Happy Fourth!

Hope y'all had a great fourh of July! Celebrating with friends and family and having a good time. Thank you to all who serve in the Armed Forces for giving us daily the freedom we have here in our beautiful country!

Went to the beach got some time off Friday from school, no work...so it was a pretty good relaxing weekend. Tomorrow it's back to work, the ETs and EMs split off already so now we have 9 in my classroom of EMs and about 12 in the ET class , we have different courses now. They have ICE and we have EQUIP which is dealing more with each other's rating deals with out in the fleet.

Alright, keep the questions coming again kjc88navy@gmail.com is my email.

Almost done...

So June is almost over and so is Digital Electronics...not bad for it just being binary numbers but after a while of seeing 0's and 1's all the time I guess it is time to move on. Last test is on Thursday so hopefully I do alright. After that it'll be 2 months and I'll graduate A school, 1/3 of the training phase for my Nuclear Program. Time is flying by so quickly don't you think?

Just started raining and it's 95 degrees here...ridiculous weather we have here humid and super duper hot., plus on hurricane watch at least once a week lol.

Well just wanted to update some. Thanks to those who've been emailing me, asking questions and I'm glad again my blog has helped a lot of different people.

ET and EM schedule the first part...

So this is for the first 2 1/2 months of A school for the ETs and EMs...(click on image to enlarge). I'll get a copy of the rest later.

Also we usually PT Mon, Wed, Fri from 0545 to 0630 before we go to class. 

There you have it....The abbreviations are all the topics/chapters of lessons we go through per subject Math, Basic Electricity, Electronic Fundamentals, Digital Electronics, etc. If you have questions about them ask me.

As far as the schedule...

As far as that goes my scanner isn't working, I'm getting another one from hp soon so when I do it'll scan the schedule unto here.


Also I've been meaning to say, kudos to those who read this...first off those who find it. Why? Not a lot of people joining the Navy research or look into what it's like or ask questions, they kind of dive into the water without knowing if the water is deep or not, what the job entails...etc...

So thank you for reading and very smart of you for researching.

School Classes and Schedule for EMs/ETs

I'll get on this weekend if I remember to post the schedule for the basic electricity, electronic fundamentals and digital and the times and scheduling etc we have as electrician's mate or technician's...in case anyone is wondering...


Victory at Sea tomorrow...meaning half way point until I graduated and hopefully become a Third Class PO...hoorah..Power school is next....

....It's Friday Tomorrow...

Watch sucks from 22 to midnight and then sleep 4 hours to wake up the next morning and have an electronic fundamentals test...eh...at least I passed lol.

Not bad down here, hurricane condition II, very hot and humid and rains on occassions when it gets windy and hot...horrible weather I think I'd prefer a nice chilly weather...makes it a lot better for smoking haha.

Ummm, oh yeah as far as studying outside of the Rickover building I found it that http://www.howstuffworks.com has a lot of basic electricity and electronic fundamentals material that may help you understand the material better and explain it in a different way.

Nothing else going on...


Happy Mother's Day to all Mothers by the way...(Sunday).


Have a good Navy day!

Smooth sailing...

So far so good...I got my third Basic Electricity test coming up on Tuesday, the material seems to be a lot easier. Inductors, capacitors, resistors, resonance, etc so it's not bad, a lot of long equations on circuits and definitions as well.

I'm on duty this Saturday so I had to wake up early come at 0600 and clean the barrack buildings. Our second muster is at 1830 and after that I get to go home with a couple of friends and just relax for a bit. Just got to put in 2 hours tomorrow since I'm on 10-2 now not bad...hopefully I get on 10-0 that'd be awesome...anyways...

Hmmm, nothing else I have been answering questions on and off. I'm glad people, future sailors and parents are finding this information helpful. I don't have much information now but school related stuff but if anyone has a specific topic you know to email me or ask me here and I'll get back to you as soon as I can and whenever I remember to check my email lol.

Have a good one.

And the tests begin...

So we had our first math test this Monday...I got a 3.375 which isn't bad, I'm still on 15-2 which is study 15 hours a week (Sunday through Tuesday) minimum 2 hours a day.

Math is basic algebra and equations and it all mixes in with Basic Electricity. Basic electricity is a lot of verbatim, you have to remember a lot of theory, text, schematics, diagrams, equations and solve for Current, voltage and resistance. The labs are nice, because it's hands on which helps y'all kinetic people. I recommend getting the BMR for Basic Electricity, because it's not NOFORN so you can study it at home and read at home to grasp a better understanding of it. Math is do it OUR Navy way and if you miss a little piece like the LCD you do get points off for it. I got silly mistakes like not rounding or not reducing all the way...so pay attention to detail and answer the question in the form they want it in for the final answer.

It's not bad, a lot of studying.

Physical wise, we are pting at least 3 times a week (Mon, Wed, Fri), working on the run and push ups and curl ups all the time. It's amazing how the teamwork develops then, trying to keep up or helping push a shipmate further.

Well that's all I got for now.

NUKE life

So it's not bad. You go through indoctrination, which is a little like THU...you clean the Bowman Center and then get off at 1300 or 1400 and do whatever you want. You can go off base on Fridays, Sat, Sunday and come back to your barracks at 0015. You meet a lot of people and basically everyone talks to you no matter what. If you smoke, the smoke pit is another place where people tend to hang out and talk about the crazy NUKE life and classes and anything else that's happening...that's how people socialize here.

Your class will be like your mini division, you'll definitely all get close, definitely be motivating each other such as in the PFA running part, you eat chow together and make plans for the weekend to hang out. Eventually this will be substituted for study hours Sunday through Thursday but it works out.

