So... yeah... I joined the navy.

[Calax]

... this is going to be very very interesting in the coming months.

[Guard Dog]

Congrats Calax! What MOS did you join up for?

[Brittany]

Congrats! Be safe!

[babydol]

Wow. What was is they said in 'Animal House'? No More Fun of Any Kind!!! BTW, I think military guys are a special kind of manly. And it takes a lot of moxie to join during war-time.

 

 

You kick ass! Good luck with everything!!!

[Humodour]

Good luck, mate!

[random n00b]

Hope you did it because the military life attracts you, rather than out of some sense of duty. Otherwise you may not be able to cope with the unbelievable amount of BS you'll have to deal with. Being in the military can be an extremely rewarding experience... or the absolute opposite.

 

At any rate, good luck man.

Edited April 23, 2008 by random n00b

[Kaftan Barlast]

But why did you choose the Navy?

[Gorgon]

Have Fun

[Shryke]

*hums Village People song*

 

so... the navy huh?

[Musopticon?]

That must beat being at McDonald's, srsly. I hope it for your sake.

 

Well, good luck.

[WITHTEETH]

Moxie indeed. If you haven't read Starship troopers and All Quiet On The Western Front I recommend these books.

[Gfted1]

Congrats Calex!

 

It will be very interesting. I had an unbelievable time in the Navy, got trained as an aircraft electrician and got money for college (which i never used ). It was totally worth it. Take every single program they offer you and if at all prossible push for a West coast deployment when you graduate "A" school (which did you choose BTW?). I say West coast because it is by far the better coast to be on for deployments. I was stationed on a carrier (CVN-65, CVN-72) and we got to do port stop all over the Pacific and South America.

 

The biggest obstacle to being in the military is the "BS". Your ability to adapt to that is the single biggest factor for your happiness or misery. You have to be able to roll with the punches. A lesser factor is the isolation from your friends/family while deployed at sea for 6 months. Luckily for me, I joined at 18 so I didnt have a wife/kids/bills to worry about but I saw it destroy many a person.

 

Regarding the war. War doesnt really exist for those in the Navy. During Gulf War I we just floated around launching bombers and fighters. There isnt anything to threaten our Navy out there so dont even sweat that part. Plus you will get: 1) Tax free pay, 2) Hazardous duty pay, 3) Free postage!

[Xard]

So you're off to Iraq soon eh?

Edited April 23, 2008 by Xard

[Guard Dog]

I'd like to echo Gfteds advice. Like anything else in life the more you put into the military the more you will get out of it. There are tremendous opportunities like 75% free college tution while on duty and GI Bill/NCF after you get out. Plus you will get full elective credit for all of your military training (at least I did). There will be a lot of BS to put up with but you just do it and laugh about it afterwards. Like anything else in life, being happy or miserable is a choice you make no matter where you are. As for the BS, there is a reason why the Navy (or any other branch) does what it does. It's not always a good reason but there is a reason. The big thing is, once you get out, having military service on your resume will get you a interview you might not otherwise have gotten. it's all good.

 

So my advice is:

 

A Chief Petty Officer actually ranks just below God. They can do whatever they want and no one really messes with them. So stay on their good side.

 

There is about zero difference between a basic Seaman and a PO6. Don't let any of them pull rank on you.

 

If you are on a ship with a Marine Det, don't laugh at them when they are doing PT, especially in bad weather. It makes us mad!

 

If you go to Korea don't drink Soju that isn't clear.

 

If you go the the phillpines don't drink Bullfrogs no matter what they tell you

 

Powedered eggs taste better with tobasco sauce

 

Never volunteer for anything, especially if the OOD smiles when he asks for volunteers.

 

Never go drinking in dress whites.

[Shryke]

Never go drinking in dress whites.

 

i totally read that as "never go drinking in white dresses"

[Gfted1]

So my advice is:

 

If you are on a ship with a Marine Det, don't laugh at them when they are doing PT, especially in bad weather. It makes us mad!

