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Post by Johnny Edwards on Jun 29, 2009 23:34:50 GMT -5
Ok so yeah I know I have talked about this before but I am finally trying to decide an actually do now I got all my medical bills paid off finally an I am trying to decide which branch I need peoples personal experiences I know a couple of you have been in military an currently are what were the pros an cons from your time in. Do you get to see your family at least a decent amount of time I know you won't ALOT most of the time but enough you know what I mean. What was it like day to day the routine? An why did you join the branch to did an do you regret your decision?
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Post by John Wilson on Jun 30, 2009 6:21:15 GMT -5
I did six years in the Navy and then a few more in the reserves after I got out.
Navy pros:
EXCELLENT training. If you want to get into automation or a technical field you'll find ex Navy guys everywhere you look. Some specialized fields in the Navy provide better education than you can get in a university because you come out with experience. Go to any nuclear power plant and it's full of Navy guys, not university grads. You have to qualify for these kinds of jobs and it normally comes with a six year commitment up front instead of four.
See the world: That's no punchline. The Navy took me to thirty some odd countries, many of them several times. I have been to some God forsaken s.h.i.t. holes and I have been to the most beautiful places on earth. I could never have done it any other way if Uncle Sam hadn't sent me.
Navy cons:
ALWAYS GONE. If you end up on a warship you can count on about 300 days per year gone from home. It's a single man's gig in my opinion.
Work like a F'n slave. This isn't Carnival Cruise Lines. Count on 18 hour days at sea, seven days a week unless you get into a good rating (job classification) like crypto. If you end up in Engineering you're gonna bust serious ass. BUT, Engineering guys land great jobs on the outside and guys who watch scopes all day don't.
I wouldn't take back a single day I spent in the Navy, but I got out for a reason. I wanted to get married and have a life. It's a tough gig on a married guy.
My advice: you better seriously WANT to serve. The military is what you make it. If you don't really want to be there it will be hell on earth. If you make the most of it you can change your life. Very little of daily life in the military is fun, but it can be exciting and it damn sure is challenging.
As to which branch? I love the Navy. Hot food. I never slept in a muddy hole. I had a real bathroom. The longest I went without a shower was two weeks, and that was very rare. Normally you can shower every day in the Navy. Those little things are HUGE on the quality of life scale when you take them away.
The best quality of life is the Air Force. No other branch comes close. My brother was Air Force. It is the polar opposite of the Navy. Drawbacks? You don't advance very fast. You tend to be in one place for years at a time. You will go to Korea, probably unaccompanied, for a year at a time. If you end up in certain job fields you will be underground in a silo a thousand miles from nowhere.
Just remember one thing when talking to a recruiter: If something 'sounds' cool, it isn't.
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Post by Andrew Fournier on Jun 30, 2009 9:48:48 GMT -5
Don't do it for the money. Do it because you want to LIVE THAT LIFESTYLE. It's not a job, it's a lifestyle. And were at War, so you know where you'll end up without asking us if you decide right now. Of course there's PROS to joining the military, but I just could never justify giving up ownership of my life.
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Post by Aaron Blevins on Jun 30, 2009 10:50:20 GMT -5
I'm Navy, but you already know that Johnny. Active.....almost 10 years (NOV 99).......right now.....at work.....on the Northeastboard. Its not all bad. Just as John said, its what you make of it. AND ALOT OF IT DEPENDS on your job. IN ANY BRANCH of the Military.
ARMY: WILL BE DEPLOYED....in the sh*t......and i've been there, in the Middle East.... and when I left after a few months, there where ARMY guys there......still looking at 12-18 more months after I left. Standard Deployment for ARMY right now is 18 mos.. D*MN..... I MEAN HOLY SH*T..... THATS A LONG TIME. Of course theres other jobs in the ARMY....BUT that is what they do....they are Soldiers 1st and 90% of those guys DEPLOY....ALOT
MARINES: I thought I wanted to join the Marines initially, If for no other reason to join the Military, if you're going to join one. You might as well be a BADASS and get the coolest uniforms, can't argue the Marines pitch, to recruit and make killers. Thats some serious sh*t. Thats a good 90% of the Marines. The other 10% work with the Navy, which i work with several Marines in my shop and we work on fighter jets F/A-18 Hornets/Superhornets. The Marines do have Jets, trucks, Helos, Corpsmen and all...... BUT they are Marines and the MAJORITY....PLAY MARINE......AND DESTROY M*THER F*CKERS. thats what they do.
