When I joined the United States Navy it wasn’t for any grand purpose or because of a particular desire to be heroic. I was just an 18-year-old living in a small Idaho town and wanting to get out.
I went to boot camp in San Diego, and later found myself assigned to the U.S.S. Detroit based in Norfolk, Va. It wasn’t what I signed up for. I scored very well on my tests and initially joined to be trained as a nuclear tech on a submarine.
I’ve learned many things about myself over the years. One lesson came early on in my Navy career. It’s not a good idea to challenge authority, especially that of a superior officer. I was stripped of my rating and lost my sub school, going directly to the fleet. It turned out to be a great experience for me.
I had always possessed an interest in travel, and it truly came alive in the Navy. Quite a few of the sailors I served with dreaded deployment dates, when we would be sent out to sea. I loved them, finding that the Navy could actually be an adventure. I loved coming into a new port as the sun was rising, or churning through enormous swells in the North Atlantic.
I was a Boatswain’s Mate, which means I worked in the weather out on deck, standing various watches and performing underway replenishment operations, to put it shortly. There was always something going on that we were involved in.
I entered the Navy in 1981 and stayed for four years. I seriously considered re-enlisting, but I couldn’t reconcile everything I enjoyed about the Navy with my inability to unflinchingly obey orders and not question authority.
America wasn’t involved in any major wars while I served, but the Cold War provided tension. There were several times we encountered the Soviet Navy, and it was always interesting. I did receive a medal for my expeditionary force experience as part of President Reagan’s involvement with the Lebanese Civil War. I still remember when the Marine Corps barracks was destroyed by a truck bomb.
For anyone considering an enlistment in the Navy, it can be many things. You might find a career, a chance for great education benefits, or just a way to add some adventure to your life. If you join, you’ll find it unlike what you expected in all likelihood. That’s just part of joining the military, but the unknown isn’t something to fear.