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Space05us
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What do they have you do for basic training?
What is enlisted life like?
I would ask a recruiter if I thought for a minute he might tell me the truth.
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Pekka
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em seu burro dos pais!
Feb 2002
time: 07:19
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If it's anything like in here, which I think it MIGHT be, it's just the same as with everyone else. At least in here, no matter where you go, who you are, how sexy your sister is, you go to the same basic training and boot camp. If you're dyslexic, homophobic or have an extra nipple, you still go to the same procedure which is very similar to the basic training to the regiment next to you, meaning it's the same.
AFTER the basic training, then it gets different. Well this is what I assume, I don't know.
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Pekka
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em seu burro dos pais!
Feb 2002
time: 07:19
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It will be simple really... you will learn how to speak, walk, run, crawl, shoot, make your bed and whole bunch of scientifically proved 'best' methods. You will learn all kinds of signs and ranks, how to salute, how to this and that. How to dress yourself, and you will definitely learn to WAKE up. Then after a while, you might even learn how to dig a foxhole or just how to dig. How to take care of your equipment, how to take care of your equipment and how to take care of your.. did I say it already? well you learn that.
You learn you are nothing special, that you're a punk that you are, and no one gives a **** and if you want to call your mommy and cry, well you have to ask permission first, and most likely you won't get it unless it's on your spare time. And another thing, you will not have any spare time.
Most likely you will be accomodated comfortably with other young lads, who are into designer clothes and fashion, ancient philosophies and cultures. Or not. Maybe what they really are into is farting, making it flash with fire at least once in their lives, and also learning how to masturbate without making any noise or moving the blanket while in bed.
You will learn that the 3 bucks is not a lot of compensation for your 24/7 job per day, and that the coffee you just bought wasn't a wise move if you are into saving money. Oh that's right, it was ME who didn't get paid, damn, ****!
Anyway, people who go for the biggest signing bonuses (I heard there are countries who have those) are most likely people who are thinking of making career moves, people who calculate what they can get and people who like the best trade off with salary and how dirty your hands will get. In other words, pussies who claim to be patriotic, but aren't there to fight and kill, which is the main and only function of the army. Which is why you will go to where the action is and where YOU are needed the most, not where you think you will have a jolly good time with your friend Michael, where you can shoot some hoops and dance to some goddamn 90s hits at the local bar and never get laid. NO. If you go to the army, you go there with right reasons or you're an ******* who takes credit from people who really put out. Yeah everyone is needed and even the gas pumper in there is doing an important task, true, but you are needed the most where... in the fighting units, in infantry, and where the battle is happening. That's the truth, and if you don't think so, then step into the army with disgrace as your aura or forget about it.
And no, it won't be fun. You say it was fun after it's all over and you THINK it was fun. You will hate the crap. You will most likely feel many times, that you could actually kill someone, like yourself. You think your head will explode, and that if someone as much as flips you as a joke, you will eye gouge them to death. You will most likely puke at some point, and be wet, hungry and TIRED all the time, and that's just to begin with. But you do it because it's your duty as a citizen. You don't do ti because you wants to get paid. There are other jobs for that.
The real tester is, if you had to do it for free, would you? If yes, then you go. If not, forget it. Not for you my son.
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Space05us
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quote:
You should become a pirate, they get the best girls. |
they also end up dead or in jail in some third world country.
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Dis
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Las Vegas, Nevada
Feb 2000
time: 21:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Space05us
What do they have you do for basic training?
What is enlisted life like?
I would ask a recruiter if I thought for a minute he might tell me the truth. |
It's tough to describe basic training.
but you get up around 5:00 AM and go to bed around 11:00 PM. Those aren't bad hours, but remember, you aren't sitting around all day.
We did morning PT (physical training like running, pushups etc), and then went to the mess hall for breakfast. We'd usually have to wait in line 1/2 hour or so. Then you get 15 minutes to eat. Which seems like a lot of time, but by the time you sit down and put jelly on your toast, you need to get your ass moving.
