Just graduated! :)

[kgervais]

Originally Posted by Auridan

Which means that the fewer ways in which you can be shocked (having to take a blazing fast, freezing cold shower, for instance), the more energy you'll have to handle the shocks you can't so easily anticipate. It's just like getting used to waking up at a set time, shaving, doing tons of PT, listening carefully with your mouth shut, and (for those of us who've been out of school a while) remembering how to take legible notes in a classroom lecture.

And frankly, some of us are just BORED with 6 months to twiddle our thumbs, and need some variety in our DEP lives.

Exactly this in its entirety. The people who have gone through it before must have forgotten about the pre-RTC anxiety and this 6 month waiting period. Ideally, the less shock to the system the better as told by all the recruiters in my office.

[cire]

Originally Posted by kgervais

Exactly this in its entirety. The people who have gone through it before must have forgotten about the pre-RTC anxiety and this 6 month waiting period. Ideally, the less shock to the system the better as told by all the recruiters in my office.

I didn't have any pre-RTC anxiety personally.. I just went with an open mind. If you do that, no matter what comes your way you will be ready.

[kgervais]

Originally Posted by cire

I didn't have any pre-RTC anxiety personally.. I just went with an open mind. If you do that, no matter what comes your way you will be ready.

That's really good advice. I think the anxiety builds up because people have so much time to think about it and me being at home with my folks. I'll be open-minded throughout so there's always room for adjustment. I'm not exactly fresh out of high school so it shouldn't be too hard.

[cire]

Originally Posted by kgervais

That's really good advice. I think the anxiety builds up because people have so much time to think about it and me being at home with my folks. I'll be open-minded throughout so there's always room for adjustment. I'm not exactly fresh out of high school so it shouldn't be too hard.

I didn't go right out of hs either so I think that helped. I guess that's one negative thing about sites like navydep, it can get people over worked up about joining! but it really isn't all that bad.

I did enjoy my time, got to be stationed in some awesome places and met some awesome people. I did help in a lot of ways, but the Navy is just like anything else in life.. you only get out of it what you put in. If you join and do nothing but partying and drinking, you aren't going to get much out of it

[kgervais]

Originally Posted by cire

I didn't go right out of hs either so I think that helped. I guess that's one negative thing about sites like navydep, it can get people over worked up about joining! but it really isn't all that bad.

I did enjoy my time, got to be stationed in some awesome places and met some awesome people. I did help in a lot of ways, but the Navy is just like anything else in life.. you only get out of it what you put in. If you join and do nothing but partying and drinking, you aren't going to get much out of it

You're right it does get people worked up, having all this information ready and available.

That's cool though. I would expect that to legitimately make a career out of it you'd really have to put your best foot forward. You were stationed in Hawaii? How was that? I've heard a lot of people say expensive but mainly for families.

[cire]

Originally Posted by kgervais

You're right it does get people worked up, having all this information ready and available.

That's cool though. I would expect that to legitimately make a career out of it you'd really have to put your best foot forward. You were stationed in Hawaii? How was that? I've heard a lot of people say expensive but mainly for families.

I mean you can make the Navy a career, or you can make a career out of the Navy. If that makes sense. For example, in 2001/2002 I was stationed with one guy who retired at 20 years as an E5. He was pretty worthless at his job. I came in the Navy as an E1, by the time I was an E2 I was his supervisor. I was also stationed with a guy (my LPO) at the same command who at the time was an IT1, he had been in about 8 years at that point. He then picked up Chief his first time up, then Senior Chief his first time up and then became a Warrant Officer his first time up. Guy was on top of his game, a perfect sailor, everybody liked him, he knew his shit and he was went out and did what he needed to do to make the Navy his career.

As far as Hawaii, I loved it. It was expensive, but no more expensive than say the nicer areas of San Diego. It is pretty expensive if you go out and buy a home, there are limited jobs and opportunities there.. but if you have a family there it might be expensive.. but at the same time you pay nothing to move there, you get free housing, and all the benefits of the military.

