Gee TC, between all your *"Quotations"* and tough guy act, you almost actually helped me!
What tough guy act?!? Have you been visiting Amsterdam recently?
Ok, so say I pass the Physical test. Could I then get a slot in the school in a written guarantee from the recruiter or would those select few admissions be handled by the Diver administering the tests from those that passed the initial examination?
School slots would be managed by the Dive School. ONLY they can guarantee slots into their school. Passing the test does NOT guarantee entry, either. Like all elite schools in the military, it is up to the discretion of the cadre. Yes, that means if they don’t like you, they can deny you a school slot.
who are you judge what I'm made of without ever meeting me?...I did however notice that your page has you listed as US Army NOT US Navy, with less than 500 dives, so unless you magically changed branches in the past 24 hours, I'd appreciate it if you'd let someone whose actually been through this training respond.
14 YEARS of dealing with military members, THAT'S WHO. What do YOU know about the military, other than it’s apparently just a 'job' to you? The branch is immaterial. Military service, regardless of the branch, involves the SAME mindset, SAME discipline, SAME dedication. When you get down to it; the ONLY differences in the Navy and Army are the jobs you’re trained to do. Everything else is minor differences. I KNOW the military. I know what's involved in it, and that the job is just a rating. I have 2 years of working with and training the Navy. We do work together.
I can (and have!) take ANY servicemember and train them to do my job. I HAVE trained Navy to run convoys, clear rooms, and fight on foot in Afghanistan.
Why? Because at the heart of the matter, there is no difference between the military branches other than our jobs. It's that discipline and dedication that is important in the military- NOT the JOB you do.
That said,
I've got the dedication to earn this if given a fair shot, I just got to know this is worth fighting for.
This right here is what tells me you’re lacking the dedication to serve your Nation. What you’re saying is that if you can’t get Dive School, military service isn’t worth it to you.
You want stability??? HA!!! Navy life can be the most UNSTABLE of all the branches. 6+ month cruises, limited shore time, drudging, boring, and LONG shore cruises...And that’s in peacetime. Are you willing to place your life at risk on orders? Willing to sail into harm’s way? The Navy is going to be the first to fight in our next conflicts. Are you willing to do that? I give you Admiral Arleigh Burkes challenge to the crew at the commissioning of the Destroyer that bears his name: "This ship is built to fight.
You had better know how". Is that YOU? Would you be willing to fight and die?
For stability; have you been paying attention to the military the last 12 years? We’re not exhibiting “stability”.
You strike me as someone who wants to enlist just for the paycheck and training. That’s not going to cut it. Enlisting for a job will leave you disgruntled with the discipline, BS requirements, regulations and such as you wonder, “why can’t I just do my job and dive?”. And if/when you fail dive school and the Navy re-rates you as a cook, and assigns you to a carrier where the “new guy” is placed on the worst shift on the ship; would you still have the willingness to serve?
Military service is not just some job you do, then go home. Did you read DFB post? Would you be willing to serve years in the bowels of a frigate, working on an oily, dirty turbine while someone younger than you gives you orders, and the ONLY thing you can say is “Aye, Petty Officer”; just for the CHANCE to go to dive school?
After spending 4 years bumming around the world, doing whatever you want, when you want it, you’re the type to chafe and complain about the silly tasks and rules, mouth off to a superior, and generally be a headache for everyone around you. I reference your comment about being in the Army, not the Navy. As I said, military service, regardless of the branch, involves the same mindset, the same discipline, and the same dedication. In this regard, the Navy is the same as the Air Force, the Air Force is the same as the Coast Guard, and the Coast Guard the same as the Army. We all have the same culture of dedication and discipline. After 14 years, 11 as an NCO, I KNOW EXACTLY what I am saying, and am completely qualified to judge it. Notice how I’ve said NOTHING about the job? It’s because the job you do is not as important as the dedication and service you offer.
As I said; your posts saying you want “stability” after four years of bumming around the world, and wanting to know if THE JOB is worth fighting for, do not display the dedication or willingness to serve your Nation, and potentially die in the service of your Nation. That dedication to the service is what’s important.
You should be asking if you’re willing to fight
not for a job,
but your country. If you’re willing to go
wherever she asks you to, and do whatever she asks of you, not looking for "stability".
As I said, look into commercial dive school. It’ll be a better fit.