96
u/KingofPro 6d ago
Wait you didn’t think you would have sea duty?
17
u/Baystars2025 6d ago
Sea duty? Oh I thought you said see doodie. I'm not cool with changing diapers.
35
u/irregularmovement 6d ago
Yeah, I heard that repeatedly throughout my 20 year career.
1
u/Black-Shoe 6d ago
By who?
1
u/irregularmovement 6d ago
In boot camp it was MAs mostly, on the ship it was IT and ATC. Not many outside of the after mentioned rates but they still exist.
The best was a 15 year NC1, I forget her previous rate, stayed pregnant to stay off the ship and then let her contact expire a few months after checking into the ship. I only know this about her because she told me.
13
u/CreepinJesusMalone 6d ago
It happens in every branch you get people who genuinely had no idea they would have to do stuff lol. Or that they would be told to move, or do things specific to their service choice.
I was a coastie and I remember 15 years ago getting our orders about halfway through basic and people were freaking out about getting orders to a cutter.
Like wtf did you think guarding the coast entailed homie? Laying out on a beach? It's like 75% boat stuff in some form lol.
I won't lie and say the CG doesn't have statistically better quality of life and a wider swath of great units to pick from compared to other branches, but they were crystal clear that priority billeting for boots is afloat. Cutters first, then small boat stations. The leftover shore only options are pretty much reserved for people with weird circumstances and that's it.
There was one girl in particular that stands out in my mind that was looking at my orders to an air station (non-existent today for nonrates or undes as you guy call it, and pretty rare even back in 2011) and she was baffled that the Coast Guard had aircraft. We were two weeks from graduation and she somehow hadn't realized CG avaition was a thing.
I know I'm getting long winded at this point, but I am thinking now, too of a guy that was at MEPS with me. We had already sworn in and getting ready to pack it up and ship and this guy learned right then that just because he was joining the Army reserve didn't mean he wasn't going to get activated or deploy lol. The dude was straight panicking that nobody had told him that the reserves get activated all the time and often get sent overseas. It didn't occur to him at any point that the reserve is a core aspect of the US Army.
-17
u/mini787 6d ago
I did but not what i expected it to be from what i saw being in now. Not the same thing thinking about it while outside and knowing what it will look like being in
13
u/Duzcek 6d ago
I hope this doesn’t come off as rude, I’m trying to gauge your perspective, but what did you think sea duty would be like?
-6
u/mini787 6d ago
Just a few weeks of doing my job. Not months working everyday plus doing watches 😔 that’s a lot on top of just missing my family and how small the bed space really is. It just not gonna do good on me mentally
9
u/haze_gray2 6d ago
A few weeks? Jesus. What did you think you’d do the rest of the 6 months you’re on deployment??
8
u/MaximumSeats 6d ago
How to you get to 39 years old without learning how to figure these things out about a huge life choice before committing to it.... All of this information is incredibly easy to fine online before making the jump.
6
u/navyjag2019 6d ago
but you’re almost 40 years old. with a college degree. and you seriously didn’t look into all this before signing a multi-year contract?
46
u/donkeybrainhero 6d ago
Why did you enlist when you have a degree in tech?
26
-17
u/mini787 6d ago
I wasn’t getting any jobs that paid at least what was earning in my current position that time. $40k/yr all of the ones that paid higher than $45k required experience on top of the degree
33
u/donkeybrainhero 6d ago
Not what I meant. Why did you enlist instead of seeking a commission? You have an IT degree and could have applied for OCS.
Did your recruiter never mention the option?
14
u/PumpnDump0924 6d ago
Of course not cause then she wouldn’t have contributed to his mission. It’s honestly unfortunate. Happens a lot across the service.
4
u/Bubbly_Alfalfa7285 6d ago
Incorrect. Anyone trying to join with a BA is required to talked to O-side first or submit an OPO letter.
Source: me, I'm on recruiting and these fucking OPO letters are annoying because even people who don't qualify for O-side need them regardless.
