Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Thinking about joining the Navy, need some advice.

MikeyChalupa · 10-29-2005, 10:21 AM

First, thanks for considering service to your country in the finest branch of the Armed Forces. The field you are interested in, JO or Journalist, is actually a great rate to be in right now. Advancement is pretty open when many others are closing up. Me personally, I would also advise you to look into a job in aviation as to me that's the best part of the Navy. I am an AT1, or Aviation Electronics Technician First Class.

Please don't immediately assume recruiters are out to screw you. Yes they have quotas to make but a recruiter who just sends "warm bodies" to Great Lakes who never finish boot camp or get kicked out before they have a year in the Navy will kill his own career. They know this. What they may TRY to do is send you into a field that you don't necessarily want because it's undermanned. If you qualify for the nuclear field, for example, they will do everything they can to get you into that program.

I've been on active duty for 10 years, and have had a great time. I'm going to do another 10. You're a bit older than the average recruit, and are in a position where you have something to motivate you (you have kids to provide for) so I think its safe to say that you won't cause the usual problems new recruits often have, like DUI's, drugs, uniform looks like ass, late to work, spent your whole paycheck on rims and then bounce checks to the commisary, and so forth.

The biggest piece of advice I can give you is DO NOT LET THEM SEND YOU TO BOOT CAMP WITHOUT AN "A" SCHOOL GUARANTEE. I repeat, DO NOT LET THEM SEND YOU TO BOOT CAMP WITHOUT AN "A" SCHOOL GUARANTEE. I'll say it one more time: DO NOT LET THEM SEND YOU TO BOOT CAMP WITHOUT AN "A" SCHOOL GUARANTEE. You are too old to waste time as an undesignated seaman or airman. You already know what you want to do. Take your ASVAB, and if you qualify for JO, MAKE SURE your contract guarantees you that school upon completion of boot camp. If they tell you the school is closed or try to send you into another rate, or mention the words "apprentice training" tell them sorry, I'm not interested, here's my number and call me back when you can send me to JO school.

The Navy is like anything else in life. You get out of it what you put into it. It has it's share of really shitty days. There have been a few times where I wish I had never heard of the Navy. But there are also times where I wonder why anyone would ever want to do anything else but what it is that I do.

If you have any more questions, feel free to IM me, or e-mail me. If you remember only one thing from this, please let it be this: DO NOT LET THEM SEND YOU TO BOOT CAMP WITHOUT AN "A" SCHOOL GUARANTEE.

-Mikey

P.S.: DO NOT LET THEM SEND YOU TO BOOT CAMP WITHOUT AN "A" SCHOOL GUARANTEE.

10-29-2005, 10:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
MikeyChalupa Squid Location: USS George Washington	First, thanks for considering service to your country in the finest branch of the Armed Forces. The field you are interested in, JO or Journalist, is actually a great rate to be in right now. Advancement is pretty open when many others are closing up. Me personally, I would also advise you to look into a job in aviation as to me that's the best part of the Navy. I am an AT1, or Aviation Electronics Technician First Class. Please don't immediately assume recruiters are out to screw you. Yes they have quotas to make but a recruiter who just sends "warm bodies" to Great Lakes who never finish boot camp or get kicked out before they have a year in the Navy will kill his own career. They know this. What they may TRY to do is send you into a field that you don't necessarily want because it's undermanned. If you qualify for the nuclear field, for example, they will do everything they can to get you into that program. I've been on active duty for 10 years, and have had a great time. I'm going to do another 10. You're a bit older than the average recruit, and are in a position where you have something to motivate you (you have kids to provide for) so I think its safe to say that you won't cause the usual problems new recruits often have, like DUI's, drugs, uniform looks like ass, late to work, spent your whole paycheck on rims and then bounce checks to the commisary, and so forth. The biggest piece of advice I can give you is DO NOT LET THEM SEND YOU TO BOOT CAMP WITHOUT AN "A" SCHOOL GUARANTEE. I repeat, DO NOT LET THEM SEND YOU TO BOOT CAMP WITHOUT AN "A" SCHOOL GUARANTEE. I'll say it one more time: DO NOT LET THEM SEND YOU TO BOOT CAMP WITHOUT AN "A" SCHOOL GUARANTEE. You are too old to waste time as an undesignated seaman or airman. You already know what you want to do. Take your ASVAB, and if you qualify for JO, MAKE SURE your contract guarantees you that school upon completion of boot camp. If they tell you the school is closed or try to send you into another rate, or mention the words "apprentice training" tell them sorry, I'm not interested, here's my number and call me back when you can send me to JO school. The Navy is like anything else in life. You get out of it what you put into it. It has it's share of really shitty days. There have been a few times where I wish I had never heard of the Navy. But there are also times where I wonder why anyone would ever want to do anything else but what it is that I do. If you have any more questions, feel free to IM me, or e-mail me. If you remember only one thing from this, please let it be this: DO NOT LET THEM SEND YOU TO BOOT CAMP WITHOUT AN "A" SCHOOL GUARANTEE. -Mikey P.S.: DO NOT LET THEM SEND YOU TO BOOT CAMP WITHOUT AN "A" SCHOOL GUARANTEE. Last edited by MikeyChalupa; 10-29-2005 at 10:25 AM.. Reason: DO NOT LET THEM SEND YOU TO BOOT CAMP WITHOUT AN "A" SCHOOL GUARANTEE.