Navy?

[Andrew1990]

I just got an email from an old friend from years back who joined the navy early this year. He says it is pretty cool and what not.

I was thinking this might be a better idea than community college at this point. I have read that you basically get college points in basic training.

Anyone here in the navy? Is it common to be based in foreign countries for your job or are they just based here in the USA and on ships?

Any programs I should stray away from? I probably want to do some outdoorsy stuff as I don't want to sit in a blank room for 4 years.

 

[Alone]

Why don't you ask your old friend who's actually in the Navy?

 

[Farang]

Having never been in the Navy, you can do a hell of a lot more (and more interesting) travel by not being in the Navy. And you can get more "college points" by going to college.

 

[Kirby]

"Rum, sodomy, and the lash."

 

[lupi]

Originally posted by: Andrew1990
I just got an email from an old friend from years back who joined the navy early this year. He says it is pretty cool and what not.

I was thinking this might be a better idea than community college at this point. I have read that you basically get college points in basic training.

Anyone here in the navy? Is it common to be based in foreign countries for your job or are they just based here in the USA and on ships?

Any programs I should stray away from? I probably want to do some outdoorsy stuff as I don't want to sit in a blank room for 4 years.

navy != outdoorsey stuff, particularly during your first tour unless you call standing on the deck of a carrier in the middle of nowhere outdoorsey.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Andrew1990
Any programs I should stray away from? I probably want to do some outdoorsy stuff as I don't want to sit in a blank room for 4 years.

SEALs. They're outdoorsy. The word is actually in their motto.

Edit: Seriously though, being in the military is very helpful later in life if you decide not to go career. You're trained up (in theory), you've proven that you can lead and take orders, you're goal oriented, and you're a shoe-in for government jobs.

I'll assume from your name that you're 18 or 19. Join up for four years, you'll be 22 or 23 and then you can decide what you want to do. You'll be considerably more mature by that point (I'm not saying you're immature now, just that there's a big difference there).

 

[Andrew1990]

Originally posted by: Alone
Why don't you ask your old friend who's actually in the Navy?

I don't trust him as I hear they get credited for getting someone to sign up. I still sent him an email back asking a few questions.

 

[xanis]

A friend of mine is currently in the Navy. He joined right after graduating high school.

He's been all around the world. He's been to parts of Europe and the Middle East, and *apparently* has been deployed somewhere in the vicinity of Somalia for pirate-hunting.

When I asked him how he likes the Navy (and the military in general) he simply said, "it has its good and bad". I think he enjoys what he's doing, but he really misses certain aspects of college and civilian life that he doesn't get to experience.

He works IT for the ship he's assigned to. He works 12 hour shifts and gets paid what is equivalent to less than minimum wage. HOWEVER... he does get food and lodging courtesy of the United States Government... so I guess it's not too bad.

 

[BoomerD]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcZeDYBc-1E

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: Andrew1990
Any programs I should stray away from? I probably want to do some outdoorsy stuff as I don't want to sit in a blank room for 4 years.

SEALs. They're outdoorsy. The word is actually in their motto.

Ya, but I don't think he's considered the part about actually being in the shit.

 

[Alone]

Originally posted by: XanisHe works 12 hour shifts and gets paid what is equivalent to less than minimum wage. HOWEVER... he does get food and lodging courtesy of the United States Government... so I guess it's not too bad.

I don't know how different the U.S. pay is compared to the CF, but this "deal" isn't as good as it seems.

In our pay system, you get deducted about $600/month to live and eat on base. I wouldn't pay that much to live and eat off base, not even close.

 

[Kirby]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcZeDYBc-1E

Is that you in the hardhat? :Q

 

[SilentZero]

I was in the Army for over 5 years, and spent almost all of that time overseas. Lived and traveled all over Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Korea. When I left the service, the GI bill helped pay for my BS in CS, and a year of graduate school before the money ran out.

In the end it was worth every moment. Made life long friends, met my wife (who was a nurse in the army), served my country, had the chance to see the world, and managed to save a good amount of money to help pay for school.

The service is never a bad thing (no matter the branch), but it just depends on the person and your priorities.

 

[Andrew1990]

Originally posted by: SilentZero
priorities.

Well right now I dont really have any life goals. I am going to community college for something I am good at but dont really like. I dont really have any possessions that are worth much and I dont even have a car to drive myself to a better job.

I might look into this as I dont want to be one of those people who turn 40 and wish they did something other than getting by to survive.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

watch this, very informative, its a documentary made of the USS Nimitz on a deployment by PBS:

http://www.pbs.org/weta/carrier/

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

I was in the Navy for 8 years, and have several friends still in. If you have any specific questions, PM me.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: SilentZero
I was in the Army for over 5 years, and spent almost all of that time overseas. Lived and traveled all over Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Korea. When I left the service, the GI bill helped pay for my BS in CS, and a year of graduate school before the money ran out.