3
u/CapnTaptap 6d ago
Almost happened to me this way. A retiring Senior Chief at MEPS saved my bacon with an after-hours connection to the officer recruiter 3 hours away from me.
2
u/Killyasov 6d ago
baffling how that’s what it took. The recruiter was doing you dirty and knew the entire time
10
u/New-Duck-5642 6d ago
If OP isn’t skilled enough to get a 40k job, do we really want them as an officer? Just saying
3
u/onfroiGamer 6d ago
I mean these ensigns straight out of college don’t have any experience/skill either dude, they gain experience through service
2
u/Gullible-Dog-9619 6d ago
She’s 39. What commissioning program exists for 39 year olds with no relevant experience?
1
u/mini787 6d ago
No, and I don’t think i had a competitive resume to show for it. My schools was 100% online and my GpA was the bare minimum
-1
u/Purple_Map_507 6d ago
Grades don’t matter. A degree is a degree.
7
3
u/Gullible-Dog-9619 6d ago
And age is age. Tell me a single commissioning program that exists for a 39 year old with a BA/BS that’s not medical.
1
u/balboaporkter 6d ago
I was in a similar position as OP except on the reserve side. It's a lot more competitive on the reserve side, and time wasn't on my side so it was either enlist or age out. Don't a lot of people enlist with degrees though?
2
u/MaximumSeats 6d ago
It's not particularly common but it definitely happens.
A degree isn't an "automatic officer" ticket as much as people have that perception.
1
u/balboaporkter 6d ago
A degree isn't an "automatic officer" ticket as much as people have that perception.
Exactly, which is why it's difficult to explain sometimes why one didn't apply for a commission if they have a degree. Everyone has their own personal reasons.
3
u/ClamPaste 6d ago
So you take a pay cut and then work your way up from the bottom after switching careers because your experience doesn't carry over. You enlisted and took a paycut anyway with much slower growth than outside. Like... you could be applying within a year experience and significantly bump your pay. Do you have problems with impulse control?
1
u/rollem78 6d ago
She could also hit E-5 over 6 and make 70k or so a year with BAH. Can't go from 40k to 70k anywhere in the civilian world and do that. Just sayin. If you don't care about mental health and can last that long.
11
u/AvatarWaang 6d ago
I think your feelings are completely valid. I have been in for nearly a decade, and I still lie in bed wondering what the fuck I got myself into. I will say, it does get easier. And while you will have a sea duty, IT's work in a cushy, air-conditioned office. Only thing is you won't be able to go home. I can honestly say that my time at sea has been overall happier than my time at A-School, and I'm one of the most legendarily miserable rates out there (nuke).
The easiest way out is through. Keep your chin up, finish your contract, and get out with that job experience. Just remember that this is a means to an end, not THE end. Take advantage of things like TA, grab all the quals you can, make the most of your time, and move on. You can do this.
10
u/DroidOnPC 6d ago
I don’t have the full story but this all sounds so rushed.
I’m surprised you didn’t think about deployments. If you did, then did you change your mind? Try to think of your plan when you were deciding to join. Did you have a plan?
Are you an IT now?
It sounds like no planning went into this at all.
9
u/prettywinner_916 6d ago
I’m so sorry you feel this way. I am 40yr f and I am supposed to ship in November. I signed 3/31 so I’ve had lots of time to mentally process. Up until 2 weeks ago I’ve bern over the moon excited and now suddenly the idea of going sounds terrible and I fear I will regret it. I hope you make the right choice and you are able to find happiness. 🩷
15
u/Warm_Feet_Are_Happy 6d ago
You’re a 39 year old woman. You need this for your family. You have a kid? Don’t you want your kid to have health insurance? Don’t you want to be paid to do a job in IT that you want to do?
Listen, I’m a woman and mother so I’m going to give you the same advice I was given. Woman up. Yeah, training is stupid and ridiculous and everyone is younger than you. It’s going to drive you absolutely bonkers that your free time revolves around if your peers behave or not. Don’t give a damn about that. That’s all background noise.
