. Seemed like a mouthful then.

[6172crew]

You know what they say:

There is the right way and then there is the Navy way.

[kermit315]

For sure!

[kermit315]

Gee I never used to complain when people would say "Good morning Master Chief . . . "

Seriously, go easy on the booters. They're just trying to be generically respectful. Just wait till you get into the school house, It will get worse.

JIT . . . What can I say besides be glad it isn't the 4 week long BIT.

Public speaking does not come easily to most people. Go with the flow, make it through and before you know it, you'll be explaining the General, Physical & Functional Description of the ________ (fill in the blank). Just watch your ummm's and ah's. You'll get the joke when you do your first self-evaluation.

Also something to think about, your coming off of a very demanding sea tour to shore duty. Take some time to unwind, go to college and get that ever important Master Training Specialist. You'll be surprised later on how important that Qual will be in later life. Even in this crappy job market, the folks that are retiring / getting out are getting multiple job offers due to their MTS.

Remember, this to shall pass, get through JIT and into the school house where you can really turn into an Instructor.

I like the booters, its one of the main reasons I wanted to come back here: Sailorization, not as a check in the block for Chief, but because I genuinely enjoy working with the younger guys. I love watching the light bulb click on so to speak. I dont mind being called Petty Officer, I even like it, I am just not accustomed to it, so its kind of zero to 60 in 2 seconds mode.

As far as the public speaking, I am ok with the umms and ahhs, but I have a hard time pacing right now, and you can almost hear the breaks in my voice from the nerves, but it is just going to take more practice. I am already better than yesterday, and tomorrow I will be better than today. The topic I will be instructing for my Practical tests is the M4 Carbine. At least I will have fun with the topic. Haha.

Thanks for the advice Master Chief....

[Fjold]

Hell, when I was in the Navy and saw an enlisted Army, AF or Marine, I just called them "Sarge".

[Desert_Rat]

When I transitioned from active duty Marine Corps to Ca Natl Guard,I had a tough time getting over the "Sarge" thing. I never saluted with out a cover on my grape either,and took alot of flak for it.Company comander said"your not a Marine any more" I had to inform him that he was wrong about that.....Once a Marine always a Marine....So I called him Skipper from that day forward because it fumed his arse.

[kermit315]

haha, thats funny.