Might actually join the US Navy...

[Psycluded]

Some background first, though.

I'm currently 25 years old, serving the final year of a 6-year enlistment in the US Air Force. I'm an avid cook, and am(?) planning on going to the Culinary Institute of America when I separate this coming April, so beginning a career in the Culinary Arts.

Looking at my financial situation and the fact that with the GI Bill, scholarships, grants and all, I've only covered about 20% of the total cost of a 4-year education there, leaving about $120,000 to cover in expenses and tuition with student loans, I'm concerned about my ability to stay afloat AFTER college. I'm not some stupid kid that will walk away from a good thing (military service) to chase a dream when that dream will sink me into bankruptcy for 10-20 years.

The Air Force has been good to me and all, but the culture of the Air Force is not my thing. I've done my best and performed my service honorably, which is more than I can say for many people like me who don't really "fit in" here. However, it's definitely time to move on. From what I can tell about the culture of the Navy, it's a far tighter-knit "family" atmosphere, especially for a cook on a sub, which is the job I'll be pursuing. I've spent 5 years programming for the Air Force, and I have learned to abhor program control in the military. I love cooking, though, and they need cooks, apparently, since some seem to think the job isn't "glamorous" enough. :roll:

Anyone here retired/separated US Navy? Am I barking up the wrong tree here? :)

[cowman1009]

Currently active duty Navy here. I am a non-nuclear mechanic or A-ganger by trade. Currently I teach at Subschool in Groton (you will go here after basic training) and will be reporting to the USS Providence (SSN-719) in a little while. From my standpoint a cook on board a boat is the main source of crew morale; if you are doing your job right then the crew is happy and work gets done. If you aren't doing your job you will know it....it's a tough job no doubt but I've seen many a CS (culianary speacialist do their job well. If you need any advice or have any questions let me know.

[jumpy]

I've only covered about 20% of the total cost of a 4-year education there, leaving about $120,000 to cover in expenses and tuition with student loans

fakin'ell m8, that's a ****load, even in english money! (68,648.26 GBP) and you already have 20% covered :o :o :o
Let me get this straight, this is money you owe for education/fees etc, or a figure based on something you propose to do?

I know the 'average' student here is supposed to come out with anything from 5-25K debt after finnishing a degree or similar, but unless I'm missing something (probably) the figure you mention sounds absolutely mad :o

[Psycluded]

The school I'm proposing to attend is compared to medical school for its completeness and complexity (and expense). It is the single most respected culinary school in the world, and is the only place the respected Certified-Master-Chef exam is administered. It is like a mecca for classical culinary art. Graduating with the Culinary Institute of America's seal on your Bachelors' Degree is akin to graduating from MIT for mechanical engineering.

And it's more expensive.

In the Navy, I could use one of my shore-side assignment periods to attend Johnson & Wales or CIA and get my education on the Navy's dime, as opposed to sending myself into debt for the next 40 years. Not to mention that while I'm at it, I'll be earning a retirement pension from the Navy.

[Type941]

Basically, if you can get the navy to pay for it, do it. And you'll serve on a sub (navy) and do what you like (cook). And I wish you the best of luck, i think it's cool to see people pursuing something other than a business or law degree. All the power to you.

[Psycluded]

Business degrees are a dime a dozen and are starting to be used as toilet paper in some companies, so I hear.

A law degree would be like a placard of shame to me. No. I prefer to work for my money, thank you, not take it from desperate people.

[XabbaRus]

Cool someone following their dreams.

Never saw the point of a business degree. What better way to learn business than either A)setup your own and learn that way, succeed or fail, or go into a company and work hard.

Hey I have a degree in Russian, spent 4 years there and I'm now a draughtsman and learning more about other stuff.

[Shock Troop]

I attempted to go to the Navy but it's too hard to get in prior service of another branch. I'm Army signal trained. They would rather take some kids off the street than an Army puke I guess.

Going into the Navy or Air Force is tough from any other branch. AF is over strengthed. It's pretty obvious when you call the Navy and AF recruiter and they don't even ask any personal information about you. If you were to call an Army or Marine recruiter, they'd be asking you 50 questions before they even answered one.

Must be a cake assignment to be a recruiter in the Navy or Air Force.. *shrug*

[Psycluded]

Actually, I talked to a Navy Master Chief today at the recruiting office here in Montgomery, and he said a) they need culinary specialists and b) submariner volunteers are scarce as usual. So long as my letters of recommendation are appropriately glowing and my last EPR is a good one, he said it shouldn't be a problem.

[Shock Troop]

Well it might also be because I'm nearing the end of my career. You're a bit younger. I'm closing on year 16 with the army. No longer active now, just national guard.

I'm not sure what the difference is being prior AF going to Navy. Maybe they like AF transfers more. I just know that they gave me wishy washy attention about the whole thing.

Also take into consideration that I'm married and have 5 bratts. I'd need all kinds of waivers. Basically the recruiter told me we could "try" to get me in but the outlook wasn't promising.

It's strange, you have to actually APPLY to get in. I'm not used to that. I'm used to an Army recruiter jumping through hoops to get ya in. It almost seems like I'm recruiting the navy, instead of it recruiting me. I mean, it's the military. They're using a reverse psychology to make people beleive that they're doing you a favor, lol. There are no letters of recommendation required to get into the Army. You get in and either cut it or get booted.

