Speak now...

My MEPS date has been changed. I'm going July 12-13.


For most people, assuming they pass the ASVAB and the physical, they get to pick a job, find out a ship date, and swear in right there. My recruiter told me that I'll probably have to go back for a follow-up visit, due to the medical records I have. Now that I've been to my own civilian doc, the Navy doc will want to do his own checking. So I might have a little more time to think things over than others do.

But still...very, very soon there is going to come a moment where I actually have to sign my name, raise my right hand, and join the Navy. I’m nervous about the job-picking part, because these days it’s harder to find out detailed information about the jobs beforehand. They don’t want people getting their hopes up about a specific job and then not qualifying for it, so they wait until you’ve tested, then tell you what you qualify for. I understand that, but I don’t have a way of thoroughly researching whatever ends up on my list. I know of some jobs that I’m interested in, so I’ve researched those, and talked to people about them. But what if I don’t get those? Any brief description I’m given on the spot is not enough info for me to make such a big decision. Yes, you can get your rate (job) changed, but it doesn’t sound like an easy or promising process.

All of this ruminating brings up the BIIIIIG question: Are you REALLY, REALLY 100% POSITIVE you want to do this???


Well, no, not quite 100%. Nothing is perfect, there are things I’m not excited about, and things I’m even scared of. My best answer is that the pros outweigh the cons by far (maybe I’ll provide a list in a future post). This wasn’t a snap decision by any means. I started thinking about this several years ago, and have had ample time to talk myself out of it since then. But now that the reality of this decision is getting closer and closer, the cons start to loom up before me like big, scary ghosts with their fingers outstretched to get me. EEEEEEEEK! I wonder if this is what people feel like right before they get married… Cold feet? Runaway brides?

So here it is: Speak now, or forever hold your peace. Tell me why I should OR shouldn’t join the Navy. Right now, so I don’t lose focus from these new emotions, I'm reassuring myself by re-reading stories and talking to people who LOVE their Navy careers and think it’s the best decision they’ve ever made. Because ultimately I believe it’s the best decision for me, too. But if there is anything else I need to consider, I need to know NOW.

Guess what...

I am finally...

GOING TO MEPS!!!

July 8-9

(This is my nervous face)

I am SO excited that I've finally gotten this far. Whew, it's been tough. But I'm not exactly thrilled about MEPS itself. First, I have to take two vacation days from work. Those are precious paid days that I'd rather use for hmm, I dunno, VACATION? If I do make it into the Navy, I'll get legit vacation, so I'll chalk this up as a necessary evil. And taking the ASVAB and the physical do not seem the least bit pleasant (and I don't wanna study Math all weekend. Ick). Plus, the entire experience is full of "unknowns," which I've discovered is one of my greatest fears in life. Hopefully when it's all over, I'll be able to say, "It wasn't that bad." (Stay tuned to find out!)

I just read this long but well-written MEPS experience I found. If you don't know anything about MEPS, you should take a look, then you could get an idea of what I'm in for. If you've already been, I'd love it if if you'd read it and tell me if your experience was actually like that. One of the reasons I started this blog was because I've had such a hard time getting straight answers about the military and the joining process. So I will be keenly observing and noting everything that goes on and then share it with you. I'll be so happy if I'm able to help clear up questions and give assurance to other girls like me looking for answers.

Thoughts & prayers next week will be MUCH APPRECIATED. Love you all. :)

The Latest

"Up, up and away in my beautiful, beautiful balloon."

I've heard the military is all "hurry up & wait."  Ain't that the truth.  My appointment was May 18, right?  Today, June 4, my results have JUST been faxed to the recruiters (that was the doc's fault, though).  But the recruiters tell me I have between 1 week and 1 month to wait for them to be reviewed and find out if I can go to MEPS or not.  In the mean time, I have some huge life decisions to make that are very time-sensitive, and knowing when I'm leaving plays a definite part.  Currently, just about every element of my life is up in the air, swirling around, and there's no telling how it will all land.  So stay tuned!

