Should I Join the US Navy?

Question

I'm in my second year of college. I almost went through with joining the Navy this previous summer but decided against it because my dad was sick. However, my dad is now better.

Anyway, I'm thinking of joining because I seemed to have lost my drive for school. Everything bores me. I want a job in law enforcement (government-style), and I'm thinking this would be helpful. I want to finish school but couldn't I do this at the same time as enlisting?

Plus, I hear the Navy is the safest military branch to join. Although, I get air and carsick sometimes, so I don't know how I'd handle being on a ship for a while.

However, my main concern is loans. Should I really join when I have loans to pay back for school? Also, I don't agree with the Iraq War. Help please!

I'd like to point out that I am not against war. I am only against the Iraq War because I think we're there for the wrong reasons.

Answer 1

Only you can decide. That said if you are joining just for the paycheck, you are looking at the wrong profession. If you wish to join the Navy there are several basic options avaliable to you.

Active Duty- Quit school, and enlist in the Navy. Travel the world as a Master at Arms and be prepared to end up anywhere doing something unexpected. All the while pushing back your graduation by years, you "may" qualify for loan repayment and cash bonuses

Reserve- One weekend a month, two weeks a year. Receive a generous loan repayment program, and a nice cash bonus.

NROTC- Why leave campus? You can train to become an officer while attending classes. They pay your bills and give you an allouance to boot. As a Marine Option Cadet, you could graduate as a Military Police Officer in charge of a platoon. This may be combined with Reserve service for an even larger paycheck.

Officer Canadate School- There are several different programs that fall under this catagory. Basicly after you graduate, you attend OCS and receive a commission as an Officer.

Answer 2

If you don't agree with the war then don't join the military. You can go there by being on a ship or you can be stationed there as an IA for one year. There is quite a few Navy personnel over there right now. I have no idea where you got the idea that the Navy is the safest military branch to join.

Yes you can go to school when you are in the military, but you may not have much time. When you first join you are going to be doing a lot of qualifications, preparing for deployments, deployments, etc... Plus you will not get your GI Bill right away, you pay into it ($100 per month for first 12 months) & you must serve 3 years of service before you can use it. You will qualify for Tuition Assistance but that only covers 16 credits per year. If you do more than that then you pay.

Answer 3

I don't know who told you the Navy is the safest of the branches...there are plenty of risks in each branch. You may or you may not ever be on the front lines of Iraq (true of any branch), but you can still be in harms way. For example, working on the flightdeck of an aircraft carrier is extremely dangerous. Also, you could spend your entire time with the Marine Corps, like I did. The Marine Corps is actually in the Department of the Navy, as well as the Coast Guard.

I believe that the military now offers you the opportunity to get your loans paid off, now, instead of getting the GI Bill.

As far as continuing your education while in the military, you can do that, but you will most likely be taking some classes in addition to your regular duty. I know things have changed significantly since I was active, but they used to provide 75% tuition assistance while on active duty. Some ships and other duty stations even offer college classes on base.

There are some programs that will allow you to go tad (temporary assignment) to get a college degree, sometimes it is to become a warrant officer or officer, but that was extremely rare and the person I know who did get selected to do it was an E-5 and had been in for over 4 years.

Good luck with you decision!

Answer 4

I don't know where you got the idea that the US Navy is the safest military branch. It may look that way, but looks are deceiving my young friend. Have you ever heard of PBRs? (river patrol boats) You are sitting ducks. How about Navy Seals? Toughest special operations units in the world. Flight deck duty. Navy pilots. No sir, the US Navy is not the safe easy job you seem to think it is. Like one of the other members said, plenty of sailors are serving in Iraq and they aren't on ships. The Navy is a great branch to be in, but if you are not ready to fight a war, no matter what or why or where, then you don't belong in any branch of the service. Even the US Coast Guard gets involved in wars. My PBR and Coast Guard Swift Boats sometimes fought side by side in Viet Nam. I don't doubt that they are in Iraq along with everyone else right now. If you truly want to serve your country, then join what ever branch you like, but if you just want to pay for school, reap the benefits and be safe, then you don't belong in the Navy or any other branch of the service.

Answer 5

You are looking at it from all the wrong reasons. Remember if you join you won't have the option of participating in operations of your choosing.
Anyways, what about Air Guard you can go to school full time and go into Security Forces (Air Force equivalent to Military Police) Some states even offer full college reimbursement. And if you really want a "non dangerous" branch the Air Force is right up your alley.

Answer 6

I believe you can go tda (temporary duty assignment) and attend college IF it benefits the Navy. This will keep you land bound until you finish school. The Navy is the safest branch of the military to join as the only combat you see is shelling from miles offshore. And lastly, as a college student and potentially a graduate, you will be entitled to be an officer. If your field of study is Law Enforcement then you may well be landlocked for your entire career. Good luck :)

Answer 7

First of all if you probably want to go US Coast Guard. E4 and above are legally law enforcement officers for the Federal Government. Secondly if you can finish a criminal justice degree this will help long term as well as short term. It will get you a chance to go to OCS and be an officer. It is always better to be an officer.

Answer 8

I like you was in a similiar situation. Bored and no direstion. I joined and the only thing I wanted was to work on an aircraft carrier. I did and LOVED it. It will look great for your resume and they give you pills for the motion sickness.

Answer 9

Yes

Answer 10

If you want to serve your country, join the Navy. There is no other valid reason.