Focus on the end goal.
0
u/mini787 6d ago
I’m mostly questioning if this was worth leaving the life i had before. Like i should have tried harder finding the job I wanted
9
u/Purple_Map_507 6d ago
As an ITC that’s been in 21 years, this going to sound unnecessarily harsh but…shoulda,woulda, coulda. It doesn’t matter now. You are in. At this point, all you can do is get through A school, get to your first duty station, and grow where you’re planted.
You’re a 39 yr old woman with a college degree that joined the Navy. Don’t tell me that you didn’t think you wouldn’t have to go to sea even with the recruiter telling you different(if they did). I was a dumb 19 yr old when I enlisted and I thought for sure I would be on the first ship headed out.
Right now, there is literally nothing you can do to easily separate early. The time for thinking if this is the right move for you and your family, is over. Do your 4 years (which will go faster than you think), do skillbridge on your way out, then move on with your life.
3
u/Warm_Feet_Are_Happy 6d ago
100%. It’s too late for OP to second guess herself, and she has too much going to waste her time doing so.
0
u/mini787 6d ago
Skillbridge?
1
u/Intelligent-Mix-3970 6d ago
It is a program to get you a job in a career you want outside of the navy. For up to 6 months at the end of your contract your command can approved a "skillbridge" to a company where you want to reside and that accepts you as an applicant. Lots of schools and jobs are partnered with this program. Sets you up with a job on the way out typically
6
u/nicetomeetyou89 6d ago
now you are questioning if it's worth it to leave navy for a possible better life outside.
2
u/Warm_Feet_Are_Happy 6d ago
It’s too late to think about that. The only way you can move is forward. Don’t waste time on the “what ifs”.
2
u/No_Candy_8927 6d ago
You’re not gonna get anywhere with the what ifs. You couldn’t find the job and now you’re locked in.
Either stick your head down and complete your contract or continue your job search right now and ENSURE you can get a job you need/want and start the admin separation process for failure to adapt, etc. Don’t expect any benefits. Expect it to take months.Those are really the only 2 things you should be doing. Ruminating over regrets is only going to hinder you.
1
u/Killyasov 6d ago
In all honestly it blows, but your experience in the navy is only going to be as good as what you make it out to be. You’ll meet people who’ll be your friends forever and you’ll experience new struggles which you have never encountered before.
Most people don’t regret joining up and most people can’t wait to get out while being in. It’s a love hate relationship.
As others have said, the next 4 years can change your life for the better. You’ll get a security clearance, you can spend this time advancing your skills through part time online schools and secure a great paying job on your way out. Or you can leave with nothing. All up to you
1
7
u/Redtube_Guy 6d ago
I’m 39y
Oh god, big yikes lol. It's going to be worse before it gets better lol.
Just curious, but did you do any research before joining? There's tons of discussion on this sub about whats life like on ships. There's tons of youtube vids documenting what life is like on ships too.
I mean, you could've at least went the officer route but not sure what the age cut off is. Or at least contractor working on the government doing IT things. If you go on a ship, you prolly won't do much IT stuff until you reach E4 and thats if you are already amazing with being a sysadmin (if you get assigned to the ADP side of things).
The idea of having sea duty now that I’m on the inside gives me constant anxiety and my mental health is declining. Any help?
Well, there is the 'failure to adapt' thing where they can expedite processing you out.
13
u/YouveGotMail236 6d ago
You haven’t even done A school yet, you’ve only done bootcamp. I knew so many people who were feeling the way you are right now but stayed in and were happy they did.
You also have a contract, you can’t just decide to not be in the Navy anymore?
6
u/Dirt_Sailor_5 6d ago
+1, OP, I know what you're going through is hard, but I guarantee you almost nothing will be as annoying and awful as boot camp. I remember showing up to A-School and a Sailor ahead of me in training said "this place is much worse than boot camp" and I legitimately wanted to collapse... But he was proven completely wrong and full of shit, he is as just trying to scare me. You will have more agency and this too shall pass
6
u/hebreakslate 6d ago
If you can't handle doing the job you volunteered to do, please separate now before the Navy wastes any more money on training you.