You'll get crap in boot camp for being a NUKE, "Stop nuking it" is an expression you hear a lot. Here at NNPTC it's normal to "nuke it" they expect you to so you better do it. Everyone here is a NUKE so it all feels like a normal community of smart people...although maybe not so smart when it comes to going out etc etc.

I'll definitely get more into the classes atmosphere about it, definitely not telling you about the materials etc, but how it works. I know we have to study 15 hours at least minimum 2 a day from Sunday to Thursday, unless you do well you get less or if you bad then they give more mandatory hours to do. Everything, all the notes and homework is done in the Rickover building, once you leave that building you forget about it. Go to your barracks or in my case next week go to base housing which is about 4 miles from here if that.

There is 1 female per every 33 males, so they will definitely be after you. They allow dating here etc, so long you don't show affection and keep it to off base. In my class there is 2 females (including me) and 26 males, a total of 28 people in my class 0925. All the ETs and EMs class together, the M/T (Mike Tangos) and the MMs are Alphas since Ets and EMs have the 6 months A school while the MMs only have the 3 months A school.

To be honest I cannot wait for the math classes to begin...I want to be busy and I want to be studying to keep my mind from spacing out...

Don't fall asleep...everyone does this lol at one point or another.

The galley here is definitely better than boot camp and from what I here the best you'll ever taste ever! So hit the refueling complex here when you come.

Hmmm...PT is 5 times a week while you are in INDOC and a PFA every Wednesday. You get uniforms inspections and room inspections and that will definitely be for your whole Navy career. It'll never end...so get those boots shining and looking like a mirror.

Anything else...as usual email me.

If you are looking into the NUKE program, do it, it has a lot of good benefits and remember we are the top 10% of the Navy...so we're a small community, always looking out for each other, helping each other...and keeping the Navy underway.


Hooyah Navy Nukes!

NNPTC or Officer

Welcome to NNPTC. So this whole week is full of indoctrination briefs, letting you know about school and all the different programs and what not that is accessible to you.


OCS, Naval Academy, and the STA-21 is something that may interest you if you want to become an officer. They inform you a lot so keep your eyes opened for it, you go NUKE for boot camp but coming to NNPTC you can change it to go Officer. I am off to chow but will get more into this if any of you need it.

Finally at Goose Creek, SC!

So maybe I'm on hold here and will be longer not only because of medical but security clearance...something about my paperwork never being filed haha...funny...not really but yeah that part sucks.

But other than that...the weather is fantastic better than Great Lakes, IL. The people, everyone is like nothing else...you ARE a shipmate. I love it, the rooms has two people in it and my keycard is like a hotel keycard...isn't that something...Big Brother monitors what times you go in and out of your room...figures haha. I'm in a building named after the first nuclear submarine, the Nautilus...it's great...although soon I'll have to find out about the base housing and have my hubby move down here with me. Which means I would most definitely move out.

Um, nothing much going on...besides the fact that I will definitely have a lot more computer access and can update this blog a lot more now.

I know I haven't been answering a lot of questions being emailed to me but I did have a lot going on. Hell, I think it'd be a lot easier if y'all just email me and I give you my number...texting would be a lot better and faster and I wouldn't have to be coming online to check up on any new recent emails. So go ahead and do that, email me at kjc88navy@gmail.com and I will most definitely send you my number back...(once I see you're an okay person haha) and we can text.

Again, questions on DEP, MEPS, boot camp, RTC, THU, PFA, etc...I will help out. If not you can always head on over to http://www.navyfamilies.com/ and they will for sure help you guys out in any way possible and not only the NUKE rating but also other ratings and what not. I'm KJC88 there, have not posted once but the owner, Craig, of the site is fantastic and the people there as well.

Long days...

Alright so I haven't posted anything but I have been so busy.

First off I got Phased up so I am in Phase 2, which means longer liberty 2300 curfew but also more work and responsibilities. I'm section leader so I have to be on top of things and make sure people in my section clean the ship (building). We moved to Ship 1 the Pearl Harbor so we get all the new P-Day recruits pretty much. Kind of annoying but if you're having a bad day take it out a recruit,,,say if they are talking tell them to lock it up it's funny to see their faces. I'm sure it'll help them, better me than their RDCs.

Days are long, sometimes I stay up 23 to 25 hours and get 1 1/2 hours of sleep, some how I have adapted to it. It does make you think more though staying up so late working, sure I'm busy but it makes you think of home and especially family.

What does bother me and what's been an issue lately is Chiefs and Senior Chiefs who think we're still recruits...they don't treat us like Sailors...for some reason because we're on hold they think we're bags of scum...we work hard to maintain the ship clean, no dust, we drive the duty van and the recruits where they need to be. We do roving in the compartments making sure recruits aren't causing any trouble. We basically run the whole ship and yet we're looked down upon. ONe thing though our THU Chief is on top of it, she wants us to get names so she can get on their butts about treating us like crap.

Well I have a 4 hour watch roving at 2000 and that's about it have at least 5 hours of sleep tonight (YES!) lol.

Tomorrow we do have liberty from 0800 to 2300 so that's good and we can wear civilian clothes so that's better.

A lot of THU sailors are getting their orders, in fact one of my friends Lauren left even though she was in another building it's sad but that's how it's going to be from now on, friends will come and go and perhaps later you'll run into them again.

Well as for me I'm fit for duty but who knows if I need a waiver I might find out Monday...looks like I'll be here for a while haha. Oh well...

Alright I have to run off.

It can't last forever...

You know nothing last forever, nothing referring to something physically there or some kind of event happening. For instance, a vacation, it has to end someday can't go on forever. Well my leave is up, it should end on the 18th, but I booked my flight to leave on the 15th. Why? I figured it'd be best, if I get back sooner, then I'll get my papers all set and ready to get new orders and head out to South Carolina for A school.

