Entries Tagged 'Navy' ↓

So i just got back in South Carolina, after two weeks of leave back home in California.. and i have to say leave was quite the needed relief although being back.. i already want to go on leave again. i spent 2 weeks on leave with Family and friends. which was quite fun, although it totally threw off my sleeping and eating habits i lost 5 pounds during leave just because of that. I spent alot of time with my friends.. some of them kept me out WAY to late.. like 3am and its not like we even went and did anything we just sat and talked. im glad im back in South Carolina… another couple of days and i would have had too much fun, and probably wouldnt have come back. i mean after all i was given the option of moving to canada by one of my friends…

Anyway now that im back.. ive started what is called T-Track. T-Track is OK, im not gonna lie (i really hate that phrase, but i picked it up from a friend while i was on leave), its different from what im used to. But i still have not decided whether or not i like T-Track, i guess i will find out tomorrow when i stand my first official watch. Basically T-Track is where they put all the students on hold. i am on hold until the end OCT. which means in the mean time they have to find something for us to do… So i clean, and clean, and clean oh and then i stand watch. But during T-Track you definately get more free time then when you are in A-School.. the difference is that in A school you got the free time at the end of the week in one lump. here on T-track you get more free time, but its spread out through out the week and odds are you wont get the weekend  completely off. Anyway i should go to bed as i have quite the long day tomorrow. i have to clean from 0545 to 1500 and then at 2345 i have watch until 0600 the next day in which i then muster for cleaning at 0740 until 1200 where i finally get lunch and then go to PT at 1300… then.. i will finally be done for the day and be allowed to go to bed.

I love NFAS (Nuclear Field A School), it sucks. I know what youre thinking… NFAS is an awesome place the instructors are always here to help you no matter how simple or complex youre problem or how smart or stupid you are. But being in the building everyday from about 0600 to 2000 really sucks the life out of you. Theres so much information they put out everday, and we take on average about 20pages of notes. Im surprised i retain as much as i do, let alone any of it.

My class average is a 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. I myself am at a 3.2, which isnt really acceptable, since i have scored as low as i did, i go in every morning and get basically like a 1-on-1 tutoring session for about 30minutes every morning. which is great i really appreciate the instructor being there so early. Then i sit through class, finally lunch comes around i either 1)bring lunch to eat  and study in the building, or 2) go to the galley eat really quick, to fit in a quick bit of studying. and then class starts again, and i am  in there until 1600, YES! class finally ended… oh wait! i still have 2-3hrs of homework and i still need to study.

I used to be the kid that never studied and still managed to pull a B average- the school here, is alot harder than i ever expected. I wish i would have taken class on this at Sierra College before i shipped out, it would have made things a whole lot easier here. Here there are very few students who manage to get away with putting in less than 10hrs a week, and in my class few people put in less than 20, i myself average about 25hrs every week. I love it here, love learning so much everyday, but do wish that sometimes things would just slow down a little just a little bit (or maybe throw in a few extra holidays) .

So, as some of you have already heard, i am finally at my “A” School -NNPTC, after being on hold for about a month, i have finally made it to where i am supposed to be…

The Good News

• rules are more relaxed
• cell phones are allowed
• food is EXCELLENT
• laptops allowed
• liberty on the weekends (done in phases)

Bad News

• Im the new guy, the only new guy… (that will only last a couple of days)
• the base is huge and takes forever to walk anywhere
• i dont have anything ( there is a list of stuff i need to go buy)
• my cell phone and laptop havent arrived yet

Overall i have to say that it is pretty cool here, its pretty much like a college campus. So far i have only been here 24hrs and i am enjoying it. i havent started class yet though i am still learning the ropes and waiting for the next group to get here so that we can start school.  Its amazing how different it is here- i went from RTC (boot camp base) where everyday there was yelling and rule were very strict, to a more NNPTC which is more like a college campus where we all wear uniforms. i have to say i rather enjoy it here and cant wait to start classes and get all situated.

So i finally graduated boot camp to reach a single disappointment… im still at boot camp…. though i am no longer treated like a recruit, it still sucks to be stuck here where it is -20 degrees…. as opposed to where i am supposed to be, its 79 degrees. though my peacoat does look pretty shnazzy… id still prefer to be in south carolina instead of here…

soooooooooooooooooooooo………………………………………whats new? message me back, let me know

SO…..Good news and bad news.
I graduated boot camp friday february 8th… however there is a problem
with my medical records and i will be on hold until it all gets taken care
of. meaning i will be at boot campon THU ( Temporary Hold Unit). So it is
basicallylike still bein in boot camp. its not too bad, because they are
easieron me however i am still on restrictions and not allowed to do alot
of things like use the computer and phones (freely) i have to squeeze it
in and get permission to do that kind of stuff..

the rumor going around from all the other sailors around is that i will
probably be here on hold for about 4months… even though all i need is a
signature to complete my medical records…

so only time will tell until i getto leave for my “A” School… Until then
i will try to keep people updated.

If you would like to contact me please go to

http://www.pureintellect.com/blog/my-address

As of 4pm today I now belong to the US Navy for the next 6 years. Boot camp is 9 weeks long so i should be home sometime soon after that. If you want my address check back here in about a week. Stacey will be posting updates on my blog for me while I am gone. So if you have any questions she is the one to direct them too.

p.s. Branden wants me to post letters on here that have updates about what and how he is doing so if you have any letters you want posted here for others to read just let me know and i will post them.

