My fiance is thinking of joining the navy, good vs. bad?

[acreekmo]

My fiance and I are both college graduates, he has a degree in teaching and I have one in Psychology. We have both been graduated for almost a year and still, living in Nowhere, Kentucky, we have been unable to find decent jobs. My fiance lately has been mentioning joining the Navy, since he could easily become an Officer in just a few weeks with his degree. We would have to get married first, but I definitely like all the benefits that come with it: living on a base, all utilities paid, better job outlook for our future, health insurance, and paying for his student loans. It all sounds really good. My question is, is it really all it's cracked up to be? What are the negatives? Is there a possibility that he could go into something where he would not have to encounter combat such as teaching, computer based, something doing paperwork? How obtainable are these navy careers? I just don't want him to sign up and then get killed, or me go an entire year without seeing him.

[KYmom]

He needs to talk to a recruiter, and there is always the possiblty of not seeing him for at least 6 months at a time. As far as being killed you can killed at any job or college these days.

Sign me somewhere in KY, no such thing as nowhere ky..
Denmom and I like KY

[sweetmtn]

Welcome, and yes I agree, you BOTH need to talk to a recuiter.

[Retired Navy Chief]

Hello,

There may be several opportunities for you both with your education. You will need to speak with an Officer Programs Recruiter. They are usually a mid-grade officer who can help you research your commissioning options.

Don't be surprised if they guide you towards a field other than what your degree is in.

Good luck in your research and decision.

Cheers,
PISTOL

[SeaBeeMom]

Hi acreekmo,

I was kinda in your fiancees and your situation when I started my college career.
I was fresh out of college with a teaching credential and no job prospects. My dad who was retired military after 23 years suggested I go to see a recruiter. I did but decided AF was the way for me. This was 28 years ago but it changed my life. I went in as an officer, and picked a job that had nothing to do with teaching but my college and student teaching experience really prepared me for the demands of the military. I was a Transportation Officer for 9 years on active duty and loved the military. I only resigned my commission because motherhood and the military didn't fit. I was gone TDY ( buisness trips) way too much and missed my son. It wasn't fair for my husband to raise him on his own. I resigned in 1989 but was asked to come back to the reserves in the same job I had done for the past 6 years. I stayed on for 6 more months to deploy forces to the original Gulf War. I was very glad I had put my active duty resignation paperwork in when I had or I would have probably been in theater away from my son for a very long time.

I highly reccomend that your fiance talk to a recruiter. I would suggest Navy and AF, personally. The little baby I was so worried about is now 20 and a Seabee in the Navy. He followed in his Grandfather's, Dad's, Mom's and Uncle's foot steps by joining the military. I think he feels the same way we all do and it was the best choice for us at the time. I can not tell you how many times I rely on what I learned in the miltary throughout my life.

Military life can be hard, especially on the wife left behind, but it is usually not for more than a year. The Navy seems to be 6 month stretches but more of them. You can be assured you will feel very safe and protected living on a military installation while your Sailor/Airman/Soldier is gone. The Navy and all of the military branches have great support systems built in for you. You won't be alone, you will have all the wives of the guys in your husbands unit that are deployed to support you as well. The commissary (grocery store) is right there and the PX, BX, or NEX (think a really nice Wal-mart prices but good quality goods like Macys) is also right on base. Your medical is paid for and usually there are school on base or nearby with free transportation for your kids. There are lots of recreational activities as well, a base gym, swimming pool, Officers club, movie theater, library, thrift shop, bowling alley. You name it and you probably will find it there and never really have to leave base for anything if you didn't want to. This includes most installations overseas as well. Just think you could live in Germany and have all this and the great opportunity to travel all over Europe for next to nothing.

After your husband does his 4 or 6 years, if you are frugal you can probably pay off all the student loans, you come back to Kentucky or whatever wonderful new place you have lived in and loved and he still has his teaching credential to fall back on. If you are in a new state he might have to take a few courses to get a credential there but if you decide to live where you have been stationed previously he can actually take those courses and most likely the military will pay him to do so. That is what I did. While at my first duty station in CA I took 15 additional units to get my CA Clear credential and the AF paid the whole thing. It was mainly Math and Statistics courses that the military would pay for and my credential advisor would approve. She was thrilled because she thought I might get an addtional credential to teach Math. I didn't but had to please two bosses to get the military to see the worth in paying for the classes. They wouldn't pay for courses like Teaching Reading, or Special Ed but I worked it out the AF paid and I got my clear credential.

When I got out of the military I substitute taught for a few years, had another baby and then when my daughter was in 2nd grade I went and fulfulled my dream to teach. Lots of jobs available at the time and I have taught now for 10 years. I only have 10 more to go to get a really great retirement. I won't have as many years as lots of my friends but I will have great income and medical for my retirement. The only way it would have been better is if I had stayed in for 20 years and gotten full retirement from the military as well. That is what my dad did and he is very well set. I decided I wanted to be a mom instead and raise kids but I am still doing quite well. While I am teaching I am using my salary as a retirement savings and putting a daughter through college. When my 20 years are up I retire at 60 just like all my friends. Many of my fellow teachers also started their careers after they had kids so your hubby won't be the only old guy on staff.

Good luck and if you have any other questions I would be happy to help.
You can email me at Suebhoney@frontiernet.net