I'm thinking of joining the Navy
- Thread starter Gaith
- Start date
Don't go Navy OCS! They make you go through all kinds of crap before they make you a lieutenant and then you have to stay in service almost forever before you make captain. I think they're running some kind of scam.
In the Army, Air Force, or Marines they make you a lieutenant from the start and then promote you to right to captain. It's soooo much better!
Navy ranks aren't the same as Army/AF/Marines ranks. A Navy captain is equivalent to a colonel. A captain in the Army/AF/Marines is equivalent to a lieutenant in the Navy.
I know Navy ranks aren't the same, but you are otherwise mistaken or badly misinformed.
A Navy captain is almost (but not quite) equivalent to a Marine gunnery sergeant, an Air Force technical sergeant, or an Army staff sergeant. An admiral is a rank or two higher, but that's as far as anyone can get in the Navy, since they're really just taxi drivers for the Army and Marines. (In WW-II, Halsey and Nimitz's role was hauling Douglas MacArthur to all the islands leading to Japan).
That's why they call them "admirals," from the Arabic amir-ar-rahl, "chief of the transport".
Another obvious example is that a fleet admiral might get a ship named after him (probably won't), whereas the US capitol and an entire state is named after an Army general. When it comes to carriers (which haul airplanes around), we generally name them after army folks. Sure, CVN-68 is the Nimitz (Fleet Admiral, US Navy), but:
CVN-69 is the Dwight D. Eisenhower, (General of the Army, US Army)
CVN-71 is the Theodore Roosevelt (Colonel, US Army), nicknamed the Rough Rider after Teddy Roosevelt's Cavalry unit.
CVN-72 is the Abraham Lincoln, (Infantry captain, Illinois militia)
CVN-73 is the George Washington, (General of the Armies, US Army)
CVN-74 is the John Stennis, (probably drove a Taxi in college, no military service)
CVN-75 is the Harry Truman, (Colonel, US Army Reserve)
CVN-76 is the Ronald Reagan, (Captain, US Army Air Corps)
CVN-77 is the George H.W.Bush, (Lieutenant JG, US Navy, but father of an Air Force officer)
And what did Jimmy Carter get named after him? A submarine that was only used as a transport ship during the war against the Terminators.
Isn't the head of the Joint Chiefs an admiral?
As a matter of principle I must say: only go to the military if you are really ready to kill some random stranger you've never seen before. Because after all that "oh it's so fun and you meet so many people and you travel across the entire world and they pay for your education", that's what the military is about: fighting to protect the nation's goals. And be ready to follow orders you don't agree with, in wars fought for reasons you don't agree with, orchestrated by politicians you didn't vote for. And then, when it's all over, when those two nations that had been battling each other are "friends" again, be ready to meet the families of the guys and girls you killed while they were on the other side.
If you are that kind of person that can do all that, if you're determined to do that, you have my respect, and I tell you to go ahead. If you are not, then you are just a child that doesn't know what it's doing.
If you are that kind of person that can do all that, if you're determined to do that, you have my respect, and I tell you to go ahead. If you are not, then you are just a child that doesn't know what it's doing.
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Don't believe him! That picture is obviously CGI. For one thing, there's no rust on it.
And remember, Navy ships have their names stenciled across the back for the same reason that Navy personnel have their names written on the elastic band of their underwear - in case they forget who they are.
Little known fact: You can become a Navy captain without ever taking even a basic course in map reading, (apparently they still use charts) which is why this exchange is all too common on US submarines:
Captain: (sweating) "What does the chart say?"
Navigator: "It says the moon enters Capricorn and Mars is in the 9th house, and that we may feel intense pressure and stressful situations could reach a peak. If you can remember to breathe and keep cool you'll do fine once this transit has passed."
Captain: "Very well. Planesman, make our depth 250. We don't want to be going deep until the charts say we're clear of hazards."
Most people are not aware that the US Air Force has its own Navy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ships_of_the_United_States_Air_Force
The A-10, what a wonderful aircraft. When I was stationed at Eielson AFB in Alaska we had A-10's at the time. Nothing better then watching the 30 mm gatling gun in action. It has such a distinct sound, once you hear it you never forget.
Nothing better then participating in an exercise called Team Spirit in South Korea, working to repel an invasion from North Korea and having the A-10's dropping precision bombs on enemy combatants which seamed only a few feet from you.
No. I've seen way too many people break apart in the military because they didn't know what they were doing. I have respect for the military. They defend and serve my country. But there are too many who have no idea what that really means.