So that's what I'm doing. Plus I have an appointment on the 20th, and I need to update my status from being under "Medical hold" to being on "No specific hold" haha. 

But sadly, I will miss my husband and just being at home. Hopefully, I get everything set in order, I get sent to South Carolina and then he can move out there and we can be together again. 

Anyways...I enjoyed my leave time, Christmas, Honeymoon, New Year's, a few surprises here and there, it was good. I must admit I did miss the Navy way of things...perhaps that's the other reason I'm going back the 15th. Haha.

The New Year with the Navy

So I'm back, went to Niagara Falls and I enjoyed it a lot with my husband.

Have you ever felt you've stepped out of your life, and you're viewing it from a point of view that's absolutely not there. Like, you're in a dream-like sort of state, not really fully there, not so conscious of your surroundings, feelings, emotions, everything?

Well that's how I've been feeling lately, like it's all unreal. I know I'm the same person because that's how I have acted and who I have been for years, and who my family and friends know. But now there's an additional side of me, the Navy side and it got attached to me somehow without me noticing how it got there (haha). 

I don't mind it at all, I've got 6 years with the Navy active duty and so far 3 months in. Boot camp? It's over and it wasn't bad. I can still remember every bit of it, it went by so quickly. 

Does it bother me that I'm still at Great Lakes, IL on hold at THU? No it doesn't, because that's the way it's going to be from now on. If the Navy says I can't go because of something and I have to be on hold then so be it. There are a lot of Sailors at THU desperate to get out of there, to go off to their A school. I can't see how they don't understand that this whole New Year 2009 coming up, it's going to be the same exact way. 

The Navy is their job now, not just school or whatever they did before, where they decided on what to do. They need to realize that, they need to be patient, because it's the only way they'll learn to appreciate the decision they made 2 or 3 or 4 months ago to join the Navy. Some don't see it, some probably don't even recall why they joined, some just joined for "something to do". 

Let me tell you, it's not just something to do. I love it and I'm going to take it and do the best I can in the Navy. The Navy is not "just a job", it's my life now and the best way to work with it is learning that it will be for the following 6 years and after that maybe longer.

So this New Year I will enjoy the Navy to its best and hopefully the Navy will get the most of me, because I will surely give it my all. I hope my shipmates can realize this and their grand commitment they made to their country, to Americans' lives. 

You know how the Chinese have an animal for the year? Well this New Year is the Navy Year for me. It'll be the Year of the Navy how's that? I think it's a good idea haha. 

Anyways, I'm happy to help anyone else with any other questions they may have or whatever it may be. 

May everyone have a wonderful New Year in 2009, full of health, prosperity, and happiness.

Major Update

Hmm yeah it seems like there's a lot of updates going on with me recently. Of course graduating boot camp is one of them. Then I got married, so now I'm married. After that, the Navy put me on medical hold since they found out I was anemic, I got that fixed and taken care of. No longer anemic after taking some iron, but also seeing I get a special physical for being NUKE, they thought that a girl having a somewhat of a Adam's apple was a no no for them. They did blood work, ultrasound and a biopsy of the lump and the figured it was the thyroid but it wasn't. And nothing was wrong with it, it wasn't cancerous but because I'm going nuclear they need to make sure I'm in excellent health (haha). Well, I had surgery on Wednesday and they gave me 30 day convalescent leave. I guess it worked out seeing it's the holiday season and what not. 

So I'm home with a nice looking scar on my collar bone area. I go back to Great Lakes on the 15th of Jan, and hopefully then get my orders to go to South Carolina and start my A school, on the road to becoming a NUKE EM. 

Anyways, for the moment I'll have access t the computer daily instead of paying for it at Great Lakes, so if anyone needs anything as far as advice or help let me know. Send me a comment and I'll reply or email me: kjc88navy@gmail.com

Happy Holidays y'all!

I am a United States Sailor

I am a United States Sailor. 

I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and I will obey the orders of those appointed over me. 

I represent the fighting spirit of the Navy and those who have gone before me to defend freedom and democracy around the world. 

I proudly serve my country's Navy combat team with Honor, Courage and Commitment. 

I am committed to excellence and fair treatment of all.

I graduated as of today, 26 November 2008. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I will be spending it with my fiancee. I am tired and will update more tomorrow. I have to return Friday since I only took 2 days leave.

Whooo!!!

Shipping Out

So tomorrow I have to be at my NRS at 10am and from there I suppose get paperwork and go on my way to the Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio. I will be staying the night at the hotel with other soon-to-be DEPers and those who are also shipping out. Not only will there be Navy, but also other recruits from other military branches. You may not end up being roomed with someone from the same branch. This will be a night just like the first visit to MEPS was. On Wednesday morning, I will wake up a 0400 just like it was the first time to MEPS. We will be transported to MEPS and go inside. The ones shipping out will head into the Medical Exam room first obviously to get them processed faster. If you are not shipping out, you will be the 2nd group following them. 

For the ones shipping out, you will not have a full medical exam like you had the first time to MEPS. You will have blood work, urinalysis and height and weight done and a few other things but not as much as the first time. You will then of course wait, and wait, and wait, perhaps have the MEPS lunch. Again take your 2nd Oath of Enlistment, Sign the Final Contract. MAKE SURE TO READ YOUR CONTRACT BEFORE SIGNING! 

I repeat...

READ YOUR CONTRACT BEFORE SIGNING IT!

You want to make sure everything is on there, from the enlistment bonus, to your rating, to a rate if you are not going in as E-1, then make sure you are going in E-2 or E-3. Check the contract years and understand it. If you like, bring a copy of your DEP Contract you got at your first MEPS visit and see if it matches.

