Gay and in the Navy?

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  Mar 08, 2015 5:37 AM GMT

  Getting shipped out on March 26th to Lake Michigan, and I'm super excited!
  
  Anyone on here have Navy experience? And how was it for you being a gay man? Any crazy stories?

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  Mar 08, 2015 2:16 PM GMT

  My best friend(not gay) was in for four years and said it what amazing. Constant income with barely any bills. He traveled the world, mainly Asia, banging a ton of girls. Shouldnt be a problem for someone like you .
  He said there are 120 hour work weeks when youre on a ship but you receive the benefits once youre out.

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  Mar 08, 2015 2:57 PM GMT

  Crazy stories? Yeah, a few...but I was in before DADT (Desert Storm) so I'm sure it's changed now.

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  Mar 08, 2015 3:56 PM GMT

  Great Lakes RTC, right? Served in SIXTHFLT from 72-75 when things were MUCH different. We even had a witch-hunt on our ship - an LPH - as I recall, and there were other gays on board in addition to me. I think most of that's gone n ow, now just because DADT is gone, but because it's an all-volunteer force, as it wasn't when I served. Many good opportunities in the USN, but some shifty characters too, so be careful of whom you befriend. What's your rating? (I was an LN2 when discharged.)

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  Mar 08, 2015 5:03 PM GMT

  Ingrain this into your brain:
  
  Choose your rate, choose your fate.
  
  Your time as a squid is gonna vary depends on what you do for a job. I hope you chose well.

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  Mar 08, 2015 5:27 PM GMT

  I joke around sometimes and say that N.A.V.Y. stands for Never Again Volunteer Yourself, but it is a good gig. I totally agree though...choose your rate, choose your fate.
  
  I was in the Ops department (Communications), and everyone seemed happy. I'm sure being assigned to air conditioned spaces in the Middle East during the summer months had something to do with it. Not many people liked the Engineering dept., only the true grease monkeys. Personally, I'd recommend any job that keeps you top-side (outside, or close to it). That will also naturally give you more opportunities with your XO & CO, which is always good career-wise.
  
  OK, that's my 2 cents. As far as crazy stories...hell yeah, I've heard plenty. I was in the Amphibious side of the Navy (serving with both Sailors and Marines), so there were never-ending, visual smorgasbords. I was an officer though, so I was hands-off.

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  Mar 08, 2015 6:28 PM GMT

  ZroFux saidIngrain this into your brain:
  Choose your rate, choose your fate.

  
  Can you choose your rating now? When I was in the Navy (early to mid 1970s) when you chose a rating it was merely a suggestion; what rating you ended up with was a combination of how you did on the tests they gave in boot camp and what they needed.
  
  Like MGINSD said, things were much different back when I was in. I watched a tv show on PBS named Carrier about the Ronald Reagan and was really surprised to see women on the ship.
  
  I'm amused that now my memories of my Navy time are fond ones, but when I got out I was sick and tired of the chickenshit and couldn't wait to get out.

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  Mar 08, 2015 7:50 PM GMT

  This is news you can use.
  
  One of the best pickup lines I ever got was from a Navy man during the Gulf War.
  
  My only time in San Diego I was with friends in a gay bar and it was filled with uniformed sailors from the nearby base. We were all standing in a circle chatting but one of the sailors just stood there staring up at me before finally saying: "You're what we're fighting for."

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  Mar 08, 2015 7:52 PM GMT

  Best of luck to you and I'm sure you will do fine in the Navy. Word of advice from my brother (hes been in the navy for 12 years now and wants to retire at 20yrs in), just make sure that you carefully pick and choose who you reveal your homosexuality to (if you decide to do that ). Just like anyplace really lol.
  
  Also, he adds:
  *Wear shower shoes in the showers at all times when possible
  
  *Enjoy the experience. You will meet TONS of different people. Some you may get along with, and others not so much.
  
  And finally,
  
  *Study!! because you will have to memorize a lot of stuff. All of which you could be asked to recite at a moments command..like the Navy-mens Creed, Rankings for personnel, etc.

