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

[Olgar Shiverstone]

May I ask what branch / rank you are?

I'm an Army Captain (O3) with 9 years, 8 months active service (I should pin on Major about December of this year). I'm an Armor officer, which means my specialty is tanks and cavalry reconnaissance, though since armor never operates alone, I've had something to do with just about every branch or specialty in the Army over my various assignments. I'll be doing research, dveelopment, and acquisition work after I finish graduate school. I've done some AFROTC, worked directly with USAF and USMC personnel, and I come from a multi-generation Navy family, so you might say I've got a moderately comprehensive view of the services.

In college my main areas of interest were History, Politics, and Business. I like being a technogeek, doing things like upgrading my computer and getting electronic widgets, but never delved into the parts which constituate them.

History and politics you'll get exposure to anywhere in the military. As to business, while there are any number of specialties that have direct civilian business applications (like telecommunications), the most important thing you can take from the military into a business arena is leadership skills. I won't speak for the other services, but the average Army combat arms soldier leaving the service after four years as an E5 these days has more practical experience leading and managing people (a fire team, squad, or section) than your average MBA graduate.

If you're a technogeek, there are lots of jobs out there for you, in all the services (though there are a higher percentage in the Navy and Air Force). You might find things you like in electronics maintenance, radar/sonar technician, fire control systems/air defense systems operator, communications specialist, network systems specialist, to name just a few. I could list a bunch of Army MOSs, but the point is more to have an idea of what career fields and areas might meet your needs that specific jobs -- you won't know what's available and what you qualify for until after the test and physical when you sit down with a counselor. I've seen a number of applicants discover they were color blind during the physical, and color blindness is a disqualifier for a number of jobs -- better not to get your heart set on one thing, but keep in mind the things you ultimately desire to get from military service.


Oh -- SemperJase. Most of the zoomies I've worked with prefer the term "corporate" to "unmilitary"

 

[BV210]

Actually, "zoomie" is an internal Air Force derogatory term for those officers who got their commission through the Air Force Academy.

And look at it this way, the USAF is the only service that typically only sends its officers off to fight and die. The rest of us tend to be somewhat safe at the base in the rear of the war zone.

Oh, and a response to Olgar (I believe) about OTS. In the Air Force, if you get selected to attend OTS you don't have to go through our basic training first. Also, unlike "An Officer and a Gentleman" we don't have Senior NCO drill instructor types barking at us all 13 weeks. In fact there is none of the verbal abuse typical of basic training. Our instructors are normally captains with the drill instructor NCOs only teaching us how to march properly. But then, why we need to march in the Air Force is a different topic . . .

 

[Cedric]

Actually, "zoomie" is an internal Air Force derogatory term

Heh, "zoomie" is also a slang term in the nuclear navy for radiation.

We work hard in the Nuclear Navy to prevent any nuclear incidents or accidents...and we've been 100% successful at this.

But someone in the nuclear navy might refer to the reason for doing as this, as "trying hard not to get zoomies in the people space."

Zoomies in the people space = bad.

Cedric

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Actually, "zoomie" is an internal Air Force derogatory term for those officers who got their commission through the Air Force Academy.

Us grunts have just appropriated it and applied it a little more broadly .

And look at it this way, the USAF is the only service that typically only sends its officers off to fight and die. The rest of us tend to be somewhat safe at the base in the rear of the war zone.

Unfortunately the USAF is also the only service that has this option. The Navy's officers and sailors have their fates all bound together; Army & USMC officers are expected to lead their troops from the front but can't do it all by themselves.

I had a wet-behind-the-ears USAF 2LT use that first line on me once, implying that I was some sort of armchair general who sent my troops out to die while I sat safe & soft in the rear -- he came about this " " close from the butt-chewing of his life. Instead I gave him a little education ...

Thanks for piping up on OTS -- I'd suspected that the USAF approach was a little more civilized. Naval Aviation OCS is similar (no Basic), but then they have Marine DIs ...

All the services have surprisingly different cultures (USA's closer to the USMC than the USAF, even though USA and USAF used to be the same service). OTOH, I've got more in common with my brethren in blue than I do with most civilians.

