Navy question?

Yup, it really depends on your rate or job.

There are some rates which never do any ship time other than TDS but, can get stationed overseas at a base and yet others, like my old rating which is only stationed overseas while attached to a ship but, we spend a lot of time onboard ship away from home port.

I personally had the pleasure of doing two 6 month overseas deployments. One was to the med and the other was a UNITAS which took me all the way around South America, across to Africa and back up the east coast of South America back to Virginia.

It depends on the definition of "overseas". Except for some shore-based assignments or being on a forward-based ship with an overseas home port, sailors normally think in terms of Wespac or Med cruises. That's sailing to the Western Pacific or the Mediterranean Sea area for six months or more. Admittedly both involve a lot of foreign travel, but really don't easily fit into the category of "overseas".

In my case, it was about fifty-fifty in terms of really being overseas. This included land-based assignments with Fleet Marine Forces and one forward-deployed shipboard assignment in a 25-year Navy career.

It depends entirely on your career specialty. My dad spent only one tour at sea in almost 30 years as a career navy CT. I have a cousin that spent 100% of his time (6 years) at sea as a Boatswain's Mate.

Some jobs only have a real purpose at sea (boat driver) while others tend to be more land based (bandsman).

I always volunteered for it. Lower cost of living in some spots, Japan was a ball buster but the chicks were great.

My hubby is USMC and he has 2 sea service ribbons (so 2 years) out of his 4 year enlistment.

this is old school but we were told "join the navy and see the world" only most of the word is open sea.

It all depends on your Rating. Mine, I was all over the world jumping from ship to ship.

my ex is in the navy and I have never seen him sit still...never home for more than 6 months.