Graduating from "A" School fairly soon. What should I expect in the fleet? What are some good tips for being a successful sailor?

Remember that "A" school is elementary school. You WILL be taught, and learn more once you join the fleet. Your new shipmates WILL mess with you. Stupid tasks, mess with your mind....just take it. It is mostly for fun...for them. Go along to GET along, you will be accepted much faster. Fight it...it just lasts longer. Learn EVERYTHING you can. Ask questions. Learn EVERYTHING you can. Do your work. I did more painting on my ships than I have since....and I was an OS. EARN respect, by learning EVERYTHING you can. I was a watch supervisor when I was an E-3...BECAUSE I learned everything I could, practiced it, and proved I could do it......and EARNED the respect of my co-workers AND the officers.

I love Capt Ball's remark, "Be Visible"! That along with making sure you keep a positive attitude, are willing to learn, get your quals done so you can beneficial to the mission and help others be ready around you will put you in a good position within the command. First impressions are everything! Also, in A School you have a class leader/instructor telling you what you need done...not so much in the fleet.... YOU make your own path and are responsible so find yourself a good mentor and keep charging like you are right now :)

Go with the flow of things at first. Just because you got out of A school does not mean that you know everything. Yes you know the basics, but just know it is just the basics. You will learn a lot more once you get out into the fleet. Have some common sense as well. If what they tell you doesn't sound correct don't be afraid to ask questions or look up the correct procedure yourself.

Capt. Ball has some good words of advice.
Also, don't be a suck a**. Nobody likes a suck a**. As a junior enlisted your going to catch some crappy jobs. Nobody is dumping on you, we've all had crappy jobs to do and now it's your turn. In years to come it'll be something you can use to bond with other sailors. Because they had to do it too. Do your time in the line shack, barracks support, etc. It's "good training".
Speaking of training: PQS, or whatever they are being called now. Get that qual book and get to learning. Making yourself valuable is key to success. Warfare designation is a requirement now (optional when I was in). Learn your command! When you first get the book for your EAWS it looks intimidating, there's a lot to it. But as you dig in and learn it you are (by default) accomplishing everything you need to be successful.
Get that coursework done and don't stop studying. I don't know how tight the PRs are, but know that rating manual inside and out. Knowing what's in that book can be the difference between tacking on a crow (or another chevron) and sitting it out until the next test.
As a PR there are going to be pilots who will (literally) put their lives in your hands. It's a Big Freakin' Deal! There will be plenty of time to screw off. But when you're on the job, the job takes the priority.
Good luck sailor. I've been out for 20 years now and miss it often. You are in for some interesting times. I must say I'm a bit jealous.
AT2(AW) Clowers
VC-6 (Pax River RPV Det)
VX-1 (Pax River)
HSL-40 (Lead Dogs of Det 10 to USS Groves)
USNR NMCB-24 (Go SeaBees!)

We have to presume that as a newly minted airman on his first assignment that you will be subjected to some irregular challenges. Shall we say "Things that don't make sense, that has you chasing all over the place, etc. They are your "Welcome aboard". Gracefully accept the challenges and you will have earned respect from your shipmates and your deployment will go very well..

Good Luck and following seas.

Don't run to get flight line. There isn't any. I kept it all.

Yes don't go for flight line. There isn't any. LOL

Since you're an AN, I presume you'll be headed to a carrier or such. First piece of advice......practice being a "swivel head". Pay very close attention to where you are and what you are doing. Listen to your Chief/Master Chief.

OK You are the new breed of Parachute Rigger! One of the people that you always wanted to be friends with in the fleet, along with Pay Masters and Postal Clerks. Even though you are about to graduate A school just know that your training is just starting. "A" school is merely the foundation that your Career will be built on. We used to have our Advancement Books but I understand now they are on CD's Keep your PR 3&2 close at hand and review it often. Once you are in your shop and are settled ask your Chief or LPO, to get ahold of the CV NATOPS Manual (Especially if you are assigned to a carrier) That will be your biggest asset on your road for your EAWS wings plus understanding how a Carrier operates. The next thing you need to learn is something many new sailors fail to understand, That ship is not just a hunk of Steel. She is a beautiful Lady! If you treat her with love and respect, she will keep you safe. Those you serve with aboard her will become your Family. You will eat sleep, live with them for years. even if you are part of a Squadron. you will deploy. I have been on both sides of the Coin. You work WITH your family to make things better for yourself your Squadron, your CAG your SHIP. That way everyone who leaves that pier comes home to that pier, and hopefully with another stripe tacked onto that Crow! Listen to those appointed over you. they are there to help you guide you train you. The best Skipper in the Fleet is only as good as the sailors who he or she has working in the scullery, the bilges, or sweating in the reactor spaces. (I know I worked for the BEST) That Naval Aviator will never be Top Gun if that AO down in the belly of the ship does not build that bomb correctly or test the Missile, and they will certainly never get off the pointy end of he ship if that Jet mech fails to do their job correctly. Tradition is that if by some reason that Aviator ever needs to use your equipment, and it works as advertised, once they return to the ship, the records are checked to see who packed their chute. That Aviator buys you a bottle of your favorite posion at the next port-o-call! The NAVY has a lot of wonderful Traditions, do not let them die, (the pentagon is screwing them up enough)

WELCOME TO THE FLEET!! and the family!! Make us Proud!!

Well, IMHO, as soon as you get to the fleet, besides knowing your Chain of Command, the main things I had to learn was where I ate, slept, worked, and smoked, and not in that order. Take NKO courses. Try not to get in a relationship with a coworker. Don't burn bridges with the ship engineers - they will remember you (cold/scalding showers, A/C problems, having aux steam hooked up to the toilets, etc).