A bit of happy news:  I reached my first weight goal!  It's the important one (to be under the maximum Navy weight requirement).  The rest of the weight I'm working on is for my own personal health (& vanity).

One of my awesome online Navy girl friends, Melissa, left for bootcamp a couple weeks ago.  She told me she'd write, and that I could use it in my blog.  If she doesn't end up writing I wouldn't blame her at all, but still excitedly checking the mail box. :)  

The Dreaded Day Has Come and Gone...

...and it wasn't so terrible after all!  The actual appointment was fairly more comfortable than I was expecting, and the doctor cleared me on her end.  Normally, I'd be elated, but she realized that the recruiters were all mixed up in what they were asking for, and there's a chance this still might not be enough.  In the mean time, we're going to send in her good report and hope they'll take it.

The appointment only took an hour, so I got to spend the rest of the day relaxing watching Veronica Mars, and then decorating and finishing the dirt cake (complete with worms!) for Ivy's birthday that night.  I think we helped her have a great birthday, and the evening was a blast. :)

Now I want to take this time to give my profuse thanks to all of my friends who encouraged me through this.  I am just blown away by how much you care.  From messages from my newer, awesome online friends, to texts and prayers, to presents left on my car that morning, I feel beyond loved - it felt like I was in one gigantic hug all day long!  Friendship is one of the most important things to me in the world.  And please, whenever YOU need a friend, or encouragement of any kind, let me know, I will be there for you.

THEIR Reasons Why

I'm still patiently waiting for May 18 to arrive.  As I explained in my previous post, I don't really have the heart for talking about the Navy right now.  So in the mean time, I'm going to let other girls speak for me. Some of their reasons echo mine, some might be unique to them, but we all have a common desire to serve our country with pride, and I hope to serve alongside these amazing girls soon.

Their Reasons Why:

“I joined because I want to experience the world and I found out that college is not for me.” – Stephanie B.

“I am joining because I need to find myself. I want to travel, serve my country, and be able to stand with my head held high. As a woman, I feel like I have been treated wrongly, and that many men look down on me. So joining and serving my country will show them we women are just as strong and good enough to serve in our nation's military. Plus having benefits, and to be able to say that my family has something to be proud of about me. :)” – Bree L.

“I've always felt the need to prove I'm just as good and this is my way to do it. It also had the added bonus of serving my country and showing pride in what I believe.” – Megan F.

“I suppose my answer would fall within the idea of ‘service.’ I am joining the Navy because I am called to be a servant to my country, my God and my fellow man. I serve because I can and am willing to put the needs of many before my own. I serve because we have a voluntary force and I volunteer. I serve because I am grateful for those that served before me and I am grateful for the strong women in history that made this possible for me.” – Jenny F.

“I'm joining the Navy because I want to be able to walk around with my head held high full of pride. I want to protect this country. I want to gain the Navy discipline and values. I want to travel all around the world doing things that everyone will be proud of me for. I'm joining not only because I want to, but mainly because my heart yells it wants me to be a Sailor for the U.S. Navy. I will gain the respect of others through hard work and I will respect those around me. I want to show the people around me that i can do this, and this is why I will join the Navy. This is what I see myself doing.” – Yesenia C.

“I am joining the Navy for many reasons. I am sick of working in resturants, bars, etc...bartending, waitressing, and marketing them. I want to do a job where I know I am making a difference for people. I am 29 and have an associate’s degree that is getting me nowhere fast, I can’t afford more education, have no boyfriend, no kids, and am generally just at a stand still. I would say I want to “accelerate my life” (the old Navy saying). I love to help people, it’s in my nature, and getting the rate of corpsman lets me do that! Stability, and job security are big factors as well. Loooong family history of people in the Navy. I am excited to start this new exciting chapter in my life. There are always the decisions you make that you know to the bones that it is right. And I can't even stress enough how RIGHT this feels for me.” – Melissa B.

“I WANT to join the Navy because I want a better life for my family and my self. I work a dead-end job making only 9 an hour. In the Navy that’s kinda like starting at the bottom, but you always have the chance of working your way up. At my job I’m kinda at the top. I dont want to spend the rest of my life making 9 an hour working in a warehouse.” – Melissa H.

