Dummer Depp.
Somebody needing to refer to such stupid and pathetic phrases from scripts for B-movies can't be considered to be even a mannikin.

Ever read "Citadelle"? Grim, but so true. I recommended it several times, and people expected more of the kind like "The little prince" - and then laid down the book, totally discouraged.

Yes, me too covers Airmail on this.

The two biggest mistakes I made in life was #1 Getting married too young. #2 Not staying in the Navy for 30. If you go in I HIGHLY recommend the Submarine Service for a myriad of reasons. I would do it in a heart beat. The best schools and training are available and you could get out with a full pension at a relatively young age. You should at least try to get an AA or AS in Math or Physics, it will help if you decide to become a "Nuke". Also the stakes are a little higher and they are more selective since the days of Reagan's 600 ship Navy. :up:

Dude, finish school first.

PD

Navy boot camp, don't remember running anywhere.

Join the USMC and feel a part of something(teamwork), join the USN and feel like you're carrying that thing around on your back all by yourself. Enlisted is still a bit sub-human treated left over from days of sail IMHO.

There are alot of jobs in the USN where you don't get to kill anything (although there might be a few forum posters you'd like to look up in your travels). ;) The only guys I know that died at my commands in six years - One slipped on ice in town, one committed suicide, one keeled over on the dock with a heart attack.

If you're a hard worker, be able to deal with alot of people not being hard workers.

If you're a hard worker, be able to deal with little recognition or reward. Be able to deal with paper pushers getting more rewards than you(unless you become a paper pusher).

Sometimes being in foreign places can make you feel lonely, even in the company of other americans.

You do get to work with some cool toys.

Don't get a job where they might loan you to the army(think they've been doing some of that lately).

Get everything in writing from recuiter and if he fails to produce make sure you stand up for yourself and don't join.

Aint this funny Chad. All these "fellows" telling you to not join the military, but live in a virtual game world that is all about it. Bottom line is this, if you want to eat dirt, join the Army or Marines. If you want a great education with better pay and opportunities Join the friggin Submarine service. Nothing compares to it. I was there for 12 years so I know what I am talking about and before that I was a USAR 12B10, and it sucked.... So I experienced the "ground pounder" side of things for 2 years, and there is NO comparison if you want the best opportunities that will help you when you get out of the service. When I got out of the Army, what was i qualified to do? Shoot people I guess and blow things up. When I got out of the Submarine service, it opened the doors for me to become a Biomedical engineer. There is the difference. You also can take college courses while you are in the sevice. I have been in two branches of the service totalling 14 years. If you want you can also PM me and I will give you the straight scoop on it.:up:

However, being in shape helps. But I knew people who were in excellent physical shape, but couldn't take the mental pressure and molding that happens in BCT.

And I have to tell you, go into the military lightly. It either helps people mature, or breaks them. However, I would say it is always a positive thing.

So you're in college. One thing I did, I dropped out and enlisted, and then got my honorable. My recommendation is don't. I have buddies of mine who stayed in got their commissions.
I would recommend you to first get to know who you are, don't worry about being with someone else until you have found yourself. College gives you a lot of time to do that. So what if you are still at home, if you are working towards a goal of improving yourself. Part of that is education, but remember that that is only part of it.
Believe me, when you are happy with yourself, and when you have found yourself, you will find someone who wants to be with you for you, and not for who they think you are.
Also. If you are interested in the Military, there are other ways to do your part for your country, help you in maturization, without having to go active duty for 4 straight years. Look at the alternatives out there . . . there are many just as good as going active duty, regardless of the branch you choose.
ROTC (Army/Navy/AF)?
National Guard?
Simultanious Membership Program?
Army Reserve?
Air Force Reserve?
Marine Corps Reserve?
Air National Guard?
Naval Reserve?
State Military Reserves?

And if you enjoy the military life part time, it's always easier to go full time then the other way around. Furthermore there are educational benifits with going AR/NG route.

I'll agree with that. The biggest downside of boot camp, as you've already heard, is the awareness that there is no escape and, as just mentioned, the pressure. Just remember that the goal of boot camp isn't to make you into a man, but to make you into a machine. The individuality returns when you get into a specialty school, but those first few weeks are specifically designed to make everyone as equal as possible. You wear the same clothes, and "you WILL fold them this way" (there is no "or else", you just do it). You march in step, both on the drill field and off, you do what you're told when you're told. That's the down side.

The up side is both positive and negative. The positive is that you will be sent to interesting places and, if you use your brain at all, be given interesting things to do. The negative is that while individual thinking can be needed, it's not usually encouraged. The military will guarantee that you always have a job, pay, food and shelter, so you very rarely have to worry about anything. They will also guarantee that you have a lot less freedom of thought, speech, action and movement than you're used to. It's a big tradeoff, and it's not for everybody. Myself, I miss my time at sea and wish I had stayed in on that account. On the other hand, while I miss the ocean, I don't miss the navy itself one single bit.

Very true. There are enough small-minded people in charge of things who don't like seeing anyone else succeed that the old saying is true:

You will be given crappy jobs to do. If you are diligent and do them well, your reward will be more crappy jobs.

Thank you all for your comments. I have pm'd several of you, and have been thinking deeply about this situation.

I have talked to both of my parents about this, my dad (who was not in the service) backs me up fully. My mom currently is indifferent.

Yesterday 2 navy recruiters came to my house and we sat at our kitchen table and talked, asked questions, and learned a lot. Both were really superior and great guys.

I have not made a decision, nor will I for a couple of months. The thought of actually joining gives me a feeling in my stomach of already accomplishing something I never thought I'd have.

I will stay in contact and keep everyone informed. I want a couple of months to sit on this and really think about what I want to do.

Again thanks,
Chad

They are always sending the great guys. The problem is how great will the guys be who are in charge of your unit? That won't be the nice shiny recruiters.

Always think of, that those guys are like a living commercial spot. They want to "sell" you something. So be careful and really think it through (I know you already wrote you would).:ping:

That is true. Recruiters have "billets" to fill, and they want to meet that goal, but when and if you decide on waht you want to do, then you just tell the recruiter that. that is the only option on the table. He/She will try this little trick and tell you that once you are in you can then apply for that particular school etc.... Which is bull. So long as you score well on the ASVAB test you can pretty much get what you want. Even if they play hard ball and say, sorry you cannot do that, ask them why. Then walk out, and in afew days they will be calling you like they did you the worlds greatest favor and got what you wanted. :yep:

Not really. It's more that they want you to sell yourself to them, so that they can own your a$$. To get it, they will make a lot of advertizing, like on TV.

Do you believe every advert you see on TV? The "whiter than white", the "brighter than bright", the "best of them all", and "two for the price of just one"? ;)

Wrong answer! I made that up as I was typing.

-S

Did you ask them about Reserve/National Guard options? Have you talked to other branches? It is good to see all that is available . . . this way you can get the best choice for you when it comes time to decide. When you finally do remember to get your MOS and assignments in writing. Work on your physical fitness and take practice ASVABs to garuntee a higher score. The higher your score the more opertunities lay before you.

Don't be that one guy who is only smart enough to go Infantry, not that that isn't a respectable branch, and they do have the highest rate of promotion. And who cares that they call everone else POGs. If you want to be in the ****, go ahead, but I would recommend something more comfortable and that transfers better in the outside world (because there will be a time when you get back there).

Did you click on the links that I provided in my last post? Remember, they will not stop you from talking to other recruiters. And let them play the game against each other. And remember you can always go active from guard/reserve, not the other way around.