CHAIR FORCE: Yes....they do have the best facilities (HANDS DOWN), some of the coolest Jets (B-1b son). But they do DEPLOY....IN SOME JOBS....like Aircrew on some of their Jets....DEPLOY MORE THAN ANYBODY......But, when all those Jets are overseas...WHICH THEY ARE....ALL THE TIME......where do you think their Squadron or Wing is.......clerical jobs, mechanics, everybody.....they are overseas too. Operating as a Command, wherever their jets are. Their bases are nice, even overseas. If you end up in aviation, you will most likely become a MASTER of 1 trade.....and you will do that job.....over and over again. Like on their Jets, if they have tires that go bad, you may spend A LONG TIME just changing tires and almost never do anything else. They have even more specific specialties than the Navy. The other people in the AirForce are freaking Security....and I would not wish that job on anyone....in any Branch of the Military....90% percent of them stand at a Gate and let people in and out......all the time....for years...thats what they do. Most likely though....you will get stationed in 1 place for a long time, with your 1 year overseas unaccompanied by family happening within your 1 5yrs or so. So, the AirForce is definately the best when it comes to having a somewhat regular life outside of work, meaning, you could likely spend 20 years on the same base and start a family in which your kids grow up just as other kids do. But, you can always choose to go to another base.
NAVY: WILL DEPLOY........DON'T END UP A BLACKSHOE and be a fulltime Boat guy. Although some of them love it and I used to be that guy and was stationed on an Aircraft Carrier (which is awesome by the way) loses its luster real quick. AVIATON FIELD in the NAVY is the way to go, YOU WILL DEPLOY. BUT for most aviation jobs (ratings) have a 4 and 3 Sea/shore rotation. I will have 3 and 3 for the rest of my career. Meaning 4 years sea duty 3 years shore duty. Those will be different commands and you may end up moving.....so for your Sea Duty, you will be gone about 2 of those 4 years on average. but broken up. i've seen more and less. just depends. BUT after that, when you hit your shore duty, you will NOT DEPLOY for those 3 years. And most likely have a super easy job. Family life.....again, with any Branch is how well does your spouse acclomate. When I 1st came in, my wife was 19 and hated every second of it. Fast FWD to today, she wouldn't let me get out if I tried (i would take a serious pay cut too....i'm around 60k). She enjoys the fact that she has lived a few different places now and enjoys VA. Beach. I'VE BEEN ALL OVER THE WORLD. if you want to see the world, you join the Navy. FACT.
No matter what.......if you are not in school.....or haven't already taken over a family business and don't have something going that is going to be huge......I WOULD TELL ANYONE to join the Military. It will help, even if you don't stay in forever.
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Post by Aaron Blevins on Jun 30, 2009 10:56:09 GMT -5
and John was also right about everything he said.
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Post by Carl Bowers on Jun 30, 2009 11:14:54 GMT -5
Johnny, the past few guys Aaron, John, and Fournier are very right. The most important thing is that you want to be there and make it part of your life. I did eight years in the Navy and I wouldn't trade it for nothing. Just like John I've been to some nice and bad places. But I was always happy to come home to our beautiful country. My family on both sides are very military. They were either Air Force or Army. Yes, I had to be the lil black sheep and go in the Navy because I knew I wanted to travel and boy did I travel.  To make it simple: If your not married and want to travel go into the Navy.{The best advancments and pay} If your a family man at heart go into the Air Force.{Slow advanment, but better housing - country club b@st@rds. LOL}  If you want to fight and have a lot of responsiblity go into the Marines.  If you want to fight crazy go into the Coast Guard.{Good duty stations in the islands}  If you just want to fight and run{Not my favorite pass time.LOL} go into the Army.  But what every you do make sure your heart is into it because I've seen it make and break a lot of guys. Hope this helps, bro. |
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Post by Johnny Edwards on Jun 30, 2009 13:22:58 GMT -5
Thanks for the info guys. Where is Snooks take on this? I'll give you a call later today Aaron.
