Joining the U.S Navy (Cryptologic Technician)

Question

I am thinking of joining the navy (just for personal exp. or maybe a career if I like it so much!) and would appreciate some advice from people who have been there and done that. Here are my questions:

1) What is the reality behind the basic training? Its level of intensity etc. (I have got enough "positive" answers from the official website and recruiters, I want to know the truth)

2) The "A" school. What is it like?

3) Deployments. Do you get to see any war zones as a Cryptology Technician? How much of a danger are we talking about?

4) The social life of the Navy. What is a day of work like on an Aircraft Carrier for example? Is it really a formal, official, uptight lifestyle or am I mistaking?

5) And finally, overall experience of an ordinary person would be appreciated.

PS: I’m only 19, will be 20 in 19 days. I have professional knowledge of the Persian (Farsi) Language.

Thank You so much...

Answer 1

1.  The hardest basic training in level of "intensity"  is

Marines

Army

Airforce

Navy.

   The most difficult part of basic training is accepting you will be "directed" the majority of the time.  Do not fear it.  Accept it and you will get through it.  Time will pass very quickly.  Everyone I know that has gone through basic is glad they did.  You will do fine.

2. I don't know what that is.

3.  You will only be in a war zone if you are assigned to a ship and your ship is in a war zone.  The danger to your life is comparable to living in a big city.  In other words you have a very small chance of every being in danger.  A new york cabbie has a more dangerous job by far.

4.  The work can be formal yes but only in the sense that they expect you to do your job.  In my career the sense of camraderie was always present.  You have nothing to worry about.  If you are trained properly you will do fine.  

The military was a fantastic experience that taught me about the real world.  You will grow up fast and you will be very glad you enlisted.  The experience you gain will be transferrable to the real world.  

Good Luck