Tex agrees: Last paragraph, spot on. Military service is not impressive to me even though I did it, I don't feel like its anything special. As I'm sure you' picked up on in your time in the Army (it was the Army, right? ), a good number of folks that sign up do so to get away from a really bad home life. And I admit if I'd had my own car to work three jobs like everyone else in California without a college degree does to make ends meet, joining the Navy would have never crossed my mind My mom being the reactionary idiot with all the depth of a petri dish she is gets mad when I tell her that the Navy is anything less than a wonderful opportunity, and it pisses me off to no end when her only reply to any of my bitching about the shitty ass leadership is "Well, you can make things better if you get up--" NO!!!!!! It does NOT get better, you just have even MORE asses ti kiss and more babysitting duties because. FUCK this shit. I'd live out of a box if it meant getting out tomorrow.
I did 22+ years - it does not "get better" so much as you get used to it. The fun does go away because the politics drain on you. But that retirement pay and other benefits means a lot especially when you have a family that depends on you. The one thing about getting up in rank is teaching and mentoring the younger people. And years later when these people thank you for being such a good leader/teacher/defense attorney it is a very good feeling. But if you don't think you can go the distance, it's best to get out and make room for people that do want to.
^ That's the thing, too...I don't know if I can ever get used tyo a system that is clearly broken in spots, but most people's reaction is to shrug and say "Well, it is what it is." The Navy is especially married to their traditions, even if they have no application to the modern world. And I fully support leaving to make room for those that want to be there, particularly in my rate where people go apeshit for any advancement rate in the double digits. Until about five years ago, folks could even retire out at E-5..and some were happy to do so, to the point of throwing the E-6 exam. I don't want to be one of those people, and I know my bitterness would rub off on any people that worked under me--I'd rather not turn another young, promising sailor into a jaded shell with a chip on their shoulder like so many I've come across, myself included.
