ONLY HONEST ANSWERS from military personnel?

Question

I have no idea what goes on in the military. I have considered joining the navy. But I dont have a clue about what reserve is, or the responsiblities for active duty. please help
I want to make the best desicion for myself and this country and i dont want to commit myself to something that would give me no choice. I want honest answers for anyone who cares enough to be honest.

Answer 1

I retired from the Navy 2 years ago after serving nearly 24 years. Maybe I can enlighten you.

I served on 4 DDG's (guided missile destroyers), 1 SSN (submarine), a CG (cruiser) and a LCC (amphibious command and control ship. I've been stationed up and down the east coast as well as Japan for 4 years.

Every branch of the service has it's pros and cons as well as unique features. Aboard ship (most people serve aboard a ship at some point), you will be assign to a division based on your rate. Your rate is your primary job. Mine was as a Gunners Mate. I worked on guided missile launchers and naval guns. When you check on board, you'll be given a set of qualifications to learn and complete in varying time frames. After being on the ship for 3 to 6 months, you'll be assigned to supply department for 3 months as a FSA (Food Service Attendant).

Life aboard ship is unique among all the services. Crew size varies by ship type and class but they all carry the minimum personnel needed to perform it's mission. Because of that, each member of the crew has multiple roles, taking care of things like security and most importantly, fire and flooding. You can't call the police or fire department in an emergency when your out at sea.

Depending on your rate, you will spend part of your day doing maintenance on your equipment and/or standing watch. The type of watch you stand depends on if you're inport or out at sea, your qualifications, experience and needs of the ship.

Your time aboard sea/shore depends on several factors but generally it's based on your rate and paygrade (rank).

That is a very basic overview of Navy life. It can be very trying at times, and very rewarding at others. The absolute key to a successful tour or career is picking the right rate for you. For me, it was being a Gunners Mate.

I hope I've somewhat answered your question. Good luck.

Answer 2

This is my wifes account so dont worry about the icon. I am in the USMC and i am active duty. I am stationed in Beaufort, SC on the airstation and have been here for four years. I have never been deployed because it appears that i am the only one to know my job well enough to do it. Before you decide on choosing reserves or active duty. The only reason to do reserves is if you want to finish college. dont get me wrong you can finish school in active duty but you will have more time in the reserves. active duty is a pain in the *** but it is also worth it. Especially if you get stationed somewhere where theres not a whole lot of military. You should be scared about if you will get deployed that really depends on your MOS. If you pick an Admin MOS more times than not you will not deploy. I hate admin ive done it for 3 years thats why i am LAT moving to EOD so that i can actually do something with my Marine Corps career. Honestly you need to sit down and decide if this is going to be a stepping stone to other things or if you want to make this your life. if you just want to do this to help with school then go reserves if you want to make this your life and make a difference go active duty. Either way you are doing something that alot of others dont do and you should take that for what its worth because no one can ever take that from you.

Answer 3

My son is in the Navy, now to give a Mom's honest opinion, he was a bg screw off in high school.

He really like the Navy, he is in almost a year now. He works a pretty normal job, has some additional duties, does physical training 3 mornings a week. Has room inspections.

He shares a bathroom, but has his own room with a microwave and refrigerator.

They have a rec center, where he plays video games and pool.

He seems very happy with his life, has many friends, has gone swimming in the ocean with dolphins.

Answer 4

From personal experience as an F-16C pilot, its a lifetime experience.

I've been deployed to various place in Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Israel (for a short while only). Also served in OIF and OEF campaigns.

Honestly, life is both hard, tough, and yet also enjoyable. Its all about the mindset, but don't expect life inside to be a bed of rose, all the more so if you are involved in combat (frontline) duties.

Answer 5

Here's the cold truth:

You volunteer to join one of the armed forces with the hope that you can play your part in defending the country. This means you will probably be put in harm's way, which involves you doing your best to kill our enemies while they try to kill you at the same time.

It doesn't matter what service you join, it always comes down to that. Somewhere down the line you may be put in a position in which you have to kill others before they kill you or other US citizens. You may be involved in this killing by driving a tank or shooting a rifle, or by sitting in front of a computer doing something that helps the actual shooters do their killing.

If you can't grasp that it all comes to killing others before they kill you and ours, then you have no business joining the military. It is not a job training program, it is not a fitness club, it is not a fraternity or a social club. It is an organization designed to kill in various ways. Every job in the military is either connected to the people doing the killing, or it provides a support service for these personnel.

I was enlisted in the US Army for five years, had to leave with a medical discharge before my enlistment was over. After basic training I only averaged 46 rifle rounds fired per year, 3 to check my zero, 3 to verify my zero was good, and 40 to fire for record. Yet in those four years in service I did things that directly supported military operations, so I am as responsible for those as if I was in the front lines shooting myself.

By the way, everyone in uniform is in danger. One of my employees lost a brother in the USS Cole bombing, this was right in the middle of peace time. He was a fireman aboard, and one of the last bodies to be recovered after the attack.

My cousin got killed in Vietnam while having a haircut. He enlisted at 17 because his mother signed his papers even if his father had refused.

One of my best friends in Ft. Gordon, GA. drowned in a company BBQ. This was the best swimmer I have met in my life, yet he simply dropped like rock.

Answer 6

I was in the Army during Vietnam. I ran a TV Camera in a Studio in Alabama. Truth is a very small percentage actually see combat. I enjoyed my time in the Military and wish I had made a career out of it.

Answer 7

Active duty means you'll be doing a military job daily, reserve/guard only monthly. They both are deployable. Just make sure you find a job you like.

Answer 8

if you go active you have no choice ... the navy would be a dangerous choice right now imo ... not telling you what to do or anything but the iran thing is coming up and the experts predict losing a few ships in the gulf to iranian silkworm and sunburn missles... not a way to go really .. go for the airforce and your survivability will go up alittle i think ... and even if you go reserve your chances of being called to active are pretty high too imo right now...

Answer 9

That's right, they die for ungratefully civilians who get to scratch their azz while watching TV and not knowing what goes on in the world other than what the bias media states! But, just what is your question??!!!

Answer 10

Okay, here's the truth. Military personel are being blown up every day. They die! Once! That is all!