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[Bubbagimp]

This is more of a vent, but any input would be welcome.

Stunaz notes:
Navy gave me asthma
I HAVE to get new job
New job requires me to extend past EAOS 1-2 years
BOHICA


Prior to the Navy I worked in computer networking/security for a while. I was good at the job and enjoyed it, but thought I would serve my country after the whole 9/11 bit. So I signed with the Navy in '03 on a 6 year commitment. If you've ever dealt with a recruiter, you know how they can twist words to make you believe almost anything. Well against my original wishes of joining in a computer related field I ended up a nuclear mechanic and ELT, doing chemistry and work controls on radioactive systems on a submarine.

Now fast forward to a bit over a year ago. I started having asthma attacks underway. I was put in a non-deployable status for further testing. Right before the submarine deploys I fail some breathing tests but they put me back to deployable and I go on a 6 month deployment. My first doctor appointment post-deployment a new doctor reviews the test results and puts me back to non-deployable. They blatantly ignore medical practices, in my opinion, because my rate is severely undermanned and they needed me to go underway. I work with the boat through the decommissioning and the last week of the decom (a year and a half since first asthma attack) I am officially diagnosed with asthma and they send out a submarine disqualification letter. Because a submarine doesn't carry a doctor onboard (only a coreman, think nurse for civilians)

So I've been putting up with the standard navy runaround now for 4 months and my package finally comes back and I've been removed from my nuclear billet. They say my exposure to the chemicals I work with caused my asthma. So I'm getting a force rate conversion, meaning I have to pick a new job.

I found a rate that was created in '04 doing computer networking and security, however, I am only qualified to convert to certain rates based on my last rate. So I may not qualify to apply. My current EAOS is a year and a half away, and I was told a force rate conversion has a time commitment depending on the rate you choose. None are 1.5 years or less. If I was to get the computer networking rate, I would have no problem extending for the required amount of time because that is the field I will be in when I get out of the navy. It comes with TS/SCI (currently secret) and it carries over into future job hunting.

Because the likelihood of me getting this rate is slim, I started checking out my options to minimize my time in. At my current EAOS I'll be 29 when I get out....and just starting my civilian career. The navy is now trying to tell me, because all the rates I am eligible for have lengthy time requirements I may be required to serve an EXTRA 1-2 years on my contract to fulfill my rate conversion obligations. Even though the reason for my rate conversion was out of my control.

I'll be honest and say since I showed up to my first command I've never really been a big navy fan. But that's mainly due to being an ELT. 100 hour workweeks were not unheard of (while non-deployed.) I did them for 3 months straight at one point. My division had no chief (E-7 or above) so my evals were always in the lower 50% (my whole division was.) Even after 2.5 years onboard carrying a large load of the divisional duties. I'm willing to keep an open mind with a new rate, but this is really starting to piss me off.