One thing I always hear about people in the Navy is that they don't make enough, always poor, always needing to be on food stamps, etc.. ok, so yeah the pay is not the best (although it has been getting better over the years).. but seriously, all it comes down to it is irresponsibility and living outside your means. Think about it.. in the military you get a steady income. For E5 married, I think it's roughly $1500 a paycheck.. that's NOT including the free housing on base or housing out in town paid for (roughly $800 a month either way), even more money the more kids you have, extra money for COLA, free medical and insurance, plus free access to the commissary and Navy gas stations for cheap gas. Not to mention tax free paychecks if you are in a tax free area while on deployment. Now I'm back to civilian life.. I'm currently making about $1450 after taxes a paycheck.. I still have $800 a month in rent, utilities, no COLA, my health insurance which I have to pay for each month which has a $1000 deductible (meaning I don't even get to use my medical until I pay $1000 out of pocket first).. etc.

So basically what I'm trying to say is that yes, being ANYWHERE can be expensive, but it is only going to be as expensive as you let it be. Military family? There is absolutely no reason to be "poor" especially if the spouse is working as well. It all comes down to being financially responsible. Don't go out and buy a new car which comes with a crazy high full coverage car insurance.. don't go getting a loan with a high APR to buy a used car. Save your money, buy something cheap that is reliable. If you live off base, don't go renting a house that costs $1500 when you only get $800 for housing (or whatever amount). Don't go blowing your money on console games, big screen tvs, stuff you don't really need. THEN you won't be complaining about how expensive it is to live somewhere.

[kgervais]

Originally Posted by cire

I mean you can make the Navy a career, or you can make a career out of the Navy. If that makes sense. For example, in 2001/2002 I was stationed with one guy who retired at 20 years as an E5. He was pretty worthless at his job. I came in the Navy as an E1, by the time I was an E2 I was his supervisor. I was also stationed with a guy (my LPO) at the same command who at the time was an IT1, he had been in about 8 years at that point. He then picked up Chief his first time up, then Senior Chief his first time up and then became a Warrant Officer his first time up. Guy was on top of his game, a perfect sailor, everybody liked him, he knew his shit and he was went out and did what he needed to do to make the Navy his career.

As far as Hawaii, I loved it. It was expensive, but no more expensive than say the nicer areas of San Diego. It is pretty expensive if you go out and buy a home, there are limited jobs and opportunities there.. but if you have a family there it might be expensive.. but at the same time you pay nothing to move there, you get free housing, and all the benefits of the military.

One thing I always hear about people in the Navy is that they don't make enough, always poor, always needing to be on food stamps, etc.. ok, so yeah the pay is not the best (although it has been getting better over the years).. but seriously, all it comes down to it is irresponsibility and living outside your means. Think about it.. in the military you get a steady income. For E5 married, I think it's roughly $1500 a paycheck.. that's NOT including the free housing on base or housing out in town paid for (roughly $800 a month either way), even more money the more kids you have, extra money for COLA, free medical and insurance, plus free access to the commissary and Navy gas stations for cheap gas. Not to mention tax free paychecks if you are in a tax free area while on deployment. Now I'm back to civilian life.. I'm currently making about $1450 after taxes a paycheck.. I still have $800 a month in rent, utilities, no COLA, my health insurance which I have to pay for each month which has a $1000 deductible (meaning I don't even get to use my medical until I pay $1000 out of pocket first).. etc.

So basically what I'm trying to say is that yes, being ANYWHERE can be expensive, but it is only going to be as expensive as you let it be. Military family? There is absolutely no reason to be "poor" especially if the spouse is working as well. It all comes down to being financially responsible. Don't go out and buy a new car which comes with a crazy high full coverage car insurance.. don't go getting a loan with a high APR to buy a used car. Save your money, buy something cheap that is reliable. If you live off base, don't go renting a house that costs $1500 when you only get $800 for housing (or whatever amount). Don't go blowing your money on console games, big screen tvs, stuff you don't really need. THEN you won't be complaining about how expensive it is to live somewhere.

Thanks a lot for this information and insight I really appreciate it and I definitely needed it. This well help me and a lot of other future sailors reassess their steps towards their future in the Navy.

[kgervais]

Originally Posted by cire

I didn't have any pre-RTC anxiety personally.. I just went with an open mind. If you do that, no matter what comes your way you will be ready.

Did you enjoy your time serving?