General Discussion

hunter

(40,262 posts)

19. I was a hot mess physically and mentally when I tried to join the Navy.

Sat Nov 22, 2025, 01:06 PM

Nov 22

They politely rejected me.

My mom and her family were pacifists and she always feared me and my brothers would be drafted. She would have gone to any lengths to prevent that, including moving our family out of the country. My dad would have gone along with that, she was his muse and they were inseparable.

Trying to join the Navy was partly an act of rebellion for me. I'd been groomed to be a conscientious objector. Mostly I was seeking some sort of order in my life.

My dad was an Army medical clerk during the Korean war but by the luck of the draw he never went to Korea. He was a nearsighted klutz who didn't like guns which is how he ended up as a clerk. If you asked him about his military service he'd say the Army taught him how to type.

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One of the reasons I joined the Navy [View all] maxrandb Nov 22 OP

The Navy turned my life around. Proud Navy vet. Emile Nov 22 #1

I joined for nuclear propulsion training. What love I have for the Navy developed once I was in and pretty quickly ... marble falls Nov 22 #2

Navy Nuclear Propulsion is a tough course maxrandb Nov 22 #5

We were the last of the Newtonian physics classes at Nuclear Prep School at Great Lakes. I was among the last ... marble falls Nov 22 #16

I think it was cool that ADM Rickover personally interviewed EVERYONE that was going into Navy Nuclear Propulsion maxrandb Nov 22 #20

I almost chose that route EYESORE 9001 Nov 22 #8

One of the reasons I went in was there were all kinds of high paying jobs for plant operators, the Navy got tired of ... marble falls Nov 22 #17

Always a Great Way to end a Shipmates Retirement Ceremony BOSSHOG Nov 22 #3

Agree and especially relevant today, as we remember and honor a fallen American hero maxrandb Nov 22 #4

I considered the Navy because my life was going nowhere at the time. Norbert Nov 22 #6

Now there was a President. MarineCombatEngineer Nov 22 #7

Fortunately, LBJ instituted most of JFK's plans with the "Great Society'. marble falls Nov 22 #24

Joined Navy as a boy. Prairie_Seagull Nov 22 #9

20 years adventuring. pfitz59 Nov 22 #10

Not in the Navy but I did specialty work for... S/V Loner Nov 22 #11

One of the reasons I was glad I didn't join the navy. Ping Tung Nov 22 #12

So, you must have been a Marine? maxrandb Nov 22 #13

There were more than a few sailors puking on that trip. Ping Tung Nov 22 #15

I thought Marines walked on water! marble falls Nov 22 #21

Not really, but we believed we could when drunk. Ping Tung Nov 22 #25

How did Shady Vance ever qualify? Diamond_Dog Nov 22 #28

Maybe that's why his career was so short and uneventful. marble falls Nov 23 #31

The only place I ever got sea-sick, on a tin can in the Sea of Japan... pecosbob Nov 23 #32

I joined to see the world. Got that and then some. SoCal Roomba Nov 22 #14

Truth is, I have no need to go to sea on a sub again. Four days on a cruise ship and I am more than ready to jump ship. marble falls Nov 22 #22

PT-109 almost cost JFK his life. Kid Berwyn Nov 22 #18

I was a hot mess physically and mentally when I tried to join the Navy. hunter Nov 22 #19

My dad went to Korea and ended up managing an officers club. He came up with a refrigerator and served ... marble falls Nov 22 #23

My mom, aunt, and cousin who served in the Navy were all Heidelberg grads. Diamond_Dog Nov 22 #29

My mom went to Heidelberg. Got family in Ashland, Toledo, Sandusky, Findlay ... marble falls Nov 23 #30

There were a lot of Ohioans in my time maxrandb Nov 24 #33

Pre that PoS Art Modell taking the Browns to Baltimore in the middle of the night on a busfrom the parking lot ... marble falls Nov 24 #35

I am NOT a conspiracy theorists maxrandb Nov 24 #39

Or the Bartolos. marble falls Nov 24 #45

Another Navy vet here. Permanut Nov 22 #26

Practically brand new when you got on. Did you get "twin screws" tattoed on yer butt? Knew a lot of tin canners who did. marble falls Nov 24 #36

I thought that was just a rumor being spread around by you jarheads.. Permanut Nov 24 #41

What the hell ... what did I ever do to you??? Blue and gold all the way! marble falls Nov 24 #42

My bad, senior moment.. Permanut Nov 24 #44

My son is a current active duty Navy Fire Controlman Aegis technician. bluesbassman Nov 22 #27

Good for him! Bet you're a proud dad! marble falls Nov 24 #37

Service Para722 Nov 24 #34

Para? Must have been airbourne. marble falls Nov 24 #38

I had an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy but turned it down for Princeton. Borogove Nov 24 #40

Maybe not. Princeton was a good education, too! marble falls Nov 24 #43