considering joining the navy

tedkennedy · 08-19-2009, 12:27 PM

for a couple of days i have been researching joining the navy and im not sure if i should take it seriously or just give up and look somewhere else for a job.

pros:

-money with all living expenses paid, free education, free travel during off time.

-i will likely score well on the entry examination and get to choose any job i want that they will pay me while i train. i think it would be cool to be a navy diver but my vision is too bad. there are many trade skill jobs that are desirable skills in and out of the military (for example construction, welding, electrician, nuclear technician, mechanic) also, i think i can get at least a couple thousand dollars signing bonus because i have 4 years of college credits (but who knows)

- the montgomery GI bill will pay for a couple tens of thousands of dollars towards any education i choose after or during the military, i can go back to school for free and find something i really enjoy, i can finish my biology degree and/or go for something completely different.

-discipline, grow as a person. get to move up in rank by working hard. getting to say i have done and seen some cool shit. get to experience something new and challenging, get to see new places and hopefully travel.

-help me find a career. i am a semester away from graduating college but i have no experience or job references pertaining to my field. finding a job i want right now is more or less impossible because i lack experience and references. i am not a very outgoing person and its hard for me to go "job hunting", i just feel like a bitch and i hate the whole experience of having to suck up to employers for a pay check. the military is dieing for jobs and all i have to do is show up and work hard and i feel like i will be taken care of. i am good at following orders and being respectful.

cons:
-feeling like i have lowered myself to joining the military because i have no better options, telling my friends and family that i will be gone for a couple years

-a repressed military life.

-signing a 3-6 year contract, being trapped in a situation that i might very well dislike. only getting a month leave per year. its hard to imagine that i wont be a "free man" again until im in my later twenties.

-possibility of seeing combat

-being trapped with a bunch of psychopathic meat head conservatives, being the victim of verbal abuse. i feel like boot camp will be like all the worst parts of high school except 100 times worse. alot of people there will likely be just out of high school dumb asses

- (relatively speaking) low pay

-being forced to wear military issue prescription glasses which might make me the victim of verbal abuse at bootcamp.

anyway, if you guys can offer me any advice or experience go ahead. im just considering it at this point.

Lloydy · 08-19-2009, 12:51 PM

im not sure about the US navy but my mate is in the royal navy and loves it, he does absolutely fuck all he works 2 weeks on 2 weeks off and hes only been to sea twice in 3 years, according to him the only shit part is training.

pacman · 08-19-2009, 01:01 PM

the navy is a very good option tk. im still contemplating joining the army or marines.

Quote:

-feeling like i have lowered myself to joining the military because i have no better options, telling my friends and family that i will be gone for a couple years

theres no reason to feel like the military is a "last resort". its a great opportunity to, like you said, better yourself and jumpstart a high paying career.

Quote:

-possibility of seeing combat

you wouldn't see anything extreme. i mean, the most they'll ask you to do is locate a target via satellite and puch a button, if even.

Quote:

-being trapped with a bunch of psychopathic meat head conservatives, being the victim of verbal abuse. i feel like boot camp will be like all the worst parts of high school except 100 times worse. alot of people there will likely be just out of high school dumb asses

not everyone in the military are "psychopathic meat head conservatives". youre not there to discuss your political views and such. in fact, you dont even have to say a word on how you feel. just keep stuff to yourself.

and so what if they are all dumbasses. that gives you a chance to take leadership over them, increasing your chance to stand out to officers and get promoted faster.

Quote:

-being forced to wear military issue prescription glasses which might make me the victim of verbal abuse at bootcamp.

no one is gonna make fun of you for wearing glasses tk. thats middle school shit. besides, youre tk. you will make those glasses cool and people would wish they had em too. and i read somewhere that they offer LASIK or PRK vision correction for free or something. contact a recruiter and ask about that along with other inquiries

Mydriasis · 08-19-2009, 01:08 PM

I have a buddy in, a buddy out, and a buddy going into the Navy.

Good experiences so far for all of them.

Flamingnun · 08-19-2009, 01:28 PM

Cons: up the butt.