“I'm joining the Navy for a bunch of different reasons… Mainly because I want a career in the medical field. Also because I want some discipline in my life, and to travel. I want my family and friends to be proud of me, and I want to do something to be proud of myself for. :D” – Taylor K.

If you're in the military and would like to share reasons you joined, please comment with them!  Also, if you're a mil spouse and want to share your husband's reasons (because I know you're so proud), I'd love to hear them!

In 19 days...

In 19 days, my favorite friend and gym partner, Ivy, will finally turn 18 (which will make us less than a decade apart in age for a few months)...

In 19 days the long-awaited epsiode of Glee directed by the brilliant Joss Whedon, and guest-starring NPH will air...

and...

In 19 days I'll go to the doctor's appointment that decides the rest of my life. 
This doctor will have the power to tell the Navy whether or not I'm a good candidate for the military.

Scared?  Quite.

In fact, that's why I've been blog-silent for the past two weeks.  I have a wealth of blog ideas piled up to use when I don't have an actual update, but I haven't had the heart to post any.  I think I'm trying to keep Navy excitement at arms' length, so that if it falls through, I won't be as disappointed. 

Everyone keeps telling me that whatever happens is what's meant to be.  Well, of course it is.  But that doesn't change the fact that I would have to re-plan my future from scratch, with absolutely zero ideas.  The Navy isn't just the best idea for my life - it's my only idea. I have nightmarish visions of my civilian-stuck-in-virginia-in-a-low-paying-job-and-always-the-spinster-aunt-who-never-lived-her-dreams life stretching before me.

I'm not sure if I'll see results at the appointment, but on the evening of May 18, 2010, while celebrating Ivy's birthday and eating cake at our Glee party, I very well could have the answer to what the rest of my life will look like.


So in 19 days...we'll see.

Reason #3: Uniforms!

"Oh, bell bottom trousers, coat of navy blue, he loves his sailor, and she loves him, too."

(Switched the pronouns around to suit me!)

This is NOT the uniform.  Sorry, boys!

Let's start this post with an embarrassing little anecdote that just happened to me. I wore an adorable polka-dotted skirt to work today, feeling pretty cute. Little did I know this skirt is full of potential mortification! While standing at the sink washing my hands after using the ladies room, the most gorgeous woman in the entire building comes out of her stall and taps me on the back. She very awkwardly let me know that the entire back of my skirt was stuffed into my underwear. Can you say *red face*?? I gushed my gratefulness to her with rivaling awkwardness (not only for the faux pas, but for the fact that she’s now seen my underwear), and tried to stride calmly out of the bathroom… only to have her call me yet again to inform me that my top wasn’t all the way down in the back, and both my underwear and skirt tags were visible. Then, not 10 minutes later, I was outside and a gust of wind caught my skirt and exposed me for a split second before I wrestled it back down and held it tightly all the way back inside. This is just a small example of the many reasons I will be THRILLED to wear uniforms to work!


PROs:

• I will never be late to work because I can’t figure out what to wear.
• I can use all my extra $$ and shopping energy on super hot weekend/leave outfits.
• My “fun” clothes can STAY fun clothes. Currently, anything I wear to work automatically becomes work clothes. Even if I love(ed) it, I can never again wear it outside of work without feeling icky.
• I’m all about my individuality, but I also LOVE being part of a team that’s bigger than me. All my life I’ve wanted to belong to a sports team or anything with uniforms, because I love identifying with other people, and also being identified by other people as a member of that group. And in my mind, nothing is more worth identifying with than the US Navy! (I used to be in marching band…so I got a little bit of that prideful group feeling…until we were in front of the rest of the school…)
• I’ll just look hot. Nothing beats a Sailor girl! ;)

CONs:

• Ironing. I don’t even own one. I started to buy one when I moved out, but realized it would be a waste of money since I wouldn’t use it!

I know getting to wear uniforms is an insignificant reason for wanting to join the Navy, and clearly I wouldn’t base my whole descision on something so trite, but if it makes me happy, why not get excited about it?