I got a lot of things going on now anyway but I would have liked to experience the Navy. My current unit commander is former navy. He recommended I try, I forget the navy acronym for it..... Something to do with electronics and encryption. lol my ARMY commander suggesting I try the navy. heheh

Good luck man.

[TLAM Strike]

I got a lot of things going on now anyway but I would have liked to experience the Navy. My current unit commander is former navy. He recommended I try, I forget the navy acronym for it..... Something to do with electronics and encryption. lol my ARMY commander suggesting I try the navy. hehehWas it 'CT'? My buddy is currently being schooled in that down in Florida.

[Shock Troop]

Honestly I can't remember. Sounds familiar.

[August]

Well it might also be because I'm nearing the end of my career. You're a bit younger. I'm closing on year 16 with the army. No longer active now, just national guard.

What about your rank? You must be an E-6 or 7 by now. Not too many billets for an inexperienced sailor at those ranks.

[Bubblehead555]

22+ years Navy Submariner here .. CS (culinary specialists, formally mess management specialists) RULE!!! ...

You can't imagine how important it is to crew morale to have a well run galley. Crews mess is the 'town square' of the boat.

Talk to your recruiter about the Navy's five vector model of personnel development. You'll see how we've gotten support from 'specialty' civilian communities to work with us to provide equivalent recognition/certification to our folks (i.e. journeyman, craftsman, chef).

Having served many years at joint commands with many of you blue sweater wearing Chair Force members, I will WARN you of this first ... your normal work day on the mess decks of a boat will be harder than most every day you've spent in the flight kitchen, even if you've been deployed. While I make a small 'purple' joke about our 'first name' loving sister service, I would be lying to tell you that you wouldn't be working harder. You'll earn that money, and you'll love the challenge - I have for my entire career (well, the challenge part, no bonuses in my career field wte of subpay)

[Shock Troop]

What about your rank? You must be an E-6 or 7 by now. Not too many billets for an inexperienced sailor at those ranks.

Yes, she did mention the fact that the navy would have to find a position for me. She said if I was accepted it would take awhile for them to convert me into a compatible slot and job. She also said I'd probably lose some rank.

Rank isn't important to me though. I've bounced up and down voluntarily to find better jobs in the army. I joined the military because I wanted to travel and experience an adventure. When I first joined the army I thought I was going to be jumping out of planes and doing exciting stuff. It just isn't the case. The army never really used any of my skills to their full potential, leaving me bored.

I'm 34 now and I've really had enough of the army. The things that the army does just makes me shake my head sometimes. I was looking for something more intelligent and was hoping the navy would find a place for me.

I guess I'll just finish out my last years in the army, reach my 20, and then just be done with it. It had its positive moments and I won't regret serving.

[Psycluded]

22+ years Navy Submariner here .. CS (culinary specialists, formally mess management specialists) RULE!!! ...

You can't imagine how important it is to crew morale to have a well run galley. Crews mess is the 'town square' of the boat.

Talk to your recruiter about the Navy's five vector model of personnel development. You'll see how we've gotten support from 'specialty' civilian communities to work with us to provide equivalent recognition/certification to our folks (i.e. journeyman, craftsman, chef).

Having served many years at joint commands with many of you blue sweater wearing Chair Force members, I will WARN you of this first ... your normal work day on the mess decks of a boat will be harder than most every day you've spent in the flight kitchen, even if you've been deployed. While I make a small 'purple' joke about our 'first name' loving sister service, I would be lying to tell you that you wouldn't be working harder. You'll earn that money, and you'll love the challenge - I have for my entire career (well, the challenge part, no bonuses in my career field wte of subpay)

I'll tell you a secret. One of the things that has bugged me the most about computer programming in the Air Force is the number of people breezing by doing utterly nothing at all except vying for awards and getting noticed by the brass.

I come from a southern hard-working blue-collar family. I worked on a framing crew for a home construction firm my whole high school career and learned the value of hard work and a job well done. I joined the Air Force thinking I could find that here.

I was wrong.

The Navy seems to have a better record at offering us blue-collar types a better challenge and a more satisfying workday... :)

[Kapitan]

go for it :up:

[Kapitan]

go for it :up:

[Shock Troop]

lol, here I go with a rant…. :rock:

Thinking of joining the military? What type of service are you compatible with? I haven’t served in all branches but have spent enough time around all of them to make some observations.


Situation:

One man from each of the four branches is given a (non-combat) pointless mission to complete. Here’s how it will happen:


Resolution:

Marine: Without any questions he will yell “hardcore! Oorah!” and get working. He’ll complete the mission through pure determination and simply because he was told, regardless of any purpose behind the mission.

Soldier: After ten meetings, a risk assessment, and loads of other paperwork he still might do it wrong. However, he will get an army achievement award for trying.

Sailor: After careful consideration and calculation he will find the best way to efficiently accomplishing the mission. That’s if he doesn’t determine that it’s a total waste of time before hand.

Airman: He flips his cell phone open, makes a few calls to allocate funds, and then hires a civilian contractor to do it for him.

[Psycluded]

Except for the Army bit, it's all too true... ;)

[Rockstar]

if you are doing your job right then the crew is happy and work gets done. If you aren't doing your job you will know it....

It is a thankless job. If you're really good you'll get good word or two come your way. Unfortunetly it's tuff to get creative with government recipe cards.

strike boatswains mate :arrgh!:

[turnerg]

If the Marines had a specific cooking MOS, you could blow up stuff and cook too :arrgh!: Blowing up stuff is awesome!

Btw, the Navy chow hallls could use some skilled cooking...... ;)