 

[BV210]

There are definitely differences in the philosophy, work environment, and mentality of the different services. And it is fun to poke at each other (i.e., "Leatherneck," "Zoomie," "Squid," "Grunt", etc. etc). But when the bullets start flying there isn't another bunch of folks I'd want around me than the US Armed Services. AT, whichever branch you choose, be proud of it, keep up the good-natured interservice rivalry, and know that we've got each other's backs.

Back on the topic of OTS, when I arrived I was prepared for a bunch of yelling and screaming (I'd been to basic training and had seen "An Officer and a Gentleman"). When I was greeted by an upperclassman saying, "Good afternoon, sir. Welcome to OTS." I was blown away. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a cake walk, but they treated us like adults with a brain rather than a punk 18-year-old arriving at boot camp.

Olgar, good luck with the upcoming promotion, my Major's board meets in December. <fingers crossed>

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Olgar, good luck with the upcoming promotion, my Major's board meets in December. <fingers crossed>

And to you, sir!

Nothing like a little sibling rivarly ...

 

[Azure Trance]

I'm an Army Captain (O3) with 9 years, 8 months active service (I should pin on Major about December of this year).

Assuming you joined in at 18 years of age, is it a normal rate of advancement to take the rank of Major when you're (almost/near) 30 years old? For some reason I imagined a lofty sounding rank like that to be a decade farther away to attain. And do you still meet any D&Ders at that rank / age category?

 

[SoulStorm]

If you have poor study habits or lack discipline I wouldn't exactly rush into the Navy to join their Nuke engineering program. I was in the Navy (Offered the Nuke Program; 97% ASVABS) but went Electronics Engineering instead. That was intense enough, at least after A school which was a joke. The Nuke program is supposed to be much harder.

Do yourself a favor and pick a more fun branch, Just about everyone I talked to while I was in either wished they had joined the Air Force instead or wished they hadn't joined at all.

Every Master Chief I talked to responded with a very vocal "Hell no" everytime I asked them if they'd do it all again.

It's cool that you want to serve your country in this time of need, but don't sign up for 6 years without knowing how different the world is that you're walking into. Oh, and when I say a different world, I mean a different world. Once you join you become government property and believe me when I say they never let you forget that.

The military serves an important role and I have nothing but respect for everyone serving their country right now, but that doesn't mean that everyone is suited for the military.

Good Luck,

 

[LrdApoc]

Well AT there is very little I can add to those who have already posted.

My advice is not only to get an MOS/rating/etc. that you think you will enjoy or benefit from should the military not be a career, but also to find a service that fits your mentality.

Admittedly there are very few people who have the right mentality when they enter the Marines, but those who survive the forging process generally prove to be sterner stuff than a lot of other civilians.

The Air Force is the best way to advance in a corporate or more real world service. They have the best standards of living and quality of training next to the Navy. Be warned though that Air Force ranks are clogged with people, even now, because of those facts.

The cream rises to the top in any service though, so if you're a hard worker and dedicated to the duties at hand you'll shine.

My experience in the last few years was a general decline in military discipline while the pressure for perfection rose to almost unreasonable levels.. among both Officers and Enlisted.

In the long run Officer is a more prestigeous job, but either will hone you into the person you can be if you want them to.

The line earlier about officers having less people to tell them what to do is laughable.. as I'm sure many of the Os in here can explain.. also much more is expected, and much less forgiven of officers and higher ranked NCOs.

I'm a Marine Sergeant, now serving as a civilian, but a Marine none the less.. the lessons and disciplines I learned in the military have helped make me the success I am today. LKike I said, it's what you make of it.. the military will mold you, but only you can choose to be who you are.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

Semper Fidelis "Always Faithful"

Semper Gumby "Always Flexible"

 

[Paladin]

Holy Cow!!!!...I didn't know my response was going to get everyone in a wrestling match! I haven't read in a day or so, sorry to AT and all the other viewers that this went in the wrong direction of what I had intended, just want you to look out for number one and really take some time on this decision, there are a lot of different points here, and they are all valid...Good luck....Paladinwife