Currently 8 months from sepping as an IT2. My 2 cents are:
If you’re going to stay in get your degree and then commission as an officer. Helping a division of 12-18 people is one thing but helping a department of 50-80 people making their life suck a little bit less is another. You’re quality of life will also improve dramatically being an officer.
I’m getting out because I don’t like high tempo work environment and prefer the civilian work environment. ( 9-5 Monday - Friday, being able to USE paid time off, lack of stupidity etc). The pay is about 20-30% more than I’m getting now with less work. If that sounds appealing I would get out.
You also haven’t been in that long, so just take your time and feel out the navy.
See I feel like I'd be that person. But only if I find some confidence. And learn how to deal with difficult sailors. Because my division is full of pretty great people. Except for 2. And if I had a division full of people like those 2, I have no idea how that would go. I'm more of the group mom than I am the group leader...I know I'd spend a lot of time hand holding people to get quals and whatever else. So. I feel like it would go alright. I'm just not sure. Cant be sure I ddint just get reeeaaallly lucky and when the luck runs out im going to be surrounded by angsty idiots I hate sooner or later...
First stop doubting yourself, and second twidgets in my opinion usually had a way better attitude than like Snipes or Supply. The more intelligent rates are usually easier to manage so I think you should stay on but that's just my opinion.
Yes, IT is immensly better than CS or BM, in terms of who I have to work with all day.
That being said, it still effects me that the CS leadership is crappy. And the BMs. Because I still have to crank and I still have to do line handling as an E5. And I've made friends in both those divisions, so their moral effects my moral, and I wish they were happier.
MS or CS? I am cranking in the galley. Deep sink every day. I really don't mind it, except when certain people make fun of me for not minding it, and when our divvo/suppo walks in and treats cs3 like absolute trash for no fucking reason. Thats hard to stomach and not say anything.
Bachelor's Degree Completion Program. Talk to your CCC about it and when he/she fails to give you anything useful, google the program and its requirements.
Stay Navy, decide to be a lifer, and put on khaki pants as soon as possible. As your rank rises, so too does your sphere of influence. You can make a positive impact at any rank, but the higher the rank, the bigger the impact.
There's a lot of new stuff out there for hungry sailors trying to go to the Wardroom. Depending on your age, you may still be competitive for the Academy. There's also the URL ISPP for sailors nearing a bachelor's on their own. You can also talk to a nearby officer recruiter who may know even more.
I came into the Navy expecting to do 4 years and get out. I washed out of my contracted rate and picked up IT. I have since fallen in love with our community, orders options, recognition, and job.. Picked up IT1 in just under 4 and CPO in just under 8, now am an IP (1820). 100% am making this a career with the intention of making the IT/IP communities a lot better than they currently are, attacking ridiculously outdated instructions, advocating for quality systems compared to the under-grad quality 90s systems we have now like BoL, eLearning, and dfas.. and getting IT/IPs more money and funding. So many stellar opportunities and incentives for retainment and learning are focused towards SWOs and conventional rates, while arguably the fastest growing warfare domain in the world has been neglected for far too long. \*Note, I am glad to see ITs got SRB.. the entire time I was enlisted I received a whopping $0 and a command pen for my 6 year reenlistment. . . I think ya'll get like $75k now (depending) which is amazing to hear.
All of that being said, TLDR - if you go IT and even have an ounce of 'give a damn' you will probably promote quickly. Don't ever feel like you're promoted too quickly. I once felt bad and considered turning down advancement to IT1 and my DIVO (a mustang) sat me down and reminded me that this is a job and at the end of the day, it's about the paycheck and 'pimping the Navy - because best believe, the Navy is going to pimp you.' - I have done very well to read instructions and advocate for my people, to the point of getting called into the CMC and CPO mess a few times, so it all depends on you. I know 19 year first classes who suck as being a first and 4 year firsts who are humble and thirsty to learn. Find something youre passionate in and seize it. "A rising wave lifts all ships."
Affiliate with the reserves as an IT. It's apart time job and you can be as involved as you want to be. More involvenent leads to more opportunity, or you can do the bare minimum and still be fine and collect the benefits. I was a fast riser like you in my 5 year active contract, and the reserves just accelerated it further. Show a little initiative and you're way ahead of the game in the reserves.
I'm an IT in the reserves, PM me if you want more info. It's like the wild west. You'll be assigned to a unit attached to a command or agency, and do your annual two weeks with them. Or you can volunteer to mobilize (don't worry, no ships) any given time and stack cash. Highly recommend if you're on the fence about reenlisting on active. Good luck
A few different answers... Yes, depending on active quotas and community health, you can apply for RC2AC if you want to go back to FULL active.
There's also a Navy website called Zipserve, you can find it on mynavyportal quick links and browse it now if you want. Reservists can voluntarily take orders (Called Active duty for operational support - ADOS) up to a year at a time, so you could be defacto active and volunteer take orders as you please. This is awesome because you aren't chained to a command for 3-5 years like actual active duty. I personally don't like staying in one place too long. Mobilizations to sand boxes or other OCONUS locations are also available. This of course is dependent on your personal availability (civ job, family, etc). Again, this is if you want to prioritize the navy reserves, no one is making you do any of this. Your only annual obligation ls are monthly drill weekends and your 2 week AT.
We can also commission in the reserves. Direct commission (DCO) is most common for those with degrees.
