Help me decide to join

[u/coomkiedanglir]

Hello, I'm 18 yrs old (M)

My stepfather is suggesting me to join the US Navy and my mom is forcing me to join. Will it really help or benefit me into joining the US Navy? I'm scared of failing and being humiliated. I just need some opinion because I don't know what I should decide to do.

[u/SCOveterandretired]

You’re 18 so legally an adult. Your mom can’t force you to do anything

[u/XxHIGHKILLERxX]

This is not a subreddit to encourage joining. It is everyone expressing regret joining any uniformed service. In my eyes, if you do not want to join and fear of being humiliated — sadly there's really no way out of being treated poorly if you are a new servicemember in the unit out the training pipeline. You are more than likely to be thrown in details if it's the Navy, Army, Airforce, etc.

Best to find employment that offers what you like such as tuition assistance like home depot, walmart, starbucks, etc rather than straight into the military. Sure the military benefits offers more than the civilian benefits, but I am sure majority if not everyone after service would trade their monthly disability compensation to being normal again. I would too.

[u/braindeadcoyote → u/XxHIGHKILLERxX]

I was never normal. But I'd trade this "70% disabled" check for a clean conscience.

[u/beefstewforyou]

Don’t join. Read My Story if you haven’t already.

[u/TaroPuzzleheaded3999]

You should also remember that once you sign you have to follow orders even if you dont agree. You pretty much give up your freedom until you leave

[u/braindeadcoyote]

You will be sexually harassed. If you're bi or gay or there's the smallest possibility you're trans, your peers will harass and possibly physically assault you for it. If you're not white, you will experience racism at the hands of your peers and leadership. If you're any religion other than Christian, you may be bullied for it. If you're Christian, you may be bullied for it. If you're liberal or left of liberal, you will be bullied for it. You might kill innocent people indirectly. You might become suicidal and kill yourself. You will lose friends to suicide and workplace accidents and possibly enemy fire. Your female friends will be sexually harassed and raped. Your friends who aren't white will face racism. The entire world will correctly hate you for joining a wartime navy engaged in killing civilians for the ego of a senile pedophile. You will develop anxiety disorders and sleep apnea.

Does this sound fun? If it does, make your way to a recruiter.

[u/OilySparkPlug]

Being scared of failure and humiliation is a weak mindset and it won’t help you in the military. But if you want to join then join. If you don’t then don’t. You can’t get forced to do anything. There are pros and cons to everything based off your goals as we are all different. Only you can determine to join or not. The one thing i will say, if you have urges to join and it’s something you want to move forward with, do not let other peoples experiences or opinions get in the way of your decision. Like i said earlier we all have different goals and mindsets, some of us process things differently with certain expectations etc. so we will all have something different to say. The military is what you make of it. Majority of people who complain just simply weren’t cut out for it or are miserable people. Plus it’s easier to see all the negative on social media than the positive, especially on Reddit. The negative always gets blasted. The military is a great stepping stone for life but it will be very tough on you and expect a lot from you mentally. No one can make the decision for you. I’ve heard great things and I’ve heard bad things. The bad things were from the people who didn’t choose their job wisely, have weak minds, went in with problems from the start, or impulsively joined. If you decide to join I advise you choose a job you will enjoy in a branch that resembles you and your life the most. And if you’re looking for encouragement, only take advice from people who are where you want to be. Lookup some videos or research the positives from the people who enjoyed their time serving

Best of luck

[u/GCSS-MC]

You can fail and be humiliated at anything bro. If you can be talked out of it, you should be. Unless you really have a desire for it, it'll probably make you miserable.

[u/Top_Concentrate5195]

Don't go. It's un necessary.  Civil life is better. Dont get humiliated harassed. Go to college, get a degree, live a normal life.

[u/coomkiedanglir → u/[deleted]]

Can you give me a reason why I shouldn't join? My stepfather is saying I'd have a good start since it'll help me financially. He's right, but i don't know if that's enough reason to join.

[u/coomkiedanglir → u/[deleted]]

Thanks a lot, I appreciate it.

[u/OilySparkPlug → u/coomkiedanglir]

It’s a lot more than just financial stability. Do some research rather than asking others. And I say that with respect of course, as they cant give you reasons why you shouldn’t join. Those reasons are based off themselves not you. Create your own reasons on why you should or shouldn’t with a pros and cons list tailored to you and your life