Then we'd form up. You hardly ever walk anywhere by yourself (only if you go to medical for some reason). You are always in formation, and always walk in formation.
The morning routine could vary. Along with phsyical excersize, we also had classes. The classes are very easy for most. The hard part is staying awake. 5 to 6 hours of sleep wasn't enough for me, especially doing all that excersize.
then lunch.
boot camp can seem silly. But basically because everyone has different jobs in the navy, they have to start you off on something simple. The idea is to teach attention to detail, how to follow procedure and orders. So yes we had to fold our clothes a certain way, make our beds a certain way, and of coures dress a certain way. So we had inpections on our lockers, our beds, and of ourselves. And we practiced these things to (we had time limits for all these things).
We also had basic firefighting training, and some basic training on shipboard systems (mostly damage control in nature). And of course you learn how to read compartment numbers on ships. That's real easy, you'd have to be retard not to figure that out 
Another thing we practiced was marching. This was the one we practiced the most. You have to learn about face, and making turns and all that stupid ****. This is all important because of the ceremony at the end. It has to look good. People have to step in unison. We used to carry rifles (they were for show only). But in the middle of my boot camp (in 1991) they discontinued carrying rifles. But we still had to march. If you were particularly good, you'd be in the honor guard. Look how some high school marching bands march for an example.
so in summary it's: marching, personnel inspections, locker/bed inspections, basic classes to learn about ships and firefighting, and getting yelled at by CC's (company commanders)
I didn't go into detail on what CC's do if you or your company screws up. If they screw up on marching or something, they often punish the entire company, and make them run laps. A real pain when you are wearing steel toed boots. If we screwed up on inspections (which took place inside the barracks), they'd have us do pushups, 8 count bodybuilders, jumping jacks, crunches, etc.
And I went in Florida. If it was too hot out, we'd have black or red flag days. Which meant we were drilled inside. It was airconidtioning. But you'd still find yourselves slipping on the tile because of all your sweat.
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Dis
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Las Vegas, Nevada
Feb 2000
time: 21:19
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life gets considerably easier after you get out, but you still have rules.
The higher the rank, the more privacy and priveldges you have. If you are on shore duty as an E-5, you may only have to share a room with 1 other person (like dorm rooms in college). As an E-4 you may have to share with 2 or 3. Below E-4 you may be in open berthing similar to boot camp.
But even in open berthing you will have curtains and walls around your rack (bed) for privacy for jerking off etc. .
Onboard ship all enlisted will be in open berthing. Though E-7 and above will have seperate chiefs quarters. Like I said, the walls and curtains around your rack will give you some privacy. You get a coffin locker, and one stand up locker. You may also get a room to store your sea bag. That's all the storage space you get.
So I couldn't buy anything big. I did buy a marble chess board in greece. I had plenty enough room for that.
You will go to A school to learn your profession. For nukes (short for nuclear operators), you will have additional schooling.
Then you are normally sent out to a ship, unless you have a rating which normally does shore duty. You start low, and usually have to do some mess hall/galley duty (though I got out of it because I was an E-5 ). You then have to qualify on your watchstations or learn to do your job. This can vary depending on what you do. As engineering, we only stood watches in engineering plants, so we didn't have to qualify quarterdeck watches etc. All other will have to do quarterdeck watches when in port.
Also everyone is responsible for damage control during general quarters (sort of like a red alert). You will be assigned a station. And when the alarm is sounded you go there. People can have various GQ duties like working hose teams or shoring.
In port or on shore duty you will have duty sections. As long as you are'nt on duty, you can go out on the town during liberty (time off). Those on duty have to remain on board (or on base). You usually stand some bullshit watch (though these watches are important for nuclear plants).
