I am planning on elisting in the U.S. Navy pretty soon, and was wondering if anyone here has been through basic? and what the requirements are to join?

Been in 19 1/2 years, but boot camp has changed a little. As for the requirements to join....
A high school diploma, No Drug use however if you experimented with Marijuana a waiver is possible, No medical problems ie. no history of asthma or allergies, any traffic tickets must be paid in full and NO FELONIES, and you have to take the ASVAB and score a minimum of a 31, the higher you score the better. For further info 1-800-USA-NAVY. HTH Good Luck

Thanks Chief.

I have been in 13 years (Army) and served 3 years as a recruiter.
If I could recommend a service, it would be either the Army, or Navy depending on which job options you choose.
1. Don't get your hopes up on the Nuclear Program unless you are 1350+ sat .(if you don't make the school, youre at the Navy's mercy.)
2. Get everything in writing UP FRONT (at the MEPS) before you actually sign.
3. Go into this with an open mind, with a list of several specialties that look interesting don't get tunnel vision about a particular job. There are several specialties in both services that offer top notch training that would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in the civilian sector
4. Good Luck

John

1. Don't get your hopes up on the Nuclear Program unless you are 1350+ sat .(if you don't make the school, youre at the Navy's mercy.)

You are a little off on this one.. What it takes to ba a "Nuke" is a good background in Math, and at least a 70 AFQT on the ASVAB. You will be required to take a Nuclear Placement Exam to qualify for the program or, if your school grades in Algebra I, II, Trig and Calc are a B or Higher and your ASVAB line scores are above a cut off minimum, they will waive the Nuke test requirement. If you happen to not make it through the Nuke school (and it does happen) you are offered a choice of other career fields, based on your ASVAB, that you qualify for to chose to be re-trained in. It will require an extension to your enlistment to cover the extra training time, but its your career, your choice. The only time the Navy will decide what you will do for a living, is if you are dropped due to discipline problems. If its academic, we give you a choice in the matter. HTH :-)

One thing---be good at push-ups; lots and lots of push-ups unless you get lucky and don't draw a Company Commander who was into S&M! Not for discipline, just for his enjoyment and amusement!
When we were going through AV(A) School, we were getting people who were dropped from the Nuc program, complete with their 3C that they got to bring along with them.

Totally concure with Chief on the Nuclear Power issue. As a graduate of the Navy's nuclear training pipeline I have first-hand experience. Chief's explanation of the process is spot-on (and it should be since two of the people he works with recruit people for the nuclear programs). It is far from an easy program though. Once you actually start the training pipeline (after bootcamp) you will spend approx. 1 to 1.5 years doing nothing but classroom work and hands on experience running nuclear power plants and their associated support and service equipment. The classroom work is not easy but can be done-unless your really gifted in the brainpan area you will devote a tremendous amount of time studying and preparing for exams. I did not have good grades in high school and went through the exact process that Chief described and made it through with no problems. Bear in mind though that you will be tested and pushed to your mental limits and you will find out what your made of. It might be hard to image that in a classroom environment but take it from somebody who has been there. Perhaps the most important areas to have a solid background is math and science in general.

A lot of people don't like the nuclear training pipeline but you will come out a better person for having completed it. Not to mention that education you get and the job market is opens up afterwards (perhaps Chief can back me up there). Many of the classes you take in the Navy in the nuclear program are accepted for credit at universities-especially at universities near major naval installations (like Old Dominion University here in Norfolk, VA).

One area in the Navy that is really taking off right now is communications and computer related jobs. The education the Navy gives you in the Information Technology rating is top-notch.

Ok, I'll stop now. Let us know how things are going and what your thinking. Entering any military service is not a decision to be made lightly.

I was in for 6 years, as a Sonar tech on a missile sub. Boot Camp was not much fun, but if I could get through, anyone could - as long as they can keep themselves up mentally.

The thing I was unimpressed about the nuclear program wasn't the training - it was obviously the best anywhere. But once on the boat, these guys drilled unmercifully, all the time, in the back of the boat which gets very hot. Younger guys spent lots of time working on dangerous dirty stuff, and qualing into reactor watch supervisor seemed to be a survival skill as much as a career goal. They were well paid compared to the rest of us, and as has been mentioned, civilian companies are lining up for you. Bottom line; hard work, better rewards.

I joined the Navy because I thought the Air Force was for pansies and golfers, and the Army and Marines spent too much time in unpleasant environments. Navy has more aircraft than the airforce! Of course the Army has more boats than the Navy but thats a different story...

I'm glad I'm out but I'm glad I joined. 6 years was a bit too long though.

About Nuclear training...

I am what many call "Nuke waste" or "fallout". I failed to make it through Nuclear Field "A" School (Electronics Tech). I scored a 1400 SAT, got a 99 on my ASVAB, and pulled a 70 (out of 80) on the NFQT (Nuke qual test). My problem was studying. I NEVER studied a day in my life, prior to Nuke school. When I was there (EVERYthing changes in the Navy), Conventional ET "A" school was 55 weeks. Nuclear ET was 24. Same material.

As for what happens if you Academic Drop....
I watched FAR more capable guys than me get FORCED into the fleet as a deck seaman. There is no "choice". We sat down with a classifier and picked 5 ratings. If the Navy needed people in those ratings, you got a seat at that "A" school. If not, you were "IBM" (Instant Boatswain's Mate) and chipping paint for four years.