In the end it was worth every moment. Made life long friends, met my wife (who was a nurse in the army), served my country, had the chance to see the world, and managed to save a good amount of money to help pay for school.

The service is never a bad thing (no matter the branch), but it just depends on the person and your priorities.

:thumbsup:

 

[zanejohnson]

Originally posted by: SilentZero
I was in the Army for over 5 years, and spent almost all of that time overseas. Lived and traveled all over Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Korea. When I left the service, the GI bill helped pay for my BS in CS, and a year of graduate school before the money ran out.

In the end it was worth every moment. Made life long friends, met my wife (who was a nurse in the army), served my country, had the chance to see the world, and managed to save a good amount of money to help pay for school.

The service is never a bad thing (no matter the branch), but it just depends on the person and your priorities.

i want to join the army, but i can't at the moment because of a misdemeanor drug charge i got when i was 21, or 22, i dont remember, it was a couple years ago when i was an idiot, addicted to opiates.. doing everything i could to just be fucked up ALL THE TIME.


right now im doing ok, working two jobs, which sucks.... but we're actually making some money again finally, the wifey works too now, in the mornings, but it might be just temporary as it's really better with kids especially young ones to have a mom at home all the time..

but yeah, i would love to go into the service, i feel like it's something i could really "get into," you know what i mean? something positive, and productive, and it has nothing but good effect on your future.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: zanejohnson
i want to join the army, but i can't at the moment because of a misdemeanor drug charge i got when i was 21, or 22, i dont remember, it was a couple years ago when i was an idiot, addicted to opiates.. doing everything i could to just be fucked up ALL THE TIME.

Did the recruiter say that you would ever be able to join up? I'm blacklisted.

 

[Spg]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcZeDYBc-1E

Did you really need to do that?

I hope you like boats if you go Navy. No matter what branch you go into I would really try to go in as an officer. The pay and treatment is much better, from the enlisted point of view anyway.

First figure out what you want to do. When you have an idea of what you want to do the recruiter will have you take the ASVAB and see what you qualify for (at least that is what I had to do). If you are not a rock, you can choose from anything. DO NOT GO OPEN CONTRACT. They will usually try anything to get you to sign up. They will also be your best friend while you are signing up.

From what I have seen, the Air Force has the best accommodations, Navy has good food, never delt with the Army, and the Marines usually get the left overs. I did my 5 years in the Marines working on helicopters. It was good and bad and I got to travel a bit. Just make sure that your job can transfer to the civilian world so if you do not become a lifer you can get a job when you get out.

And usually what ever branch you get in you will talk trash about the rest. It is just the way it happens.

 

[shortylickens]

I joined in 1997. It was certainly an experience. Am using my GI Bill and Navy College Fund right now. While I am grateful for it I would have to say that joining right now might not be the best idea.
IF you join, make sure you get a good program like Nuclear Technician or Advanced Electronics in your contract, IN WRITING!!
Also, if you get the Nuke program please keep in mind they have a 90% attrition rate. A lot of guys who thought they were smart and thought they were good at school ended up like me: Chipping paint for three years. Then I got into the Advanced Electronics program and that was a hell of a lot easier.

 

[Sea Moose]

Originally posted by: SilentZero
I was in the Army for over 5 years, and spent almost all of that time overseas. Lived and traveled all over Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Korea. When I left the service, the GI bill helped pay for my BS in CS, and a year of graduate school before the money ran out.

In the end it was worth every moment. Made life long friends, met my wife (who was a nurse in the army), served my country, had the chance to see the world, and managed to save a good amount of money to help pay for school.

The service is never a bad thing (no matter the branch), but it just depends on the person and your priorities.

I am going through the final part of my recruitment process for army reserves (i think its the national guard in the usa?) I hold a refrigeration and airconditioning trade licence, and i am currently doing an electricians licence, so i will get to further my technical skills in the army, working on equpiment i would never get the chance to work on in the civilian world. My mate that is already in the reserves(hes a full time uni student) says its fucking awesome.

I will go one night a week, one weekend a month and one week a year plus an optional overseas deployment. I will get to learn to be a soldier as well as do my civilian studies. Its the only second job you can get thats tax free.

 

[Phokus]

I'm thinking of a family guy scene:

"Are you guys pirates?"

"well, you could say a certain KIND of pirate!"

:laugh:

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: Andrew1990
Worth while?

No.

 

[Sea Moose]

A military career is a great option. If i was an american i would love to join the marines, or national guard.

You guys are lucky that you have so many options for a military career.