What is the Navy like, is it a better alternative than joining the Army?
460359
Apparently its great...my friend whom I work with recommends it to any one...a little more laid back than the army...very good discipline..my friend is very head strong and well spoken a good role model for the rest of us.  She is over flowing in confidence. From her stories I regret not taking the option up myself!!! If only we could go back in time.
368406
i joined the military a year after high school.  In my mind it has bettered my future.  I have learned leadership and management skills that most Citizens would pay to have.  Its easier to get a job saying that you retired from the military.  It shows that you come from a background of lots of hardwork, dependability, and that you will get the job done.  Its a great way of life, but not for everyone.  You have to learn to sacrifice your time to take care of others, and that its not all about you anymore.  The benefits are great.  The pay isnt that great unless you are an officer.  But, you can learn to manage your money and put it to use and have a great retirement.  When i get done with the military i wont have to work again unless i choose to.  Id say give it a shot...just dont be a douchebag, do what your told, be where you are supposed to be, in the correct uniform, and dont cock an attitude at your seniors and you will do great.  You dont have to be smart to make it far (on the enlisted side that is).  If you do then good luck, and remember it is only what you make of it...if it sucks then your attitude sucks.\n\n\nAlso served in iraq, now in korea...and education is possible.  Dont listen to what the others say on that issue.  If you are willing to give up some of your "free-time" then you can do it.
884223
Join the Navy and - no matter what the recruiter tells you - they will put you where they need someone, not necessarily where you want to be, and they will train you for the field that they need people in, not necessarily the one you want to be in.  Recruiters lie, they have no say in where you're assigned or what your duties will be.\n\nAviation mechanics are actually in fairly high demand from what I understand - but I don't have any close contacts in the Navy any more, so I can't say what the odds are of you getting that posting, just that the odds are better than they would be if you wanted to be a photographer or something like that.\n\nWhen you are posted to a land base, you can either stay in base housing (barracks) or you will get a housing allowance for off-base housing.  It may not entirely cover the rent and probably won't cover insurance, particularly when you're first starting out and you're low-ranked, but it can make the ends meet if you're clever with your money.  Specialist rankings like aviation mechanics tend to be higher ranked and therefore better paid, which is probably the situation your friend is in.\n\nRemember that wherever you are, you'll be leaving in 2-3 years.  That's one reason that a lot of young guys just don't bother with getting off-base housing, they know they'll just have to leave and they'd rather not spend the money on rent or a mortgage.  Remember also that as an aviation mechanic, you will be expected to spend time on carriers unless you specialize in the big birds, which has its own problems.\n\nIf you are willing to deal with the dangers and the difficulties, go for it - but don't go in expecting to get paid just for breathing and showing up.  The Navy works its people hard, and expects a lot from them, and if you aren't willing to do the job they have ways of dealing with you that a civilian boss doesn't.
5446
Im active duty Navy right now.  This is what I have noticed:\nArmy- Low recruitment= high bonuses  but they have the lowest standards of living\n\nMarines- You really have to want to be a marine... they don't mess around.  Hard to get into technical programs. A lot of PT.  Harder than some branches to get promoted.\n \nNavy- A huge variety of careers.  Transition from civilian to soldier not to difficult.  At sea a lot during your first tour. Some very long days underway.\n\nCoast Guard- Cake. I was talkin to a gas turbine mechanic in the coast guard today.  He just came back from a 30 day tour which included: Key West, Fl\nCozumel, mexico some columdian island....and a couple more very cool places.  This guy is getting out in jan.  looking to make $100 per hour in miami.\n\nAir Force- My best friend has been in there for five years.  They have the best standard of living and the easiest working hours.\n\nI ranked them from worst to best in my opinion.  Hope this helps- I know it would have if I read it before I joined.  Any other questions just email me, I know someone in active duty from each branch.
