What is it like to be in the Navy?

gugliamo00

This is kind of an impossible question to answer with respect to your grandfather's experiences.

However, i remember listening to stories my grandfather told me when I was growing up. His experiences were a contributing factor in my joining in 1960. I went to college and graduated at age 20. I enlisted rather than pursue an officer program because I didn't know if I wanted to make the commitment. In Boot Camp my specialty (rating) selected me. When it came time for me to reenlist for my E-6, somebody dusted off my degree and recommended me for OCS. I retired at age 45 with 25 years in.

I retired in 1985. I think things have changed for women somewhat in the Navy. When I was in, they were pretty much confined to support roles. Women officers seldom attained command status although they reached ranks that would enable them to assume command. In the Pentagon there were quite a few women... officers and enlisted. But in my line of work, women were - and still are -- excluded.

At present you will not be in a combat role... you can't even volunteer for such a role.... or, if you do, the application will be disregarded. The closest you're going to be able to get to combat is as an HN and part of a member of an extraction helicopter team. You won't be a combatant, but extractions under fire do occur... and they can get a little... exciting.

People will tell you horror stories about their Navy experience. Others will sing its praises. The Navy is really what you make of it. If you're bright, have a strong personality, and have your values deeply set, you'll probably find the experience pretty positive. But, realistically, just about everything in life has its down sides.

Here's an example. Some people will tell you not to volunteer for anything. I found that doing so was helpful. First, it's better to volunteer than to be "picked to volunteer." Second, when you volunteer, you have a better chance of selecting tasks for which you have a better chance at success. Third, if you volunteer, when something really unpleasant pops up, if you don't volunteer it's more likely that somebody else will be "volunteered."

Fourth, if you're smart, you'll start by volunteering for those tasks at which you have the best chance of success. After you get a few "wins" under your belt, you can volunteer for the tougher tasks. While you have a greater chance of failure, you can learn first hand from your mistakes.

Finally, sometimes you can take on some of the less desirable tasks. Why? My CC (Company Commander) asked me that. I said that they were jobs that needed to be done and somebody had to do them. I figured that if I volunteered for them once in a while maybe the others wouldn't be so reticent in doing so. But the bottom line is that, volunteering puts you out in front. You're watched by your command and your peers. "In front" is where the leaders are. "Constantly tries to find ways to help his command and peers..." always looks good on evaluations. I'm almost sure my propensity for volunteering -- sometimes for the tough jobs -- helped get that recommendation to OCS.

You're going to be surrounded by guys. Don't date in your chain of command. While there are rules about fraternization (socialization between officers and enlisted), as long as they're not in the same chain of command, and as long as they don't spend hours on the phone while on duty, as long as they don't flaunt it, as long as they aren't demonstrative... even when in civilian clothes, the intent of the Navy seems to be less to inhibit romance than to prevent influencing somebody's career or duty assignments. But, if the relationship brings unfavorable public scrutiny, you can bet that both parties will feel the full weight of the letter of the law.

I dated an LT while stationed at the Pentagon. She used to say, "I realize I'm a woman in what's traditionally been a 'man's world,' and that I have to do twice the job the job a man does to get the same recognition." Then she'd add with a smirk, "And I do it." Between you and me, having seen some of the stuff guys get away with, I don't think it's all that difficult. Not only did she do the jobs to which she was assigned better and cleaner than guys, she was consistently recommended for "deep selection." I think she probably made CDR or CAPT three or four years ahead of her OCS class.

But that was about 30-35 years ago. Today, I think it's important for a woman to compete successfully with guys. They can't rely on lower standards for women. If a guy has to do 50 push-ups, a woman should go for 55. The reason is for the main concern about women in combat... they're not as strong as guys. This may be true in general. But I think a woman who wants to be taken seriously by men needs to show them who's boss. I dated an LTJG at NAS Alameda in the middle 1970s. She competed in a meet in San Diego. She took a first, two seconds and a third at that meet. She was the only woman in the meet and was co

Dustin

It really depends on the job you choose. The Navy is not like any other branch. You will be trained in one basic job, but you will be expected to learn as much as you can about everyone else's. Its good because it gives you lots of great skill sets for when you decide to get out.

I served 10 years and just recently got out. I miss it dearly.
I was a Hospital Corpsman. I served on an Aircraft Carrier, with the Marines, and I work with the State Department.

I had a great time doing it.

must like water

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