[OT] I'm Going To Enlist In The Navy

[Azure Trance]

I'm Going To Enlist In The Navy

After an abyssmal semester at college and hearing how my older cousin went Air Force reserve, I went to my local naval recruiting station and had a chat with them about reserve options. Mostly what interested me was the potential to pay off edjumakational debt and other $ related areas. Though as I talked it turned out if I went active I had more opportunities then reserve alone; studying and getting paid for it. I almost joined after high school, but this might seem the ideal time to do so now. I'll have a chat with my parents about it tonight, but I'm pretty sure it's a go.

There are a plethora of pros, but my biggest fear is going away for such a long period (6 years). There are 30 days of leave a year (in addition to Dec -Xmas/NewYears-) so I'll be back, but I met a lot of great people in college and also have a great D&D group which I've been running for many months on a weekly basis. Are there any active military people here? How do you guys adjust to it? And ... do you play D&D with your co-workers?

 

[JDragon]

What are you going to be doing if you sign up?

ANd if you don't mind me asking, how did you do on the ASFAB (sp) or something like that.

JDragon

 

[scarymonkey]

My best advice would be to become a hospital corpsman. By far, its the best job in the Navy. You spend most of your duty at hospitals and you get the opportunity to go play soldier with the marines. I spent seven years in the navy reserve and not once did I have to go on a ship. I did spend a lot of time in M60 tanks though which was a lot of fun.

But by all means, get a guaranteed 'A' school in writing when you enlist. Otherwise, you will regret it (and probably spend a lot of time chipping paint off the sides of ships).

 

[Azure Trance]

ASVAB I did good on. I can't remember the scores, but I know I scored higher then 90% on both Math and English ... 92/95 as a guesstimate. They said as a result of that, good SAT, no criminal record, no traffic violation, I can (correct me if I'm wrong here) join as an E-2. After 6 months of training I'd be an E-3, and then go try the Nuke Program which is where the $ is at.

 

[KnowTheToe]

If the six years scar you, look into a different branch. The Army has 2 year plus training option available, but you get screwed out of college money, bonuses etc.

No matter what branch you go into, study for your ASVAB test. It will open all sorts of doors for you in job availabilty, first deployment choice, bonuses etc. Also ask the recruiter about incentives and bonuses, act like you are on the fence. Tell him/her people you talked to on the internet got a $1000 signing bonus. Ask if there is anything you can do to enlist that will get you an additional rank (more money monthly). Ask questions ask questions ask questions.

Good Luck and keep us in the loop.

Too slow at my post, looks like you already did most this stuff

 

[Number47]

Umm...another possible con is, umm, dying? You know, cut down in hail of gun fire by a hopped-up American pilot?

 

[Azure Trance]

If the six years scar you, look into a different branch. The Army has 2 year plus training option available, but you get screwed out of college money, bonuses etc.

No matter what branch you go into, study for your ASVAB test. It will open all sorts of doors for you in job availabilty, first deployment choice, bonuses etc. Also ask the recruiter about incentives and bonuses, act like you are on the fence. Tell him/her people you talked to on the internet got a $1000 signing bonus. Ask if there is anything you can do to enlist that will get you an additional rank (more money monthly). Ask questions ask questions ask questions.

Good Luck and keep us in the loop.

Too slow at my post, looks like you already did most this stuff

I'm assuming that they'll try to get me the best offer possible. Even wondered if taking another semester of college before going in May/June would help me out. They were just talking about a kid who came in with 70 credits from Cornell got a 17K signing bonus (which they said was the maximum), 5K of which was from his college credits. Wonder how they figured out the other 12K...

 

[Azure Trance]

Umm...another possible con is, umm, dying? You know, cut down in hail of gun fire by a hopped-up American pilot?

Nah. That's what the ships hull is for. 'sides, I think I'd have a greater possibility of drowning first.

 

[Mark]

Congrats, AT. Sounds like you are going about things the right way. I'm sure you will excel!

 

[Dr. NRG]

More Navy guys from my group would respond, but they all just got shipped out to the Persian gulf to spend 6 months away from their families and friends.

This is what's known as part of the down side. On the up side, you won't get laid off. On the down side, it's very difficult to quit. On the up side, your employer won't go out of business. On the down side, you'll never make much money unless you're an officer. On the up side, you will know where you stand in the hierarchy very clearly. On the down side, if the guy just above you in said hierarchy is a jerk, you have little recourse.

It all depends on what kinds of things you want out of life. I don't know if you're considering a military career, or just in for a hitch.

I can put you in touch with a salty old 20-year Navy nuke who just retired and got a job as (his words) Homer Simpson at a civvy nuke plant if you like. Just mail me at shards@wowmail.com

NRG