[Espiculeas]

Hello,

I am a 15 year old High school Sophomore in America beginning to wonder about possibly joining the Navy and becoming a Officer, more specifically SWO. I have done some research for the last few days and have been thinking about it for a while. I am considering joining JROTC next semester then signing up for NROTC/Naval Academy. My family has a history in the military, my father was a Navy Engineer, my uncle a West point Grad, my mothers side of the family were diplomats.

I think that it is the right choice (although I will be spending a lot of time trying to find out if I should really do it), I believe my talents could be of use, I worry that I might not be fit for joining the military, and I worry if my work ethic will limit me.

I would appreciate it if people who have served/or have family members who have served in the military could give me some more personal information about what becoming an officer or joining the military requires, I really want to know if I am making the right choice.

Any opinions would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Ryan Dunar​

 

[jack london]

What do you want to do with your life? ROTC and the military takes a very specific mindset which few have. Perhaps you should set your own path like joining the consulate corp or state dept you know close to what your family has done but your own path.

 

[Espiculeas]

Surface Warfare Officer : Engineering & Applied Science : Careers & Jobs : Navy.com
SURFACE WARFARE OFFICER
Surface Warfare Officer : Engineering & Applied Science : Careers & Jobs : Navy.com

Descriptions of what I think I want to get into.

I really don't know what I want to do, I have so many options which I would be good at, History and possibly Physics intrest me, psychology too. Based on what a SWO does it seems to fit in with what mostly intrests me.

 

[jack london]

Just a couple of thoughts ....

I was in AFROTC and the NROTC guys were in much better shape than us - in case fitness is an issue

How many civilian employers are looking for this kind of experience that is why I was suggesting civilian paths for you. If you are looking for money for college may I suggest national guard because it frees up your time to actually go to college unlike the reserves.

You've got a great family tradition going there I just think you should make a name for yourself and not follow in others footsteps.

 

[Espiculeas]

I am not following, I am going on my own path. The program, or NROTC will let me get college and then do this, 4 years active and 4 years inactive if I chose to do it.

 

[sofort99]

I am not following, I am going on my own path. The program, or NROTC will let me get college and then do this, 4 years active and 4 years inactive if I chose to do it.

I think TP s do very well in the military. And I believe military service does you good.

Be advised that if you are an officer, even though you only serve 2 year "inactive", you are always subject to involuntary recall, even though it is unlikely. The only way out of this is to resign your commission and hope they accept it, and you have to do it before you are recalled.

 

[Espiculeas]

Hell if I like it enough I might just go career, hopefully it won't come to being recalled like that but ohh well, it's one of the many things I have to consider.

 

[Just_Some_Guy]

There are several things you need to consider before making this decision. I'll point a few things out that you may or may not have thought over.

Are you doing this because you legitimately want to? Because it's your calling? Or because it would be cool if you followed the family line. Attaboy's only will take you so far. What do you -really- want to do with yourself?

ROTC will be an infinitely better experience for you as you'll get to go to college and do actual college things. The academy is surely the fast-track to a successful career, but come on, you really want to miss out on college? My brother did the ROTC route and many of his friends who went to west point could only dream of the real-world adventures my brother's college career took him.

Have you considered something like the green to gold program (or it's naval equivalent)? Stay enlisted, learn what actually makes the navy go round, and then get the Navy to send you to college, through ROTC. Previously enlisted officers are completely different than those who have never been to boot.

Don't enlist. It's not worth it. The BS of the officer corps is far more glamorous and memorable than the BS of enlisted life.

Are you a leader? Can you listen? You'll need to balance both. Confidence/modesty, etc.

Are you Christian? Make no mistake, the commander in chief of the U.S. military is Jesus Christ. If you do not publicly demonstrate your submission and worship of this character, you will have no chance of succeeding as a career officer. You may need to employ that INTP chameleon thing here and fake it if you don't got it.

The meritocracy is an illusion. Your accomplishments mean absolutely nothing. My brother did not get along with his first CO (partially because his CO found out he wasn't Christian). My brother was an amazing, charismatic, compassionate leader and took the worst platoon in the company and out preformed the entire battalion. He then got terrible OERs because the CO just didn't like him. His excuse was that my bro was a shitty leader who "happened" to have good NCOs working for him. The opposite is true to. You could take your platoon from first to worst, but if you go to the same church and play a little gulf with your CO, your OER will glow.

So, when I say merit means nothing, I do not mean that it is weighted lightly, or is not as important than your relationships, I mean it is worth -nothing-. Better start learning how to kiss-ass and get real good at it.

Do you want a family? Divorce rates are through the roof in the military. Sounds like the job you're looking for will put you on a ship. Ships tend to deploy from time to time. When I was over seas, three guys I was with all had their children born while they were there. They got Red Cross flights home for two days and then left their child and wife at home to fend for their selves for another half year. Keep that in mind.

I hope this helps. If you have an specific questions, let 'em rip.

 

[sofort99]

And the most important and relevant point of all: How much do you like making Power Point presentations?

That's what most officers do these days. Power Point.

 

[Munchies]

you want to be on a boring boat for months on end^ the color of grey will be embeded in your mind.

My advice is stop watching stupiid shows taht convince you you want to be in thenavy.

who the fk wants to be a sailoranyways thats fools work.