On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 21:28:40 -0500, DSK wrote:

BT1(SW)

I know that is Navy speak, Doug, but what is a BT1(SW)?

Later,

Tom

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
I know that is Navy speak, Doug, but what is a BT1(SW)?

It's a rate (in other words the job or work area, what the Army calls
MOS I believe) and rank. I was a boiler tender, in other words a ship
propulsion engineer, Petty Officer First Class (E-5), and a surface
warfare specialist.

Rather meaningless gobbledygook except to others who once lived in the
same neighborhood

One of the exercise anybody can do is to learn to read military
insignia, especially ribbons. You can read someone's career at a glance
if you learn a few dozen, and easily seperate the desktop warriors from
the guys who are the real deal. Plus it's kind of interesting IMHO.

DSK

On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 06:47:39 -0500, DSK wrote:

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
I know that is Navy speak, Doug, but what is a BT1(SW)?

It's a rate (in other words the job or work area, what the Army calls
MOS I believe) and rank. I was a boiler tender, in other words a ship
propulsion engineer, Petty Officer First Class (E-5), and a surface
warfare specialist.

Kewl. I was always baffled by the Navy designations for enlisted.
Never spent any time ship board (except for the occasional training
float).

Rather meaningless gobbledygook except to others who once lived in the
same neighborhood

Hey, I was a plain old rifleman - nothing fancy about that. :)

One of the exercise anybody can do is to learn to read military
insignia, especially ribbons. You can read someone's career at a glance
if you learn a few dozen, and easily seperate the desktop warriors from
the guys who are the real deal. Plus it's kind of interesting IMHO.

Heh. Yep.

Later,

Tom

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:

I know that is Navy speak, Doug, but what is a BT1(SW)?

It's a rate (in other words the job or work area, what the Army calls
MOS I believe) and rank. I was a boiler tender, in other words a ship
propulsion engineer, Petty Officer First Class (E-5), and a surface
warfare specialist.



Like the rest of us, Doug is a little fuzzy in the memories. :-)
A Petty Officer First Class is an E-6. A second class petty officer is
an E-5.

Eisboch

On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 07:48:59 -0500, Eisboch
wrote:



Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:

I know that is Navy speak, Doug, but what is a BT1(SW)?

It's a rate (in other words the job or work area, what the Army calls
MOS I believe) and rank. I was a boiler tender, in other words a ship
propulsion engineer, Petty Officer First Class (E-5), and a surface
warfare specialist.



Like the rest of us, Doug is a little fuzzy in the memories. :-)
A Petty Officer First Class is an E-6. A second class petty officer is
an E-5.

Eisboch

Couldn't the Navy have come up with a better adjective than 'petty'?
That sounds so...petty.

John H

On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD,
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 10:14:17 -0500, JohnH
wrote:

On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 07:48:59 -0500, Eisboch
wrote:



Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:

I know that is Navy speak, Doug, but what is a BT1(SW)?

It's a rate (in other words the job or work area, what the Army calls
MOS I believe) and rank. I was a boiler tender, in other words a ship
propulsion engineer, Petty Officer First Class (E-5), and a surface
warfare specialist.

Like the rest of us, Doug is a little fuzzy in the memories. :-)
A Petty Officer First Class is an E-6. A second class petty officer is
an E-5.

Couldn't the Navy have come up with a better adjective than 'petty'?
That sounds so...petty.

I stopped bitching about the Navy when a Corpsman literally saved my
life.

Now the Army, that's a who different story. :)

Later,

Tom

Eisboch wrote:
Like the rest of us, Doug is a little fuzzy in the memories. :-)
A Petty Officer First Class is an E-6. A second class petty officer is
an E-5.

Oops! You're right. Sorry... guess I need to go back, take a look at my
old uniform and play the stripe game...

BTW I don't mean to pry but am curious what your son does on the Truman.
I've been on carriers a few times, it's easy to get lost. Have you ever
visited him on board? That used to be quite common but maybe they
restrict things a bit more nowadays.

Regards
Doug King

DSK wrote:
Eisboch wrote:

Like the rest of us, Doug is a little fuzzy in the memories. :-)
A Petty Officer First Class is an E-6. A second class petty officer
is an E-5.


Oops! You're right. Sorry... guess I need to go back, take a look at my
old uniform and play the stripe game...

BTW I don't mean to pry but am curious what your son does on the Truman.
I've been on carriers a few times, it's easy to get lost. Have you ever
visited him on board? That used to be quite common but maybe they
restrict things a bit more nowadays.

Regards
Doug King


No, I haven't been on board yet. They do allow it, but only in limited
areas. As to what he does, I'd rather not say, mainly because I am not
100 percent sure. I know he is attached to an air squadron that flies
mini versions of an AWAC type airplane.

Eisboch

Eisboch wrote:
No, I haven't been on board yet. They do allow it, but only in limited
areas.

I hope you get the opportunity. It's very cool, an eye opening
experience, and one that will bring you closer. One of the high points
of my life was when my father stood in the engine room of our ship as we
stood out to sea (only for a brief training exercise) and rang up full
speed.


... As to what he does, I'd rather not say, mainly because I am not
100 percent sure. I know he is attached to an air squadron that flies
mini versions of an AWAC type airplane.



One of these, I bet
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/e-2.htm
These are old planes, like the F-14... but also like the F-14 there is
nothing in the world to match them.

I don't think there is much public appreciation for the strategic "ace
in the hole" the U.S. has in our carrier battle groups. A single carrier
has more air power than most nations' entire air force. And that air
power can be projected several hundred miles inland. It's expensive, but
worth it IMHO.

Fair Skies
Doug King

On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 14:38:51 -0500, Eisboch
wrote:

DSK wrote:
Eisboch wrote:

Like the rest of us, Doug is a little fuzzy in the memories. :-)
A Petty Officer First Class is an E-6. A second class petty officer
is an E-5.


Oops! You're right. Sorry... guess I need to go back, take a look at my
old uniform and play the stripe game...

BTW I don't mean to pry but am curious what your son does on the Truman.
I've been on carriers a few times, it's easy to get lost. Have you ever
visited him on board? That used to be quite common but maybe they
restrict things a bit more nowadays.

Regards
Doug King


No, I haven't been on board yet. They do allow it, but only in limited
areas. As to what he does, I'd rather not say, mainly because I am not
100 percent sure. I know he is attached to an air squadron that flies
mini versions of an AWAC type airplane.

Eisboch

You gotta read some aircraft carrier novels. God, I love 'em!

John H

On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD,
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!