Going to Navy bootcamp in October...?

Question

I joined the Navy and I go to bootcamp in October. Then I go to "A"School to be a Quartermaster. I'm married and have one child. Can anyone give me some pluses and minuses about being in the Navy from their own experience? Anybody been a Quartermaster or been around one and can give me some stories? Is it a good rate? How is bootcamp?

Answer 1

I don't know why the guy above is screaming GOOD FOR YOU. That is his opinion, just as what I am about to say is mine, though I believe I will include more facts than he is about to. Actually the reason I am responding is because I saw advice he was giving to someone that was contemplating deserting the Navy. Those that stay in for longer than their first enlistment, I guarantee it, are going to give you more positives than anything else because that is the life that they have chosen for themselves. 25 years? I'm surprised there are any negatives at all.

First off, I am a Cryptologic Technician in the Navy, am currently active duty and have been for the last 3 years or so. I am stationed aboard the USS Nimitz.

The way I see the Navy, is there are several types of people. There are the types that have made a few mistakes somewhere along the line and are joining the Navy to get back on the right track because they feel that there is no other way. Then there are those who are motivated for reasons such as their country, money for schooling, discipline, etc. Finally, there are those that are not 100 percent sure ALL of the exact reasons they are joining. They might think that it is for school, but they haven't thought it through well enough. I fall into this third category.

There are several pros and cons about the experience the way I see it. First, the pros. I am glad that I joined the Navy because I became more aware of the profound arrogance of naval leadership style. That may seem that it is a negative in itself, but it is not. The things that I learned while I was in the Navy, many of which I could not have learned elsewhere, as much or as quickly, are very valuable. I got to see other countries, though at the expense of being out to sea 10 out of the last 14 months. If the recruiter tells you that you will not go to a ship, he is lying. I know several QMs, and I am am almost certain you will go to a ship. I will also receive a lot of money for education. The new GI bill that was passed gives veterans even more money than it did before. It really is awesome. Also the steady paycheck. And since you are married that is extra money (BAH).

Now for the cons. The biggest one of all is that I became aware of the profound mistreatment and arrogance given to junior personnel by the chain of command. Whenever this concern is voiced, I often hear it denounced as "you are in the military" or "thats just the way it is." Well let me let you in on a little something. It doesn't have to be that way. I have a meta analysis of leadership across all branches of the armed forces taken by a commander who resigned his position. Naval leadership is the worst. I know from personal experience (I was sent to the brig for being late to a muster once...long story) and from the experience of others. Other cons include the lack of individualism, objectivism (a philosophy where thinking critically of a situation and analyzing the correct solution is stressed), and much of the work involved. I was temporarily assigned to hazardous materials division for over a year where I cleaned spills and organized 55 gallon barrels of oils, paints, batteries, etc. Also the living conditions. You will most certainly miss living in a house when you are out to sea for months and months.

I suggest you seriously consider why you are joining the Navy before you leave for bootcamp. It will be your last chance. However, if you are absolutely sure that it is the option for you, I wish you the best of luck. Many people have no problems at all. But if you value your ideas, individualism, views on life, and freedom then you may encounter some issues.

As far as bootcamp is concerned, it is not that hard. Just do everything that everyone else is doing and you are 100 percent guaranteed to have very very few problems. It goes against my philosophy to say do what everyone else is doing, but this is once instance where the environment doesnt respond to analytical thinking.

If you have any more questions about the way it is, dont hesitate to email me. [e-mail]

Answer 2

I was in the Navy for 25 years. I enlisted at age 20 with a BA in Math. When I was due to extend for my E-6, somebody dusted off my degree and recommended me to OCS. I spent the rest of the time as an officer.

I wasn't a QM, so I can't speak to that question from experience.

When I went into boot camp it was in San Diego... in October. I believe you will find October and November in Great Lakes probably a little cooler than San Diego, but better than December and January in Great Lakes.

When you get to boot camp, the first few days are going to be a blur of confusion. You will find that your name isn't "Billy Smith," but "Recruit Smith, SIR!!!" You'll start learning stuff that really doesn't make a whole lot of sense at first, but they want you to start to strech your mind so it'll assimilate all the stuff you're going to get over the next few weeks.

You'll get up every morning way earlier than you're used to. You'll shower, shave, make your bunk, clean up your area and the barracks for inspection... before breakfast. You'll march to breakfast. You'll eat and then march to wherever it is you're supposed to go next. You'll attend class, do PT, drill, study, eat, more PT, more classes, more study, Sometimes you'll get to stand watch over some area that you see no need to watch. Sometimes you'll have a chance to sleep.

You may have ideas of being the best recruit in the company. Forget it. There's always somebody better at something.

You may hear, "Don't volunteer." Wrong again. At first, volunteer for things you are pretty certain you can do well. Get a few successes under your belt and then go for some of the tougher, even some of the less desirable tasks. You're going to s***w up on some of them. But volunteering gets you out in front. Volunteering puts you out in front... that's where the leaders are. If you don't blow it too often, you'll look better to the higher-ups.

Day after day will be the same. Get up, clean up, inspection, eat, classes, PT, study, watches, sleep. It's like some treadmill that never ends. You'll wonder why any moron would subject himself to this kind of punishment.

Then about half way through, you'll look up and see a light at the end of the tunnel. It's graduation. Maybe you might survive this thing. You'll still be doing the same things, but they're somehow easier. You're marching a little taller. You're joking and having a good time with guys who a few weeks ago were total strangers. You've learned to rely on each other.

You'll be marching to chow, or to class, and see some new recruits stumbling along and trying to stay in step. You'll give them a silent, "Hang in there, kid. It'll get better." And you'll march a little taller... and prouder.

Pluses -- WAAAAAY too many to count.

