Navy anyone?

[Avus_325is]

Im going to be finishing up my second semester of college this spring and am starting to feel like the whole college thing isn't for me. Now I know you don't have a very good opportunity to go far in life these days without an education so i'm considering the armed forces.

The navy seems like the best choice to me. Not too tough(so my friends that are already in say), see the world, never really in direct harms way, and you have a chance to be stationed in some pretty nice places.

Anybody here been in? How did you like it? I'm going to talk to a recruiter later today to just see what my options are.

[Ryan Stewart]

All my friends like the Navy, albeit they are Marines. They are reliable transportation and cook OK meals.

On a serious note tho I have known people who have served in the Navy. Unfortunately unless you plan on making a career out of it dont expect it to be much help for finding a job when you get out.

[M-technik-3]

Sorry way to Biased here, the USAF is my way to go. Navy has slightly better enlistment bonus's thou. But I don't want to be on a boat 6 months out of a year without out my wife or kids. Besides as an enlisted flyer I love staying hotels all over the world.

Take the asvab's and tell me how you did, tell me what jobs they offer and I'll give you my opinions on the real status of it. Plus Low Level is USAF also.

[bimmerphile]

Re: Navy anyone?

Not too tough(so my friends that are already in say), see the world, never really in direct harms way, and you have a chance to be stationed in some pretty nice places.

Yeah I know, like Riyadh! Nothing quite like it in summer! I hear its gorgeous! Especially the camel spiders.

Personally, I chose that if I were to enter, USAF would be my branch of choice. Consider this, however. If you get (even a minimal) college degree, you can go into the navy as an officer (winning idea).

If the bolded part of the quote is your mentality though, no way I'd join in wartime.

[M-technik-3]

Re: Navy anyone?

Not too tough(so my friends that are already in say), see the world, never really in direct harms way, and you have a chance to be stationed in some pretty nice places.

Yeah I know, like Riyadh! Nothing quite like it in summer! I hear its gorgeous! Especially the camel spiders.

Personally, I chose that if I were to enter, USAF would be my branch of choice. Consider this, however. If you get (even a minimal) college degree, you can go into the navy as an officer (winning idea).

If the bolded part of the quote is your mentality though, no way I'd join in wartime.

Riyadh is actually quite nice. I was staioned there for 4 months and lived on Riyadh AB during the first Gulf war minus the Skuds it wasn't that bad.

I did three tours in S.A. the longest in Al Kharj before it became the big base it was two years ago before pulling out. We were the Harvest Eagle unit doing the AOR clean up. I had a good time in there worked on my tan on the 140 degree days, swam in the Persian Gulf and the Red sea, and some caves. Not many people get to say the have been to Mecca during the Haijj. I have.

[MattE30]

Didn't you know that the navy is a bunch of fags?

i'm completly kidding. If I had to join a brach of the armed forces, I think I would join the navy because of the traveling, and the lack of charging a garrison.

[EVOIIIM3]

NAVY = Never Again Volunteer Yourself!!

Yes, you see the world, but only places NO ONE wants to go, you are floating around the ocean for 6-9months at at time with 500-5000 people you don't like and oh, not chicks! (now on some boats there are) When and IF you pull into a port you are only there for 1-4 days and you will have Duty, so at least one of the days you will not be able to leave the ship. Then when you do leave, you will have a curfew.

If you can tolerate a LOT of BS that you may like it. I hate power trips for the sake of power trips. There was some nice stuff about it. But even most of the home ports are in shit areas. Most navy bases are in the Ghetto's, why? Navy wife's. The whole thing is just disgusting to me, and not my taste or style.

Oh, and the pay is SHIT! You work at LEAST 60hrs a week in PORT and when underway you work about 12-18hs a day!! They keep you busy, so you don't kill your shipmates! We broke down our pay and it was like $.30 a hr!! You can make more $$ flipping burgers at Burger King!

And the benefits are awesome! All the Docs are there, just to get a free education. They also don't get paid shit, and just want to do their time and get out. They also can NOT be sued for malpractice, so they like to test new stuff on you! You only get to use Military Docs. You cut your foot off they send you back to work with some Motrin, and your are suppose to be fine!

My last thought, is NEVER JOIN THE MILITARY DURING A WAR! Your away longer, have more shit. Don't think it's the safetest place either! There is a LOT of stuff out there that wants you on the bottom of the ocean.

If you must join, go Air Force. They get stationed in nice places, and never have to leave to run around in the woods, or float in the ocean. Oh, they also have the hottest chicks!

