US Military - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

07/29/2005 11:47:12 AM · #26

Originally posted by aboutimage:

-Why do kids join the US military? Same reason kids everywhere join global militaries. Some need a job. Some need discipline (and know it). Some want to give back to their country. Some are looking for direction in life. Some are looking for adventure. Some are looking for "esprit de corps" or brotherhood they never got at home. Some want to better themselves. Some want to challenge themselves.

thats pretty much every reason why i want to join

liv4him330

Canon EOS-7D

07/29/2005 11:52:28 AM · #27

When you join don't forget they want you just as much as you want to join probelly more so don't be afraid to fight for the job you want or you will end up hating your time in. I'm speaking from experence, I curently about to go to school to change the job I have because I hated it.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

07/29/2005 11:53:29 AM · #28

Originally posted by theSaj:

Fetor...

Have you ever considered the Coast Guard? whom actually pre-date the U.S. Federal Navy by two years...and who have been in every major conflict.

They have a broader mission (and help rescue many lives as well as defending the country and in the current terror situation are now probably the #1 defense of the country - as many feel that a nuclear device is easily smuggled via a small sailing vessel).

One of the other benefits is that a lot of their station bilets are in U.S. coastal cities. The result is that after your first few years you can usually find a bilet on shore which makes it much easier to raise a family and serve in the military.

Just a thought...

actually that was my first choice
but i realized i wanted to travel the world, not be docked off of the coast of road island

Message edited by author 2005-07-29 11:54:32.

liv4him330

Canon EOS-7D

07/29/2005 11:58:22 AM · #29

Most services will garuntee that you see the middle east but You could try getting stationed overseas I have spent the last two and a half years in germany. That is somthing else you can get in your contract right away. there are alot of places you can go with most branches I would recomend Air Force if you want to live overseas they seam to live in alot beter conditions where I am.

emorgan49

Olympus E-5

Olympus 50mm f/1.8 MF Normal Zuiko

07/29/2005 12:04:13 PM · #30

Originally posted by rgo:

I'm curious as to why a young American these days would be interested in joining military service. Of course tradition and family history might count, but are there other reasons for why military service is an opt choice?
-Rob

My young son joined the marines at 17. It was a good decision for him (maybe not for ME). It is a safe (drug free, housing details provided, food cooked for you) ticket out of small town if college is not an option. Think about it - what 20 year old has been to Afghanistan twice? What an opportunity if only no one was trying to kill him! Now at 21 he is a Sargeant, an instructor at the city combat training center in LA, a black belt karate instructor with a new Ford F350. He has grown up a lot.

theSaj

Canon EOS-20D

Tamron AF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 LD for Canon

07/29/2005 12:31:26 PM · #31

Originally posted by "jaxter":

Actually...
CG Birthdate: 04 August 1790
Navy Birthday: 13 October 1775

Hate to bust your bubble jaxter...

Although the U.S. had naval forces during the revolutionary war, what we know as the United States Navy was not established until April 30,1798.

What you are referring to is the Continental Congress Navy. And to do so, is akin to referring to President Washington as America's 8th president.

"The Continental Navy was established by the Continental Congress on October 13, 1775, who authorized the procurement, fitting out, manning, and dispatch of two armed vessels to cruise in search of munitions ships supplying the British Army in America. The legislation also established a Naval Committee to supervise the work. All together, the Continental Navy numbered some fifty ships over the course of the American Revolutionary War, with approximately twenty warships active at its maximum strength.

After the American War for Independence, Congress sold the surviving ships of the Continental Navy and released the seamen and officers."

....

"The United States Constitution, ratified in 1789, empowered Congress "to provide and maintain a navy." Acting on this authority, Congress ordered the construction and manning of six frigates; one of the original six, USS Constitution, familiarly known as "Old Ironsides," survives to this day.

The War Department administered naval affairs from that year until Congress established the Department of the Navy on April 30, 1798."

Congress ordered the construction and manning of six frigates on March 27, 1794 and in 1797 the first three frigates, USS United States, Constellation and Constitution went into service."

(Courtesy of Wikipedia)

------------------------------------------------------------

So the actual date of the establishment of the United States of America Navy wasn't until 1790 and it wasn't until 1797 that he first U.S. naval warships went into service.

