I want to enlist...but my family isn't thrilled...HELP?

[nicole~a sailors girl(:]

So, I want to enlist as a Navy Diver..I've talked to recruiters, i'd be leaving for boot around decemeber of 2012...but the thing is..i've brought them SO much info, i've been looking into this for MONTHS...at LEAST 8 months..I want to do this..this is EXACTLY what I want..they know of the benifits, and college, and all of that..but they aren't very encouraging...They kinda just say "okay"..

Also..my friends keep saying it's a waste of my life..and time....is there any ideas on how to get a little bit of support??

[Pat (MP)]

Hoppi, my daughter gets BAH to live off base, she doesn't have dependents and she's not married.

[Craig]

Pat, don't play into Hoppi's games. These people are like trolls, just trying to spin up as many people as they can.

I truly would love to have a debate with Hoppi because I'm fully familar with Navy rules and regulations. I can easily prove everything she is saying is false.

Here is the rule about getting single BAH. It's funny, because the Navy calls it BAH, maybe we should notify them that Hoppi says they don't.....~ha
http://www.npc.navy.mil/NR/rdonlyres/82E451D0-2B91-4720-8BC6-93522C...

[navytwins]

Wow Nicole Lee you got a lot more advice than you bargined for :) You said you are looking for advice on how to reassure your family and friends that your serious and dedicated to this life choice. There may not be much you can do beyond what you have already told them. Families are scared of losing their children to something they don't understand. As a mom of two sailors I understand missing my kids. As I mentioned before my daughter is AIRR. I wasn't sure she was serious about that choice at first and was very scared for her. But she has shown us that this choice means everything to her and she has what it takes to become a Rescue Swimmer. She still has a long road ahead of her but she has a great start. Time is probably what your family and friends need. You actions will show your family that your a serious. As the saying goes "Actions speak louder than words" Sometime it just takes a little extra time for the idea to sink in. Hang in there. Keep pushing forward with your future. Everyone that has commented here just wants to help. I hope that you take parts of all advice given and it helps you. Again good luck to you.

[nicole~a sailors girl(:]

Thank you!! I'll give it my best shot!

[navytwins]

Hey if you you would like I can let you know what my daughter is going through on her road to becoming a Rescue Swimmer. Send me a friend request if you like. I will share any information I can. Take care.

[nicole~a sailors girl(:]

Thanks!

[Craig]

Nicole,
Just remember, this is just a forum, anyone can join it, so you will find alot of miss-information here. Never listen to just one person, go around to other areas and talk to wide range of people to get to the correct answers you are looking for.

What Hoppi said "The USN doesn't pay for all the college while you are active duty. TA has changed A LOT!", it totally false. It hasn't. These are the people that will lead you down the wrong paths. Here is the actual rule that says the Navy pays 100% of your education costs up to 16 semesters hours per year. The bottom-line is If you can prove you can still do you normal job in the Navy, then you can take even more classes. They almost always waive the rules for you to do it. Here is the actual rule for paying 100% of the education cost. Which says:
"All Navy Tuition Assistance pays up-front the tuition and fees charged by educational institutions for course enrollments. Navy TA pays 100% of tuition costs for courses applicable to the completion of a high school diploma or equivalency certificate. For other education levels, there is a fiscal year credit limit of 16 Semester Hours, or 24 Quarter Hours per individual. (Waiver requests cannot exceed the FY $4500 DoD program limit.)

•Payment for tuition and fees will not exceed the following caps:
$250.00 per semester hour
$166.67 per quarter hour"

Here is the offical link:
https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/nta.cfm

The bottomline, again, anyone can join these forums. The best thing you can ever do is always ask if they have the offical rules to back of their advise. Those that are just rumor mill people can't. They just are stumbling blocks to the correct answers...They do this type of stuff just to spin people up. Don't play into them.

All I can say is "You go Girl!!!!" We have so many benefits that many people just fail to see them....