^ That's especially true of the Navy, where he could be attacked by giant crabs, buried under a wall of falling laundry when his ship lists, or be forced to press one of several buttons while sipping coffee.
I really didn't get the impression he was trying to join the Navy Seals.
And Seals aren't all that. Although they are often on someone else's shore, it's still just shore duty.
I really didn't get the impression he was trying to join the Navy Seals.
And Seals aren't all that. Although they are often on someone else's shore, it's still just shore duty.
Ablative_Oberth
Lieutenant Commander
I served. Went in with the intention of "getting money for school" and seeing the world and all that.
Naval Reserve at that... Get my money, go to school, have my career... not like I'll actually SEE combat... Yes, I had to kill people. Quite a few actually. Happens when you're missile crew. You push the button and the missile flies away and you hear later on the news that your missile blew up a building in Down Town Iraq, killing 30 people.
But that's ok they're bad people who want to hurt us... right?
Yes, let's please keep this civil. This is a good discussion, and JarodRussell makes a strong point.
I certainly don't envy you that experience, Ablative_Oberth. In a way, that could well be tougher than being on the ground, only shooting at those shooting at you. Like I said, I certainly don't want to kill anyone.
But unless you don't believe that we shouldn't have a military, and I certainly don't believe that, every man should ask himself: it may be unpleasant work, but why should someone else have to do it and not me? Apart from being an only child, what makes me so bloomin' special?
That's what I've been asking myself the past few weeks. And if the Navy OCS is too swamped with applications to have time for me, I might have to consider one of the other services. We'll see.
I certainly don't envy you that experience, Ablative_Oberth. In a way, that could well be tougher than being on the ground, only shooting at those shooting at you. Like I said, I certainly don't want to kill anyone.
But unless you don't believe that we shouldn't have a military, and I certainly don't believe that, every man should ask himself: it may be unpleasant work, but why should someone else have to do it and not me? Apart from being an only child, what makes me so bloomin' special?
That's what I've been asking myself the past few weeks. And if the Navy OCS is too swamped with applications to have time for me, I might have to consider one of the other services. We'll see.
Interesting thread.
Frankly, I'm not cut out for the services, but I'm glad there are plenty of others who enjoy this work and help keep me safe! The technical aspects, the leadership stuff and the fact I'd be killing people, I could probably manage just fine... but I would hate the hierarchy and the physical side of things. RAF Cadets was enough for me to get a taster!
Frankly, I'm not cut out for the services, but I'm glad there are plenty of others who enjoy this work and help keep me safe! The technical aspects, the leadership stuff and the fact I'd be killing people, I could probably manage just fine... but I would hate the hierarchy and the physical side of things. RAF Cadets was enough for me to get a taster!
Ablative_Oberth
Lieutenant Commander
Not trying to talk you out of it at all. I volunteered, I served my time, I did my job.
Just some things to consider.
If you do decide to go, start memorizing your rank and recognition, Sailor's Creed, 11 General Orders and the lyrics to Anchors Away NOW. This shit is VERY important in Boot Camp. Learning it forwards, backwards and random order will save you many painful hours on the floor doing 8-counts.
Just some things to consider.
If you do decide to go, start memorizing your rank and recognition, Sailor's Creed, 11 General Orders and the lyrics to Anchors Away NOW. This shit is VERY important in Boot Camp. Learning it forwards, backwards and random order will save you many painful hours on the floor doing 8-counts.
Not trying to talk you out of it at all. I volunteered, I served my time, I did my job.
Just some things to consider.
If you do decide to go, start memorizing your rank and recognition, Sailor's Creed, 11 General Orders and the lyrics to Anchors Away NOW. This shit is VERY important in Boot Camp. Learning it forwards, backwards and random order will save you many painful hours on the floor doing 8-counts.
I totally agree with this, also if you can work on marching also. You should also start answering everything now sir, yes sir. Sir, no sir. or insert Ma'am if you need to.
By the time they're done with you none of this is a problemNot trying to talk you out of it at all. I volunteered, I served my time, I did my job.
Just some things to consider.
If you do decide to go, start memorizing your rank and recognition, Sailor's Creed, 11 General Orders and the lyrics to Anchors Away NOW. This shit is VERY important in Boot Camp. Learning it forwards, backwards and random order will save you many painful hours on the floor doing 8-counts.
I totally agree with this, also if you can work on marching also. You should also start answering everything now sir, yes sir. Sir, no sir. or insert Ma'am if you need to.
It's just too bad the OP decided to go Navy instead of Army
I got my commission as a Second Lieutenant a little over a year ago. While it was on the Army side of the house, the process is pretty similar. If you have any questions I'll be happy to help
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