;)

Although I am sure that the U.S. Navy likes to claim the 1775 date for it's establishment. The entity established in 1775 known as the Continental Navy was in fact completely disbanded. And is indeed a seperate entity. The history of U.S. "naval" forces starts with 1775 but not the United States Navy. In 1915 under an act of Congress the Revenue Cutter Service received it's present name "U.S. Coast Guard" when it absorbed the Life-Saving Service [and several other small services].

The Coast Guard is one of the oldest organizations of the federal government and, until the Navy Department was established in 1798, served as the nation's only armed force afloat.

(Courtesty of www.uscg.mil)

So sorry to bust all the bubble of all you Navy guys. But the U.S.C.G. is actually the "older brother" albeit smaller brother. I remember reading somewhere but am unable to find the reference that the U.S.C.G. is in fact the 4th largest naval fleet in the world.

jaxter

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

07/29/2005 12:41:45 PM · #32

You're wrong Saj, but I'll let it slide because I like you and I have a lot of respect for the Coast Guard. The boatmanship training you guys go through is phenomenal. Raises the hair on the back of my neck thinking about it. It really is a shame that you guys rarely get your due praise among the Armed Forces. You take the shallows and I'll take the deep. See you in port... Cheers!

Kaizen

Nikon D70

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

07/29/2005 12:53:28 PM · #33

Originally posted by jaxter:

You are both correct. See Navy Birthday.

JV

Message edited by author 2005-07-29 12:57:26.

jaxter

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Tamron AF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 LD for Canon

07/29/2005 01:07:00 PM · #34

I'm afraid we've gotten away from the original topic here, and I apologize to Fetor for my part in that. Whatever service you choose, I can sincerely say thank you for stepping up to join our ranks in defending this great country. While (as I'm sure you can tell) we do tend to compete with each other on a friendly but tenacious level, when it comes down to it, we are all part of the same team and proudly work hand in hand to protect freedom, liberty, and all else we hold dear. Go the path your heart tells you to follow and you'll never be travelling the wrong road.
Jack

Edit: spelling

Message edited by author 2005-07-29 13:20:51.

theSaj

Canon EOS-20D

07/29/2005 03:15:50 PM · #35

Originally posted by jaxter:

You're wrong Saj....You take the shallows and I'll take the deep. See you in port... Cheers!

"Aye, Coast Guard we are for you...."

Jaxter... ;)

And believe it or not the "puddle pirates" (Coasties) have actually had quite a fair bit of deep water travel. (The Coast Guard's ice breaker's help keep the waterways free & open throughout many regions of the world. In WWII many of the destroyer escorts for the freighters were manned by Coast Guardsmen. In the Gulf War the Coast Guard did security and boardings.)

And you're right about some of the boatmanship training. I remember the videos for the advanced training on the 44' surf boats. It's enough make a SEAL crap his pants. Something about being in a 44' boat facing a 20ft wave...

Anyways, here are some small pics I found of the U.S. Coast Guard Surf boats in action. Hope you all enjoy.

(Likewise, Fetor, the service of this nation with good intent is always a noble deed. Each and every service does her nation proud. And I each and every serviceman dreams of the day he'll never be needed again.)

Message edited by author 2005-07-29 15:16:28.

CalliopeKel

08/01/2005 07:37:34 PM · #36

Originally posted by BigMo:

You have a better chance of getting into the photography with the Navy and make sure they get you that MOS. I do not at all discredit the other branches but the Navy and Army (again make sure they will get you that MOS) have those jobs. Good luck.

SSG Moore

Hello, I am Fetors mother, and I will be helping him on this journey. I do have a question though. What is MOS? Mode of Service? Sorry, I'm a newbie and military jargon is new to me.

Does anyone know anything about colorblindness and the ability to get this particular job?

Great thread by the way, very informative and inspirational!

TroyMosley

08/01/2005 07:47:50 PM · #37

I spent 4 years active ARMY, Also i spent a year in Iraq, if i was you i would join the army, the navy and airforce are for the weaker minded, if you dont want to get dirty, or eat cold meals, shower with bottled water, then the army is not for you, we are tuff, with one goal to engage and destroy the enemies of the US, foreign or domestic. as is the MARINES, if you have any questions on teh ARMY, PM ME<

sorry if i affended any navy or airforc but you know its true,

TroyMosley

08/01/2005 07:52:16 PM · #38

MOS is Military ocupational Specialty,

sabphoto

Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+

08/01/2005 07:52:17 PM · #39

MOS (Military Occupation speciality) is what the army uses for their job code, like my vet friends is 91T 91R is a food inspector). In the Navy we call it a NEC. Every job has a code (usually a number) and some even have extended ones we call secondary NEC. My job is a dental assistant (stop laughing, I can't make this up) and my NEC is 0000 but when I'm with the Marines it changes to 8707.