Then of course, I can only suppose now since I don't know. But you will be taken to the airport with other shipping out and wait for your flight. You will then go to your destination. Navy: Your destination will be the O'Hare Airport, in Chicago, Illinois. You will have directions and know the instructions of what to do, Most likely go to the USO office and wait until you are picked up on a bus by the RDCs from Recruit Training Command and be taken. Be sure to not use your phone from this point on if you take your cell phone. You are on your way to begin your journey.

I will let you know if this is how it really is or if something different happened when I returned.

To future military recruits, all branches I want to thank you for choosing to join our US Armed Forces and for choosing to serve your country. This great country, OUR country is a wonderful place to protect and serve. If you haven't made your mind up, do not hesitate to contact a recruiter. It is in no way a commitment if you make a call or go to your local Recruiting Station. If you need help contacting or finding a Navy recruiter near your area go to Find a Recruiter and you will be able to locate the number and address of your local recruiter. Do not be afraid, it's only for information. If not you can always go to Navy.com and use the Chat 1-on-1 and they can answer your questions and doubts for you.

Also be sure to visit Freedom Lounge for all Armed Forces and Military Branches information, Air Force, Coast Guard, Army, Marines and Navy. For Navy forum specifically, go to My Navy Online . They can also answer your questions there and you can find a lot of resourceful information. 

Good luck future Shipmates! Good Luck future Service men and women!

I did it, I got a haircut!

So I cut my hair, 15 inches of hair cut off and I will be donating it to LocksofLove.org . Not bad, it feels weird, it's been a long time since I've had it so short. 

 Haha see. Well I suppose I leave Tuesday to the Hotel in Cleveland, and I suppose I leave Oct. 1st on Wednesday. Why do I suppose? Well I have no information as to what time on Tuesday I am leaving or being taken to Cleveland. My recruiter hasn't called me so...blah. If Monday still no news, I'm definitely calling MEPS maybe I'll get info then. And no there isn't any other recruiter at my Navy Recruiting Station. Chief is probably in Italy, so she has leave and she didn't say who was to be in charge just said my recruiter would be back in town by the time she left. He was, and we talked once, but he hasn't responded so I'm confused. It's a small town, so it's a small NRS. Oh well, I'm sure Monday I'll get blasted with a whole bunch of info. 

Here I go! I'm not nervous, just excited I think the only thing making me nervous is not knowing when I am supposed to be at my NRS so I get taken to Cleveland. But that's about it. 

What to bring to Boot camp and What Not To!!

Okay so I got this from MyNavyOnline.com which is helpful and helped me in knowing what I will be taking to boot camp. Also helps parents too.

1) DO NOT purchase anything on the list. Send them with a change of underwear and socks, stamps, addresses and their Bible. Don't spend money on anything else because they are going to send it back in the box and make them buy it there.

2) If you purchase a calling card for your sailor, so they can call you, make sure they practice with it before they leave. If they are not familiar with the card and codes they have to enter, it may take too long to use and you will not receive your 10 second, "I made it call." This happened to me and I was sad for a week.

3) Tell your sailor to rest as much as possible on their flight and at the USO. They will be kept up for quite some time when they arrive at RTC. These cat naps will help them survive.

4) Although the list says don't take cell phones, have them take it. They can call you while they are traveling, when they make it to O'Hare, and up until the time the Petty Officers come get them at the USO. It will help them and you. They will send it back in "the box", cell in one shoe, battery in the other.

5) Tuck a SMALL note in your sailors wallet for them to read when they are discouraged or lonely. They don't get mail for up to 2.5 weeks and this will help them through some tough days. Make it upbeat and encouraging. 

6) Ask your sailor to write a short note ahead of time to put in their pants pocket so when you receive "the box" you will have a small lifeline.

7) Start writing them right away. Number the envelopes so they know the order of the letters, then when you have the address, drop all those puppies in the mail. My son recieved something like 17 letters his first mail call. Mail is their lifeline. Try to stay positive. It is ok to let them know they are missed, but don't go crazy with that because they need to stay focused.

8) Forward your home phone (if you have one) to your cell, so you don't miss any calls.

Half way there

Okay so lately I haven't been online doing what I usually do for some odd reason. I suppose I've been spending time with my boyfriend or doing other things that just doesn't make having a 24 hour day like it's enough.

Last week I had my IFA which I failed because I need to cut 2 minutes off my running time and well at least I didn't run 1.5 miles in 30 minutes. I quit smoking 3 weeks ago so it's a good start don't you think? I haven't done sports for at least 2 years and began smoking once I was abroad so whoever reads this, stop smoking now if you really want to get in shape and make it in the Navy. After boot camp you can smoke if you want but if you're not used to exercising stop smoking now. I was used to exercising and smoking before but I went to just smoking and no exercising so my lungs are not so well and I get a lot of stitches. But the rest is good, my sit ups not bad, my push ups not bad. I guess I just need to get into the whole mindset of going back to being more active than moderately active (haha).

Some ask how I am emotionally? Well I'm doing good, a bit nervous but I always get nervous even if I'm just flying from one state to another for some family vacation so it doesn't surprise me. I might be young but I have been away from my family, my mom since I was 15/16 so it's not going to be a "big" transition so to speak, as many 18 younger year olds who are just leaving home to explore the world and go into the Navy. Been there done that with studying in a different country so it won't be as hard.

I think as the October 1st approaches, time just seems to be going real slow. Yeah for some it goes quickly, but mine is going slow yet somehow I cannot find time to do everything I want. Funny how that works eh? The mind is  a mysterious thing. Anyways, getting sidetracked here. 

