Navy questions?

Question

I am planning to enlist in the Navy within the next two weeks. I have several questions.

1) My vision is 20/400 without contact lenses. During boot camp, are the glasses an absolute no or are there waivers? They are super important to my ability to do everything.

--Also, will I get to where contacts in A school?

2) I am 29 and have been physically active (at least 3-4 days weekly) with weights & sports for the past 15 years. In bootcamp, how important will this be in helping me keep up with much younger enlistees?

3) I already have a college degree (in Journalism), and have spent the past three years working as a teacher in Orlando but my GPA is not satisfactory to become an officer. Can someone explain what my pay grade will be upon entering the Navy?


Thanks

Additionally:

My GPA was a 2.9, which a recruiter told me over the phone was not strong enough.

My goal is to go into the legal side of things. I have done Public Relations work for a non profit prior to being a teacher. How would A school gear me towards that? It's not college, but I would imagine I would need to get another undergrad degree in Political Science (or something else) to even be sniffed as law material (JAG).

AM I better served just staying with my B.A. in Journalism and maximizing its worth in the NAVY?

Answer 1

1: your uncorrected vision may require a waiver if it doesn't DQ you altogether. there is NO getting out of wearing the BCGs during Boot camp. you really really REALLY don't want to be wearing contacts when you go through the gas Chamber.
1a: you will be able to wear contacts once you report to A school.

2: you will be fine, although more will be expected of you as far as leadership roles are concerned. be prepared to be singled out in that respect during Boot.

3: you will get E3, the Max allowed by Navy standards upon enlistment

however, in regards to your age and degree: you are too old to go Unrestricted Line. your only options would be Restricted Line: Supply, IWO, INTEL or IP. the degree is not something the Navy is currently looking for. If you want JAG, you already have to have the Law Degree in hand before being picked up. there are very few PAOs taken every year.. around ten or so. whereas IWO, IP and INTEL can accept 50-100 each per year. Supply is also hard to get into.

your best bet is probablyu to enlist in a field that you want, and then applying for OCS after a year or two in the Fleet.

Answer 2

1)Well as for the glasses, it's not a problem, when I went to MEPS and they did the vision test my eyesight was so bad they had to do the "How many fingers am I holding up" test lol. In Basic they will issue a pair of glasses to everyone who needs corrective lenses. And they are ugly, but since everyone else who needs glasses will have to wear them too it's not a big deal.

I'm not sure about contacts in A "school" Although I'm pretty sure that after boot camp you can go back to wearing whatever you wore before that. I could be wrong on that point though.

2) Well since you are older than most new recruits your fitness standards will be lower than theirs. You'll have to do less push ups and sit ups and your required time for the 1.5 mile run will be lower, which helps. If you're as active as you say you are then that is even better. Here is a link with the info on the requirements for each age bracket and also weight requirements:
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/navy/l/blfitmenu.htm

3) I'm not sure on this one, I know that having so many college credits can help get you a promotion, but I'm not sure how many you need and how many promotions they will get you. You should probably consult a recruiter bout that. The navy equivalent of a Journalist is the Mass Communications Specialist(MC) which also happens to be my rate :)

Hope that helped a little at least. Good Luck!

EDIT: I'm pretty sure the guy above me knows absolutely nothing about boot camp Contacts are NOT allowed. The BCG's are mandatory if you have to wear glasses, they're big thick plastic framed glasses, cheap and easy to replace if broken. And the Navy is not the toughest training in the military, I'd say that honor goes to the Marines.

Answer 3

1) i wear glasses and yes there mandatory to wear if you require them...but look at it this way...everyone in boot camp that has to wear glasses get's the BC (Birth Control) glasses...so you wont be alone...

-- you wont get any navy paid contacts in A-School...there are certain rates that can get them QM, FT to name a few...theres more but i dont have a complete list...basicly if you need to look out a parascope or anything like that you get them for free...other than that be ready to pay for your own...

2) YES, YES, YES...being active will always help you, especually now that the PFA (Physical Fitness Assesment) has met hightened priority in the Navy today. Being fit will always help, also when you come up for your first eval you will want a good mark on the Military Bearing...failure in the PFA results in a below average mark!

3) ok...if your GPA wasnt high enough for the initial officer candadate then when your enlistment gets started (ie..outa bootcamp) ask to see the MILPERSMAN on enlisted to officer programs...there's tons out there and you sound like your a good candadate for a few of them...though some of them have age restrictions on them...29 sounds a bit old for a few, but dont give up on the fight...get as much out of the Navy that you can...
Your initial pay grade will be in the E-1 to E-3 pay grade level...thats Seaman Recruit to Seaman. Anything above that requires a test taken or command advanced. The pay may be small but keep up the good fight, stay away from Captains Mast and you will do very well....

HEY GOOD LUCK TO YOU FUTURE SHIPMATE!
FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS!

Answer 4

What was your GPA? You need to double and triple check about the officer part- unless your gPA is pretty bad it might be a load of hooey. I was in the Navy for over 10 years and I know too many officers with useless degrees. You should be and E-3 when you enter the Navy because of your college credits.

Answer 5

1) They will issue you glasses, if your eyesight is within the acceptable range for entrance and yes you'll wear them in basic. (don't know but expect you'll wear them in "A" school also)
2) Good physical shape will definitely help.
3) You could consider trying to get into the journalism world of the Navy. The Army gives E4 for a 4 yr college degree. I don't know about the Navy.

Answer 6

answer to question 1: glasses are out of the question. trust me. yes, you can wear contacts in boot camp.

2. it will be extremely important because navy training is the toughest training there is in the Military.

3. it depends if you are a captain or a sergent or whatever. click on the site listed below it will tell your pay grade depending on what rank you are.

Answer 7

The glasses will be fine.