Military deployment questions

[lonewulf04]

This isn't for this website's journal, so if you hope to see anything posted about this here, I'm sorry to say you'll be waiting a long time. However I don't have anything like this over at my "clean journal" website.

I don't know how to research some of this besides asking people who were in the military. Most of the books or internet reference

Comments

[hanakotoba_fic]

Second question: normally, yes, that happens in all branches, reserves etc. But I can't answer as to specific ways as to how it might happen.

(I'm more familiar with the USAF but you're talking about naval aviation...)

[lonewulf04]

It is more important that fellow noncoms or one such might ride someone else he perceived as a slacker.

heh Funny you mention this. In my future, the air force and navy have combined into one force. I can't say more without revealing my storyline.

Thanks much for this.

[oronoda]

I'm a former soldier but I did spend 14 months on a Naval Base. Some I'm just guessing but

[oronoda]

1. Oh wait... Muster. I think the term is Muster which is a military way to say attendence.

[lonewulf04]

"passing muster" I have heard of ...or was that passing mustard? :P heh

I always thought the term was more used to describe a lineup at the beginning of the day, but I guess it might be a catchall kind of term, depending how it's used.

[raidtheskies]

Yeah, in the UK we combine Muster parade with inspections (making sure everyone's shaved, ironed, and polished, mostly), so that's where 'passing muster' comes from.

You tend to have a muster parade before you set out to do something, so if you're on base for an exercise, it's in the morning before you start, but if you're doing something specific in the afternoon, you could have muster just after lunch. Whenever really.

[stormwreath]

The size of a squadron depends on its purpose and the type of aircraft it flies. Generally, larger aircraft or those with complex electronics that need a lot of maintenance will be organised into smaller squadrons. Traditionally - going back to the first and second world wars - a squadron was 12 aircraft, but today it can vary significantly. Currently the USN is organised as follows, but this could change by the time your story is set

[lonewulf04]

Very interesting and informative. Hrm. Suffice to say that in my future, the military has been reduced significantly via lack of petroleum based fuels. So aircraft have been significantly reduced in electronics and size/weight (heh with one exception).

I can't tip my hat too much without revealing the storyline. Essentially, the Air Force/Navy (combined into one branch of the service) has been basically reduced to three (3) type of aircraft:
Supply/transport
Recon/fighters
Medical/rescue

Now submarines are nuclear/electric power based so they still exist, but those are the only remaining seafaring vessels in my future.
Perhaps the three types of aircraft might be limiting me somewhat in that regard? Something to think about...

Supply/transports would fill in for this form of use, but very interesting. "Island Knights"? Very cool!

[stormwreath]

If you have limited resources, then I'd think that multipurpose aircraft is the way to go. After all, what's the real difference between a transport helicopter and a search-and-rescue helicopter? None, except the SAR helo would have paramedics on board, and if at sea, a trained diver/swimmer to go into the water to rescue the stranded person. So you can either have the full-time crew of the helicopters all trained in such duties, or have a floating SAR team on board ship who would all pile into the nearest helicopter when they were needed - whichever is most efficient

[lonewulf04]

edit: I probably forgot to mention that the concept of this time period is economic and thus social and political upheaval. Thus the concept of medical helo's would be generally more necessary. Border wars and piracy being a large contributor to the conflicts.

Yeah, I think I WILL use that concept of a reputation following him. After all, one usually doesn't just go "poof!" "I'm a whiner today" lol
I see him less as a grumbler and curser. That would imply he thinks first of himself. I see him more as a timid, self effacing sort of fellow which is why he is not well liked. He's the gloomy Gus. He doesn't doubt his troop's abilities, but his own, which makes him whine, though not much. He's in a shell that his NCO and fellow troops see needing to be broken for him to be a efficient working part of the troop.

Aha! cool! I always wondered what rank that really was! (silly to keep saying but .. thanks for this!)

[randomstasis]

1st question- scenario A is more likely for FNGs from boot camp, because they won't know where to go or what to do, protocol, etc. while B is possible for those returning from leave. YMMv.

2nd; The people who have to pick up a slacker's slack always have plenty to say about it, anytime, anywhere.

