My Story: Desperately want to fly Navy, but have issues? Need advice.

[arianjalali]

No, those are not little things.. This is why I need the board to know that I have changed from who I was when I committed that crime. I realize it has only been a year since the occurrence and that most individuals would say it would require longer than that in order for me to go through an actual reform of character. However, the change has already took place. It was a poor choice and momentary lapse of judgment. I could have been arrested and spent the night in jail.. And I thanked God that it didn't come to that. If my actions have permanently barred me from commissioning, then I will just have to live with that.. However I will not go down without a fight. I made the decision to enlist in the United States Navy because I am willing to prove that I have moved past these incidents and want to depict that to the appropriate credible sources (other Navy Officers) who can vouch for my improved moral character. At worst, I will have spent four years serving in the world's greatest Navy. At best, I achieve my dream of becoming a Naval Aviator. It's a win-win either way

(Yak, I do have a small biography written already. However, I would be willing to make any changes to it based on your recommendations. Thanks!)

 

[PR1 H]

Yak, I do have a small biography written already. However, I would be willing to make any changes to it based on your recommendations. Thanks!)

I think Yak was referring to Antigone there.

As for the mistakes.. I'm not an Officer, so I can't say one way or the other if it will affect you fullfilling your dream. However I can say this much, a year can be plenty of time to get your shit in one sock and move on. I'll be the first to admit that I've gone to mast... as a 1st Class at that. Did I fuck up? Yup. Was there any outside factors involved. Big time. Regardless, I dropped the ball and that was my fault. 6 months later, I was in a new squadron, put in QA, and my first eval (not even a full cycle) I was ranked as a high MP. As they say a lot of times, the problems of your past aren't what define you as a person, it's what you did since. For mine, I had a hiccup, a good record before, and a pretty much stellar record since. My last 2 commands haven't looked at my history and said "oh, he's got an NJP, he's a shitbag." They've looked at it and said "Holy shit this guy has been busting his ass, what else can we do to test his abilities."

Simply put, keep your chin up, forge ahead and be hard charging towards your goals with every ounce of motivation you can muster, and not an ounce of quit. We all make mistakes in life. Anyone that says they haven't is a liar, or ignorant to their own faults. It's called being human. The question is if you learned from them and moved on.

 

[arianjalali]

However I can say this much, a year can be plenty of time to get your shit in one sock and move on.

Simply put, keep your chin up, forge ahead and be hard charging towards your goals with every ounce of motivation you can muster, and not an ounce of quit. We all make mistakes in life. Anyone that says they haven't is a liar, or ignorant to their own faults. It's called being human. The question is if you learned from them and moved on.

PR1 H, I appreciate those words more than you know. I'm sure you were just speaking the truth and telling it like it is.. But in doing that you actually uplifted my spirits a little. You're right.. As humans, we're gonna make our fair share of mistakes. Like you said.. The trick is to learn from them. I will be doing everything I can to set myself apart from what I did and persevere towards my dream. I tried browsing for your other posts to see if you're aspiring to make the transition towards becoming an officer or not, but failed to figure that out (as I prettty much kept getting side-tracked reading the other threads you've posted in [so many facets of this site are interesting]). If you don't care to answer.. Is becoming an officer in the cards for you? Regardless, I'd love to hear more about an insiders' version of the enlisted side.. Since I feel as though that's the route I'm gonna have to be taking. Thanks!

 

[yakboyslim]

Don't sell yourself short until you at least try an application. But if you are going to go enlisted if officer doesn't work out, that speaks a lot to your character.

And I was talking about antigone not having a bio. Yours is plenty adequate. If you write up a motivational statement make sure to post it, I would be glad to take a look and help with that.

 

[arianjalali]

Thanks, yakboy. That's one of the things I want to accomplish here in the next month'ish.. Right after meeting an OR and possibly taking the ASTB. So I will definitely be taking you up on some help. You and a guy named m_6 (I thought my grammar skills were good, but this guy's skill are impeccable lol). Even if it doesn't help get me in as an officer, then at least I will have started what I want to convey.. Plus I'm curious to see how my statements will differ from pre-enlistment to post-enlistment, ya know?

 

[PR1 H]

I tried browsing for your other posts to see if you're aspiring to make the transition towards becoming an officer or not

Honestly, when I came in the Navy, that's what I wanted. To be an Officer, and an aviator. Unfortunately I was a knucklehead in high school and didn't apply myself so didn't get the grades to get into college. So when I went to MEPS, I was going to go for AW and Aircrew to get my foot in the door to head that path and was medically DQ'd for my eyes. In the years since, I've been in a lot of high tempo commands that unfortunately have not lent well to attaining a college degree. I did manage to get some knocked out while I was on deployment, but not enough for a degree. Then they came out with the Flying CWO program... and of course, I was a couple years over the age limit there. Now, I'm to old to be an aviator or NFO and was going to apply for LDO, but was informed that I had to have LDO recommended on my evals for the last 2 or three cycles... so that was a no go.

