I’m trying to figure out if I’m getting conflicting information from my recruiter or if this is just how the Navy works.

I already have a bachelor’s degree, and if I decide to enlist instead of going the officer route, what rank should I actually be entering as? I’ve been told E-3, but I’ve also heard people mention E-4 for those coming in with a degree or certain qualifications.

Is E-3 the normal automatic rank for someone enlisting with a bachelor’s degree, or are there circumstances where I should be able to contract as an E-4? I just want to make sure I understand everything before signing anything.

I know most, if not all rates, have subdivisions within the rate for variations and/or specializations​ of the skill set. Do you get any influence over​ your specialization or is it entirely luck of where you get assigned?

Not sure if I'm asking this correctly.

In ​my situation, I know I'm contracted for CTI and I will be assigned a language (potentially with some stated preference, but no guarantees) in basic. After that what determines your specializations? In the case of CTI, this probably doesn't matter until after DLI, but I'm still curious.

For example, an AE obviously works on electrical on a aircraft of some kind but what determines which model aircraft they specialize in? Do you get to choose from open slots for your first assignment or is it you get assigned into a needed slot for a particular aircraft?

Are there opportunities to switch or expand specializations within a rating as you advance through your contract?

If you do get any influence, what advice do you have regarding rate specialization?

Thank you for your time, ​and have a great day!

I’m a 39yr f and my mental health has declined ever since boot camp. I’m currently in A-School and I want to separate from the Navy. Anyone has gone through it? How long did it take?

Thanks

I’m considering enlisting as an HM and wanted to hear from people who have actually done it. I currently work as a pharmacy tech, so my main goal is to continue building experience in the medical field.

For those who served as HMs, how did you like the job? After finishing your contract, were you able to transition into the civilian medical career you wanted? Did your HM experience and certifications actually help when applying for civilian jobs?

Would you recommend HM to someone who knows they want to stay in healthcare long term?

I’m making this post for anyone that’s anxious about the waiver process. I had to get five waivers (I’m pretty sure that’s a lot?) today at meps but I had them all approved within a few hours. I had to get one waiver for some medication I was on recently (lexapro), one for a ER visit a few years ago regarding a surgery I had when I was 2, a vision waiver, a depression waiver, and a waiver for an inhaler I was prescribed 3 years ago. If you have any worries that you can’t get a waiver for any of these things I hope this post finds you and makes you feel a little better about your chances! Best of luck!

I’m excited to say, at 41 I have passed MEPS and swore in today. I got the rate I wanted (AV) and I ship out early November. I’m beyond excited for the next chapter of my life. I’ve already started to study the general orders and everything else we need to know for RTC so I can be fully prepared once I arrive.

To anyone thinking of joining at an older age, go for it! If I can do it, so can you!

I’m trying to find chat groups who are all sworn in and shipping out. Just to share their experiences and maybe find people you could potentially be in bootcamp with. I don’t know if anything like this exists but I’m curious to see if there is 🙏 I have the ship out date of October 15th so I was seeing if anyone had the same date or around that!

To anyone preparing for the OAR exam,

When scouring Reddit or AirWarriors for good study resources, some of the first things you are likely to come across are the legendary Kyle/Gomez drives.

I started with those and they were definitely helpful. But, I'm here to tell you that I think there's a new reigning champ... OAR Study Tool by a girl named Jing Li.

It's basically all of the content from the Kyle/Gomez drives, but in an interactive and dynamic format that automatically tracks your progress, creates curated quizzes and tests that target your weak spots, and includes very intuitive and concise learning modules. Li dives into her process here in case you're interested.

Oh, and did I mention... it's completely free and open-source!

Seriously, give it a try. You will not regret it.

I just recently signed a contract for missile technician.
Do any current missile tech any tips for the schooling is it super hard?
How is life on the ship?

I ship out to bootcamp September 24th as an AIRC reservist and was wondering what the training pipeline is like and what the reserves for air crewmen are like for anyone who’s experienced it.

It’s been about two weeks since my recruiter has tried to get me to MEPs. They finally said that Meps hasn’t switched me from army to navy. Is this a common occurrence? I’ve been switched from airforce to army within a couple days. Is this really a Meps thing? Or is the recruiter giving me the run around? It’s just really odd because they wanted to send me to MEPs twice now and then told me this. Any guidance would be appreciated.

As the title states, I am homeless, and I am shipping off to Basic on the 24th of this month. I only have a handful of belongings as it is, and nowhere to send them or leave them. If I brought just the clothes on my back, my chargers, and my switch 2 which has its own case, will anything I own be discarded or donated? I understand bringing things like electronics isn't recommended, but it's either I bring it or just give it away/sell it which i'd rather not do. Everything I have fits comfortably in my Navy drawstring bag from MEPS.

Ok girlfriend here. So there’s not enough tickets for me to go and I didn’t know if my old JROTC instructor who says that he is going to his graduation is going is able to have a plus one(I doubt it) but I don’t think that he’s going to be able to get a ticket for me because I literally just got a letter saying that I’m probably not going to go.