658738
I have a friend who is like an older brother in the Coast Guard. He loves it he has been in for almost 30years and is a W-4 or a Warrant Officer. He says its is the best military branch to join if you are going enlisted due to all the fun jobs out there in the Coast Guard for enlisted personnel. I joined the Navy, wished I had joined the Coast Guard. I love the Navy didn't get me wrong but the work in the Navy is not as good for an enlisted man as the Coast Guard.
1161596
First off, most of the people on here are idiots. Top Gun was a movie about the Navy and actually "Top Gun" no longer exists, at least not as it used to...(a new name, a new base).\nSecondly, the Navy was great. You will have a sea/shore rotation depending on the rating you choose. As an AO, my sea/shore was 4/3 (I think). After boot camp and "A" school, I went to my first duty station and luckily got shore duty in Nevada. It wasn't always a picnic, but for the most part I enjoyed it. I never did go on a ship, I got off active duty after four years to move to Virginia with my husband (who was also in the Navy). I did stay in the reserves and had a great time being a full time reservist (I worked about 200 days out of the year) and even did a few deployments to the middle east, which were lots of fun (and hard work). \nAs for the ships...when you are on sea duty, you'll have 6-9 month cruises and work-up periods in between those. You'll just work on the boat while in port...you won't to LIVE on the boat unless you are low rank and single. While you're on cruise, you will stop in ports around the world. It's not as if they keep you locked on the boat for 6 months straight (unless you do something very bad in a port!)\nIf you choose Navy, I'd suggest a rating like IT that will translate well into civilian life! This website: http://www.spear.navy.mil/profile/profile/jan01/pages/Navy.html has some good information and briefly describes each individual Navy rating.\nGood luck and I hope you have a good time in whatever branch you choose:)
951851
This is something you really have to decide on your own.  Look into it, talk to people that are in the military and ask for the pros and cons.  If you decide to go in make sure you research it, there are job you can inlist for and get up to 40k bonus.  My husband has been in the navy for 17 years.  Good Luck.
774863
You should log onto www.armycadets.com.   This will give you a good idea of what it is like, where they are etc.   It is a good idea to try it out in the cadets to see if you enjoy it before you join the armed forces, as there are no strings attached, and if you don't like it then you have not committed to anything big.
804502
pros:\n\nserving the country\ngetting a vocational education (unless you are an officer..then you get management experience)\ngetting benefits once you complete your contract\n\ncons:\n\nbeing caught up in a 6 month "on the sea" rotational duty...away from land, home and family/friends.\nbeing caught up with the "back door draft"...having to serve another 4 years of service....\nbeing on a ship (particulary a submarine)...living in cramped conditions..etc...\n\ngood luck to you
233469
Call your local recruiter...but try to decide what you want to do in the NAVY before you go in..they tend to push you in one direction...however, I loved it....
1072442
It sounds like you don't have the so-called "warrior-mentality" that many of the Soldiers and Marines have, so you may feel out of place in the Army or USMC.  I agree with the others about the Air Force, Navy or CG.  As far as which of the three, look at your options for MOS through your recruiter for each.  Remember, too, that the Air Force generally allows for more time "at home" whereas the Navy is deployed at sea a lot, as well as the CG.  Thus you have a much greater chance of "seeing the world" sooner with the Navy or CG than with the AF, though you will end up spending more time away from home.  With the AF you have a better chance of actually being stationed overseas than with the other two.\n\nHowever, I am a bit concerned about your reasoning for joining.  Don't get me wrong, the benefits such as MGIB are AWESOME and definitely can be a huge draw.  But you must not forget that it's not a "free ride".  Especially nowadays you will PROBABLY be asked to serve in some sort of combat situation, or at least in support of such actions.  If you have real concerns about supporting combat actions or being in combat yourself I'd suggest taking out loans or applying for civilian scholarships to continue your education.  While it may have been commonplace a few years ago, the excuse of "I joined the military to get an education, I never knew I'd have to fight and I want out now" just doesn't fly anymore.  Seriously think about this before you, quite literally, sign away your freedom on the dotted line.
