Sailors near bottom of ‘best jobs’ list
April 12th, 2012 | Ratings Survey The deckplates | Posted by Sam Fellman
A survey listed sailors, along with all the military's enlisted, as the nation's third-worst job. // MCSN Zachary Welch
In their annual career survey, an online job bank ranked one of the nation’s toughest, proudest and most critical occupations as the third-worst job to have: sailor.
In fact, the CareerCast.com survey didn’t appear to appear to distinguish between the services; the category was named “enlisted military soldier,” but the photo accompanying it features four models in Navy uniforms (BDUs, crackerjacks, flight suit and summer whites). Only lumberjack (first place) and dairy farmer (runner-up) edged out enlisted as the worst-of-the-worst. (To be sure, newspaper reporter was not far behind at fifth-worst.)
The survey, aimed at those considering different careers, arrived at these results by ranking each occupation across five categories, which seemed to be a mix of government statistics and subjective values. Behind the rating for enlisted troops was relatively low income (on average $36,000), high stress and physical demands, and lowered hiring prospects — likely referring to the coming drawdown, which centers on the Army and Marine Corps.
The list offers some curious comparisons. Attorney and vending machine repairman are ranked side by side as the 88th- and 89th-best jobs, respectively. Admiral (well, “Military General”) ranked 141st, besting garbage collector, but not bus driver (130th) or dental laboratory technician (135th). And plumber (75th) left all these in the dust.
“People looking for a safe, comfortable job in an air-conditioned office with a soft chair do not go into the military, where yes, the work environment varies, the physical demands are considerable and the stress can go all the way to extreme,” one reader commented below the enlisted ranking. “But did this study take into consideration any parameters like purpose, reward[s] other than financial, or concepts like duty and honor?”
So what do you think? Did they get it wrong?
World (Navy) photography day
August 19th, 2010 | Photos Ratings | Posted by Phil Ewing
MC3 Noe Solis captured the action on the flight deck of the carrier Enterprise as only a Navy photographer could. // MCSN Brandon Morris / Navy
If National Public Radio says it, it must be true: Thursday is World Photography Day, which means it’s time for a big Scoop Deck shout-out to all the mass communications specialists — nee photographer’s mates — who keep us supplied with our drug of choice: Pictures. Pictures of ships; submarines; fighter jets; ships made of cake; flags made of people; gory violence; and obviously, tactical blueberry babies.
Keep your shutter speed set on excitement!
August is Snipe Month
August 14th, 2009 | Historical Navy Personnel Ratings Ships The deckplates | Posted by Mark Faram
If you are a Navy snipe, then August is your month.
That’s because on Aug. 31, 1842, the first enlisted engineering ratings — fireman and coal heaver — were created.
Steam technology was in its early days at sea when the Navy built it’s second steam ship, the Fulton II, in 1837. And sailors would be needed to operate and maintain the boilers.
With the commissioning of the second Fulton, steam had entered the fleet to stay -- note the paddle-wheel -- a design that would dominate early sea going steam ships.
To man these new ships, Congress passed a law on on Aug. 31, 1842, establishing the two ratings. Those already skilled in steam and machinery skills would be enlisted as firemen. Those with no skills could join as a coal heaver.
Navy regulations dated Aug. 1, 1847, stated that no one would be enlisted as a fireman or coal heaver until he has passed a medical exam that attests to his “health and vigor” for the job.
Prospective firemen would also have to pass a practical exam given by “one or more engineer officers of the Navy upon their ability to manage fires properly with different kinds of fuel, and to use skillfully smiths tools in the repair and preservation of steam machinery and boilers.”
This establishment marked the beginning of enlisted engineering careers as sailors could enlist with no experience as coal heaver and progress to become firemen and eventually qualify as a third assistant engineer — the equivalent of a warrant officer position today.