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

[Darkness]

I'll remain silent on the controversial issues from here on out (Paladin, you got the last word...another time perhaps?).

Mistwell, Paladin:

If you want to, you can continue the debate about the Panama invasion in Nutkinland.

The powers-that-be in Nutkinland recently banned insult-slinging at other users, so it's a nice enough place for such debates now.

If you're interested, check out the brand-new Church & State board.
(Its listed moderators are Ashtal and me, BTW, but if another Nutkinland Admin notices a problem, they'll take care of it, too, of course.)

- Darkness

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

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?

Yep, I'm pretty much normal for my age/grade/etc. No early promotions or anything like that. I took over my first platoon at 21.

There are lots of D&D'ers in every rank and age category. There are a couple other O3s floating around on this board, and there are a couple in my program at school. There are many, many more in the enlisted and NCO ranks. My last battalion was full of RPGer's and wargamers, lurking just under the surface (our Command Sergeant Major was a big Warhammer player).

Now, I have to admit I try to avoid playing D&D with other military folks who aren't my paygrade due to fraternization rules -- but there are plenty of games to be found if you look.

Heck, Fort Hood has a decent little game shop of its own on post that was right across the street from my office.

 

[Azure Trance]

Conclusion

Sorry for bringing up such an old topic, but I found out I actually won't be enlisting in the Navy.

While I did superb on my ASVAB with a 98/100, my eyesight is lacking sorely. Specifically, the refraction is too high, and laser eye surgery isn't allowed unless I was already in the service already.

So ... pretty much like everyone else I know, I'm back into an unknown state for the upcoming 6 years I originally planned.

Summer schools a good start.

 

[Henry]

Azure Trance, I'm sorry to hear it. It can be a real blow to find out you can't go through with the plans you set out for.

98 on the ASVAB is awesome, though!

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Sorry to hear that; with your ASVAB score you'd have had a lot of options.

Best of luck with your future!

 

[alsih2o]

azure- there are a lot of options open in public service that do not need military grade eyesight (i consider joining the armed forces public service)

urban projects, adi adn assistance projects, yada yada. i have some friedns who help to run some great programs if you are looking for something in this general field

 

[Cedric]

When I joined the Navy, rather then having my eye's tested by them, they allowed me to present a prescription that was less then 3 months old from my eyedoctor.

Since my eyedoctor was a nice, understanding, friend of the family...they lied for me (not by much, but by enough to get me in the door, I was on the edge).

So I managed to "just" get in with my eyesight...

Cedric

 

[Dinkeldog]

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.

I haven't read through, but I'll forget to respond to this if I do. Nuke is where the money is at because it's also a heck of a lot of work. I did one 70-day deployment with a ballistic missile sub. Everyone was on three-shift 8-hour rotations except the nukes with 12-on-12-off the whole time. Very stressful and perpetually undermanned.

With that warning, hope you have fun.

 

[Psion]

I did one 70-day deployment with a ballistic missile sub. Everyone was on three-shift 8-hour rotations except the nukes with 12-on-12-off the whole time.

The whole engineering department was port and starboard during a patrol on a trident? That sounds like pure hell... and dangerously undermanned. We had some port and starboard in ports, but the only time we had port-and-starboard watches were in junior watches for a few weeks at the beginning of the patrol when getting nubs qualified.

 

[Cartolis]

skimmed the posts, and I'm sure that this has all been covered, but it bears saying again.

If you decide to join up, make sure you get a guarented job in writing. only go if you can get the a-school of your choice.

Another idea that you might want to talk to your recruiter about is the go to school on their dime program. Since you are already in school you might be able to get them to pay for the rest of your degree and then serve as an officer for 6 years after school.

no worries about the d&d btw, had a 4 year long game onboard my destroyer we played more when we were out to sea, but then again there is less to do when off duty at sea...

Feel free to message me if you have questions. I will be more than happy to give you info on the navy.

Cartolis