I know we have some Navy people on this board. So, tell me about it, if you don't mind. Is it worth it? Is it remotely as fun and rewarding as the recruitment material makes it out to be? (Disregarding obvious hyperbole of course.) Recommend it to your friends?
Edit: And what about resigning as an enlisted man? The website isn't entirely clear (to me at least) about minimum obligations.
Posted by Vanguard (Member # 1780) on :
I've got a lot of military family and friends (this town will do that). Basically, the easiest recommendation is that it's really great, particularly for starting your career so long as you're single.
The military life, in any branch, is extremely tough of a relationship.
Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
Good thing I (seriously) swore I'd never date ever, ever again.
Posted by Sean (Member # 2010) on :
The only thing I can really contribute to this topic is something I learned in Life Skills this semester.
When they interview you for any position, or even when the recruiter talks to you, if he asks you why you want to join up, don't give the whole " I want to serve my country" bull crap ( even if that is your intention). They prefer people who are joining the service to better themselves, or jump start a career/ get money for college, etc. So, go with those reasons if the question is asked. If you do decide to go, good luck man. It's been a pleasure being your sidekick.
( This would actually be an appropriate time for Pensive to chime in)
Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
Oh, I'd tell him the truth: I want to move around a lot and see different things and fire an M-16 in boot camp. Posted by Mars Needs Women (Member # 1505) on :
You should join the Sea Org. Posted by shikaru808 (Member # 2080) on :
Well, I can't tell you much about the Navy, but I am in the Army right now so I suppose the military experience is all the same.
It's definitely a good stepping stone to jump-start someone, especially in a more techinically inclined branch like the Navy and Air Force. Also, don't get sucked up into the recruiting videos. All the branches over-exaggerate themselves immensley.
But to put it bluntly, some people simply can't live the military life. Wether or not that's you is beyond me, but it's definitely something you should consider before signing 3+ years of your life away.
Oh and you'll never touch an M-16 while you're in the Navy. We had 2 Navy re-class guys in my platoon for BCT and they told us they qualified with only pistols, shotguns, and M-14's.
Which is still fucking awesome IMHO. Wish they'd give me a shotgun.
Posted by Sean (Member # 2010) on :
Eh...give me a 7.62mm over a 5.56 mm any day...
Yeah, Daniel, don't expect to be handling a ton of weaponry in the NAVY unless you join the seals. I believe the main use of the M-14 in the NAVY is to shoot at mines. Still, being trained on a .50 cal M2 wouldn't be too boring, I'm sure...
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
Just remember to remove the cleaning rod before you open fire. I used to work with an ex-Navy bloke who had no end of hilarious tale about how far that thing flew. Oh and if you shoreleave in Russia or Eastern Europe you can get an AK-47 for about a tenner. Oh and be warned, all squaddies and most Navy types will thieve anything that isn't nailed down, unless they can steal the nails too.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
My best friend is career Navy (though a reservist now) and tells stories of how great it was to travel to Japan and the south pacific. His Navy specialization in a particular radar system has led to a swanky military contractor job too.
I'd grill the recruiter on what kinds of training you can get and if/when they place you based on the ASVAP placement test. Practice here.
If you place well, it's a BIG plus and can lead to advanced placement right out of basic training. Go for real technical training- computers, avionics, etc.- something with a career past the service.
If you really cant master the test, I might skip Navy service- Discovery Channel had a great special on life on a Carrier: part of which focused on one disgruntled shipman that had the duty of cleaning EVERY toilet on the ship. It was his sole responsibility and he had to break it up over several days, then start at the begining again.
Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
We had to take it in high school and I scored well, so I assume I'll score well now. That's a plus, then.
Posted by WizArtist II (Member # 1425) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sean:
( This would actually be an appropriate time for Pensive to chime in)
Could you ever have imagined THAT statement being made on this forum?
I DO think you have to say his name three times for him to appear though.
Posted by Sean (Member # 2010) on :
Yeah, now that I think of it, that does sound like a rare occurrence. Or...you know, Kosh could also pipe up.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
The Navy is a good job whether you want to enlist for just 4 years or go career.
Life on a ship is interesting and different on different types of ships. Personally I think a DDG is the best ship to be on.
