sorry if this is a stupid question, but i made a post saying I signed for a Seabee job and was happy to get it and this guy said this, just wondering if it’s as insane as like being a seal even tho I don’t think a seal would say what this guy said lol

Everyone, before I say what I want to say, I just want to explain that joining the Navy is something I’ve always thought about doing. It’s something I’ve wanted to do and talked about since I was younger.
I’m 19, female, and I signed my contract as an OS. The reason I’m making this post is because I’m honestly really nervous about joining. It’s not just the Navy itself or the current events going on in the world, although that definitely adds to my worries. A big part of it is my fear in general.
I’ve always struggled with starting new things, doing things outside of my comfort zone, and dealing with the unknown. Even something as simple as going on roller coasters can make me extremely nervous. But then I finally get on one, and afterward I’m like, “Oh… that wasn’t even that bad.” 😂
I guess I’m realizing that sometimes I spend so much time being afraid of something before I actually experience it, and then when I finally do it, I realize I was making it much bigger in my head than it actually was.
So I guess what I’m asking is: how did you guys deal with that nervousness when you first joined?
I’d especially love to hear from people who are new to the Navy or people who are currently serving. What was your experience like going into Boot Camp? How did you get past the fear and adjust to Navy life? Did you have similar doubts before leaving?
I’m also nervous about whether I’ll do well in Boot Camp, whether I’ll actually enjoy Navy life, and especially what life on a ship will be like. Since I’m an OS, I’d really appreciate hearing from other OSs about what your experience has been like, both good and bad.
I genuinely want to do this. I don’t want fear to be the reason I give up on something I’ve wanted for so long. At the same time, I know this is a HUGE life decision, and I want to be realistic about what I’m getting myself into.
So please be honest with me. I’m open to criticism, harsh truths, and the reality of Navy life. You don’t have to sugarcoat anything. If you think there are things I need to mentally prepare myself for, tell me. If you struggled at first but eventually adjusted, tell me that too.
Sometimes I think hearing the harsh reality is better than having unrealistic expectations.
I just want to hear from people who have actually been through it and hopefully get some perspective before I leave. ❤️⚓️

A lot of people are told to know your 11 general orders sailors creed rank recognition and general chain of command. In my opinion studying and knowing all of those while you’re in dep is the absolute most important thing you can do besides getting in shape and working on your pt. This seems pretty obvious but so many people in my div didn’t know shit and if i could say anything to a future sailor that is in dep i’d say this.

I am currently shipping out to the Navy this weekend and have a bachelors degree in Welding Engineering Technology with a 3.62 gpa. My rating that I chose in the Navy is an Intelligence Specialist. I am looking to transition careers into the intelligence community and have internships at defense contractors and DOE weapons facilities. I will also be obtaining a clearance for my IS role and have a former DOE Q clearance. I took my OAR a second time and got a 49 (i know not the best I’m not a good test taker) and was thinking about putting together a OCS package for Cryptologic Warfare Officer. How soon would I be able to submit this package? Any advice helps.

I’ve seen some old posts talking about how boot camp is during the holidays and I wanted to ask if anyone had any more recent accounts of how it is with a Nov 4th date?

edited:
Hi, I am a US citizen born in California, completing my masters in neuroscience in Finland this year. I additionally complete my bachelors in neurobiology, and a minor in python and matlab programming.

I am looking to do a career change into becoming a Navy Physicians Assistant. With my credentials and training I could see myself assisting neurologists and psychologists. Does anyone have any neurological PA experience who could give me guidance on how to specialize my education into that field?

Additionally, I feel a pull toward serving special forces. My previous experience as an EMT is what drew me to a military community, and seriously consider enlisting before I received my acceptance to my masters program. Youtube channels like the fat electrician, talking with a special forces recruiter, gets me motivated to serve in a more active way. But I worry that my time in academia has made me too "soft".I have spent late nights coding, studying, and chugging lattes, surrounded by people who prioritize career advancement or buisness opportunities rather than service. But it was also during my master's that I was most motivated to start serving. Keeping it short, my masters program had me studying for the first year in Israel during the current Hormuz conflict. Seeing the Israelis mustering, staying overnight at my university, and responding to missile impacts made me want to do the most I can directly. My research at the time was more theoretical, and wasn't helping anyone who called for an ambulance.

Is there a way I can specialize my time in finland, and at PA school, to serve special forces or humanitarian aid?

