[Natural Nomad]

(02-11-2015 08:03 PM)Cr33pin Wrote:  

All my friends went into the Navy except me. I choose the AirForce. I'm happy with my decision as most of my Navy friends always said they wish they joined the ChairForce. The Airforce has more money then the other branches because of its connection to NASA. So when you stay in the barracks you get your own room and the bases are just generally nicer. Plus although my friends got to see the world when they went out on cruise or whatever they called it, they said it sucked. Being crammed on that ship for sometimes months at a time working 7 days a week and 12 hour days. (I'm not knocking the Navy at all, I am just speaking on what my Navy friends told me,... no offence to any current or veterans of the Navy)

With all that out of the way I think you sure as shit should join the military. Get some self discipline and out of your town. Some life experience. Plus it will look good on job resumes in the future.

Also lets not forget the GI Bill... I know guys who got out of the Navy and went to community colleges and lived and thrived off the money they were receiving every month from the GI Bill. Granted this was in a cheaper town and smaller college but they were making enough to pay rent, food, gas, everything they needed to pay every month with the extra money from the GI BIll.

Serve your country son

I agree with all said here. I have several family members and friends who are in the Navy or are Navy Vets. All said here is the same tune most Navy guys sing. They had fun and there were some good times but being on a ship for seven months is horrible. And not to mention military travel is shit.. you have deadlines can't change your mind about itinerary, and a small screw up like being late or even something totally out of your control can mean UCMJ action against you.

For example, once I was told by my superior (new to the unit) to go to a doctor appointment I had. It was scheduled during training but was an important one so I needed to go. He told me to find a ride and go... straight to my face. I went and came back a few hours later and spent the next few hours low crawling through the muddy field in front of our Barracks with a bunch of NCO's asking where the fuck I was.

Of course you do this with no questions asked. Finally when I was asked where I was I explained and the NCO who told me to go changed his story so not to look bad the first day on the job in front of his boss. Not willing to change my story I held my ground to the end... The new NCO even took me to the side and admitted he made the mistake and to take one for the 'team" (him). I told him in a professional manner to go fuck himself. It didn't stop there... I was called in to be read my article 15 (30 days half pay, 6 extra hours of work PER DAY sweeping parking lots and organizing rocks into neat patterns, loss off privilege to go off base, a loss in rank, and more)

If I was like most guys I would have had to take this bs with a smile (and most times its easier to just take it) because I was smart and knew the system I requested a trial by court martial. (This is a big deal) After the prosecutor looked at the case and saw I had three witnesses who overheard, the shit was thrown away, or so I heard. Either way nothing ever happened although I was not passed over during a promotion period a couple months later.

This is not the norm in the military. Most of the time if you are doing the right thing you will be fine. But one of the top reasons more than 70% of my platoon chose not to re-inlist was because of this kind of thing. Most older or smarter guys can't take the backward logic and bureaucracy that goes hand in hand with the military not to mention the way SOME bosses are slimeball cocksuckrs like the fat-assed no-integrity POS that was this guy.

All that being said I loved being in the Army and loved being Infantry. War sucks but there is not a more masculine job on the face of this earth. Carrying 140 lbs through mountains and while fighting an enemy what wants to kill you is not something just anyone is willing to do. It will make other trivial shit in life seem like nothing. It will give you an inner confidence that never leaves you and certainly helps during hard times which will come... If you are a smart guy who uses what's around you to accomplish your goals. You are a part of RFV so you probably have some of these personality traits. But I digress, you are going to be in the navy and probably not in combat operations unless you are a medic.

Would I do it again? Fuck yea. Would I go back now? Not in a million fucking years.

I know I'm sounding a little contradictory but you'll talk to a lot of guys like that.

Anyway rambling now but I hope some of it gave you some insight. Good luck brother!

[Sp5]

(02-11-2015 09:14 PM)Cobra Wrote:  

I was in the Navy for 4 years; another 4 years active reserves in a Seabee unit. PM me if you'd like.