364120
There are no better or best. There is bragging among the membres of the various groups, but only in a joking way the way you would brag about your high school being better than another high schoool.\n\nThe two groups are both elite in their service, Special Forces in the Army of which I was once a member and the Navy Seals. \n\nThey are trained for two different missions, but both are highly trained units with lots of the latest weapons, escape and evasion techniques as well as languages of various regions.\n\nSpecial Forces are taught to jump from airplanes as well as helicopters to secure an objective,like airports, ammo dumps, political buildings, recapture prisioners. They also gather intelligence of ground troup strenght or an area. They might also be sent in to train the people from a certain country and set up groups to fight.\n\nSeals do the same but mostly in and around the sea or other water areas, though they might also find themselves on the ground doing a job also.\n\nSo to say that one is better than the other is not something that you can compare,since each are given different missions and goals to accomplich.\n\nA person should be proud if they are selected to become a member of either of these highly trained units. They are also opened up to women now. You must join the Army to become a memeber of Special Forces and the Navy to be selected to be a Navy Seal\n\nI hope this has been of some use to you, good luck
1100291
Id say its your choice my friend, Working in the USPS you see a lot of vets. They would be a good source to talk to. \n I would tell you if you were my son to Join the Navy, learn as much as you can, travel the world. The money thing seems like a lot, but look at it this way You will get training equivalent to collage courses, Room and board, Free travel around the world with accommodations, a tight nit family, retirement,  stories, and more. The navy has the fastest advancement of any branch. Stay physically and mentally strong. and Good luck on your choice, either way it will be a good one.
492417
You have more opportunities in the Army reserves, but if you ask any one, the Air Force treats their soldiers the best/ closest to civilian. Not only that, but as mentioned above, Army reservists are more likely to be over seas at the current time... Although I have heard rumors of a coming shift from Army to AF and Navy. But honestly I would say it would depend on your MOS preference and if you want an Army style life or an AF style life. Fixed wing aviation related careers, go AF. Rotary or infantry related, go Army. The Army also has more bases from which the guard can opperate than the AF, giving more flexibility for location. Sorry, probably more than you wanted, long story short, it depends. In my opinion, I say AF all the way.
236705
The military is great for some people, and totally disasterous for others. If you have a problem with authority, and get into trouble at every chance you get, the military is not for you. You need to be able to follow the rules, and if you can't it will not be a good experience.\nI joined the Air Force right after HS, and I am deployed to Iraq right now. In my personal opinion, the Air Force is the best route to take, period. The other military branches get treated like crap, and many people usually try to switch to the Air Force. It is very rare to meet someone who left the Air Force for another branch.\nHowever, this choice MUST be made by you. Talk to ALL the recruiters, not just one branch. Then research them online yourself to verify everything that they told you.\nThe military isn't for everyone, but it will be a great expericence if you get a good job, and take advantage of all the opportunities that are out there.\nIf you have any further questions, feel free to email me: mfred987  at yahoo.
174984
Yes.  You don't have to be a citizen to join the armed forces, and your time in service will in fact speed up your citizenship process.  See a local recruiter and ask them this question.
1000574
It really depends what you want to do.\n\nThe Marines are the most physical, tough and are sometimes the greatest effected by joining.\n\nThe Army is ground and usually fight with the Marines.\n\nThe Marines is also part of the Navy which go over seas, on various vessels for long periods of time.  They tend to see more of the world.  Usually, they sailors go out for six-nine months and then get to stay in the states for about the same amount of time until being deployed again.\n\nThe Coast Guard won't get involved in major warfare and are usually the ones busting drug rings around the south coast!  And also the ones that handle the refugees from Cuba.\n\nDo your own investigating (each branch has a website) and see what fits best for you.  Or even go to your local recruitment center and pick up packets from each branch before making your decision. \n\nAnd good luck!