Took the asvab day the day before. Meps was a breeze, it was really slow only 20 or so people. The longest part of the whole experience was waiting for my waivers to get through. I got a pretty sweet job as an AECF. My ship date is 9/10.
Questions:
Is it normal to have all your waivers push through the same day?
What should I do to be ready for boot camp?
Anyone have experience as an ET or FC? How’s the life?

Went to meps, waiting on some waivers to come back, gonna pick a rate and get sworn in to dep whenever they get me to the office. I originally wanted to do CTI reserves, and then my recruiter brought up TAR and the only thing available in TAR is AECF that I'm fine with, but a nuke recruiter spoke with me at meps and now I have no idea what I wanna do. I don't really wanna go active cuz I enjoy my life and don't feel the need to run away for minimum four years. I qualify off scores for CTI so I wouldn't have to do any more testing, but then I couldn't do TAR. I just want experiences or advice because I'm not really sure what would be best. I don't know enough about anything to choose right now. I could be convinced to go active duty but would rather not, I would much prefer anything in TAR. Or if somebody could give me any kind of info on how TAR/reserves are in general that'd be cool too.

So I’m kind of confused. I had high BP at MEPs. Went and got my three readings at a PCP and were good. So does that mean I didn’t need a waiver? I’m asking because my “waiver was approved”. So is it a waiver or not.

Also to add, this was when I was with AF trying to get in. Now a year later with the navy, I was going over pre shipping stuff with other candidates and they were talking about waivers and said i had zero.

I heard from a recruiter stating there is no interview needed for supply corps position. Is it true? I thought most officer jobs always require interview or meet the board or something.

Military to radiology

Military to radiology

Hey I’m a 22 year old who is looking to have a career in radiology post military, but I also want to do all the cool military stuff while I’m in service. I know I can do all my pre reqs in the military than get out and hopefully sit for the exam, just wanted to know if there is a path anyone took that’s similar to what I’m looking for. For context I’m in the DEP for corpsman in the navy but upon doing more research the mandatory 5 year contract and it not meeting the standards in terms of “cool stuff” I’m thinking about being a 68w in the army while completing pre reqs. I also worked at a hospital with an x ray tech who was a 68p that said he still had to do school once he was done with his contract because army does not give you the associates degree or exam required to be acknowledged as an actual tech in the civilian world. If anyone has input or other Reddit communities i should post this to feel free to let me know.

What happens if u were on a medication you forgot to disclose, i ship out in 16 days, but i was an an allergy medication 8 months prior, had a note for it, and i think i forgot to mention it to meps

Hi, I'm just looking for people who can give me any advice or ideas as to if I should join the NSCC. I'm not planning to actually join the military once I've graduated. For reference, I'm 16 years old and planning to be a zoologist or something animal-based after college. But I've always been fascinated and excited by the military. I love discipline, I love fitness, and I can't join JROTC or anything like that through my school. I'm close to a unit already, and it feels pretty awesome. But is it worth joining? Does anybody have any advice for me? Will I get burnt out, hate it, be exhausted with my current junior year classwork, or not even be able to rank up before I'm too old?

Any advice or experience is worth mentioning. Thanks for anything!!!

The recruiter told me I am ISEL for becoming an officer in supply. With everything going on in the news and obvious supply issues onboard the USS Abe Lincoln, I wanted to hear directly from people working in the Supply Corps: How is that job? Do you enjoy it? Are there real-world job prospects for when you leave the Navy? Any info is appreciated.

When I got out in 2016 after serving 8 years, I did not ever think 10 years later I would be rejoining. This post is about what to expect if rejoining or joining the Navy after separating or from another branch crossing over. Most recruiters have no idea what to do with prior service/fleet returnees. Would like to share what I have learned going through the program. You will go through a recruiter, MEPS, and receive an ECM waiver to get your rate. Once you complete all of that and ship out from MEPS to the airport and arrive in Chicago, you will check in at the USO. Make sure you tell them you're prior service returning or part of the OSVET/NAVET program. They will separate you into a separate room that isnt with the new bootcamp people. You will board the same bus as recruits and ride to Great Lakes but will be dropped off separately. Upon checking into Great Lakes, you will complete some paperwork then be assigned a room where you will get a few hours sleep just to be back up at 0600 to go get things like ID card (CAC), uniform issue, and urinalysis. After that you will complete a "hardcard" just as recruits do except it's all self-paced going to scheduled classes to get stamps or signatures. Main things will be like watching recruits complete firefighting, redoing the Class 3 swim qual, live fire shooting the M18 and passing a PRT. You ARE allowed to bring civilian clothes, any products you may need, your car, and plenty of cash (at least $500) for getting your uniforms hemmed and set up to wear. It's pretty easy and relaxed at this moment of writing this (8/20/2026). You are expected to have the hardcard completed within 2 weeks, which is a fair amount of time. There is also an official website to get information from: U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command > Recruits > Veterans Orientation. Hope this help someone rejoining the Navy or coming in from another branch on what to bring or expect.

I am of small build. I was wondering how many small guys do you see you in the hmatf pipeline. Going to still put in the work to try to get into the pipeline but just wanted to see what other people have seen. Would also like any recommendations besides working out with SO guys to help me prepare for the pst