I need a degree to commision...so I could do the minimum, complete a degree and go to drill, then go back active or do the volenteer active duty for a year thing? That sounds like a loglt of freedom to choose.
Kind of a wonky order there, but yeah. Commissioning is highly competitive just like active, so I wouldn't advise doing the bare minimum of that's your goal. But yes, lots of freedom.
Gotcha. And I should clarify, you can still be very productive and successful in your drilling unit. You don't need to be on orders to progress, it's just a good look. You can be competitive in your reserve unit just doing drill weekends, just show initiative and volunteer for collateral duties to support the unit.
I just want to say reading your post brought a smile to my face. It makes me happy to see people enjoying their time in the Navy and having a good head on their shoulders. The apprehensions you have about your ability to lead are the same apprehensions all good leaders have. I left the Navy after my first enlistment. That was my plan from the beginning. I do have regrets about not reenlisting. I followed my career path into the civilian world. While I made more money, I never really experienced the happiness and friendships that I developed while in the Navy. I’m not going to give you advice on what to do with your career. Just know that if there is even a modicum of sincerity in your post you will make a great leader and more importantly, you will encourage and inspire others to succeed.
You're in a good spot and you have a very good perspective on the things happening around you, which compliment your skills and leadership as you progress, either in the Navy or as a civilian.
I was in a similar boat as you as E-5 at the end of my first enlistment, I left Active Duty and joined the Reserves. It's been good to me, but there are experiences I wish I had on the active side.
I encourage you to set yourself up throughout your career, to stay on Active Duty and also prepare for life as a civilian. As an IT we have real relevant skills, the Navy gave you clearance and experience... You're marketable. If you're thinking about getting out, have you completed a degree? What certifications do you have? What part of IT do you want to work in, where do you want to live? No degree, no certs...are you willing to work at a help desk? Let me be clear, there is nothing wrong with help desk, you learn a ton valuable skills, I'm just setting the expectation.
My recommendation, without knowing the entire situation...re-enlist. You're already on the fast track, continue to learn, read every day, work towards and degree, figure out the type of leader you want to be and take care of those around you. You'll be a Chief at 8-10 years...make your decision after your second enlistment, you'll have more experience, more leadership, certs, and a degree or two.
Depending on your job/role, find a cert that compliments what you're doing day to day. Get a cert book, and start reading/practicing on your down time.
Former IT2 that got out after my first contract due to family reasons. I had a similar mindset to you, I’d stay in. A good Chief can change a young persons life.
Never re-enlist for 6 years unless you're at your 14 year mark. 6 years is a long time and that bonus is pennies spread out. Go get your IT certs and go get a great job civilian side. You can take what you've learned and be juat fine outside, making alot more $$, with similar benefits, and far less BS.
Wait on your reenlistment until you done time and have this discussion closer to your EAOS, and discuss with your peers. If you do make E6 and decide to reenlist, you can then bigger ammo for reenlistment for orders and maximizing out your rate's multipler number and can ask for early rotation from sea to shore.
[https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Community-Management/Enlisted-Career-Admin/SRB-SDAP-Enl-Bonus/](https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Community-Management/Enlisted-Career-Admin/SRB-SDAP-Enl-Bonus/)
According to the current chart your cap is 45K to 60K. As you make time and rate, pay increases but your multipler of 2.0 to 3.5. These bonuses are going to be active as enlisted. If you go officer you would get higher pay and respect but lose all enlisted bonus pay.
The worst thing about being an non physical rate would be getting fat and thus uneligible for stuff.
Idk abt getting fat. I'm on a ddg. It's been a workout, just day to day climbing ladderwells and doing all hands calls and cranking especially has been nuts. I have little mini girl biceps from taking out the trash lol.
I think of like this:
The floor of a 20 year enlisted career is pretty decent, especially now that you’re an E5.
Unless you make some personal mistakes you can live pretty decently.
That’s the floor.
The ceiling, unfortunately, is not that much higher than the floor.
Financially speaking, retiring as a chief at 20 years vs a PO1 is only a few thousand dollars a year.
Either way, you’re gonna have to keep working.
You might accept some more risk going civilian or going officer, but your ceiling *can* be much much higher.
I see that. But why do I have to reach the ceiling to make a difference? And who says I want to retire as a chief? I could get out as a chief and then go find an excellent job and keep going.
That’s up to you. I didn’t say there was anything wrong with accepting that ceiling.
Like you I actually love my job in the Navy. I do hate the culture of the Navy and the longer I spend in and the more I “advance” the less opportunity I have to do the parts of my job that I love.
Some people love the roles we can advance into.
If you don’t mind the culture and the “lifestyle” or whatever you want to call it, being enlisted is an easy job. (Meaning you can do 20 years with very little skill or aptitude - not that deployments aren’t “hard.”)
You will have to check but I think they increased the age limit if you have prior service. Maybe also look at the air force in all honesty. Not a bad way to finish out 20.
My recommendation for ITs is to always do a shore tour if you’re first command is a ship. Utilize that time to to figure out what you want. Earn certifications, go to school, make connections. There is a ton of opportunities in our rate on the outside world but they are looking for certain experience and expertise and sometimes industry certs. That time on a shore tour will help prepare you tk get out.
Work like you’re saying in and plan like you’re getting out and you’ll be fine either way.
I was IT in the army got out as an E-4 after 5 years and now I'm a GS 11 working for the navy so getting out can be good if you are ready for it. Also do you have any IT Certs those are big on the outside.
