After I join the Navy, what happens then?

Since you are voluntarily joining the Navy, you should have your choice of any educational field the Navy is offering. ask this question, BEFORE you sign on the dotted line.

It depends on how much specialty training you get after boot camp. If you go into a career that requires a lot of training, they will be reluctant to let you transfer. But on the other hand, if you go to a career path that can give you on-the-job training (OJT),
My experience (40 years ago) was this: I qualified for a specialty that required a six-year active duty commitment rather than the then-standard four. I went through the “A” school, and then went into the “B” school. I was subsequently dropped from the “B” school (for reasons I’d rather not go into right here), but still had the rest of my 6 year commitment. I was then assigned to deck force on a hospital ship. I was able, after a few months, to get transferred to on the job training as a radioman.

Choice?

“they kick your ass and make you like it!”

Seriously, great opportunities in the Navy. Good luck!

“I am about to join the Navy. ”

Thank you! :-)

I wasnt in the Navy, but the Marines and you must remember you pos is requested but never a guarantee. The service will attempt to fulfill your request if the space is open and you qualify, but your desires are always way down the list of priorities. You can be pretty assured you will get the position you requested as a condition of enlistment, but dont slack on meeting any of the requirements. Once you leave or fail out you will be pretty much at their mercy until such a time you reprove yourself. And in case you have been spoken to or are curious about duty stations these requests are referred to as “Dream Sheets”

@Yetanotheruser That sounds familiar! Fortunately for me, I still had a “basketball” on my shoulder after being de-nuked, which gave me a free ticket to E-division. Unfortunately, due to “the needs of the Navy”, it turned out to be a one-way ticket, and I couldn’t cross-rate.

First off, the requirements for EOD are pretty steep; the ASVAB requirements are easy enough (above average, but not as steep as Nukes) but the physical requirements are a bit of a bitch.

Now, the real answer to your question is Mu

You REALLY REALLY REALLY do NOT want to go AT. If you can’t get a guaranteed A-school, don’t walk away, RUN! Otherwise you’ll most likely wind up as either a brass-polishing barnacle scraper or a bilge-crawling snipe, depending on the color of the stripes on your shoulder.

You are not always stuck with the first job you get, but if you happen to get into one that needs the manpower and/or are trying to get into a job that is full-up, then you are pretty much stuck where you are until either manning levels change or your enlistment runs out. Little hint; the recruiter likes to fill the ratings that are such tar-pits (where teh manpower is needed) so do a bit of research before you go in.

As for EOD, I think that there is enough demand for them that you shouldn’t have too much trouble getting in if you qualify. Don’t quote me on that though since I don’t have recent figures on their manning levels.

You will have to go kill some fellow human beings, either directly or indirectly. But they will be dead, nonetheless.

Talk to your recruiter and they will spell out your available options.

@davidbetterman As a fifteen year veteran and Navy Hospital Corpsman, I find your remark ignorant and offensive.

@Trillian Why? I find it realistic. Yes, our country needs some kind of security to survive but the wars we are fighting now are pointless, and only profitable to a narrow few. The collateral damage is not only human suffering. The Navy has left a long trail of environmental damage as well from incomplete UXO clearance to neglecting pollution clean-up, world-wide. Our obsession with ‘national security’ caused more suffering post-Hurricane Katrina than the storm itself. I have zero respect for the defense industry and our military.

Remember that the military does not have your best interest in mind, they will assign you according to their best interest, and that is the only consideration. The contract they have you sign does not promise anything, the language used is what is know as ‘waffle’ language, with enough loop-holes to get them out of any promises you may think they are giving you.

@lilikoi @davidbetterman Every taxpayer and citizen of the United States is indirectly responsible for the actions of the taxpayer supported military. If you have an issue with that – get involved!

