PACT / Undesignated Sailor

[maby]

I usually hear ruckus or complaints or negative feedbacks from some when I say that I'm entering the Navy (which is in 1 week time) as UNDESIGNATED PACT Airman. I don't mind at all. I don't worry about it at all!

Why? Because I didn't want to be in a job that I didn't want in the first place. I wanted an office job like PS, LS, YN, and the like. But MEPS gave me ABE! It is soooooooo far from what I wanted. And since I plan to make this as a career, I want to do something that I'm decided to do.

In addition, my recruiter told me that he also started as PACT Seaman. But hey, NOW HE'S A CHIEF PETTY OFFICER after several years.

Therefore, I just want to say that every beginning is the hardest and most challenging. And if you want your way on top, IT WILL START IN ONE SMALL STEPS. SO WORK HARD FOR IT !

[Texasailor2015]

If you are a PACT Airman/Seaman going in as an E-3 does it still take a full year at your command before you can strike a rate?

[BloodyPheonix]

Nope I think it's only six months cuz then you've got your time in rate to hit e4.

[Texasailor2015]

Thanks Bloody, sets my mind at ease about going in as A-PACT.

[kforbs126]

Originally Posted by Texasailor2015

If you are a PACT Airman/Seaman going in as an E-3 does it still take a full year at your command before you can strike a rate?

It's 6 months if you strike for a rate that doesn't require A school. 1 year if you strike for a rate that requires an A school. Typically if you go to an A school you'll end up with new orders.

[BloodyPheonix]

Thanks for that Kforbes, didn't read far enough down the Career Waypoint for that one.

Electronics
AT - Aviation Electronics Technician
Electrical
AE - Aviation Electrician's Mate *

Mechanical
AD - Aviation Machinist's Mate
AME - Aviation Structural Mechanic (Safety
Equipment)*
AMH - Aviation Structural Mechanic
(Hydraulics)
AM - Aviation Structural Mechanic
(Structures)
AS - Aviation Support Equipment Technician

Miscellaneous
ABE - Aviation Boatswain's Mate
(Equipment)
ABF - Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels)
ABH - Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling)
AC - Air Traffic Controller*
AG - Aerographer's Mate*
AO - Aviation Ordnanceman
AZ - Aviation Maintenance

Administrationman
PR - Aircrew Survival Equipmentman*

* Class "A" technical school required

This gives you an idea as to what needs an A school for A PACT as I've seen one for S PACT around here.

[Agrias]

There's ATs here that haven't went to A school.

[BloodyPheonix]

Might be old info I think the date stamp was October 2012 on the pdf. I'll edit the post. Thanks man, I'm having a bad time with this thread. I'm 0 for two already. I'll spend some time finding something more recent to see if other stuff has changed or if that was just a typo.

[Agrias]

The thing is most of what we do in the real world and what they taught us in A school is different. A school was totally pointless for the job I'm doing. So OJT replaced the schooling.

[Chief J]

Originally Posted by Agrias

There's ATs here that haven't went to A school.

It was the same thing when I struck a rating. You pick your rating, take the test, then become that rating. However, you will usually not go to A school until after you transfer. It will be all OJT.

[Chief J]

Originally Posted by Texasailor2015

If you are a PACT Airman/Seaman going in as an E-3 does it still take a full year at your command before you can strike a rate?

Yes and No. I've heard this a lot, and this seems to cause some confusion.
A STRIKER is someone who is working with a rating that has not taken the test yet.
Once you are eligible to take the E4 exam, you will take it for your rating(let's use STG as an example) of choice. If you score well enough to be advanced, you will now be STG3. If you just pass the test, you are now STGSN. Either way, you are now RATED.
The one year waiting period is where they will allow you to go and work full time with your future rating BEFORE you are eligible to take the test. So you would be a undesignated Seaman Apprentice working with the STG people so you could better learn the job while waiting to be eligible to take the exam. This is rare, because you will still count against the command's manning for "undesignated" sailors. They too have a job to do, and allowing you to leave for another department makes the other undes sailors have to pick up the slack.
Long story short, coming in as an E3 means that your waiting time is very short before starting your new career field.
Hope this helps!

[Texasailor2015]

Thanks for the info, Chief. One more question: I know Haasino has stated that A-PACT aren't able to strike for AW anymore, and i've heard they cannot strike for AC now either. Can anyone confirm this?

[Haasino]

Originally Posted by Texasailor2015

Thanks for the info, Chief. One more question: I know Haasino has stated that A-PACT aren't able to strike for AW anymore, and i've heard they cannot strike for AC now either. Can anyone confirm this?

According to the 06JUL2014 Navy Personnel Command's Enlisted Community Management Branch page, AC no longer shows off-limits to A-PACT personnel. AW is still not open, however.

[Texasailor2015]

Thanks Haasino.

[Haasino]

Originally Posted by Texasailor2015

Thanks Haasino.

No prob! Those links provide accurate and up-to-date manning information for all the rates... they help give you an idea of what's overmanned, what's undermanned, what's closed to conversion, etc. NPC tends to update it every other month.