I also get the sense that you're looking for a job. The Navy for me was not about getting a job. It was about having an adventure. With your ASVAB, your job (Nuclear, crypto etc) will likely be so "cushy" that you'll most likely be on shore duty. And that shore duty may not be in a desirable place. You're also in Ballston Spa (shithole) for a while for Nuclear training if that's what you choose.

My scores weren't THAT high so I got to do sea duty. I had a great time.

Practical advice: Try to see if you can get on a carrier or maybe a squadron (possibly) that needs your skills. I guarantee it will be more fun on a ship or "deployable" unit (like a squadron).

You want to live your youth travelling. If I knew about the forum and game back then, I would have conquered the world.

I have been thinking the longest time about writing an article about my experiences in the Navy. This thread revived that desire.

Navy Seabees and Air Force "Red Horse / Prime Beef" are also excellent fields. You can learn a trade and get apprenticeship credit for the building trades unions.

Basically, carpentry, plumbing, electricians, construction technology, utilities service.

They go to a lot of interesting places, lots of humanitarian relief stuff.

[Dirtyblueshirt]

Former Navy Nuke ET here.

Any questions you guys have about the training pipeline/schools, ship routine, deployments, post-Navy job search, etc. I will be glad to answer.

I would say to the OP to ONLY go Nuke if it is your primary goal to work in a power plant once you get out of the Navy. If you are thinking about the military as a long term career or just keeping your options open, do something else. Once you earn a nuclear classification it is extremely hard to do anything else in the Navy. Even with enlisted Nukes who get picked up as officers, it is only with the understanding that they will be Nuke officers.

When I enlisted in 2008, it was with a $20,000 signing bonus back then (don't know what it is today). What I didn't ask myself was- why is it so high? The reason is that Nuke retention rates are extremely low and it is hard to keep people in. Nuke divisions are often undermanned and overworked. It is also why Nuke reenlistment bonuses are so high.

But it is intellectually challenging work if that is something you are interested in. Also, the people you will work with are some of the most intelligent you will ever meet (as opposed to boot camp, where most are borderline mentally retarded).

[jimukr104]

Quote:

Of course you do this with no questions asked. Finally when I was asked where I was I explained and the NCO who told me to go changed his story so not to look bad the first day on the job in front of his boss. Not willing to change my story I held my ground to the end... The new NCO even took me to the side and admitted he made the mistake and to take one for the 'team" (him). I told him in a professional manner to go fuck himself. It didn't stop there... I was called in to be read my article 15 (30 days half pay, 6 extra hours of work PER DAY sweeping parking lots and organizing rocks into neat patterns, loss off privilege to go off base, a loss in rank, and more)

Sadly these same jack offs leave and become NYPD bosses! Shit goes downhill in military/paramilitary organizations!

[cool]

I wish someone had told me how dumb, lazy, and petty most NCOs are before I enlisted. These are the people who will control your life.

Remember, military life is all about dealing with misery. Wet, cold, sweaty, dirty, hungry, thirsty, angry, sore, tired, sleep-deprived, injured, bored. You get the idea.

[Sonoma]

PMed it to you but ill post as well

I'm the same age, live by you and considered Navy as well

My situations slightly different, I was considering military last year when I already had a college degree. I ended up choosing not to join, mostly because you lose a lot of years and aren't able to travel

I had the same ASVAB score and had nuclear pushed on me, it seems like a great opportunity but then you'll be in your late 20s getting out.

A good middle ground for you might be reserve, you'll get some decent starting cash after basic and a slight income monthly, all while still attending school.

I don't know your financial situation, but there's a lot of financial aid available, I went to college for free and was paid 23g cash over 4.5 years. Apply for FASFA now

Military really will keep you from doing anything overseas for the better part of the decade, but you might be able to sign up for a stint to get out of the country via the Navy. I have a friend who does reserve and has done a 9 month venture out to Korea just to keep his life interesting. I have a lot more but can't think of it all at the minute

[Cobra]

Delete

[Cobra]

(02-16-2015 06:58 PM)Cobra Wrote:  

(02-12-2015 12:19 AM)GyopoPlayboy Wrote:  

(02-11-2015 09:14 PM)Cobra Wrote:  

I have been thinking the longest time about writing an article about my experiences in the Navy. This thread revived that desire.