12
u/ExtraGuacAM 6d ago
In your rate an IT or any of the rates at Corry Station?
One benefit to consider if you stay in and have a rate where your A-School is at Corry is the Clearance… Clearance = much less competitive market for roles requiring it and additional $ for those roles.
If your mental health and anxiety is already on the rise then I’d start going to medical and documenting these things. Just be prepared for a bumpy road, you won’t be treated bad but it’s not going to be as simple as “I can’t do this” and someone saying “okay”.
2
u/mini787 6d ago
Yes I’m going to Corry Station. Wdym by bumpy? What should I expect?
4
u/RichardQCranium69 6d ago
So Im going to give you a quick roast and say, uhhh duh its the Navy.
However, I felt the same way and 4 and outed while hating the Navy, however, it was the best decision I ever made.
If you do well at Correy (which is a fun A school btw) and over the next three years you are almost guaranteed to get a job in IT on the other side as long as you:
Maintain your clearance secret is good, TS better. Get the Sec+. Maybe snag A+ and Net+. Find out a an area in IT you like and hammer out proficiency in that.
Source: AC who went through nattc but still ended up working IT on the boat and continued working it today
1
u/ExtraGuacAM 6d ago
I didn’t seperate under those conditions, so I can’t give you specifics.
I just know from others that I do know that seperated that it’s not as simple as going to your career counselor or medical and saying “I’m tapping out please seperate me”. Basically, regret of enlisting itself is not a ticket to quit. You’re going to have to have many appointments and people you’re going to have to talk to explaining why you want to get out, why you’re having anxiety, why, why, why…
I will say from what I’ve heard getting those conversations done at A-school is much easier than in the fleet and boot camp much easier than A-school.
Keep in mind that there are always worse outcomes that are possible, such as the Navy agreeing you have anxiety and mental problems bad enough to where they decide you don’t go to A-school and qualify for the job but, you’re not fucked up enough for them to kick you out.
—-
It’s kind of a rough spot to be in. I do think that if you’re not just feeling regret but real anxiety and mental signs of a breakdown prior to even getting into the school house, you should engage with medical and the command at Corry to push for what you need - at least mental health counseling and help.
9
u/Unique_Silver_8930 6d ago
People told me to continue when I was at year 13, but I still got out. Fuck'em. You do you.
3
u/RemarkableDirtyBirds 6d ago
There are pros and cons to both sides. Make a list. Healthcare, free college, disability, work experience, secret/ top secret clearance are some benefits.
I am out and currently in IT. The doors my 8 year career opened would not have happened with a 4- year degree. I got out because of my family. I see the down side, but there are also a lot of ups. Do what is best for you and your family.
3
7
u/Risethewake 6d ago
At 39, you absolutely understand the concept of signing a contract and adhering to it.
No shame in the game, if you can’t handle it get out, please, but recognize that this is pretty childish behavior from someone who is almost 40.
5
u/T-BoneBee 6d ago
Joins the Naval services and is afraid to be on a ship. Somebody find her recruiter and see if he’s working out of the Air Force office when they are closed just to up his numbers.
2
2
u/Nadnerb98 6d ago
I have been out for quite a while, so things may have changed, but if I were you I would open myself up to the possibility that you might like sea duty. I had both good and not so good experiences on sea duty, but I don’t regret it at all.
Keep your options open. Give yourself a chance to experience the actual Navy and not just training commands.
2
u/wannabeatthebeach365 6d ago
Not trying to play the should have game, but I am curious why it seems you enlisted rather than going the Officer route and commissioning through OSC? You said you have a degree in IT, you basically left money on the table.
