What is navy life like?? Im really f***in scared!!!?

Question

Im supposed to swear in on monday for the navy. Are there 2 swear-ins?? One when you sign up and one right before you ship out to basic?? I really want to be AC(air traffic controller) or a mechanic. Will I be guaranteed this job, if I put this in my contract?? Or does it just really depend on what the navy needs?? Ive always had anxiety and dont deal with stress well, do you think ill be able to get through bootcamp??? If i cant handle the stress and have an anxiety attack, will they look through my records, cuz i told them i didnt have anxiety?? Im just really scared that I'll get screwed over by the military. What happens if I dont pass bootcamp?? Do they discharge me?? And after basic, and say I get to go home, is that leave taken out of the 30 days of leave, or is it mandatory. Hows life in "a" school for air traffic controller??

the thing is, I think the navy will be really good for me. the discipline, the structure, traveling, the friends ill meet, the experiences, the honor, the respect, the GI bill. and if i dont do this, i think ill regret it

Answer 1

If you are this worried over the navy then the military period is not for you. I went into the army and was not even this scared. Not to mention you lied on the application about your anxiety..they will eventually figure it out. they did for me that's for sure. I just told them that my recruiter told me to lie. but if you cannot handle stress well all I have to say is that it isn't for you. And you get to pick what you want but at the same time it depends on how your scored on the ASVAB and what they need.

Answer 2

I was never in the military and the only things I know about military air traffic control are what civilian ATC has to know and deal with. If military and civilian ATC are anything alike though...I will tell you if you are a nervous easily stressed person do NOT go in to ATC. You might be the smartest person in your class but I promise you once you work the scopes you'll go down the pipes and wash out. I'm not saying that to be mean. I'd never cut it as a doctor or an artist, likewise nervous easily stressed people don't make good controllers. This isn't coming from someone who read an article once or maybe saw Pushing Tin.

As I understand it if you get ATC and wash out, the Navy will put you where they want to and that means it will probably be a job nobody really wants. Were I you I'd go to rate mechanic. Mechanics get paid well on the outside anyway if you decide one enlistment is all you want. Even if you use the GI Bill, go to school and do something different, being a mechanic will always be useful in life.

About bootcamp. I've had friends ship out who I didn't think were mentally or physically strong enough to last one day. They did just fine and came back as new people. You obviously aren't going to summer camp, but in the grand scheme of your life the time spent there will be very small.

My dad was navy, 20 years retired CPO after 3, count em 3 rates (air ship crew, airships went away, went to AC school, Vietnam, won a purple heart / lost his ATC medical and went to computers). By far his favorite rate was AC. Treated very well by officer pilots and had a huge variety of stations to be posted to. His take was that A school for AC was the hardest of all three. His general take on the navy was yeah you get the shaft and bad duties at times, but you'll end up with so many amazing experiences that you'll have a great time overall if you just go with the flow.

Lastly about the change brought on by service. He's been out of the navy for over 30 years, still gets up before sunrise, can always be counted on to do what he says, knows how to lead and command respect and you can feel that he appreciates the navy giving him the ability to rise above his upbringing. Most of my friends in the service have had the same change.

Yes some people got the short end and regret serving. Just think of it as it is and take it one day at a time.

Answer 3

Okay take a deep breath and calm down. I know how you feel, I felt the same way when I went and swore in for the second time. Yes there are 2 swear ins, If you have been guaranteed AC school or AD school in your contract then you are perfectly fine, they can't change those without first consenting you. Don't worry about that, anxiety attacks and not dealing well with stress no one does. The navy isn't that bad (i've been in for nearly 4 years now), Just remember to keep cool and calm during bootcamp and that they do this to make sure that you are the right fit for the Navy thats all they are doing in basic. If you don't pass bootcamp they discharge you and it will be as if you were never in the military, you won't get VA benefits or the gi bill or anything like that. If you are going out of country to your permanent duty station then you get about 21 days of leave, if you are getting stationed in the US somewhere then it is only 14 days of leave, yes they take these days out of your regular leave, however it is not mandatory to take those leave.

A school is a while for AC's but you will have fun in Pensecola.

So dear, just calm down, breathe, its normal to feel like this, and just remember you are about to embark on an interesting adventure, its going to be alot of fun I've had no regrets these past 4 years.

Answer 4

Just sit back and chill. The process is not all bad. When you get to boot camp do as told and follow the instructions of the company commander. Of course there will be some head games being done. This is to weed out the weak. Don't worry about making mistakes for we all did it once. Even when the whole company gets disciplined for someone messing up. Just take in stride as the learning process. The thing to remember is what is to come after boot camp an the life of a sailor isn't all bad. Hopefully you got a A School package and its not as bad as boot camp. Once you get to the fleet the fun begins. Hopefully you took a Aviation A school which you can have more choices of your sea shore rotation and ship and shore activities. But remember it will be an adventure you will not forget.
I still remember my days at sea and the many ports I got to see. From Rio to Australia to many ports in the Mediterranean. Take the tours the ship has to offer and don't just go out and get drunk and blow your money. If you get to go to Naples take the bus over to the sports complex in the extinct volcano. There you can just sit back and relax and enjoy the scenery. I was where you are now once. So remember being a sailor isn't all bad.