If you havent already read my post, “Why I Joined The Navy”, i suggest you do that first. I knew for awhile i wanted to join the military. For many reasons.

Honor & Respect
Make A Difference.
Give Something Back
Teamwork & Brotherhood
Discipline & Personal Improvement
Serving My Country
Defend Freedom
Experience of a Lifetime
Education
Solid Job & Great Benefits

Honor & Respect
The biggest reasons for me are honor and respect. Very few people ever disrespect those who have served our country. Respect and Honor are things i (as well as many others) live with and for everyday.

Make A Difference
Theres a part in everyone thats wants to know they did something of worth. something that will make a difference, and for me, i know the military is the beginning of my making a difference.

Give Something Back
This country has provided me with so many things. Its time for
I have spent alot of my time giving back to my community, from coaching to tutoring, but thats not enough. I need more, I know that the military can do that for me.

Teamwork & brotherhood
Have you ever wanted to be part of somethin bigger? Wanted to take part in one of America’s oldest traditions? Working as a team is one of the most fulfilling things in my life. its a great experience being part of a team. If you have ever played a sport, you know what thats like. Imagine being part of a team that spans the globe.
Discipline & Personal Improvement
“We hate to go through the rigors that discipline demands, but we are pleased with and proud of the outcome it produces. We hate dieting, but we like losing
weight. We loathe going to the gym, but we like to be fit”. This is entirely true, and the military will help me through the rigors of gaining the discipline. It will help me improve both my mind and body. They will help me learn new skills, and get in shape.

Serve My Country
I believe it is my patriotic duty to support this country. I live in this country, enjoy its freedoms, and live by its rules. I should give something back and support my country, so that those who come after me can continue to enjoy the liberties and rights of this country that i have enjoyed.

Defend Freedom
Freedom isnt free. I enjoy my freedoms, and dont want to lose them, therefore i feel the need to defend them and the american way of life

Experience Of A Lifetime
With less than 1% of the United States population on Active duty military and less than 12% of the US population being veterans. Its quite an experience to be part of such small percent of people. You can travel around the world, and get paid to do it. You can be part of “The Few and The Proud”.

Education
With education being so expensive these days, and the military paying for with both tuition assistance and the G.I. bill thats a great reason right there.. its job while youre in school.

Solid Job & Great Benefits
Two words. Job Security. the military will always be there. Never have to worry about losing your job. Not to mention the great benefits you get the second you start. 100% medical/dental.  30 days a year of paid vacation. Think about it, at any other company you would have to work there 10-15 years to get those kind of benefits.

It took me awhile, just ask the recruiters. But i finally picked a branch, and the right one for me too. I knew i was joining the military, i had made that choice a long time ago. I just didnt know what i wanted to do, or what branch. After visiting all 4, it finally came down to 2.

The Marines
 The Marines are what i wanted to join because, well they have all the hype. They have the cool commercials, and posters… theyre everywhere. So i went to the Marine recruiter first. Sat down and talked. I was excited, i thought i had made the right choice. Well there was a flaw. I didnt know what i wanted to do, and the recruiter didnt explain the process to me. He just started having me fill things out. Looking back on the experience, the real problem was a lack of communication between me and the recruiter as well as my own ignorance of the military. Basically, i sat down with the recruiter gave him my interests he asked me if i was ready to join the Marines, i said no, not until i finish college (that was the agreement i made with my parents). So he agreed to that, and we started filling out the paperwork to go down to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). Well in my own ignorance, i was under the impression that once you were down at MEPS you were in the Marines (or whatever branch you join). So as you can imagine i was apprehensive about going down there. I told the recruiter i didnt want to join YET! As he did his job, he continued trying to convince me that i did and that i “needed to step up and be a man” and make my own choices.

Eventually i walked away from the Marines office, and i told them i didnt want to join.
 
The Navy
After i walked away from the Marines, i went down to the Navy office just around the corner. There i was met by people who were, less intense, more personable. Overall I was more comfortable the second i met the Navy recruiters. Now, dont take that the wrong way, the Marine recruiters were great people, i have nothing against them, but think about it like a any other purchase, the better you click with the salesman, the more you will likely you are to buy what they are selling.

The Navy recruiters took things nice and slow, at my pace and explained the whole process along the way, they made it very clear that you could NOT join the Navy, in the recruiting office. They made things very clear. They also made it clear that joining the Navy didnt mean just shipping out to boot camp right after joining.

Once again i told the recruiter i didnt want to join until after i had finished college and gotten my degree. They asked how long that would be, i told them at the end of the current semester (December). So basically he handed me some paperwork to read and review, to help me understand what it was i was doing. In addition, they gave me paperwork for things like FBI background check, police record checks, ASVAB, and some possible jobs to do some research on. So why did i join the Navy? “Because Cheif Kraft told me too” Really the only reason i joined the Navy over any branch was because i liked the recruiters more. They listened to what i had to say, and were there to help me make my decision.

So know you know why i joined the Navy, but why did i join the military? read my blog to find out…