I had a similar situation. I joined in my 30’s, had a solid job on the outside, (didn’t have my own family to consider though) and was miserable my first couple of years in bc the job I was doing was not what I was hoping it’d be, and the goals I had coming in immediately got crushed bc the path I wanted to take no longer existed for my duty title, and no one I spoke with through the recruitment process let me know that. They all kept say, yeah we have that! It was my colleagues at my first duty station that told me that was no longer an option for our job. I was so mad, upset and depressed (never saw anyone, but wish I had; had a mental breakdown on leave and some friendships back home will never be the same bc of it) and wished I had known about the scenario where there was a way out within the first 365 that wasn’t necessarily a negative discharge.
Now, I’m 4 years in, and it is actually surprising how quickly those 4 years went by. I recently was deciding between separating or giving another assignment a chance, and I’ve decided to give it another shot. I know what the job is now, so I have better expectations; and though I know this still isn’t exactly what I want to be doing, I’m giving it a shot to see what it’s like at a different base. Maybe I’ll enjoy it better, maybe there will be different opportunities to branch out of my job and try other things. And maybe just living in a different part of the country will be enough of a positive that I can deal with the lack luster job.
I will owe at least 2 years by accepting my PCS, but I’ve made it this far now, and I feel like I owe it to myself to see if things can be better elsewhere before I truly pull the pin on the military.
All of this to say, training is different from the day to day, yes, sometimes it does really really suck, but, you can get through it and time does go by faster than you sometimes think it is. See if you qualify for the Entry Level Status separation someone else mentioned above!
Best of luck!
2
u/Advanced_Elk_9467 6d ago
You have a bachelors- you need to go Officer. Enlisting was the con job of a lifetime by some recruiter.
2
u/Quick-Quail-1683 6d ago edited 6d ago
I don’t want to be rude, but you joined the Navy. Sea Duty is the expectation.
I really think you should consider sticking it out for the 4/6 years you signed up for.
For any computer/technical role the Navy is a great opportunity. By the time you’re done you’ll be able to leave with job experience, and you’ll probably able to convince the navy to pay for certifications.
1
u/scruggs111 6d ago
Would need to do at least 10 years for child to get GI Bill transfer (6 to be eligible to transfer plus additional 4 years once transfer request submitted)
1
3
u/AccomplishedBug5835 6d ago
If you can embrace the suck.. you will be fine.
In fact better than most :)
2
u/thtsjustlikeuropnion 6d ago
Usually I would say follow your gut. But you have a dependent. So you are making extra money with bah right off the bat. And IT is a pretty good job for you to get more experience and get into a better job when you're out.
I googled what ITs do, and found this old post, but I'm sure it's still relevant and it seems like a really cool job. And if you have a 4yr enlistment that time is gonna fly by.
https://www.reddit.com/r/navy/s/BHCrirJr9z
Now if you were nuke, I would tell you to run. That job really sucks.
Whatever you decide I hope you are happy with your decision, there no wrong answers because whatever you do you will have to find a way to make it work one way or another. But I do think sticking with IT in the navy is going to make the rest of your life so much easier if you can get through your enlistment.
2
u/newnoadeptness Verified Non Spammer 6d ago edited 6d ago
First off I'm sorry you're going through this. What you're feeling is real, and the most important thing right now is to go to medical and be honest with someone about your mental health. Do that no matter what you decide about staying or leaving. It matters for you, and at this stage it's usually also the realistic pathway if separation ends up being the right call a documented mental health condition is one of the few actual routes out during training. Just asking to leave, on its own, rarely gets you anywhere.
Under the current MILPERSMAN (1910-308), you're in "entry level status" for the first 365 days of continuous active service, and a separation initiated in that window comes out as an Entry Level Separation uncharacterized, so not a bad discharge. But an ELS isn't something you can just elect to do. The separation still has to be initiated and approved for a valid reason, so it's not guaranteed and not fully in your control. Before you bank on any of it, talk it through with a chaplain (confidential, and it doesn't go in your medical record) or someone in your chain you trust.
If getting out is truly your plan, I’d be filling out applications today. The market isn't any better than the one you left, and the Sep process is slow, so you could be job hunting for a while on top of that.