I was lucky, I got picked up for GSM, and I'm going on 9 years now. For what it's worth (I might be pissing off some recruiters out there), NUKE is not worth it unless you plan on getting out after your mando 6 years and going to work at a Nuke power plant. If you want a career, DONT pick that field. You will go INSANE. I work with guys right now that are heading out the door after 8 years in the Navy, simply because they cannot deal with the stress and the workload of the Nuke field.

Hope this helps you or anyone else who reads it.
I'm not disgruntled, only blunt with my opinion.

kevin

Push ups in the navy? The few times I was aloud to glance around during my basic, I saw navy recruits smoking and joking, laughing at us doing pushups. The navy is a totally simple basic, you'll breeze right through. Not to late to visit the Marine recruiter, ooraah!

I joined the Navy back in '78 and did my 6 as a Data System Tech. When I was being recruited I had just graduated H.S. and had top scores across the ASVAB (advice to potential recruits - get some practice ASVAB tests, study and take them until your brain bleeds. The scores you get on these tests mean everything to your qualifications throughout your enlistment). I had two considerations when joining, either the Advanced Electronics or the Nuclear Power programs. Both were 6 year enlistments ( 6 active, 0 reserve) and I chose the electronics program. You enter the service as a Seaman (E3) and become a Petty Officer (E4) upon completion of A-school. At that time you get your rating and in exchange for it you sign on for your two year extension. Depending on where you are needed and what job rating you get (there is very little choice involved, actually with just about all things military you get your choice as long as it's the same as the needs of the service) your schooling could last up to three years.

Get everything in writing before you sign. I don't care if the recruiter is your brother-in-law, take your enlistment contract and make sure it is solid. Once you join it's too late and you can be sure that any "perks" you were promised but not guarenteed will vanish. As for bootcamp, prepare yourself for a lot of tired afternoons in the classroom. The hardest thing you will encounter is fighting sleep while sitting in lectures.
Last bit of advice - if you are really serious about a military career then by all means make every effort to look into the ROTC program. Get a college education and do your service as an officer, that'd be the best way to go I'd say.

cheers

I spent 8 years in the navy. I enjoyed just about every day. If you join up with the idea that you're just doing this to pay for college, don't join. If you're joining to see the world,learn a trade, or you just plain need some discipline in your life, you have found the right place.
You get out of the navy what you put in.
I earned my Enlisted AirWarfare Specialist Wings when I was still an E3(very hard to do)
I earned my crow (3rd Class Petty Officer) on my first try (test)
I had 3, 6 month, all expenses paid cruises to the far east and the indian ocean. Along with numerous other shorter voyages to Hawai'i,Alaska and western Canada.
I also visited the beautiful locales of Southern and Central California, Nevada, Canada. Not to mention the many locations we encountered on our cruises.
Have fun Shipmate. It's not just a job........It's an adventure

My brief but brilliant naval career last six weeks (kicked out of boot camp for sleepwalking). Sometimes I regret getting kicked out. If I had been able to stay in I would have had 20 years in and retired by now. And it seems to have passed so quickly.
Boot camp is a weeding out process. The Navy (or any branch of the military) wants to see if you will fit in and you should use boot camp as an opportunity to see if you can fit in. A lot of attention to small seemingly stupid detail but it helps build good work, social and studying skills. Be prepared to be almost completely isolated for most of boot camp-no outside news other than letters and calls home. As the other messages said be careful what you sign up for and what you get in writing. And get used to waiting.

Which Service is Best?

A soldier, a sailor, an airman get into an argument about
what armed force is the best. The argument gets so heated that they fail
to see an on-coming truck. They are hit and killed instantly. When they
arrive in heaven, they see Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates. So they
decide he can settle their argument. They walk up and ask him, "Saint
Peter, what Military Service is the best?" He thinks for a moment, then
says, "Well, I'm afraid I can't tell you. But I'll tell you what. I'll
talk to God next time I see Him, and I'll find out for you. In the mean
time, welcome to heaven." So they enter. Later, they see Saint Peter
while walking around, and they ask him about their question. But before
Saint Peter can say anything, trumpets blare, a bright light shines, and
a white dove flies out of the light with an envelope in it's beak. Saint
Peter says, "Ah, here's the answer from the Boss." He takes the letter,
and the dove flies off. He opens it, trumpets play, gold dust flies up,
and Saint Peter reads aloud:

FROM THE DESK OF GOD

TO: SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN
RE: WHICH SERVICE IS BEST.

Dear Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen,
All branches of the Canadian Armed forces are truly honorable.
One should take pride in serving with the Military. You are all
well-trained men, all capable of pulling off your job exceedingly well.
Therefore, there is no superior service.

Sincerely,
God, PPCLI(Ret.)

My lead Company Commander, MM1 (SW) Chavez, down at Sand Dog was a frustrated wanna be SEAL.

hey guys, stug here sit down this is a no poo-pooter, time for a salty JAPAN SAILOR to speak, i'm a DC1 (DAMAGE CONTROLMAN 1ST class, for the landlobbers) with 10 years in the navy, avoid the scuttlebutt and do your what you wish in the NAVY, i for one enjoy the torments of fire fighting in the navy, boot camp was "fun", my basis was i survived, and "a" school was even better!!!!!! i should tell you don't be afraid of underway time and enjoy the free trip around the world. Just talk to your recruiter and be sure to get what you want and you'll have a good time in the Navy, and if your in JAPAN stop by ATG and come see me stug