At the start of the Vietnam War the tincan I was on had less than a full complement of Ships Company. There were lots of empty racks and no sailors to fill them but we still got underway. Those onboard stood port and starboard watches. Most watches were 8 on and 4 off.
In those days there were very few ships homeported overseas but that has all changed now.
There is an advantage to making it all sea duty for you get sea pay, which you don't get when you are ashore.
I remember one crusty old Chief tells me once when I was bitching about being on station too long and he said, "Seaman don't worry about it... for if you don't mind it doesn't matter and he always ended it with... it all counts for 20 (years)."
You know he was right. He also said, "The best duty station is the one you are leaving and the one you are going to..."
A positive attitude will make you go far. I can recall after a very long deployment of almost a year going home on leave for 30 days in my dress canvas and say, "I am in the money... yes indeed! I had plenty of money and now I was a 3rd Class Petty Officer arriving at Tocumen Airport with my dragons on my sleeves and my Dixie cup at a jaunty angle... I was on top of the world."
At sea after riding out a mean storm I have always notice that "fair winds and a following sea" is inevitable... Just like in life.
