Todays Navy for an 18yo

cgarr · cgarr's Garage

Just graduated, out of the blue my son said "Dad, Im thinking about going into the Navy"

Back in the 70's this is something I always wanted to do, I guess I have to let him go if that's what he really wants to do. So what do I do with all his collage money now?

TheMentat · TheMentat's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgarr

So what do I do with all his collage money now?

buy yourself some spelling lessons?

cgarr · cgarr's Garage

e Their, nailled it!!

bell · bell's Garage

I guess it depends on what college you were planning on putting him through.....community or harvard?

fireant911 · 05-18-2009, 05:27 PM

cgarr,
The best thing to do is to support him in this decision - talk to him if he is willing. I served six years in the Navy and have a plethora of sea stories to share. I used the Montgomery GI Bill to get my undergraduate degree after finishing my enlistment. I waited too long (11 years) to use this for my graduate degree but I needed that time. Do not dwell on the money you may have saved for college - the experience that the USN offers will far exceed this - he needs fatherly guidance, advice, and support now. Go Navy!!!

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

Send him to Annapolis

berettafan · 05-18-2009, 05:30 PM

my uncle was in the navy in the 60's. the few stories i've heard are not what i'd want anyone i cared about to experience. kinda like a rough prison but with a paycheck and the whole building moves.

berettafan · 05-18-2009, 05:31 PM

hopefully much better now of course.

cgarr · cgarr's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noah930

Send him to Annapolis

He was Checking out the Water Polo and Swim teams there already

KarlCarrera · 05-18-2009, 06:00 PM

Support him. Continue to let the fund grow.

One of my daughters just graduated from The University of Denver. Several job offers, 3 in China. She is fluent, and spent 6 months there during her junior year. Do I want her to go back...H**l no! But my wife keeps telling me I need to be supportive and that it's her life. Since when?....Dad's and daughters......Dad's and a son, been there too.

Karl
88 Targa

legion · 05-18-2009, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgarr

So what do I do with all his collage money now?

You pose this question on a Porsche forum?

MFAFF · 05-18-2009, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgarr

So what do I do with all his collage money now?

Once you've had your fill of hookers and blow?
Get another airplane?
Say a Spowith Camel rep?

Seriously its support and guidance that will be the best right now. I'd say that a spell in the Navy is a pretty good 'life experience' and grounding for the future...possibly better that than going to college whilst not really knowing what he wants to be or do later on in life.

fintstone · fintstone's Garage

Send him to college...let him take ROTC and enter as an officer.

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

What is he wanting to do?

I was in the Navy and Reserves from 1986 to 1996, and got to see quite a bit of the Pacific Rim, plus a few other world garden spots like Panama and Ecuador. I was in a land based Patrol Squadron though, so at the end of the day, I went home to my apartment when at home, and back to a nice barracks room on an USAF base while deployed (while collecting Per Diem).

By contrast, my brother who served on submarines, while at sea shared a bunk with another guy (opposite duty schedules, one would be on duty while the other slept) and had a barracks room while in port. Eventually he and a friend got an apartment.

There was a pretty good discussion on military service in another forum a while back, Here. It is worth reading.

If he really wants to join the military, (and not necessarily serve in combat) I would also look at the Air Force and even the Coast Guard, they all have good and bad points.

Navy:
+ See more of the world
- Live on a boat most of the time (minimal privacy), bases have less amenities than USAF.

Coast Guard
+ Normally smaller duty stations, Less time at sea than USN, possibly more interesting than USN
- smaller, maybe harder to get in to, probably see less of the world.

Air Force
+ Much better facilities at Air Force bases world wide. Better gyms, better food, better clubs, better golf courses, better base exchanges, better barracks.
- They need better facilities because in a lot of places, there is nothing else to do. There is some luck involved in assignments, depending on availability. Possible duty stations range from Really good, to Really bad, and everything in between: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Air_Force_installations

Just some random thoughts.

Tom

Jim Richards · 05-19-2009, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fintstone

Send him to college...let him take ROTC and enter as an officer.

+1. Hopefully he's patient enough to go this route. I was once an 18yo going into the Navy. I survived, but it's better to do it in khaki's.

Seahawk · 05-19-2009, 03:11 AM

So much depends on what his score is on the ASVAB test, which will drive what he'll be able to do, job-wise, in any of the services.

http://www.military.com/ASVAB

The Navy is not for everyone...but whatever he chooses, he'll learn a lot about life.

Lastly, make sure your son does his homework. The recruiter will not always have your sons best interest in mind.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Craig,
Does your son have a career in mind? Does he have a guaranteed "A" or "C" school selected? When I went it (1982), I had guaranteed schools and spent 9 months in training (Hospital Corpsman, Surgical Technician), then spent most of my time with the USMC and got advanced training (EMT-P, Certified USN Instructor) and obtained many job skills and saw some of the best (and worst) places in the world. The key to making the military a good career choice is to plan 1st and get schools guaranteed (in a contract) and stay single while you're on active duty. No matter what anyone says, the military IS NOT the place for a family. Good luck! Call or PM me of you want any more info!

Jim Richards · 05-19-2009, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seahawk

so much depends on what his score is on the asvab test, which will drive what he'll be able to do, job-wise, in any of the services.

http://www.military.com/asvab

the navy is not for everyone...but whatever he chooses, he'll learn a lot about life.

Lastly, make sure your son does his homework. the recruiter will not always have your sons best interest in mind.

+1

chuckr · 05-19-2009, 05:16 AM

http://www.hulu.com/watch/23361/carrier-preview?c=News-and-Information/Documentary
I was in the Navy 73-77 Comseventhfleet stationed in Japan. I agree with what has been said
it is not for everybody. The Carrier show on Hulu is pretty much how it is on a Carrier. I was on a heavy Cruiser CG-5 and enjoyed my time in. The job I have now is what I did in the Navy
30 years ago. It will teach you alot !

javadog · 05-19-2009, 05:32 AM

I'd recommend the Air Force over the Navy, for the reasons previously stated. Studying hard for the ASVAB test and scoring high on it will really pay off. (This is probably the most important thing) Having an idea what job and location he wants is important. Making sure he gets that at the time of enlistment is a matter of sticking to your guns. If he's not careful, he could get stuck anywhere that is expedient for the inductor.

JR