Tell Me About Joining the NAVY, DD20's newest idea! LONG!

[MinnieM3]

DD20 is a great kid, but has always been our "problem" child for lack of a better term. She MUST learn lessons the hard way, no matter how much we try to help and protect her. She did well in high school and has never been a school behavior problem. At home, she's a piece of work. Thousands of dollars of counselling produced no results. DD just told them whatever they wanted to hear. She's had a hard time dealing with my cancer and now the recurrence. She's currently working here and living in an apartment, with our help. She's scheduled to go back to University in the fall and wants to be a Pharmacist, like DH. She's working as a pharmacy tech now and loves it. She's always excelled at Math and Science.

So, DD20's best friend since 4th grade is about as totally opposite of DD as you can be, but they have hung with each other through thick and thin. DDf (DD's best friend) was Valedictorian at their high school,, is cute as can be, popular, blond, beautiful, and never seems to do anything wrong. She's as close to the perfect kid as you can get. Seriously, there's not even a dirty underside. She's a great gal. She's on a full scholarship to DUKE with the Navy (her Dad was a career Navy man). She loves it all. She's travelled every summer all over the place..... California, Australia, Spain, etc. She's set to graduate this time next year. (As should be DD20, but she's at least a year behind now).

So DDf has been talking to DD20 about joining the Navy and how they'd pay for her schooling and she's be a pharmacist in the Navy and not have to fight, etc. I have NO IDEA how this works. DDf knows DD20 very well and thinks the Navy would be good for her. I don't know. DD20 seems very interested and wants to go talk to a recruiter this week. I want to be sure she stays in college and IF she does this Navy thing that it's as a college grad/officer.

Any advice? I'm freaking out and worried DD20 will get into something she can't get out of or get hurt or something.... HELP Dis'ers!!

ETA: DD20's university, Winthrop, near Charlotte, NC does not have Navy ROTC on campus.
Sorry so long!
Beth

 

[MinnieM3]

bumping

 

[Keli]

This may not sound patriotic, in fact I suppose it is not patriotic, but I would be very leary of my dd joining our military, especially in a time of war.

I know that sounds terrible, I hope it doesn't make me a terrible American since I love my country but I've seen what the military (specifically the army, not navy) can do to someone as an individual and I cannot willingly encourage my daughter to go there.

Promises seem to be made only to be broken and it makes it very hard to trust anything a recruiter tells you. And that makes it very hard to make an informed decision.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

A few things to keep in mind.

1) Recruiters are known for saying anything to get someone to join. Get everything in writing. A good recruiter is open to questions and doesn't sugar coat everything. (yes, not all recruiters are bad, but there are enough bad ones that people should be wary).

2) If she want to do ROTC she'll need to transfer schools. If she joins the Navy as enlisted then she'll need to postpone school and she'll be even more behind before graduating (not that there is anything wrong with being enlisted).

3) OCS requires a 4 year degree and I think recommendations and all sorts of things. ROTC may be one of them.

Your DD may want to contact the ROTC at a school and speak with them about it instead of a recruiter at your local recruiting station.

My friend joined the Navy 2 years ago. He hates it. Not the military but always being out on a boat, away from family and friends. He wishes he joined another branch. Some people are cut out for boat life, some aren't, and it's fine if your not.

 

[Pop Daddy]

I was in the Navy, its the safest branch during time of war. I had a good time and the recuriters never told me a lie, but they do high lite the good stuff. I think it would be a great ideal, she would mature, serve or country and help set her up for the rest of her life

 

[MinnieM3]

Thanks so far for responses. Some very good advice. I don't want her just to join without finishing college first. Not sure why her Univ. doesn't have ROTC.

 

[trip]

She should check with her university. Usually students can join a ROTC detachment at a nearby university.

 

[Sleepy]

I just wanted to add that while she would not be actually fighting, she can be on a ship that is in the middle of a war zone. Not only that, but ships do port in not so safe locations and can become targets. Take the USS Cole for example. This ship was part of my husband's battlegroup when it was attacked.

Recruiters do lie, tell the truth when it is beneficial and hold back info that would make a person decide not to join. My husband has been in the Navy for 24 years. PM me if you have any questions.

 

[tar heel]

Like Keli, I wouldn't personally encourage my children to risk their lives in Bush's war that is going to be the next president's war and the one after that and the one after . . .

That being said, joining the Navy 21 years ago was the absolute best thing for my cousin who was bright but totally directionless. She had been out of high school a couple of years and was checking groceries. During her 20 yeas in the Navy, she earned a B.A. and had a stellar career. She married a marine she met on a ship and they both retired a couple years ago. She's in her early '40s and teaching in an ROTC program. Loves her job and the fact that she gets paid by the Navy and school system, meaning she makes a lot more than the other teachers. BTW, my cousin's recruiter said she would be sent to Hawaii after she got out of training. Guess where she went -- Iceland. She also was definitely on ships in combat zones.

 

[horseshowmom]

One other point that I haven't seen brought up - has your DD actually been accepted to pharmacy school yet? I know that in our area it's extremely competitive and difficult to get in.

If she's really counting on being a pharmacist in the navy, I'd probably make sure she was admitted to pharmacy school before enlisting, otherwise she could end up doing something else (since I have no military knowledge, I can't say about that).

I'd like to add that I have a great deal of respect for those in the military and actually considered pilot training when I got out of college. Good luck to your DD!