@lilikoi As a Hospital Corpsman, I was in the business of saving lives, not taking them. To say that I killed anyone directly or indirectly is frivolous, insupportable, and untrue. If you want to lay blame, congress is who decides where the weapon will be pointed. The individuals serving our country in the military are not the ones who set the policy and the decision not to serve because one doesn’t agree with the policy set by the lawmakers of our country is an individual one.
I can’t argue that the Navy has a good odor environmentally. I can’t solve the world’s problems, all I can do is try to make my corner a little better. I’d rather light a single candle than curse the darkness, but by all means; curse away. Enjoy that freedom that you have to do all the cursing and finger pointing.

@davidbetterman I agree with @Trillian on this, that is EXTREMELY ignorant and uncalled for.

If you honestly think that a shipboard electrician is contributing to the “murder” of innocent civilians then let us follow that “logic”. You should look at where else your money is going. I’m not talking just the fact that your taxes pay for the US military either. Do you have any diamonds in your home, possibly in a wedding ring? You killed Africans. Do you drive a car or have anything made of plastic? You contributed to killing every living being on Earth.
Also check into the dealings of every company you buy from, the people who supply them with parts/material, and the retailers who sell stuff to you, and I guarantee you’ll find more violence than I ever encountered in my 5½ years.

@lilikoi You can blame the bureaucrats for most of that. As for what actually goes on environmentally, lets just say that you can get in quite a bit of trouble for just throwing a styrofoam Cup o’ Noodles container in the regular trash instead of the “hold until we pull into port” bag. If you manage to get your anti-military sentiment out of it and look at actual facts, you will see that the Navy is better than many civilian companies.

@YARNLADY Not quite true, but you do have to be careful when you read the fine print. If you are that worried about loopholes and gotchas then you better deal strictly cash. If you have any credit cards, loans, or even a bank account, there are more ways to screw you there as any military contract. Hell, have you ever taken a close look at the warranty card on anything you ever bought?

Good luck
i was in the Navy for a few years,
joined for Subs, but 12 weeks of electronics for Sonar, and i flunk the last test.
They ship me out on an Oiler, and i’m hanging over the side painting the Ship for the next 18 months. BUT, as soon as i requested a change of scenery they gave it to me immediately, gave me what i asked for exactly. So that was my experience, that they would give you what you wanted as long as you requested it.
Also, i was in the navy while there was fighting going on, but we were always out to sea, so being in the Navy doesn’t mean you will be involved in lethal combat.

Golly @Trillian If you were in the business of saving lives, you must mean saving lives of combatants. Why do you not say whose lives you were saving. Could it be because saving the lives of combatants allowed them the chance to return to the field to continue killing the enemy? Oh, that would mean that you were in fact indirectly killing the enemy.
Interesting how defensive you have gotten over my little truism. But then, ”Methinks Thou Dost Protest Too Much”

@jerv I love how you ramble off the point. However, it remains a fact that an electrician in the navy is most assuredly helping to kill the enemy when he goes into battle. Let’s face it…much of our fighting is done by droids and drones these days, which require electricians to maintain them.

@YARNLADY ”Every taxpayer and citizen of the United States is indirectly responsible for the actions of the taxpayer supported military. If you have an issue with that – get involved!”

What do you think stating my opinion on an open forum is, honey…Non-Involvement?

@lilikoi Nice to see one person out of 50 sees reality as it really is. That was a great answer, and deserves far moe than 1 GA vote…

@davidbetterman As a medical person, I would not ever make a distinction of deciding who I would or would not try to help. I help anyone who is in need of it. Including you. Since I’m certainly not here to try to change your narrow mind, I’ll leave you to it. Have a fine, fine navy day.

@davidbetterman Stating an opinion on an obscure Q & A site is a far cry from getting involved. It is one step lower than writing a complaining letter to a newspaper, with no indication of what you would offer as an alternative.

@YARNLADY LOL I got involved in the 60s and 70s honey. Back when we shut down a criminally insane war. But thanks for your open-minded assault.
@Trillian Nonetheless you save them to fight another day. I didn’t even say anything about your making a distinction in deciding. Since you aren’t reading what I have to say, then I am grateful that you plan not to try to change my narrow mind.

