Machinist Mate (surface) questions?

Question

i just joined the navy a few months ago and i leave for basic nov 3rd. i was just wondering how the a school is (i know its in great lakes), what is a good ship/station to try and get to, and how is the likeliness of advancing with this rate. thanks

Answer 1

MM's advance like everyone else. As for duty stations, a small ship is better. Try for a CG first, then either a DD or FF. Good luck.  

Answer 2

The MM A school in Great Lakes is concerned with general maintenance and operations practices; you learn the basics about your equipment and regulations concerning them.  Specifics about systems and shipboard regulations (SORM and EDORM) come with the ship that you are assigned to.

I am not sure to the advancement opportunities for active duty MMs; you should check with your recruiter, who should have a current ECMO on that.  The advancement for MMs in the Navy Reserve were very poor for many years, but opened up recently.  The MM1 (surface) had a high number of advancements last year, after averaging only about one per year in the previous decade.  Advancement up to MM2 have been decent for both active and reserve.

>MMs on small ships are more limited than on carriers.  Conventional MMs are all auxilliary operators (A-gangers), but the auxilliary systems on cruisers, destroyers, and frigates are more limited than on carriers.  One key to advancement within the MM rate is to learn about a variety of systems.  The advancement exam covers them all and experience serves you better than book studying.  I made MM2 the next test after moving from A-gang to standing engine room watches; I could not have done that on a small ship.

Answer 3

First welcome to the Navy!

Second, head on over to http://www.mynavyonline.com im KJC88 there we have a lot of DEPers there as well as information on ratings and A school and advancement. Actual answers from Navy personnel unlike this Yahoo.

Third, the advancement is pretty much steady in the Navy, it has a good percentage so long you pass the tests. I would have gone with MMNF in the Nuclear Field, that's a guarantee job. In fact if you wanted to, you could reclassify but it could mean you could leave later on.

Anyways here's the MM fact sheet link: http://extensis.cnrc.navy.mil/factsheets...

http://extensis.cnrc.navy.mil/factsheets...