Bootcamp/Training Question

[carouselvic]

Rank - No Basic Training

Dad was born in 1920 and right out of high school tried to enlist in the service. He was rejected due to a slight curvature of the spine and flat feet. He left Kansas and went to California. Dad went to work for Lockheed as a skinner building P-38s. After the attack on Pearl Harbor his parents in Kansas received his draft notice. They did what they had to do to forward his notice to California. They then called him and told him it was on the way to California so he immediately left to come back to Kansas City to enlist in the Navy. His ailments no longer an issue. When the Navy learned of his previous employment he was to report to Olathe Naval Air Base. He said he did not have any basic training but only a couple days of indoctranation on the military way. He was given immediate rank. Latter in the war he was sent to Hawaii

 

[Ecuador Jim]

Dad was born in 1920 and right out of high school tried to enlist in the service. He was rejected due to a slight curvature of the spine and flat feet. He left Kansas and went to California. Dad went to work for Lockheed as a skinner building P-38s. After the attack on Pearl Harbor his parents in Kansas received his draft notice. They did what they had to do to forward his notice to California. They then called him and told him it was on the way to California so he immediately left to come back to Kansas City to enlist in the Navy. His ailments no longer an issue. When the Navy learned of his previous employment he was to report to Olathe Naval Air Base. He said he did not have any basic training but only a couple days of indoctranation on the military way. He was given immediate rank. Latter in the war he was sent to Hawaii

I love those anecdotes where the military messes up and ends up promoting someone.

During Vietnam, the Navy was so starved for rank, they often waivered the "time in grade" requirement to take advancement exams. I knew guys to were jumped from E-3to E-5 while still waiting for the grade from their E-4 exam. Meritorious promotions seemed to happen quickly as well. I knew a Chief Petty Officer (E-7) who barely met the requirements for time in service. I think he was 28 when he "put on the hat".

Wild times.