My Brother In The US Navy....?

Question

My brother just recently left for the US Navy and I am scared out my mind for him! I think he has a job as a storekeeper. I don't know what that is or about but it is probably dangerous anyhow! I mean is my brother going to be safe!? Is he gonna die or get hurt!? He says this will be a great chance to travel the world, become a man and get some good benefits but I just ain't buying that stuff, guys!!! IS MY BROTHER GOING TO DIE IN THE NAVY!!!???

Answer 1

You're worse than my grandmother was. She worried herself sick on occasion. Couldn't get her head out of the "dark side." She worried so much that she once wrote the Chaplain because she hadn't heard from me in a week. I was infuriated. I wrote her a letter and told her that if she ever embarrassed me like that again, she would never get another letter from me. YOU HAVE TO GET A GRIP!!!

Your brother should be fine in the Navy. The enemy we're fighting doesn't represent a country. They don't have a Navy... no ships... no subs... ok, missiles are ubiquitous... but if a moron launches one of those, the place from which it was fired will disappear in a few minutes. The last time a Navy ship was fired upon was in 2005... and they missed. Before that was the USS Cole... both of those ships were docked.

A storekeeper, depending on his rate and assignment, can equate to a a warehouse worker or manager, shipping clerk, stock boy, or a cashier, or a store manager. And, aboard ship he'll be safer than people who work in similar civilian jobs.

You will not "buy" the stuff your brother tells you? Why? Don't trust him? The "stuff" he told you is absolutely true.

I was in the Navy for 25 years. I retired almost that long ago. I wasn't an SK (Storekeeper... like your brother), so I can't tell you what his duty will be like. But I can talk a little about benefits.

Some of the guys I was in boot camp with only stayed for 4 years. They got out and got civilian jobs. After a few years those with degrees might have moved up into supervisory positions. A few years later and some of them might have made it into management positions. A few might have made it up into those glassed-in corner offices waaaaay up in those office buildings... you know the kind.

After I reenlisted, somebody rediscovered my degree and recommended OCS. While the guys who left were finding their way around the mail room... or wherever they started their civilian careers, I was already in management. By the time they got into management, I was in policy. By the time they got to policy... in those corner offices... I'd retired. While they were working their way up the corporate ladder, I was going all over the world. I was living a life that some would call adventurous. I got to sky-dive, SCUBA dive, drive and ride in fast boats and cars, and I was getting paid for it.

Now I get up pretty much when I feel like it. I run 3 times a week, swim every day, do weights 3 times a week, martial arts every day, play golf once in a while, go to the rifle range a couple of days a month. And if I decide to sleep in, I do.

Know what those guys in the corner offices do? They're my age, working 50-60 hours a week and dream about travel and adventure, and doing some of the stuff I did when I was young enough to enjoy it.

Since I'm retired, I have access to base facilities. I can go to the base hospital, commissary (grocery store), and exchange (kind of like a department store). I can fly space-available just about anywhere in the world.. for free.

The GI Bill enabled me to get my second degree and my third. I purchased with a VA loan... it's now paid for. I also have access to VA hospital facilities.

Next year I'm going to move into a VA retirement home. The fees are less than the cost of rent... and they cover everything.... food, a place to sleep, a wide range of activities... they even have their own radio and television station. And they have two pools. And, if I ever need it, medical is also covered... in the fees. Everything is covered. And, if you are thinking about horror stories about the food in such places... I've eaten there... and it's great. Last time I was there they had sweet and sour chicken. People from the nearby town occasionally go there for a meal.

Rather than jumping on the negative bandwagon, why don't you do a Google search on "navy storekeepers"? Or go to the US Navy's Web site. http://www.navy.mil/

Do you know that 190,000 a year die in hospitals due to careless, inept, or incompetent doctors? That's more than have been killed in the military all over the world in the last 10 years. Your brother is safer than you are.

Answer 2

Designation/rating SK (Storekeeper) will place him in a position, more than likely, to disburse supplies, uniforms, equipment, etc., from a warehouse/store environment As an Airman/Seaman, E-1 thru E-3, he may work in positions not related to his specific rating, or job. Most storekeepers have a responsibility to maintain, track, and disburse items necessary to the Navy's mission. Therefore, it is necessary to protect these areas.

Military service allows an individual to build confidence, develop discipline, insures a strong mind to be independent, and creates an environment for that individual to work as a team with others. You will see a noticeable change in his attitude and responsibilities in life. You will see the boy changed into a young man ready to determine his direction in life that he did not have before.

