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?
Assessing Navy sexual assault prevention, response
August 19th, 2011 | Navy Sexual assault prevention and response Survey | Posted by Bill McMichael
It’s another survey, but an important one: A confidential and anonymous online survey by the Navy’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office. The Navy wants sailors, Marines and Department of the Navy civilians to fill it out and help assess the “functionality and effectiveness” of the SAPR program and, perhaps more importantly, to help the Navy determine just how widespread the problem is within the ranks.
The Navy and Marine Corps tallied more than 900 sexual assaults during the 12 months that ended Sept. 30, 2010.
The Navy, however, admits its data on sexual assault incidents fall well short of an accurate tally of the frequency of the crime, which is widely underreported in the civilian world as well as the military. The Pentagon estimates that only about 20 percent of incidents of unwanted sexual contact are reported. If that’s true, according to Navy undersecretary Robert Work, it could mean that thousands of such incidents take place every year in the Navy and Marine Corps.
“I think as a department, we’ve got to really, really step up our game,” Work told Navy Times during the Navy 2011 Sexual Assault Prevention Summit in Orlando, Fla., in May.
Better knowledge of the problem, officials say, will help focus efforts where they’re most needed.
“It is important that as many sailors and Marines as possible provide us their thoughts and opinions on our ongoing efforts to combat sexual assault,” said Rear Adm. Martha Herb, director of the Personal Readiness and Community Support Branch. “The survey responses will help us gauge our progress and serve to guide our program adjustments for increased effectiveness at combating sexual assault Department-wide.”
The survey, open through Sept. 30, aims to expand that knowledge base. Participation is entirely voluntary, officials say.