• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

US Navy

#22
Scoring high in the ASVAB doesn't mean you're not stupid. I scored 95 myself but due to the lack of a vital requirement (US citizenship) I could not be a nuke. Anyhoo, what I found was a lot of twidgets and nukes (and officers) are smart but have no common sense. To me no common sense = stupid.
 
#23
My appologies, I didnt mean to imply that everyone in the service was an idiot or anything. Just the fact that they told me I could do anything I wanted with my scores, and how easy the test was convinced me there might be something wrong with their standards.

And yes, it did work out for the best hehe. Id likely get my ass beat on a regular basis there.
 
#24
Philbiker said:
You would be doing a great thing for your country and I would hold you in the utmost respect. (there's no saluting smiley)

If you're working on your Associate's already I would recommend finishing your degree, looking into ROTC (or some similar program) to complete your Bachelor's and going in as an Officer. Talk to the recruiters about this angle.

Technology? How about Nuclear power (pretty much the coolest technology there is IMO)? The Navy has the best training on the Earth for nuclear power, you get extra pay, do something REALLY GOOD for your country and the environment, and are pretty much guaranteed a stable good paying job when you leave.

Also, see if you can transfer into the Coast Guard Academy. You'll need great grades and lots of legwork, but it may be doable.
Click to expand...


Some great advice up there.

Scrub the head or command others to scrub the head?

Let me see, I can't make up my mind on that one,
I'll get back to you later.
 
#26
If you do go in, don't do what I did. I started out as a twidget, and crossed over to corpsman. That's a fairly unlikely career path. I might be the only one ever, maybe, or not.

But as a corpsman, you can end up tromping around in the desert with a bunch of marines getting shot at.

I didn't like that part so much. Except we weren't in a desert. We were in a mostly city-like environment that allegedly used to be a city. But the getting-shot-at part still sucked.
 
#28
Juneau said:
My appologies, I didnt mean to imply that everyone in the service was an idiot or anything. Just the fact that they told me I could do anything I wanted with my scores, and how easy the test was convinced me there might be something wrong with their standards.

And yes, it did work out for the best hehe. Id likely get my ass beat on a regular basis there.
Click to expand...

On balance, by this measure, those who volunteer for the military are smarter than those who don't.

This still holds true even in the Army, which unfortunately has had to lower standards to meet recruiting goals. The other services have no problem meeting their recruiting goals (mainly because fewer of them are being blown to pieces) and continue to maintain their standards.

Vox, while there are dumb@$$es in every community, the military is generally smarter, more physically fit and more diverse than its civilian counterpart. It also continues to rank among the most respected professions. And the money ain't half bad either--with bonuses and tax benefits I make about $85K a year and will get at least 50% retirement for the rest of my life. That beats the hell out of my college buddies who teach junior high school now.

Of course, the best part is that you get to do stuff civilians would PAY to do. When its all said and done, life about the stories you get to tell (or in some cases, aren't allowed to tell). ;) And you'll have plenty of them regardless which service you choose. :cool:
 
#30
The Golden Boy said:
Another ex-Army vote for "Join The Air Force."


Start a poll.
Click to expand...
As you may have noticed, I'm ex-Air Force. Your right for the best facilities ect. But for travel the Navy is the way to go unless your in Airlift Command.
To cut budgets a few years ago, they have made it so if you just sign for 4 yrs. you get 1 duty station after tech school. If you sign for 6, you get E-3 out of basic and get to move around. I was in before that and had 4 duty stations in 4 yrs. I was also w/ the Wild Weasles and we went all over the place for War Games.
So now, if your not w/ a combat unit or an Airlift unit, you don't travel as much. I would recomend the Air Force also, except he wants to travel. He may wish he was in the Air Force afterwards, but hey.
 
#31
Just remember one thing. If you join the Navy, your ass is theirs. If you can't handle your ass belonging to someone else, avoid it. They can ship it anywhere they want, e.g. into a combat zone, and if you decide not to go, they can ship your ass into the brig for a long time. So look out for your ass.
 
#32
Retired bubblehead here. I joined the Navy to see the world and I did. I was stationed on both coasts (CT, VA and SC on the east and HI and Guam on the west) and the only continents that I have never set foot on are Africa and Antarctica.

