I was wondering about the benefits and advantages and disadvantages of joining the navy?

Question

I'm in college and still in college however I'm having trouble figuring out what I want to do and where I want to go, I do though want to be a nurse but for some reason I always have trouble with the classes and the fact that their is a waiting period in most schools. Do you think that the navy will help me find where I should be at or will I regret it if I join. They told me about certain programs for educational purposes but I'm not sure if they are true. Anyone one who has experience or is in the navy or any other military program, please give me some advice. Were you able to earn a degree and get a good job meaning a career that will have security etc. Please honest answers

Answer 1

The medical field is a booming industry right now, it is one of the very few things that can't be outsourced.  Being in the military will always give you a notable advantage both in a job interview as well as on a resume'.  Employers know that military personnel are always on time and on point and the Navy is by far no exception to that rule.  Depending on how long you have been in school it may not be lucrative for you to join right now, the wait for the nursing program is only about a year or so right now and based on the work load as well as other duties that you will share in the Navy you probably will not have time to continue classes specially in your first year or two.  One thing a recruiter will never tell you is how little sleep and personal time you will have and it will become more of a problem then you may beforehand suspect.  Also you need to weigh in the pay which in your first year or so can be equivalent to that of someone who works at Walmart, except you are salary so its far less then someone at Walmart.  The G.I. Bill is a great idea if you are going to an expensive university and you have no financial responsibilities pending (i.e. kids, car loans, etc.) even though soldiers and sailors act freezes your lending responsibility the debt does not dissapear and while you cease to pay the amounts remain in your balance.  The position in which you would apply for at MEPS would be an HM, this is essentially a field medic for marines fighting on the front lines, this means you may, or may not get shot at depending on where your command decides to send you, it is really the only rate that applies to the career you are choosing and to be the bearer of even further bad news, your training barracks (part of the NTC facility but seperate from NTC itself) is VERY strict in terms of liberty (free time) you are restricted from wearing civilian clothing until you are phase 3 so this makes you feel like you are in boot camp for 3 months instead of 2 and during phase one you are restricted from leaving base AT ALL.  Seriously save your rights and tough it out here you will not regret it.

Answer 2

Serving in the Navy could give you technical training that isn't available anywhere else, and even if you do go into a medical position you'll get experience that will help you get a job later.

You really don't have anything to lose, and the Navy is usually behind the scenes in any military action, so you're much less likely to end up as a casualty in a war zone than members of the other military branches.

Answer 3

I was in the Navy...Here are some fast facts:

Yes they do have outstanding educational bennefits....Other than GI Bill which every enlisted person gets (They take one hundred dollars a month for your first year out of your pay...but you can use it later when you get out)

They have Tuition Assistance to pay for your school while you are still in...good deal. I used it and got an Associate degree. but it took me 5 years to do so.

They have other programs that you can go to school but they are not always easy to get.

When you enlist you sign up for about 4-5 years depending on what you get offered.

You will likely go to a ship or overseas for your first duty. Getting an education is very hard on a ship because you will have to do all sorts of Navy qualifications first. If you aren't rated you will be expected to qualify for a rating. (rated means that you have an actual job...you can go as undesingated and that means they put you where ever they need you)

If you are rated. Say you beocme a Hospital Corpsman (medical...you mentioned you liked nursing) you will go to a ship or hospital. Maybe with the Marines. You have things you have to do to learn your rating. You may work long hours and have to work shifts. A hosptial is open 24/7. Weekends and holidays it don't matter if you have duty.

Some commands help you out. I have had a few that will give you oppertunity to go to school. But there is no guarantee. You will be expected to do your Navy job first....

Now I am not saying that it can not be done. I've seen people enlist work as a Corpsman then get paid to go to nursing school and come back as an Nurse Corps Officer. They had to apply for the program and it is highly competitive.

I was bad at running and the physical fittness part of the Navy so I was not elegible for some of the programs. In fact I got out after 14 years because I couldn't run....It's nobody's falt, I just don't run all that well. I got a job at a doctor's office and make ok money. I am a medical assistant now. So the training was good. I also used my GI bill and am about to graduate college with my degree in Health Sciences. So I didn't do too bad.

Just think about it. The programs are there...but not everyone will be accepted or quallify. You should stay in school if you are doing well at it. You can join as an officer if you have a degree. You can also check out ROTC at your college. Maybe that is a good thing because it helps pay for shcool. You will have to give back some time...but hey, you have to work either way you go.

You can also check out the reserves while you are in college. They have programs too.