Anyone in the military or going to join the military?

dirtyd89
dirtyd89 Posts: 170
I'm joining the U.S Navy.
In the final processing days at MEPS (Military Evaluation & Processing Services) as we speak.
I go back on Tuesday to do a Medical Physical, talk to a Navy Career Adviser and get an official date to go to Basic Training.
Me I live in California so I thought I would of went to RTC (Recruit Training Center) San Diego for Basic Training but I heard it was decommissioned (no longer operational) so looks like I'm heading off to RTC Great Lakes (Chicago, IL).
Looking forward to it.
Hooyah!
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Replies

  • kzcortes
    kzcortes Posts: 208 Member
    US Marine Corps.

    I don't know if you're conditioned - or how difficult Navy basic training is compared to USMC boot camp - but google "OCS Prep filetype:pdf" and the first link is an 8 week program. Really helped me before I shipped out to get in shape. Good luck. S/F
  • dirtyd89
    dirtyd89 Posts: 170
    PRT (Physical Readiness Test) for the Navy isn't that difficult.
    All you have to do is push ups, ab curls and run 1.5 miles in 13 minutes or under.
    Right now I can run 4 miles in 24 minutes and do 100 push ups/100 ab curls.
    I'm more then prepared to go.
    I've been at it for several months preparing.
  • SerenaFisher
    SerenaFisher Posts: 2,170 Member
    I am prior service, if that counts. I was in the USAR from 2000 to 2004 and in active ready reserve for 2 years after that. I did basic training at FT Jackson SC and AIT FT Leonardwood MI... AIT mixed Navy, Marines, and army
  • dirtyd89
    dirtyd89 Posts: 170
    @Serena:
    Yeah it counts.
    Once a troop always a troop.
  • SerenaFisher
    SerenaFisher Posts: 2,170 Member
    HOOAH :D
  • shelbyterry5
    shelbyterry5 Posts: 23 Member
    I'm joining the army :) 5 pounds away from my weight to get to MEPS!
  • mrphil86
    mrphil86 Posts: 2,382 Member
    PRT (Physical Readiness Test) for the Navy isn't that difficult.
    All you have to do is push ups, ab curls and run 1.5 miles in 13 minutes or under.
    Right now I can run 4 miles in 24 minutes and do 100 push ups/100 ab curls.
    I'm more then prepared to go.
    I've been at it for several months preparing.

    You say the PRT isn't hard but most people don't do it right.

    Push-ups... Remember, they have to break the plane... You're almost touching the ground.
    Sit ups, nobody calls them ab curls, are easy since you only have to touch the bottom of your thigh.

    4 miles in 24 minutes is really impressive but 1.5 in 13 minutes is not... Got a pretty big disparity there.

    Good luck though, hope you like Great Lakes, I hated it. What's your rate going to be or what do you want?

    RTC San Diego has be gone for a LONG time.
  • SerenaFisher
    SerenaFisher Posts: 2,170 Member
    PRT (Physical Readiness Test) for the Navy isn't that difficult.
    All you have to do is push ups, ab curls and run 1.5 miles in 13 minutes or under.
    Right now I can run 4 miles in 24 minutes and do 100 push ups/100 ab curls.
    I'm more then prepared to go.
    I've been at it for several months preparing.
    I did 30 push ups and only 19 were countable so yes.. very tricky. I know I couldn't do 10 real push ups now. But I can do a hella lot of the cheater push ups ahaha.

    The run was the hardest for me. 2 miles in 18 mins... I was a terrible runner. I managed to be down to 16 min 2 mile after AIT though. I can still run well (10 min miles) not great but OK.

    I always maxed sit ups... before "training" girls always commented on my abs. Guess those are natural :D
  • Tatonka_usn
    Tatonka_usn Posts: 433 Member
    I've been in the Navy 16+ years.....the first 13 on active duty, the last 3 in the reserves. If you have any questions, shoot me a note on here and I'll try to give you good information.....
  • Tatonka_usn
    Tatonka_usn Posts: 433 Member
    looks like I'm heading off to RTC Great Lakes (Chicago, IL).

    Ah yes, good 'ole Great Mistakes. Count your blessings you aren't there in winter, like I was. Never shoveled so much snow in my life. You on the other hand, should be there for just the right season....not too hot, not too cold. What job field did the recruiter lie to you about.....er, promise you :wink:
  • mrphil86
    mrphil86 Posts: 2,382 Member
    looks like I'm heading off to RTC Great Lakes (Chicago, IL).

    Ah yes, good 'ole Great Mistakes. Count your blessings you aren't there in winter, like I was. Never shoveled so much snow in my life. You on the other hand, should be there for just the right season....not too hot, not too cold. What job field did the recruiter lie to you about.....er, promise you :wink:

    I was there in the winter as well, the snow didn't bother me so much but the wind was TERRIBLE. Spending a year there sucked! I mean it was AWESOME!
  • dirtyd89
    dirtyd89 Posts: 170
    @mrphil86:
    I'm still looking over all of my options.
    I had a several ideas of what I'd like to do.
    Rate: I was told because I scored pretty good on the ASVAB and have some college background I could graduate basic as an E-3 (Seaman).
    MOS:
    1.) V.B.S.S (Vessel. Board. Search. Seizure.)
    2.) Aviation
    3.) Fire, Emergency & Rescue
    4.) Gunner's Mate
    (ASVAB Score: 55) = I was told I didn't qualify for only (3) things Nuclear Submarines, Engineering and Intelligence.
  • dirtyd89
    dirtyd89 Posts: 170
    @Tanoka:
    Actually my recruiters are pretty cool and straight forward about what their doing.
    I'd say the only lie I heard was by the CNO telling me to pick any job because of the Navy cut backs.
    Truthfully I don't buy it.
    Also if they were having cut backs they wouldn't be recruiting more people into the Navy.
    Yeah I'm sure the enlistment requirements are higher then what they were in the past but it's not stopping people from joining.
  • honey_bee_keysha
    honey_bee_keysha Posts: 773 Member
    I plan to join the army once I finish nursing school.
  • NutellaAddict
    NutellaAddict Posts: 1,258 Member
    Whats up?
  • RaineMarie
    RaineMarie Posts: 158 Member
    Active duty Air Force officer here. Just hit my 4 year mark and agreed to a new assignment for another 2 years. :)
  • I'm trying to lose weight so I can join today, even though I'm 27. Whether it's active duty, reserves or guard, I want it to be in my future. Thanks to all those who served.
  • devilwhiterose
    devilwhiterose Posts: 1,157 Member
    Good luck! I know alot of people that have gone to Great Lakes! Definitely be happy you aren't there in the winter. I'm originally from Wisconsin so...ya...I know snow!

    If you get the chance, check out Gurnee Mills mall. Six Flags Great America is right there too. Definitely have your folks stay near Gurnee if they come to graduation...there's a ton to do. Not too sure about boot camp... I'm bias...my husband was a Marine. :wink:
  • NutellaAddict
    NutellaAddict Posts: 1,258 Member
    Active duty Air Force officer here. Just hit my 4 year mark and agreed to a new assignment for another 2 years. :)

    JAGs don't count just kidding don't court martial me!
  • Zobby85
    Zobby85 Posts: 4
    I was in the U.S. Navy for 4 years, been out for about a year now. Have fun in great lakes, if you have any questions about the navy or boot camp I would be happy to answer them!
  • kvandeman
    kvandeman Posts: 527 Member
    looks like I'm heading off to RTC Great Lakes (Chicago, IL).

    Ah yes, good 'ole Great Mistakes. Count your blessings you aren't there in winter, like I was. Never shoveled so much snow in my life. You on the other hand, should be there for just the right season....not too hot, not too cold. What job field did the recruiter lie to you about.....er, promise you :wink:


    I was at Great Mistakes 12/17/96-03/05/97 and it got to -30 with the wind chill and snow out the wazoo. Just remember that Navy stands for Never Again Volunteer Yourself. Make the most of your enlistment. Enjoy your time overseers. Good luck to you.
  • samanthajade124
    samanthajade124 Posts: 217 Member
    I took the ASVAB last year just to keep my mind sharp (yeah, I'm a nerd) and still got a 89 ..... had a 93 in highschool. Working at dropping weight and when I get there I plan on getting into the Air Force
  • dirtyd89
    dirtyd89 Posts: 170
    @Raine:
    Very good sir.
    My friend (Eddie) is in the process of joining the U.S Air Force with the intention of being an officer.
    I gave him all of my study books for the ASVAB he'll do well.
    He's in graduate school right now so once he finishes that schooling he wants to join and has the potential to be a Commissioned Officer which is always a good thing.
  • NutellaAddict
    NutellaAddict Posts: 1,258 Member
    @Raine:
    Very good sir.
    My friend (Eddie) is in the process of joining the U.S Air Force with the intention of being an officer.
    I gave him all of my study books for the ASVAB he'll do well.
    He's in graduate school right now so once he finishes that schooling he wants to join and has the potential to be a Commissioned Officer which is always a good thing.

    psss better change that Sir to Ma'am for Raine ;)
  • Mama_Burkhart
    Mama_Burkhart Posts: 20 Member
    Ive been in the Navy 5 years and am about to get out... im counting down my days!!!! My recruiters did nothing but feed me lies, and i was dumb enough to fall for them! If you dont have a family already, dont get one while your in, unless you decide to put the military first at any expense!!! My husband and i were dual military and it was a mistake! He is so much happier now that hes out of the the Marine Corps and our marriage is better, but now hes a full time student and my Chain of Command expects him to be super man... I have 170 days left and im hating every one of them! Just my personal opinion!
  • lizibame
    lizibame Posts: 59 Member
    I've been on active duty for 8 years this July as an Army Nurse after a couple of years in the National Guard as a Medic. Good Luck to all of you wanting to come in to this lifestyle.
  • allday2
    allday2 Posts: 413 Member
    13 yrs in the books for me in the Air force!
  • tj1376
    tj1376 Posts: 1,402 Member
    I was Army for 4 years and National Guard for 4 years. Man I miss those PT sessions, someone else to push me into exercising.
  • camrunner
    camrunner Posts: 363
    I've been in the Air Force for three years or so. I work in intel and it's generally pretty awesome, but I've come to the conclusion that I would probably not like having a normal military job.
  • Mama_Burkhart
    Mama_Burkhart Posts: 20 Member
    Dont expect to come in as anything but an E1, i was promised E3 straight out of boot camp and i even had signed paperwork saying it and i never got it. My RDC's looked at me and laughed!! Dont become a corpsman unless you are really good at obtaining lots of information about a very wide variety of things, even things that have absolutely nothing to do with you job. You will only advance from taking an exam...
    @mrphil86:
    I'm still looking over all of my options.
    I had a several ideas of what I'd like to do.
    Rate: I was told because I scored pretty good on the ASVAB and have some college background I could graduate basic as an E-3 (Seaman).
    MOS:
    1.) V.B.S.S (Vessel. Board. Search. Seizure.)
    2.) Aviation
    3.) Fire, Emergency & Rescue
    4.) Gunner's Mate
    (ASVAB Score: 55) = I was told I didn't qualify for only (3) things Nuclear Submarines, Engineering and Intelligence.