Mikey · 08-19-2009, 01:53 PM

are u relatively healthy?
if your weak or done alot of drugs forget it.
basic training will destroy you.

tedkennedy · 08-19-2009, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Mikey

are u relatively healthy?
if your weak or done alot of drugs forget it.
basic training will destroy you.

i workout, stretch, run almost everyday, im not worried about the physical apsect.

more so just worried about having an experience similar to how the military is portrayed in movies, with alot of being yelled and having to do fucked up shit

my_scatterheart · 08-19-2009, 03:25 PM

Don't join the navy because you think it's your last resort.

The problem is that the military can go either way. You never know who's going to be above you. Could be a down to earth dude who's just trying to support his family, or an egotistical asshat. There's so many variables that you can never anticipate it all.
And don't think it's just working hard. While you're still at the bottom you can find yourself being barked at and doing some other dicks job just because he's above you. There's a lotta mental/emotional shit you hafta take into consideration.
Have to consider whether you're capable of functioning while being yelled at, talked down to, broken down, etc. just in case that does happen.

Flamingnun · 08-19-2009, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by my_scatterheart

You never know who's going to be above you. Could be a down to earth dude who's just trying to support his family, or an egotistical asshat. There's so many variables that you can never anticipate it all.

Just like every other new job then...

my_scatterheart · 08-19-2009, 03:37 PM

Uh. Yeah. The point is that there are people who were in the Navy and say "Oh it was cake!" and people who were in the Navy who say "Fuckin bs." What I was trying to illustrate was (yes, just like everythingthefuckels e) it can go either way, and not to just think of it in one regard depending on who you talk to.

Flamingnun · 08-19-2009, 03:39 PM

Just like everything else?

my_scatterheart · 08-19-2009, 03:40 PM

...why, yes! Yes, actually! Like everything else!

tedkennedy · 08-19-2009, 03:53 PM

haha... interesting.

Xil · 08-19-2009, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by Flamingnun

Just like everything else?

i think the difference is that its harder to tell your superiors to fuck off and quit when your in the navy.

also people sing village people all day every day.

SpankyMcLankey · 08-19-2009, 04:52 PM

The Navy really is not a bad option at all. My Dad's always told me if he was drafted he would choose to either be in the Navy or Air Force Reserve(he was in the air force).

Chair Force would be my first pick.

Originally Posted by Xil

i think the difference is that its harder to tell your superiors to fuck off and quit when your in the navy.

this is true, but it's kinda worth it with all the benefits during and afterword your service time.

Mydriasis · 08-19-2009, 06:27 PM

Of course their gonna break you down, and lower you emotionally a bit, to teach you discipline.

From my understanding the Navy isn't nearly as bad as the Army. Don't get me wrong it's harder but I guess there's much more slack after training and all that. Also chances of Navy seeing action is a lot less than infantry. There's always a chance though.

Ted you can do anything, it's just a matter of what you want to do!

Mikey · 08-21-2009, 07:54 AM

Just don't end up like Dex.

**Pharm Girl** · 08-21-2009, 11:19 AM

Ted...........who's gonna take care of yer dog??

flappy · 08-21-2009, 06:44 PM

"having to suck up to employers for a pay check" was one of the cons to civilian life you mentioned. Let me tell you what you'll be sucking up to in basic and beyond. Try sexually repressed bullies trying to hide the fact that they are gay. They hide the fact with violence and intimidation, lest someone find out their secret. Why do you think they choose a job being around naked boys in showers and locker rooms.? Matter of fact, why would anyone?
Look...calm down, quit listening to the recruiter and work temp agencies for awhile. If you can, get a girlfriend to share expenses. If you're half way good looking, you can hustle older chicks looking to change their image while taking care of all your expenses. They might be in their 30's or 40's, but Demi Moore and Pam Anderson are too. Think of your future...the military is only for the desperate who are 2 steps away from homelessness.

pacman · 08-21-2009, 10:07 PM

^its pussies like you who would piss their pants and bow down to anyone threatening our freedom. come back when you have something useful to say

actually dont come back at all