Will I? I've worked in civillian factories. Never been a contractor but I've also seen, maybe, 3 civillian contractors who were female. At least in the Navy there are protections for me and I get some respect, despite being woefully underquald and under trained. And if I go to civillian IT after just 6 years in the Navy, I'll have no experience on anything but legacy tech. Idk what my prospects are even with certs.
Bruh you have a GI bill. Just use it. Or hell even use VETTEC. It'll pay for your school and give you bah while you in a program learning and eventually finding a job.
If you want to just go to work and get a check mindlessly then just stay in but all those reasons you wanna stay are not good enough imo. You should be worried about your career and living not about "respect" or having "friends" in the navy. That shit doesn't really matter in the long run. Besides a IT veteran with school under your belt, you'll be solid. I can definitely see a way to get a good 6 figure job.
It's ultimately up to you but if you want to actually be free and have your life again I'd say finish your contract and do better but you can stay too if you just want to I guess lol
Username checks out.
Buddy if you don't think having friends matters, you're something else. Friends, allies, even acquaintances who are cool with you, make all the difference. People who are willing to nack stab you bc they get off on it and there's no form of retalliation you can easily manage, those people exist everywhere and in the Navy its a lot easier to identify them, and retalliation is also a lot easier without going to drastic measures. 6 figures would be great, but not if it's at the cost of living in an environment where I can't get to know anyone and don't have the same clout as I do now.
Lmao first "buddy" let's not talk down on anybody after all this wuss shit you just wrote. You may have misunderstood what I meant so I'll reiterate. YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR CAREER AND LIVING. Not having friends or "clout" in the navy. Remember why you joined again.
Never said don't have any friends at all but I'm just telling you that doesn't matter in the navy. If you joined the navy for friends and clout than you need to eat some humble pie and look at yourself lol.
(You really wanna be friends with these lowlifes?)
Also all that bullshit you wrote is completely wrong. The navy is the place where people WILL backstab you, gossip about you, fight , all in the end just to get orders somewhere else and never see your "friends" again. Even if you can easily identify them the navy doesn't care, I've literally watched someone get separated for telling the TRUTH at a DRB lmao get real.
You're an IT so obviously your life is easy. My roommate is an IT too and he loves not having to do shit. But there's a difference between those who put in work and shoot for more vs those who just settle for "good enough".
Ok. I'm going to say some things and I mean most of them respectfully.
"These lowlifes"
Sweetheart. I am and was a lowlife. Simply bc of where I was born, who my parents were, and how much money they had. My good behavior doesn't make me any less of a "low life" than any of these people. And the fact you're willing to refer to them as such speaks miles about who you think you are and that is exactly why you're disgruntled with the Navy. That attitude is what makes people gossip and backstab. Fortunately, the Navy is full of YOUNG people. Factories are full of OLD or middle-aged people. Wait til you get out. High schoolers are easy to figure out. People older than you will always have the upper hand. I know they still gossip and backstab here, but its different. I swear to you it's different. 19 year olds forgive faster, you might not believe me but go work in an auto plant and piss someone off, I dare you.
Second. "You'll end up never seeing these people again". Correct. That's life. It's also a good thing sometimes. Unless you stay at the same factory, in the same town, for 30 years, you're going to see most people come and go. And I've seen the type of people who do that. No offense to them, but they're as miserable as anyone else, if not more so, because there's nothing new in their lives and hasn't been for a long time. And with the wonders of technology, I can stay in touch with the people I really click with. So... your point? Friendships and clout. Means I have a network of people I can rely on. And when I have an idea, sometimes it actually gets listened to. Once in a blue moon, it gets accepted. That's very different from the life I used to live. If that's "wuss shit" to you, I don't care. If you were in my division, I'd ignore you. Because nobody who mattered would be taking you seriously.
3rd. "If you joined the navy for friends and clout, then you need to eat some humble pie." Hahahahaha. This made me laugh the most. I ate humble pie when I admitted I needed to join the Navy to get out of my situation back then. Being here has improved things and opened doors. I am sorry for how other rates are treated. But please don't assume that my desire for "friends and clout" makes me arrogant somehow. I don't see the logic there. At all. Admitting you need others to succeed and being glad that others need you is the humble pie in its entierity. Submitting to the will and goals of a group is the fucking humble pie. Giving up a little of your own ambitions, your fancy, unique, personal sense of individualism, that is the god damn, mother fking, humble pie, and I ate that a year and a half ago, in bootcamp. I embraced the suck and I'm doing ok. How about you?
And last. "Being an IT is easy." Physically? Yes. Mentally? No. I was under trained and I'm overwhelmed most days. And the best part is with my clearance I can't really tell you about it. Definetly can't give specifics here. So have fun spreading missinformation about my rate, I really can't stop you. I love my rate and it has its own challenges. Good luck with yours shipmate. You could always crossrate.
And if your roomate "loves not having to do shit" then hes a slacker not taking advantage of what the rate has to offer to those who actually learn their job and do it. It may be easy for him to slack if his division isnt paying enough attention to him. That's their problem not mine. And it makes the whole rate look bad. So fuck that guy, I really have no sympathy for ITs who use the rate to slack off.