This would be HUGE, Cobra. I know that many here, myself included, would love to hear about it.

If you don't mind sharing...What was your rating? And what are you doing now that you're out?

Will do as soon as I possibly can. I left the Navy, went to study using the GI Bill at a decent school with a decent Accounting program. Became president of the resident Business Frat in the program. I leveraged that and got a position at one of the largest Accounting firm in the world and started in the NYC office. Then I did the Corporate hustle. Discovered the forum in there somewhere and started pimping. Well legally! I place mid to higher level people in Finance and Accounting roles. Basically it's sales with real high potential. The Navy did a lot for me; primarily giving me confidence to tackle the world head on. The forum is now doing that as well.

So I don't accept the hate that the military takes. It did a lot for me and I was just an immigrant that started out not even speaking clear english when I landed in this country.

Of course my purpose in joining was very different from what anyone else's would be. I would say seek that purpose out and be honest with yourself before signing on that dotted line.

[GeroMeroHero]

I have Pmed the people who offered but have not heard back. I don't want to seem presumptuous but it has been more than a few days. Just a reminder to people.

[Checkmat]

I've said it before in this forum, so I'll just say it again. The military is the best kept secret out there for people leaving high school right now.

There are so many people my age--mid 20's--up to their eyeballs in student loan debt and barely scratching entry level positions in their career fields.

After 4 years in the Air Force from ages 19-23, I turned down a close to $90k re-enlistment bonus, began making $90k annually* as a civilian and had learned a valuable trade, earned an AAS and didn't have a penny of debt besides personal spending with a credit card.

The post-9/11 GI Bill allows you to collect tax-free income just for going to school or being in an OJT program at your job. You can work full-time and take classes either online or part-time on a campus and aside from the free schooling, you'll get paid just to go.

*In New York

[speakeasy]

(02-17-2015 09:08 PM)Checkmat Wrote:  

I've said it before in this forum, so I'll just say it again. The military is the best kept secret out there for people leaving high school right now.

There are so many people my age--mid 20's--up to their eyeballs in student loan debt and barely scratching entry level positions in their career fields.

After 4 years in the Air Force from ages 19-23, I turned down a close to $90k re-enlistment bonus, began making $90k annually* as a civilian and had learned a valuable trade, earned an AAS and didn't have a penny of debt besides personal spending with a credit card.

The post-9/11 GI Bill allows you to collect tax-free income just for going to school or being in an OJT program at your job. You can work full-time and take classes either online or part-time on a campus and aside from the free schooling, you'll get paid just to go.

*In New York

I'm 38, but if I had to do it all over again, I'd have gone into the military after high school. The military never even occurred to me as being an option. I just never thought about it. At all. But the more I read, you really can use it to your advantage if you know how to position yourself. I know service is the antithesis of the sovereign do your own thing lifestyle that RVF glorifies, but the service is definitely a solid option.

[LargeNelson]

Some thoughts.
Background - been in the Navy 20 plus years, E3 to O3 via E7 or CPO.

Most importantly don't look for an easy job but a job you may enjoy, or at least think you will enjoy. There's a few rates (i.e. jobs) that can be viewed as easy but unless you are interested in the work or are using it to gain skills for after the Navy, trust me, your work day will be filled with enough soul killing mundane but high stress tasks to make that first 4 to 6 year commitment go by slow as hell.

CTN is an interesting rate if you are interested in network (now everything is called cyber) so cyber forensics, network defense, etc. This rate has minimum sea time if you are thinking of just 4 years and out and not into the whole floating around thing.

Someone mentioned about your good ASVAB scores and not working alongside your intellectual peers. There's some merit to that but you'll excel and promote quickly as compared to your peers. I'm not saying I'm smart but I worked hard to promote and always thought that once I went into the Chief's Mess things would be better and a better class of people. No, they're humans too; meaning a few cool ones but majority of pricks. You can still excel. Figured once I was commissioned (become an officer) I'd be able to relate with my peers. Watch the beginning of An Officer and a Gentleman and Richard Gere's hungover Chief Dad tells him how officers are a bunch of uptight pricks or something like that. Again, some cool people but they are humans too, meaning a lot of pricks but this time there is a very high percentage of them that are willing to work very hard plus your promotion is not almost rigidly set to set periods of time and very difficult to promote early


As others said before me I wouldn't go nuke unless you want to work in the field.