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

08/01/2005 09:08:13 PM · #40

hey thanks to everyones contribution to this thread
im about 80 percent sure im gonna go for navy, but my buddy curtis gave me a talk last night and that other 20% is marines

NathanWert

Canon EOS-90D

08/01/2005 10:35:18 PM · #41

I asked my dad (20 year Navy vet) and he said if you want combat photography the marines are the way to go. I'm not sure what KIND of photography you are looking for though.

CalliopeKel

08/01/2005 10:37:14 PM · #42

He is looking for the kind of photography that doesn't get you killed...LOL

08/01/2005 10:37:49 PM · #43

actually im just looking for a rush

;)

Message edited by author 2005-08-01 22:38:00.

theSaj

Canon EOS-20D

08/01/2005 10:41:56 PM · #44

LOL

So the 20 ft waves weren't enough? what about "air survivalmen" work out 3 hours a day as part of your job. Then jump out of perfectly good helicopters and make a big splash for your drowning audience...

*lol*

ratha1004

Nikon D70

08/01/2005 10:49:24 PM · #45

I can tell you from experience that you want to join the Air Force. I am in the Air Force. Honestly, you just need to look at what you want to do. In the Army or Marines you WILL carry a gun and do desert time. In the Navy, you will spend months on end on the ship. In the Air Force you could do a little of everything. It all comes down to what you want to do. I just think that it is noble that you want to serve this great nation of America. God Bless.

aplomb76

Canon EOS-1D Mark IIn

08/01/2005 10:49:34 PM · #46

If you join the Army you almost certainly will see Iraq, possibly Korea, and maybe Germany. Other foreign stations are possible, but much less likely.

The Army, which, although smaller than it has been in a long time, is one of the largest in the world. You will be a small fish in a big pond. Less so in other branches.

In Air Force or Navy you are more likely to be stationed at safer bases, and the quality of living is much higher. Air Force and Navy have greater opportunities for doing Public Affairs.

When you speak to your recruiter, be very very persistent, maybe even play one branch against the other. Be sure you get your job in writing. You can ping pong forever. With recruitment and retention so low, you are very valuable to them.

I've heard really good things about the Coast Guard too, but mostly rumors.

Message edited by author 2005-08-01 22:52:30.

08/01/2005 10:51:42 PM · #47

i want to be stationed on a ship, and take pics on the flight deck

but i hear that a lot of the photography jobs are filled by civilians that get paid to take them so the navy doesnt have soldiers that "waste their time" doing that

aplomb76

Canon EOS-1D Mark IIn

08/01/2005 10:56:43 PM · #48

Originally posted by Fetor:

That is true. The Army uses a lot of contractors, but they still have some Soldiers doing public affairs.

I'm not Public Affairs Office (PAO), but I recently compiled some video and photos we did in training for a brief. I really enjoy it, but it is very time consuming in addition to my normal duties.

In my website you can see some of the shots I took in Korea and Ft Leonard Wood, Missouri. Everyone has a camera. I'm going to the field for 21 days starting Wednesday, and I'll have my camera with me.

Brian.

aboutimage

Canon EOS-30D

08/01/2005 10:58:53 PM · #49

Originally posted by Fetor:

Eh? Who told you that? Horsepucky!! There's an entire Navy magazine (All Hands) staffed almost exclusively by JO's (Journalists) and PH's (Photographers). All Hands is just one of several.

I spent 3 years on the USS Paul F Foster (DD 964) as the ship's "official photographer", even though I'm an IT (Information Systems Technician). This is primarily because the small ships don't get a dedicated PH. The larger ones get a whole office full of PH's, though. And not one civilian. Now you may find civilian photographers working for the Navy on bases somewhere, but the ships are ALL military.

These 3 photos were taken on the flight deck of the USS Tarawa (where I had no official affiliation with their photography division):

ed: grammar

P.S. We don't have soldiers, unless you count the SEALS, of course. The Navy has Sailors, and you'll find that MOST of them have cameras.

Message edited by author 2005-08-01 23:00:16.

aplomb76

Canon EOS-1D Mark IIn