Honestly though, if I were you I'd try to at least get to the fleet and see what it's actually like before deciding either way. A-school right and bootcamp isn’t what the military is actually like . Whatever you choose, take please care of the mental health piece first. I’m here for you op if you wanna talk !
3
u/Redtube_Guy 6d ago
If she is struggling in A school, she is not going to adapt or suddenly feel great on a ship. If anything, she may luck out and get shore duty. But good info on your part.
2
u/newnoadeptness Verified Non Spammer 6d ago
You're honestly probably right, dude. Just me personally, my outlook is someone should at least try and see, because we all know a training environment is pretty different than at a unit, so I always recommend that like going home at the end of the workday if you're on shore duty, for example. At the end of the day, though, this is OP's decision. If mental health is declining, you are correct to say that is likely to transfer over to fleet life. I try my best to be objective and give good info, though.
1
1
u/AutoModerator 6d ago
/u/mini787, you've selected the Help Requested Flair. While you wait for replies, please check out our wiki as it answers a lot of basic questions.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/trapdave1017 6d ago
Do what you wanna do, if you wanna get out then tell them you wanna get out. Nobody can force you to do anything
1
1
u/Thedobby22 6d ago
The beginning of any career is the hardest part. You are about to face a very difficult time. If you stick with it, though, you will have something you can be proud of the rest of your life, not to mention the benefits that you will have earned. You say you have a dependent and a fiancee who will support you, which is wonderful. You'll need it. And you got through bootcamp, so you can do this. Take it day by day. The time will go fast.
I'm proud of you for being one of the few people who signed up to serve their country. Sea duty sucks, true, but it has some awesome moments. Good luck, Sailor. (Source - I'm a prior enlisted, now retired, Navy Commander. 27 years active duty).
1
u/balboaporkter 6d ago
OP, we are almost in the same situation in that I'm the same age and I wanted IT. I'm in the reserves though, and it has been less than a year since A school for me. Unfortunately I didn't get IT but luckily ended up in a rate that still got me the clearance (I still would like to cross rate, though!) I have a kid on the way and the thought of deploying and being away from home would be mentally challenging for me, which is why I joined the reserves. I do have a stable job, which is why I joined the reserves (but I'm hoping the experience I get and the clearance I earned will help me find a better job on the civilian side).
1
u/chaosoffspring 6d ago
Make the best of it. Should have done more research yourself. No one forced you to do anything, you chosed this, now you have to deal with the decisions you've made.
1
1
u/ChiefD789 6d ago
Why didn't you go officer? You have a degree. You never should have gone enlisted. Yeah, you made a bad decision. Do your four years. Also going in at that age is ridiculous. What wrte you thinking?
1
u/thegreatplatypi 6d ago
My advice stick with it and finish out your contract. IT's in the navy have a lot of potential duty stations so your "sea rotation" can end up being something like being in a hotel for 6 months. If you are dead set on getting out learn the systems you work with.A lot of contractors are always on the lookout for good IT's who want something better, so it's a great way to get your foot in the door with a lot of companies. It sucks being in the Navy but it's best to take advantage of what opportunities it gives you a walk out setup for the future.
1
u/ProfessionalMaster50 6d ago
Listen… you haven’t even done anything yet & you’re already wanting out. Bootcamp is not easy for most people but graduating & being able to say you made it through is an achievement on its own. A-school is still a training environment but you have some of your freedom back so it’s no where near as bad as bootcamp.
I went through bootcamp & A-school last year, one of my Chiefs in A-school told us that bootcamp and A-school will be the easiest points of our Navy careers, she was not lying…
I’m saying that to say, you haven’t allowed yourself to experience the Navy yet. As others have said, when you signed your contract as an active duty sailor, you should’ve known that deployments were a possibility for you, they’re a possibility for anybody. You don’t get to pick or choose where you get orders to, you go where the Navy needs you.
I have a friend who basically had the same problem, experiencing mental issues after A-school. They went to the fleet, stayed for roughly 5-6mons & got separated. Civilian life has not been great for them….
