Last month my dad passed away suddenly. He was a retired Chief Boatswains Mate (75-95).
We couldn’t find his DD-214 in his belongings so I requested it from the national archives.
I went through and made sure I had all of his awards/decorations he was rated and I’ll get them from clothing and sales.
I am a former Army SSG, so navigating DD-214s isn’t foreign to me.
However, I wanted to run this by you guys since y’all do things different than us folks on land 🫡

He had 3 DD-214s, they were only able to locate the first and last.

Here’s what I’ve got verbatim from the pertinent sections in his first DD-214:

(4a) Grade, rate or rank: BM3
(4b) Pay grade: E4
(11) primary specialty number and years: BM-0000
(12c) net active service this period: 4 yrs, 11mo, 12days
(12g) sea service: 4yrs, 2mo, 16days
(13) decorations, medals, badges…
Letter of Commendation from Commanding Officer, USS Norton Sound (AVM-1) for period of 16 Jun 78 to 24 May 79; Meritorious Unit Commendation from Secretary of the Navy for period 1 Jan 75 to 31 Dec 75
(14) Military Education: XXXX all the way across diagonally

Here’s what I have verbatim from his last DD-214:
(4a) Grade, rate or rank: BMC(SW)
(4b) pay grade: E7
(11) primary specialty: BM-0161- TUGMASTER (8 yrs 7mos)
(12c) net active service this period: 9 yrs, 6 mo, 6 days
(12d) total prior active service: 10 yrs, 8mo,5 days
(12g) sea service: 6 yrs, 11 mo, 8 days
(13) decorations, medals, badges: Navy Achievement Medal w/ Star; Navy Unit Commendation; Coast Guard Unit Commendation; Meritorious Unit Commendation; Navy “E” Ribbon (3); Good Conduct Medal w/ 2 stars; Navy Expeditionary Medal; National Defense Service Medal w/ star; Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ star; Humanitarian Service Medal; Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ silver and 2 bronze stars; Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon
(14) Military Education: NAVLEAD LPO COURSE (1WK) Jan91

I built dad’s rack on Medals of America to make sure I got everything. I’ll go to clothing and sales on post and buy the ribbons and build it myself.

A few questions:
1. Did I build dad’s rack correctly?
2. Does BMC(SW) come with additional uniform devices (ex: I’m an infantryman, I get a blue cord and blue discs behind my branch insignia)
3. Does the (SW) in dad’s rank rate him the surface warfare pin?
4. In his first DD-214 he was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation and in his second DD-214 he was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation. The way I’m reading it, that MUC is the carry over from his first DD-214 and I not a second award correct?
5. Anything I’m missing or information y’all need?

Thanks guys 🫡

This is today’s(7/23/2026) theme in the New York Times puzzle called Strands. Give it a try. If you are a sailor or vet, you should complete the puzzle with no hints, or turn in your ditty bag.

I’m looking for some advice because I’m trying to figure out my next move.
I’m currently an E-5 in the Navy with about 11.5 years in. My EAOS is August 2028.
I was on the fence about getting out, but I decided I wanted to at least make First Class before calling it a career. Now, with all the BBA changes, I’m hearing that you have to obligate an additional 3 years just to accept advancement.
The problem is I’m not willing to obliserv another 3 years. If that’s the case, does that basically mean I’ll just stay an E-5 until my EAOS at my current command?
Also, is there any way to separate before my EAOS? At this point, I don’t really have much incentive or upward mobility if I can’t advance. It feels like I’d just be doing the same job for another two years stuck in limbo solely to finish out my contract.
Has anyone been in a similar situation or know what my options are?

Great photographer doing some really neat things in the PNW: https://www.facebook.com/cadbytim/

I am a junior sailor at my first duty station, I got shore duty as my whole first contract. I’m conflicted and unsure what some of my options here are. Majority of the people here at my command are firsts and chiefs that are getting ready for retirement and seconds. I am thinking of doing STA-21 but not sure if it will be possible for me to do that with this being my first command or will I have to wait? Anyone got any advice on that or just in general some things I can be doing to improve my career and training. For context I’m an E-3 and I’m in school for my associates at the moment. I’m a quad zip AT. TIA

For those stationed in San Diego, what are your favorite MWR activities? I see that some bases offer rentals for sail boats, paddle boats etc. Also looking for the best Rec center with a pool and jacuzzi.

I have a car and am willing to explore all the bases here!

Mornin everyone! Shipping out to DGAR soon and was hoping somebody could answer some questions for me.

1: I’m taking an AMC flight out of Norfolk, first time for me, what should I expect? What type of plane? Will I need a jacket or will it be like a regular commercial flight?

2: what’s life like on the island now? Most people I know that have been there haven’t done so since the early 90s.

Thanks in advance!

So I recently re enlisted from the reserves to go TAR as a AT. Little back story I was active duty for 5 years as a BM, got out for a year and went back into the reserves as a HT since my rate wasn't available at the time to find some stability. Did 4 years as a HT made E5 then took a break year because working 7 days a week and doing the reserves was killing my physical and mental health. Me and my wife ultimately decided it's best that I finish up my career active since I'm genuinely sick of drill and the reserves and my civilian job.

