Have sympathy for me!

[HawkerHurricane]

The promotion results are out for CPO, and I didn't make it. Again. 6 times made the promotion board, and got ignored. This was my last chance, and now I face mandatory retirement after 20 years of service.

Megasigh.

I knew it was coming, but now its official, and I am majorly depressed.

HawkerHurricane
PO1(SW) <never a CPO(SW)
USN

[short bus president]

1. Hey Hawker, rough deal

Beer or tequila?

[HawkerHurricane]

5. None for me, thanks

I don't imbide, and I have to go to work in the morning.

They should release results on Friday mornings, so we can leave work early and those who choose to can drink themselves into forgetting and get it out of thier system.

[Skittles]

2. I'M SORRY HAWK

VERY SORRY. :(

[KCDem]

3. Sorry, HH!

Big hugs to you. Bastards are losing out.

on edit... I'd had a toasting guy, because I think you deserve a beer and a big toast for all you've done... but then in light of the situation, it's probably not appropriate. So, how about a :beer: instead.

[AnnabelLee]

4. I'm very sorry

You think you've prepared yourself for something, but when it actually happens...:-(

[Skittles]

6. hey Hawk

you know a lot of that stuff is political, I'm sure. It's not always the best people getting promoted. Don't give up.

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. This happened to my uncle a few years back...

Got passed up for Lt. Col. and then "see ya" forced out. It literally was his life. I hurt for him to this day. He is a civillian consultant now in San Antonio, and he says it bothers him to this day driving onto the base. The video of his "retirement" is one of the saddest things I have ever watched.

May luck go with you, I am very sorry.

[otohara]

8. Sorry Dude

Office politics suck! Makes coming to work difficult when stuff like this keeps happening

[prolesunited]

9. So sorry to hear that

I remember when you took the test and were optimistic. Hard to see it now, but when one door closes, another one opens. Also, think of all of the uninterrupted time you will get to spend with Mrs. Hawker and the kids.

{{{{big hug}}} if it would make you feel better.

[cmd]

10. Well, I'm promoting you to CPO right now

The Navy's loss is our gain. It's time to hit those books and become an official history teacher. I have learned so much from you. You are going to be an awesome teacher. Or would you rather be governor of California. Hmmmmm, I like that. Governor Hurricane.

[HawkerHurricane]

19. Governor Hurricane?

Senator Hurricane?
President Hurricane?
Or maybe I could really run things, and be Vice President Hurricane?
(The emperor has clothes, but it's a sailor suit!)

[Jack Rabbit]

11. We salute you, Hawker

You could respond: Don't salute me, I work for a living!

[inthecorneroverhere]

12. bummer -

Bummer!

However, you may perhaps look back on the situation in three or four years and be glad that you were retired. Take a bit of time to relax and smell the roses - I think you will succeed in whatever you do, in or out of the service.

Thanx for your interesting posts 'from the Deck'! They are definitely appreciated here!

[blondeatlast]

13. I'm so sorry--we're here for you, guy!

[JNelson6563]

14. My condolences

I have so enjoyed your posts; laughed at some replies in your informal surveys on your ship, witnessed the political awakening of some of your ship-mates, rejoiced in your return home, cheered you for verbally bitch-slapping some chickenhawk punk and now, sadly, I share your disappointment at this injustice.

I feel honored to have gotten to witness so much through your postings and look forward to enjoying more of your perspective for a long time to come.

Big HH Fan--

Julie

[Ivory_Tower]

15. My sympathies, HH

But I like the suggestion above about running for governor of California. :)

And I know you really don't need any advice from me, but just keep looking ahead. You're still young, and you can do some great civilian work. Plus, won't you have a military retirement income on top of it all?

Best of luck to you, and keep posting (your posts are among the ones I make a point to read).

[blm]

16. Too bad for our country.

I feel better knowing guys like you are out there for the rest of us.

[SoCalDem]

17. Bummer.. You coulda been a CPO Hawker

:(.. Wow that reminded me of that old show CPO Sharkey.. anyone else ever watch that..??

Are you sure they are evn gonna LET you retire?? They may just keep you..:(

[HawkerHurricane]

20. No 'let' about it

They are throwing me out: Bushco changed the High Year Tenure for PO1's from 22 years to 20. I'm signed up till '06, but they are going to save money by recruiting some 18 year old (or drafting him!) to do my job...
(Like some 18 year old can replace someone with 20 years of experience!)
The current policy seems to be to keep the young (cheaper) guys and throw out the old (expensive, and going to get retirement) older ones.

[trof]

22. Still CPO Hurricane

DU's Chief Political Officer Hurricane.
OK, lame.
But...let me get this straight, actives and reservists are having their enlistments frozen. Ready reserves, who thought their active service was over, who thought they were just a name on a list in some computer in Denver, are now being called up. And the Navy says adios Hawker? Gee, that makes a lot of sense.

Any chance at a full time slot with a Navy Reserve unit, or do they have those any more? Civilian employment with Navy in training somewhere? Seems like there oughta be someplace that can use your expertise.

Best of luck to you.

[HawkerHurricane]

24. Downsizing the Military

The same way a business does:
Fire the people outside the boardroom that make the most money.
Make the ones who are left work harder.
Sell the stock on the uptick.
Laugh to the bank when the company colapses because you fired all the good workers.

No reserve work for me, if they don't want me, they can go hang before I'll go out of my way for them.

Little GI bill college, a job to support the wife and kiddles, are what I'm looking for now.

[trof]

25. Not sure how this works,

or if it exists for Navy, but a couple of friends had good careers as full time guardmen. I know national guard is state job, and I don't think there's any such thing as Navy National Guard. Is there still a Navy Reserve?

[HawkerHurricane]

26. There is still a navy reserve

But I am not eligible. It's about time in service/retirement pay equation: right now, I get 1/2 base pay retirement. If I stay in past 20 years, that goes up (2.5 % a year). If I shift to the reserve or national gaurd, that goes up. They don't want it to go up, unless I make CPO (which is now impossible), so there is no option there.
Oh, well. Time to go get a real job...

[Sal316]

18. Damn boards!

Ugh.. I hated those things too, Hawk.

Sorry to hear that, shipmate.

:toast: to an all around great guy... F them!

[jonnyblitz]

21. I was an E-6 forever and was one when I got out after 10 years.

I wasn't aware that you were limited to how many times you went up for chief. wierd.

[commander bunnypants]

23. AW man- I am so sorry you did not get to wear the iron ball.

Heads up. After I got out I did fine. There are many opportunities for a fine navy man.


DEMMAN

[Aristus]

27. I feel bad for you, Hawk. Getting passed over is a bitch.

My father got passed over twice for Lieutenant Colonel and got out of the Army. Ten years later, they called him back for the Gulf War and handed him some silver oak leaves as an incentive. He must have thought: "Oh, NOW you promote me?"

I'm sorry, HH. No one deserved a promotion more, I'm sure.

[UrbScotty]

28. Take comfort in the fact that you served your country.

It's a shame they make you retire like that.

Having said that, you served your country for twenty years, and we give you our thanks.

[HawkerHurricane]

29. I will provide a touching poem on service Monday

It's on my work computer, and I'm taking the rest of the day off.