toastythemosty
Cathlete
DD and DS has a friend that is going to be going into the Navy. Any advice, comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
Charlotte~~
Charlotte~~
Advice before going into the Navy
- Thread starter toastythemosty
- Start date
materialsgirl
Cathlete
My parents were both in the army and I once interviewed them about their military experiences for a school project. I know the army isn't very similar to the navy, but I asked my Dad if he had any advice for someone joining the army and I think his advice would apply to all branches of the armed forces:
1. Keep your nose clean.
2. Don't volunteer for anything.
He probably speaks from experience.
I can't remember if my mom had any advice, but she did tell me that even though there were a lot of difficult and stressful things about being in the army (especially during basic training), she had a whole heck of a lot of fun shooting her rifle at the firing range. So there are good times to be had in between trials and stress.
1. Keep your nose clean.
2. Don't volunteer for anything.
He probably speaks from experience.
I can't remember if my mom had any advice, but she did tell me that even though there were a lot of difficult and stressful things about being in the army (especially during basic training), she had a whole heck of a lot of fun shooting her rifle at the firing range. So there are good times to be had in between trials and stress.
dananmis22
Cathlete
One of my dear friends was in the navy. He said the hardest thing for him was that they try to "break" you mentally. He would make his bed, fold his towel, place his comb neatly and they would throw the sheets off the bed, throw his towel and comb on the ground and tell him it looked like !@*#. I think that was just the boot camp part of it. But he said that was the part that sucked. Oh, yeah, and they don't let you sleep for a while. He hated that! I would too. That is why I am a patriotic in my heart and deeds, but not in the service!
allwildgirl
Cathlete
My brother and dad were both in the Navy here in Canada. Unfortunately, in order for me to ask them advice, I would have to hold a seance, and they frown on that at my office
Hi Charlotte!
Well, I asked my husband who has been in the Navy for 19 years to give some words of advice, and here is how he replied.
Advice for a new Sailor:
To the new Sailor. You see, only a few short months ago the US navy changed the way we treat the word Sailor. Now the word is always capitalized just as a Marine is. It seems insignificant, but with that small change is an acknowledgement that when you become a Sailor, you become something larger than you were before. Being a Sailor means you are now the torchbearer for carrying on the traditions, responsibilities, honor, courage and commitment of the millions of Sailors that have worn the uniform before you.
The life that you have chosen is not an easy one and it will not make you rich. I congratulate you on your decision to join our ranks. This monumental step you have taken to enrich your life will benefit you and your family in ways you cannot yet imagine. To be a Sailor is not an easy life. The work and duty days can be long, the separation from home can seem to last an eternity. You will have days that you will wake up and curse the very idea that you made the decision to join the Navy. By that same day you will gaze in amazement across a wild blue expanse of ocean, dazzled by the sunset and the leap of dolphins at play behind the ships wake. You may become frustrated at the endless training, drills, workups, duty days, qualification and maintenance requirements and the mantra of "pay attention to detail". Later as you find yourself sampling exotic foods, sightseeing locations only previously read about in National Geographic and realizing that you have tasted the most distant parts of the globe, you will not believe that you actually get paid to do the job you do.
I commend you for this grand undertaking. The discipline, work ethic, and maturity that you gain by service to the United States Navy will carry with you for the rest of your life. This is not an easy career and one that is not for everyone. There are only two things that I or anyone else in a leadership position in the Navy could ever ask of your service: One - While wearing the uniform, perform your duties to the best of your ability. Two - While wearing the uniform, serve with honor.
Finally if you decide that a career in the Navy is not for you and you serve your enlistment with honor, I stand ready to congratulate you on your service and am assured that your experiences gained as a member of the United States Navy will guarantee your success in whatever follow on career you choose. As President John F. Kennedy had once said:
"I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy.'"
Congratulations and good luck - See you in the Fleet!
STGC(SW) Kevin R. Henderson - United Sates Navy
Nicole
Well, I asked my husband who has been in the Navy for 19 years to give some words of advice, and here is how he replied.
Advice for a new Sailor:
To the new Sailor. You see, only a few short months ago the US navy changed the way we treat the word Sailor. Now the word is always capitalized just as a Marine is. It seems insignificant, but with that small change is an acknowledgement that when you become a Sailor, you become something larger than you were before. Being a Sailor means you are now the torchbearer for carrying on the traditions, responsibilities, honor, courage and commitment of the millions of Sailors that have worn the uniform before you.
The life that you have chosen is not an easy one and it will not make you rich. I congratulate you on your decision to join our ranks. This monumental step you have taken to enrich your life will benefit you and your family in ways you cannot yet imagine. To be a Sailor is not an easy life. The work and duty days can be long, the separation from home can seem to last an eternity. You will have days that you will wake up and curse the very idea that you made the decision to join the Navy. By that same day you will gaze in amazement across a wild blue expanse of ocean, dazzled by the sunset and the leap of dolphins at play behind the ships wake. You may become frustrated at the endless training, drills, workups, duty days, qualification and maintenance requirements and the mantra of "pay attention to detail". Later as you find yourself sampling exotic foods, sightseeing locations only previously read about in National Geographic and realizing that you have tasted the most distant parts of the globe, you will not believe that you actually get paid to do the job you do.
I commend you for this grand undertaking. The discipline, work ethic, and maturity that you gain by service to the United States Navy will carry with you for the rest of your life. This is not an easy career and one that is not for everyone. There are only two things that I or anyone else in a leadership position in the Navy could ever ask of your service: One - While wearing the uniform, perform your duties to the best of your ability. Two - While wearing the uniform, serve with honor.
