my son PIR'd in '07, is a AM2, stationed in Hawaii,  and is still buried with quals....they never end

Ken, every Command operates differently and quals may or may not come around as often as one would like but as Paul had stated they never end heheh... It also depends on the type of quals and a Sailor's 'rating' if it's feasible for them to even do the quals. Perfect example of this is the EAWS and ESWS. On larger Commands (ie. Carriers) this is not an issue but on smaller ones (ie. LPD's) you can't just drop everything you're doing to do get these done...

Ken I totally hear ya! My son is the same way. He won't pass up the oppty to do a qual whenever he can...

AB quals are pretty intense.  If I remeber there are at least 15 of them and some can only be done underway.   Warfare quals are different from rating quals.  And of course a lot of these have to be done during non working hours especially if you they decide to pursue ESWS.  Need to work on EAWS first.  It's hard to to get both but not impossible.  My son was able to get both, but that was during three deployments over five years and that was during the time that they were not required for the various communities.

Rod thanks for shedding more light on AB quals! And yes I bet they are pretty intense. My nephew got both AW/SW pins as well on the Stennis and like you said during deployments. He's approaching his 4th year of service hope he decides to re-enlist.

My son is working on his ESWS but last I spoke with him about it, it's other departments who could not make time for this to happen. Sounds like what you've mentioned about they have to be done during non working hours.

Son informed us that he will class up Wednesday. He is excited to finally get into a class and get out to the fleet.

That's awesome Duane!!

Hilary Welcome to the Group!

That's my boy with a hand salute! #AnchorageNation #LPD23

140408-N-KL846-132 KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii (Apr. 8, 2014) A CH-53E Super Stallion from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 463 launches from the flight deck of amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23) during deck landing qualifications. Anchorage is currently performing training with the 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, off the coast of Kaneohe Bay. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Lindahl/Released) USS Anchorage

Got more pix of my son off of K-Bay, Hawaii on the Anchorage! :) #AnchorageNation #LPD23

Rusty Welcome to the Group!

How are your AB's out there?

Norman Welcome to the Group!

David Welcome to the Group!

141210-N-IK337-021 PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 10, 2014) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Tom Xue, Aviation Electrician's Mate Airman James Ketler and Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Ryan Stephenson move an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the Tophatters of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14 into the hangar bay of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is undergoing an operational training period in preparation for future deployments. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Christopher Frost/Released)

Wishing you and yours A Merry Christmas...

Our Sailor is in PCOLA for "C" School...

Amid Criticism, US Navy Confident in New Arresting Gear System for Next Carrier...

Christopher Welcome to the Group!

ARABIAN GULF (Jan. 14, 2015) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 2nd Class Luis Collazo monitors the launch of the aircraft from the waist catapults on the flight deck of aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) as the ship conducts flight operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. Carl Vinson is currently deployed to the area supporting maritime security operations, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, and theater security cooperation efforts in the 5th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Philip Wagner, Jr./Released)

Congrats to our Sea and Shore Sailors of the Year... ABH1 Dysart and ABF1 MathewS!

NASWF Firefighters Earn Region Recognition...

Great PIR today.  BZ to our latest booters. 

Got some great news from my son last night - March evals are in and he is the number one Ike Air Department E5 with a 4.86.  He is now in his 11th year and is hoping for E6 this year.

Rod, BZ to your Son HOOYAH that's great news!

There's my boy on the right in the V1 LPO yellow shirt! :)

150517-N-BD107-028 PACIFIC OCEAN (May 17, 2015) Air department Sailors observe crash and salvage firefighting procedures on the flight deck of the San-Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23). The Anchorage is part of the Essex Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG). The Essex ARG is comprised of wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47), and the USS Anchorage, which is embarking upon its maiden deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Liam Kennedy/Released)

150515-N-BD107-070 PACIFIC OCEAN (May 15, 2015) Air department Sailors show chocks and chains to the pilots of an MH-60s Seahawk assigned to the "Greyhawks" of Marine Medium-lift Tiltorotor Squadron (VMM) 161 (REIN) during flight quarters aboard the San-Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23). The Anchorage is part of the Essex Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG). The Essex ARG is comprised of wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47), and the USS Anchorage, which is embarking upon its maiden deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Liam Kennedy/Released)

Russell Welcome to the group!

Louis Welcome to the group!

PACIFIC OCEAN (June 3, 2015) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) Airman Steven Harrison fires an M240 machine gun from the bridge wing of San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23) during a live-fire exercise. The Essex Amphibious Ready Group is currently operating in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Liam Kennedy/Released)

150921-N-HP061-027 ARABIAN GULF (Sept. 21, 2015) Aviation Boatswains Mate (Handling) 1st Class Kaleb Willi, right, instructs Aviation Boatswains Mate (Handling) Airman Chelsea Nelson on how to properly hold the nozzle of a fire hose during a fire drill in the hangar bay aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex is the flagship of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU), is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Donavan K. Patubo/Released)

John Welcome to the group!

Russell Welcome to the group!

151129-N-FI568-066 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Nov. 29, 2015) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 1st Class Manuel Arias signals to an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Dusty Dogs of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7 to lower its cargo onto the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) during a replenishment at sea with the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196). Dwight D. Eisenhower\, with embarked Carrier Air Wing 3\, is underway conducting the Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA) and Final Evaluation Problem (FEP) as part of the basic phase of the Optimized Fleet Response Plan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Taylor L. Jackson/Released)

AB is becoming a tight rate if you are looking to stay in.  My son just made E6 (ABH1) in the last cycle.  He was one of ten out of 453 to make it.  He is in V3 on the IKE.

Rod I couldn't agree more! It appears that the quotas for E5-E6 gets tighter and tighter every year and it's not like it's been loose lately either.

BZ to your Son on his E-6 advancement! My son is looking to achieve this in 2017 when TIR date is up. I'm not holding my breath but will be optimistic!

Good luck to him.  My son had 3.9 in his evals, some good award points, not sure how he did on test must have been good.

Thanks Rod! Will keep you posted. Just a shout-out to all the ABs who advanced during the last cycle well done!

160314-N-XK809-071 EAST SEA (March 14, 2016) – Aviation Boatswain’s Mates remove chocks and chains from a MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to the “Island Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25, on the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). Bonhomme Richard is the flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group and is participating in Exercise Ssang Yong 2016, a biennial combined amphibious exercise conducted by forward-deployed U.S. forces with the Republic of Korea Navy and Marine Corps, Australian Army and Royal New Zealand Army Forces in order to strengthen our interoperability and working relationships across a wide range of military operations - from disaster relief to complex expeditionary operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman William Sykes/Released)

Mike: check http://www.navydads.com/forum/topics/abh-aviation-boatswains-mate