Joining the NAVY?

Alright so I'm going to be a senior this year in High School, and I have no ambitions at all. I've never really known what I've wanted to do with my life, and recently I have looked into joining the NAVY recently and it's peaked my interest.. So I want your opinions on it, and should I go to college first if I decide to join?

 

Go to college and get high grades then if you hate the Navy you have something to fall back on..

 

Join the Navy and allow then to pay for your school, it plans the next 3 years of your life and you get a free education.

 

I thought it was 4 years?

 

Go study medicine, the best you can do. Seriously.

 

If it interests you, as someone else said: join the Navy and let them pay for your further education. You'll end up as a naval officer, and from there you've basically got endless opportunities.

 

Don't won't to be in dept for the rest of my life :/..


Another concern is my parents, they think I would be killed by joining. How can I make them be ok with this?

 

I don't know how long it is, i was guesstimating.

Regardless of how long it is, it's free education, money and a set plan.

 

I'd go for it. As far as what your parents think of it, they will worry regardless because you are their child. I think if you say that its something you always wanted to do they will feel a bit easier about it.

 

Not worth it, find something that can actually better your life instead of end it, or otherwise.

 

Learn what you're talking about please. The odds of your life ending by joining the U.S. Navy are minuscule. There are special warfare groups in the Navy such as the EOD, SWCC, and the SEALs that endanger your life, but those are above and beyond the average call of duty when you're enlisting in the navy. You have to voluntarily join those groups, they do not force you into them.

I can't think of a better way to better your life in a situation like his. It instills discipline you won't find elsewhere, as well as confidence and maturity among other things. You pick your rate (Job) that can be taken out of the Navy and into the civilian world. I think all teenagers should consider the military, at least for a second, i mean REALLY consider it.



Ahem... on topic here. I respect you to the fullest for your decision to enlist in the Navy. In my opinion, i would NOT go to college first. Here's why:

The only thing as far as i know going to college prior to enlistment will do for you, is let you enlist as an officer. Not only can you enlist as an enlisted-man, then apply for an officer position on active duty, but they even pay for the college to do so. On top of that, you're working in the Navy during this process and making your own money! You also obtain rank during your service, which means you get paid even more! This is all assuming you'll re-enlist and do more than 4-6 years. Even if you don't plan to re-enlist, i still wouldn't go to college beforehand.

Try your best to explain to your parents that there is next to no danger enlisting in the Navy. A basic rate in the navy will not put your life in danger. Mention that there are special warfare operations groups that DO put their lives at risks, and how you will not be apart of those groups (might help to put them at ease, idk.)

Edit: And even if none of what i said was true, and you did somehow miraculously die in the Navy at a basic job, you died a hero. /thread.

 

I'd personally think about joining the Air Force before the Navy. It's a lot less intense, and you get to fly airplanes, play with cool stuff.

If they made a draft in the United States, I'd definitely think about joining the Air Force before being chosen to go join the marines or something.

 

Thanks, that's what I needed to hear.

Thanks to everyone for posting, it helped alot. I think I'm going to talk to someone in the navy who can give some more insight before I make my decision.

 

My father is in the navy. I'd dabbled with the thought of the navy.

The fact is, they will pay for your education, at least that's how it works in the Canadian navy. You apply at the college/university and apply for military at the same time. SO if you want to be a Tech, you apply to a trade school for a auto tech program, for example, then you apply at the military at the same time. But remember this, at least in Canada, 1 year of schooling = 2 years military service. If you do that you have civilian training, so when you get out, you'll be able to get a job, and you'll have work experience to put on a resume.

On the other hand, there are many things in the military that if you take, they cannot transfer into civilian employment. Take my father for example, he is a NCIOP. He joined the military without and prior training, so they throwed him in there. So now, when he gets out, he does not have civilian training to fall back on. Even though he has held management positions in the military; civilian management and military management are two different things.

In short, if you're going to join, join with a skilled trade with civilian training.