Finally if you decide that a career in the Navy is not for you and you serve your enlistment with honor, I stand ready to congratulate you on your service and am assured that your experiences gained as a member of the United States Navy will guarantee your success in whatever follow on career you choose. As President John F. Kennedy had once said:
"I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy.'"
Congratulations and good luck - See you in the Fleet!
STGC(SW) Kevin R. Henderson - United Sates Navy
Nicoletoastythemosty
Cathlete
Thanks so much everyone! I will make sure their friend reads all your responses as I am sure it will be most helpful.
Charlotte~~
Charlotte~~
jgarr44460
Cathlete
Nicole -
My son,14,is in the USNSCC( United States Navy Sea Cadet Corp).I read your post and I was wondering what the STGC(SW) stands for before your husbands name? Please thank him for his response, I passed it on to my son also.
My son,14,is in the USNSCC( United States Navy Sea Cadet Corp).I read your post and I was wondering what the STGC(SW) stands for before your husbands name? Please thank him for his response, I passed it on to my son also.
Hi Charlotte,
The most senior Sailor in the Navy refers to wearing the uniform as wearing the cloth of this nation. We take that very serious. I have enjoyed twenty-three wonderful, exciting, challenging, difficult, proud years as an active duty Sailor. There will be good days, and there will be somedays that are not so good. My advice, learn from each experience. Kevin said it all, and he said it well. Thanks Kevin & Nicole for being a stand-up Navy family.
Sherron
The most senior Sailor in the Navy refers to wearing the uniform as wearing the cloth of this nation. We take that very serious. I have enjoyed twenty-three wonderful, exciting, challenging, difficult, proud years as an active duty Sailor. There will be good days, and there will be somedays that are not so good. My advice, learn from each experience. Kevin said it all, and he said it well. Thanks Kevin & Nicole for being a stand-up Navy family.
Sherron
bestoutwest
Cathlete
Nicole,
My nephew is going to the Navy after graduation next month. I think your husband's words are wonderful. Would you mind if I passed his statement onto my nephew?
Thanks!
My nephew is going to the Navy after graduation next month. I think your husband's words are wonderful. Would you mind if I passed his statement onto my nephew?
Thanks!
JenG -
"STG" - is his rate (or job) and stands for "Sonar Technician Surface" which means he hunts submarines from a ship. The "G" is a fire control system term which stands for Geographic or Surface.
There are also "STS" which are "Sonar Technician Submarine" which hunt submarines from a submarine.
"C" - stands for Chief. He is a Chief Petty Officer. That is his rank.
"SW" - means he is Surface Warfare qualified. He knows all about navigation, seamanship, combat, damage control, engineering, really just about everything to run the ship.
Hope that's not too much info. But if you have more questions, he would be happy to answer.
Sherron - Thank you for the kind words. They are greatly appreciated! And congratulations on 23 years!
Edie - please feel free to pass this on to your nephew! We wish him good luck in the Navy. He should be very proud.
Nicole
"STG" - is his rate (or job) and stands for "Sonar Technician Surface" which means he hunts submarines from a ship. The "G" is a fire control system term which stands for Geographic or Surface.
There are also "STS" which are "Sonar Technician Submarine" which hunt submarines from a submarine.
"C" - stands for Chief. He is a Chief Petty Officer. That is his rank.
"SW" - means he is Surface Warfare qualified. He knows all about navigation, seamanship, combat, damage control, engineering, really just about everything to run the ship.
Hope that's not too much info. But if you have more questions, he would be happy to answer.
Sherron - Thank you for the kind words. They are greatly appreciated! And congratulations on 23 years!
Edie - please feel free to pass this on to your nephew! We wish him good luck in the Navy. He should be very proud.
NicoleI spent 7 years active duty in the Navy, but it was a while ago.
I would make sure that everything that the recruiter was promising him was in his enlistment contract, recruiters are salesmen, they have to make a quota. Currently the Navy and Air Force are making their quotas, Army and Marines are having trouble.
I would make sure he has chosen a program in the Navy that has a civilian equivalent. There are a lot of fun jobs in the military that have no direct civilian equivalent. Your relative is trading years of his life for a program. To get training, experience and $$$ for further training can be a bargain, I would do it all over again for what the service gave me. I watched others though that left the service with little to show for it.
On breaking someone down in boot camp.
Yes this is a normal deal and a necessary thing. The ship I served on was a guided missle cruiser, 1200 Sailors. If someone was stressed out and didn't do his job correctly people would DIE. So if someone can't handle making his bed or folding his towel over and over again it's better to weed them out in boot camp.
Congratulations on his decision, I wish him "Fair winds and following seas."
Dave
I would make sure that everything that the recruiter was promising him was in his enlistment contract, recruiters are salesmen, they have to make a quota. Currently the Navy and Air Force are making their quotas, Army and Marines are having trouble.
I would make sure he has chosen a program in the Navy that has a civilian equivalent. There are a lot of fun jobs in the military that have no direct civilian equivalent. Your relative is trading years of his life for a program. To get training, experience and $$$ for further training can be a bargain, I would do it all over again for what the service gave me. I watched others though that left the service with little to show for it.
On breaking someone down in boot camp.
Yes this is a normal deal and a necessary thing. The ship I served on was a guided missle cruiser, 1200 Sailors. If someone was stressed out and didn't do his job correctly people would DIE. So if someone can't handle making his bed or folding his towel over and over again it's better to weed them out in boot camp.
Congratulations on his decision, I wish him "Fair winds and following seas."
Dave
jgarr44460
Cathlete
Nicole - Thanks for the info and no it wasn't too much. It made perfect sense once explained. Although I have absolutely no Navy background I am finding the experience with my son facinating.He has been on and driven a Navy Destroyer and about to participate in Fleet week. It's been wonderful for him. Well, bootcamp was tough.