You can see the world in the Navy, or any military service. The Navy has various types of ships and aircraft which will determine where he is deployed. There is a chance he will be "state side", stationed in the U.S. His job and time in service will not always be "glamorous" but he will visit countries and see things most young men only read or dream about.

It is the military and military personnel are on duty to protect this nation. During war time he may be deployed where necessary. Let him enjoy this time in his life and honor what he feels is important to him.

Answer 3

Did you even talk with your brother about what it is that he does in the Navy? Storekeepers are tasked with maintaining ship or company supply stores. Their responsibilities generally include purchasing and procurement, shipping and receiving, and issuing of equipment, tools, consumable items or anything else obtained through the Naval Supply System. So unless your brother happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time he is probably not going to see much in the way of military action.

Answer 4

Relax, a storekeeper is basically a warehouse worker/manager type job dealing with supply inventory, ordering and issue. The odds of him being deployed into a dangerous combat zone his first couple of years is highly unlikely. Youre brother is in far greater danger of being injured in an accident by not paying attention than combat.

Answer 5

Although the risk of losing him is frightening, I would also be extremely proud of his accomplishments!! He is a great American, someone you should be very proud of! It is a very patriotic thing to do, to serve your country, it makes him a hero. It is people like him that protect the freedoms of this great nation. And a becoming a Navy SEAL is a very prestigious honor!!! It is normal to be worried of his safety, just find someone to talk about it with for support. Whether it be parents, siblings, other relative, friends or your brother himself. Just treasure the times he is home and I hope he gets to come home to y'all soon! Just pray a lot, it definitely helps. I would be very proud if I had a brother who was a Navy SEAL. (:

Answer 6

Amusing...

BUT, on the ship he DOES stand risk no matter WHAT anyone else is saying.

There are ALWAYS accidents aboard the boat... though far fewer than there were 20 odd years ago.

ANY ship going out to Sea stands into Harm's Way no matter what "Real Sailor-Girl" says. The Gulf is a delightful place with Iran sitting there ready to lob Silkworm, CS-401 and other cruise missiles out towards those in the 5th Fleet.

As an SK, he's at far less risk than MOST in the military, but it's still there.

Answer 7

A Navy storekeeper (on board a ship) works in store rooms, does financial reports, identifies required material, orders material, receives material, stores material (all kinds).
I spent over 20 years in the U.S. Navy as a store keeper, including 1966-67 in country Viet Nam. I've been on 5 ships, stationed in 3 countries (visited over 30) on 8 oceans/seas, on 6 continents (not Austraila, but I did spend 13 months in Antarctica). The only store keepers I've ever heard of dying were through stupid accidents.
Very few store keepers see any combat.
Dangerous? Yup, he could stab himself with a staple, fall down a ladder, drop something on his foot. It's no more dangerous than any industrial job, with better benefits and opportunities.
I've been retired from the U.S. Navy since 1985 and of all the jobs I've had since then, my SK experience paid off in each one. I worked as a manager of a Little Ceasars (pizza), a truck driver for Lowe's, worked doing allowance lists updates for a gov't contracting company, ran a warehouse in a shipyard (for U.S. Navy, Military Sealift Command ships), worked as a superintendent for a cemetery (leadership skills), and now I do logistics for foreign navies as a government contractor.
Be PROUD of your brother. Write him letters (the kind you have to put postage on!) we sailors LOVE mail; have your friends drop him a note from time to time (encourage HIS friends to do the same). Pray for him.
Your brother is a member of the world's greatest fighting force, and the world's strongest and best naval force.
(USN, retired)

Answer 8

COME ON PEOPLE!!!! HE is not going to die. He is in the Navy with one of the least dangerous jobs known to man. He takes inventory and stocks shelves. He is no more at risk than the guy doing the same job at Walmart. Relax. How many Navy Sailors do you ever hear about being killed in action?? Maybe 5 a year and they are all Corpsmen with the Marines, not SK's like your brother. Reality check is your brother got a desk job and he couldn't be any safer. Stop spreading the civilian drama and just be proud that your brother was man enough to want to serve his country. Listen to your brother he actually sound like he knows what he is talking about. We have already spoken to him on Answers too to get rid of all his drama. What did your parents tell you guys growing up anyway? Are hippy anti-war types or what?

Answer 9

No, A storekeeper will not be hurt. Unless he goes out and asks the other people against the us, then he'd die. He'll be okay, relax.

Answer 10

Unless your brother gets an assignment IA to Iraq or somewhere else, he's probably not going to die. Most of the people I've known who have died in the military have died in car wrecks, fights, drug overdoses..etc. Being on a ship is relatively safe.