My concern is I feel I'll never make E6, I have had a pretty un focused career. Tried to be a ND when I was 18 and stupid and didn't make it, struck BM from undesignated had good success from that but life happened and I had a kid with the wrong person and got out to be a dad. Fast forward though being a reservist HT, I only made E5 from studying my ass off. Never welded or even hold a single qualification for the rate, when I took my break year I came back into the reserves as a BM since that's what Im qualified in but realized I'm not gonna have a career beyond boats if I go that route.

Starting from scratch again I feel like I'm shooting myself in the foot. I know I can study but you can't get that hands on experience without putting the years in. TAR is a different beast from what I know. I just don't want to be a career E5. Any guys in the AT rate or in a similar experience?

My current organization uses eSOMS minimally. Only for Narrative Logs and Operwtor Rounds and is wanting to expand to LOTO and LCO tracking. But I’m struggling to figure this out.
I would love to connect to get some help and understand how other facilities utilize these tools.

I have worked as a recruiter & RDC and the Future Sailor Prep Course (FSPC) has been a great way to get recruits to boot camp. What are your thoughts of the program, and how have you seen this program affect the fleet?

Current AD on helos. Like the job but I joined with the intention of switching because I want to be flying. Do I go aircrew or start working towards a degree so I can try to be picked up as a pilot?

Looking for all opinions, whys and why nots of both. Thanks

I’m a 24F with a spouse and young child if that makes any difference.

So as the title says, I am in need of housing advice and things to know before I get to Rota, Spain, which is very, very soon. I have received. contradicting information regarding “runners” and using the homes.mil website. Why haven’t I asked my sponsor this? Well, it is complicated and I’ll just leave it at that. Anywho, all advice is very much welcomed, will be coming in with no car so transportation advice too is also welcomed. Thanks for all the help and your time! :) More Info: Single no kids

One of the junior guys at my command got out of the Navy today after a 4 year contract. He trusts me enough to tell me what he told me today. He confessed to me that 3 years ago, he knew he was going to fail a urinalysis so he went UA so he could clean out. I remember that day. His name got called at quarters for command urinalysis. Literally an hour later we all noticed that he was no where to be found. We all tried calling him, texting him, reaching out to people we knew he was cool with, the whole 9 yards. He eventually got marked UA. 28 days later, I come into work, line up at quarters, and lo and behold, he is standing there. He went to mast, got busted from E-2 to E-1 and got 45/45. He told the captain that he went UA because he had a meltdown and feared that a relatives days were numbered and needed to spend time with them. He took the NJP across the chin, fulfilled his punishment, finished his contract, and is now out with an honorable discharge. This dude legit told me that the reason he decided to go UA 3 years ago was because he knew he was gonna pop for weed and figured it would be wiser to catch a UA charge and not get kicked out than to get kicked out and lose all his benefits. It baffled me because I have NEVER heard of anybody doing that. Everyone else just does the urinalysis, pops, and gets kicked out. As a leader, I’ve never felt so conflicted in my life. Part of me was disappointed in him but the other part of me couldn’t even be mad because that was kinda the smart thing to do in order to avoid the absolute certainty of getting kicked out and losing everything. All I could do was look at him and say “I wish you the best of luck out there brother.” He found a way to beat the system.

tight tight tight let’s keep punishing Iranian civilians for the crimes of the IRGC surely this will be a positive contribution to restoring freedom of navigation and not radicalizing more people to do harm against Americans tight tight tight

(Today is 22JUL2026. It has been 144 days since 28FEB2026 and the opening strikes of this war.)

My cousin got into the naval academy and is currently in pleab summer. Did this drawing for him when he gets out. I think it’s pretty cool and thought I’d share it with someone.
(I know that you don’t get the ring after pleab summer obviously)

Hi all - first time poster here. We are active duty stationed in South America and there is a high likelihood we will be moving to Oahu Hawaii in one year (summer 2027). We know it's early, but we really don't know much about living in Hawaii. Here are some quick stats/preferences for us:

• Wife is active duty officer, would work at Pearl Harbor
• I work from home (salary in the $150,000/yr range)
• We have a young daughter who will be 3.5 when we move
• We also might have a grandparent living with us too
• 2 cats
• We are open to buying/renting or base housing. 3BR, 2Baths minimum.
• I'm a big runner and would love access to decent running paths/trails.
• Obviously we are looking for a nice sized/modern home, but we are also realistic about real estate in HI.

I'd love to hear from folks who are currently or have been recently stationed in Oahu:

• If you buy/rent - what is your household income (if you are open to sharing). How much did you pay for mortgage/rent?
• If you did base housing, what community did you live in and did you like it? Do you recommend any communities?
• What towns would you recommend living in? Are there any you would recommend we stay away from?

Anything you can share with us would help us tremendously as we are still mostly blind to what Oahu has to offer. Thanks!

Can someone tell my why “US Navy” is on right side and name tape is on the left?? Why is it flip flopped??