 

[PlaneJoy1]

The military does have a program (delayed enlistment?) that will pay for college, and in return you have to promise ~5 years of active full-time service. You are also attached to a local guard unit for the remainder of college and service 1 weekend a month plus some training during the summer. I am only aware of this program for the undergrad degree, and am not sure how additional school would affect it.

She needs to remember that she could still be dispatched to a war zone, either on a ship or at a Navy hostpital or triage unit. I may be wrong but I believe Navy medics provide all/most of the hospital support for the Marine Corps. I would think that pharmacists would be a vital part of the medic group.

Good luck!

 

[GeorgeG]

The Navy is a great place to get experience in a useful trade, including being a pharmacist. I was an Electrician's Mate and had a long career with a utility company (37 years) after the Navy.

Without getting into a debate over who's war is being fought, with very few exceptions, Navy ships are probably the safest place to be in any war zone today. I served aboard an aircraft carrier in Vietnam and, except for the pilots, it was a very safe place to be. Some liberty ports were a lot rougher.

In this war, which is not limited to combat zones, the next attack can just as easily come to a stateside civilian location, even a college campus. At least on board a Navy ship security is not taken for granted.

Get as much information as you can about the different programs being offered and consider if DD can adjust to the discipline. I know far more people who really enjoyed their time in the Navy than those who didn't. Like anything else, it's what you make of it.

 

[ktulu]

My wife's cousin knew he was doing the wrong thing and getting into trouble. He was going to sign up for the air force and the recruiter in town was closed, but the navy was open. It's done good things for him. I have another friend who was having problems finding a good job after graduating from college, he joined the navy and I believe is deployed to Japan. Military might do her good, but if she was a bad egg, the Marines are my suggestion for clearing up those issues

darren

 

[nuke]

I've been out of the Navy for 10 years but when I was active duty I was a pharmacy tech working at the Naval Hospital San Diego. I worked with lots of pharmacists that the Navy paid their way through college. Most were actually recruited on campus, had the rest of their schooling paid for and had to give back 4-5 years active duty as an officer. Of all the ones I worked with only one really hated it. He was pretty young, fresh out of college and didn't like being told what to do. Even when you are an officer there are people above you.

Pharmacists had a pretty good deal when I was in. They worked 12 hour shifts 3 on, 4 off- then 4 on, 3 off. I'm pretty sure that only the biggest of ships like the carriers and the medical ships have pharmacists on duty. As a tech I could have been assigned to a smaller ship as the corpsman and been the medic and pharmacists all in one. Most of the assignments are going to be land based.

I wouldn't give up my Navy experience. I really enjoyed the first 4 years, the last two not so much but it was okay. All in all it was a great way for me to grow up, get away from home, and prove to people that I could do what I set my mind to.

My word of advice would be to make sure she goes in as an officer. Don't believe the enlisted recruiter when he tells her that she can get in an officer's program after boot camp. Of the 60 girls that went through boot camp with me only 2 went on to an officer's program and it wasn't until a couple of years later.

 

[MinnieM3]

She should check with her university. Usually students can join a ROTC detachment at a nearby university.

I'll check on this! Thanks!

 

[MinnieM3]

I just wanted to add that while she would not be actually fighting, she can be on a ship that is in the middle of a war zone. Not only that, but ships do port in not so safe locations and can become targets. Take the USS Cole for example. This ship was part of my husband's battlegroup when it was attacked.

Recruiters do lie, tell the truth when it is beneficial and hold back info that would make a person decide not to join. My husband has been in the Navy for 24 years. PM me if you have any questions.

Thhank you! I haven't felt well today, but may PM you soon.

 

[MinnieM3]

One other point that I haven't seen brought up - has your DD actually been accepted to pharmacy school yet? I know that in our area it's extremely competitive and difficult to get in.

If she's really counting on being a pharmacist in the navy, I'd probably make sure she was admitted to pharmacy school before enlisting, otherwise she could end up doing something else (since I have no military knowledge, I can't say about that).

I'd like to add that I have a great deal of respect for those in the military and actually considered pilot training when I got out of college. Good luck to your DD!

No, she's not been accepted into a Pharmacy school yet. No way. She's struggling to get her GPA back up after bombing during my chemo and first cancer. It's very hard to get in here, too, but I don't want to discourage her.

 

[MinnieM3]

I've been out of the Navy for 10 years but when I was active duty I was a pharmacy tech working at the Naval Hospital San Diego. I worked with lots of pharmacists that the Navy paid their way through college. Most were actually recruited on campus, had the rest of their schooling paid for and had to give back 4-5 years active duty as an officer. Of all the ones I worked with only one really hated it. He was pretty young, fresh out of college and didn't like being told what to do. Even when you are an officer there are people above you.

Pharmacists had a pretty good deal when I was in. They worked 12 hour shifts 3 on, 4 off- then 4 on, 3 off. I'm pretty sure that only the biggest of ships like the carriers and the medical ships have pharmacists on duty. As a tech I could have been assigned to a smaller ship as the corpsman and been the medic and pharmacists all in one. Most of the assignments are going to be land based.

I wouldn't give up my Navy experience. I really enjoyed the first 4 years, the last two not so much but it was okay. All in all it was a great way for me to grow up, get away from home, and prove to people that I could do what I set my mind to.

My word of advice would be to make sure she goes in as an officer. Don't believe the enlisted recruiter when he tells her that she can get in an officer's program after boot camp. Of the 60 girls that went through boot camp with me only 2 went on to an officer's program and it wasn't until a couple of years later.

I'll pass this on. She does need to go in as an officer, yes!