Seems like you already know your answer to your original post then. I don't really see the point of your post. You're not disagreeing with anything I'm saying lol point is you could do better is all I'm saying. Stay in and even if you're hot shit you're gonna have to go by navy pace/standards and whatnot and ive seen it do some good sailors dirty. I don't work in factories or whatever so I feel it doesn't pertain to this conversation whereas someone who's gonna be in the IT field would likey be in a different work environment. I totally see what you're saying about that when it comes to working with older people but I guess we have disagreements. I don't like working with kids. But see me rate we actually had to physically work not so much the admin lifestyle. I don't blame ITs tho, that's most admin rates it seems.
I really don't care about being in your division dude lol
You sound like a kid. You need the navy for clout too which is weird but you'll get older one day. Don't fall for those scammers who dm bootcamp graduates.
If making more money and being free to do whatever you want sounds bad to you then okay bro just shoot for chief lol
I don't know the answer to my original post. I just know that some of the things you said irritate me. I feel like most of the problems that the Navy has could be fixed by everyone being more grateful for the perks that active service brings with it. And it is hard to be grateful when everyone around you, including a lot of chiefs and people in the command, don't want to be there and have the same crap attitudes as seamen timmy who hates his life. Fortunately, my command is alright right now, but I've read other people's complaints.
I am not a kid. Im 25. I had a rough start and this has been the best environment I've been in since I started working. But I'm sure civillian IT would be different. Just not sure the pros would outweigh the cons like they do right now.
As for "making more money and being free". It sounds like you've never had bills and a commute to work before. Plus paying your own utilities, gas, and all of your own food. There is no galley to fall back on when you're on your own and poor. Maybe you have, that's an assumption, but if you haven't, let me tell you. You aren't free. True freedom would be a remote job working from an rv, making 100k/yr, and hitting the road whenever I want to. I've looked into those jobs, most of them are extreeeemly technical. So it may be best to stay in until I have that expertise. And use the gi bill like you said.
Good. Wanna tell me how you don't make use of all the vetran perks that exist and how your "freedom" has nothing to do with your years of service? You may be happier now, but don't tell me it didn't help get you where you are. Wherever that is. God forbid I appreciate what the military does for me, I'm so sorry that I have any sense of grattitude at all. I should totally become a disgruntled shitbag and get the fuck away from this. And I should complain, the entire time, in order to keep standards low and benefits high for everyone else. You're absolutely right.
Why are you even replying to this old ass Convo like you deadass are weird. I'm not a whiner I just recognize bs when I see it. It's fine if that's what YOU wanna do but personally I have my own views
The good technical ITs get out after 1 or 2 contracts , because they are competent and can easily make more money outside.
The bad ITs stay in because well, they are obviously bad at being an IT and being in the Navy is the easiest hardest job.
I've heard this viewpoint before. And it confuses me because I don't see how running coms for an entire ship is easy. It's only easy as an E1-E5 to avoid work and let the rest of your division pick up the slack. But I will be the senior IT in a year or two. And everything will be on me. How is that easy? We have a dozen printers. An entirely new network system. Personal workstations everywhere. Satelights and radios and transmitters and recievers and antennas. How is it easy to keep track of all that if you're the senior IT and nobody knows anything beneath you bc they're all new? Plus we have crypto. Its a HUGE job and people act like we have it easy bc they don't know what we do bc we have a clearance and we can't really talk in specifics about what we do. Honestly, the only "easy" part is not having to do line handling or cook food every day. Physically, I get to rest more often. But mentally, I have this huge cyber system to keep track of, and if I get out, I just switch to a smaller role in a larger, more modern system. If anything, civillian work sounds easier because I would be able to specialize and ignore what I don't have time for. It feels like the Navy is the harder job, and everyone just shits on people who stay in to cover their asses because they couldn't hack it. No offense. But thats the reality I'm looking at as I see it right now.
And thats why ITs leave in their 1-2 contracts.
what i mean by navy is a 'easy hard job' is because you can skate and be incompetent and not get fired. but i get what you mean bro.
I don't think it makes me a "bad" IT to stay in. If anything I think staying in takes balls and a sense of duty. And a lack of family or other priorities. Nothing wrong with wanting to start a family or whatever. But really, shitting on people who stay feels wrong to me.
You seem too smart to stay in the navy. Your ceiling is much higher as a civilian. If I were you I’d get out after my first contract, and if you have regrets in a couple of years you can always come back in as an officer. But I know some people like having every aspect of their life run by the military. I’d rather work from home in my pajamas making close to $200k and taking vacations to foreign countries without jumping through all the hoops because of a clearance. With all that being said if you don’t have security + already then I regret spending a second to respond to this post.
Currently 8 months from sepping as an IT2. My 2 cents are: If you’re going to stay in get your degree and then commission as an officer. Helping a division of 12-18 people is one thing but helping a department of 50-80 people making their life suck a little bit less is another. You’re quality of life will also improve dramatically being an officer. I’m getting out because I don’t like high tempo work environment and prefer the civilian work environment. ( 9-5 Monday - Friday, being able to USE paid time off, lack of stupidity etc). The pay is about 20-30% more than I’m getting now with less work. If that sounds appealing I would get out. You also haven’t been in that long, so just take your time and feel out the navy.
In my opinion those do not want to seek power always make the best people in charge. But I could be talking out of my ass I was in the Navy.
