I'm 20 years old and looking (so far) to join the Navy. I was wondering if anyone could give me information on how being in the navy affects family life. I have a fiance and she is pregnant due in january. I really want to join the military but if I will never see my fiance or child then I would have to say no. Can anyone give me some first hand experience with having a family while an active duty member of the military?

Navy wife of over 24 years. My husband did time on 2 aircraft carriers and the rest was in P-3 squadrons.

The first year or so is rough due to all of your training. You'll go to boot, then A School, and depending on your rate you may have further training to do as well.

As an AW my husband went to boot, Naval Air Crew Candidate School, A School, VP-30 (training squadron) and another school in Dam Neck, VA, then he got his first permanent duty station.

Deployments and their work ups vary depending on what you are assigned to mainly.

On the carriers for the 8-12 months prior to the deployments he would be gone anywhere from 2-3 days to 2-3 months for quals. Then the 6 month (or more) deployment. If the ship goes to the yards for rehab you will be home during that time but it is long hard days.

In the squadrons most of their training was done locally but there were dets and TDYs thrown in sometimes. Then the 6 month (or more) deployment. His last year in the Navy was spent in Iraq.

Subs work differently and it depends on if you are on a fast attack or nuke what your deployments would be like. Fast attacks are usually part of a carrier group and do 6 month deployments, nukes do 3 month deployments.

As with anything in life there are down sides to this profession and some good ones too. Yes, my husband missed a lot with our kids growing up. But, we got to live in places and see things we would not have otherwise. I've met a lot of great people along the way and we are still in contact with some from when he was first in the military back in the early 80s.

Our kids are well adjusted adults now. There were times they didn't want to move, but they did fine with it all. Our daughter misses the Navy life so much she is considering joining now. Our son just got hired on in the IT dept of Wylie Laboratories. So, your kid(s) can thrive in this life too.

Feel free to email me directly with questions at sgtmom@gmail.com



Mom

Sgtmom makes good points for you to keep in mind. Just make sure that whatever decision you make is a consensus between you and your fiancee.

Remember, it's not just you joining, it will be the whole family. While you are the one putting in the literal man hours, she is holding down the fort as many of us do.