I have a question.

[chris kennedy]

I was never in the military, dad was and discouraged me. I think it was a mistake.

That said, I think you should sign up. Not because you like ships and water. On a very large one, I'm guessing it wouldn't be the same. Dad was on the Christy Pane in WW2 and it was a great experience for him, at 14 years old. His parents signed the papers and he lied about his age. He traveled to places he ever knew existed and talked about it for many years afterward.

lol, my grandpa knew a guy that survived pearl harbor, so as the guy said, he worked in the engine room on the Battleship Nevada and he said that the ship tried to make a run for it and got hit by a couple torpedoes and he says he ran up took a look around and jumped overboard haha.

 

[Rebsix]

Like others have posted, be careful when you sign up and make sure you get the job you want. Also, make sure it's a job that can be carried over to civilian life after you get out if you decide to, the Navy has plenty of those types available.

I work with two guys that were in the Navy and neither of them left the USA, or even set a foot on a ship during the 4 years they served.

I spent 4 years in the Marine Corps Infantry as a 60mm Mortarman and I have 13 months on 3 different ships. I've been to more countries than I have been in U.S. States. It was a great experience for a 20 year old. My biggest regret was getting out. I would have been retired for 10 years on August 6 of this year.

Good luck with whatever you choose!!

Jeff

 

[chris kennedy]

Like others have posted, be careful when you sign up and make sure you get the job you want. Also, make sure it's a job that can be carried over to civilian life after you get out if you decide to, the Navy has plenty of those types available.

I work with two guys that were in the Navy and neither of them left the USA, or even set a foot on a ship during the 4 years they served.

I spent 4 years in the Marine Corps Infantry as a 60mm Mortarman and I have 13 months on 3 different ships. I've been to more countries than I have been in U.S. States. It was a great experience for a 20 year old. My biggest regret was getting out. I would have been retired for 10 years on August 6 of this year.

Good luck with whatever you choose!!

Jeff

Yes, I think everything will work out.

 

[turtlefoot]

If you do join the Navy, don't count on being guaranteed a ship/ocean job. My brother-in-law served for six years. After training, he spent his entire career at in the US. He was at the Great Lakes Naval Base, Oak Harbor and somewhere in California.

He had no regrets, but did not get to go out to sea so to speak.

Doug

 

[Ahzee]

Check out the Coast Guard. I've been in for nearly 5 years. You get to pick the job you want. Yes, you actually truly do get to pick the job YOU want to do in the Coast Guard. I have metal detected so many different countries. Curacao, St. Maarten, Guantanamo Bay Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico (yea yea that's the USA but still cool) and I am sure other places that I can't even remember. As I write this, I am actually deployed and in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, getting ready to metal detect a few more awesome places The Coast Guard has many Cutters that go out for anywhere from a few days to 7 months a year. The size of the boat kind of determines how long they stay out. The Coast Guard is also in many different countries. There are Coast Guard stationed in Colombia (oh yea I metal detected their too), Germany, and France, just to name a few. You can also be stationed on land in the US. It really just depends on what you want to do. Check out the Coast Guard, don't become sold on me writing this or someone else writing about their time in the "insert branch". Look at them all and decide for yourself which is best for you. You might decide none of them are! Good luck and if you have any questions about the Coast Guard, let me know. Good luck!!

 

[Kemper]

i thought i had to go to that recruitment office but apparently i can join up online.

No use meeting any of those military people till you have to.

 

[Grumpa]

No use meeting any of those military people till you have to.

 

[Surfchunker]

my 17.5 year old Son just entered the DEP for the Navy and heads to boot camp 6-25-15. He is very smart and is getting into the Nuclear Program. He had to sign up for 8 years but the first two will be all training ... sounds like a great opportunity

 

[hawgdawg]

Semper Fi Rebsix . I to regret getting out , I would be retired for about 14 yrs now . You will definitely make some new brothers in the military . The military is a different way of life , the Marine Corps is anyway . It is very strict , structured , plenty of training . The Navy does have some good opportunities for civilian life careers . I know a few guys that work in the nuclear field that got their start in the Navy , their making some pretty good money now . One thing that might help you is go to a bookstore and try to get an ASVAB study guide , that will be the test you take that tells the recruiter what jobs you will be qualified for . The better you score , the better the jobs .
You will experience things that most civilians won't understand , you will experience things that will be with you for the rest of your life , some good , some not so good . If I knew then what I know now , I'd try and do 30 yrs in.
Good luck on your decision .