Answer 5

1:. it's as bad as you allow it to be.

2: if your line scores qualify you, and you are qualified in all other areas( normal color vision, ability to get a clearance) and the job has openings, yes, you can be guaranteed a slot in A school. PASSING A school is entirely up to you.


3. If you have medical records indicating you have been diagnosed with anxiety and YOU FAILED TO TELL YOUR RECRUITER THIS, then you, my friend have just committed FRAUD and when you are caught..not if, but WHEN you are caught, you will not only be kicked out for lying to the Federal Government, you will have lost any chance EVER of serving, even if the condition was waiverable from the beginning.. and depending on how severe the anxiety is, what meds you taken for it and how long ago you were last on them, it is indeed waiverable.

4. No leave is authorized between Boot and A school, unless you graduate right before the Holiday standdown. It is chargeable, although you will be allowed to go in the hole up the number of days you are expected to earn your first term(earning 30 days per year). If you are in the hole once you report to your duty station, you will NOT be allowed to take leave(unless in an Emergency) until you are no longer in the red.

Answer 6

Yes there are 2 swear ins. Whatever job you sign up for is what you will do for the Navy. Thats one of the really good things about the Navy, some of the other branches will just put you anywhere no matter what you got trained for. Bootcamp is easy as long as you keep your head down. Dont do anything stupid and just do as you are told and you will be fine. If you dont pass they will discharge you but most people pass. I was not an AC but I know its one of the better jobs to have.

Good luck.

Answer 7

Navy bootcamp isn't all that tough .. we only had one person in our bootcamp company who didn't make it thru.. the anxiety may become an issue.. especailly when they say air traffic controllers militray or civilain get stressed way out the way it .. when I joined you were able to pick 3 different jobs you wanted before signing up and you would at least get one of those 3.. If your stress gets bad you will find that out in bootcamp , as that what bootcamp is .. they make you pay strict attention to detail , they will strip your locker, strip your bed.. give you 3 or 4 minutes to get it all back in order while you are getting yelled at, they do this to see if you can handle stress.. if you cannot handle the stress of making your rack and getting your things back in order in time of peace you probably will not finish bootcamp , they want you to be able to function under pressure so you don't turn tail and breakdown at sea.. at sea everyones lives depends on you paying attention to detail. you don't have to take leave after A school . I opted not to take any leave after A school, besides after Bootcamp and a 10 week A school you don't have that many days of leave on the books, after my bootcamp and A school it was 2 days before they had me on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. The military isn't for people who have anxiety so I would think long and hard about your commitment. You wouldn't be the 1st person to not ever make it through bootcamp, they definitly wont give you a xanax or ativan for your anxiety. maybe if and after you finish bootcamp go to a vitamin store and stock up on Valerian root. It helps with anxiety and is not illegal. There are a few non-stressful jobs in the Navy. One is a Parachute rigger / PR, but the bad side is once assigned to a squadron they will stick you in the line dept as a line rat, and have you as a brake rider and second mech and you have to be on the flightdeck a lot during flight operations, and the only way to get out of the line department is to become a plane captain, and those things are highly stressful , no matter what rate you choose they can send to other jobs in the sqaudron. I saw people go to do thier 90 days of mess cooking and never return to thier regular jobs

Answer 8

I was in the Navy for 5 years and I hated it, I don't want to bring you down but you have to make the best of a bad situation. Being on a ship is like being in a minimum security prison, you cant go anywhere and your always cleaning. It's hard to make rank and when you pull in to foreign port, the lowest ranks go on liberty last and have to be back first. So be ready for disappointment. However you will get your "A" school in your contract but if you flunk out you loose it and have to go "undesignated". You most likely will be screwed over somehow. But there is good news, if you haven't sworn in the you can still back out. They treat officers like kings though so if you go to college first you'll have it made.

Answer 9

I dont know from experience but my brother and two friends enrolled in the Navy and said it was a joke,more of a 4 year party than anything else.The hardest part seems to be the two six month tours but the whole time your stopping in forign port and getting drunk and laid. They said boot camp was like high school gym class as long as your in decent shape you'll be fine but man out of all the branches they have the best stories and have had the most fun enjoy.

Answer 10

Listen to me.You only have one life so enjoy it.If you don't want to do something then don't do it.Ok your family might be a bit dissapointed,but it's your life and not theres,and they'll get over it.In the navy, they'll boss you about non stop and treat you like shite.Do something your going to enjoy.Let me know how you go on.Once you start making your own decisions,you'll feel more in control and a lot better for it.That's a fact.Good luck.