Recently signed up as an EM

Romym15 · 01-12-2015, 08:37 PM

Hello I just signed up as an EM 3 days ago and was wondering what exactly is the rating like? I know most jobs aren't how the Navy advertises them and some or better than others. Some questions I have are, What kind of stuff will I be stuck doing for the first few years? How long is a days work usually and what are the working conditions like? Are the advancements easier or tougher in this rating?
I originally wanted to be an ET or FC (which are undermanned as of Dec 10th) because a scored high enough on the ASVAB (an 87) to choose any job I wanted but I noticed that when I went to sign up, none of the jobs that required secret security clearance came up even though they were undermanned. The career counselor said it is possibly because my father was from Kuwait (Is that really a disqualifying factor?) I was then left with MM and EM as my next two decisions. My bro called some of his old friends and they said MMs are like slaves almost but I also read online that anything related to engineering is like slave labor. Anyways can someone who is an EM or who has worked with EMs please provide some input? After all choosing my rate is choosing my fate.

SpootyPuff · 01-12-2015, 09:22 PM

Out of curiosity - what other jobs were offered to you? (I've got a similar ASVAB but i'll be going back to MEPS for my phys/med next week)

FlyNavy · 01-13-2015, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Romym15

The career counselor said it is possibly because my father was from Kuwait (Is that really a disqualifying factor?)

It's not immediately disqualifying, although it requires significantly more paperwork. As long as YOU are a US citizen, you're eligible for an investigation that could result in clearance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Romym15

My bro called some of his old friends and they said MMs are like slaves almost but I also read online that anything related to engineering is like slave labor.

Your Bro has some bad information. The EM's I know loved what they did and I wouldn't say engineers do anymore work than I did. While they were chasing wires somewhere I was up top disassembling my launchers. While they were fixing the GTE's I would be in my antennas. It's all relative.

There's two things you need to consider about what you got told.
1) The person you asked doesn't sound like they've actually been there and done that.
2) If his friends got out of the Navy, then they probably weren't that invested in it. Which isn't to say they were bad Sailors or anything, but you're asking someone about a job after they made the decision to leave it.

EM's were pretty damn important on my ship. If CIC doesn't have power, under normal conditions or battle conditions, that's kind of a HUGE DEAL. (CIC = Combat Information Center).

Not to mention, the engineering shops were some of the tightest knit groups on the ship. They worked hard, but man, when we hit port? Those guys did liberty right haha

I would take what you hear from 3rd party sources with a grain of salt.

/r
CTT1

Romym15 · 01-13-2015, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianGP

Out of curiosity - what other jobs were offered to you? (I've got a similar ASVAB but i'll be going back to MEPS for my phys/med next week)

I had 3 pages of jobs offered to me so I don't remember all of them. Pretty much everything in the aviation community besides AD, a few Administrative jobs, both of the medical ratings, and some seabee jobs. Were you thinking of anything particular because it may have popped up. When you go and pic your rating, you will have different ones available because the needs are always changing.

Romym15 · 01-13-2015, 06:49 PM

I talked to my recruiter and he said I am stuck with EM (i'm not upset about it) unless I become a nuke or spec ops. But from what you have seen EMs do, they don't work longer hours than everyone else?

FlyNavy · 01-13-2015, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Romym15

I talked to my recruiter and he said I am stuck with EM (i'm not upset about it) unless I become a nuke or spec ops. But from what you have seen EMs do, they don't work longer hours than everyone else?

Not unless something critical is broke, but that's anybody. If my gear was broken obviously I would stick around to fix it. EM's aren't any different than anyone else. They do their thing and we do ours.

Also, working hours onboard the ship are pretty standard (again, outside of anything special). Typically 0700-16/1700.

/r
CTT1

SpootyPuff · 01-13-2015, 08:28 PM

Thank you for the input guys. I'll be talking to my recruiter tomorrow about moving my scheduled date forward. This really makes me feel more at ease to have all my ducks in a row before going to MEPS again.

Romym15 · 01-14-2015, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTT1(SW)Griffin

Also, working hours onboard the ship are pretty standard (again, outside of anything special). Typically 0700-16/1700.

/r
CTT1

What are the usual hours in port and how long are ships usually in port?

LT Guppy · 01-14-2015, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Romym15

What are the usual hours in port and how long are ships usually in port?

