Rate your fleet Experience!

[BuddyThePug]

The best days on a cruiser or destroyer were light duty days like these...
Bainbridge (Oh, somewhere else I read a comment that ships like this one were not cruisers.  Look at her, a 7,800 tons she was more then equal to light cruisers)

Love the perspective view of this one, with the ASROC box behind the Mk 11 launcher....the ASROC rails on the Mk 11 were such a hassle to set up! 

[number41]

I consider myself lucky because I got everything I ever wanted out of the Navy and more.  But I got out as a 13 yr MMC (SS/SW) because my priorities in life changed.  However, I DEFINITELY remember that there were alot of times that I absolutely hated the boat, the Navy, and everything related to it.  I heard a quote from a WWII veteran on television the other day, and he summed it up perfectly for me.  He said:

"I  loved [my military experience], and I wouldn't trade it for a million dollars, but I also wouldn't pay a nickel to do it over again."

Perfectly put in my opinion.

[NaVLI4]

"I  loved [my military experience], and I wouldn't trade it for a million dollars, but I also wouldn't pay a nickel to do it over again."

But I sure do enjoy spending that extra check each month. 

[withroaj]

Sure I'm digging up an old thread, but we have new posters here with new experience and views on the fleet.  Just bumping it up.

[joncashk]

Many nitpicks about my life aboard a carrier (Enterprise nontheless)

1. 3 section duty or out to sea for 80% of my tour
2. Standing afternoon and midwatch and then expected to do a 1700 workday afterwards in said 3 section duty.
3. It takes almost a week to get all 8 reactors up....and we almost never went full condition 1 unless we were in port for a month or greater.
4. Doing port and starboard or fast cruise to start up said reactors so we can get out to sea.
5. Airdales - Really good at making sure the chow line extended all the way aft and wrapped into the hangar bay.
6. Being able to support 6 section duty but going to 4 section duty to train for PORSE 10 months in advance.
7. "We have nothing to do but you need to stay just in case..."
8. 8 people (over half a duty sections worth) that have been waiting on HOD boards to qualify SIR for over 4 months (some for almost a year).
9. "Homey Hookups"  Don't feel like waiting in line or want a full pizza to yourself?  Just go give the secret handshake to the head CS on watch and bingo.


I'm sure I could come up with a lot more.  With all that being said...at least I'm not getting shot at.  This is the military and if it was easy everyone would do it.  I get a shower every night and I get to sleep in my own 6'x3' piece of home on the worst nights, something not everyone in the military can say.  A lot of the things listed above are personnel issues that could easily be adjudicated.  I will say that I love the comradery.  At least I had a lot of guys to sit around and b**** about things with.  Made it a little easier to deal with things and I've met people that I'll probably keep in touch with for the rest of my life. 

[Marssim]

Many nitpicks about my life aboard a carrier (Enterprise nontheless)

1. 3 section duty or out to sea for 80% of my tour
2. Standing afternoon and midwatch and then expected to do a 1700 workday afterwards in said 3 section duty.
3. It takes almost a week to get all 8 reactors up....and we almost never went full condition 1 unless we were in port for a month or greater.
4. Doing port and starboard or fast cruise to start up said reactors so we can get out to sea.
5. Airdales - Really good at making sure the chow line extended all the way aft and wrapped into the hangar bay.
6. Being able to support 6 section duty but going to 4 section duty to train for PORSE 10 months in advance.
7. "We have nothing to do but you need to stay just in case..."
8. 8 people (over half a duty sections worth) that have been waiting on HOD boards to qualify SIR for over 4 months (some for almost a year).
9. "Homey Hookups"  Don't feel like waiting in line or want a full pizza to yourself?  Just go give the secret handshake to the head CS on watch and bingo................

Don't re-enlist,.....

[Warmonger711]

The joys of life on SSGN can summerized in the following:
1. port visits: welcome to guam /diego garcia and your not leaving.
2. oldest boat in the fleet: it's ancient, more shit gets held together with baling wire and duct tape.
3. We train like we fight: nope we train to train. Remember to complain about the training done at the end of the day. So that you can get that piece of maintainece done
4. Seals, Special Ops, Generals, CTI/CTE: your not gonna enjoy having additional 66 to 100 extra bastards onboard. And forget about hot food, they get fed first then the crew.
5. Manning issues, since they been trying to do the lean manning. Enjoy been port & stupid while underway due to lack of bodies in the nuclear divisions.
6. Since it was made into being a supposed career enhancing job & experience we get the pick of the diggits, idiots, bitter, angry and the cult of me personalities onboard.
7. Saturday, Sunday & Godawful Nights. (Enuff said.)
8. Every major run starting and ending with a major examination. The brain beating has got to stop.

[SCCooper]

Just signed and swore in yesterday.. leave in July.. these posts make me wonder if im making a huge mistake?!   

[Marssim]

Just signed and swore in yesterday.. leave in July.. these posts make me wonder if im making a huge mistake?!   

Kinda like a huge number of the people whom have stood at the marriage altar eh?!?!

Nothing worth doing is ever easy;

You know it's not all sweetness and light for astronauts either,...



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