It's Finally Time

I've been slacking, I know, but up until now there hasn't been much going on except for monthly DEP meetings, which have been rather uneventful.

But now all that's about to change. I ship out at 1000 for RTC Tuesday, after an overnight stay at Fort Lee. Not only am I leaving to start my life, but this will be the first time I've ever been on a plane. Too bad I can't have a beer on the flight and I'll have to pee in a cup for the millionth time upon arrival (I know they test for THC and all that but I don't want to take any chances).

I've been freaking out inside the past few days, but I think I finally got all that out of my system, and though I'm a bit anxious, I'm mostly excited about this. I can't help but grin all stupid when I'm asked about it. A co-worker yesterday commented that she hadn't seen me smile this much ever.

If I can find some time I may post again before I leave, but if not, thanks to all who have supported me. It means a lot. Really.

See y'all in a few months!

2012 Election

I took an oath when I enlisted to support, protect, and defend this country and its Constitution. Something which my president and commander-in-chief doesn't believe in.

I am so very disappointed in you, America.

The Midshipmen Do Gangnam Style

Your Options

1. Support me
2. Get the hell out of my way


As with most life decisions, everybody's got advice. Problem is it's always unsolicited and negative.

Of Promotions And Art

Well! Been a while yeah? I do apologize. Not much has been going on, but I shall make up for that with this post!

First things first. I have some awesome news for you guys! I was made Port Watch Section Leader of my DEP pool! :D What this means is that I am part of the DEP chain of command, and serve as a liaison between my 6 Future Sailors and the recruiters/superior DEP leaders. I've been basking in this glory all day.


OK, now that I've done my bit of bragging, onward to my Navy arts and crafts project.

So remember that sketch I posted? Well, now I had to get that onto that big piece of paper. Here are my tools for the job.

And so the mission begins...

COLORING! Seriously, who doesn't enjoy this?

Now, I could have just used markers and shit, but no. Being the dedicated Future Sailor that I am, I opted for...GLITTER GLUE. Fuck yeah.

And so 3 hours, a beer, and a Full Throttle later, we have ourselves a beautifully crafted masterpiece.

Why

I suppose it's time I address the age old question that may or may not be sitting in the back of your mind. Now that I've had some time to contemplate it myself, I shall attempt to answer that.


First off, I've always had this fascination with ships. I'm talking older ships, not these floating resorts people take cruises on. Yes, there's one particular ship that sparked this interest, but that's a bit irrelevant. And though I've never been on one, or been out to sea, I've always imagined it to be a rather freeing experience, like being on a motorcycle. This appeals to me. And so somehow my interests brought me to, at a rather young age, wanting to join the Navy some day, so I could satisfy the desire to, well, go out to sea. Tied into this is the fact that military service seems to quite literally run in the family. My grandpa was in the Army, an uncle served in the Air Force, and I've been told that my ancestors on my grandmother's side fought in the Revolutionary War. How true that is I don't know.

Second, I'm finding it difficult to advance where I work. After nearly 2 years of working there, and after all the things I've learned since being hired, all that has gotten me is a position in which I find no satisfaction, nor is there a career path I could follow. Of course, it doesn't help that I'm not on management's "Favorites" list, either. I know I am capable of much more than I am doing, and it frustrates me that I am not able to see just how far I can run with it. Also, things just aren't the same around the place, and I don't like the direction things are headed. Sure, I could look for a different job, but the situation is always the same: Everybody wants experience, but nobody wants to train. I don't even know how good the chances are of getting a full-time position that pays at least what I make now. Given the state of the economy, it looks as if I've gotten as far as I can go, and that is sad.

Thirdly, I want to be able to say I did something with my life. I want to do something to make myself and my family proud.

Lastly, I would be lying if I told you that 9/11 didn't play a part in my decision. I love my country. I love what we stand for. For a terrorist group to attack that, for me, was unacceptable and almost offensive. By doing this, hopefully I can help make the world a little bit safer, not for me, but for who I care about.

"We will not fail."

Say what you will about the man, but I certainly don't see any quotes from Obama hanging off our ships.

HOOYAH

Navy Arts And Crafts

Today's DEP meeting went a lot better than last month's. No one pissed hot, no one was rude, so YAY NO LECTURE! :D We discussed some of the first aid training we'd receive at recruit training, military time, and the phonetic alphabet.

Petty Officer Williams also assigned us a lovely arts and crafts project to do. Each of us was assigned an officer rank, and we have to draw the relevant insignia onto this huge piece of paper, and bring it with us at next month's DEP meeting. I was assigned the rank of Captain, and figured I'd got fairly lucky...until I saw the collar device.

However, as a future ET, I took this challenge head on, intending to dominate like a boss.