At this point, as shitty as it is, I've accepted the fact that I will remain Enlisted the rest of my career. I did my last re-enlistment last December 7th, which happened to fall on a Sunday, at 12:55pm, at the WWII memorial in DC. That will carry me out until my 20 year mark and I can retire at an early enough age where I can hopefully get with a State Police department and get started on another career.

 

[arianjalali]

. I did my last re-enlistment last December 7th, which happened to fall on a Sunday, at 12:55pm, at the WWII memorial in DC. That will carry me out until my 20 year mark and I can retire at an early enough age where I can hopefully get with a State Police department and get started on another career.

Sounds like an awesome plan. That's my goal as well.. Go in at 22 and stay until 42. Hopefully that'll still be early enough to have a career with another agency. It's really ironic/cool that you re-enlisted on December 7th (happy anniversary tomorrow by the way [I might actually be going up in an airplane for the first time in the morning!]).. Guess we're all in it for the same reason, anyway -- and that is to serve our country.

 

[Mr. Blonde]

I know you didn't mean offense, but choose your words better. I wouldn't call the deaths of over 2000 service members, which thrust us into a war which killed/wounded many thousands more a "happy anniversary"

 

[arianjalali]

Mr. Blonde, I am so sorry it came off that way.. I was congratulating him on his annual re-enlistment date (which coincidentally happened to coincide with the same day of momentous event that occurred 68 years ago). I wouldn't label tomorrow as a "happy" occasion either. My apologies for coming off that way.

Also.. Props for having 'Danny Mcbride' as your avatar. I'm sure most wouldn't agree, but I happen to love his role in "Land of the Lost" haha.

 

[PR1 H]

Didn't take offense. I knew exactly what you were getting at though. In all actuality... my "anniversary" would be August 2nd. This year that was my 15 year mark. I specifically chose December 7th for the historical signifigance of it. I was just lucky that it fell on a Sunday last year. The time that I re-enlisted... 12:55pm.. put it at 7:55am in Hawaii, which is when the first attacks began (7:58am is when the Air Raid warnings started going off).

Unfortunately, my re-enlistment was supposed to be in the back of a Super Bug... but things fell through and apparently it was never scheduled even after getting my flight physical and going through ASTC for water survival, etc. Oh well. Still trying to get that flight though, lol... even if it's not for re-enlistment anymore. Just once I'd love to get to go up in something I've been involved in for almost half my life.

 

[arianjalali]

Just once I'd love to get to go up in something I've been involved in for almost half my life.

Ahhh I couldn't even imagine how amazing that would be! I hope you land that flight, man.

 

[Mr. Blonde]

Ok, just realized you were talking to PR1 about his reenlistment. My fault for reading that wrong, and either way I know you wouldn't have meant to come across like that. Have fun if you get to fly tomorrow, I'm pretty sure the weather will be keeping me on the ground.

 

[Afterburner209]

^ Nice Avatar

 

[arianjalali]

(AB209 is right haha.) Guys, this sucks.. I keep trying to get a hold of ORs in the area and I'm not able to make contact with any of them (Columbus, OH and Morgantown, WV are the closest to me -- both 2.5 hours away)! The worst part is.. I work 45 hours during the week so I can't get away from work. I'd quit my job, but I need the money for now.. So it's a vicious cycle. My two weeks of vacation time kicks in on January 1st, though.. And I plan on burning some days in order to go seek out one of these legendary ORs after that point.

 

[CUPike11]

(AB209 is right haha.) Guys, this sucks.. I keep trying to get a hold of ORs in the area and I'm not able to make contact with any of them (Columbus, OH and Morgantown, WV are the closest to me -- both 2.5 hours away)! The worst part is.. I work 45 hours during the week so I can't get away from work. I'd quit my job, but I need the money for now.. So it's a vicious cycle. My two weeks of vacation time kicks in on January 1st, though.. And I plan on burning some days in order to go seek out one of these legendary ORs after that point.

Keep trying man. Consider this the first test of MANY to come in this process of how badly you want this and what are you willing to do to get it?

In the meantime until you contact an OR, get your stuff together so you can show them how serious you are. Start getting ahold of ALL your college transcripts, figure out who you want your letters of rec to be written from, start studying for the ASTB, etc. If you walk in their door (yea its a 2.5 hour trip but you'll live) with that stuff in hand ready to go, i'm sure you'll garner a better reaction, than if you walk in or call with nothing and know nothing.