I got off the bus 3 years ago today

[flight17]

Cherish those early years of your career.  As you make the rank, your responsibilities will increase and your fun meter will decrease.

my brother must be the one exception... lol

[texasmom]

   Nice going BlueJ    I'm thankful for all that you do!

[rpm]

If you get promoted, less "fun" and a little more money.  Maybe find a nice girl to share your life with.

Other than that...  I figure after age 27 life is one big downhill slide so you still have a little time left.  Just don't get married and have a bunch of kids too early.  And don't be "car poor" either...  Plenty of really good used or inexpensive new cars out there to drive until your salary matches your vehicular appetite.

Wise words.

If you want to go lifer, now is the time to decide. It is a short stint with a great payoff in the long run. The biggest regret I have is not staying in until retirement. Besides all the travel and experiences you will have, putting in until retirement is excellent financial security for you and your family.

[BlueJ1]

Thankyou all. No need for salutes and thanks tho. Im just like any of the rest of you. You all do your own part. I just do mine.


I have 2 years left on my contract and I know I'll be re-enlisting. Like some of you know we are paid less then minimum wage and sometimes its hard to understand why you sacrifice. Patriotic reasons aside I know I will stay in for the fact that is probably on of the best careers to have to support a family and get a education at the same time. Also, not to many other career fields let me fix components that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars starting at the age of 18  . And the ladies like the uniform.

[rabbidrabbit]

If you are going to stay in get a usable degree and go officer.  Do it up front instead of waiting 10 years and splitting you career.

[DREDIOCK]

Wow, 3 years. Time does fly.
I remember when you were getting ready to get on the bus.
WTG!

[Grayeagle]

You notice how that 3 years seems like ..maybe a week if ya stretch it?

Some days 'in' lasted forever.
The years ..-shakes head- .. man they just fly by.

The pay always sucked, housing was second rate at best,
..but the team you are part of ..best guys in the world.
And now an then a real jerk .. makin rank on a jerk without him knowing
..yassir, payback *is* a perk!

When you get out, you will always have a yardstick to measure with.
Some civvy starts whinin about 'how tuff <insert anything here> is'
..and you just smile.
Tuff .. LOL .. as if.

I grew up in the USAF .. rare to find a friend like the guys I useda hang with.
Or a job that gives anywhere near the satisfaction.

Words to live by .. get a degree in something you enjoy doing and go officer ASAP.
Enlisted is fun, however, Officer is better dood.
Can Make Major standing on yer head

-GE

[BlueJ1]

If you are going to stay in get a usable degree and go officer.  Do it up front instead of waiting 10 years and splitting you career.

My goal has always been to make chief. My long term goal is to make warrant. Warrants pull a lot of respect in the aviation community.

Grayeagle, your quote is the banner for all military service members.

[Russian]

My goal has always been to make chief. My long term goal is to make warrant. Warrants pull a lot of respect in the aviation community.

Grayeagle, your quote is the banner for all military service members.

That chief (e9?) probably will take you 15-20 years to get.  I recommend getting a degree and getting into O or W side of the house as soon as possible.

[Dadsguns]

That chief (e9?) probably will take you 15-20 years to get.  

He means a Navy Chief (E-7).  A Chief in the Navy receives much more respect and responsibility than comparable E-7's in other services.  

As an example, in the Air Force, making E-7 is not treated as a transition as much as it is in the Navy.  As a Chief Petty Officer your uniform changes, your responsibilities increase, you go through an "induction" process, and you represent the Chief community and much more.  It is the single most goal in the Navy to achieve and held to high regards. You are the Backbone of the Navy as a CPO NCO.

I know of some that have made Chief (E-7) in as little as six years and as much as 15 years, Senior Chief (E-8) you can add 3 years, Master Chief (E-9) another 3.   You are chosen amongst your peers through a selection board of CPO's according to your Merits in your career, Evals, Awards, Duties, etc.  
They can only fill the billets that are available for that Rate, so not all that are selected to the Board for review are selected and you could go through this process several times before being selected to a CPO.

As a CPO, your job is to train your Sailors AND Officers appointed to you.

My goal has always been to make chief. My long term goal is to make warrant.

 

Signed:
GMC

[texasmom]

*shrugs* about the Officer stuff.

My husband was enlisted his whole military career. I never loved anyone more than those enlisted guys and gals ~ and all of their spouses. They're fantastic. 

[DREDIOCK]

You notice how that 3 years seems like ..maybe a week if ya stretch it?

Some days 'in' lasted forever.
The years ..-shakes head- .. man they just fly by.

Tell me about it. and the older you get the faster it goes.
Why just the other day I dropped my son off at Rutgers to start his freshman year.
He's a senior now.