Not sure what else I can say except 15 more days, half way there. And well 15 because on Sept. 30th I assume I'll be heading to Cleveland to the hotel and then Oct. 1st I'll be down at MEPS doing my second oath and signing my 2nd "real" contract. 

Alrighty then, that's it for now. 

Off to Boot Camp Ticker

I spend a lot of my time at http://www.mynavyonline.com (MNO) so this is my ticker for me leaving that forum, leaving the internet world and my civilian world to boot camp.

THE BIG WHOO!!!

FINALLY!!!! THE BIG WHOO!!!

I'd like to thank everyone who's been hoping for me, praying for me to get my new contract in order and my new ship date. I know it's helped a lot.

I found out today that I am leaving October 1st to boot camp which is awesome. I love it, it can't be better. I don't have to wait until May.

I'm excited and ready to take on this responsibility, especially after Boot camp, my A school which will be one of the rough parts of this whole career. But I am ready and proud to be serving my country.

I hope to keep this updated when I can after boot camp to tell my story and tell everyone my journey so they may follow along and perhaps help them decide on joining any military branch they want to serve our great country.

Whoo!

Well maybe it's not the BIG "Whoo" but definitely a whoo. My abroad school faxed all the school information necessary over to my NRS. So my recruiter called me, he was happy and well I am hoping and pretty sure the NUKE recruiter will also be glad. I'm so glad it worked out and it was so quickly, less than a week and it was done.

Now, all I have to wait for is the contract and the reclassifying to happen, which should be in a couple of days. Meaning I'll have my contract, and ship out date. I know my ship out date, probably will be until next year. And if it is, then my recruiter will definitely submit the DAR roll up sheet to have my ship out date moved up. Hopefully it works out.

Another exciting part of this whole Navy process, is tomorrow is my first DEP meeting at 1700. So we'll see how well that goes, and what we do, and what happens...so nervous. I definitely have been practicing my salute, however, who knows if I have it down right and the "Permission to come aboard or go ashore". I'm sure my recruiter will help if I don't do it right haha.

Well I'm glad, and everything is going slowly but surely...and we'll see. I just needed to write it out, if you know what I mean.

How about them Olympics? Wasn't the swimming wonderful? The French can just eat it all up! Haha. Alright then.

NUKE rant

ARGH!

So I'm being reclassified from AECF to NUKE, getting a new ship date on which the Nuclear recruiter has no idea on. (Not my recruiter mind you he's working very hard to get everything going).

BUT NOW THEY NEED A DOCUMENT FROM MY ABOARD HIGH SCHOOL STATING WHAT THE NUMBER "96" AFTER THE CLASS COURSE OF MATH MEANS....(I studied my last two years of high school aboard).

Of course it's an A!!!!!!! But noooo, numbers isn't enough for them, they want some sort of legend that states where 96 falls in the range of, using letters (A,B,C..). I told him that the school does numbers because it's better and easier for calculating any type of GPA or average etc, and the letter legend, key or whatever is the same as American.

I mean what is it? A 96 out of 300? Yeah right. So it can't be an A, they need a legend key to tell them? Come on, what school anywhere doesn't work with a percentage of 100.........(and no I don't need to know if somewhere on this Earth actually doesn't work with 100, not in the mood sorry).

Argh and besides that, my 11th and 12th grade math courses just Math says Math, not Algebra I, II, Pre-Cal etc. So now I need something stating that the math I received was at least Algebra 1 or more or whatever it was.....what a pain....this will take forever....

What if the school aboard doesn't respond? I can't fly over there. Well I can but waste of money and if I do get there, what if they don't want to help? I mean okay I'm whining here because I'm mad and I do know the owner and director of the school and I just emailed him but what he doesn't reply? What he can't do me this favor? Yeah I was valedictorian but what if it means squat to them...argh

I have to rant...I just feel like I'm lost, no ship out date...feels like I should've just gone AECF shipped out Oct 27th and forgotten about NUKE.

Blah blah blah blah blah blah....no one has to read this it's nothing. I'm just upset, maybe tomorrow the director will reply and have something faxed to the recruiting station....or maybe not. Or it might take a lot of time and I will be sitting here until May or longer. Which is totally unbelievable...but the fiscal year is almost over and boot camp apparently is booked.

Why can't the Navy accept as 96 being a perfectly good score for math? Argh......

Update on NUKE Processing

So I went down to my local NRS and met up with my recruiter. Got some paperwork I had to write and sign in order to be reclassified into NUKE from AECF. He also inquired about the ship out date and when it may be, they said "May". MAY 2009???!!!

I don't want to ship out in May, that's why when I went AECF I picked the first date open and available, October 27 but now I have to wait.

After I get my new contract which probably will be until maybe mid-August, then my recruiter will be able to put a DAR roll up sheet in so they can up my ship date and make it ASAP.

I really hope it works out, I don't want to be waiting around until May. Plus I'd love to go to boot camp in the winter not in the summer. Even if it's in December or early January I'll take it, but no longer than that. Do a pretzel for me people I need good luck my way!

Also I'd like to thank AirmanMom for being my first commentator and leaving me my first comment. Thank you!

Passed! Going NUKE!

I passed. Just got news from my recruiter this morning. I will be going NUKE and tomorrow I have to go to the NRS (Navy Recruiting Station) to do some paperwork. So I guess my ship out date will definitely be changing but oh well, hope it doesn't go to Dec or January much worse February and beyond!

I'm so happy. Haha. That's it for today. Again if anyone needs help to study for the NAPT be sure to check out my last post.