"go below deck during high winds or do they continue to work, using tie-downs and handrails?" and safe conditions?
THat's going to depend on how urgent it is and how dangerous to stay up there or not do the work- saftey also depends on body mass, what they're doing, etc. and it'll depend how much of a hard ass the co is.

[lonewulf04]

VERY helpful. And actually the reason I was posing either possibility. That explains much.

LMAO. Indeed, that sort of goes without saying, I just wasn't sure if military discipline "made allowances" to those who "voice" such complaints to said slackers.

Since this is a VERY critical question I need to look into, I'll go so far as saying, "what if" it was up to 40-60 mile an hour winds? That's my window of operation I am thinking of for this story.
While I have been in Florida for a very long time and lived through Hurricane Andrew, I beat feet when I hear the winds will be gusting to 100+ miles an hour. natch! I think anybody would. I understand about body mass, BUT:
However, given that an aircraft carrier goes ABOUT 40 miles an hour (implied in movies) and lets say the ship was heading into a headwind of 15-20 miles an hour, and lets say this was a constant for an extended amount of time (irrelevant), given the first two concepts of wind speed, would your average personnel be able to easily work on the flight deck? or would that

[randomstasis]

on the whole, I think military discipline is specifically designed to eliminate any slacker tendencies-it's a safety issue, if you like. (as in, could mean life or death;) Military types bitch more than any other group, imo,- but they're not much for whining

[lonewulf04]

Well, okay, there are two basic characters. One is timid and a whiner (of sorts). He's nervous all the time, it's his first tour aboard ship, while I don't want to paint him up as a total screw up, he might be late a lot for duty which makes him a "favorite" by his company/division/not-sure-of-term-yet as a BF. Which gives reason for the second character who is the upright "poster image" lady's man sailor to pick on the first.
Maybe I am painting up too much the idea he is a whiner. He's just uncertain a lot, which, to my understanding, is contrary to ideal military image.

"the safety lines and goggles can be more hassle than help." you might second think that if you were based in my future military! *wicked evil grin* :P
Seriously, thanks for that assessment.
I am hoping when you are stating ""you" can stand" you are referring to Joe Average

[steamyaffair]

I can give you my two cents as a former Naval officer - but my experience/knowledge of the enlisted side of the house is limited to hear-say

[lonewulf04]

WOW! Awesome 2 cents worth! It seems military value weighs much more than civvy value. heh No problem, I like lengthy answers as it gives me something to really chew on... and also bring me up short and quick when I had the wrong concept or term used. (e.g. I thought "non-comm"s were anybody who wasn't an officer; CPO, XO, CO, etc.) The discipline issues I mentioned before would be regarding, by your examples, and as you correctly stated later, are junior enlisted personnel.

In light of hopefully not revealing too much of my storyline, logistically speaking, lets say that in my future, there isnt any problem with deploying an aircraft carrier for an extended tour of duty "out to sea" (no lack of fuels to restrict amount or length of voyages), however these ships move, generally, slower and have a shorter range of flight for their aircraft. Therefore the need to have the ships located where they are needed, to deploy said short-range aircraft promptly, requires them to be out of port more often. So "showing up to work each day" would

[dhamphir]

A Baker First Class would be an E-6, a first class petty officer who's specialty was "baker". In today's terms he'd be an MS - a mess specialist, or MS6. So, not a chief. A Chief Petty Officer (CPO) is an E-7; a Senior Chief (SCPO) is an E-8, and a Master Chief (MCPO) is an E-9 - the highest enlisted rank.

BTW, "rank" refers to paygrade, while "rate" refers to their specific job/training. So a Bosun's Mate who was an E-5 would be an BM2 -- BM (bosun's mate) his rate, and 2 (petty officer 2nd class) his rank.

Non-comm (non-commissioned officers) are E-4's and above. If you remember an E-4 is a Petty Officer 3rd class, it may help you to remember that. If you look up "officer (armed forces)" on Wikipedia, you'll get a good explination.

[lonewulf04]

Well, I won't contradict you on this because you certainly would know better.

I actually knew the concept of rates and ranks, ...why I don't think of these things anymore is just me showing my age.

However, I will point out that when my great uncle was in the navy, was back in 1941. I believe the rates and ranks have changed somewhat since then? IDK

Thanks for clarifying this though.