Really be sure the Navy is for you. If you don't have a friend that can take you on board a ship and see how you will live down in berthing you should try to find something on You tube. My first berthing was a giant room split into cubicles with up to 12 dudes in one section (3 racks, one on the bottom, one middle which is prime real estate, and one on top), 4 sections with 3 racks each next to each other with about two feet in between equals twelve.

During a shooting war the Army and Marines have it harder in the field, no doubt (though a lot of Navy went to Iraq and Afghanistan, and not just EOD and Seals) but during peacetime the Navy will have the roughest living conditions. I used to love to see the faces of Army that would come on board an visit.

During your first sea tour there will be a lot of cleaning and a lot of work outside of your rate you joined up to do. They haven't figured a way to ship illegal aliens out to sea to do all the work no one else wants so guess who is helping with food prep, washing up, mopping decks, etc?

Agree, with others that when talking with your recruiter to a guaranteed "A" School. This is a training course after boot camp that will teach you the fundamentals of your rate. Without that you go to sea designated and will probably work as a Boatswain. Nothing wrong with that rate, you get to mess around with the ship's boats, but it's definitely not an "easy rate".

Don't dismiss six years out of hand. Seems like forever now but if you get a good deal and training those years will go by. I agree with others that unless you have some great scholarships or opportunities lined up then the Navy, 4 to 6 years and get out with some GI Bill is the way to go.

You may have to wait longer for a rate you desire. It is based on open seats and not on putting guys in when they want. With high ASVAB gets extra credit and you can pick and choose more.

I picked the Navy over the Air Force because we promote quicker. Air Force is well know for a more comfortable way of life and their work is probably a lot less stressful. That's why it's very hard to get in the Air Force and slower to promote.

Going overseas is not as fun as it was when I first joined (unless you had duty we were gone and stayed away now there are usually restrictions such as always go out with a buddy and come back at midnight, etc) but I also picked the Navy to see the world. Because of the Navy I have visited ALL of Asia, Italy, and even a fun trip to Afghanistan thrown in as a thank you! Seriously, I'm glad for the travel.

Big question is if you have kids or married? If so then Navy for your first tour or so will suck. If you are single then the world is yours. I'd do my best to get a ship first tour then stay overseas. Lots of chances for shore duty in Japan and Italy, depending on your rate.

I'm not on the forum much but PM me and I'll answer.

[GeroMeroHero]

Well, thank you to everyone for the advice.
Sadly I was permanently disqualified from the Navy.
Over what? Well I had a patch of eczema on my right ankle, and after dicking me around trying to get it waived it was revealed thag having eczema or similar skin conditions after you're 9 years old is a permanent disqualifer.

But this is not asking for pity.
I immediately went to the Air Force office and got that process started.
Any other advice or avenues I should consider? My backup plans include Oil Sands and Teaching English Overseas if the Air Force should also fall through.

[Saga]

(03-17-2015 04:13 PM)GeroMeroHero Wrote:  

Well, thank you to everyone for the advice.
Sadly I was permanently disqualified from the Navy.
Over what? Well I had a patch of eczema on my right ankle, and after dicking me around trying to get it waived it was revealed thag having eczema or similar skin conditions after you're 9 years old is a permanent disqualifer.

But this is not asking for pity.
I immediately went to the Air Force office and got that process started.
Any other advice or avenues I should consider? My backup plans include Oil Sands and Teaching English Overseas if the Air Force should also fall through.

That sucks. I hate to say this but I'm fairly certain that eczema is a permanent DQ for the whole military...it's what disallowed me from joining (don't get me started on what I think of the reason for the regulation). Still who knows, maybe the USAF recruiters (or Army or USMC if you're interested) can manage to get a waiver for you...very rare these days but it's worth a try.