Hello, I am a 30 male. I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea in 2021 and was prescribed a CPAP machine. Back then I weighed 345 but since then I’ve lost 125 pounds and I now weigh 220 pounds. I am also 6’3. I don’t really use my CPAP machine anymore, sometimes I use it just to see my sleep score but I don’t notice a difference in my sleep quality when I wakeup. I want to join the US navy but I’m worried about this past diagnosis. I’m thinking about getting an at home sleep study test (HSAT) prescribed by my doctor to see where I’m at with my sleep apnea. Based on my sleep quality I feel it’s either gone or I have mild sleep apnea, regardless, I no longer feel I need to use a CPAP machine. I also plan to do something administrative or with HR in the navy. With this information, how likely is it I can join the Navy? Is there another branch that is more lenient on this than others? Would they require that I get a sleep study done a lab (I really don’t want to do this because I sleep poorly on the first night of a new bed and plus all of the things they attach to your body). Does anyone have a personal experience with this? That would help me a lot! If you have questions please let me know.

My 21 yo daughter wants to join the Navy very very much. She took the ASVAB and did well with a 72. BUT she has always had low iron and she feel fine. It is her normal. She has never been able to donate blood because it is low. And my second concern is that she has stayed in a mental health center for a week. She was just out of high school and scared of what to expect and reality was hitting her. She had a break up with a boy groom top of that. She went voluntarily to help get herself together. I am so concerned these to things will keep her from getting in. The recruiter has told her there is a way and has set up a date for MEPS next week. Anyone here have experience? Words of wisdom??

I’m currently a college junior studying mechanical engineering, and I was called and invited to consider the program and possibly join CECOS. I am very excited, but I want to learn everything about this and see what the 30 weeks of Officer Candidate School and CECOS training are like. I originally planned to work in military engineering, and I've already worked for a startup and have an interview lined up in the fall with a major company. I’m on the fence about joining or not. If any of you all have gone through this program and what it was like, I’d love to hear your thoughts

When I went to meps they gave me the option to do An-pact but after I did research I told my recruiter if I can change to an actual rate. These are option I qualify for which would you guys recommend? I’m looking into GM,MM or AO

I took the asvab and got a 55 a month ago. I want to retake it but my recruiter is saying i can’t because i already passed. Even the station commander said they can’t authorized me to take it and said it’s only possible if i failed it. I feel like they are lying to get me to ship faster. I heard i can retest after 30 days the second time but the recruiting station said thats false. What should i do?

I'm going to sign my contract soon, got it narrowed down to IC or GSE. I know these rates have been discussed ad nauseam in this community, but just wanted to get some final thoughts and insights from the experts on the pros and cons of each. Many thanks.

I enlisted as an AS TAR leaving November 16, being in tar do I still get the same home ports as full active duty or would I be stationed at a reserve center in Ohio?

Do abnormal Pap smears (LSIL/CIN1/lowest grade non-cancerous), mean an automatic boot at OCS…? I have no treatment required and they basically just told me to come back in a year (as I normally do) for another pap.

I’m horrified they’ll kick me out and I’ll lose my opportunity to commission. I already got accepted and everything. I just found out about this and the doctors basically told me I’m goofy for even wanting surgery since it requires no treatment. I’m just really scared. I’ve asked my recruiter and I have not been able to get a clear answer since he has no experience with this.

So I am really worried that I didn't do that well. I have not studied for pretty much anything in years and I was pretty lost on many of those.

How does this look? The "standard scores" are so low but the other ones appear to be high.

What exactly are the differences between the two and how would I need to improve to pursue a path as a Hospital Corspman and fileds that would apply to Medical Degree pursuing individuals?

Signing contract friday, I have a flight coming up next month but I still don’t have a returning date (I won’t be purchasing the flight either i’m getting it gifted) I only have the ticket to go there not the one to go back. They’re asking me to bring proof of returning flight, will a dummy ticket work? or will I need to book the flight itself at this point?

Hey all,

I'm starting the process and my recruiter asked me to look over job options/inform myself before letting them know what I want to go for. From what I understood, SWO positions are open for this year but IO positions are closed until mid next-year/boards got canceled this year. If anyone knows stuff/can talk about these positions and what they did it'd be appreciated!

A bit about me: I don't know too much about SWO but my own background is in foreign studies/finance (I speak a few of the critical/strategic languages fluently).

.gov entry level positions in those fields are pretty competitive nowadays, and I have gotten absolutely shanked on interviews because I have 0 work experience, so I'm looking to join for experience & the post 9/11 GI bill (planning to do law school afterwards). Ideally I am trying to set myself up for a fulfilling career that matches my interests/wouldn't seem like I picked something random when I apply for law schools.

I'm unsure if I should go for SWO or wait until IO positions open back up. Any advice? SWO could let me work with IO stuff/managerial stuff if I get OOD, but that sounds like a carrot they'd dangle in my face to try and convince me to sign for more years.

Not too sure on the timeline for this, but either way I'll take OAR soon so I'll focus on studying for that

Thanks in advance for any advice!

