Retired Sand Pirate on a quest for knowledge

[TTEscrima]

Hi all, I recently retired from the Navy, joined a private training group and am looking to further my knowledge. I'm looking forward to proving that an old Seadog can indeed be taught some new tricks.

[Tant01]

You came to the right place! Welcome aboard.

[Tom Yum]

Sand Pirate? Is that part of the Individual Augmentee program?

Welcome aboard!

[TTEscrima]

Sand Pirate? Is that part of the Individual Augmentee program?

Welcome aboard!

It's the name those of us who joined the Navy but wound up in the sandbox gave to ourselves. Officially it's frowned upon, but since the majority of those involved are not there by choice anyway the fact that it annoys the brass is a plus.

Thanks for the welcome.

[Tom Yum]

You're welcome.

Sailors can go to the sand box by choice (non-combat rated) and get trained through Ft. Benning although I've heard of what you're talking about too.

[TTEscrima]

The majority of IA's are on shore duty when snagged for the program, less than 20% of IA's are volunteers since they select you from shore duty. You're supposed to get shore duty between sea duty assignments so you can see your family. Imagine 4 years on sea duty, you will average about 100 days in the US during that enlistment. When you reenlist you're scheduled for shore duty but they send you to fill gaps in the Army for the next four years, then you're back to 4 years sea duty. The last 12 years of my enlistment I averaged 100 days in the USA every 4 years not counting leave time. If you have a family you're a stranger to them.

[Tom Yum]

I understand shore duty but not so much about IA. Thanks for explaining IA in greater detail. I know of some fleet folks who might actually consider volunteering for it, most whom are single without dependents.

[TTEscrima]

I volunteered, so do a lot of people stuck in crap duty stations. The Navy tries to look out for you on your next duty station if you go IA, but if you aren't single beforehand you will be afterwards.

The general public seems to believe the policy is new but astronauts and Navy medics assigned to the USMC are a couple of examples of the Navy IA program that have been around for a long time.