My son has just joined the Navy!!!

DungeonMaster

[DungeonMaster]

My 18 year old home schooled son has just joined the Navy! He is torn between being a Corpsman or a Nuke tech.

My wife and I have so many emotions going through our heads but the biggest one is pride. Of our eight children this particular one is the most shy and quiet and we have wondered for a long time what will be his calling. The Navy suddenly seems to be a perfect fit. He doesn't mind being alone and reading all day and isn't currently occupied with chasing girls.

[P8riot]

We’re trying to encourage, not discourage here. Get with the program nub 8~).

[philled]

He told me that I'd be surprised by how many guys join the Navy not knowing how to swim...and even how many join being *afraid* of the water.

My brother was career Navy. I always thought it a little funny that a very quiet land-locked Midwestern kid who got horribly carsick (the schoolbus was particularly bad), had acres of roaming room with few neighors, hated the thought of swimming, and had never seen a body of water that didn't have a bridge across it decided at 17 that an aircraft carrier was going to be the place for him. He must have gotten used to it after a couple decades!

[Rick.Donaldson]

I have nothing but the highest regard for the Navy and Navy personnel I’ve worked with over the years. I was joking. It’s called Inter-service Rivalry. We MUST say something bad about the other services. It’s in the contract. :)

Seriously though - I didn’t have those problems. I got my “JROTC” promotion out of Basic. I made SSgt in under four years (which was pretty much unheard of in those days) and would have made Tech in just under six - but for some reason I kept missing the damned “cut off” by factions of a point.

I studied harder next time around, and still missed it. Last night I missed Tech was four years later... and I missed it by .01 points. Amazing.

Next time around I have two more medals to my name worth points which kicked me way over the line. So... took 5 years to make E6.

I watched some army guys come into my unit as E2s.... and get promoted to E6 faster than I did. Watched Navy guys going through the same thing I was going through.

So, each of the services has its ups and downs.

[Ravenstar]

I do understand, I was Air National Guard for ten years. I don’t understand why it didn’t happen but I remember the Air Force being a tad less helpful in that arena. The Navy really seems to want to actively develop their people, Just a bit more than the Air Force. They are the best two for technical training that will benefit you after you get out.

Ravenstar

[Billthedrill]

Yeh...he’ll hear about that one over the steam-powered phone...

[Coldwater Creek]

One of our boys heads up onne of the Navy’s recuiting programs.

He’ll be happy to get another recruit. Those darn quota’s!

[PGR88]

Tell him to try for the SEALS. I wasn’t in the Navy, but I believe anyone can try-out. Even if he doesn’t make it, he will be born again HARD.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Where’s there nuke jobs (hoping for plenty in the future) the Navy Nuke guys have a real advantage.

[Elderberry]

I don’t care what anyone says! A BT punch is REAL!

[KC_Conspirator]

Nuke tech. His future will be very bright after that.

[fredhead]

Good for him!!!! I retired 10 years ago after 20 years as an Electronics Tech in the Navy. Tell him to take good care of MY Navy. I still do as a technical rep.

[DungeonMaster]

I hope you are still available for comment.

I've been pondering this 95 percent fail rate. My concern has been that if he doesn't make it, will they dump him into some grunt position.

In the Army all tests in our tech school carried the thread of "2 failed tests and you are in the infantry".

So what became of the 95 percent that don't make it through Nuke school. The paranoid part of me sees a pool of people that the Navy can do with what they will. Is this paranoid? Do they get a good second choice?

[DungeonMaster]

Good for him!!!! I retired 10 years ago after 20 years as an Electronics Tech in the Navy. Tell him to take good care of MY Navy. I still do as a technical rep.

Thanks for the post, I'm going to have him read this whole thread.

[HiJinx]

And now I work for the Army.

Well, of course that figures! I worked in an Army facility that used a surplus Navy targeting computer for its systems controls.

[alarm rider]

Please thank him for his service to our country.

No one ever says that enough IMO.

Regards,
AR (Former-USAF)

[DungeonMaster]

Please thank him for his service to our country.

No one ever says that enough IMO.

Regards, AR (Former-USAF)

Thank you, I certainly will.

[DeLaine]

So they’ll be in Charleston for a year and half, so I understand.
I wish they’d process that waiver so he can get in and get going on it. He says if he doesn’t get in the nuke program, he doesn’t want to go in.
we will see.

[thinkthenpost]

Not to throw cold water on the thread, Axe is on the spot. Pluses with Nuke school you advance quickly, if you’re on the ball E-5 before you leave prototype, but there’s lot’s of down. NPS is TOUGH (not sure about the SEAL comment) and if you fall behind and get extra study (MANDO) Axe’s scenario is right on. The instructors at Nuke Power School mess with your brain some too. I liken it to the Shawshank Redemption when the warden threatens to throw Andy down with the Sodomites(non-nuke Navy), if you wash out. It never made since to me since everyone outside of the Engineering department and so in it aren’t Nukes. Also, with the nuke cruisers gone and fewer subs there are fewer nuke billets than there were, just make sure his feet are firmly on the ground. Congrats I know he’ll be a fine Sailor.

[DeLaine]

So what did they put you in after that??

[DeLaine]

Where do you live? It isn’t FReeper Rockin Right two cubicles down is it??