If it doesn't work out those backups are good ideas, I don't know much about Oil Sands but I can provide some info on teaching English if you decide on that route.

[GeroMeroHero]

(03-17-2015 09:16 PM)Saga Wrote:  

(03-17-2015 04:13 PM)GeroMeroHero Wrote:  

Well, thank you to everyone for the advice.
Sadly I was permanently disqualified from the Navy.
Over what? Well I had a patch of eczema on my right ankle, and after dicking me around trying to get it waived it was revealed thag having eczema or similar skin conditions after you're 9 years old is a permanent disqualifer.

But this is not asking for pity.
I immediately went to the Air Force office and got that process started.
Any other advice or avenues I should consider? My backup plans include Oil Sands and Teaching English Overseas if the Air Force should also fall through.

That sucks. I hate to say this but I'm fairly certain that eczema is a permanent DQ for the whole military...it's what disallowed me from joining (don't get me started on what I think of the reason for the regulation). Still who knows, maybe the USAF recruiters (or Army or USMC if you're interested) can manage to get a waiver for you...very rare these days but it's worth a try.

If it doesn't work out those backups are good ideas, I don't know much about Oil Sands but I can provide some info on teaching English if you decide on that route.

It is but the Air Force may waive it. It's a case by case basis and in all honesty they would be pretty stupid not to, at least on paper, since I am a strong applicant in every other way. No credit issues, no record, no tattoos, no wife or kids, so forth.
^(I seriously read that in Elliot Rodger's voice so I better stop)

Thank you for the offer about teaching overseas, I would love more information and will PM you right away

[iknowexactly]

Get your degree before you go in and become an officer, that'll take a couple years, retire at 45-6 (much earlier than most, your 40s are a much more vital and sexually capable decade than your 50s) and you'll have much more respect DURING your service time and for the rest of your life after.

The world runs on a caste system, there is no fairness whatsoever in it, but it definitely is that way.

Does anyone know -- the military pension system works so you get half pay at 20 years but you bail at 15 you get nothing? I've heard that but it sounds kind of scary.

[Lucky]

Seems like a good idea.

[Dirtyblueshirt]

(03-18-2015 03:51 AM)iknowexactly Wrote:  

Get your degree before you go in and become an officer, that'll take a couple years, retire at 45-6 (much earlier than most, your 40s are a much more vital and sexually capable decade than your 50s) and you'll have much more respect DURING your service time and for the rest of your life after.

The world runs on a caste system, there is no fairness whatsoever in it, but it definitely is that way.

Does anyone know -- the military pension system works so you get half pay at 20 years but you bail at 15 you get nothing? I've heard that but it sounds kind of scary.

It's true, if you get out before you reach 20, you don't get anything pension wise. Although you can get disability pay if you count that.

Even more, they can decide to do an "evaluation" board when you get close to 20 and separate you beforehand if they decide you are Non-Essential. A few years ago the Navy had a campaign where they were making a push to "cut the fat".

Right before I got out, there was some talk about a plan to do away with military pensions in the future that got a lot of people riled up. I think it got shot down though.

[Deepdiver]

Background - I am a Nuclear Submarine Qualified (Dolphins) Combat Computer Systems Expert - current rating is iirc an IT specialist includes sonar, weapons fire control, navigation, combat computer systems/networks, perhaps the other electronic ratings Electronic Warfare, Radioman, ships systems integration for automated monitoring (Admiral Rickover rolling in his grave).

NAVY PROS
AKA The Nuclear Submarine College of Nuclear and advanced electronics knowledge. There are Nukes who are worked like mad and they provide power for the "Nose Coners" who being highly skilled the ward room relies upon the NCs to fix stuff when they break it so if you work hard and become great at what you do you have it a bit better off at sea and make fast rank and big bonuses if you want - same on surface ships the Navy can't just call in a local tech rep to a combat patrol (providing close air support with Tomahawk missiles to US Army Ranger units etc) you are in a combat role at sea - no mud no bugs no scorpions and 3 hots and a clean cot.