NAPT Test

So I took the NAPT test today which is 80 questions and you get 2 hrs to do it. Basically, it's mathematics, chemistry and physics. Basic physics (acceleration, gravity, forces, 3 laws of Newton, etc). Chemistry (balancing equations, knowing the difference between acid and base i.e. the pH difference, adding atomic masses of different elements together, knowing the periodic table, knowing what the little numbers mean next to an element letter, etc). Mathematics (basically knowing how to add, subtract, multiply and divide mono-, bi-, and polynomials, etc).

So basically:

1. Know the difference between an acid and a base
2. know how to balance chemical equations
3. Be familiar with multiplication and division of polynomials.
4. Understand the use of the periodic table.
5. know how to change formulas around to get to a specific variable. they will give all the formulas on the test, you just need to know how to move them around.
6. Even though they give the formula, be comfy with radioactive decay.
7. Study Hydraulics (if you have two pounds of force on an area of an inch, how much force will it have when applied to an area of three feet)
8. Brush up on newton's three laws. especially the acceleration of gravity.

It's fairly easy, just think, the questions may play with words and try to confuse you. They give you the formulas you need, you may use a calculator. With the formulas, learn how to move the variables around to get to one answer and using that answer to replace it in another formula to get the actual result. You know. so know your way around formulas. And there is some theory, like if two objects collide, one 5 g and the other 10 g, is the acceleration the same? Or something like that.

Ummm, take your time, if you don't know it move it on and go back to it if you have time. You'll have time after believe me, you'll go through the easy ones without even using a calculator and then you'll have time to look over the tough ones.

To pass it depends on your line scores, but most likely to pass you will need minimum of 50 of the 80 to pass. Which shouldn't be too hard to do.

And don't be nervous. That's about it, that's all I have for this.

I'll be getting my results tomorrow morning, see if I go from AECF to NUKE and see if my ship date changes or not, or if all together I stay AECF.

AECF to NUKE

So my recruiter called yesterday, and said the Nuclear Field Recruiter called and is offering me a chance to switch from AECF to NUKE. All I have to do is take a test called the NFQT or something like that. Of course, seeing this is very short notice I get to take it on Monday! Hoorah! Haha. So I need to refresh my memory on physics, mathematics, some calculus, trig maybe, and perhaps chemistry. So glad I still have my scientific calculator.

So if I do pass the test, I think I will switch from AECF to NUKE, so long my ship date isn't changed much, if it is and they tell me go sooner than Oct. 27, I'll take it but if they tell me you'll be going later or until next year I don't think I'll take it. I want to go now. Get boot camp over with and start school already.

Also I don't know as AECF I figured ET or FC it wouldn't matter to me, but going in NUKE, I'd have to pick over MM, EM, and ET. And frankly, I think I'd like it ET, EM, MM in that order. So we'll see. It's what the NAVY needs or what they kindly give you.


So we'll see how I do on Monday. If I don't pass the test, then no plans change and I'll be doing AECF and still shipping out Oct. 27. So it'd all be okay either way.

I still kind of want to pass the test though haha. I'm going to the library soon seeing I don't have any math or physics books here at home, I figure if I just read and skim I'll refresh my memory from what I already know. Can't learn anything else but refresh what I already do know you know.

Well that's it, Monday I head down to my Navy station at 1100 and we'll see how it goes.

Checking In

Well, yesterday Monday I had to check in with my recruiter as required while being in DEP. Mainly just to let him know you're okay, no tickets, or police questioning and definitely no physical injuries, etc. So that went well and Sunday I walked like 9 miles which I felt good and after I got home I felt like running and just doing more. Haha. I hope this happens while in RTC (Recruit Training Center aka Boot Camp).

I smoke, but I'm smoking less, and still smoking just because I'd rather have that than be eating. I want to watch my diet, don't need fat gain just muscle gain and toning.

Anyways, that's all I have for now.

Be Smart, Start Learning

Alright guys/girls. If you are thinking about joining the Navy or any other military branch, then start reading everything you can about it.

Learn the type of vocabulary, learn the General Orders you have to know before leaving for boot camp, prepare yourself physically, learn the Creed, and learn Rank and Recognition.

I did it even before I knew whether or not I was going to be qualified and pass my medical exam at MEPS. I did it because once I was in DEP I wanted to be ready, plus you know what it means? You can go from E-1 to E-2 during DEP, that's the kind of opportunity that opens up. Which means, more stripes on your uniform, better pay if that's what you want too, and a better opportunity to keep going up the Chain of Command. After boot camp, you have a good probability of becoming an E-3 and after A school possible if it is long enough, E-4, which in the Navy you'd be a Petty Officer Third Class. Not bad eh?

Anyways, I knew my 11 General orders of Sentry 3 months before going to MEPS, I know them sideways, downways, upways, all ways in different order. It helps, believe it and your recruiter will see this. It's called dedication, determination, being organized and wanting to be serious about joining the Navy or any other military branch.

Remember, be ready before anything happens, this way when it does happen, it will be easy, you won't be stressing out and pulling your hair out.

As for physical, start running. Start walking, then fast walking and then jogging. After a while, running 20 to 30 minutes won't be anything. When you stop after your time, you'll be wanting to run more from all the adrenaline pumping through your system. You won't even feel it in your legs nor your lungs. Work yourself hard. For push ups, if you've done a push up before do one tonight, right now. Can't do anymore? Tomorrow morning, get up and try for 2 push ups. Each day increase it by one, if you couldn't do 5 the day before try 5 again the next day. Before you know it, you're arms will be able to do 20 non stop, no breaks and you won't even feel it. It's no joke, same with the curl ups (sit ups). Arms crossed over your chest and have someone help you, hold your feet down and cheer you to get up, once those elbows touch your thighs go back down and go for one more until you definitely feel like your body can no longer do any more. When you get used to it, time yourself, see how many you can do in 2 minutes and work off that number. Try to increase it, the higher you go the easier it will be for you.

