Hey Everyone,

Recently I have been considering joining the Navy. I really feel like my life isn't going very far and won't unless I do something about it. So I feel like joining would be good for me. It's something I've always considered and thought about (even though my family is very against it! I really like the idea of traveling around and getting good job training at the same time. Things which would be hard to do on my own. I guess I also like the idea of going around the world and meeting girls!

When I went in to talk to a recruiter a long time ago I found he was full of BS and I didn't really trust him at all. So I have just been giving it thought. I went in to talk to someone else a week ago and he was more cool and relaxed about everything. He basically told me what the Navy had to offer and told his story of why he wanted to joined. He said I'd be surely find a job that I liked doing even with a lot of different interests. I could even do several jobs if I wanted. (Some of the fields I am interested in are Art,Business, Mechanics, Electrical or Building.) He told me that the Navy wasn't like the other branches where you have to rough it out most days. The quality of life was much better and basic is really easy. Also the chances of every being in any real danger are minimal since you aren't going to get ground deployed. (He went to Iraq but never left the boat!) Something else he told me was he doesn't care if I want to join or not since he gets payed the same amount either way.

Is he telling the truth about all of this? One of the main reasons I am considering the Navy is because I don't want to be in any serious danger. Not going to War! It seems to make sense. Right? What about basic being easy? I have flat-feet (the recruiter did too) and I was told that shouldn't be a big issue as well as having childhood asthma. Whats it going to be like? What do they make you do? Can I get training in different jobs and do differnt ones? Something else I was sure about was he told me he doesn't get payed anymore if I join. Don't recruiters get payed something when they bring in new recruits? The other recruiter seemed way to eager to get me in. This other recruiter though seemed really honest because when I was done talking to him he said "If you don't join the Navy thats fine. I wish you luck in whatever you pursue or do in your life." What's the truth in all of this?


I would really appreciate some advice!
Adam

Adam,

The recruiter gets paid the same as any Sailor based on his rank and years of service period. The only quota he has is to enlist a certain number of recruits within a certain timeframe.

Navy Bootcamp is notoriously easy. Geez you get base liberty and if I remember correctly you can get off base liberty during boot.

Yes, Sailors can get assigned to do different jobs. Generally one has a primary job assignment though. Graduate bootcamp and you will receive orders to your 'A' School. This is where they teach you all about your primary job. Once you graduate 'A School, you get order to the Fleet. Could be ashore or could be shipboard. If you want to travel, then go for the shipboard orders if presented a chance. There will be additional training to get you prepared for shipboard life, ie: how to fight compartment fires, and how to stop flooding compartments and such. Your assigned shop will teach you the rest.


We count on our Navy much more than most will care to admit. I served 20 years in the Marine Corps and I have witnessed Sailors do all kinds of jobs that you couldn't pay me enough to do. Sailors are warfighters too, and they are in danger for longer periods of time than even the Marines over in Iraq. All Navy vessels are ships of war by design. You want to perform a job that you can be proud of? A job that is exciting, and fullfilling? Then by all means, join the Navy.

Look son, the Navy IS PART OF OUR MILITARY AND WE ARE AT WAR. You want safety and not dangerous?? Then go get a job at your local library.

I do know that joining the Military there are always dangers. I talked to a guy recently and he said he say people doing all sorts of dangerous things on the Ship he was on for 8 years. Some of it he just couldn't believe. Ironically we all have a better chance of being killed while driving then actually going to war. I don't mean any disrespect to people who are willing to. (I am willing to if that's what it takes to be a part of serving this country.) Like I said though I would like to think of myself as "Special Forces" material, but I'm not! I do want a good job with the necessary training and experience. That's what the Navy will provide. College isn't going to give you that! They also won't let you see the world. Thanks for the Advice.

thegunny - You where saying you order to the Fleet, what do you exact mean by this? And also when you said it could be shipboard or on land does that mean I can be placed on land, or am I always going to be on a ship when its time to deploy? I would rather be on a ship, isnt that the point of being in the Navy?(To a certian degree)
Thanks

What the gunny means about the fleet getting stationed on a ship. If you are stationed on a ship you will work your butt off, but you get to see the world when you deploy on westpac or whatever type of deployment you end up on. I disagree however with the gunney that Navy boot camp is notoriously easy. It's both physically and mentally grueling and you do not get on base liberty. At the end of your seventh week you get a opportunity to go off base for a few hours with military personell watching your every move. If you call that liberty than I would rather have stayed on base. It's been over 25 years since I went through basic so perhaps things have changed, but basic training is a challenge, no matter what branch you join.

Reckon it all depends on which side of the fence you are lookin through. Myself, I was outside lookin in, Shellback was on the inside lookin out....even with the liberty during boot.

The order to the Fleet should of had an 's' on the end of the word order. Orders to the Fleet, means exactly that.....ships an boats. There are plenty of Sailors that have Shore Duty....I have a bunch of them in my building and I'm in the middle of the Sonoran Desert.

I hold Sailors with the utmost of respect and esteem. (just as long as they don't mind a good knockdown fight and know enough to buy a few rounds after its all said and done) Just don't bitch too loudly if you go out an get drunk with a bunch of us jarheads and wind up with an EGA tattoo'd across your chest or back!

quote:

I hold Sailors with the utmost of respect and esteem. (just as long as they don't mind a good knockdown fight and know enough to buy a few rounds after its all said and done) Just don't bitch too loudly if you go out an get drunk with a bunch of us jarheads and wind up with an EGA tattoo'd across your chest or back!

Hahahaha, you are allright there gunny. I have a good friend from the MC Dept. on the USS Enterprise and to this day we still stay in touch. We started out hating each other intil we threw down once on the ship and twice on Liberty overseas. Now we are unseperable I gotta admit we really had a blast serving together and although we drew blood on each other, it's still some of the best memories I had in the Navy. Growing up in NJ, I was never one to back down to a brawl or two. LOL!