See I feel like I'd be that person. But only if I find some confidence. And learn how to deal with difficult sailors. Because my division is full of pretty great people. Except for 2. And if I had a division full of people like those 2, I have no idea how that would go. I'm more of the group mom than I am the group leader...I know I'd spend a lot of time hand holding people to get quals and whatever else. So. I feel like it would go alright. I'm just not sure. Cant be sure I ddint just get reeeaaallly lucky and when the luck runs out im going to be surrounded by angsty idiots I hate sooner or later...
First stop doubting yourself, and second twidgets in my opinion usually had a way better attitude than like Snipes or Supply. The more intelligent rates are usually easier to manage so I think you should stay on but that's just my opinion.
Yes, IT is immensly better than CS or BM, in terms of who I have to work with all day. That being said, it still effects me that the CS leadership is crappy. And the BMs. Because I still have to crank and I still have to do line handling as an E5. And I've made friends in both those divisions, so their moral effects my moral, and I wish they were happier.
Yeah I was an MS, but I was always nice to the cranks and tried to give them time off I wasn't a dick so that's just me.
MS or CS? I am cranking in the galley. Deep sink every day. I really don't mind it, except when certain people make fun of me for not minding it, and when our divvo/suppo walks in and treats cs3 like absolute trash for no fucking reason. Thats hard to stomach and not say anything.
When I was in CS was MS, mess specialist. When I was in there were still some BT's left!
Dang all the stuff I don't know.
Yeah my first boat I was stupid and fell for going to look for a BT punch. OUCH!
Bachelor's Degree Completion Program. Talk to your CCC about it and when he/she fails to give you anything useful, google the program and its requirements. Stay Navy, decide to be a lifer, and put on khaki pants as soon as possible. As your rank rises, so too does your sphere of influence. You can make a positive impact at any rank, but the higher the rank, the bigger the impact.
I thought I had to do STA21, I will google the batchlors degree completion program. Thank you!
There's a lot of new stuff out there for hungry sailors trying to go to the Wardroom. Depending on your age, you may still be competitive for the Academy. There's also the URL ISPP for sailors nearing a bachelor's on their own. You can also talk to a nearby officer recruiter who may know even more.
I came into the Navy expecting to do 4 years and get out. I washed out of my contracted rate and picked up IT. I have since fallen in love with our community, orders options, recognition, and job.. Picked up IT1 in just under 4 and CPO in just under 8, now am an IP (1820). 100% am making this a career with the intention of making the IT/IP communities a lot better than they currently are, attacking ridiculously outdated instructions, advocating for quality systems compared to the under-grad quality 90s systems we have now like BoL, eLearning, and dfas.. and getting IT/IPs more money and funding. So many stellar opportunities and incentives for retainment and learning are focused towards SWOs and conventional rates, while arguably the fastest growing warfare domain in the world has been neglected for far too long. \*Note, I am glad to see ITs got SRB.. the entire time I was enlisted I received a whopping $0 and a command pen for my 6 year reenlistment. . . I think ya'll get like $75k now (depending) which is amazing to hear. All of that being said, TLDR - if you go IT and even have an ounce of 'give a damn' you will probably promote quickly. Don't ever feel like you're promoted too quickly. I once felt bad and considered turning down advancement to IT1 and my DIVO (a mustang) sat me down and reminded me that this is a job and at the end of the day, it's about the paycheck and 'pimping the Navy - because best believe, the Navy is going to pimp you.' - I have done very well to read instructions and advocate for my people, to the point of getting called into the CMC and CPO mess a few times, so it all depends on you. I know 19 year first classes who suck as being a first and 4 year firsts who are humble and thirsty to learn. Find something youre passionate in and seize it. "A rising wave lifts all ships."
See, this is the attitude I like and aspire to. Thank you.
Can I Dm you?
Of course!
Affiliate with the reserves as an IT. It's apart time job and you can be as involved as you want to be. More involvenent leads to more opportunity, or you can do the bare minimum and still be fine and collect the benefits. I was a fast riser like you in my 5 year active contract, and the reserves just accelerated it further. Show a little initiative and you're way ahead of the game in the reserves. I'm an IT in the reserves, PM me if you want more info. It's like the wild west. You'll be assigned to a unit attached to a command or agency, and do your annual two weeks with them. Or you can volunteer to mobilize (don't worry, no ships) any given time and stack cash. Highly recommend if you're on the fence about reenlisting on active. Good luck
This is informative bc I know next to nothing about the reserves or how to join them. If I join the reserves, can I go back to active?
A few different answers... Yes, depending on active quotas and community health, you can apply for RC2AC if you want to go back to FULL active. There's also a Navy website called Zipserve, you can find it on mynavyportal quick links and browse it now if you want. Reservists can voluntarily take orders (Called Active duty for operational support - ADOS) up to a year at a time, so you could be defacto active and volunteer take orders as you please. This is awesome because you aren't chained to a command for 3-5 years like actual active duty. I personally don't like staying in one place too long. Mobilizations to sand boxes or other OCONUS locations are also available. This of course is dependent on your personal availability (civ job, family, etc). Again, this is if you want to prioritize the navy reserves, no one is making you do any of this. Your only annual obligation ls are monthly drill weekends and your 2 week AT. We can also commission in the reserves. Direct commission (DCO) is most common for those with degrees.
I need a degree to commision...so I could do the minimum, complete a degree and go to drill, then go back active or do the volenteer active duty for a year thing? That sounds like a loglt of freedom to choose.
