also, volunteer for Crank Duty. Tell the COB you want to Crank so that you can honor the long time tradition of the submarine service by serving the crew which will train and mentor you. (don't lay it on too thick) I cranked (most nukes were/are not allowed) and it allowed me to meet the crew. The coners will have more respect/accept for you. since they run the boat, not the nukes, this is important. Cranking will make your sub quals easy, and the coners will take the time to show you stuff and how it works. You think any of these other jokers got to listen to alpha class sub we were tracking? Look throught the scope as the boat comes to PD, drive the boat? Blow ballast tanks? plot targets? Bet not. too busy sitting in crews mess telling each other how special they were.
Now, I didn't besmirch anyones son for joining the navy. Really, I couldn't care less. Unless you can care less then not caring, which I don't. Capish?
"Making broad statements that no one liked in on my boat and didn't know anyone that liked it? " That is not a broad statement. That is my experience. A broad statement would be "no one ever in the nuclear navy ever liked it".
wow. rocks abound, mate. better get the hard hat.
Now, continue on with worthless crying, baseless attacks, and ad hominem aguments.
I did all of that, and cranked, and lived in the TR and hot racked.
I am not sure why all the negativity towards your posts since they are the truth as you know it. And I don't feel you attacked the mother at all, unless calling her "sweet heart" is an attack. Then again, she did say "BABY" first. But that all sounds kind of childish, huh?
Personally I don't give a crap if her blood boils when someone complains about how bad a Chief is or how much the nuke navy sucks. She isn't in it and will never experience it. I am curious about how she is going to handle her son's inevitable complains?
Anyway, like has been pointed out, everyone has different experiences. It is pretty well known that I was pretty bitter when I left the Navy. But, it wasn't always like that. In fact, I bet I was the biggest diggit many have ever seen my first two years in; Anchors Aweigh on the computer , Navy flag flying, etc. although I am thankful I never went through with the tattoo

. MY command was awesome... from the skipper down to the MLPO. I thought that was what Navy life was going to be like, so I signed up for more. Then, my next skipper showed up, and under this one tyrant of a man, my boat went from excellents on ORSE and TRE to BA on all inspections (except cleaning). We were real good cleaners. Saw the same thing at prototype. Started out with awesome CO, CMC, OO, LCC etc. By the time I left, the command was more lame duck than the current administration.
Point is, things change wildly in the Navy as key people come and go. And guess what, they come and go more frequently than you do so you never know what you are going to get. It is as unpredictable as a marble in a jar of molasses. That is the number one reason I got out. I was simply tired of not having any control over my life, or who controlled it. I was tired of worrying if my next boss was going to be a compete DB or not. Like muffin said, now I do have control. I won't stand for the kind of BS I experienced in the Navy under poor leadership. Whats cool is I pretty much don't have to worry about it because so far, from what I have seen, is the company doesn't typically stand for complete DBs either.
Did I have good times? You betcha! And thankfully, thats all I focus on now. I do miss things like the main engines winding up from A1/3 to AIII, running the evaporator and still, the friendships and strong bonds that were formed, port calls, etc etc etc.
But I will submit, that like muffin, I am infinitely happier now than I ever was in the Navy. No one asks me to swallow pride or dignity, which they will in the Navy. No one tells me they don't give a crap about me. They will in the Navy. No one is going to stand on my back to reach a higher place. They will in the Navy.
The fatter pay check is nice, too.
Justin