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• bro4bro
  
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  Mar 09, 2015 12:28 AM GMT

  A bit of history on the Great Lakes Training Center:
  
  During WWII, Paul Brown was recruited to coach football there (he'd already been head coach at Ohio State; after the war he started the Cleveland Browns, who were named for/by him, and later started the Cincinnati Bengals, which his family still owns).
  
  One of his coaching assistants at Great Lakes was Weeb Ewbank, who went on to win NFL championships as well as Super Bowl III as head coach of the NY Jets (in 1969; Joe Namath was QB).
  
  Good Luck!

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  Mar 09, 2015 12:31 AM GMT

  Pier Queer!

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  Mar 09, 2015 2:36 AM GMT

  7 year on active duty. I was a flight surgeon. No one fucked with me because I'm a doctor. No crazy stories. Why? Because I'm a professional. I would never, nor have I ever, behaved in a way that would have disgraced the privilege of wearing that uniform. I suggest you do the same. Work hard and remember that the decisions you make have a direct impact on the safety of the men and women you serve with. Don't let them down.

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• fitartistsf
  
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  Mar 09, 2015 5:02 AM GMT

  I was in the Navy from November 29, 1982, to November 30, 1992… 10 and a wake up… Went to boot camp in San Diego when that location was still up and running. We used to call the boot camp in Michigan, "Great Mistakes"… This is when there were three Boot Camps for the Navy, San Diego, Great Lakes, and Orlando…
  I'll admit there are times over the years since getting out of the Navy, that I wish I had stayed in for 20, or even 30 years, and then retired. But because I was in and out even before DADT was implemented, even the merest whisper of homosexuality, without even a thorough investigation, you were discharged dishonorably…
  I wish you all the best, just remember that Boot Camp is nothing more than trying to make you in the Navy's image, everybody thinking and acting along the same path. It actually helped me in that I lost about 30 pounds before heading into the fleet. It was also very easy for me, because I am a history buff, rabid about anything maritime or nautical, including the Navy… So in studying the history and traditions of the service, prior to my entry into the Navy, I had no problems in that respect. In fact many of my fellow recruits were amazed that I knew so much about everything from why the uniforms look the way they do, too many of the words and phrases that we use in our lexicon that are actually nautical in nature…
  Remember, also, that although gays can now serve openly in the services, we are all still subject to the UCMJ, regardless of gender and orientation… so even after getting out to the fleet, if you do meet a fellow sailor, keep it in your pants until you're on the liberty, or leave…
  In closing my note, I will quote an old Navy axiom… "May you have fair winds and following seas, and may the wind be always at your back…"
  
  Cordially, Todd (formerly, Illustrator/Draftsman, Second Class, USN)

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  Mar 09, 2015 6:27 AM GMT

  Thanks for all the advice fellas, I'm really excited and feel prepared!
  
  My job I chose back in December when I was at MEPS was and is Aircrew Safety Equipment-man (PR), nothing else is set in stone and I'm still learning about what specific job I'll be doing, guess I'll have to wait until after basic, or after A school? I don't know aha. Well anyways, I know it's not the most luxurious job but I've always had a thing for parachutes and how they opperated along with the oxygen tanks and life rafts, so I'm definitely anxious and excited to see what happens next!
  
  And for taking this seriously, I defintely am, my whole life I've felt like I had a greater purpose in life and I always felt kind of suffocated and boxed in into my home town, like I was stuck. I want to travel, go to new places, be apart of a squadron and most importantly be apart of a team that stands for something important, freedom and democracy (getting a little soap opera'y aha)
  
  But yeah, that's where I'm at as of right now. I'll be shipping out for basic in a out 3 weeks!

