DesertSailor72
05-17-2008, 05:35 PM
Well, I'm not in DEP or anything, but I am waiting to leave this civilian life, so hopefully my post belongs here. Short explanation of where I'm at:
I was active duty, then figured it wasn't what I wanted at the time and got out. I now realize that the Navy is pretty much all I wanted to do and have been trying to get back in. I was told that before I went back to AD I should go into another branch first then transfer to the Navy. The other branches didn't really appeal to me so I searched for another way in. I finally found the Military Sealift Command last week and did my research. They're the people who work alongside the Navy, going on deployments and supplying them with the tools they need to do their job. It sounded great to me since it would get me that much closer to my ultimate goal, so I sent for an application. I was told I meet the requirements to join and just have to get my TWIC card, passport and MMD card before I actually can join.
I know it's "just" a merchant mariner for now, but I miss the Navy beyond what I ever thought possible so that's ok and just as important. I was told when I first got out that my feelings of wanting back in were normal and they would go away as I got used to civilian life again. It's now 3 1/2 years later and if this is still those feelings, I'm running with them. Clearly over 3 years of wanting something this bad has to mean something, no matter how many of my friends say I'm insane or "have issues" for my love of all this. I have my cruise book and have kept in touch with my Navy friends so I can remember, which helps, but there's nothing like actually being out there!
Anyway, my point to writing this is I have a goal of being in by January at the latest, but knowing that I could be in as soon as I want to be is killing me. :P It's pretty much just my timetable that's holding me back, but I have stuff I need to do before I leave. I've found someone to watch my cats while I'm away (they're seriously like my kids, so that was important), I have plans to create a bank account with the same friend so I can pay her for watching them and buying them what they need, I have to go fly to see my family one time before I join because I know once I'm in, my time is pretty much theirs for awhile and I haven't seen them in a long time. My mom has come here, but I haven't seen the rest of my family. Plus I also need to get the 3 do***ents I'll need to become a merchant mariner for the Navy, of which the total is a little over $300. Not much I know, but I'm in the middle of moving and getting a car and you all know that can be expensive. Then once I have those things and apply, the process can take a month an a half from beginning to me finally leaving for training.
Patience is not my strong point here, but I don't think I have a choice. I think at the earliest I'd be able to leave in October. I just know out of all the things I feel I've done to mess up my life, this is the best decision I've made for myself and those around me. Since discovering I am able to get back to the Navy, I've been the happiest I've ever been, which makes some of my loved ones happy and others sulk because they're sad I'm leaving. But I can't help it, I just feel so much better now. :woohoo:
Sorry this was so long, I just had to say it somewhere and I have a lot of time to kill while waiting to go back in. Thanks for reading! :smile:
I was active duty, then figured it wasn't what I wanted at the time and got out. I now realize that the Navy is pretty much all I wanted to do and have been trying to get back in. I was told that before I went back to AD I should go into another branch first then transfer to the Navy. The other branches didn't really appeal to me so I searched for another way in. I finally found the Military Sealift Command last week and did my research. They're the people who work alongside the Navy, going on deployments and supplying them with the tools they need to do their job. It sounded great to me since it would get me that much closer to my ultimate goal, so I sent for an application. I was told I meet the requirements to join and just have to get my TWIC card, passport and MMD card before I actually can join.
I know it's "just" a merchant mariner for now, but I miss the Navy beyond what I ever thought possible so that's ok and just as important. I was told when I first got out that my feelings of wanting back in were normal and they would go away as I got used to civilian life again. It's now 3 1/2 years later and if this is still those feelings, I'm running with them. Clearly over 3 years of wanting something this bad has to mean something, no matter how many of my friends say I'm insane or "have issues" for my love of all this. I have my cruise book and have kept in touch with my Navy friends so I can remember, which helps, but there's nothing like actually being out there!
Anyway, my point to writing this is I have a goal of being in by January at the latest, but knowing that I could be in as soon as I want to be is killing me. :P It's pretty much just my timetable that's holding me back, but I have stuff I need to do before I leave. I've found someone to watch my cats while I'm away (they're seriously like my kids, so that was important), I have plans to create a bank account with the same friend so I can pay her for watching them and buying them what they need, I have to go fly to see my family one time before I join because I know once I'm in, my time is pretty much theirs for awhile and I haven't seen them in a long time. My mom has come here, but I haven't seen the rest of my family. Plus I also need to get the 3 do***ents I'll need to become a merchant mariner for the Navy, of which the total is a little over $300. Not much I know, but I'm in the middle of moving and getting a car and you all know that can be expensive. Then once I have those things and apply, the process can take a month an a half from beginning to me finally leaving for training.
Patience is not my strong point here, but I don't think I have a choice. I think at the earliest I'd be able to leave in October. I just know out of all the things I feel I've done to mess up my life, this is the best decision I've made for myself and those around me. Since discovering I am able to get back to the Navy, I've been the happiest I've ever been, which makes some of my loved ones happy and others sulk because they're sad I'm leaving. But I can't help it, I just feel so much better now. :woohoo:
Sorry this was so long, I just had to say it somewhere and I have a lot of time to kill while waiting to go back in. Thanks for reading! :smile: