Aviation Boatswain's Mate

This group is for all ABs (ABE/ABF/ABH) family and friends!

"Guardians of the Flight Deck"...

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  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Hastings George Moore Earns U.S. Navy's Sailor of the Day...

    Hastings George Moore is stationed on the U.S.S. George Washington in Japan. Photo Credit: U.S. Navy

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Robert Welcome to the Group!

  • NavyDads Admin (Paul)

    Robert posted a question....I know earlier the wait was about 8 weeks.....

  • Ken Wojtowicz

    I really like the image for the group (skull and crossbones with the aviation boatswain's mate insignia)  is that a challenge coin and if it is does anyone know where to get it.  My son graduates friday from basic and I would love to get it for him when he completes A school. 

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Ditto that Paul.

    I think it was sent as a group message can't seem to locate the post on here..

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Robert I managed to locate your post. I echo Paul, it's about 8 weeks. I'll re-post another reply if/when I get an updated timeline...

  • NavyDads Admin (Paul)

    Robert's Question:

    hi, i just want to thank you all for the feedback in advance. this is my first post, per requested by my daughter. She just arrived at A school and she asked me to ask "how long does it usually take for AHB to class up"??? this is all pretty foreign to me, but im gradually understanding the terms etc. This website is very helpful. thanks

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Robert,

    Here's an updated answer from my ABH: It varies and there's really no hard "average" time frame when they class up. That would be like in comparison to upon arriving at a department store, how long would it take until it's your turn to checkout? Just convey to your daughter to be patient and enjoy the experience while she can...

    PS. Paul thanks for the re-post on this!

    Have a great weekend you guys,

    Gary

  • NavyDads Admin (Paul)

    that's what happens when you have dual 3 Tb drives....you tend to never delete anything!!!!

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Ken,

    Unfortunately the logo on here is not from a Challenge Coin, but I did purchase one for my son with the official ratings insignia for AB's at NAVYOutFitters.com... I know your son would enjoy to have this! here's the link http://www.navyoutfitters.com/AB_Challenge_Coin_p/nwtmint-60120.htm

    Have a great weekend,

    Gary

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Paul dual 3 TB drives whoa! RAID?

  • NavyDads Admin (Paul)

    RAID 1....when I built this system I went about all the way....or at least until the wallet was empty!!!!!!!  Only 12Gb RAM, but I don't do much video..........

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Paul I'm impressed! 64-bit WIN 7 O/S I gather... I've discovered a cool and enjoyable way to have the best of both worlds. I run WIN 7 64-bit on an iMAC via VMWare, wireless keyboard and mouse I'm lovin' it so far. Kinda odd that WIN O/S seems to clock faster on a MAC hehe...

  • NavyDads Admin (Paul)

    yep....pro version, boot drive is 250 Gb Corsair solid state drive so things boot pretty fast...don't game so am only using a EVGA GTX 560 graphics card, Sabertooth X58 motherboard and running i7 960 chip....fun little system.........and have to agree with the KB and mouse....I get to work and cuss the wires............and have HP 25" LED for my primary monitor and a HP 20" for my secondary one when I need.....

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    NICEEE PAUL!

  • Ken Wojtowicz

    Thanks for the reply Gary. My son arrived in Pensacola for A school yesterday for ABE. He is supposed to start class The first week of September, but I told him not to hold his breath based on what I have read. There are worse places he could be than Pensacola.
  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    I totally agree Ken..

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    SAN DIEGO (Aug. 26, 2013) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Airman Destiny Nelson, from Olympia, Wash., communicates with elevator operators using a sound powered phone on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan is moored and homeported at Naval Base Coronado. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Warne/Released)

  • Cody Baird

    Hey guys. I'm Cody. My wife is an ABH(soon to be). She's in boot camp right now. Got a call from her yesterday

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Cody Welcome to the Group! My son is an ABH3 on the USS Anchorage (LPD 23) currently stationed at Naval Base San Diego, CA...

  • Cody Baird

    Hey, does anyone have any idea where Siera will most likely get stationed after her A school in Pensacola FL?

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Cody it works different for everyone. It all depends on the "Needs of the Navy" at that present time...

  • Mike Grady

    Hello fellow Dads! I'm Mike Grady, I served 10 years as a Master Seaman, Naval Electronics Sensors Operator, (EW/FC) in the Royal Canadian Navy. I voluntarily and honourably released and moved here, to Portland Oregon, 23 years ago. Recently, my daughter Morgan enlisted as an ABMF (grape). She ships out to boot camp Dec 3. I hope to learn a LOT from you guys in here, as it sure is different with the shoe on the other foot this time! I'm so proud my my baby girl :)

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Mike Welcome to the Group!

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Zachary Auer waits in P-25 firefighting truck during flight operations aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    LSE School fast approaching in a couple of weeks for the boy... Gotta make that transition happen from Blue to Yellow Shirt Woot!...