As for guns ... you're wrong about the M-16 rifle. I've used it and got qualified on it along with the M-14. If weapons are your thing, then be a Gunner's Mate (GM), they get to play with all the guns in the armory. Either way, while on watch I've carried the M-14, M9 pistol, and 12-gauge shotguns depending on which watch and which port we were visiting.
In all honesty though, if you join there will be times you hate it. Times you wish you never joined. Then there will be times you love it. The friendships you make with your shipmates and the experiences you will have civilians don't.
As for what I did in the Navy. I joined in the naval intelligence field as an Electronics Warfare Technician (EW), a rating that no longer exists after it was merged with Cryptologic Technician Technical (CTT).
Posted by shikaru808 (Member # 2080) on :
Heh, how old were your M-14's? When I went to BCT/OSUT, we got brand spankin' new M4's with those CCO's attached. I thought it was nice.
Anyway, did you consider any other branches to join Dan?
Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
You should totally join the Air Force and try and get into the SGC. Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
Shikaru: I considered them all, but it doesn't seem like the other branches offer the same possibilities for travel.
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
And, there's all that running around and getting muddy.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
quote:Originally posted by WizArtist II: I DO think you have to say his name three times for him to appear though.
What?!? I thought it was "think happy thoughts"! An entire day wasted.....fuck's sake.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
Exactly. Fuck the desert. Spending a year in the 100+ degree weather being shot at or blown up by IEDs ... no thanks. Stay on a ship, in the air conditioning, sleeping on a bed, taking a shower every day ...
Posted by shikaru808 (Member # 2080) on :
...getting real close to your sailor buddy and thanking Neptune for making such comfortable short-shorts .
Just joking, big props to my Navy guys. But it's the damn truth; the Navy does treat their guys a lot better than other branches *cough*ArmyandMarines*cough*
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Food on a sub is supposed to be the best in the service. I've heard there is a lot of promisquity onboard aircraft carriers (yes, they have female sailors onboard).
Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
I once spent a solid week in a two-room studio apartment without even opening the blinds. Wonder if that's what being on a sub crew is like? Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
No- you had your own bed. in the apartment.
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jason Abbadon: Food on a sub is supposed to be the best in the service. I've heard there is a lot of promisquity onboard aircraft carriers (yes, they have female sailors onboard).
Since when did promiscuity aboard Naval vessels require the presence of females?
Posted by Mars Needs Women (Member # 1505) on :
Like they say in the Navy, "There is no wrong hole."
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
I dont think it's required, just available for the first time in naval history.
Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
Quick update; the recruiter says my sleep apnea will probably disqualify me but that there might be something that can be done to allow me to enlist. I've got an appointment with him Thursday so we'll see how that goes. I have to re-take the ASVAB but if I get the same score as I got in high school, he says I can pretty much pick whatever I want to do, up to and including nuclear engineering. So that's heartening, anyway
Thanks for all the info guys; it's been helpful in making the decision. I just hope that after deciding to go for it, I don't end up being disqualified.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
There are worse things than Navy, I am sure, but can't name them off right now.
If you want to see the world, and the world is about 70% covered by water, I suppose it is the way to go though.
Good luck Dan.
Posted by MinutiaeMan (Member # 444) on :
Y'know, I just realized that we've gone two whole pages without anyone making an "In the Navy" joke.
(Er....) Posted by shikaru808 (Member # 2080) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ritten: If you want to see the world, and the world is about 70% covered by water, I suppose it is the way to go though.
And the other 30% is DROPZONE
(Sorry, I'm in Airborne school right now. I just jumped out of an airplane for the first time yesterday! Good luck Dan!)
Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
^ COOOOOOL!
Posted by Pensive's Wetness (Member # 1203) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sean: The only thing I can really contribute to this topic is something I learned in Life Skills this semester.
When they interview you for any position, or even when the recruiter talks to you, if he asks you why you want to join up, don't give the whole " I want to serve my country" bull crap ( even if that is your intention). They prefer people who are joining the service to better themselves, or jump start a career/ get money for college, etc. So, go with those reasons if the question is asked. If you do decide to go, good luck man. It's been a pleasure being your sidekick.
( This would actually be an appropriate time for Pensive to chime in)
sorry i took so long in chiming in (Com2FuckingX, the chem-light bandit nuke strikes at 2am, asshole leadershit, broken gear, broken planes, nobody died... oh wait. was i supposed to say something modivational? let me read the 3 pages 1st before i mutter...) Would been faster in replies but most of the time, we couldn't get online during the times most advantagiuos of me... and no, i'm not getting up at 4am to surf. go eat a dick [current favorite retort in the shop, atm)... Posted by Pensive's Wetness (Member # 1203) on :
ok...