Can't swim? Try going out for fun with friends, floating, paddling, keeping afloat for a while, then try up to 5 minutes. Learn the easiest stroke there is and use it to swim across the pool, even if you need someone to lead you or hold one of your hands. Before long you'll know the basics of swimming and not drowning and it should help before you get to boot camp. You don't want to be held back another week or more and not graduated with your division, you'll end up with a junior division. YOU WANT TO GRADUATE WITH YOUR DIVISION AT BOOT CAMP! So get on the go, start working out.

And hey, if you don't qualify for some reason, don't stop working out. In the end it's for your own health not the Navy's not any other military branch, it's for YOU.

Well I think that's what I wanted to say. I've been studying some of the DEP material, Naval history and what not. Can't wait for my first DEP meeting where I need to Salute the Ensign, Salute my recruiter and ask, "Permission to come aboord" and vice versa when leaving. Hehe, my first taste of orders and requests!

DEP

So I am in DEP (Delayed Entry Program) for the Navy. Which means it's the time you're waiting to ship out and head for boot camp. I got my Navy cap and Navy gray shirt for DEP yesterday and also signed a few other papers about the DEP program. I'll be receiving a PQS (Personal Qualification Standards book, you can read it online by clicking on PQS) and a Navy backpack soon. Which is a book I have to study, Naval History, learn the 11 General Orders of Sentry, Chain of Command, Rank and Recognition and basically all necessary to prepare me before I head to boot camp. During DEP I'll also be doing some PT to help with fitness levels and so I'm not lacking so much behind in boot camp.

And hmmm...that's it for now. Nothing else. For you future Navy folks or those slightly interested you guys should go to My Navy Online Forum. And ask all you want, I'm KJC88 there.

Also a great website for those in DEP is Navy Girl.

Alright then. I'll keep you updated.

Deciding to Join the Navy and MEPS Process

I've always wanted to be in the military. Especially since probably 4th or 5th grade, when I first started learning about the first World Wars, Civil Wars, Conquistadors, and what not. At the age of 13, I wanted to join the Army. My family thought it was a phase, not only but there wasn't even any kind of Middle Eastern conflict due to that 9/11 had not happened.

So what did I do? I took my California High School Exit Exam and finished Californian High School early, I decided to take classes at my local Community College. After a while, I decided to finish High School the normal way, even if I had passed the CAHSEE. So I did my last two years of high school and received an International Baccalaureate. I then wanted to go to Medical School. I skipped Pre-med through a series of tests and went straight in. This however was in a foreign country. Although classes were in English, meeting new people was great and going out almost every week or day wasn't half bad. Nevertheless I got tired of it, I decided to fly back to the United States, but not California. I'd fly to Ohio. Why Ohio? Well, my boyfriend lived there and well now I currently reside in Ohio as well.

We've been living for 1-1/2 years. Last year, when I had just come back to the United States, I let my family and my boyfriend know I wanted to join the military. I didn't specific a branch, but I was 100% sure I wanted to join. They weren't all too happy about it, especially if it was Army or Marines.

Exactly, one entire year went by and I was still with the idea of joining the military. I would read articles online about all the branches. Somehow, I entered my data to be contacted by a recruiter in my area for the NAVY.

Why had I not looked into the NAVY before? Yeah I had looked into the Army, and the Marines, even the Air Force and Coast Guard. But not the NAVY.

I had also contacted the Coast Guard, I figured it was still military and perhaps it wouldn't upset my family and boyfriend as much seeing I'd be stationed around the coasts of the U.S. But the Coast Guard didn't respond as I thought they would and they didn't really know their information.

The NAVY on the other hand, they answered all my questions. Not only that, right from the beginning I was given information on the Advanced Fields in the NAVY. Plus my recruiter was awesome, IS awesome. He gave me all the information necessary without even knowing if I would pass the ASVAB.

Around April 2008, I took the ASVAB and passed. My line scores now qualified me for most of the Advanced positions in the NAVY.

So now this was the issue. I had to meet height and weight/body fat requirements. No problem, from January 2008 to April 2008 I had already lost 20 pounds. So another 20 pounds or inches off the waist or hips wouldn't hurt.

Alright so Sunday, July 13, 2008 I went off to the Hotel "Embassy Suites" in Cleveland, Ohio to stay overnight. Monday I was to go to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station).

I got to the hotel around 1430 and had to wait until 1600 for the lady at the MEPS Hotel Check In to get there. A group of us (mixed Army, Marines, National Guard, Air Force, Navy) went in to get our room key cards and sign that we understand the Hotel rules. We also got our dinner voucher.

Everyone gets a roommate. And here's a tip, if you want to be with someone specific then stand in line close to them, if the two guys/girls got the same card/room number then chances are you two will too. Unless the other guy/girl in front of you got one card, then yeah the next one will be yours. So there is a chance of you picking your roommate.

So I get to my room, pick my bed, put my stuff down. And go watch TV in the Living room. Yeah I said living room, I also had a mini kitchen, medium size bathroom with two doors and a nice room. Alright, so my roommate came in and she wasn't all the talkative. Perhaps there is still a black/white barrier no matter what part of the World you're in, whether it's civilian lifestyle or military.

I asked her if she wanted to go grab dinner seeing it was almost 1700. We went down there and I picked soup and salad. Mainly because I didn't want to be bloated the next day for MEPS or too heavy for my weigh in. Soup was chili beans with meat...what kind of SOUP is that? Nasty, I didn't eat it. I just enjoyed my salad. While I smelled and saw my roommate eat her buffalo wings with ranch with such a delight. Oh well.