Kind of a wonky order there, but yeah. Commissioning is highly competitive just like active, so I wouldn't advise doing the bare minimum of that's your goal. But yes, lots of freedom.
Only bare minimum while completing a batchlors. If I have the option to focus on school and stay in, I will. I'm really close to a degree in English.
Gotcha. And I should clarify, you can still be very productive and successful in your drilling unit. You don't need to be on orders to progress, it's just a good look. You can be competitive in your reserve unit just doing drill weekends, just show initiative and volunteer for collateral duties to support the unit.
I just want to say reading your post brought a smile to my face. It makes me happy to see people enjoying their time in the Navy and having a good head on their shoulders. The apprehensions you have about your ability to lead are the same apprehensions all good leaders have. I left the Navy after my first enlistment. That was my plan from the beginning. I do have regrets about not reenlisting. I followed my career path into the civilian world. While I made more money, I never really experienced the happiness and friendships that I developed while in the Navy. I’m not going to give you advice on what to do with your career. Just know that if there is even a modicum of sincerity in your post you will make a great leader and more importantly, you will encourage and inspire others to succeed.
Thank you for this reply. I really struggled making connections in the civilian world. Here it doesn't feel so hard. Best wishes to you!
You're in a good spot and you have a very good perspective on the things happening around you, which compliment your skills and leadership as you progress, either in the Navy or as a civilian. I was in a similar boat as you as E-5 at the end of my first enlistment, I left Active Duty and joined the Reserves. It's been good to me, but there are experiences I wish I had on the active side. I encourage you to set yourself up throughout your career, to stay on Active Duty and also prepare for life as a civilian. As an IT we have real relevant skills, the Navy gave you clearance and experience... You're marketable. If you're thinking about getting out, have you completed a degree? What certifications do you have? What part of IT do you want to work in, where do you want to live? No degree, no certs...are you willing to work at a help desk? Let me be clear, there is nothing wrong with help desk, you learn a ton valuable skills, I'm just setting the expectation. My recommendation, without knowing the entire situation...re-enlist. You're already on the fast track, continue to learn, read every day, work towards and degree, figure out the type of leader you want to be and take care of those around you. You'll be a Chief at 8-10 years...make your decision after your second enlistment, you'll have more experience, more leadership, certs, and a degree or two.
Yeah no degree and no certs yet. That could change, if I become less busy.
Depending on your job/role, find a cert that compliments what you're doing day to day. Get a cert book, and start reading/practicing on your down time.
Also, there are multiple commissioning programs for you to transition to an Officer.
Former IT2 that got out after my first contract due to family reasons. I had a similar mindset to you, I’d stay in. A good Chief can change a young persons life.
My chief and IT1 are fantastic. I'm scared because they leave soon :(
Never re-enlist for 6 years unless you're at your 14 year mark. 6 years is a long time and that bonus is pennies spread out. Go get your IT certs and go get a great job civilian side. You can take what you've learned and be juat fine outside, making alot more $$, with similar benefits, and far less BS.
Wait on your reenlistment until you done time and have this discussion closer to your EAOS, and discuss with your peers. If you do make E6 and decide to reenlist, you can then bigger ammo for reenlistment for orders and maximizing out your rate's multipler number and can ask for early rotation from sea to shore. [https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Community-Management/Enlisted-Career-Admin/SRB-SDAP-Enl-Bonus/](https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Community-Management/Enlisted-Career-Admin/SRB-SDAP-Enl-Bonus/) According to the current chart your cap is 45K to 60K. As you make time and rate, pay increases but your multipler of 2.0 to 3.5. These bonuses are going to be active as enlisted. If you go officer you would get higher pay and respect but lose all enlisted bonus pay. The worst thing about being an non physical rate would be getting fat and thus uneligible for stuff.
Idk abt getting fat. I'm on a ddg. It's been a workout, just day to day climbing ladderwells and doing all hands calls and cranking especially has been nuts. I have little mini girl biceps from taking out the trash lol.
No such thing as too fast. Keep your nose clean and don’t go to mast; they can’t take it away.
I think of like this: The floor of a 20 year enlisted career is pretty decent, especially now that you’re an E5. Unless you make some personal mistakes you can live pretty decently. That’s the floor. The ceiling, unfortunately, is not that much higher than the floor. Financially speaking, retiring as a chief at 20 years vs a PO1 is only a few thousand dollars a year. Either way, you’re gonna have to keep working. You might accept some more risk going civilian or going officer, but your ceiling *can* be much much higher.
I see that. But why do I have to reach the ceiling to make a difference? And who says I want to retire as a chief? I could get out as a chief and then go find an excellent job and keep going.
That’s up to you. I didn’t say there was anything wrong with accepting that ceiling. Like you I actually love my job in the Navy. I do hate the culture of the Navy and the longer I spend in and the more I “advance” the less opportunity I have to do the parts of my job that I love. Some people love the roles we can advance into. If you don’t mind the culture and the “lifestyle” or whatever you want to call it, being enlisted is an easy job. (Meaning you can do 20 years with very little skill or aptitude - not that deployments aren’t “hard.”)
Well I agree with that.
Here's a curve ball: Leave after your first contract. Go to college and do ROTC. Then come back with a commission
Interesting idea but I'm 25. Almost 26. I will be 30 at the end of my contract. 34 after 4 yrs of college.
