What kind of person is a Navy person?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

You gotta help me. I have been strongly considering a very distant career in politics. I’m currently a senior in college. I consider a Naval career a very impressive addition to a politician’s resume. For several months now, I have been considering OCS. Military service might possibly give credence to the excessively liberal politician I intend to be. Graduation is still a year away.

Any advice you, the magnanimous community of the Dope, could give me would be beyond valued. I have researched OCS as thoroughly as the web allows. Personal experiences or personal beliefs are always valued.

I am absolutely confused beyond proportion. I beg my wise elders to help this misguided (unguided) youth in finding a path. Any advice regarding the US military as opportunity advancement is welcome.

2

Hopefully, a hitch or two in the military will cure you of that nasty liberalism infection. If nothing else, it will give you some time to figure out what else you want to do in life. As a bonus, unless you become a SEAL or aircrew, you’re unlikely to get your ass shot off in the process.

More directly on point, in any branch of the military, you’ll encounter people from all walks of life, learn discipline, teamwork, and have experiences that will change your life in more ways than you can imagine. If you make it through training.

3

BAH! I don’t want to be cured of anything. I would really like to show that a rabid liberal can be a fantastically standard soldier. What about the military for a person who has a very specific thing they want to achieve in life and doesn’t want to alter too uncontrollably their ideology in doing so?

As I’ve said, I’m fishing for information anywhere I see water. I appreciate all comments.

4

Well…let me put it this way. When I was in the military, I thought I was a liberal. I was definitely the most liberal person in my unit. After I got out and went to law school, I went from being on the far left of the military to the right of my class. My views hadn’t really changed, but my environment did.

I expect you’ll find that you can believe whatever you want and succeed in the military as long as you keep your nose clean and do your job. There will be times when it will be wise to keep certain views to yourself, and there will be limits on your political activities. Conformity, duty, meeting standards, respect for authority, obedience…none of these are optional in the service. The vast majority of the people you work with will be fairly conservative by my standards. By your standards, they’ll seem pretty extreme.

IF you make it…and some people simply don’t have what it takes to make it in the military…but if you do, you will come out stronger and wiser than you are now, and you’ll be a better person for it. I’m proud of my service, and I wouldn’t trade those years for anything. You’ll likely feel the same way. Even if you remain a pinko-commie-liberal where politics are concerned. :smiley:

5

It probably would. But you should perhaps consider that the number who finish their service as “excessively liberal” is a lot smaller than those who start that way.

In college you’re surrounded by liberal attitudes; most tend to absorb these, and to share the view that smart, reasonable people naturally feel this way. In the Navy you’re exposed to a wider variety of abilities and attitudes. The notion that smart, able people necessarily share liberal views (a prejudice rarely far to seek on the SDMB) doesn’t fare well there. Dismissing people because they quite obviously don’t conform to norms you grew to share will be a poor way to operate.

I joined the Navy out of college, and found it extremely valuable. But the many ways it broadened my view of the world included little to reinforce liberal views from college, and much to call them into question as narrow and insular.

6

I won’t speculate on your ideological questions, but I will say that you should make the decision shortly and speak with a recruiter soon. You can go to the board a year before you intend to start your service, and lately people have been getting class dates a year out from their board. So if you decide that you want to serve as soon as you graduate you need to make arrangements or you will find yourself waiting like I am.

7

A friend of mine went to OCS last spring. He lasted exactly one week. After that, he was put into student pool. They apparently allow people to remain in student pool as long as they want to stay there until they wish to retry the program from the beginning or go home. Since he was unemployed at the time, he stayed there for about three months. They gave him a dorm room, food, and random tasks each day as “work.” He said it paid better than any job he had ever had at that point and he enjoyed doing different things everyday, but since it was 1500 miles from home, he eventually came back.

8

Be really impressive, be one of: The Few, The Proud, The Marines. :smiley:

My background is I grew up as a military brat, went to college, completed Navy OCS (1982), served 4 years active duty and 8 years Drilling Reserves (damn “peace dividend” drawdown/cutbacks in the 1990s) .

I’m not sure what advice or guidance that you are asking. I agree that a Naval/military career is an impressive addition to a politician’s resume, I would consider a Naval/military career an impressive addition to anybody’s resume.

That said, I’m curious as to how you would parlay a Naval career into a political success.
Which area of politics do you want to enter: local, state, national? The Navy will take you away from the community you want to represent during your 20 year career, making it difficult to develop the contacts in the political community you will need when you do run for office (so it seems to me). If politics is your real goal, I’d think doing a tour or two of active duty, continuing in the Reserves while laying the groundwork to run for office is the way to go.

I agree with XanderCrews, speak to a recruiter and take the tests: the Navy may not want you or you may not want what they are offering. You mentioned being a poli-sci major with an econ minor in an earlier post, so some designator communities are out (Medical, JAG, Chaplain, Aviation ect)(but are possible to transfer to). A truism is “The needs of the Navy come first” (as well as "My recruiter lied to me :slight_smile: )
You might want to be a boat driver, the Navy may be looking for Supply pukes, talk to a recruiter and find out.
Another source of information would be the ROTC office at the college you attend, should they have one there.

Officer Candidate School shouldn’t be difficult for you, earning a BA indicates you are capable of the academics. I had a lowly Social Science/General Studies and they taught me Engineering and Celestial Navigation (with assist from my classmates).
You might not like the military routine -example- at OCS having a well-made rack/bed was important but when I got to my ship, nobody ever checked to see if it was made. My perspective was that “They are paying me, this is what they want me to do, it will get me commissioned, I’ll do it.” It’s a game but there are reasons: it shows you can receive an order, carry it out and pay attention to detail. You give them what they want and they will give they what you want.

