The Navy????

Question

I am an 19 year old college sophomore and over the past few months I have been trying to decide if I shoud join the Navy. I have taken my ASVAB and did very well, I also passed my physical. I was offered a great rate and when it came time to sign my contract I choked! Within the past two weeks I had my self convinced that I wasn't going to join the Navy. Then today, I started getting intereasted again. Joining the Navy has been a dream of mine, but I am terrified of being so far away from my family and entering the "unknown". Any advice from anyone would be great. I know that I am the only one who can make this decision, and I will eventually.

I was offered a CTR position and attending "A" School in Pennsicola.

Answer 1

My husband has been in the Navy since 1985, and he still talks about that first year after he joined. He said it was really hard and scary for him to be away from everything and everyone he knew and loved. He was 18, close to your age now, and I think it's pretty common to have these fears! Rather it's joining the Military, going off to college, or just moving out of your parent's house for the first time, it's scary and hard! But it's also the beginning of a great part of your life.
I'm 32 and have been on my own since I was 18. I married my husband back in 1998, and I never knew what Military life was truly like until I became a Navy wife. I was pretty independent, but I always had family and friends around, but that all changed when I married my husband. He had already been in the Navy for 13 years, but it was new to me and it took some adjusting to all the moving and leaving behind loved ones that we were doing. It was easier to deal with while we were stationed in the States, but when we took orders to come to Italy, I was scared to death! The thought of being that far from my parents, my in-laws and my best-friends terrified me! But you know what? I've been here now for two years and I wouldn't change a thing.
The experiences you get from being in the Military, or being a Military family, member is incredible. Don't deprive yourself of a dream because you're scared of the unknown. Everything big we enter into in life, marriage, children, jobs, we never know for sure how it will turn out. You have to take chances in life.
You come through as a very level headed person, and I think you would do well in the Navy. Start out by signing up for the minimum years that they'll allow you to. If you don't like it and you find it's not for you, get out at the end of your contract. If you really have dreamed about this, you're going to regret it one day if you pass up the opportunity. You'll always wonder what you might have missed.
I wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

Answer 2

I was in the Navy from 1967 to 1971. It was more than a job, it was more than an adventure. I learned quite a bit. Discipline, responsibilty, and the nature of true friendship. And I saw a part of the world. What you have to realize is that ALL children leave the nest at one time or another, birds do it early and don't hang around. People, though are not lower animals. We think. Therefore I say to you how will you learn anything interesting or new if you don't explore on your own? Any branch of the military will teach you something about yourself that you didn't know. Presumably, that you are more than what you think you are now. Who knows, try it you may like it. I did, but then I got out to be with my friends when I should have stayed in and seen more of the world than ever, more people, different cultures, more to learn. More to enjoy, more friends to meet. There's a whole world out there, be something, your parents want you to excel, so excel.

Answer 3

My boyfriend joined the navy, the left after 5 days, and then rejoined...then 5 days later he left again. All this due to homesickness and missing ppl, he just wasn’t ready. but then 2 months later he wasn't sure what he wanted to do, I and some other convinced him to go back and try again. He didn’t want to and I have to admit he often got very upset and cried on the phone to me but now he says it is the best thing he has ever done and he will never want to leave. All u can do it give it a try and if u don’t like it, leave, u have so long b4 the 'u have to stay now u have joined' line, if u get what I mean?

I say go 4 it, it will change u and will make a man of u (even if the navy does have a rep for its gays) if u want the life style and want to have life long friends thing go 4 it, sure I’ll have to get up as early as 4am and go to bed as late as 12am but in the long run it's worth it. u don’t get kitted up with all the common like the army guys do, it's mainly theory, u know?

All u can do is ur best, that’s what my parents always say and what every u do im sure they will b very proud of u

Good luck 

ps u don’t want to have the 'what if' question hanging over u

Answer 4

I could answer your question better if I knew what rate your were going in as. What "A" School?

Do NOT make the mistake of going in as an undesignated apprentice. Recruiters often offer this up to those who are not sure of what rate (Military Specialty) they want. Recruiters tell them to go in undesignated and then once they are in the fleet and have had an opportunity to see how the various rates work, they can "Strike" for that rating.
Problem is, once you do get to the fleet undesignated you will be so loaded down with the crap jobs you will never have time to strike for a rating. You have to do that on your own time which there is precious little of for a deck seaman (whichc is what you will become)

Only about 1 in 10 who attempt to strike for a rating actually get it.
The rest wind up as Boatswains Mates or get disallusioned and dont Re-Up.

Get yourself a Garaunteed "A" School and get yourself a Rating.

Answer 5

Its look a lot as it is what you dreamed of all your life and I think that you will be extremely disapointed with yourself for the rest of your life if you dont take this chance! Second thoughts is natural for any big life decision that we face and its only shows good maner to dont be to overconfident in your ability to get through this experience. But I think that you afterwards will laugh at your thoughts if you decide to go ahead. I maybe wrong about this, but I believe that there are always opertunitues on the way where you can decide this is nothing for you and jump the ship, literaly. Anyway: Good luck, what ever you do! Johan

Answer 6

Be absolutely sure you want to join because there is no going back once you do. Also, not all military personnel are deployed overseas, and not all Navy personnel are placed onboard ships. Really, this is no different than after you graduate college and go look for a job, it's just coming that much sooner. We all have to face the unknown and be brave enough to take that first step.

Good luck, and God speed.

Answer 7

You have time to decide so do not rush yourself. 25 years ago I had the pen in hand and almost signed up with the AirForce. I decided to wait a bit and I'm glad I did.

Personally, with our current admisistration and it's policies, I'd be wary of joining. Don't get me wrong. There is a time and a place to defend the country, but the Bush admins policies are not well thought out and have left the U.S. very isolated in the world.

I do have total respect for those in the military, but just remember when you sign that paper you are giving the gvt the right to do anything with you. You will be the property of the government.

Answer 8

First off what is the rate you were offered? Second off if you are not sure, take some to to make sure that the choice is right for you, not for the people answering your question. I would have to know what rate it was for me to say if I would do it or not. Some rates are good some rates are horrible. Feel free to email me with what type of rate they offered you.

Answer 9

Go for your dream, I'm sure you won't regret it. Yes going into what you don't know will be hard, but you need to get out of your "comfort zone", take risks. So yeah, you should. At least I think so. Good luck and I'm sure you'll choose wisely. God Bless!

Answer 10

no not during war after the war is the best time