I think I may join the Navy cuz I'm cash strapped for school

[Wetzelbill]

I am looking at the Bachelor's degree program that the Navy has in which I can enlist and be trained as an officer, plus get cash to finish my degree. I am interested in doing intelligence work, then possibly going to the Naval Post Graduate College to get my Master's in International Relations. I have a Video Production Degree right now, and will be finishing my double Bachelor's in Creative Writing/Political Science in about two years here at the U of Arizona. Due to Shrub cutting Pell grants and student loans, plus tuition raises, I had to go part-time for two semesters and then now I am sitting a semester out. Pissed off about it too. My Undergrad years have been a total struggle monetarily. That's a big factor in my considering the Navy, especially since I am a ripe old 29. However, I have always been an athlete - out of shape now though - and love challenges. Wouldn't mind some input from anybody willing to give me some, though. I'm all ears.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

1. Don't trust them

Do you want to suddenly find yourself in Iraq or Iran or Syria or...

Me, I'd rather flip burgers. Just my opinion, though.

[Sotarr2004]

7. Note what he said: NAVY

. . .he might deploy NEAR there, but chances are he won't BE there. Kind of hard to place an Aircraft Carrier Battle Group in downtown Baghdad or suchlike. . .

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

12. Ah, so it is slightly less bad than I thought.

But still bad nonetheless. JMHO.

[Loonman]

2. Good on you

Builds character, in addition to paying for your school.

[Sotarr2004]

3. Better check first. . .

. . .Navy Programs often limit your areas of study: generally they want Engineers, not "Arts and Crafts" majors (personal predjudice: I'm an engineer who went through ROTC, and if they paid your tuition, then they told you which areas you could major in. Generally, almost anything not hard-science technical was not approved major. . .)

[ihaveaquestion]

4. As a Veteran of the US Army,

I suggest you look into the Air Force. They usually treat their folks to a better standard of living. I wish I had checked around before deciding on joining the Army. It wasn't the career booster I'd hoped and I always regretted not doing more research before joining.

The Navy is a good second choice, though.

[ewagner]

17. Air Force Food is better!

That's something I'll always remember. I GAINED weight during Basic!

[cryofan]

19. As a navy vet, I agree: Air Force treats people much better

I grew up in San Antonio, which has 3 big AF bases. So I know a lot about it.

Also, to the orginal poster: if you do join, try to stay in for the full 20 years. Much better deal for you.

[Fleshdancer]

5. if you're interested in intelligence work, then this would be a good move

I'm weary of the situation because I don't want you to get hurt, but if you can't afford school and you're okay with this decision, then I say go for it.

[underpants]

6. That's what I did sort of

Working through college was getting to be too much and I was going nowhere so........I joined the Army. Okay THAT was stupid-should have been the Navy or AF-but I wanted to go overseas and earn some credits. Only problem was that the place I was stationed had little available in terms of courses. I did get 3 hours in Zoology (only had to take Bio 101 when I went back to school) and 6 hours of German.

The GI and College food (you only get both if you take a frontline MOS) don't actually pay for college I got ~$750 a month as long as I was in school but I had to determine what to spend it on. I ended up still borrowing to get my degree but I got the damned thing.

[Whitacre D_WI]

8. Good idea! Remember that:

In the Navy, you can sail the seven seas!

[Mistress Quickly]

10. In the Navy

you can put your mind at ease.


WTF does that mean anyway? :wtf:

[Mr. McD]

18. A friend spent his whole tour in the Navy

at a fire station in Mississippi. He never saw the ocean even though he requested sea duty. :shrug:

[el_gato]

9. When you sign up you become government property

Bad Move

[Bonhomme Richard]

11. Submarine service would be interesting.

[pagerbear]

15. Unless you're claustrophobic!

[Loonman]

21. They screen for that

You have to have a specific personality profile to serve on a sub.

[HEyHEY]

13. Do they call you "Scumbag" in the Navy?

If they do, I wouldn't join. :-)

[scottcsmith]

14. Go through OCS!

Having gone the Navy route, my suggestion would be to do whatever you can to finish your degree in writing/political science, and then try to get accepted into Officer Candidate School. Getting accepted into the Navy's program to finish your degree is HARD. I knew some very bright, qualified folks who did not get accepted. These were sailors with eight-12 years of service. Competition is fierce for the degree programs. Really fierce. The Navy has a limited number of billets and hundreds of people applying.

It's even harder to get into the post graduate program. If a recruiter told you how easy it would be to get in, DON'T BELIEVE IT. That's not to say you shouldn't try, but trust me on this, you'll have to fight for it. Also, when the Navy pays for your degree, you're going to owe them time. You may want to check on how many extra years of service get added when you get accepted into any Navy degree program. My guess would be at least three years of extra service, possibly longer.

[cryofan]

20. Yes, NEVER take a recruiter's word for anything.

You absolutely MUST have ANY promises locked down in writing.

Don;t join the Navy unless they guarantee you college and an officer's billet.

BTW, to the Original Poster, you need to understand something about Navy duty for men: it almost always entails many long periods of sea duty. Now that may sound romantic, but it most certainly is not. Being at sea is somewhat like living in a huge moving, cramped, smelly prison-dumpster with hundreds of other men. Yeah, I know, there are a few women these days, so what.

Anyway, trust me, the experience gets very old very fast.

[AndyTiedye]

22. Looks Like Shrubs Plan to Get People into the Military is Succeeding

[Kamika]

16. My friend joined the navy

SHe is getting a multimedia education or something , she gets to handle equiment worth TONS, and she will work as a photographer etc for the navy, while getting topclass education