So I think of joining the Navy...?

Question

I'm 35 and have three four kids. Three will be living with me. Does that sound like it's feasible? How long do Navy deployments normally go? Can I chose a job like be a Corpman?

Answer 1

Navy Vet here,

A Navy Corpman huh? That is an honorable job, but you do realize that the Marines do not have their own medical personnel. When you see a Marine in the movies yelling "CORPSMAN!" for a fallen and wounded Marine... he is yelling for a NAVY corpsman.

as to deployment...

A typical turnaround cycle for a Navy ship is thus...

1. Deployed : 6-8 months
2. Yard/upkeep : 4-5 months
3. Workups/training : 13-14 months

Total turn around time 2 years. you are gone about 6 months then back a year and a half for upkeep and training for the next deployment.

During the Yard period following deployment it will be like a typical 9-5 job with you going home every night and returning the next day Mon-Fri. The exception is Duty days. The ships crew is devided into 5 duty sections. each day one section has the duty until the following day. When your duty day comes up you have to remain on the ship. when this is a weekend, you can go home when you are relieved the next morning. if it a weekday, you will remain for that workday and go home at the end of it.

Now during the long training and workup period. the schedual is randon. you may be inport for a week or several, you may go to sea for a day or two, or for all week, and only com back on the weekend. you also may stay out over the weekend or for a couple of weeks. you can expect to be gone (out to sea) for about 60-70% of this time that you are supposedly back (not deployed).

so in a 2 year turnaround cycle you would be home at the max about 13 month and at the worst about 8-10 months.

You are getting a mix of good/bad advice from the other posters before me.

You can Ignore TedEx... he's just a military bashing idiot.

THe Hermanator is straight on about pay.. it is very low for a family your size. but they will not aoutomatically turn you down because of them. A GOOD recruit will make you examine your situation carefully before allowing you to sign on. a Bad one will tell you what you want to hear and sign you regardless. Hermanator is wrong when it comes to your job.. you are not allowed to pick ion boot camp from a battery of tests administered in boot. You are allowed to pick BEFORE YOU JOIN UP from those you are qualified for according to the ASVAB test you took before you join.

Sweetpea... the current limit is 36. not 34

Stefbear. there is NOTHING normal about a 2 year deployment. stop scaring the guy. normal deployments are hardship enough. The Ideal deployment is 6 months. period and those will sometime extend to 8 months due to schedualing and mission requirements. a few rare deployments have gone about a year but those were special "showing the flag" around the world cruises and are NOT typical. 2 years?! forget it.

Waltermelon (like that name by the way..ha ha) has it correct. He gives good advice while admittedly doesnt know the details of a deployment..
LOL go figure you get the best advice so far on the Navy from a Jarhead (LOL just kidding... Semper Fi)

Answer 2

I'm in the Marine Corps and I really wouldn't recommend the military for someone who is 35 with children. Obviously you know that you will probably be deployed and, though I don't know everything about the Navy, you will probably spend most of your enlistment away from home on board a ship. The Navy is a good place to go if you want to go out and see the world but that can be very difficult for your family. If you are really set on joining, I would suggest the Air Force. It's an easier branch to succeed in, their deployments are shorter and they might have more jobs that don't get deployed at all. The reserves are also worth looking into for someone with an established family especially if you can get a job that is non-deployable. Best of luck.

Answer 3

As long as you do not become a nuke, I think it s fine. I served 6 years as a nuke and the best thing I did for myself was get out. I am now happily using the GI bill to pay for my schooling. Although I will not bother you with all the awful and inhumane things nukes have to go through, I will tell you this. The Navy advertises itself as launching jets, shooting big guns, and using all this cool equipment. It s mostly janitor work and they use those advertisements to target punk *** kids to sign away their freedom. Once you are in the navy they treat you like **** and you can t leave because you do not want to get a dishonorable discharge which will be on your record for life. Again, I dont think all the navy is bad, just nuke life.

Answer 4

You will not be able to pick your job? Are u joining to be a Seaman? What about being able to pick your job and stay on land? You will be able to join the Army with four kids. Talk to an Army Recruiter before you take that last step. It will be worth while. And if I am not mistaken, Navy cutoff for age is 34 and Army is 42. Good Luck, SSG Schramm

Answer 5

A normal deployment is anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. Is your wife capable of taking care of the kids while you are at boot camp and then gone for 6 months or more? My neighbor is a Navy wife. She hates it. She is tired of moving every4 years and uprooting the kids for their home. They are moving again this fall. She is soooo tired of it. You need to talk with your family and see if it something everyone agrees with. Also, at 35 it will be tougher going in than if you were 20. Some dreams are better left as dreams.

Answer 6

you are too old for Navy. Cut off is 34. Army will take you up to 42. BUT If you are a Single parent, you are ineligible to go Active duty in ANY Branch.

Some reserves and Guard will take you as a single parent( Navy will not)

Answer 7

Unless you have some exceptional skills, or education in a field they are short of, you will be turned down because of your dependents. Your age would be a factor too.
The initial pay for an new enlistee is to low to support a family like yours, and the health-care for your bunch would strain the system too.
The types of jobs available to you is determined by your scores on a battery of tests administered in boot camp.
If you have an aptitude for medical fields, then you could surely become a Corpsman, because they always need those, especially during a war, or conflict.

Answer 8

The limit for the navy is 34. Try the Army.

Answer 9

Thinking of joining the navy at age 35. What are you running away from???
What are you looking for???
I doubt if you'll find it in the Navy.