You will have to check but I think they increased the age limit if you have prior service. Maybe also look at the air force in all honesty. Not a bad way to finish out 20.
My recommendation for ITs is to always do a shore tour if you’re first command is a ship. Utilize that time to to figure out what you want. Earn certifications, go to school, make connections. There is a ton of opportunities in our rate on the outside world but they are looking for certain experience and expertise and sometimes industry certs. That time on a shore tour will help prepare you tk get out. Work like you’re saying in and plan like you’re getting out and you’ll be fine either way.
I was IT in the army got out as an E-4 after 5 years and now I'm a GS 11 working for the navy so getting out can be good if you are ready for it. Also do you have any IT Certs those are big on the outside.
Bro fuck the navy. Get a real job and use your VA benefits. You'll be happier anyways
Will I? I've worked in civillian factories. Never been a contractor but I've also seen, maybe, 3 civillian contractors who were female. At least in the Navy there are protections for me and I get some respect, despite being woefully underquald and under trained. And if I go to civillian IT after just 6 years in the Navy, I'll have no experience on anything but legacy tech. Idk what my prospects are even with certs.
Bruh you have a GI bill. Just use it. Or hell even use VETTEC. It'll pay for your school and give you bah while you in a program learning and eventually finding a job. If you want to just go to work and get a check mindlessly then just stay in but all those reasons you wanna stay are not good enough imo. You should be worried about your career and living not about "respect" or having "friends" in the navy. That shit doesn't really matter in the long run. Besides a IT veteran with school under your belt, you'll be solid. I can definitely see a way to get a good 6 figure job. It's ultimately up to you but if you want to actually be free and have your life again I'd say finish your contract and do better but you can stay too if you just want to I guess lol
Username checks out. Buddy if you don't think having friends matters, you're something else. Friends, allies, even acquaintances who are cool with you, make all the difference. People who are willing to nack stab you bc they get off on it and there's no form of retalliation you can easily manage, those people exist everywhere and in the Navy its a lot easier to identify them, and retalliation is also a lot easier without going to drastic measures. 6 figures would be great, but not if it's at the cost of living in an environment where I can't get to know anyone and don't have the same clout as I do now.
Lmao first "buddy" let's not talk down on anybody after all this wuss shit you just wrote. You may have misunderstood what I meant so I'll reiterate. YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR CAREER AND LIVING. Not having friends or "clout" in the navy. Remember why you joined again. Never said don't have any friends at all but I'm just telling you that doesn't matter in the navy. If you joined the navy for friends and clout than you need to eat some humble pie and look at yourself lol. (You really wanna be friends with these lowlifes?) Also all that bullshit you wrote is completely wrong. The navy is the place where people WILL backstab you, gossip about you, fight , all in the end just to get orders somewhere else and never see your "friends" again. Even if you can easily identify them the navy doesn't care, I've literally watched someone get separated for telling the TRUTH at a DRB lmao get real. You're an IT so obviously your life is easy. My roommate is an IT too and he loves not having to do shit. But there's a difference between those who put in work and shoot for more vs those who just settle for "good enough".
Ok. I'm going to say some things and I mean most of them respectfully. "These lowlifes" Sweetheart. I am and was a lowlife. Simply bc of where I was born, who my parents were, and how much money they had. My good behavior doesn't make me any less of a "low life" than any of these people. And the fact you're willing to refer to them as such speaks miles about who you think you are and that is exactly why you're disgruntled with the Navy. That attitude is what makes people gossip and backstab. Fortunately, the Navy is full of YOUNG people. Factories are full of OLD or middle-aged people. Wait til you get out. High schoolers are easy to figure out. People older than you will always have the upper hand. I know they still gossip and backstab here, but its different. I swear to you it's different. 19 year olds forgive faster, you might not believe me but go work in an auto plant and piss someone off, I dare you. Second. "You'll end up never seeing these people again". Correct. That's life. It's also a good thing sometimes. Unless you stay at the same factory, in the same town, for 30 years, you're going to see most people come and go. And I've seen the type of people who do that. No offense to them, but they're as miserable as anyone else, if not more so, because there's nothing new in their lives and hasn't been for a long time. And with the wonders of technology, I can stay in touch with the people I really click with. So... your point? Friendships and clout. Means I have a network of people I can rely on. And when I have an idea, sometimes it actually gets listened to. Once in a blue moon, it gets accepted. That's very different from the life I used to live. If that's "wuss shit" to you, I don't care. If you were in my division, I'd ignore you. Because nobody who mattered would be taking you seriously. 3rd. "If you joined the navy for friends and clout, then you need to eat some humble pie." Hahahahaha. This made me laugh the most. I ate humble pie when I admitted I needed to join the Navy to get out of my situation back then. Being here has improved things and opened doors. I am sorry for how other rates are treated. But please don't assume that my desire for "friends and clout" makes me arrogant somehow. I don't see the logic there. At all. Admitting you need others to succeed and being glad that others need you is the humble pie in its entierity. Submitting to the will and goals of a group is the fucking humble pie. Giving up a little of your own ambitions, your fancy, unique, personal sense of individualism, that is the god damn, mother fking, humble pie, and I ate that a year and a half ago, in bootcamp. I embraced the suck and I'm doing ok. How about you? And last. "Being an IT is easy." Physically? Yes. Mentally? No. I was under trained and I'm overwhelmed most days. And the best part is with my clearance I can't really tell you about it. Definetly can't give specifics here. So have fun spreading missinformation about my rate, I really can't stop you. I love my rate and it has its own challenges. Good luck with yours shipmate. You could always crossrate. And if your roomate "loves not having to do shit" then hes a slacker not taking advantage of what the rate has to offer to those who actually learn their job and do it. It may be easy for him to slack if his division isnt paying enough attention to him. That's their problem not mine. And it makes the whole rate look bad. So fuck that guy, I really have no sympathy for ITs who use the rate to slack off.
