Hey guys, one of our fellow DFers has shared with me that they are thinking of volunteering in military service. In this case, they are considering joining the US Navy. I personally served in the Navy and said I would post some first hand knowledge before they sign up. Over the next day or so, I will post some of my thoughts here, but I know there are several veterans here on the forum and may also have some advice to offer. Please post it here.

I really think serving the country in the US Military is one of the most selfless and honorable things a person can do. I have left the person receiving this advice nameless. They can identify their self if they choose.

One last request, please be respectful in your posts. We joke a lot about EVERYTHING on here, but I really do not want anyone to make light of this.

Thanks,
PH

Hey PH, thanks for making this thread.

Yes, I'm planning on joining the US Navy soon, following the footsteps of both of my parents. Both are Navy Corpsmen, my mother is no longer active duty, but still works in the DOD as a GS personell. My father is active duty and currently works in NSW Group 3.

I realize this is a big choice, and I'm very serious about it. I'll truly appreciate any advice.

Well if you are going to go


Good Luck!

Luna, My wife and I both Served in the US AirForce....I was an Aircraft Mechanic. She was a Bomb Builder....We met in the Military. I wouldn't give up those 4 and a half to 5 year's for anything.
I will say the last base we were stationed at we hated, But even that experience made us stronger.
The only reason I got out was another sense of adventure. My wife and I got out and didn't know which way to go....we figured it out and Here we are all these year's later....Fun Memories...
I do have regret's about not serving 20 year's, but then little dent come's running up and those regret's pass. Ramble Ramble sry..
Advice....Sound's like you allready know what you want to do......Do it....

Edit: My little Quip here is based on your parent's being in the military...You allready have a very good understanding of what being in the service is all about....and what the impacts on your family life can be.....All the Best Luna...

Luna,

I' ll drop a line or two when I think of them.

1) Navy specific- get a guaranteed "A school" in writing before you sign. Make sure you have it in your hand. If you do not have an A school, you're in for a couple of years of really miserable work before you get to do anything cool

2) All services - this is a commitment. You don't just call in sick. You are signing your rights as normal citizen over to the service. It worth it, but you don't belong to you anymore.

3) Boot camp sucks, but its temporary. Keep,your mouth shut do what you're told and you'll be fine. Start running and doing sit-ups now. Condition yourself

4)Navy... You are not going to be at home....EVER. I spent 58 days in home port in 1996 the rest were on deployment or exercises. You'll see some cool places, but home isn't one of them.

5) In the Navy, after boot camp and after A school, you'll get to your first ship. You will then become the lowest life form on earth. A Mess Crank. Ask your folks what that is. Depending on the size ship you're the first year or so will be peppered with 3 or 4 month stints as a mess crank. You help the cooks. Doing anything and everything, they do not,want to do. Real nasty work sometime, awful hours and it will,seem as if everyone hates you. It a rite of passage and its temporary. And it's worth it.

6) Research other rates. OS is cool, but really look at what it translates to in the real world. Despite what the recruiter will say it is NOT an air traffic controller. My advice is to pick a rate that will translate to a real world job, unless you're going to be a
lifer. And you don't know that yet. Electronics and communications are great fields with many many rates.

Ill post more in time

I was fortunate enough to be in the Naval reserves while a kid in high school, and was able to use those experiences to great advantage later. I chose to go to the Air Force, and went to the Academy. My brother also was a reservist in high school, but he did it through the Army, and then applied for and received a four year Army ROTC scholarship.

I can only speak of my experinces and observations. I wanted to become a fighter pilot, and then a test pilot, and then an astronaut. One thing I found out is that the needs of the Air Force (insert Navy, Army or Marine Corps here) outweigh the needs of the individual. When comparing the Air Force to the other services, I would say that it is the closest to a normal 9-5 civilian job than the other services - just 2% of the Air Force flies or is in missiles (ICBMs) and the rest go to support them, either directly or indirectly. You just don't go into harm's way as often. My roomate in the academy had a brother that was in the Navy, on a carrier, and he was forever at sea doing WestPacs, always in the Persian Gulf. At the time, we were escorting reflagged Kuwaiti tankers in and out of the gulf, protecting them from Iran. But that's what the Navy does, it fights, keeping the sea lanes of communication open for the world. It's mission is much more global and "real world" than the Air Force's. If that's the way you want to go, I think the Navy is a great choice.

When I was active duty, women were not allowed to be combat pilots, nor were there allowances for women in combat. That changed this week. Prior to Panetta's ruling, the Air Force had more jobs open to women than any other service, followed by the Navy, then Army, and lastly the Marines. Not sure if you want to make a career out of serving or not, but that is something that you'll have to seriously consider. I can say that being at home with my family more often than not was a big reason why the Air Force was a more attractive option for me.

Whichever way you decide to go, I salute you. It's a higher calling, and only a few will truly understand what it means to wear a uniform, and represent your country and all that it stands for. The sacrifices are well worth it though, and I wouldn't trade any of it, especially Uncle Sam picking up the tab of my college education!

When it's in your blood, it's in your blood. No amount of advice would have changed my mind when I decided to join the Marine Corp. I did and saw more things than most people would will do or see and things people should never do or see in 2 or 3 lifetimes. And while I wish maybe I could take some things back, I certainly would do it again without question.

I served proudly for six yrs with the United States Army Rangers like flag seen and have done things that most have nightmares about my last operation was Restore Hope in Somalia.I can honestly tell you I left part of me there it was a troubled country that was using genocide to wipe its own people out.I still think about it.would I do it again YES when my country calls some answer the phone.Hooah and to my Marine brothers Semper fi fought proud along side in many conflicts in the deserts. Sua Sponte...Ranger Latin Motto means At one's own will.were not asked to be Rangers we choose to be.