About an hour and a half later, after cussing whoever designed the collar device for this rank, I had a rough sketch of my insignia. I am no artist by any means, and although my eagle may look..."special," I'm actually quite pleased with myself.

Ship Porn

Keep Your Hands Off My Thunder

Why does it have to be labeled an "obsession?" Why can't it be called what it is? Calling my dedication to the Navy an obsession makes me feel like I'm 13 again, having my enthusiasm for subjects downplayed and degraded as a phase. Quite honestly it makes me sound like a loon, or like all I do in my free time is watch JAG all day, and I don't appreciate it.

Perhaps my little "obsession" would be more socially acceptable if my energy was directed at fantasy football, or making 10,000th Prestige in Call of Duty, or running marathons. But no, it's the military, which one's desire to join is verbally commended but rarely understood, as if a person couldn't possibly want to join other than to get a free ride to college.

But whether you believe this or not, this interest, dare I say love, for the Navy started at 12. Yes, it has faded in and out throughout my life, but it has always been there. This is very important to me. Do I take it seriously? Of course. Do I constantly think about it? No. But the fact is that right now, not much else matters to me. Prepping for recruit training is where my focus is right now, and my random posts of ships and whatnot on my Facebook page that are my own personal motivation are so offensive to your eyeballs, imagine how I feel when you flood my newsfeed with all your "likes" of kids with cancer to "prove" you're not a heartless, cold, wretch of a human being.

I'm sorry you don't have anything in your life that doesn't interest you beyond a "like" on Facebook, or that doesn't give your life a bit of enrichment, but don't fucking go raining on my parade. This is all I've wanted in life. I am not ashamed to say I shed some tears after taking the oath of enlistment. To date, that's the proudest day of my life, and fuck if I'm going to let you steal my thunder.

Haterade

Oh FFS just shut up. You're just mad that for once, someone you deem to be "beneath you" is going to be doing more with their life than you ever will.

Your know-it-all attitude is wearing on my last nerve. When I leave, you'll still be where you are. And when I come back, you'll still be where you are.

Haterade is a nasty thing. You really should stop drinking it.

Seriously?

How many forms have y'all signed stating that you won't do drugs and you understand the Navy's policy on that?

Y'all know better.

Since I've been in DEP (which has only been a month now), 2 recruits have been kicked out for pissing hot. The fuck you guys?

On the other hand, if you would rather do that, by all means, DO IT. Get kicked out. Because if you can't be trusted to keep your nose clean, I can't trust you to have my back at sea. And frankly, we shouldn't have to get lectured about this at every meeting. It's ridiculous.

BDU Project Update

I got a pin for my rate! :D

Gun Prayer

Probably more suited for the Army or Marines, but should you ever find yourself needing to defend your ship...

Bit Of Religion For You

Capt. Ramius' Speech

Because it's Saturday.

Epic Russian singing included.

BDU Jacket Project

Alright so, waaaayyy back in the day, when I was in middle school, I received some of my uncle's things from his time in the Air Force. Mostly patches, but somewhere in there was a BDU jacket (back before this digital camo bullshit they have now). I put the patches on this jacket, along with some from the Army as my grandpa served in that branch. So this BDU jacket became something like a tribute to my family's military service.

Fast forward a few eons (least that's what it feels like). I found a plain, solid navy BDU jacket, and got this bright idea to do the same thing, but with Navy patches. Funny thing is, this was decided before I'd even stepped inside the recruiting office. Anyway. I bought the jacket and a back patch to start off with. Right now it's kind of ratchet and held on with iron-on adhesive, because I'm impatient. I think I'll ship it to my aunt down in Newport News so she can sew it on properly while I'm away learning how to fight fires on ships and stuff like that. So yeah, this project began as just a "Hell Yeah The Navy" type deal, and then I found myself signing the contract, and figured "Hell, why not put my own shit on here?!" Makes sense, yeah? Thought so.

Leviathan

FUCK. YES.




Thank you Dad for bringing this to my attention.

Independence Day

Happy Independence Day. Hooyah.

First DEP Meeting

To be honest, it was less exciting that I thought. First we had to weigh in to make sure none of us were at our over our max weight for our height. No big deal. Petty Officer Battle was amazed at how many future sailors didn't know how to enter the recruiting office (in a bad way, mind you). I was surprised myself because that was the first thing my recruiter taught me when we got back from MEPS. And this time I TOOK MY TIME asking permission to come aboard, and managed not to slur my last name! It's the small victories in life...

The main topic of the meeting was veterans' benefits, direct deposit, and other financial stuff, which supposedly is covered in depth in a 135 page packet. This was discussed after we introduced ourselves to each other, stating name, rate, ship date, and why we joined the Navy. Pretty much everyone said the same thing, which involved paying for college. I summed it up by basically saying "Because it's the Navy and I want to be out at sea." That's the bare bones, no bullshit reason. I simply want to be in the U.S. Navy.