I went outside for a smoke and found myself with a lot of other military smokers. We chatted, hung out and practically just became friends over having military in common.

A lot of the kids there were 17 and 18. Very young, going Marines or Army infantry mostly. It made me think, and made me proud of this country, how many young people are saying, "Screw you" to liberal hippies and telling them "I'm going to fight for freedom and democracy around the World, What are you doing about it?"

Yeah, I knew I had made the right decision.

Curfew was at 2300 and wake up call was at 0430. I decided to set my cell phone alarm to 0400 to take a shower. What a pain, I didn't fall asleep until about 0100. Oh well.

Breakfast was available, but I'm not too much of a breakfast person, I have a nervous stomach. Who wants to have the shits at MEPS.

The shuttles were outside by 0530, ready to take a load of kids to MEPS.

We got to MEPS and we all headed towards the doors. Waiting for instructions. Every had to quiet down when Sgt. Baumgarden (or something like that) started to speak. "No earrings, no belts, turn off your cell phones, you cannot use your cell phones in the building, if you need to make a phone call go to your branch's liaison office and they will let you make the call, etc, etc, etc. Have your ID ready when you go through the metal detector. Once inside take a right, you will identify your bag with your name and branch with a tag and place it on a shelf. After that, go to your Branch liaison and get your name tag, you will be instructed on what to do from there."


Alright, so I do all that, get my name tag, go to the Control Desk where I am handed my folder. I go back to the Navy liaison office, they pick through my papers, and I sit down and wait. All from the time I got through the doors, it's hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry...and once you hurry and you're down you WAIT, and Wait....and wait....and wait. Yes, future applicants, it's the "hurry up and wait" process.

First, the ones shipping off to their branch's boot camp go and get processed.

They were in there long before, they went through a different door. Once I got my folder at the Control Desk I was asked to head into the Medical Section. I get there and get a vision test and my depth perception test. I finished and waited on one side of the seats lined up. I then go in with two others to a booth to take my hearing test. I put the headphones on waiting for them to start the beeps and all I could hear was my own heartbeat (lol).

After that a group of us waited in a room, with a white tube and a paper in front of us, along with our folder. Finally, an old man walked in and started talking to us about Fraudulent enlistment and that we had to check yes or no on asthma, knee problems, counseling, etc etc etc. To be honest or else, etc, etc, etc. After about what seemed forever, perhaps it was a good 45 minutes, we had to write down description of our tattoo(s) and then the ones who still had to take their ASVAB left, while the ones who had already like me, lined up to take the Breathalyzer test. And yes they will find out if you are drunk/intoxicated or if you still have alcohol in your system from the night before.

We left the room, and we went to sit down with the doctor one on one and he asked you questions about what you marked on your med papers. If you marked most of them or better said all but one, except the chickenpox one yes. Then you should have no problems passing the doctor's review.

After that, you get your blood pressure taken, and then sit down and wait in line for your blood to be drawn. And yes, it might hurt, but you will end up with a big bruise sooner in the day.

Soon after that, if you have to pee then let them know. And they will let you know if it is time to pee in the cup. And yes, they will sit down in a bench in front of the stall and watch you. Don't be nervous or scared they will see you. They are after all trained nurses.

After that they will instruct you to go into the Ortho/Med Review room. Which consists of one small room next to a big room with curtains and a big mirror in the middle. Along the sides is the scale, and height measuring tool.

I don't know what happens when you go in as a group. Because I luckily, went in alone, I did the duckwalk alone and all the other movements alone. Just the nurse and doctor there, so no one else got to see me parade in my undies and bra.

After that is done with you're pretty much done (with the medical part that is). You wait for them to go over your papers with you and wait for them to tell you to go back to your branch's liaison.

Well I got struck by luck and they wanted to have some outside vision doctor to have a second look at my vision. Yippie. I had to wait for another van/shuttle to come back to MEPS and take me to the eye specialist. Well, they were late and not coming anytime soon. We had to be there before 1300. Luckily, I was one of the very few, who's recruiter was there. So he asked if he could take me and yeah we flew in the car. Got the eye test done in 5 minutes maybe it was less and we were out of there.

Returned to MEPS and guess what? The computer system was DOWN. It had done it earlier in the morning but they had it running, now in the afternoon it was down again. Which meant we had to wait to see if it was going to be up and running to see the Classifier (person who classifies you to see what job you're going to be good at).

No luck there, so guess what? They ask if we are willing to stay another night at the hotel. A lot only brought a change of clothes, luckily I always think ahead and brought extra panties, shirt and what not. For some reason I think I'm going to dirty my clothes with food or wet them or something so I always bring two changes of clothes. So yeah I told my recruiter I'd stay another night and go back to MEPS, wake up at 0400 again and this time not go for a full physical, just be a DEP 0 for the moment and wait until I got the job and DEP (Delayed Entry Program) contract and find out when my ship date is. Also take the first oath of enlistment (this is for all branches except National Guard, there are two oaths, one before DEP and one after DEP the day you ship).

So I signed a 6 year contract, it's 6 because I got in the Advanced Electronics/ Computer Field (AECF) which later after "A" school I get assigned to be either ET or FC and then go off to "C" school depending on which one of those I get assigned to or whatever the Navy thinks I'd be good at.

I ship Ocober 27, 2008 to RTC (Recruit Training Command) in Great Lakes, Illinois for about 8 to 9 weeks of boot camp.

Well that's it for now. If someone happens to walk by this blog and has questions or comments, feel free to do so. Even if you aren't Navy, or if you are still considering joining.