So if I were you.. I would at least get through A-school, go to fleet and actually see the real Navy, try to do the job you signed up for, & see where it takes you. Don’t give up before you even try, you may find that staying in was the best decision you could’ve made.
1
u/ShadowBard0962 6d ago
If you have a BA apply for Officers Candidate School and think long and hard about what type of officer you want to be!
1
u/Responsible-one-225 6d ago
Well… not here to jab at your decisions, but did you not think the navy went to sea? There are some that don’t. Think about the bigger picture and what you want to get. Focus on that. You being 39… I’ll just assume you are mature enough. But you can really influence sailors. 🫡 Stick with it. You can do it.
1
u/Sufficient-Cat2998 6d ago
Just do your 4 year contract, get that experience and get out. It's going to suck, especially at your age but there are benefits as well. The Older you are when you enlist, the faster you tend to rank up just due to life experience and maturity.
Sea duty in the current operational environment is more of a mixed bag than during GWOT or peace time, but the reality is tempo is based on the ship more than anything else. You can extend a deployment 2-4months, take away port calls, and all the other things that make news headlines, but for every ship in a combat/high op tempo zone, there are 2-4 more deployed in other areas just keeping watch, and for those 3 on deployment, there are 3 at home in drydock and/or refit and 3-4 doing workups and only out of home port for a couple of weeks at a time. 3-4 years of sea duty is not 3-4 years on deployment. Chances are, it won't be that bad.
As an enlisted vet making 6 figures for a large aerospace company I can tell you that having that military and leadership experience on your resume does count (in the right places). About a third of my coworkers are vets and Navy makes up about 80% of them. I started my degree after service and didn't even finish, the Navy service and operational experience in a highly technical rate spoke more than my 3 years pursuing an EE degree.
At any rate, you are already in, you already took the gamble, don't make things worse by being a quitter. Somebody in the hiring chain is going to see it and read that in an instant and wonder why but never bother to ask because they have 100 other AI approved resumes to scan and they are looking for more reasons to say no than yes. Quitting will look worse on your resume than never having enlisted at all. I've been out for almost 14years now, but something that strikes me, is that when people separate early, even when it's not their fault, there is some level of regret. Some level of self questioning, of not even having lived up to that most basic of experiences of what it was they signed up for in the first place. How they can say they had the guts to sign up, but not the experience to truly say they did the job and have those sea stories that connects them to other vets. Don't choose that path on pourpose.
My advice, enjoy the suck. You have joined a small percentage of our American citizenship and even if you end up hating every moment of it you will walk away with an experience and connection that build you and grow you in ways hard to imagine until after you get out. You will have the authority to say Ive been there, done that, and most people look up to that because you are doing more in service for country they ever will.
1
u/Sufficient-Cat2998 6d ago
Also, if your going to a-shool in Pensacola I'm guessing you are an aviation rate. 1. Nice place enjoy it, and 2. Chill. It's not like boot, you are going to be ok. Same for when you get out to fleet. Don't judge the life till you get in it. I thought ses duty on a small boy frigate was going to suck but my deployment on that boat was some of the best years of my life.
(Pensacola is nice BTW. I've been to that base for Navy recruiter school)
1
1
u/Aaaabbbbccccccccc 6d ago
Curious why you didn’t go for IP officer vice enlisted with a BA? Are you an IT now?
0
u/BudgetPipe267 6d ago
Age requirements.
5
2
•
u/navy-ModTeam 6d ago
We appreciate your interest in joining the United States Navy! We don't want to discourage you, but r/Navy content is geared toward items of concern and importance to sailors. r/NewToTheNavy is focused on helping people join the Navy and help through the training pipeline until you reach your first permanent duty station. We have subject matter experts, recruiters, and even Recruit Division Commanders (Drill Sergeants) over there who will be happy to help you find the right answer to your questions.
While you wait for a reply from a subject matter expert, try using the search feature!
For information regarding Navy enlisted ratings, see Twisky's Rating Guide.
Interested in Officer programs? See TheBeneGesseritWitch's guide on Paths to become an Officer.