And then Petty Officer Battle gave us a bit of a talkin'-to concerning our attitudes towards each other. Apparently, some of the Future Sailors got snippy with one another (I honestly don't know, I was making sure I filled out my paperwork correctly), and she had overheard that. Being about 10 years older than pretty much everybody else, I was initially surprised that even needed to be brought up, but then again, these are 17-20 year olds, some fresh out of high school, and I reckon they needed a kick in the ass.

After the meeting, Petty Officer Williams said to the others to "watch" me, because I'd be over all of the other Future Sailors one day. To have someone in a position that I respect, in the branch of service that means so much to me, say that, in front of everyone else, and acknowledge my dedication really meant a lot to me. My whole life, even though I've done well in school and at work, I've been regarded as merely average, received no recognition, and generally been ignored. It's a strange feeling, to suddenly be recognized as having so much potential. It's actually rather sad that a person who's only known me for about 3 weeks can see more in me than the managers who see me every night for nearly 2 years.

Motivation

A lot of people collect motivational (yet often horribly cliche) quotes they find on Tumblr in an effort to inspire themselves.

However, all I need is one photo.

Being A Future Sailor

So I'm a Future Sailor. Great, but what exactly does that mean?

Basically, that means that I am actually in the military (I even have myself a nice ID that gets me onto base), but on "inactive duty." Given my status, I have obligations to my recruiter and to the Navy that I'm expected to fulfill.

From now until the day I leave for Recruit Training, I must:
- Check in with my recruiter every Monday
- Attend a DEP meeting every first Tuesday of the month
- Wear my uniform (which is just a T-shirt I was given) every time I go to the recruiting office
- Enter and exit the recruiting office in a military manner, which includes saluting the flag and asking permission to come aboard/go ashore. This creates a problem as my last name is kind of long and awkward to say, and so when I say "Future Sailor ________ requesting permission to come aboard," I end up having quite a mouthful of words, and it can get frustrating trying to get them all out.
- Remember NOT to address the other Petty Officers and the Chief as "sir" or "ma'am." This is a big no-no, as I've come to find out.
- Know the Sailor's Creed, 11 General Orders Of A Sentry, ranks, chain of command, and be familiar with some basic military drill/etiquette


I had my 72 hour indoctrination this past Tuesday, which basically was me signing a bunch more forms saying that I won't do drugs, won't tolerate their use amongst other sailors, and if I do do drugs, I get kicked out. This is not even an issue with me, as I've never even touched weed (or anything else) in my whole life.

Oh and I snagged a bunch of Navy stickers too, so now my truck is properly decorated, as well as my locker at work.


My Future Sailor kit

Enlisting

Well, in about a week's time I went from civilian night shift worker to being in the Navy. Quite an experience I must say.

At first, I merely wanted to join the Navy Reserve, but after a bit of reflection coupled with some encouragement from my recruiter, I decided that active duty would make me happiest. And so almost within a week of walking into the office for the first time, I was being sworn in and receiving my Future Sailor kit.

MEPS was, well, an interesting experience. I arrived last Wednesday at Fort Lee to take the ASVAB. It was rather hot that day, which made the whole experience a bit more uncomfortable. All I had done was walk and my pants were sticking to my butt. Oh and I was cussing the computer during the math portions...because math and I do not get along well. Anyway. I got a 79.

Thursday began painfully early for me, having to get up 4:45 a.m. and having only an hour to get ready and eat before the bus back to Fort Lee left the hotel. Well, no sooner had I gotten my breakfast the bus pulled up and everybody made a mad dash for the door. I chugged my orange juice and nearly inhaled a sausage link and 2 pieces of bacon whilst en route to the bus. Very classy, I must say. In my defense, I had no idea when I'd be able to eat next. The medical portion of my processing actually began around 7 a.m. and lasted until about 11 a.m. I had to "duckwalk." They drew blood, leaving a pretty nasty bruise on my arm in the process. A strange man saw more of me than I would have liked. Oh and I had to drink 6 cups of water so I could pee for the urinalysis. I ended up having to pee like a race horse for the rest of the afternoon as well.

There was a lot of waiting. The worst part was waiting to pick my rate. The Navy liaisons seemed to take forever to get to me. I got very fidgety. Eventually it was my turn, and I was lucky enough to get one of the rates I wanted, which was Electronics Technician. After more waiting, I was finally sworn in around 4:30 that afternoon. It was at that point that I was officially enlisted into the U.S. Navy. I won't lie, I did get a bit emotional, as this was really all I wanted since I was about 12 years old. I plan to re-enlist for as long as the Navy will allow me to. Hooyah.