As far as being a rabid liberal, I don’t see that as being a negative or positive concerning the Navy/military, at no time was I issued a political philosophy/ideology, what counted was performing the mission/getting the job done.

There are currently-serving members on the Dope that are better-qualified to speak than I but I’ll be happy to relate my experiences/opinions if you wish.

9

Wow, what an extreme wealth of information from a variety of generous posters.

I wonder what it is that makes a person not last. Not knowing specifically scares me.

10

Also, my aspirations to hold a national political office are very far away. I’m seeking a glorious resume. So, even if my dreams don’t pan out, I can still be glorious.

I really didn’t know I should act that quickly. The real world approaches faster than I appreciate. A whole year? cripes

11

I am not in the military and have never served but I do know a number of naval officers for various reasons. Through them I have met quite a few VIPs over the years - mayors, congresspersons, local TV stars, Miss America and, of course, Bob Hope. I can’t say I did anything with these contacts, I met them and moved on to the buffet table, but they are there. The Navy does great parties and they invite important people when they can.

I worked onboard a ship for a while. When a US ship arrives in an offbeat port this is a big deal. The mayor might come onboard and meet the top people, lots of handshaking, a little gift exchange. The ship and captain are representatives of the US in a foreign county. This is nonpartisan national politics in action and a joy to watch.

12

The scariest part of the OP:

Last thing this country needs is more career politicians.

13

Navy, Squids - What’s not to understand??? And don’t forget to bring pie. :smiley:

Why would a person not complete OCS? Academic difficulty, unable to pass the physical fitness test, inability to adapt to the military life.
My unciteable recollection is there were 400+ candidates in my class, 30 in my company and better than 90% earned a commission. In my company 1 man had a bad knee and couldn’t pass the physical test, another man had problems with the academics in one area and was rolled back/repeated the course with the following class and was commissioned with them. I wasn’t personally acquainted with folks who requested to disenroll but I understand the powers that be attempted to dissuade them. (There wasn’t a “student pool” as mentioned by FordTaurusSHO94 in my time, I’m sure some things have changed [hopefully the mess hall no longer serves liver and rabbit at the same meal).

Below are two similar threads you may find informative.

What’s it like being an officer in the Army or Navy?

Joining the US Military. . . .

A piece of advice passed on to me by a man who did 30 years in the Marine Corps:
“Nod, smile and salute.”
(and since that was my Dad, allow me to brag: he went from E-1/Private to O-6/Colonel, from ground-pounder to Naval Aviator qualified in fixed wing, multi-engine, jet and rotary wing aircraft. I’d vote for him, even if he has gotten somewhat liberal as the years have passed.)

14

A Marine and a sailor were sitting in a bar one day arguing over which was the superior service.

After a swig of beer the Marine says, ‘Well, we had Iwo Jima.’

Arching his eyebrows, the sailor replies, 'We had the Battle of Midway.

‘Not entirely true’, responded the Marine. ‘Some of those pilots were Marines, in fact, Henderson Field on Guadalcanal was named after a Marine pilot killed at the Battle of Midway.’

The sailor responds, ‘Point taken.’

The Marine then says, ‘We Marines were born at Tunn Tavern!’

The sailor, nodding agreement, says, ‘But we had John Paul Jones.’

The argument continued until the sailor comes up with what he thinks will end the discussion. With a flourish of finality he says… ‘The Navy invented sex!’

The Marine replies, ‘That is true, but it was the Marines who introduced it to women.’

15

I totally understand the sentiment, but go about it different ways. I think politicians need to treat politics more like a career- they are employed to write legislation under civic supervision, while being paid fair wages and enjoying perks unrelated to congressional pages’ pants. That’s a topic for another day.

I guess I really do understand why some people don’t make it. What I want you to tell me is if I will make it. If not, why? I’m doing things to prepare my body and mind. Any ideas on how I could prepare my emotions for such an ordeal? Know an emotional fitness regimen?

16

Get a few of your friends to yell at you and order you to do things you consider to be pointless and inspect your space and check your shirt for Irish pennents? :wink:
OCS wasn’t like boot camp is portrayed in the movies. You will have classmates that are going thru the same thing as you are so help each other out. Pay attention. Put up with the mickey mouse because as I was told “it ain’t like this in the fleet.”
I’m heading out the door but will add more if I think of it later.

17

Here is a checklist on being navy

18

Oakminster has it right. I’m a 15-year naval officer. Most of the people I know are fairly conservative, but there are plenty of moderates like me, and the occasional liberal. Some are great officers, some not so much. IME, political ideology has no bearing on what type of officer you’ll be.

You say you’re confused–what specifically confuses you?

19

Some folks can’t adapt to the military lifestyle. (I am assuming that you can handle the academic side.)

In boot camp, I was up before dawn every day. Made to do pointless work, like polishing a brass bell that had already been polished every day for the last several years. Nitpicky uniform and bunk inspections. Push ups until my arms remained sore overnight, and then a few more. Learning to tie knots. Memorising the General Orders, and regurgitating them on demand (and out of order, if necessary). Close order drill with a nonfunctional bolt action rifle. Learning to take these pointless orders from someone I had no real respect in, because they were senior in rank to me, all the while keeping my big yap shut.

But I was enlisted, not OCS, and I am unfamiliar with the differences between the two enviornments.

For some folks, that initial training is too much of a lifestyle change, and drop out.