So if you work hard, get good grades and stay off Drugs and away from HIV infected overseas hookers you can develop highly marketable commercial and government skills.

CONS You are subject to the UCMJ and must follow all lawful orders. Sailors belong on ships and ships belong at Sea. Like most kids when I was 18, 19, 20 it was a huge adventure after 2+ years of tech schools and 4 years sea duty - I found as a nuke boat sailor I was able to attract some high quality Tang (Short for Poon Tang) and decided I liked to get laid more than once every 7 to 12 months - the only Muslim tang offered up in the Indian Ocean likely has HIV - so crusty sox get old after a while - so I turned down $32 Thousand in reenlistment bonuses and decided I like getting laidmore. I doubled my Navy base pay as soon as I got out in a High Tech company.

No bragging just sharing what is real - I now have my own small veteran owned consulting company doing Cyber Security consulting work for $135 an hour (Literally turning down $70 to $80 subcontract gigs daily) and a lot of it is analysis and writing which is often "remote" and location independent (Though many Cyber Security gigs are on site at major Data Centers or client offices so they can show off their security department so not all location independent).

Information security work is booming I get a dozen calls a week and entry level consultants bill at minimum $50 an hour with rapid scale up with various GIAC, Cisco, ISC(2) certifications - oh yeah I finished of an Associates degree in the service and have taken college credit courses to support my certifications. Best kept industry secret is if you have a military tech background - clean legal background able to pass pre employment drugs and background investigations and get some key certs A+ and Security+ at entry and Cisco CCNA CCDA CCIE Security, ISC(2) CISSP or CSSLP or CCFP https://www.isc2.org/ccfp/default.aspx and or SANS GIAC certs (Google it) most of these certs have fat books available on Amazon - many in electronic form now - just download and read the books and you are ahead of the rest of the bunch who buy books and let them collect dust. Point is with an AS degree and Certs and DD-214 Honorable Discharge employers are jumping on guys now - you can take contract to permanent work as well to see if you like the company and people - or do as I did and go independent.

My goal was to develop superior income AND a location independent lifestyle and tech can work out nice if you make a plan and execute your mission. If you deliver on time and under budget and garner some great references on LinkedIn it can be a gold mine.

The truth is I am a high quality Poon Hound min 7s prefer 8+s - I like them young and trainable - if I had put as much effort into a BS and MS degrees as I did hunting poontang I would be at a C-Level salary today. As it is I am in the process of getting my 10 Point Veterans preference and looking at eventual Fed work due to the rich pensions - that would be after I let a loyal Nordic/Slavic or perhaps Latina put me on lock down - because now that the economy has picked up for me and many others it is what I want to do at this point in my life - Perhaps live in PR or Panama or even USA and or RU/UA with a multi flag lifestyle. Asia also hot now if you get yellow fever.

OBTW - Once you get the certs and a steady job - Corp. Employers will often pay for your BS and MS which now can be done on line with not for profits like SNHU (BS and MS in Cyber Security) which has over 30,000 on line students and one of the best success stories in New England.

So if you have discipline and work hard on the harder tech skills you can really kick ass even if you are a lazy assed poon hound like me ;-)

[Deepdiver]

P.S. If you are out now and honorably discharged there are ways to "Game" the rat bastards at the VA big time for a service connected status and "compensation" if you go about it the right way - this has become huge since the VA was reorganized after letting Vets die on waiting lists nationwide. This is really sensitive stuff so send me a PM and I will send you some links - I was helping guys out but after Chris Kyle was offed by a drug addicted PTSD case - which I have met many - I have decided no good deed goes unpunished and have backed off in this regard. So no personal counseling as I have NO effing time - but willing to share links and how to get started.

[Smitha1983]

I was in the Navy for 11 years. Ship life sucks, the best job in the Navy is Aircrew on large fixed wing aircraft. You travel places often and your usually left alone or with a buddy to go out and do what you want at night vs being on a ship and having liberty expire at 12am. I been everywhere while I was aircrew and I banged way more chicks than when I used to be on a ship. I was on ships my first half of my career then aircrew my second half.