May I ask the Navy?

[Mayflower1]

Hello! I called a Navy Recruiter today. I am going to set up an appointment sometime tommorrow. That will answer a lot of my questions since I was thinking about joining. It isn't set in stone yet, but I have many questions about my future and where God wants me. Maybe an assistent chaplain in the Navy would be the right place.

But until then, I would love to hear from some of the Navy here on Christian Forums. Anyone? I'd just like to hear some of your personal experiences and what it has done for you. And I know there is no branch of the military better then the other. I was just thinking Navy because my brother was in it and my nephew just graduated boot camp, and my sister almost joined! So what about other branches? Is it pretty much the same? Are they very different from each other?

But mostly from the Navy since that is the one I would probably most join.

Is boot camp as bad as in the movies? I wake up at 2:30am every morning for work so as far as that goes, I'd probably get more sleep, but do they yell all the time? :o

 

[Mayflower1]

got navy on the brain, can't you tell? Anyone? Perty please?

 

[Autumnleaf]

The religious personnel, RP, in the Navy have a pretty sweet job. I worked with them when I was a Chaplain's assistant, we did the same work, for 6 months in the Marines. Go for it.

 

[Mayflower1]

Well, I still have some research before I go in. Until yesterday, I had no idea that we were paid to be in the navy.

But this is one way to make a difference and build a future...

 

[Autumnleaf]

Well, I still have some research before I go in. Until yesterday, I had no idea that we were paid to be in the navy.

But this is one way to make a difference and build a future...

Definitely, they will help pay for college classes while you are in and when you get out too. The pay is okay considering they give you free room and board. If I had to go in the Navy enlisted and had the choice of jobs I'd go in as an RP knowing what I know now.

 

[Gwenyfur]

As a former Marine Drill Instructor I will answer as far as my experience in the Corps.

Yes, during boot they will yell..they will YELL LOUDLY AND OFTEN...

That "guarunteed" 8 hours of sleep is something they say to make your family feel better...in reality some nights you'll have as little as 4, others as much as 6.

Your hour of "free time" to write home and "relax" gets eaten up with preparing your uniform for the next morning, any personal hygeine you've not had time for at other points in teh day (get used to not shaving as often as you'd like) and before you leave for boot (i'm unsure of navy entrance standards) but get in shape...run daily, get off the carbonated drinks...you'll be grateful later

Also, while in boot your body will be putting on muscle...add peanut butter to your toast the extra protein will be needed!

Other than that...good luck!

 

[Sybaris]

I retired from the Navy after 22 years.

Boot camp was easy. If you can follow directions, are in pretty good physical shape, and really want to be there it will be a breeze. To me it was actually kind of tedious and I couldn't wait for it to end so I could get on with my career. Boot camp is geared for the worst case to get everyone on the same page.

The important thing is to choose an occupation that you will love to do. Being an RP may address your present interests but there's more to it, there are collateral functions within and outside the rating you will have to perform that may put a damper on it. Also, there are ratings that don't advance very quickly due to the low number of billets available. RP used to be one of them and it as well as other may not be an option.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IBQ/is_1055/ai_n14695835

If you haven't seen it, here's some websites:

http://www.navy.mil/swf/index.asp

http://www.navy.com/

I had a blast and miss it very much. I lived in Japan for 11 years, visited many countries many times, and made a lot of good friends that I keep in touch with today. The Navy or rather service in the military will give you something that no civilian experience will and that is a sense of comradery.

I get thanked for my service but I see no reason for it, it was a privilege.

PM me if you like.

 

[Mayflower1]

wow, thanks for your responses. I interviewed three people from my church today. One was an hour interview and I got a lot of the dirt and a lot of the benefits of being in the military. But mostly all three agreed that they were glad they got into it. And yes, boot camp is hard, but if I can't survive 9 weeks, I sure don't want to be in the Navy 4 years! Sure weed out the weak, but honestly I refuse to be one of them. As of the moment I have to wake up at 2:30am for work everyday and I get about 4 and a half to five hours of sleep each night. So if those in boot camp wake up at 4:30 am, I'd get to sleep over (the recruiter old me they wake up at 6am, but is that after boot camp? It doesn't sound right. )

I would miss free time I am sure, but if it is going for building a future and making a difference in this world, then I would learn to be content though I know it is easier said then done. I am still researching it all, but it is at least worth pursuing. But until then, these are the questions I asked to those in the interviews today.

1. Generally, did you like being in the military?
2. What was the hardest part for you?
3. What were some of your good and bad experiences in the military?
4. What was bootcamp like? Is it as bad as in the movies? Worse?
5. I was told to bring only the clothes on my back for they'd provide. Would I be able to take my Bible?
6. Any come into contact with assistent chaplains? What were they like? What exactly did they do for you?
7. What is the Asvab like? Was it hard/easy for you? Did you study? How long?
8. What are some consequences of being in the military?
9. What are the benefits?
10. What was training like? was it implemented into your career? How long are you in training after boot camp?
11. What was your favorite part about the military?
12. Did you run into dangerous situations? Were you afraid? What did you keep in mind when you ran into them/thought about running into them?
13. How do they pay when you are traveling all over the world? Certain bank?


I also had others that were triggered by what they said and I thank ya'll for answering some of these already! It is great to be able to ask people outside of the sugar-coating recruiter. I have looked at two of those websites, I will look at the other. Thank you.

22 years in the Navy. How different is it from the civilian world? Is it two different worlds?

 

[Sybaris]

1. Loved it but then I knew after I set foot on a ship when I was 6 that I would be in the Navy some day.

2. Inconsistency in leadership and/or working with/for poor leaders. The change to a corporate Navy.

3. See #2

4. Don't watch the movies. You spend more time in a classroom in bootcamp than anywhere else. It's easy.

5. You will be issued uniforms but you pay for them which is why your first paycheck is pretty small. They used to issue Bibles at bootcamp.

