Today I officially got sworn into the US Navy. My contract says I leave for boot camp the week prior to xmas but I have been told that date is subject to change.

I chose Advanced Electronics and Computers (AECF) as my rating/job.

I may not leave until December but my belly is already feeling a little nervous

Take one day at a time and don't think too much about what will happen.

I wish you the best luck from the bottom of my heart.

Well I'll pray for yo.... Oh wait that does absolutely nothing.

How about this, I think you're a very brave person for doing this, and even though it will have no effect on the outcome, I hope you'll come home safely.

Thanks to you both

Good man Brian... I hope all goes well... congrats on the swearing in!

Thanks HughMcB! I hope all goes well, too

Brian wrote:Today I officially got sworn into the US Navy. My contract says I leave for boot camp the week prior to xmas but I have been told that date is subject to change.

I chose Advanced Electronics and Computers (AECF) as my rating/job.

I may not leave until December but my belly is already feeling a little nervous

IMMEDIATELY get a copy of the Blue Jacket's Manual. Swallow it whole. (I'm not kidding, I'm a retired MMC. (That's Chief Petty Officer, recruit.)

kiki5711 wrote:Take one day at a time and don't think too much about what will happen.

I wish you the best luck from the bottom of my heart.

Kiki is right. The mission of bootcamp is to see if you can handle pressure. They WANT you to get through boot camp. They DON'T want people that can't handle pressure.

BTW, if you don't know how to swim, learn NOW. It will make your life a whole lot easier. Also run a lot, get fit, and quit smoking if you've started.

Here is the U.S. Navy's Chain of Command
Commander in Chief : Honorable Barack Obama
Secretary of Defense: Honorable Robert Gates
Secretary of the Navy: Honorable Ray Mabus
Chief of Naval Operations: Admiral Gary Roughead ,USN

Names and ranks to go with the jobs. Know them and find out the names below them.

Where are you going to Boot? Great Mistakes, IL, San Doggie, CA, or Orlando, FL?

IMMEDIATELY get a copy of the Blue Jacket's Manual. Swallow it whole. (I'm not kidding, I'm a retired MMC. (That's Chief Petty Officer, recruit.)

Thanks for this tip, just sent the order in to Amazon

Gawdzilla wrote:
Kiki is right. The mission of bootcamp is to see if you can handle pressure. They WANT you to get through boot camp. They DON'T want people that can't handle pressure.

BTW, if you don't know how to swim, learn NOW. It will make your life a whole lot easier. Also run a lot, get fit, and quit smoking if you've started.

My recruiter is requiring me to meet with him every Wednesday for PT until I leave for boot camp so he can "make sure I'm not some slouch." I enjoy swimming so that shouldn't be an issue.

Thanks for these tips! I have been scouring the internet for the past 2 months trying to adsorb as much information as I can in order to be prepared. It's nice to hear some things directly from a Navy vet

Gawdzilla wrote:
Where are you going to Boot? Great Mistakes, IL, San Doggie, CA, or Orlando, FL?

As far as I'm aware Navy boot only happens in Illinois these days. My recruiter told me the government spent a couple hundred million revamping the entire Great Lakes facility. My A school and C school will also be in Illinois -- I think I'll be there for a year in total (boot + a + c).

Brian, keep up the PT, run at least three times a week. You swim, so your upper body strength should be okay, don't let that slide. Great Mistakes was where I went to boot and A School. I started out as an Engineman, and was sent from there to some shitty little boats on a shitty BIG river. (1970). As you know where you'll got to Boot, find their web page and fill in the blanks on the Chain of Command. Then you'll only need to know your CC (Command Commander), Battalion Commander, and Regimental Commander to have the set.

And remember, keep smiling, it makes them wonder what you're up to.

Congrats, even if you went with a less desirable service like the squids.

Signed,

A Zoomie.

LarianLeQuella wrote:Congrats, even if you went with a less desirable service like the squids.

Signed,

A Zoomie.

My brother was in the Air Farce for 28 years.

Brian,

A couple things -

First and foremost, thank you for commiting to serving your country! Especially in this time of extended wars, it's a big step - I'm sure I'm not alone in saying I appreciate it.

Second, good luck to you in your venture, whether it is a single enlistment or you go career - hopefully your time in is uneventful and safe. Take advantage of the opportunities given to you, and make the most of your time while you're in (I know I for one squandered some travel opportunities that I regret now).

Finally, try to avoid drowning if your home sinks out from under you, ya' damn squid!

Weaver wrote:Finally, try to avoid drowning if your home sinks out from under you, ya' damn squid!

Sailors and pilots hate walking home from work.

Gawdzilla wrote:

Weaver wrote:Finally, try to avoid drowning if your home sinks out from under you, ya' damn squid!

Sailors and pilots hate walking home from work.

Too true!

A friend's father was both - he was a WWII pilot, and the Landing Signal Officer onboard a US aircraft carrier (I forget which one now) that was on fire after enemy attack. He was recovering aircraft while the forward part of the ship was on fire - then abandoned ship, taking his issue .45 M1911 with him over the side. He later gave it to his son, and I've shot it with him - nice bit of history. He said his father was supposed to abandon his pistol, but didn't see the sense - he was supposed to keep his shoes on to protect his feet from coral, and figured if he was THAT close to land he might need his pistol too.

Weaver wrote:

Gawdzilla wrote:

Weaver wrote:Finally, try to avoid drowning if your home sinks out from under you, ya' damn squid!

Sailors and pilots hate walking home from work.

Too true!

A friend's father was both - he was a WWII pilot, and the Landing Signal Officer onboard a US aircraft carrier (I forget which one now) that was on fire after enemy attack. He was recovering aircraft while the forward part of the ship was on fire - then abandoned ship, taking his issue .45 M1911 with him over the side. He later gave it to his son, and I've shot it with him - nice bit of history. He said his father was supposed to abandon his pistol, but didn't see the sense - he was supposed to keep his shoes on to protect his feet from coral, and figured if he was THAT close to land he might need his pistol too.

The point of the shoes is that you might eventually reach land.

I would have kept the gun too.

LarianLeQuella wrote:Congrats, even if you went with a less desirable service like the squids.

Signed,

A Zoomie.

Cheers! I have an Uncle that was Air Force and an Uncle that was USMC but I chose Navy because that's the route my pops took

Weaver wrote:Brian,

A couple things -

First and foremost, thank you for commiting to serving your country! Especially in this time of extended wars, it's a big step - I'm sure I'm not alone in saying I appreciate it.

Second, good luck to you in your venture, whether it is a single enlistment or you go career - hopefully your time in is uneventful and safe. Take advantage of the opportunities given to you, and make the most of your time while you're in (I know I for one squandered some travel opportunities that I regret now).

Finally, try to avoid drowning if your home sinks out from under you, ya' damn squid!

Thanks Weaver! I would like to make it a career but we'll see what happens. I signed a 6 year commitment instead of the usual 4 so they already have me locked up until 2016

I hope you got school-of-choice and a big bonus ...

Not like me - both times I signed up I didn't get jack shit extra.

No bonus for initial enlistment into AECF (I could have if I went Nuke but didn't want Nuke), however my recruiter said that when it comes time for re-enlistment I could get a sizable bonus. I'll keep my fingers crossed but I won't get my hopes up. My A-school is at Naval Station Great Lakes -- same place as my boot -- so I'll be stuck in Illinois for a couple of years.