Michael G

I've been with this girl for a little more than a year. I'm currently serving as a Hospital Corpsman in the U.S. Navy and I plan on applying for SEAL training (BUD/S) next year.

My Girlfriend does not want me to pursue this, however. Instead, she wants me to become a doctor or a financial adviser... Someone that sits behind a desk 9-5 doing the same mundane thing. Becoming a SEAL is a dream of mine that I have had for years and I Still have yet to pursue it. I have many friends in the special operations community and the more I deny that I want to go to BUD/S, the more I want to do it. I know this sounds crazy, but I just don't know where to get advice. I need help in explaining this in a reasonable way to my girlfriend so that she will become more understanding and if not, how to separate from her (in a good and mature way) if things so happen to not go in my favor. I appreciate any advice on this matter. Thank you for your time and consideration.

*My girlfriend doesn't want me to become a SEAL because she is worried about my deployment cycle, getting shot at, putting my life at risk, etc etc.

**If you are wondering why I want to do this, I don't think most of you would understand. Its not about glory or honor.. Nothing like that. Its doing what I feel, as an American Citizen, is right and being a part of defending a nation that I love and would give my life for. Thanks.

I got messed up on the classifications for my rate so now im stuck on a dental strand. its not a regular HM... its HMDA and i was wondering if there were anyway that i could drop the DA from my rate or would i have to be stuck with it through out my naval career? Im currently at Naval Hospital Corps School and we haven't classed up yet due to christmas exodus... so now im on hold until 05JAN08. Is there any kind of special request chit that i can submit? because i wanted to try out for SARC (Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman) or possibly even SEALS. so i wanted to get experience in Fleet Marine Force or SARC. any advice?

'Ae, aloha wau ia 'oe ko'u kaikunane. Pehea 'oe? Maka'u? a'ole makemake au he ike aia hele ana 'oe ma Illinois. Kaumaha au. He pule au no'u 'oe. Malama pono! A hui hou!

I know that for every rating in the Navy, there are NEC's (Navy Enlisted Classification.) I was wondering about the HM-8401: search and rescue medical technician. I was going to volunteer for FMF (Fleet Marine Force) but I saw that classification of HM and I was wondering what I would have to do in order to get classified as a HM-8401 as opposed to being a Lab assistant. Are the classifications dependent on your scores at the end of "A" school? Or do they just fill you into a slot that needs to be filled? Thanks.

We kind of rushed into things a bit and established ourselves as "boyfriend and girlfriend." She doesn't want to get hurt so we decided to take things slower so now we're in that talking stage again. I don't really have a good track record and many people established me as a, "player." It's a little awkward talking to her but I make her smile often and laugh a lot. I don't know whether to just back down a bit and pull a friend vibe or take the reins and just go with the flow.

I recently joined the United States Navy as a HM (Hospital Corpsman) and my family wasn't to happy about it. They had an "intervention" with me that involved friends and family. They've showed me articles of Navy hospital corpsman that have been killed or wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. They've given me a good ultimatum... Stay in Hawaii and we'll pay for your college, room and board. They don't want me to be another statistic. So any suggestions would be great.

I work at Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park as a lifeguard and I enjoy work that involves saving people and medical emergencies. I applied to go into Honolulu Fire Department but I wanted to explore Pararescue with the US Air Force. If I go HFD, I can stay in the islands, work 10 days out of the month, go to college and have a steady career. If I join the Air Force, I can see the world, gain valuable career experience, and save many lives. I'm in very good physical shape and I'm unsure of what to do. And since Hawaii doesn't have a Pararescue reserve here, I can't do both. Any advice?

Im curious. Iʻm 19 years old and I have to wait another year before I can put in my application for HPD. Iʻm just wondering if itʻs really an exciting career to be in, or should I explore other careers in law enforcement?