Like CTT1 said, inport working hours are typically Mon-Fri 0700 - 1600 (4pm). Some commands will work short days on Wednesdays or Fridays. Some commands are on "tropical hours" which are 0600 - 1300 (1pm) with no lunch break. Some days you'll finish early and get to go home early. Some days you'll have to stay late. Sometimes you'll have to come in on the weekend.

In addition to working hours, you will also stand duty once every 4-7 or 8 days (depending on the ship and their manning levels). On duty days you will be on the ship for 24 hours (weekends included).

Angst · 01-28-2016, 09:38 AM

I realize this is an outdated thread, but in case someone in the future wants to know the answers to some of these questions, perhaps I can be of help.

I'm an EM on a carrier so if you're on a small boy your experience will be radically different. The type of specialized work we do on carriers depends on which shop you get assigned to, for example hotel services fixes laundry machines, and galley equipment for very grateful CS's in nice places like the chiefs mess, CO's galley, and the wardrooms and they will make YOU food while everyone else stands in a 3 hour lunch line for the mess decks.

Other shops like power shop maintain the generators for special frequency loads such as radars. General Services, or battery and lighting are your typical customer service oriented electricians, you will fix ventilation, and lighting, and maintain the AC plants (but you don't change light bulbs no matter what anyone says to the contrary).

You will be assigned a secret clearance if you are eligible because we own equipment in the reactor plants. You will work long hours no matter what you do underway, but if you like troubleshooting and figuring out why something doesn't work, and the satisfaction that you gain from being the person who solves that problem, you should be pretty happy with your choice.

01-12-2015, 08:37 PM	#1
Romym15 Newbie Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 6	Recently signed up as an EM Hello I just signed up as an EM 3 days ago and was wondering what exactly is the rating like? I know most jobs aren't how the Navy advertises them and some or better than others. Some questions I have are, What kind of stuff will I be stuck doing for the first few years? How long is a days work usually and what are the working conditions like? Are the advancements easier or tougher in this rating? I originally wanted to be an ET or FC (which are undermanned as of Dec 10th) because a scored high enough on the ASVAB (an 87) to choose any job I wanted but I noticed that when I went to sign up, none of the jobs that required secret security clearance came up even though they were undermanned. The career counselor said it is possibly because my father was from Kuwait (Is that really a disqualifying factor?) I was then left with MM and EM as my next two decisions. My bro called some of his old friends and they said MMs are like slaves almost but I also read online that anything related to engineering is like slave labor. Anyways can someone who is an EM or who has worked with EMs please provide some input? After all choosing my rate is choosing my fate.

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01-12-2015, 09:22 PM	#2
SpootyPuff Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 32 Rep Power: 10	Out of curiosity - what other jobs were offered to you? (I've got a similar ASVAB but i'll be going back to MEPS for my phys/med next week)

01-13-2015, 06:49 PM	#5
Romym15 Newbie Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 6	I talked to my recruiter and he said I am stuck with EM (i'm not upset about it) unless I become a nuke or spec ops. But from what you have seen EMs do, they don't work longer hours than everyone else?

01-13-2015, 08:28 PM	#7
SpootyPuff Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 32 Rep Power: 10	Thank you for the input guys. I'll be talking to my recruiter tomorrow about moving my scheduled date forward. This really makes me feel more at ease to have all my ducks in a row before going to MEPS again.

01-28-2016, 09:38 AM	#10
Angst Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: $6BN of mobile US sovereign territory. Posts: 47 Rep Power: 11	I realize this is an outdated thread, but in case someone in the future wants to know the answers to some of these questions, perhaps I can be of help. I'm an EM on a carrier so if you're on a small boy your experience will be radically different. The type of specialized work we do on carriers depends on which shop you get assigned to, for example hotel services fixes laundry machines, and galley equipment for very grateful CS's in nice places like the chiefs mess, CO's galley, and the wardrooms and they will make YOU food while everyone else stands in a 3 hour lunch line for the mess decks. Other shops like power shop maintain the generators for special frequency loads such as radars. General Services, or battery and lighting are your typical customer service oriented electricians, you will fix ventilation, and lighting, and maintain the AC plants (but you don't change light bulbs no matter what anyone says to the contrary). You will be assigned a secret clearance if you are eligible because we own equipment in the reactor plants. You will work long hours no matter what you do underway, but if you like troubleshooting and figuring out why something doesn't work, and the satisfaction that you gain from being the person who solves that problem, you should be pretty happy with your choice.