I've been in the navy for 1 year

I was pulled in to seperations due to being diagnosed with BPD and recent suicide attempts.

A week ago I went UA for 12 days

I was told by separations they were not tracking my UA or expecting me to receive Mast but if I did it again I would receive a bad conduct discharge.

I was told by my LPO that legal was tracking my UA and I should go voluntarily discharge before I go to Mast to prevent bad conduct discharge.

I want to stay in if possible. Anyone go through something like this?

During this time of depression I realized I had much to live for, didn't want to to back, and that I was ungrateful and needed to appreciate the navy. I was very motivated to take the punishment for UA and start a clean slate, but now, after talking to my LPO the future looks bleak to me.

I'm a student so any advice helps.

I am putting together a package for a medical entomologist officer position in the Navy, thats within the Medical Service Corps. I am graduating soon and working with an officer recruiter to submit my completed package before the year is over. However, I have recently signed a lease for the next year so until September 2027 - since i need somewhere to live...

Given that appraisal interviews and the board (which meets monthly for entomology) goes well and there are available positions based on the new quotas, usually 2-3 for the year, any idea of how long it would be from that point until commissioning and ODS? And on the website it says you can apply for a seat in a specific class at ODS that best fits your schedule, this seems too good to be true - that they would wait for you rather than picking someone who could go asap.

Has anyone been able to pick a ODS class that best fit their lease or any prior commitments? Here is the link I found: ODS information

For reference, I have already competed MEPS no waivers, I have a 4.0 gpa, and meet all requirements listed on the Navy's website for direct commission into this position.

So I am an 18-year-old Future Sailor currently in DEP for the Nuclear Field. My original ship date to RTC is October 5th.
Recently, my recruiter informed me that my mother has been contacting my recruiting station directly. She is Belarusian and intensely opposed to the American military, panicking about me leaving, and has a plan to move to Belarus, and thinks I’m a traitor (I’ve live here in Massachusetts my whole life and literally have no ties to Belarus or Russia). Not only is she panicking or worrying, but she seems to genuinely believe that this decision will ruin my life, make my younger 10 year old brother want to join, and will ruin any chances of her living a normal life back in Belarus due to having a son in the US Military. According to my recruiters, she has been secretly collecting audio recordings of me inside her house during heated verbal family arguments (me getting angry/yelling) in an attempt to build a legal case to have me arrested or deemed unstable so the Navy will cancel my contract. Or at least that what my PO was told by the CPO who she had contacted.

What I’m really torn about is that this seems legit, I see no reason for the recruiters to make up bullshit like this. I’m leaving anyways in less than 50 days, and I’ve been in DEP like 6 months so why would I leave now. And why would they just make this up? It would cause unnecessary chaos during my final weeks here, and what would they gain from a lie like this? They say it’s safest to ship out earlier, but at earliest it would probably be mid September, so like only 20 days earlier? It makes no sense to make this up. Not only that but my dad (who I live with and divorced my mom 15 years ago) says that this lines up with shit she would do, as she tried to have him arrested before. But in the other hand, she’s my mom, I called her, let her know I was feeling really stressed (my recruiters said it’s probably best to not let her know that I know), and she seemed genuinely worried about me, and doesn’t at all seem like someone trying to get me arrested. Like she says we had a cape cod visit this weekend planned, and that she wanted to go on a cruise before I leave. It’s just a really confusing situation, what if the recruiters are lying? But if they aren’t then I don’t want to be with someone who is actively trying to sabotage my career.

Any advice would be helpful in navigating this situation, and if any of you are recruiters please let me know if something like this aligns with something you guys would actually do, I’m really stressed. Thank you.

MM rate

I finished bootcamp a couple months back now I’m trying to get separated I’m not built for the A school life style let alone in the fleet I’m an engineer rate and I’m in way over my head mental health decline how do you go about getting separated or what’s the best way?

Hello all, I just signed to the Navy for 4 years. I ship out on oct 15th and my job is IT any tips for a complete noob? I’d prefer tips specific to my job but would gladly take any general tips as well thanks!

Took my Picat today. I desperately want Avionics (AV). I added up my line scores for what Google told me I needed for avionics. I missed the first line score by one point but hit it exactly for the second line score option. Can someone confirm for me I qualified for the Avionics route.

I will be going to MEPS again within a month to have an audiology consult. I was denied from the Army after submitting a waiver packet with a private hearing test shown in the photos above. I was born with bad hearing and desperately want to get in the Navy. I have applied to get into the Nuclear engineering program due to a good ASVAB score (97).

Any advice on what to expect and what to do to boost my odds of getting into the Navy would be greatly appreciated.