What is life like in the Navy? How much is the starting pay?

Question

I want to join the Navy , is this a good time for it especially all the stuff that going on right now in Iraq? What is the living situation like? Will I be living in some kind of dorm with a bunch of guys in one room? How much is the rent or cost of living?

Answer 1

You could do worse things than joining the U.S. Navy. You'll get FREE UNIFORM ISSUE(then a 'clothing allowance'), FREE FOOD, FREE LIVING QUARTERS (on shore it's usually 2 - 3 to a room and the barracks are really nice), FREE MEDICAL & DENTAL, DISCOUNTS ON MOVIES/CONCERTS/AMUSMENT PARKS, FREE TRAINING (pick a tech rating that you can use in the CIVILAN WORLD), FREE TRAVEL TO FOREIGN and LOCAL PORTS(keep away from the bars and meet the local people!).
On board ship, the living conditions can be a bit crowded but you'll get used to it. As a junior person expect to be given the least desireable tasks until you get some rate behind you. The more rate, the more respect and more responsibility and better jobs (NORMALLY). As an SK1 I have swept, mopped, waxed floors, taken out the trash...only because it was my duty day and I was the only one there and the work had to be done.
I spent over 20 years and I'd do it again! I was on 5 ships, 8 oceans/seas, 6 continents (including 13 months in Antarctica), 32 countries(some more than once) (stationed in 3...my family was with me in 2 countries). I was a storekeeper and in 3 of the 6 jobs since I retired in 85 I used my training (One for 6 weeks..bored...one for 7 years in a shipyard handling all the supplies for Navy ships, Military Sea Lift command ships and Army dredges, and my present job for over 13 years doing logistics for foreign navies when they buy one of our old US Navy ships).
As far as Iraq, you'll be at sea, not on shore, most likely. A few sailors I have known actually never got sent to a ship for several years (other than NON-SEA going ratings).
My son got sent to a Fast Frigate (like a destroyer) as his first command in Japan. He didn't want to leave. Funny thing, in 1991, his Command Master Chief worked for me as a SKSN in 1975.
You'll do things, see things and go places your classmates there would not even dream of being able to do. I know. I run into guys and gals I went to school with and they are amazed at some of the things I've experienced(one girl has only gone 90 miles away from home to D.C. on vacation!) I've been as far west from the East coast as Bangkok, Thailand, as far east from the East coast as Pakistan, as far north as Halifax, Nova Scotia and as far south as the South Pole (I flew down there for a Sunday from McMurdo station and had the most Southern Fried Chicken in the world).
Good luck!
(USN/retired)

Answer 2

Now is as good as time as ever in joining the Navy. The best years of my life were in the Navy. Unless you are a corpman(medical assistant) assigned to a Marine battalion, dont expect to go into Iraq, but do expect to be deployed to that area, and hit port calls such as Bahrain. Things have changed since I have left, but I can try to answer your questions the best I can. When you arrive to bootcamp, you will be in one big room with 80 guys, with bunk beds. When I was in (94-99) bootcamp was one of the most challenging times I have ever had, and one of the most life changing times in my life. They stick you in with people from all around the country, people with rich backgrounds, to people who have lived in poverty. All races, religions, and ethnic backgrounds are represented, and you are all expected to work as a team, and achieve success. I was shocked at some of the intolerance that I experienced, and culture clashes, but at the end, we were all best friends, and had respected each other as brothers. Depending where you go for your next school, there will be barracks, different schools have different living arrangements, when I went to A school it was all open barracks, and my "C'" school I still had open barracks, until I raised a row, since I was an E-4 then, and there were E-1s with better living arrangements. When I went to my first command, at first I shared a room, but then when I made E-5, I got my own room to myself, and then I moved out of the base and got a $600 dollar a month allowance. The cost of living on base is free, but if you decide to live on your own off base, it varies from city to city. Norfolk would be cheaper, than say San Diego. My suggestion is live on the base, at least until you feel comfortable financially moving out, its free living. You will always be with your shipmates there. Life in the Navy is tough, but rewarding. I have some of the most fondest memories in the Navy.

Answer 3

navy wife here. i will answer the best i can. after boot camp you will go to "a:" school. where you will live in a dorm with one roommate
depending on your field you may go to another school or to a ship/ if the ship isnt in the yards you will be required to live on board since your single no dependent. from what i know thats not easy.. once your an e-5 or above you get bah its based on your ships station what it is. you can then live off of the ship. if you get married no matter what rank they will get you bah. basic allotment for housing. this may or may not pay all your rent and household bills. starting salary is based on rankthe chart in the link is the base pay for each rank ship life can be fun or bad ships are in and out of port alot and go on regular deployments that are now7-9 months long good luck and thanks for joining the us navy