Any other MCs out there?
 

I know the community is small, but hopefully there's someone out there!

But anyway, my questions are:
How was A School in Fort Meade?
What kinds of classes do we get to take?
Do you get a speciality or is it just all-around know a bit of everything?
After school do you just get stationed on a ship and is it really for 3yrs, if so when does your spouse get to come with you?
What kinds of things have you experienced as an MC? Positive and/or Negative?

Thanks!!!

Pretty sure I'm the only one in the community on this site...

As an MC you'll do three basic things - writing stories, photography, and video. Depending on where you are stationed will influence how much of what you do.
There are specialized NECs you can get (graphic design, broadcasting, to name a couple), but in general you will learn at least a little of everything.
Most MCs will go straight to a ship (usually a carrier or big deck amphib). Yes, your spouse can come with you. Some MCs will go to a shore-based sea duty. Basically, you're not assigned to a specific ship, so you get loaned to a smaller ship for their deployment.

Thank you! When you say my spouse can come with me, you're talking about when I get shore duty correct? Not really sure how sea duty works :/

He can come with you on sea duty.

On sea duty, you'll be assigned to a ship, but (with a couple exceptions) you'll come home every night.
The exceptions being when the ship is underway (short exercises, certifications or training, generally 1-6 weeks), the nights you have duty (once every 3-10 days, depending on the ship, you have to stay on the ship for 24 hours), or you are deployed (longer missions overseas (3-10 months).

Wow, you have no idea how happy I am to hear that. Thanks so much Guppy!

this blog should help you out.

http://usnavymc.blogspot.com/2010/01...pecialist.html

Thank ya!

Thanks so much for this link! I've enlisted & ship out 20150527 (fingers crossed; sooner!) as an MC & can't wait!

Nice! I ship 20150401!

what made you choose MC?

Hey, sorry for the delay; I've been busy at work. To make a long(ish) story short: I went to UHA (West Hartford, CT) for Journalism (got an AA) & then went to culinary school (got an AS) and have been cooking professionally in Manhattan for the past 5 or so years. I had always wanted to join the Navy, as my maternal grandfather was a CTI (Hon Dis at PO3) & was fascinated by his "loose lips sink ships" and "I take these secrets with me to the grave" mentality. I want to get back into creative writing because I loved it when I was at school. So, when the Chief laid out 5 different contracts for 5 different available rates in front of me, I thought that taking the MC packet was a bit of a calling. I'm looking forward to writing for the world's finest Navy.

J.

Since the ratings merged a couple years ago (there used to be Journalist, Photographers Mate, and Draftsman) your job will be less specialized. So you will get plenty of opportunities to write, you will also learn photography, video editing, and graphic design.

Cool! Graphic design & photography are pretty cool!

No joke, everything that happened to me since I've started this Navy journey has all felt like a calling. I didn't even know that MC was a rate and was gunning for Corpsman, but as soon as the person giving me my job said he found something I would like, I was nervous, yet excited. I read it and was like "WHEN DO I LEAVE?" Haha, I ship out a month before you, be sure to keep in touch!