I’m leaving in a week for Navy Boot Camp and then A school for MA. How do I go about doing the Harbor Patrol Unit?

2018-01-15T20:31:29-05:00

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2018 10:54 AM

2018-01-16T10:54:06-05:00

While not Navy (clearly), my recommendation is for you to focus on the steak and not the peas. Right now your focus should just be getting thru Boot Camp. Once that's done, then your focus should be getting thru MA school.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2018 12:22 PM

2018-01-16T12:22:20-05:00

SR Private RallyPoint Member I agree with MSG Private RallyPoint Member Your job ahead of you is to learn as much as you can and excel in Boot Camp. Once you accomplish that, you need to do the best that you can at Master At Arms training. It is great to have long range goals, but do not get ahead of yourself.

https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/navy-boot-camp-schedule.html

https://www.thebalance.com/navy-enlisted-rating-descriptions-qualifications-3345832

Navy Boot Camp Timeline At a Glance

Heading to Navy boot camp? Read this carefully before you go – make your life as easy as possible by doing the legwork beforehand!

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jan 16 at 2018 1:22 PM

2018-01-16T13:22:18-05:00

Boot first, recruit. Then A school. THEN worry about where you wind up. In Boot, your goal is to NEVER have the company commanders know your name by heart. Good luck and congrats on your decision to serve. Having said all that, if harbor patrol is your desire, you'd have been better off in the Coasties.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Jan 16 at 2018 2:02 PM

2018-01-16T14:02:03-05:00

Congrats and thank you for enlisting.... There is only ONE way to have the possibility to get what you want, and that is to be the absolute very best you can be at each level... So, do your best to be Honor Grad at Boot Camp, and then do your best to be the #1 graduate at MA school. Always, always have a back up plan.

Response by SR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2018 4:08 PM

2018-01-16T16:08:47-05:00

Thank you all for the advice! I will certainly try my best do all I can

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2018 6:25 AM

2018-01-17T06:25:30-05:00

First and foremost good luck to you in your quest to join the best rate in the Navy. Secondly, HPU is something that may or may not be available to you at A school so that's just luck of the draw. If they offer that type of duty assignment then you have the opportunity to pick it. I am not sure how often HPU orders are available to A school students though. Make sure when you're at A school that you do your best and get top of your class that way you get to pick orders before the rest of your class. Good luck to you and have fun! -MA1 Stone

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2018 10:36 AM

2018-01-17T10:36:26-05:00

Last i heard, A school isn't letting you pick orders any more (one person can ruin it for everyone else). That could change though because shit at A school changes weekly

Response by AA Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2018 3:09 AM

2018-01-22T03:09:40-05:00

The comments below are spot on. Focus on boot and do your best at A school. When it comes to orders its really a toss up you might get it out of A school and but dont worry if you dont just focus on graduating ship mate.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2018 6:18 AM

2018-01-26T06:18:30-05:00

When you go to A School you'll be sat down and pick your next set of orders. If HPU is available youll request those orders when you're asked

Response by SR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2018 5:37 PM

2018-01-26T17:37:12-05:00

You just kinda have to hope and pray for it, A school doesn’t let people pick which orders they want anymore

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2018 9:03 PM

2018-02-19T21:03:32-05:00

You won’t get a say for that, just graduated A school few weeks ago, they give you what they have, best I can tell you is take and pass your second class swim qual when you can but it won’t give you a better shot than anyone else

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2018 10:07 AM

2018-02-21T10:07:08-05:00

When you test close to weapons week best test scores choose first for orders. They will tell you if there is hpu orders I was hpu for four years remember for your career best to know the whole rate don’t focus on one unit. Boats are cool and you get lots of quals but won’t help you for other commands if you go somewhere without boats. Best of luck and remember for boot camp just shut up and do your job lol

Response by SN Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2018 2:10 PM

2018-02-21T14:10:33-05:00

It’s all about luck, come to prp in kingsbay and you’ll probably drop into a hbu unit

Response by SN Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2018 5:28 PM

2018-02-21T17:28:19-05:00

Your orders out of a school are random

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2018 9:01 PM

2018-02-21T21:01:34-05:00

Get top 3 in your class then you get to choose your orders.

R/

MA1(EXW/SW)

Response by SN Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2018 12:08 PM

2018-02-22T12:08:56-05:00

A school doesn't let you pick your orders it's all chance

Response by SN Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2018 5:22 PM

2018-02-22T17:22:07-05:00

You can’t choose your orders for harbor patrol but you can sure as hell hope to get them lmao. They are stationing a lot of MA’s in Bahrain and silver dale Washington wish you the best of luck

Response by SR Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2018 1:06 PM

2018-02-25T13:06:50-05:00

you need to take your second class swim test, but even then, it’s really randomized when you get orders in A-school.

Response by SR Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2018 12:02 AM

2018-02-26T00:02:16-05:00

Worry about boot camp then your A school I'm currently at MA A school I'll see you here soon, and get you all set up!

Response by SN Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 2 at 2018 3:41 PM

2018-04-02T15:41:30-04:00

Hi, I'm an MA in Norfolk, VA. Harbor is a tricky one to get into. Sometimes you are given it as orders out of A school but it is rare. You can't ask for it in A school but after you get to your command IF they have harbor you can attempt to change to water side.

Response by SA Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2018 10:59 PM

2018-04-15T22:59:57-04:00

My command just changed it so you have to be second class swimmer qualified so pass that in boot camp or when you get to your command show an interest in the field.

Response by SA Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2018 10:20 PM

2018-05-20T22:20:39-04:00

I was an MA in HPU in guam for a while. When I went through we could pick our orders but now you het slapped with whatever they give you. Welcome to the military.