Advice on joining the Navy

[Poseidon Rising]

Hello all. I have decided to call out for advice on joining the navy here as there is little chance of me finding a naval service man around my town. The local Armed Forces careers office is no longer manned by service men so I can't even go to them.

I plan to join the navy in the next 4-6 weeks, once I have got my fitness up to a good standard. I have noticed that some people on this board are/were service men and was wondering if they had any advice that they could give me.

I am English so naturally I will be planning to join the Royal Navy. I don't have the academic qualifications to become an officer so I plan to enter as a rating. I have considered working in communications or maybe the survey group, charting and mapping the ocean. Ideally I want to get a trade whilst I am in there and at the moment have not considered going in for the long haul.

Any advice would me much appreciated.

 

[Stile]

I don't know how this translates to the Royal Navy, but in the US Navy the most important thing you can do is have a job guarenteed before you sign. Many times they will try to convince you to do an apprenticeship program, where they say you can try different jobs before you decide. Do NOT do this. You will be on every working party that comes along, and since you wouldn't be trained yet, your job will be painting the ship. Good luck and remember they are asking for a commitment from you, so if possible get them to commit to a job and duty station (if desired).

 

[Sh3kel]

Advice on Joining the Navy

Unless you have to - Don't. The military sucks. This comes from an active Airman.

 

[privatehudson]

Best advice I can give is to make sure you're not responsible for steering or navigation, last thing you want is to take the blame for another embarassing moment when the great Royal Navy prangs another ship off the coast of an ex-colony

 

[Xen]

Best advice I can give is to make sure you're not responsible for steering or navigation, last thing you want is to take the blame for another embarassing moment when the great Royal Navy prangs another ship off the coast of an ex-colony

or be the guy responsible for sinking the love boat....

 

[samildanach]

or be the guy responsible for sinking the love boat....

Now I don't know what people have been saying about the Ark Royal but it isn't true!! Sure one goes into the showers with a feeling of trepidation but no more so than in any other RN warship...
On the other hand the Ark is currently moored across the river and I could have sworn I heard Y.M.C.A being carried on the wind from that direction the other night.

 

[privatehudson]

Guess that was the visit of Powell to the ship then

 

[Laughing Gull]

i would say "no"
thats just me, though.
I don't like my life being controlled.

 

[Padma]

Poseidon: all I can say is, "Good for you!"

My twenty+ years in the US Army/Air Force don't translate well to the Royal Navy, but all the Brit sailors I met in Europe were good people.

 

[marioh]

I guess the most important piece of advice for joining any Navy is......know how to swim !

 

[samildanach]

I guess the most important piece of advice for joining any Navy is......know how to swim !

No. Thats the advice given to adversaries of the RN. And its good advice to. In fact before the RN engages an enemy vessel they make polite enquiries if the crew of the enemy ship can swim and offer water wings. The French usually take up the offer.

 

[WillJ]

I guess the most important piece of advice for joining any Navy is......know how to swim !

And make sure that you're not seasick.

 

[Perfection]

All you need to know about the Navy

Where can you find pleasure
Search the world for treasure
Learn science technology
Where can you begin to make your dreams all come true
On the land or on the sea
Where can you learn to fly
Play in sports and skin dive
Study oceanography
Sign of for the big band
Or sit in the grandstand
When your team and others meet

In the navy
Yes, you can sail the seven seas
In the navy
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the navy
Come on now, fall in 'n' make a stand
In the navy, in the navy
Can't you see we need a hand
In the navy
Come on, protect the motherland
In the navy
Come on and join your fellow man
In the navy
Come on people, and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy, in the navy (in the navy)

They want you, they want you
They want you as a new recruit

If you like adventure
Don't you wait to enter
The recruiting office fast
Don't you hesitate
There is no need to wait
They're signing up new seamen fast
Maybe you are too young
To join up today
Bout don't you worry 'bout a thing
For I'm sure there will be
Always a good navy
Protecting the land and sea

In the navy
Yes, you can sail the seven seas
In the navy
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the navy
Come on now, fall in 'n' make a stand
In the navy, in the navy
Can't you see we need a hand
In the navy
Come on, protect the motherland
In the navy
Come on and join your fellow man
In the navy
Come on people, and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy, in the navy (in the navy)

They want you, they want you
They want you as a new recruit

Who me?

They want you, they want you
They want you as a new recruit

But, but but I'm afraid of water.
Hey, hey look
Man, I get seasick even watchin' it on TV!

They want you, they want you in the navy

Oh my goodness.
What am I gonna do in a submarine?

