Pros/Cons of joining the navy?

Question

I'm currently at the end of my first semester in college. What would be the pros and cons of putting my education on hold in order to enlist in the Navy. Also, how easy/difficult would it be to eventually become an officer.

Answer 1

I was enlisted and an officer, am still in reserves. First, officers in the Navy start as Ensigns, not Lts, but that is not all that important.

I did not find it difficult to switch from enlisted to officer. The Navy encourages enlisted folks to obtain their degree and will pay for most of it. The drawback is that you will have to go to school while still working full time.

If you enlist, you wiIl have many choices as to careers and platforms in which to work (e.g., surface, subs, aviation) and will get more college credit when you attend technical school (called "A" school). If you excel in your job and keep taking college classes when you can, the Navy may select you to go back to college full time as long as you agree to serve as an officer afterwards.

Another thing you could do is look for a college that has NROTC and they will pay your way *now* to become commissioned as an ensign.

Many opportunities either way. I think the Navy is a great choice...yes I am biased. :)

Answer 2

You have to consider why you're joining the Navy. The same roadblocks you may have encountered in your first semester of college could the same roadblocks when you join. If you enlist without a degree, you start at the very bottom. Unless you have stellar job performance, straight A student, and VERY lucky, you could get the chance to do the Seaman to Admiral program where they groom you to become an officer. This is reserved for the most highly motivated and very lucky - yes, there is an application process and a panel decides who can go into this program. As a rule of thumb, it takes there are so many years you have to spend at a certain rank before you can move up. Generally, you start as Seaman, then 3rd class, 2nd class, 1st class, Chief, Senior Chief, Master Chief, then to the officer ranks. Just for example, it takes you three years to get from one rank to the next up, it could be close to 20 years in the enlisted ranks. You take a test, get a certain score, then you need to make the "cut-off" score (they promote an X number of people to the next level depending on their needs), so it could get really competitive. Also, at the Chief and higher level, you not only need to pass the tests, you also need to pass the "board", a panel of people who compare you with other candidates. So there is an objective and subjective parts to this system. Long story short, it's not easy to get from enlisted to officership.

Answer 3

Pro's - you get money for college now and while your aboard ship you can take college courses, essentially completing most of your Freshman and sophomore years. When you get out you can go to school full time and not work. While in College sign up for Navy ROTC.

CON's - Out to sea for six months, won't make as much as an officer, have to attend Basic in Chicago (make it a summer enlistment).

If you can't afford college now, joining any branch of the service is a great option (the AF would be my suggestion

Answer 4

Finish college and then you can become an Officer...only way.
The Officer world is far better than that of the Enlisted World.
If you are interested in the Navy, than you should look at a Degree in the sciences or math.
Or, you could take it up a notch and go Marine Corps.

Answer 5

Pros: You serve your country and become part of it's defense. You join an organization with a long tradition that is larger than yourself. Stability, benefits, experience you can get in few other ways. Cons: You give up personal independence and sacrifice what you might find by your own creativity. You are part of a large machine, do what you're told, and tell others to do what they're told without judgment. The organization exist to fight wars. Directly or indirectly you are a warrior whose function is to kill other people. Can you handle that.

Answer 6

pro is the travel. Con is the actual being at sea. You need a bachelors to be a commisioned officer, and getting a degree while enlisted would be difficult because you don't really have a lot of time to go to school.

Answer 7

Depends on your degree in becoming an officer. Also, you will either have to join the NROTC, if one is available at your university, or go through Officer Candidate School. You can go through OCS during the summer; my brother-in-law did for the Marines, but decided not to continue.

If you really want to become an officer, stay in college and try for NROTC/OCS. There are plenty of enlisted personnel who have college degrees.

Answer 8

my bf spent 4 years in the navy. he said that he hated it...there are so many diseases that go around there (he caught a flesh eating disease when he was on the ship). the only thing he liked was traveling...he went to places like japan and australia. from what ive heard, its not easy becoming an officer. you would need to be enlisted for a long time before you end up reaching that rank. good luck

Answer 9

Apply for Officer training don't just be a petty seaman, use the Navy to pay for your degree, travel the world, have a girl in each port (I'm from Sydney & can tell you whenever a US Aircraft Carrier is in town, its a HUGE party).

Answer 10

you should definitely finish college first then go officer/ you wont get the free schooling but as an officer you will make double what the enlisted do; look up military pay charts and you will see. plus sometimes it is really hard to balance military and school.