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Post by chrislydman on Jun 30, 2009 14:47:54 GMT -5
Johnny, I'll pm tonight with my take. 23 years as a SAR/combat swimmer, and Navy diver and retiring as an E-8 puts me in pretty good position to give advice, but I'd rather do it personally. |
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Post by Aaron Blevins on Jun 30, 2009 16:26:23 GMT -5
Johnny, I'll pm tonight with my take. 23 years as a SAR/combat swimmer, and Navy diver and retiring as an E-8 puts me in pretty good position to give advice, but I'd rather do it personally. sounds like the Chiefs mess. condescending and knows more than anyone else. watchout for those guys Johnny. i'm sure he does have good advice to give. and I pm'd him too there Senior Chief, just thought i would give some info for him and anyone to read on the board. truthfully, anyone who've served has something to give as far as their own experiences. i'm still Navy today and i'll tell you whats going on with it if someone asks.Get as much information as possible. I did not prior to me joining. |
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Post by John Wilson on Jun 30, 2009 16:34:12 GMT -5
Aaron brought up a good point. Your job in the Navy will take you on a wildly different course. I didn't get to see much naval aviation from where I was in the engine room. The only aviation guys (brown shoes) I met were the helo detachments that came on board. They had a much better life than we did but they were still gone A LOT. Not quite like us, but it's no stay at home job by any stretch of the imagination. Still, all the aviation guys said their quality of life was much better than us guys on the ship, so I'll have to take their word for it. The busted ass plenty when they were at sea with us, so it's no cake job. You'll have to get details on they day-to-day from Aaron because I just don't know anything about it and it's his life every day. If anyone knows, he knows.
Remember what I said. If a job sounds cool it probably isn't. When I went in I got into the Nuclear program. I was a dumbass 18 year old and I had visions of walking around in a white lab coat holding a clipboard. LOL! That's some funny stuff now, but at the time it was a rude awakening.
I agree 100% with Aaron and Carl. For anyone who doesn't have a bright future already nailed down like a family business to take over or a scholarship to Yale, I'd recommend the military 100%. I don't know anyone who isn't the better for their time in. But yes, your job in the military is to kill and destroy. It's not a college degree program like the commercials make it out to be. Your job first is to do what your government says, go where it says, and STFU and get it done.
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Post by Johnny Edwards on Jun 30, 2009 17:01:42 GMT -5
I called Aaron give me a call back man 704-689-7132 I was wanting to get into aviation like you I have a plenty high enough asvab score.
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Post by chrislydman on Jun 30, 2009 17:05:25 GMT -5
Johnny, I'll pm tonight with my take. 23 years as a SAR/combat swimmer, and Navy diver and retiring as an E-8 puts me in pretty good position to give advice, but I'd rather do it personally. sounds like the Chiefs mess. condescending and knows more than anyone else. watchout for those guys Johnny. i'm sure he does have good advice to give. and I pm'd him too there Senior Chief, just thought i would give some info for him and anyone to read on the board. truthfully, anyone who've served has something to give as far as their own experiences. i'm still Navy today and i'll tell you whats going on with it if someone asks.Get as much information as possible. I did not prior to me joining. Sounds like you're either jealous, or ignorant, Blev. I wasn't condescending, but trust me, if you wanna go that route, I'll oblige Don't come back with the 'just kidding' line, either. Stand by what you posted. Johnny and I have corresponded on this topic several times, it has nothing to do with me not wanting to share on the board....As you can clearly see by this post! Have a Navy Day. |
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Post by Johnny Edwards on Jun 30, 2009 17:09:07 GMT -5
I went ahead an filled out a little bit of paperwork today to get medical docs an what not.
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Post by Johnny Edwards on Jun 30, 2009 17:10:27 GMT -5
I look forward to hearing from you too Chris.
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Post by chrislydman on Jun 30, 2009 17:16:52 GMT -5
Check your pm's, Bro |
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If you want to fight and have a lot of responsiblity go into the Marines. 
If you want to fight crazy go into the Coast Guard.{Good duty stations in the islands} 
If you just want to fight and run{Not my favorite pass time.LOL} go into the Army. 