The Navy

[archie]

Hey chaps, I'm 17, bored, thrill-seeking, pro-discipline, pro-war effort, a bit of a history/military enthusiast and just saw the film "Battleship" and whilst it may not be the greatest film ever made, It really made me feel appealed to the life on board a military vessel. Preferably one with a big gun or an aircraft/helicopter carrier. (So a combat vessel). Anyhow, just wondering if anyone has served in their countries Navy or have any advice/stories/preferences that they'd like to share so that I could hopefully learn of.

I'm English so it's the Royal Navy for me. But, any military Navy experiences are wanted! Going down the the Royal Navy Recruitment office in 2 weeks to.

[Dusty Lens]

Watch Battlestar Galactica. Question your pro war stance. If you're going to go career join as an O.

If you dislike boredom and love thrills I cannot stress how amazing your life will seem on float. Or between floats. Day 73 of routine in a cramped closed environment is the culmination of all life's adventures. Everytime you do a fodwalk or attend a safety brief or polish a doorknob you can barely stop yourself from singing Highway to the Dangerzone aloud.


-USMC, Ret.

No but really look into your ambitions a bit harder. A movie life on a military boat ain't. It is work inside of a small office that floats in the water.

[onca]

If you wanna join the Navy after seeing a Hollywood movie, you're in for a big surprise.

But seriously mate life in the armed forces can be very rewarding. I would actually recommend it, and it can only do your career good in the long run.

You'll probably get deployment, but chances are in your lifetime it'll be to the middle east, where the most dangerous vessel you'll encounter will be a dud WII mine or submerged bathtub. That is unless Germany gets fed up after the EU totally goes to s**t...

=)

[Dusty Lens]

And yes the service is lovely and rewarding. But I doubt you need mentioning of such after watching something with big boats and a catchy tune.

[Agmen of Eladesor]

If you dislike boredom and love thrills I cannot stress how amazing your life will seem on float. Or between floats. Day 73 of routine in a cramped closed environment is the culmination of all life's adventures. Everytime you do a fodwalk or attend a safety brief or polish a doorknob you can barely stop yourself from singing Highway to the Dangerzone aloud.
-USMC, Ret.

But Dusty, that's only for the peons - you know, the enlisted swine! Those who sit above all that don't have to do that - or even get their hands dirty.

Just remember whose turn it is to be Tommy Loy the Cabin Boy ... :)

Seriously, though - I think what he needs to remember is that, while most of us can swim a lot longer than we can fly (Navy versus Air Force) - we can all lay on the ground a LOT longer than we can swim ... :lol:

GREEN MACHINE!

Okay, in all seriousness now - and not poking fun at Dusty and the scar on the back of his head where his brain was removed (mandatory for all jarheads) - don't base your decision on a Hollywood movie. Discovery channel had a series out not too long ago - Carrier - about life on deployment with a carrier group. Go watch that. Find out how much fun it really is to have a 3 x 3 x 3 box to hold all your worldly possessions, along with a rack to sleep in - and that's what you're stuck with for a 6 month deployment.

Oh, and no Navy in the world now has active battleships.

Don't forget, too, that unless you actually get assigned to a carrier, you're just as likely to be on a cruiser, destroyer, or some other surface target for submarines...

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Oh god... The end of days... Agmen agreed with me.

[Zapp]

My Chemistry teacher in high school, the most fit 50 year old I ever knew, always told stories about his time in the Navy. He served on a submarine and liked to talk about what that was like. Most of it is lost on me, but I remember he talked about initiation rites as being grueling. Something about eating peanut butter out of a dirty belly button...

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[Widow]

I was on the training navy base for a while for a school thing.
I don't know how it works elsewhere, but I'm pretty sure I know something about what its like in NZ.
It isn't all fun and games, and its a lot of hard work.

Think: Early mornings, late nights, and a non-stop day in-between.
Ask yourself: Am I mentally and physically prepared for this?
Also: Are you ready for one year of service for every year you spend in training? They don't make you pay in cash, its in time - meaning you are probably going to be looking 6 years in the navy before you start.

You will most likely be doing "peace missions", drug work, smuggling prevention, and visiting other countries - because they can.
I really doubt you will be fighting, unless another war pops up.
Even then, air superiority is more important then water.

I know over here, there is a long time in training where you cant go off base, and once you finish your training, you will be off overseas and wont be able to see them there either.

But; the pay is good, and it is a solid career path.

One day, I'm going to be joining the Air force (Not that NZ has much of one any more) and get my AME/LAME qualifications.

Make sure you know what you are getting into.
Its nothing like what you see on the TV.

But, at the end of the day, if you are ready to go for it, good luck!


Edit: Yeah, I'm bias to the Air force. It could be a lot of fun, I personally just didn't enjoy it.

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[Laowai]

Actually - on point there was a BBC series not too long ago 'Royal Navy Carribean Patrol' or something of the like, documenting life on HMS Manchester while she was deployed on anti-drugs work.
It showed quite detailed accounts of life on the ship, the joyous tedium alluded to by Dusty and the only slightly less tedious work of the officers with their only slightly less tiny cabins. Still, Ive had mates and family who served in the RAN and loved it. So who knows.

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[Hawk]

I never served in the military, spent my time doing fire/rescue. Most people watch movies like Backdraft and Ladder 49 and ask me if my life was like that. The truth is that I had MAYBE a handful of moments like that in a 13 year career. I spent more time holding a mop than holding a hose or defibrillator paddles. But a movie about firemen mopping the floor and washing the trucks just isn't that interesting. Don't get me wrong, I loved it. It was an amazing life. It was just nothing like what the movies make you think it's like and I suspect the military is the same way.

EDIT: I do kind of understand where you are coming from. I spent my high school years reading Tom Clancy novels. I thought they were great. Within months of my high school graduation Iraq invaded Kuwait and the sabers were rattling. I was so excited that I could join the navy and do the things I had been reading about. Then my father the retired naval officer who served 22 years talked some sense into me and I stayed in school. I never regretted that.

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[Veygaar]

If you're looking for adventure... It's -not- in the Navy. Especially if you're enlisting.

If you go Officer, it's just as boring but with less hands on work and more desk time. I'm talking SWO line of work here cause that's what you seem to be into.

Don't get me wrong, it -can- be enjoyable, but you need to go in with the attitude of "I'm going to serve" not "I'm going to have fun." Cause the fun comes far and few in-between the other stuff.

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Veygaar for Admin Moderator 2013!!!