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Landing Signalman Enlisted (LSE) School - Imperial Beach, CA

    My son Oliver (ABH3 pictured on the right) after a number of day and night flight ops, will complete his full certification this week...

  • Cody Baird

    You must be very very proud
  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Cody yes sir I am very, very Proud! Thanks... :)

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Even our Sailors get in on the fun of Halloween time!...

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Duane Welcome to the Group!

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Ivan Welcome to the Group!

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Dan and Matt Welcome to the Group!

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Alan Welcome to the Group!

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Brian Welcome to the Group!

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Frank Welcome to the Group!

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Chris Welcome to the Group!

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    John Welcome to the Group!

  • Frank Sayers

    I know I am as green as can be when it comes to all of this RTC and PIR.  Question is this - If My son leaves for RTC on 5/20/14, which is a Tuesday, and the RTC is supposedly 8 weeks long then when should the family plan to go out to Great Lakes?  Should we start booking the flight, lodging and rental car now or wait?  Is there a more calendar-like viewing that we could see the actual RTC schedules in the next few sessions to gauge the actual time for us to go in the third week of July 2014?  We would like to spend may be 5 days up there on Lake Michigan since the weather will be gorgeous there in July.

    Thanks,

    Frank

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Frank no worries we've all gone through this process and wore green as well heheh... First yes! bootcamp is technically 8 weeks but could be a few days over as it all depends on RTC to process Sailor Recruits and to fill up divisions, etc...

    So your son is due to report to RTC on 5/20... Well with my personal experience my son landed/reported at RTC on 9/20 which was also a Tuesday and graduated/PIR'd on Friday 11/18. So in our case it was 8 weeks and 3 days.

    You will get a Form Letter from your son at RTC. It may take several weeks until you receive this letter from the date of his arrival..

    This Form Letter will give you his "EXACT" graduation date. Traditionally, graduation occurs every Friday of every week unless announced by RTC (posted on their website). This form letter will also have all of the other important stuff like his mailing address, Ship (barracks) and DIV (division), Parking Pass link and so forth...

    Based on that graduation date when you have it, you can somewhat plan ahead for your graduation trip...

    When my son graduated, we took him out to eat at a couple of places and we all just did some catching up in our hotel room. We had to take him back to RTC in a timely manner. Later that evening we met up with him at O'Hare (headed for ABH "A" School in Pensacola, FL) and had the chance to hangout with him there at the airport some more...

    Your Son can give you all of the details when he gets his orders after graduation. He will have his exact schedule...

    Below is the link for RTC Graduation Schedule. Look at the section under "DIVISIONS GRADUATING BY TRAINING GROUP" (this info will make more sense when you get the Form Letter as you will know what Division he is in):
    http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/upcoming_grads.asp

    Hope this helps..
     

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Mark Welcome to the Group!

  • Daniel Bartold

    Kevin just landed his first Helo on the Boxer.... bring on that Yellow Shirt!  I hope he can get it done before the cruise is done.  I'm not sure he will be able to do anything while they are San Diego.

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Daniel that's awesome and BZ to Kevin!

  • Rod Clark

    John, Frank and Chris welcome to the group.  If you have questions feel free to ask any of us.  Somebody will have the answer.  My son has just completed 10 years as an ABH and just took his first shot at the E6 test.  Also, Daniel BZ to your son - yeah hope he gets it before they get back to San Diego.

  • NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary

    Rod BZ to your son on his 10 years of service in the world's finest Navy and I wish him the best of luck on the E6 advancement! My son will be batting for his E5 test tomorrow we'll see what happens...

    Good Luck to all ABs taking the Cycle 223 NWAE this month...

  • Chris

    Thank you Rod for the greeting and best of luck to all taking the tests.  My son is not yet out of RTC yet but is going to A school for Launch and Recovery (ABE).  I think I was a bit premature to join this group since he has not graduated yet.  But I do have question, what does an ABE do when assigned to an airfield instead of a ship?

  • Rod Clark

    Chris that is a good question.  I would think that they go to some type of boat out of boot camp; don't really know if they have ABEs attached to squadrons.  I can tell you that my son did a shore duty at Meridian Naval Air Station and did a lot of things that ABEs do even though he was an ABH3. He even got some of their quals, but I also have to say that Meridian is a last stop for pilots that are getting ready to make their carrier qualification.  There is actually arresting gear built into the runway.  The ABEs that were stationed there were all E4 and up - no "booters". This was a part of his second enlistment and his shore duty (after 5 years sea duty)  choice.  Plus he was only 130 miles or so from home here in Birmingham.  He could come home every weekend and not take leave since it was in the liberty radius. 

    Gary good luck to your son on his E5 test.  Will he have enough time to sew it on before his enlistment is up?  More responsibilty with that second chevron, but I guess you know that.  I can't tell you how many collateral duties my son has taken on.