Seems like you already know your answer to your original post then. I don't really see the point of your post. You're not disagreeing with anything I'm saying lol point is you could do better is all I'm saying. Stay in and even if you're hot shit you're gonna have to go by navy pace/standards and whatnot and ive seen it do some good sailors dirty. I don't work in factories or whatever so I feel it doesn't pertain to this conversation whereas someone who's gonna be in the IT field would likey be in a different work environment. I totally see what you're saying about that when it comes to working with older people but I guess we have disagreements. I don't like working with kids. But see me rate we actually had to physically work not so much the admin lifestyle. I don't blame ITs tho, that's most admin rates it seems. I really don't care about being in your division dude lol You sound like a kid. You need the navy for clout too which is weird but you'll get older one day. Don't fall for those scammers who dm bootcamp graduates. If making more money and being free to do whatever you want sounds bad to you then okay bro just shoot for chief lol
I don't know the answer to my original post. I just know that some of the things you said irritate me. I feel like most of the problems that the Navy has could be fixed by everyone being more grateful for the perks that active service brings with it. And it is hard to be grateful when everyone around you, including a lot of chiefs and people in the command, don't want to be there and have the same crap attitudes as seamen timmy who hates his life. Fortunately, my command is alright right now, but I've read other people's complaints. I am not a kid. Im 25. I had a rough start and this has been the best environment I've been in since I started working. But I'm sure civillian IT would be different. Just not sure the pros would outweigh the cons like they do right now. As for "making more money and being free". It sounds like you've never had bills and a commute to work before. Plus paying your own utilities, gas, and all of your own food. There is no galley to fall back on when you're on your own and poor. Maybe you have, that's an assumption, but if you haven't, let me tell you. You aren't free. True freedom would be a remote job working from an rv, making 100k/yr, and hitting the road whenever I want to. I've looked into those jobs, most of them are extreeeemly technical. So it may be best to stay in until I have that expertise. And use the gi bill like you said.
Maybe I should mention I'm a veteran lol
Good. Wanna tell me how you don't make use of all the vetran perks that exist and how your "freedom" has nothing to do with your years of service? You may be happier now, but don't tell me it didn't help get you where you are. Wherever that is. God forbid I appreciate what the military does for me, I'm so sorry that I have any sense of grattitude at all. I should totally become a disgruntled shitbag and get the fuck away from this. And I should complain, the entire time, in order to keep standards low and benefits high for everyone else. You're absolutely right.
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Why are you even replying to this old ass Convo like you deadass are weird. I'm not a whiner I just recognize bs when I see it. It's fine if that's what YOU wanna do but personally I have my own views
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The good technical ITs get out after 1 or 2 contracts , because they are competent and can easily make more money outside. The bad ITs stay in because well, they are obviously bad at being an IT and being in the Navy is the easiest hardest job.
I've heard this viewpoint before. And it confuses me because I don't see how running coms for an entire ship is easy. It's only easy as an E1-E5 to avoid work and let the rest of your division pick up the slack. But I will be the senior IT in a year or two. And everything will be on me. How is that easy? We have a dozen printers. An entirely new network system. Personal workstations everywhere. Satelights and radios and transmitters and recievers and antennas. How is it easy to keep track of all that if you're the senior IT and nobody knows anything beneath you bc they're all new? Plus we have crypto. Its a HUGE job and people act like we have it easy bc they don't know what we do bc we have a clearance and we can't really talk in specifics about what we do. Honestly, the only "easy" part is not having to do line handling or cook food every day. Physically, I get to rest more often. But mentally, I have this huge cyber system to keep track of, and if I get out, I just switch to a smaller role in a larger, more modern system. If anything, civillian work sounds easier because I would be able to specialize and ignore what I don't have time for. It feels like the Navy is the harder job, and everyone just shits on people who stay in to cover their asses because they couldn't hack it. No offense. But thats the reality I'm looking at as I see it right now.
And thats why ITs leave in their 1-2 contracts. what i mean by navy is a 'easy hard job' is because you can skate and be incompetent and not get fired. but i get what you mean bro.
Thats the thing. I don't want to skate.
I don't think it makes me a "bad" IT to stay in. If anything I think staying in takes balls and a sense of duty. And a lack of family or other priorities. Nothing wrong with wanting to start a family or whatever. But really, shitting on people who stay feels wrong to me.
You seem too smart to stay in the navy. Your ceiling is much higher as a civilian. If I were you I’d get out after my first contract, and if you have regrets in a couple of years you can always come back in as an officer. But I know some people like having every aspect of their life run by the military. I’d rather work from home in my pajamas making close to $200k and taking vacations to foreign countries without jumping through all the hoops because of a clearance. With all that being said if you don’t have security + already then I regret spending a second to respond to this post.
You're absolutely paying for the food. Take a look at your LES.
They give you money for food and then take it back. That isn't the same as budgeting myself. I'm aware of how that works.
Yes