[mikeedler]

Go into the air force if you really want to go into the service. But like the others said, going into the service now is not a great time IRAQ is going on and you will probably be deployed there! I was in the Army for 9 years and the Air Force seems to be the branch that has it the best from what I saw. If you go into the service, you can request to come here to Germany and what is a better place to focus on hooking up a BMW than here, and you can run the hell out of it if you want everyday. I work for the Army now, and about 80% of the people stationed at the place I am at are gone in IRAQ right now, so make your decision wisely.

[Z3Jonathan]

Re: Navy anyone?

Im going to be finishing up my second semester of college this spring and am starting to feel like the whole college thing isn't for me. Now I know you don't have a very good opportunity to go far in life these days without an education so i'm considering the armed forces.

The navy seems like the best choice to me. Not too tough(so my friends that are already in say), see the world, never really in direct harms way, and you have a chance to be stationed in some pretty nice places.

Anybody here been in? How did you like it? I'm going to talk to a recruiter later today to just see what my options are.

Depending on your degree, its very hard to determine if college is the right choice after just 2 semesters. Why? You've only scratched the surface on "core" classes. My perspective of college now (having completed 6 semesters) is vastly different than my prospective after my first year. My gen eds are behind me, and my schedule is filled with classes that relate directly to my major and my career.

Jonathan

[robncircus]

I'm currently a reservist in the Navy and I think it's great. Do this if you're unsure - join the reserves first. If you like it you can go active. If you don't like it do your one weekend a month 2 weeks a year and it's over. It's not a bad gig at all.
Don't listen to these people who say don't join during war time. If you think it's right go for it.
You could also maybe look into some ROTC programs at your school. Let the Navy pay for college, get out, get your comission, and make the big bucks. Then retire at 42 or 43.
Good luck with your choice
Rob

[kidrobot]

Yeah I was a Crypto-Tech. It was interesting.
See new places you wouldn't otherwise I guess?

Better watch out kids, I hear their going to start a draft.

[M-technik-3]

Load Master here on the C-5

[Low Level E30]

I'm in the Air Force.

I never enlisted - got out of high school, went through college, and commissioned out of ROTC.

Flying jobs are fantastic, in the AF - Enlisted or Officer, everyone will agree that being able to climb right into your flightsuit and travel the world for free, being put up in hotels and generally being treated like a rock star is a great thing --- right, Greg?

I haven't been part of a big crew like that on a C-5 or a C-141 or any such aircraft - but going places with a close squadron is a lot of fun. Good friends and good stories make life worth living.

That's the AF though - I don't have much firsthand experience with the Navy. I know a lot of guys, some of them very good friends, that are in the Navy - I will say that just about all of them really like it. As is often mentioned, going out on boats (they don't like it when you say "boats" 8) ) for half a year and being away from family, your home (your E30...), etc is not pleasant. But that's what they do in the Navy - they provide a presence in world's waters.

I figure you can't go wrong starting off in the military. Even if you just do four years - what the hell does anyone really do with the first four years of their life, after school? Not much to speak of, I'd say. You'll get plenty of great training that you won't pay a cent for - go lots of places, see lots of things, meet tons of good people - and maybe even pick up some good habits along the way. And if you're really lucky, you can find yourself a job that will provide you with valuable/usable experience and skill in the civilian market.

Which service, then? I dunno - everyone has their own agenda. I like the Air Force - it is dedicated to taking good care of its people, more so than the other services.

Like they say in the commercial --- if someone wrote a book about your life, would anyone want to read it ;) ?!

[Court M3]

I'm in the Navy and yes it does sometimes take a lot of patience to put up with the constant bulls$%t. We've been underway for a while now and yes we are forward deployed. Lots of drills and drama.

We are in a Sardinia and the Italians don't want us here and they are rude. We get to see beautiful places like Souda Bay Greece where the paint grafitti on the wall with "Americans Fuck Off" (Should have pics of this in a couple of days :D ) But overall not that bad. There is a college professor onboard. You can earn your degree for cheap through the military.

You guys have Wal Marts and restaurants. Here every restaurant is Italian. Different menus but all Italian. Although I don't each much Burger King or Mickey D's it would be nice to go to one that I didn't first have to take a 20 min ferry ride and then an hours drive to. No junkyards convenient. Go to the dealer(same ferry and drive) to order parts and they are so lazy. Tell you to come back a week later and they still have not ordered them .

It all depends on where you are stationed I guess. But overall the Navy is not that bad. Just little mind games and it you are mentally tough, it's easy. There are lots of benefits though.

Just my .02

[Court M3]

Forgot to add one thing:
Depending on which way the ship is going, you may or may not have internet access :D

Although how many companies give you a Cost of Living Allowance to live somewere or money specifically to pay utilities and rent? One of the good things about the military.