They want you, they want you in the navy

 

[Poseidon Rising]

I did not post for advice as to whether or not I should join the Navy, I have already made my mind up. I was hoping that at least someone here would be able to give me an idea of navy life without giving rise to naval clichés. I would like to know about day-to-day life on board and get a greater idea of what life is like for a person working in communications or with a survey group.

Stile: I have not been forced in to any apprenticeship roles. I have selected two jobs within the navy that I am considering, neither of which involve apprenticeships. I don’t actually believe there is an option to ‘try out’ different jobs during your time in the Royal Navy. As far as I know you make your decision before recruit selection.

Sh3kel: Of course that is your opinion however I’m not sure how well that translates into advice. Some people like service life some don’t. I guess I’ll find out pretty quickly. But then again the idea of travelling appeals to me and I have always enjoyed being on ships, from ferries to seismographic vessel.

I would appreciate it if people refrained from posting unless they have advice that is appropriate and born from an understanding of what is is to be in the services, in particular the Navy.

 

[PHSikes]

Poseidon Rising,
I am in the US Navy right now,at least for another 10 days or so until I retire. I'm not sure what a 'Survey Group' is, If it is like our Quartermasters, you keep all of the Charts (maps to you land lubbers) up to date (tedious at times) and you may not actually drive the ship but you do tell them where to go. Communications, well you get to know what is going on all the time, (you get the top clearances) but can't tell anyone what you know.

PS Everyone gets sea-sick once in a while

 

[samildanach]

Well given that todays the day the MOD will be sticking the knife into the RN. People in it at the moment will be getting the happy news that their ships are are to be decommisioned and I think will be more concerned with that than helping you at the moment. They may not be able to give you advice on your future since they have no idea what the future holds- they might have a better idea in a couple of weeks once they have digested the bad news.
Nevertheless I salute you on your excellent timing in posing your question. Others would find it crass.

 

[Poseidon Rising]

PHSikes, the Royal Navy has a survey group that makes ocean maps, charts of coastlines and seabeds. What was it that you did in the Navy? How did you find long hauls at sea? Were you serving on a large or small ship? What are the pro's and con's of each. I have many questions to ask you if you have the time for me that is.

samildanach, I assume by that post you are being sarcastic. I was unaware of the news. Aside from informing me of the news your not really being helpful. Ultimately I am looking for advice on life in the navy and the careers within. If you can not provide me with the information I am after then I respectfully ask of you that you discontinue posting here.

 

[samildanach]

samildanach, I assume by that post you are being sarcastic. I was unaware of the news. Aside from informing me of the news your not really being helpful. Ultimately I am looking for advice on life in the navy and the careers within. If you can not provide me with the information I am after then I respectfully ask of you that you discontinue posting here.

Hmmm...I did give you advice. Which is to pose your question again in a couple of weeks. It does seem odd to me that someone who professes an interest in the Navy would not know about the cut backs today.
The wide scale restructuring of the Navy is obviously going to affect your career options. Give the guys a chance to work out what the restructuring means for the navy and what career paths look the most promising so they can give you good advice.
I'm going to spell out for you - posing your question today shows poor judgement as RN posters will not be able to give as good advice as they might. Posing your question today shows a lack of sensitivity given that many will be losing their jobs.
Of course, I may be wasting my breathe as you might be a troll. I hope you aren't pulling this stunt in any RN boards.

 

[PHSikes]

Poseidon Rising,
Good name btw... I've served on 5 ships, USS Inchon (LPH-12/MCS-12), USS Ponce (LPD-15), USS Badger (FF-1071), USS Carr (FFG-52) and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). My job title was Electronic Warfare Technician (EW) and later Cryptologic Technician (Technical) (CTT). What I did was operate and repair what basically boils down to..a RADAR detector. Our job is to tell the powers that be who is around us, what the threat is and to protect the ship from cruise missiles.

pros and cons...big ship- lots of people (both), new faces everyday, better food, bigger Ship's store, better 'ride', USO shows, VIPS (like the President, shook his hand ). small ship- fewer people, you get to know nearly everyone, better port calls/more often, 'ride' not as good .

PS. back later this PM.

 

[Shadylookin]

If it's anything like the USN you will be on a ship filled with hundreds of other men(a few women mabey) confined in small spaces and your more likely to be killed by your fellow shipmates than other nations. You will get decent pay and good benifits, but when your out to sea you could be making a million dollars a day and it wouldn't do you any good because you can't spend it really. you can in theory take almost any job you would do as a civilian(it depends on what's open) but you become a slave to the government and quiting your job is not a civilian matter it can land you in jail.