Questions for Ex-NAVY Divers

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Just so you know all Branches send their people to the Navy School. I knew a U.S Army Diver and went through the U.S.N Dive School. I also was looking at being a Navy Diver like you before giving up on it due to tons of medical issues that prevented me from joining. So even though a person may be Army, Air Force or Marines, they can still offer insight into the Dive School.
Yep. I have a friend who's son is an Army Diver. US ARMY, first on the scene of the Haiti earthquake...diving in that infected bay in mechanic coveralls.

More power to you all, brothers! I'll go over here and pull security! :)
 
Yep. I have a friend who's son is an Army Diver. US ARMY, first on the scene of the Haiti earthquake...diving in that infected bay in mechanic coveralls.

More power to you all, brothers! I'll go over here and pull security! :)

What got me interested in being a USN Diver is my best friends uncle was one and was stationed around Cape Canavaral and was on the team of divers that went to retrieve the SRBs from the Shuttle Launches.
 
Divevagabond - take this advice how you will as I am not an ex-military diver of any sort, but I am very familiar with various military recruitment and vetting processes.

Unless things have changed dramatically in the last few years you join the army, navy air force and so on, not a specific job.

Many specialisms and jobs are only open to you for application AFTER you have finished basic and been accepted into the organisation, and if you are unsuccessful in your primary choice of trade or posting YOU DO NOT have an automatic opt out from the military to go back to being a civilian and you become subject to what has been called above the "needs of the navy". They then send you wherever THEY want to.

So in short if you do not want a career in the navy don't apply, because there is no such thing as joining the "navy dive program" until you are in the navy, and if you are not accepted, or fail selection you are STILL in the navy and they will send you where they want you.

I have given this advice hundreds of times to people who have wanted to join the military or police because they want to be a pilot, bomb disposal expert, detective and so on, without realising you join the organisation - not a specific job.

Apologies if you do already realise this, but your comments about being promised dive school suggest you don't.

There is no guarantee, and no recruiter can give you one, of getting selection for dive school.

Good luck whatever you chose - Phil.
 
In my experience people who join the military to learn a trade are normally sorely disappointed. Most soldiers/sailors/marines I know who are satisfied and leave in good standing felt a calling or a duty. Consider that also when making your decision.

There is no way to guarantee your slot. Your contract can really do no more that guarantee you an opportunity to compete for a slot. Remember that navy divers are part of the naval special operations community and those slots are being competed for by sailors looking to reclass as well as initial entry sailors. Any number of things can deny you an opportunity as well. Sprain an ankle during basic? Get in trouble? Be outcompeted for a slot? The navy will find another job for you. You can always try again, but in the military nothing is a guarantee.

If you're called to diving as a career go do commercial dive school. If you're called to serve and think the best way to do that is diving join the navy. But if you're not called to serve you will be unfulfilled and unhappy in the navy.
 
Do they still have a requirement to do a hull inspection on every ship before leaving port? If so, every ship must have a diver and I doubt if they keep a specialized diver on a small ship. Do they still carry diver as a secondary rating?

DFB

That is only a requirement on submarines now.
 
My 2psi.... Yes you can enlist as a diver. Yes you need to be able to pass the entrance fit test to even start training. If you fail the fit test or rock out of the academics, you Will be reassigned needs of the navy.

For what it's worth, the fit test is close to this( I'm not going to look up the milpersman for you.

500m swim using combat side stroke or breast stroke in 12min.

10 minute rest

50 push-ups in 2 min

2 min rest

60 curl up in 2 min

10 min rest

1.5 mile run in 10:30

10 minute rest

6 pull-ups untimed.


My numbers may be slightly off, but you get the picture. Not impossible, but many lack the motivation or the fitness level to complete it.
 
Gee TC, between all your *"Quotations"* and tough guy act, you almost actually helped me!

I understand that you don't just sign a piece of paper and get the job. I'm not pretending that I fully comprehend the physical demands and dedication it takes to get this ranking, but who are you judge what I'm made of without ever meeting me? I've got the dedication to earn this if given a fair shot, I just got to know this is worth fighting for. 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. Cheers'

If that's how you respond to someone's advice who DOES know what he's talking about you're not going to do well in the Navy. An immediate display of attitude like yours in the Navy will get you sent to NJP faster than you can spit, and that will be the end of your Navy diver dream.

I've been Navy affiliated for 13 years and TC's advice is right on the money. Go commercial and save yourself the heartbreak of an OTH for telling someone off because you believe you know better.

-Adrian
 
If that's how you respond to someone's advice who DOES know what he's talking about you're not going to do well in the Navy. An immediate display of attitude like yours in the Navy will get you sent to NJP faster than you can spit, and that will be the end of your Navy diver dream.


Divevagabond may have an attitude problem that would cause him problems in the military anyway.

I hate to say it, but I also see a washout in less than 6 weeks...
 
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.
 
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