What about it Navy guys, my 18 yr old is wanting to join.

[LBTRS]

Well Said

ol ron,



Couldn't have said it better myself. Thanks for your service to our country.



God Bless.

 

[moparguy]

Guys, at this point all I can do is give you'all a heart felt thanks for your advice. Can't get much better than the voice of all this experiance and a recruiter (thanks Ray) helping out.



I'm extremely proud of Matt. All dads say this, but he really is a great kid. He helps me bale, and haul hay (square bales, hard work), works at little brother's saw mill, splits most of the fire wood, does all these country boy things without a single complaint. After he told us what he wanted to do next week, I can't tell you how big the lump was I had to swallow while feeding last night.



You know after re-reading that last paragraph, prehaps I've been working him to hard. The Navy might be a vacation. Just kidding. I remember how strong the need was to get out of Dad's house and on my own lo those many years ago. Guess things haven't changed.



Again, thanks



Ronnie

 

[MOWPAR]

I did eight years as a Torpedoman 71 - 79, 2 WW II era destroyers (DD-786 & DD716) 1 Tender (AD-37), and a tour of shore duty in New London CT. Caught the tailend of Vietnam in 72 (over 37,000 rounds of 5" 38 NGFS from the best Tin Can in the Navy).



Wish now that I would have stayed (20/20 hindsight) could have been drawing retirment since 91 and still doing the job I do now... ... . oh well. Even if a guy doesen't stay 20 it's a great place to get started and learn a lot of lifes lessons.



Jim

 

[Rammin On]

Tell your son to go check out the Coast Guard ... . he'll have 10 times more fun ... . advancement ops are far greater than the Navy. We are smaller and take better care of our people. We are a military service. We are on the front lines 24/7 with a host of responsibilities such as search and rescue, maritime safety, law enforcement etc ... . We are a humanitarian service.



We don't have alot of the people problems the other services have ... like ... gangs ... . drug rings ... . and the like ...





He'll be happy he did!

 

[NETim]

Sea stories

Well, there was this one time in Olongapo... wait a minute, there was no such thing as "one time" in Olongapo!



Tim

 

[Papa Joe]

Go Army !! (Just kidding) I had a degree in Civil Engineering and they made me an infantry officer for three years. Go figure. It was a waste of my time, but I'm proud I did it. Ol Ron, I'd love to chase Osama in a jeep with a center-mount 50 cal, but they don't make those anymore.



I'm confident the Navy has the the best and most BOMBed equipment. The cream of technological R&D goes to the USN. No doubt.



I would consider the Coast Guard. The ones I have talked to have elaborated on how they are 'on the job' all the time and how time flies. They say it is a gratifying service. More condusive to family life for the career guys. Just my $0. 02.



BTW, the posts on this thread are tops. Thanks.



Joe

 

[Alaskaskiff]

ASVAB & Other

I have seen in my 10. 5 years of service all to many times when a kid slept through the ASVAB and then severely limited options later. There are limitations on retaking the test that are pretty strict once you are in the service. Get it right up front! Anyone going into intel/or anything else should get a commission. Might as well get paid for what you are putting in. Don't forget about transition programs after the fact. More education is good, particularly if someone else is paying.



I for one welcome anyone with a desire to come into the service, particularly with TDR influence. There are entirely too many saggy drawered, smart mouthed, street punks in the military that drive the remaining 90% to distraction. I have expedited the removal of 12 of them.



Any service is good, but they all have strengths and weaknesses. Pick and Choose carefully. Good Luck.



Andy Raiha

USCG