True or False: The military doesn’t really offer experience relevant to the real world.

[Navy for Moms Admin]

Thoughts? Opinions? Experiences? Let's hear them Navy Moms :)

"The military doesn’t really offer experience relevant to the real world."

[LisaG-WA (PeteG's Mom)]

All - I concur with all the positives that have been said thus far for the benefit of military service, and can go even further. I started out in college to be a nurse, however, after one semester I left, just couldn't keep my interest-not fast paced enough. So what did I do, I joined the Navy designated for Hospital Corps School (real leap there from Nurse to Corspman). At any rate, I loved every minute of it. I advanced to HMI, used tuition assistance and my GI bill at night to take college course, and applied for several officer programs. Lo and behold, I got picked up for the one I wanted and I went from HM1 to Ensign/USN as a Hospital Administrator. I finished both my Bachelor and Masters degrees (last with a double major) while on Active Duty. I retired at 42 with just under 25 and have been offered so many positions.....ranging from my field in hospitals to just about anything you can name. I choose to work, I don't have to work....that makes life very pleasurable! What do those civilian recruiters want.....THE TEAMWORK EXPERIENCE I gained in the Navy. I am talking over 6 figure jobs here....My boss paid me a very nice compliment the other day, he said what he admired most about me was that I build teams and am always reinventing myself....let me tell you, that skill is only taught in the real world and that world for me was the U.S. Navy. From Bosun Mate to Storekeeper, Hospital Corpsman to Hull Tech.....more is learned than just a skill. It is the camaraderie and the espirit de corps...and just as one other said in their response, knowledge beyond their years that will serve them well. The one big difference is choice...you have to CHOOSE to want the ADVENTURE. That's what I want for our son....and I'm glad he made the choice for himself...just as my retired Navy Chief Dad (ATC-Survivor of the USS WASP) and my Navy WAVE Mom (RM3 WWII) let me make for myself! Miliary Service Is What YOU Make It! Life is the journey.....not the destination.....

[Cheryl Boyer]

Wow! What a story you have to tell the Grandkids! I admire your perserverance and dedication! There is NO way you would have had those opportunities on a college payment plan...not to mention the fact that you don't have any student loans against you when you get out! Amen sister, and by the way, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!! BRAVO ZULU!!

[Kim Hier]

Hi all, my son has been in the Navy for three plus years now. My problem is he keeps telling me that there is nothing in the civilian world that he can use his skills learned in the Navy. I find that hard to believe because he is an ET/IFF tech. His primary job is to work on a radar. I think that his skills are something needed but he doesn't. Can anyone tell me what he may qualify for when he gets out!

[wendy]

My husband was in the United states Marines, My brother was Airforce reserves Military police.
I have found from both of them that the military teaches you values you dont get from college or work out in the civilian world. My husband always says you get excellent schooling, a sense of pride in self, and a work ethic like no other institution can provide. As a parent I know We taught our children these values but I think by standing on their own, learning to take care not only of themselves but others is the greatest lesson of all.

[Ralph Carpenter]

Reply by AnchorMom on May 5, 2008 at 4:08pm
Hopefully great enough to differentiate between their and they're. If your goal in life is to join the subliterate masses by giving up your right of independent and critical thought for a few years, then the Navy is a perfect fit, I guess.

The above message was on this site. WHAT an IGNORATE person. You have no idea of what you are saying. I spent 4 years in the US Air Force and it turned out to be the most informative, worthwhile 4 years of my life and I feel that experience gave me the drive, skills and desire to own my own succesful company. When you mention "subliterate masses" you are at the head of the "Masses." Enought said, I can't waste anymore time with a person of such ignorance. What have you accomplished in life?

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[Donna]

I think the Navy does offer relevant experience. It teaches them useful things for at home & the world. They learn to work as a team. My son is in the Nuke program. He is an electriain on a submarine. If he decides the Navy isn't for him anymore, he can always work as an electrician in a Nuclear Power Plant. I think the Navy teaches them life long lessons such as self-discipline & respect for themselves and others.

[Laura A]

Not true! As a former Air Force wife and a Navy mom I can't stress enough about how much I learned from my days "in service as a dependant" about life and people who are different from me. I had a sheltered childhood and getting to see different places and meet different types of people and then learning to adapt and overcome all that comes with that - wow! There aren't a lot of places to get that kind of education. I'm now a person who can handle anything and anybody that comes along and in my small hometown, I help others to see the larger picture and understand the bigger world out there.

That made me sound really pompous and important and that certainly isn't how I meant that! Through church and volunteer work at my child's school, as well as always having an open door for my kids friends, I'm able to help teach the younger generation about love and tolerance - something we all need.

Now my son is learning his first lessons about life and they Navy is teaching him well.