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  Mar 09, 2015 8:57 AM GMT

  I never joined the navy but I almost signed up for it. ABout 5-6 years ago, when I was younger I did some research on joining the military/Navy. After talking with the recruiter and going to the base, things just kinda didn't really add up. When speaking about assignments and laying out plan for the future at the base, lol, they want me to sign like a 4 year contact with a 4 year extension, that was just way too long of a commitment (8 years). It was a mis-communication or misunderstanding or whatever. I was turn off by it. I decided to change my mind and one of the sergeant got upset and made things very uncomfortable for me and other recruits/staff in the office. Long story short, about 3 days later I heard from the recruiter saying that he apologized on the sergeant behalf and how things went down. They sorta begged me to reconsider. I finally just told them no, saying that I think most most military guys are just plainly rude and super-disciplined. Honestly, I don't think I can handle being told what to do like 14-20 hrs a day, when to eat, sleep, run and exercise. And not to sound mean or scare you, I read many bad negative stories online from other guys who joined. Most wouldn't recommend it if you're gay. Some recruiters now lie to recruit and make their quotas on civilians. But yeah, hope you have a better experience dealing with more positive people than I did. (But yeah, having said all that, I think some military guys are hot, hooked up with an air force dude and a sailor a long time ago). LOL

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• buddycat
  
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  Mar 09, 2015 9:16 AM GMT

  On my playlist while I run but that is about it. Song used in Navy recruitment in exchange for the Village People being allowed to use their ships in their video.
  

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• roadbikeRob
  
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  Mar 09, 2015 12:07 PM GMT

  CoolBlackDude619 saidI joke around sometimes and say that N.A.V.Y. stands for Never Again Volunteer Yourself, but it is a good gig. I totally agree though...choose your rate, choose your fate.
  
  I was in the Ops department (Communications), and everyone seemed happy. I'm sure being assigned to air conditioned spaces in the Middle East during the summer months had something to do with it. Not many people liked the Engineering dept., only the true grease monkeys. Personally, I'd recommend any job that keeps you top-side (outside, or close to it). That will also naturally give you more opportunities with your XO & CO, which is always good career-wise.
  
  OK, that's my 2 cents. As far as crazy stories...hell yeah, I've heard plenty. I was in the Amphibious side of the Navy (serving with both Sailors and Marines), so there were never-ending, visual smorgasbords. I was an officer though, so I was hands-off.

  That is kind of similar to the joke we had about the Army. It went something like this: what does US ARMY mean in reverse, Yes My Retarded Ass Signed Up.

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• Lincsbear
  
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  Mar 09, 2015 3:16 PM GMT

  I love the fact you guys in the US have lakes big enough for navies!

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  Mar 09, 2015 3:17 PM GMT

  You know what they say. Send out a boat with fifty men and it'll come back with twenty five couples

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  Mar 09, 2015 3:24 PM GMT

  Life2Short saidYou know what they say. Send out a boat with fifty men and it'll come back with twenty five couples

  
  
  Like we say about NYU. 1/3rd gay when they got there and 2/3rds gay when they left.

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• Jeepguy2
  
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  Mar 09, 2015 5:13 PM GMT

  MGINSD saidGreat Lakes RTC, right? Served in SIXTHFLT from 72-75 when things were MUCH different. We even had a witch-hunt on our ship - an LPH - as I recall, and there were other gays on board in addition to me. I think most of that's gone n ow, now just because DADT is gone, but because it's an all-volunteer force, as it wasn't when I served. Many good opportunities in the USN, but some shifty characters too, so be careful of whom you befriend. What's your rating? (I was an LN2 when discharged.)

  
  
  How did the witch hunt go down? Did they rifle through everyone's sea chest looking for lace panties or gay love letters or something? lol
  
  
  

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• riverrunner
  
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  Mar 10, 2015 2:55 AM GMT

  I was in from 1982 - 1986. I would have stayed if it wasn't for being Gay. Love it! It feels nice that I can still fit into my uniform. Good luck to you.

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  Mar 10, 2015 4:33 AM GMT

  Don't forget to get a tattoo.
  
  

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  Mar 10, 2015 4:57 AM GMT

  Well...
  
  Well... somebody had to do it:
  
  

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  Mar 20, 2015 3:39 AM GMT

  JMartin5 saidGetting shipped out on March 26th to Lake Michigan, and I'm super excited!
  
  Anyone on here have Navy experience? And how was it for you being a gay man? Any crazy stories?

  
  
  Hated it. Watch out for red ropes and attention to detail. I did a year of IA, the Operation Blue to Green -- much happier in the Army!

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