@davidbetterman Please explain exactly how urging someone to get involved is an assault

@YARNLADY It is the negative way you did it, ” It is one step lower than writing a complaining letter to a newspaper,”

It is interesting to see you already trying to twist your way out of what you have already stated.

”Stating an opinion on an obscure Q & A site is a far cry from getting involved.”

That’s a real nice way to urge someone to get involved.

But it’s okay, if that’‘s you in the picture you are surely a sweet old lady who really doesn’t know that she is just another shill for the man.

@davidbetterman Thank you for clarifying that. I often am puzzled by the reactions of people.

@davidbetterman Let me just address this piece of ridiculousness you’ve tossed into the ring and then I’ll have done.
It’s almost too silly to touch, but ok. “Why do you not say whose lives you were saving. Could it be because saving the lives of combatants allowed them the chance to return to the field to continue killing the enemy?”
Are you serious? Return to the field? Am I on an episode of M*A*S*H? Do you think I was in a bunker somewhere with shells exploding over my head while I put wounded soldiers back together and sent them back out with a rifle?
Return to the field indeed. Such melodrama.
When I say I was in the business of saving lives, not taking them I meant many things. As a Corpsman, I did not carry a weapon. Though if I ever were in a combat situation, I’d be issued one to use as a last extreme in defense of the lives under my care. The fact that I have never been in a combat situation, I’m sure, means nothing to you.
From a realistic standpoint you should be aware that the military can go for years and years without being in actual “battles”. It’s all about readiness. There is so much more to it than “killing”. Your view seems to be an oversimplification. But if you feel that killing for any reason ever is bad, and you don’t want any of our military to die defending you and yours, be sure to let us know.

All right everybody. This is the guy who asked the god forsaken question. Answer the question or dont. @davidbetterman, you started this shit with your first comment. So, hey, just the hell up or answer the question. So far only two people have answered the question and that was @Trillian and @jerv. I understand that Fluther is also about opinions, but i dont want your opinion on the subject that you choose, but on the question that I have asked.

@Trillian Talk about ridiculous statements, “_From a realistic standpoint you should be aware that the military can go for years and years without being in actual “battles_”

And just when has the US gone years and years without being in actual battles? Your view seems to be an oversimplification.

No one ever died defending me or mine. Me and mine have not been under attack ever in our lives from foreign enemies. We have, however, been under attack by our own government and our own legal system and our own banking system and our own real estate system and our own health insurance system.

Looks like this thread has been sidetracked

[mod says] Flame off, folks. Let’s get back to answering the actual question, please.

”Am i stuck in whatever career role i choose forever or will i have the choice of doing something else. I know i should be talking to my recruiter about this but they like to dodge questions.”

You often will not even get your choice. But you will be stuck for your period of enlistment in whatever role the Navy decides to place you. This is why the recruiter(s) dodge your questions.

@Zaxwar, As has been stated above, any branch of any military service puts folks where the needs of the branch dictate. They would like to have talented people in the more technical ratings or those that require specialized training, so there are certain incentives available to the recruiters. However, there are no guarantees as far as job description, even after you get the patch on your shoulder! Even then, if you mess up, you could still end up painting the side of the ship or pumping bilge water.

That being said, if you see the Navy as a good opportunity, and the you have spoken to the recruiter at length, I think you are making a good choice.

@davidbetterman Not always true. I just happened to be unfortunate enough to be trying to cross-rate into a job that didn’t need manpower as badly as the rating I already had. Of course, the recruiters will try to get people into those rates, so there is some truth to that.

@Yetanotheruser How do you think I spent so much time in the galley scrubbing pans, or in the Hazmat locker, and that is without screwing up! Just remember that that little patch indicates what training you have had, but your real job is Sailor.

When my son entered the Navy, they sent him to Aircraft Technician training for a year or two, in Pensacola. They then put him on an aircraft carrier, as he had requested, where he pulled chains around on the deck and worked in food service, while at sea, and worked at various menial jobs while on base.

@YARNLADY Airdale, eh?

@jerv yep