 

[chris kennedy]

"One thing that might help you is go to a bookstore and try to get an ASVAB study guide"




i went on ebay and bought one haha. thanks for the advice.

 

[itsaring!]

my 17.5 year old Son just entered the DEP for the Navy and heads to boot camp 6-25-15. He is very smart and is getting into the Nuclear Program. He had to sign up for 8 years but the first two will be all training ... sounds like a great opportunity

My dad was trained in nuclear weapons. Be ready for some boring conversations from stuff they aren't allowed to talk about. Also be sure and tell him to wear plenty of hearing protection. My dad lost most his hearing in one ear from practicing missile launches and the destroyers big guns. If he winds up on a sub, be sure and get him to try the washer on a string trick when they submerge

 

[chris kennedy]

My dad was trained in nuclear weapons. Be ready for some boring conversations from stuff they aren't allowed to talk about. Also be sure and tell him to wear plenty of hearing protection. My dad lost most his hearing in one ear from practicing missile launches and the destroyers big guns. If he winds up on a sub, be sure and get him to try the washer on a string trick when they submerge

theres only one thing i wont do in the navy, serve on a nuclear sub, i really dont like submarines.

 

[itsaring!]

theres only one thing i wont do in the navy, serve on a nuclear sub, i really dont like submarines.

I grew up in a Navy neighborhood. Some submariners are strange. Especially the sonar guys Don't think they let Civilians cruise in one anymore? When I was a kid I got to ride on subs, destroyers and aircraft carriers on a day cruise. My sister is the only one they ever saw get seasick on an aircraft carrier at dock and not moving

 

[chris kennedy]

I grew up in a Navy neighborhood. Some submariners are strange. Especially the sonar guys Don't think they let Civilians cruise in one anymore? When I was a kid I got to ride on subs, destroyers and aircraft carriers on a day cruise. My sister is the only one they ever saw get seasick on an aircraft carrier at dock and not moving

how do you get seasick on a ship thats not moving especially a carrier LOL.

 

[itsaring!]

how do you get seasick on a ship thats not moving especially a carrier LOL.

My dad took pictures of her throwing up on a big pile of mooring rope

 

[chris kennedy]

My dad took pictures of her throwing up on a big pile of mooring rope

lol, its insane how many ships are in san diego, last time i was down their i couldnt beleive it.

also on another note, my great grandfather was a steam fitter for ships, and worked on a submarine mothership during and before ww2.

 

[Rebsix]

how do you get seasick on a ship thats not moving especially a carrier LOL.

I boarded the USS Ogden LPD-5 in 1985 at Long Beach for my first float. We had a guy that walked up the gangplank for the first time...saluted the colors...saluted the Quartermaster...requested permission to come aboard....then walked across the flight deck and puked over the side.

All we could tell him was "Just think Roger, only 5 months, 29 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds and it will be all over."

 

[chris kennedy]

I boarded the USS Ogden LPD-5 in 1985 at Long Beach for my first float. We had a guy that walked up the gangplank for the first time...saluted the colors...saluted the Quartermaster...requested permission to come aboard....then walked across the flight deck and puked over the side.

All we could tell him was "Just think Roger, only 5 months, 29 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds and it will be all over."

Lol.

I don't get seasick. I've been on too many boats and sailing kinda runs in my family too.

 

[itsaring!]

Lol.

I don't get seasick. I've been on too many boats and sailing kinda runs in my family too.

Remember my dad telling me one night on fire watch he thought it was starting to rain. Until he heard the guy above gagging

 

[hunter1]

Navy !

Chris, Join the Navy. I was in the Army in Vietnam . I was infantry, it was a hard life, but I was lucky , I made it out. Lota guy's didn't. When I got my draft notice, I tried to join the Navy but the Army and Marines weren't getting there qouta's then. So i joined instead. You will get the same benefits, better food,nicer duty stations, and besides that , they have woman on the ships now. It does't get better than that. After the Army ,I served in the Merchant Marines for 3 yrs. Go Navy.