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Dis
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Las Vegas, Nevada
Feb 2000
time: 21:19
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this should go without saying, but in boot camp we did not have televisions, radios, telephones, or computers.
you are completely cut off from the outside world. The fall of the Soviet Union started when I was in boot camp. I had no idea.
oh, and they cut off all your hair. Almost down to the skin (just leaving a little bit of stubble). After boot camp you can wear it longer, but still have to keep it tapered on the sides and back (and the length cannot exceepd 4 inches on the top).
and more I forgot to add about boot camp. No cigarrettes if you are a s moker. and no alcohol (or other drugs).
No candy either. Although occasionally the CC's would take us to the store, and would let us buy candy. But normally you will have no food except what's in the mess hall
Last edited by Dis on 06-03-2005 at 06:32
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Admiral
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of the peace and coexistance movement
Feb 2001
time: 00:19
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No matter how it is sold. the armed forces are about one thing, and that is war. More importantly, war is about one thing, and that is injuring. If you are prepaired and accepting that you will, for your country, abandon all the constructs of civilization, essentially deconstruct yourself for the state, then go for it. If you manage not to serve any combat duty, it will be through chance, and you should not plan on it.
Basically, hold realistic assumptions.
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Dis
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Las Vegas, Nevada
Feb 2000
time: 21:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Admiral
No matter how it is sold. the armed forces are about one thing, and that is war. More importantly, war is about one thing, and that is injuring. If you are prepaired and accepting that you will, for your country, abandon all the constructs of civilization, essentially deconstruct yourself for the state, then go for it. If you manage not to serve any combat duty, it will be through chance, and you should not plan on it.
Basically, hold realistic assumptions. |
navy is non-combat 
I was an engineer. My job didn't require killing folks. it involved moving the ship into a position where pilots could kill folks.
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Dis
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Las Vegas, Nevada
Feb 2000
time: 21:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Space05us
quote:
I don't think you can join the navy if you have that condition (and there will be many times you won't get any beuaty sleep). Unless you lie about it and say you don't have any medical problems |
thats the idea. 
Btw, thanks for all the info. The privacy thing something that has always made me rethink joining the military. I never could understand the need to make men shower and **** while staring at each other. |
the privacy isn't that much an issue, but something to be aware of.
As for our shitters, we had a wall in front of the shitters, so people couldn't look directly at you when on the toilet. Only if they happened to be walking by (and they would only do that if en route to another toilet).
As for the showers, they probably aren't any worse than in gym class in high school or whatever.
The racks in boot camp also don't have any privacy, I didn't mention that. They are just like regular bunk beds (though made of metal).
And when you get out of boot camp, you have more privacy. Even on ships (which can be cramp) you will have individual shower stalls with curtains. And you can put the towel around you as soon as you step out if you want . And the toilet stalls do have doors. And the racks do have curtains.
But it helps to be able to live in close quarters. But if an un-sociable guy like myself can do it, anyone can. . I don't even like being around people or near large crowds, but I didn't have too much problem. Though I admit I'd get a bit anxious during long periods without a port of call. The most we went was about a month and half. This is probably nothing compared to what the guys did during these recent two wars though (I never served during wartime- except Kosovo, but we weren't in the area). You may have to do longer stints. But somtimes you can get a port of call every 2 or 3 weeks. In any case, it was a relief getting back from a 6 month cruise. Even if I do have fun at the ports, it's not the living conditions I prefer to live in.
The longest cruise time is supposed to be 9 months (usually 6). Then the ship usually pulls in. Sometimes they will do a brief stint in the shipyard for a refit. Or sometimes a more complex overhaul. I did some of my sea duty in Newport News Shipyard while all our reactors were refueled and other complex overhaul. It's like shore duty with the sea pay . I was in the yards about a year and a half I believe. Or sometimes they just pull in for a few weeks or a month. then the cycle repeats (work ups etc). I think it's supposed to be 18 months in between Med cruises (for east coast). West coast does westpac cruises I guess they call them. Though because of the Iraq situation in the 90's, we usually did a couple of months in the persian gulf which required the long transit through the suez canal- but that was pretty cool the first time.
Last edited by Dis on 06-03-2005 at 13:57
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06-03-2005 03:27
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