[nicole~a sailors girl(:]

Yes, I know, all school is paid, I talked to my recruiter MANY, MANY, MANY times about this, and time and time again, told me it is paid for, and those printed words that it is all paid for is also in my booklets they gave me.
I appreciate any info I can get, and I'm aware that anyone can join the forum, but some comments by people joining just aren't needed.
Thank you for all the information Craig, it's very, very helpful!

[Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)]

nicole lee - I am the mother of a son who just grad boot camp and is in schools for Spec Ops - in Air Crew Rescue.... he is now in NACCS -- I told my son to follow his dreams no matter who or what tries to influence him negatively... Hoppi is certainly NOT an example of Navy! Yes, you will have many obsticles - you just jumped over one when you jump over her negative comments! hooooyaaaaa - you are already well on your way... You go and do not stop until you have reached your dream and then keep going. My son's best friends is also going in in November and his mother was absouletly against it because of fear.... I have had the opportunity to speak with her about it and now she is comming to grips with his decision - although she is still not happy about it. I agree With Craig after doing all you can to help her understand --- you go on..... she will come around! If not - you have a life to live now as a young adult.... hoooyaaaaa nicole!!!! Yes you will meet many Hoppi's along life's road I say kick them and their "advice" to the curb and follow your instincts and dreams!!!!

[Rames]

Nicole lee--I am one of the moms who didn't want my kids to join the military--not because I wasn't informed or well educated on the life--I was a Navy wife for 9 yrs and almost all of the men in my family have been enlisted....it was a combo of fear and anxiety. I can honestly say I wasn't happy when my youngest son told me he was joining the Navy--however, I have always been PROUD of him and the research he did to come to this choice. He is a brilliant artist and was accepted to the Art Institute of Houston--he decided he didn't want to start his life in debt with student loans--so he chose a different path. I am so proud of who he is and where he is going with his life--I will be here to support him, with love and encouragement as he follows his Navy career. I am sure you are doing everything you can to bring your family and friends on board with you---hang in there, girl!!

[nicole~a sailors girl(:]

Thanks Rames, I will!!

[Anti M]

Most single sailors don't get BAH, it has to be the right circumstances, and junior sailors, hardly ever. I wouldn't tell any sailor just joining they'll get a housing allowance until much later in their enlistment. A nit-picky quibble, but both "sides" are partially correct. There are many variables in housing.

Zero education expenses? HAHAHA. I tried to complete my degree while I was active duty on shore duty. 16 semester hours is scarcely one semester, and it is difficult to find upper level courses. Much harder to find upper level courses which fit into any kind of work, duty or deployment schedule. Books are hardly free. I was called in to work so often I had to drop several classes, this happened repeatedly ... AT MY EXPENSE. Yes, the Navy made me pay back the tuition for having to drop classes after the deadline because my command needed me. Because I was an on call tech and did not have written orders for each of my absences, I had to pay it all back. Waive the rules my happy heinie!!!! Not for "essential personnel". I had to wait until I was a civilian until I could finish. I got a little money, and one hopes the new GI Bill is a lot better, because my degree was far from "free". Do the 20 years for full benefits.

That said, the Navy is still very worthwhile. Just take any sales pitch with a grain of salt and look into every detail. Ask some of us who have been there. That includes Hoppi, she is not a civilian or a dependent. I loved the Navy, but I know what is promised on paper has very strict eligibility guidelines. Never assume you know what's available, always ask for clarification and regulations.

For example: sailors earn 30 days of leave each year. Yay! Paid vacation! What isn't said is that your ship doesn't have to give you the opportunity to take all 30 days at once or at a time desirable to you. Plus, you pay for your own leisure travel. Or spouse co-location, great, we get to live together. But not if the Navy doesn't need us in the same area. Hey,the Navy will move my dependents! But not if you're headed to isolated duty or if you waited until your orders were issued to get married. Start to get the picture? It is great, but it isn't all roses. There are thorns and some of us won't BS you about that.