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Stephen7867

A little back ground on myself. I'm 24, graduated from college, and now have a good job making $52k a year. Wrestled all my life and also for a D1 university and now play rugby.I'm interested in the Navy special ops (haven't decided on a unit)... I understand its going to be a challenge and that's what I'm looking forward to. I'm confident that my wrestling career has prepared me for the mental challenges that lay ahead, and that I'll be successful. I don't know the meaning of quit and never will. I'm an all or nothing type of personality, that thrives on challenge, competition, adventure and excitement.I'm interested in the military for the challenge, travel and honor. Not money or because I'm out of options (I have many).So whats holding me back and what is the reason for my post?I'm worried about what I'll be missing out on, whatever that may be. I eventually want a family and feel like the years I'd be in are the years I should be meeting the lady I'd be doing that with. Finally in the back of my mind is the possibility of regret for following orders... are those following orders given the background information needed to understand why they are doing what they are doing, or is it a do this you don't need to know why type of situation?Thank you for the help, comments and suggestions to come...

BuckeyeBill

Geez Dude, you will be missing out on absolutely nothing. I met the love of my life in the Philippines and have been married almost forty years, have a great family with two grand kids. So its all there and its all yours-----good luck.

RockOrSomething

Holy cow, am I reading a post that I wrote when I was 24, or what? Exact same situation, dude...except that I wasn't successful in combat sports until I found judo and MMA.You won't miss a damn thing, man. I married my wife (of 5 years now) while on active duty, deploying and training all the time. Lots of people do, and the quality of the wife varies directly with the bad-assitude of the guy. I know plenty of SEALs whose doctorate-educated wives run marathons with them, for example.Go pick up a copy of Lone Survivor, and read the part about Marcus' decision about what to do with the goatheards. Most SOF leaders are more decisive than that, but they all listen to their men like he did. I swear this to you: the bull$hit attitude of 'following orders blindly' is a civilian misconception. It has NO place in todays military, where we expect our 21 year old Corporals to make decisions that will show up on CNN.Please e-mail me. Like I said, I was in your exact position. I'll talk you through the entire process and if possible, link you up with people in your area to talk/train with.

daniv23

Well..if you have graduated college....plain and simple, DO NOT GO IN AS ENLISTED! You have earned the place in an officer spot..I do not know the effect of going officer in the special ops category, however, because of your degree, an officer position in where you should be.You are the only one that can make the decision on what is right and wrong for you. If you have those issues, maybe the military is not a place for you, or special ops is not the atmosphere for you.As for looking the the 'ladies', there are plenty in the military, and there are plenty that hang around the military bases....just be careful...the many that hand around the bases are there for a reason...they see a mean ticket, and they are out for them BY ANY MEANS sometimes. Seen it too many times...however, there are some that are genuine. Choose what's right for you, you will be the on living with your own consequences.

laughter_every_day5846

First, you cannot join a specific unit of the Navy. You can join the Navy and then apply for specific assignments but there is no guarantee. If you are concerned about family, go to your nearest military installation. The service is full of people with families. Most met while on active duty. It is a difficult life for the service member and for the family but it can also be quite rewarding.As for orders, you cannot always (or even usually) know the reasons for orders. Some Admiral has decided an overal plan involving tens of thousands of people and that has required some Captain to make other decisions, and that leads on an on until someone tells you to do something. Not each of those tens of thousands gets to know why. You do it because that is your duty.