If someone with a bit of U.S. Navy experience could help out, that would be great.
Why should I join?
Why shouldn't I join?
2008-03-18T17:29:36Z
To clarify, I'm 19-years-old, love to learn, but not formally educated. I have nearly zero direction in life, but love sailing, boats and traveling whenever, wherever. My family's beginning to be disappointed by me and work is very hard to find right now. I thought about joining when I was sixteen (without a recruiter's influence) and am strongly considering it again. I'm interested in using the four years to either learn a skill for civilian work or decide to reenlist, which I would definitely consider doing.
Why join? Why not? What should I expect?
CV59StormVet2008-03-18T18:01:44Z
Favorite Answer
The Navy is much more than a yacht club, ...you should remember that. You'll only spend about 1/3 of your time actually "underway" at sea. The remainder of the time you'll be tied up to a pier or have shore duty. Remember that the Navy IS the military, and you're expected to conduct yourself in a military manner (not to the nth degree that the Marines or the Army take it, but still the military). If you have a hard time taking orders and not questioning "why?" all of the time, you should seriously re-evaluate whether you are cut out for the Navy. The first word you are told to absolutely eliminate from your vocabulary the first day of boot camp is the word "why?". There will be times when your life and the lives of your shipmates depend upon your following orders to the letter without question (like when you fight a shipboard fire at sea).
By the same token, if you expect to be reasonably successful in the Navy, you need to be what we called a "hard charger" (someone who diligently pursues their assigned duties without having to be told to do so). The Navy will never "give" you responsibility, ...rather it is there for the TAKING. The Navy wants people who take charge and get the job done right the first time ALL OF THE TIME. Just like in football, you've heard coaches say "...winners always want the ball when the game is on the line." This was never more true than in the Navy.
I'm not trying to talk you in or out of joining. I spent 21 years on active duty and made it all the way to the finest rank ever bestowed upon a human being; that of Chief Petty Officer. For me to tell you I loved every second of it would be a lie; there were ups and downs. But it's during those "downs" that truly measures a sailor's salt; to understand that the Navy is what it is and you can only make the best of each and every situation it offers. But the friendships you'll forge will last a life time; the places you'll go and the things you'll see you'll probably never see again once you're out; and the knowledge and experience you will gain over those who merely go to college will be one of the most valued and treasured assets you'll have later in life. You'll even become so attached to your first ship that when she's stricken from the fleet and towed into mothballs you'll have a lump in your throat, and, of course, ...you'll fall in absolute love with the sea.
I used to look back on my Navy career with a sense of awe; ...but the older I get it becomes more a sense of pride and dignity. I was part of something special and something much bigger than myself, even if for only a brief shining moment in time. I truly miss the Navy and what I have come to call "the Brotherhood of the Sea."
You need to make up your own mind, ...military and Navy life isn't for everyone. But if you're a person who can give of him or herself repeatedly without expecting anything in return, you'll go a long way in the Navy. Anyways, ...good luck to you. As we always said in the fleet, ..."fair winds and following seas."
As long as you do not become a nuke, I think it s fine. I served 6 years as a nuke and the best thing I did for myself was get out. I am now happily using the GI bill to pay for my schooling. Although I will not bother you with all the awful and inhumane things nukes have to go through, I will tell you this. The Navy advertises itself as launching jets, shooting big guns, and using all this cool equipment. It s mostly janitor work and they use those advertisements to target punk *** kids to sign away their freedom. Once you are in the navy they treat you like **** and you can t leave because you do not want to get a dishonorable discharge which will be on your record for life. Again, I dont think all the navy is bad, just nuke life.
In the navy it's very close quarters especially if your on a ship for long periods of time and there's never resting especially when out in open waters someone's always guarding
I am not in the navy but live in a community with a lot of enlisted and retired navy personnel. I think the navy is good for young people who do not know what to do. The discipline and the experience gives young people a better perspective of life. I encouraged my kids to enlist but they do not want to. The strong bond that you build among your comrades is also something to treasure. The opportunites to learn are endless. You will be exposed to a lot of fields that you normally wouldnt encounter. I have high regards for navy people. It is probably something that you would not want to be in all your life, because of the time away from home and family. But it will enrich your life and help you figure out what you want to be. Even better, would be to attend the Naval Academy. Have you checked that out? Good luck!