6. Those that assist the Chaplain primarily perform administrative functions and assist the Chaplian in services. Thye are also responsible for the cleanliness of the areas that are under the cognizance of the Chaplain, they stand duty, may be on the firefighting team (on a ship) and perform other collateral functions along with the rest of the crew.

7. It depends on what kind of classes you took in highschool. I took all academic classes so I scored really high and could choose from any occupation.

8. Consequences? Depends on the individual and whether you mean positive of negative. I suppose if you didn't like being away from your family then time lost from them would be a negative consequence. That is probably the #1 issue.

9. If you make a career out of it you'll likely have a nice pension and health care after you retire. While in you'll have free medical benefits for you and your family (if you start a family). There's many educational programs to choose from. Travel of course. The experience as a whole is a benefit.

10. Training never stops. Initial training for your occupation is usually after bootcamp and the length depends on the occupation. I was in school for over a year after bootcamp and attended several schools throughout my career. If you get on a ship there's periodic firefighting training, security training, drills and advanced training within your occupation.

11. Going someplace different all the time. Teaching junior personnel to be the best.

12. Anyone who isn't afraid at some point has got a screw loose. The training is what keeps you from panicing and enables you to carry on despite the fear. Your reaction becomes second nature. The one thing I always thought about in those types of situations is my shipmates.

13. Direct deposit into your bank of choice. Ships carry money. There's ATMs all over the world.



22 years in the Navy. How different is it from the civilian world? Is it two different worlds?[/QUOTE]

Very much so. After that length of time you have a connection with other/any veteran that you don't with civilians. Civilians, at least the ones I work around, work just enough to get by. Myself and other veterans I work with have a bad habit of working ourselves out of a job. The military teaches you that the more you do, the less anyone else has to do so if everyone adopts that mentality then everything gets done that much quicker. In the civilian world you make the job last as long as you can to keep your ricebowl full. It's just the nature of the environment.

 

[Mayflower1]

A friend of mine raised a good point I didn't think about yesterday. I had gone through depression and have cuts everywhere on my legs. (clear over a month). Might that prevent me? Or could I pass the psychological exam since I am better now?

I sure hope I am rejected because of this. Major scar in my life.

But the more I learn about it, the more into it I get! I'm studying for the Asvab, running up and down the stairs, and figuring out how to do a push up (which since I am double jointed, it is proving to be very hard since I can't put my elbows in!) Now, all I have to learn is how to do about what, 200 more? How many did you have to do? (which sit ups and any other form of torture are fine, but push ups are the excruciating part. )

 

[Sybaris]

A friend of mine raised a good point I didn't think about yesterday. I had gone through depression and have cuts everywhere on my legs. (clear over a month). Might that prevent me? Or could I pass the psychological exam since I am better now?

I sure hope I am rejected because of this. Major scar in my life.

But the more I learn about it, the more into it I get! I'm studying for the Asvab, running up and down the stairs, and figuring out how to do a push up (which since I am double jointed, it is proving to be very hard since I can't put my elbows in!) Now, all I have to learn is how to do about what, 200 more? How many did you have to do? (which sit ups and any other form of torture are fine, but push ups are the excruciating part. )

You're not given a psychological exam upon entry but you will be given a questionaire that will ask if you have had any psychological problems. If you are a good candidate for service then you may be sent for an evaluation. If not then your processing could end right there. Yes, it could be a disqualifier especially if you choose an occupation that requires a security clearance.

If you can work up to 200 push-ups you'll do fine but it's really not that strenuous. You do sets of push-ups in bootcamp and maybe you'd do 20-25 at a time for 4 sets interspersed with some kind of compound exercise or a compound exercise with push-ups built in. I can't remember what they're called. You should work up to running 3 miles in an allotted amount of time. If you have never consistently run before you should research the methods for gradually building up time and distance.

The Navy has instituted mandatory PT so physical training will always be a part of your weekly routine at least 3 times a week.

 

[Mayflower1]

PT. Well then Bring it on!

I do hope that my past depression doesn't ruin this.

 

[Mayflower1]

Alright, today I started my first training. I walked/ran a mile and did 10 push-ups. Well, it is a start. I might do some more later. I am not use to it so I am quite exhausted. But I decided I'm going for it... I am going in with an open mind so that if chaplain assistent is taken, I will do something else. Study, train, work hard. I am still going to research a ton to make sure I know exactly what I'm getting into, but until then, I'm getting in shape and working on my right faces, and left faces, and about faces!

(I just hope the drilling doesn't stop my warm fuzzies, at least on CF. )

But question, how do you help the stitch in your side. Do you keep running, or do you have to gradually get rid of it?

 

[Mayflower1]

And I really need to build protein too... Is it 5 raw eggs in a cup or something? I don't know, I heard of people doing that...

 

[Autumnleaf]

And I really need to build protein too... Is it 5 raw eggs in a cup or something? I don't know, I heard of people doing that...

Its ok to cook the eggs.

 

[Mayflower1]

okay. That might taste better.

 

[3girls2dogs]

The best thing I can tell you is that, if my daughters decide to go military, the Navy would be the branch I would encourage them to join.

My husband is USMC.

 

[Mayflower1]

Yes, many people told me that I should look into the air force, but I like the Navy... today I am seeing a recruiter. And I will be taking a practice Asvab.

 

[Mayflower1]

Well, darn, I guess I won't have time to do my mile run today.

 

[Mayflower1]

(BTW, if you can tell by my talking about myself all the time and sanguine personality, that drill sargeant is really going to tear me up. )