LOL...I was peacetime navy, so I got nothing on those people either...I feel about them exactly as you do!
But I will say there is lots of potential for mayhem on a flight deck (as the Forrestal incident amply demonstrates) which is why it is ruled with an iron fist, or at least it was when I was in.
I learned a LOT as a young man. Even in peacetime, even in a recessed/depressed country and military, they still try (or at least, did then) to practice like there is a real war.
I have been scathing in my criticism of the Navy recently in light of the unbelievable things I have seen with respect to collisions and groundings, but...I have hope. Maybe they can reverse some of the stupidity.
Yes, it absolutely should be ruled with an iron-fist as you say. Not a place to jack around.
Just got done seeing an old high school friend. He flew P-3’s and retired as Lt. Commander. Told me he always flew and landed on land (don’t know what else he flew, if anything). I asked when he was gonna go back and hunt NK subs. ;)
He did straighten me out - his 67 Cougar had a 390, not a 428 as I remembered. Guess it was just another guy with a 428 Mustang (Fastback like mine) that I knew that had that engine. Never realized how much I would miss those days.