Education wise, I made the mistake of not getting a degree while I was in but, based on my numerous electronics schools that the Navy sent me through, I got a job that "required" a minimum 2 year degree without having one.
 
#33
All that I can add to this is...
Regardless of which branch you join, be very selective about what career field you choose. Do your best to select a field that has a civilian application. Being a door gunner may be fun, but not many airlines have a slot for a gunner on a 747.

1980-2000
USAF, Retired.
 
#34
I did 6 years as a Hospital Corpsman (USN) and up until a couple years ago would have advised you to go USAF.

However, my daughter went AF and, I gotta say, they are about as dippy as the rest of them. Sent her to Japan and about a month later "lent" a bunch of her squadron to the army to ride shotgun on convoys in the desert.

If I were to do it again I would strongly consider the coasties (although, there too you can end up deployed) or look into military music programs. There are a few MUs on TB that might be able to shed light on these. Usually pretty good duty with some decent perks.

Good luck, HM2 1973-79 :cool:
 
#35
Big Bass Daddy said:
I did 6 years as a Hospital Corpsman (USN) and up until a couple years ago would have advised you to go USAF.

However, my daughter went AF and, I gotta say, they are about as dippy as the rest of them. Sent her to Japan and about a month later "lent" a bunch of her squadron to the army to ride shotgun on convoys in the desert.

If I were to do it again I would strongly consider the coasties (although, there too you can end up deployed) or look into military music programs. There are a few MUs on TB that might be able to shed light on these. Usually pretty good duty with some decent perks.

Good luck, HM2 1973-79 :cool:
Click to expand...

Good point. If "dippy" means "we get shot at now too," then yeah, guilty as charged. ;) Despite the Cold War stereotypes given earlier by our khaki-clad comrade in arms, over the last few years the AF has gone expeditionary. Personally, I welcome the change to our culture, but it does come at a price. Expect to spend 4 of every 20 months in some third-world hell-hole. Longer if you know how to drive a stick. ;)

And the USCG's days of rescuing baby harp seals is over. It is now part of the Dept of Homeland Security, so they're on the front lines as well.

Just remember before you sign the dotted line that while it may not seem like it at home, we are currently at war and the end doesn't appear to be anywhere in sight. Regardless of your rate/MOS/AFSC--whether you're playing in the band or chipping paint off a garbage scow--at the end of the day your job will be to put hot pieces of metal into other human beings before they put them into you. Your recruiter might leave that part out. :cool:
 
#36
Big Bass Daddy said:
If I were to do it again I would strongly consider the coasties (although, there too you can end up deployed) or look into military music programs. There are a few MUs on TB that might be able to shed light on these. Usually pretty good duty with some decent perks.
Click to expand...

I've done 18 1/2 years so far as a military musician. (In two services) I'd be happy to answer any questions.
 
#37
Thanks for all the replies. I'm still considering joining, but maybe after I finish my BA.

My dad was USCG, he was in a Harbor Defense Command unit, they got sent to Iraq right after he retired. The Coast Guard has changed for sure. But I'm considering that too. He got to go to Antarctica and stuff, which is cool.

But if I do join, it will most likely be after college.
 
#39
You forgot grunt.

Although, in all fairness I don't actually recommend being a FMF Corpsman anymore.

And this is why:
lump said:
Just remember before you sign the dotted line that while it may not seem like it at home, we are currently at war and the end doesn't appear to be anywhere in sight. Regardless of your rate/MOS/AFSC--whether you're playing in the band or chipping paint off a garbage scow--at the end of the day your job will be to put hot pieces of metal into other human beings before they put them into you. Your recruiter might leave that part out.
Click to expand...

HM3 1984-1988
 
#40
We joke with each other between sevices, but the fact is no branch is safe from seeing action.
In Afganistan, all those special forces units had an airman with them called a forward air controller who was calling in the air strikes and being shot at with all the rest of them. You've heard from the Navy Corpsman. They are picking up injured Marines. Coast Guard get inland water duty (River Patrol). We know what the Army and Marines are doing and we know what the Naval Aviators and Air Force Pilots are doing.
Get a guaranteed job!!!!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back