 

And it usually also means the ship is carrying "special weapons". Sometimes you will see the Marines running through the halls fully geared out simulating an attack on the "special weapons". Get out of the way immediately or they will run you over.

 

If you go the the phillpines don't drink Bullfrogs no matter what they tell you

 

Lol. I preferred the Mojo.

 

Never volunteer for anything, especially if the OOD smiles when he asks for volunteers.

 

Amen brother!

 

Never go drinking in dress whites.

 

Our liberty was almost always in civvies but yes, drinking and dress whites dont mix. I cant remember how many I had to replace. The dress blues were no picnic either with all 20-something buttons on the pants.

[walkerguy]

Iraq...

 

Its almost entirely landlocked!

[Gromnir]

how much they give towards college nowadays? is enough to actually pay for stuff?

 

Gromnir always recommends military service for folks coming out o' high school... 'less they gots a good academic or athletic scholarship offer.

 

is not 'cause military service builds character... 'cause it don't.

 

is not 'cause military service teaches discipline... 'cause it usually don't.

 

is not 'cause you will learn a useful skill... 'cause very often it won't.

 

the reason why Gromnir always recommends military service to high school kids is to get 'em away from their folks for a few years. gives you a chance to makes mistakes w/o mom and dad to help you. gives you a chance to make mistakes w/o mom and dad to hurt you. most kids is still kids at 18. gives you a few years to does stuff w/o having to consider first what mom and dad would say.

 

our background were real different, but it always amazed us how many o' our college friends were going to a certain college or taking a specific major 'cause o' their parents influence (monetary or emotional blackmail?) recalls one roommate, a 6'4" 295 offensive lineman who were 'fraid of 'nothing, 'cept his dad. every time Dr. C visited his son, Gromnir would have to endure our roommate repainting our bathroom with peach schnapps and last night's dinner. is good that such visits only happened a few times a year. seemed likes half of or roommates

[Calax]

well more details... I scored high enough of my ASVAB to make it into the Nuke program... they're practically BEGGING me to enter that program (20k enlistment bonus sounds nice) but... I'm having second thoughts, I'm thinking I should go into advanced electronics because of a job opportunity that I might get from Lockheed-Martin that pays rather well after I get out. Before I do anything too drastic about my job selection tho, I'm going to try to talk to my cousin (who's got 2 1/2 years under his belt already, and is advanced electronics currently)

 

and fer the record I scored 97 on my ASVAB.

[~Di]

Congratulations! Sounds like you're giving this a lot of thought, and are making a sound move on gaining skills that you can draw upon for the rest of your life. Don't forget us, now. Drop in when you can get to a computer!

[Dark_Raven]

Since you're going to be in the Navy, see if you can join the SEALs.

[babydol]

I remember, I did so well on my ASVABs, that I had people calling my parents, knocking at my door, and trying to visit me at school and at my part-time job (my highschool had my entire graduating class take them my JR year, so I was probably 16 years old then?). All I can really remember was this guy in a suit telling me that I was "really smart for a girl."

 

They had some kind of really tempting offer, but I was a chicken, so I graduated highschool, moved into a place with 3 of my friends, and proceeded to get married too young (I was BARELY 20), and basically do nothing with my life. I'm a house wife and I'm BORED. That's probably why I game so much, and post on game forums. I could probably get a job to bump up my social life, but my husband makes pretty good money, so I really don't need to...

 

Anyway, moral of my ramble is that you're taking a great opportunity and running with it. And that makes me kinda jealous for the crazy, adventuring life that i COULDA had...

[random n00b]

ASVABs?

 

 

Since you're going to be in the Navy, see if you can join the SEALs.

What would be the point of that, bragging rights notwithstanding?

[Krookie]

Since you're going to be in the Navy, see if you can join the SEALs.

What would be the point of that, bragging rights notwithstanding?

 

Um, so that he could get with the ladies, and he could sneak around all stealthy like and kill guys with silenced weapons, it's just like a video game!

[thepixiesrock]

I hear basic training is pretty tough, best of luck.