Minuses -- deployments. In most ratings, you'll spend about half your career aboard ship. When aboard ship, you'll spend about 2/3 of your time at sea. When the ship is at sea, communications can be pretty limited.

-- finances. You'll get a modest allowance for housing for your family. But most  young kids are used to getting by with a lot more income -- plus support from family. In the Navy, family is often half a continent away. Base income for an enlisted guy isn't much... monthly pay about what one can make in a week in a civilian job. If you're smart, you'll put everything you can into bonds, CDs, or in an investment fund -- at least 50%. Yeah, that doesn't leave much to live on, but you may need it later on.

Bottom line -- I won't lie. I can't honestly say that every second in the Navy was pure heaven. But I'm no idiot. I wouldn't have stayed in 25 years if it wasn't a good thing -- for me.

I retired at 45. Most can't do that in a civilian job. I got my MA and Ph.D. on the GI Bill. Bought a house with a VA-insured loan and paid it off in 10 years. I can go on just about any base and use their facilities. I have no medical or dental bills. I can fly just about anywhere in the world for free. I parleyed my education, military and command experience into a second career in management consulting. After managing projects up and down the West Coast for 12 years, I retired again. Early this year I rented my house out to an officer and his family from a nearby Air Force base and moved into a Veterans Retirement Home. For less than I make from the rent of my home, I have room and board and transportation, and entertainment. Right now I'm signing off and going to the pool for a few hours.

Oh, if you're wondering, were I married, my wife would be eligible to join me here at the home. Were I to die before she did, she would remain eligible for the same benefits here as I would have been -- as long as she lived.

ADDENDUM:

Don't worry about the nay-sayers and detractors.  

I was bashed because I enlisted with a BA degree rather than go for an officer program. I was given a bad time when I chose my specialty -- or when it chose me. I was given a hard time when I opted to accept the recommendation to OCS -- remember those who bashed me for not going for an officer program in the first place? I was bashed when I opted to make the Navy a career. I was given a hard time by people back home for even being in the military.

A lot of guys were smart and avoided the draft, or only stayed in for four years. They got civilian jobs. Today they're working 50-60 hours a week in those offices way up in those glassed in office buildings. I spent 12 years (my second career) solving problems they couldn't solve. Now, while they're probably taking something for their ulcers, I'm going to the pool.

ADDENDUM 2:

There are a lot more than two or three types of people who go into the military... any branch, contrary to what a later poster suggested.

And, true, there are some officers who may seem arrogant, but I'll tell you a few things that those who have tried to buck the chain of command and failed will neglect to tell you.

When I accepted the appointment as an officer, I knew the kind of officer for whom I would like to have worked. That's the kind of officer I tried to be. There are quite a few of them.

On the other hand, there are those who skated into an officer program merely because they had some dumb degree like political science or psychology, and because they learned how to pass tests. These get in and some think that because they made it through OCS they're better than the rest of the Navy.

In realty, an officer isn't a "director" as much as a "facilitator." It's the enlisted people who keep the military afloat. I the Navy this is especially true. There are people who've been doing their job for 10 or 15 years. They have been doing it well and have advanced through the rates. It is an foolish, ignorant and at least inept junior officer who walks in and says, "This is my area now. We're going to do things my way." Sadly, as the CT said, these are poor candidates for the position. Often they get passed over several times and are forced out. But some of them somehow get to stay in and make it up to flag stays (Admiral and General). Most of these have learned by that time to listen to people lower in their command.

You're not going to always get to pick the people fr whom and with whom you get to work. It's like that in the civilian world too. But, in the military world you only have to put up with it for a couple years or so, then you can get transferred. In the civilian world, the only way out is to quit and try to find another job.

I used o look in the mirror and check the guy looking back at me. I figured that if he smiled back at me most of the time, I was doing ok.

Over the years he's gotten older. He's gotten a few lines that weren't there before. His hair's turned gray and thinned a little. I still check him in the mirror. He seldom smiles back at me anymore. He's grinning.

Answer 3

I was in the Navy a few years... 15 of them. It was a few years ago. I've talked with a lot of guys and gals currently in. In most cases, the ones who complain are those who have run afoul of the law.

I ran into one guy who was really down on the Navy. Turns out he was caught sleeping on watch. That got him busted. So he got caught again, drunk on watch. That got him kicked out. He was waiting to be shipped home and was angry because the soldiers in Iraq were filling up the planes ane he had to wait. And, according to him, it was all the Navy's fault. BULL!!! The Navy didn't put him to sleep on watch -- he did that. The Navy didn't get him drunk on watch -- he did that. I read him as a spoiled child who was brought up thinking it's always somebody else's fault. Society did it. The teacher did it. His parents did it. The government did it. In this case, the Navy did it.

I'm sorry the crypto guy is one of those. But, believe me, I'd do it again... in a heartbeat.

My vote's with that gugliamo post.

Answer 4

First of all, GOOD FOR YOU!

I spent 5 yrs in the Navy and it was a great decision and choice.  The military is a super way to support your family and provide for them with medical care and housing.

Minuses: watch duty

Pluses: guaranteed!!! paycheck, meals, medical and housing allowances for the duration while you are in.  nowhere else on earth can you get that.  Quality travel, tons of opportunity to see things you never would.   Great way to shape up as a young man, and to develop strong work habits and work ethics.

Bootcamp: tiring, exhausting and intended to wear down your physical and mental stamina.  Stay positive, display strong team spirit and follow orders to a T and you will be fine.  Stay healthy and dont let them wear you down, which is what they will try to do, so they can sort the wheat from the chaff right off.  Eat all you can so that you dont get worn down, and sleep every second you can.   Physical condition is 100% important during boot.

All in all, good for you and good for your family.  Stay positive and focused and do your job well.  Our country thanks you!