1st. you could carry a m-16. during my TAD time on Ike, i was required to qualify on several arms for the types of watchs i stand (9mm, m16a2 or fully automatic AR-15 and the m500 shottie). so yeah, you can carry those weapons, if your duty requires it. Seabees normally qual on those weapons, as do Fleet Marine Force corpsman, anyone in the SPECOPS community, as well as general law enforcement rolls. difference, to me, is how often you actually get to shot and how takes care of the firearms (you or the GM that issues the weapon?)
since 2002, and the start of IA, lots of sailors in both the active and reserve, also trained on the 9mm or m16 (m4 if availible).
lots of chances to carry. and once you get the chance to carry those arms serveral times, the pain you feel and bitter words, come easy.
nobody should ever like to carry those heavy fucking guns, unless that's your whole job (Ahem. Infantry). thats generally why i'll never bad mouth any type of grunt, marine or army. nuff said.
2nd. what do you want to do in the Navy? serve on small ships? work around the huge cities at sea? fly navy? ASW is still a skill we practice with P-3's and per dium is still per dium. subs require a mentality few possess. they couldn't pay me enough to work around nuclear power that badly...
oh and go watch the Carrier-at-sea-09534 what ever on PBS. you know the show that describes life at sea? that a carrier is like a city?
It is.... only that the city described? It's the Bronx...
i'll think about more, latter. really need to play a couple hours of DDO, then i'll explain what i do as a AS...
*waves*
Posted by Pensive's Wetness (Member # 1203) on :
now that i've sat on my ass and played DDO a few hours...
i realize that i cant think of anything else say on the subject. pretty much everyone nailed it... (recruiters lie. ALWAYS fucking remember that.) decide what you want to do first and foremost. don't just go with what your asvab scores are. you can always retake (i believe. i'll look that up tommorrow b4 i depart the area on leave) it. and dont assume your going be a BM3 after 4 years, i mean, dont assume you will be allowed to reenlist in the same rating, you joined and trained for.
Perform to Serve. PTS is a term i started hearing about back in '03. I never personally payed any attention to it (was a junior 1st at the time and virtually nothing about that stuff affected me and my duties didn't include mentoring to that depth of personal) but kept hearing more and more about it. the link babbles the sanitized version but in how it works from your own prospective view is this. Say that your a AT3, a airdale tron. lets say there are 1000 AT3's in the navy (the actual population of the AT rate is probably in the 10-20k range of personel, both squadron and I-level). now what if the navy only wants 900 AT3 next FY, thru various reasons/determinations (drawdown, loss of actua billets, decoms, etc). Now, with a population of 1k and a population cap of .9k, your rate is overmanned. that does a lot fo things. one, is that advancement stagnates. too many AT3's means, less ATAN's getting advanced, regardless of if they passed the test and thier score meets or excede's the cut off. How does the navy deal with this, with the goal of keeping thier troop levels high with skilled peps? change jobs.
we already said that AT3 was over manned. now what if the rate of BM for 3rds isnt? or 2nd class for that matter. teh navy suggests your change rates (or get out).
that's it.
oh... and if your a dirtbag with shitty evals, PTS pretty much makes sure you get kicked out at the end of your enlistment.
i think. it's pretty complicated and generally a hassle if your junior. less and issue if your a dinosaur like me...
and changing rate is pretty common and not really the best idea they came up with, specially when rate conversions have occured as high as E-6. changoing rate (especially if it's also communty, aviation to surface, seebee to aviation, submarine to anything else NOT sub or nuke, etc).
but they dont have anything else better, to my knowledge (and then intent on what the program is supposed to do, is there. how it serves the navy's needs as a whole... just not to the beinfite to the indivudial).
or to put my words in simplisity:
Choice yer rate, choice yer fate. you might find that some jobs allow you to sit on your ass while somejobs can litterally break your back. both individualls get the same pay but hardly do the same effort fairly. i seen a lot of Airdales do plenty of game time when they dont have work, as opposed to my rate where we could have work everyday (PM's, down gear, stupid shit, etc)
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Good luck Dan!)
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