I'm now a US Sailor...

[Title Loan Man]

Some of you may remember me; I haven't posted in around three months. I just graduated boot camp around three weeks ago and I finally managed to get my computer sent to me last week, so I'm slowly starting to become used to society again.

Anyhow, I'm enrolled in the Navy Nuclear Power program, and it's supposed to be one of the hardest courses in the world. Apparently my six months of power school will transtlate to 90 credit hours (roughly three years towards a BA), but the other 12 months of schooling won't count towards anything for some reason.

Now that I'm done rambling, I'm open to any questions that you guys might have about what it's like for the first few months of your career in the Navy. I figure if there's anyone out there even remotely considering a career in the Navy this would be an interesting conversation; I know I wish that I'd known more before I joined. Plus, it's always cool to talk to someone with different experiences.

Other than questions, it'd also be cool if we talked about some recent events that have happened. I've been completely cut off from the world since January 23rd, so I have no idea what's going on.

And no, I won't reveal super mega secret information. No matter how nicely you ask. I'm on to you, USSR sympathisers.

 

[holloway]

Is it true about the Navy?

 

[Title Loan Man]

Is what true? There are a lot of rumors.

 

[holloway]

In the Navy.

Duh-duh-duh-duhduhduuuh

In the Navy.






I'll take that as a yes then.

 

[Title Loan Man]

Oh, I see what you're hinting at.

No, it's not really like that at all, but I doubt anyone actually thinks it is.

 

[Mega Flare]

ah i do

 

[madmax_vii]

lol i got a letter from the army trying to draft me in the other day, lol they try too hard, and besides even though I like the sound of being a soldier I've got better things to do than being blown up, like designing videogames about being blown up :p

 

[Title Loan Man]

The army is pretty desperate. I've already received several pieces of mail from them trying to recruit me, even here at NNPTC.

 

[arcthemonkey]

I only get mail from the Navy, myself...

Like, once every 2-3 weeks.

 

[Andy6000]

I've been harassed on street corners by Army and Marine recruiters, and I've gotten calls from every branch BUT the Navy. How odd. Reminds me how a friend of mine told the Marine recruiters he died, "Hello, is Joel ^#@!#@! there?" "Uh... He died last week in an accident" "Oh I'm so sorry" "Yeah" And they never called again. What a great story.

 

[DESIRE]

I enjoyed it.

 

[Title Loan Man]

The only thing I can tell you is that recruiters are worse than sleazy used car salesmen. They got me a job as a nuclear engineer and I still hate them, so I can only imagine how a boatswains mate or an SK feels about them.

 

[Grandor]

I hate seeing those recruiting commercials on TV. I think we got the point already. However, I would like to join the marines or the navy one day.

 

[Title Loan Man]

One thing that I can say to someone who is considering joining the forces is that you really don't appreciate the privileges you are giving up until you realize what it's like without them. For example, I miss the fact that the worst thing a boss in the civilian world can do to me is fire me. Here, doing something as "silly" as accidentally bringing a cell phone into the school house can land you NJP, which typically results in a loss of half a month's pay for two months, 30-45 days of restriction (hard labor, bare living quaters and no liberty), reduction in rate/pay grade and (for someone with security clearance like myself) a loss of clearance, which means you lose your job and get stuck swabbing decks and cleaning the head for your career. And that's just for "silly" mistakes. Really messing up can land you in the brig, where they can go as far as feeding you bread and water three times a day.

It's things like this that only now I can appreciate.

 

[ama55]

Hey, I'm in the US Coast Guard. And I agree with recruiters being sleezbags. Whats your rank right now? I'm a SN but after this summer (advanced training) I'll be a BM3. Hope everything goes good for, I have some friends in the navy.

EDIT:Wow, I just read that back to myself and it sounds like a 5 year old, belay my last!

 

[Title Loan Man]

Heh, yeah I too sling way too much lingo around now'days.

I camp out of boot camp as an E-3 (because of the rating I landed). Come July I'll be MM3, which is pretty nice. Making petty officer in three months is a rare opportunity.

Nukes are supposed to fly through rates, too. You might be talking to MMC Title Loan Man in a few years <_<

 

[Rain]

Is the Simpsons episode with the boy band and L.T Smash based on true events? Do the Navy really try and recruit people through backwards sentences in pop songs?

 

[Title Loan Man]

No but they will outright lie to you. A LOT. Basically, if they promise it and it isn't written on paper, it's a damned lie.

It is a pretty good opportunity, though. I don't want to make it sound like I'm hating on the Navy. I just can't stand how they recruit people.

 

[Grandor]

One thing that I can say to someone who is considering joining the forces is that you really don't appreciate the privileges you are giving up until you realize what it's like without them. For example, I miss the fact that the worst thing a boss in the civilian world can do to me is fire me. Here, doing something as "silly" as accidentally bringing a cell phone into the school house can land you NJP, which typically results in a loss of half a month's pay for two months, 30-45 days of restriction (hard labor, bare living quaters and no liberty), reduction in rate/pay grade and (for someone with security clearance like myself) a loss of clearance, which means you lose your job and get stuck swabbing decks and cleaning the head for your career. And that's just for "silly" mistakes. Really messing up can land you in the brig, where they can go as far as feeding you bread and water three times a day.

It's things like this that only now I can appreciate.

I knew it wasn't going to be a picnic. :D

 

[Title Loan Man]

I said the same thing myself. I can say that at least from my perspective it was a lot harder than expected and for very different reasons than I expected.

It looks like it might pay off, though. The signing bonuses for my rate can hit 100,000 down the road, and there are a lot of benefits. It's a win some and lose some battle, I guess.