Only the Greatest Fools of the Family Join the Navy

[Abingdonboy]

About 20 years back a very senior officer, a man whom I consider my mentor and also a man whom I look up to even to this date said, “Only the Greatest Fools of the Family Join the Navy”

I dont know the exact context why he said that but frankly speaking I felt it to be true at that point of time. For having taken up a career which was unheard of in all of my family circles. To ride the ocean on ships which continuously shakes, rolls and pitches making me sick and nauseating always and everytime. Nothing would stay in my stomach. We used to eat too little. But the rate of food intake would be directly proportional to the rate of vommiting.

Fresh Water was used like Holy Water. Born and brought up in a family who generally use a bucket of water to wash a spoon, how the hell was I going to take bath in half the water which I use for washing my face. When all the world would be merrily enjoying the joy of various festivities and celebrating the numerous festivals I would be holding a watch on the high seas. Born in a nation where festivals and family functions are more in number than the number of days in a year, I always felt left out. I felt the sea was not my cup of tea.

But, Did I have any options?? Frankly speaking “No”. Slowly and gradually I started liking what I hated the most, “The Navy”. Not because I didn’t have a choice but because the Navy Improved and Grew to an unimaginable size and magnitude. The evolution of Indian Navy is remarkable. Specially in the past 20 years or so.

Today with Reverse Osmosis Plants fitted on-board ships with capacity upto 20 Tons per day there is absolutely no question of water scarcity on-board. Today a mariner could actually sing, “Water Water everywhere, so much fresh water to drink and be merry”. Regarding Sea Sickness, I must tell you that the latest ships with hydrodynamic designs which cuts water so perfectly leaves lesser room for rolling and pitching, drastically reducing sea sickness among crew.

Also fittment of Stabilisers which acts as fins on ship’s side to reduce rolling and maintain stability has given a new ray of hope to people prone to motion sickness. With Inertial Navigation Systems being fitted onboard the life of an Officer Of the Watch has become that much more stress free and professional. Technology and Navy go hand in hand. With cold rooms and deep frost rooms, vegetables can be maintained fresh for months together.

Forgotten are all those olden days when people in navy used to rely on tinned food. Today the menu at sea is so good that they are fit for a king. With Satellite telephones, video calling, internet and email the men at sea are always closer. With various welfare measures instituted for safety at sea, the men at sea are safer than at land. I would say driving my car is anytime riskier than piloting a ship. Ships have started reaching out to far off places but still they are very well connected to their families.

What ever science and technology offered the world in the last century every single thing has been put to use in the Navy. Its only apt to say now that, “Only the brightest Gem of the family will get to join the Navy!”

Only the Greatest Fools of the Family Join the Navy…

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

The Indian Navy is being properly managed and hence we see the results.The Indian Army can only learn from them when it comes to modernising.

 

[J-30]

In navy should filter out people who are joining the navy based on compulsion and less on passion, any career especially the forces should be choosen based on passion, since this passion on long term help the forces discipline the force and less iteration rate, choosing a career just because it will provide you livelihood, is on long term damaging for the chooser as well as the employer

 

[Dandpatta]

Oh right J-30, thanks so much for your valuable inputs.

 

[acetophenol]

Without doubt,the best food served in the services will be in the Navy.
INS Viraat has a storage capacity of 200 Tons,including upto 20000 eggs,mutton,chicken,fruits,vegetables,pulses etc.

 

[jhungary]

Well, this is the same question I asked myself when I join the Military..........

Army or Navy? I wear corrective lenses so Pilot is out of the question, and I don't want to be a wrench monkey like my older brother, so Air Force is out of the question.

In the end I signed up for the Army because, well, I was 17 and a half years old at the time, I can't think. If I know there are gonna be steak on the ship every night and lobster for the first night at sea, instead of the MREs I am eating cold and alone, I would probably ditch my ACU and put on a crackerjack.

But then, I was 17, I only think of the word "Airborne" when I sign up, I was stupid then, but if I wasn't stupid, will I ever join the military

 

[J-30]

Well, this is the same question I asked myself when I join the Military..........

Army or Navy? I wear corrective lenses so Pilot is out of the question, and I don't want to be a wrench monkey like my older brother, so Air Force is out of the question.

In the end I signed up for the Army because, well, I was 17 and a half years old at the time, I can't think. If I know there are gonna be steak on the ship every night and lobster for the first night at sea, instead of the MREs I am eating cold and alone, I would probably ditch my ACU and put on a crackerjack.

But then, I was 17, I only think of the word "Airborne" when I sign up, I was stupid then, but if I wasn't stupid, will I ever join the military

which force do you work for? swedish??

 

[jhungary]

which force do you work for? swedish??

US, my wife was Swedish Army

That's how I met her.......

 

[J-30]

US, my wife was Swedish Army

That's how I met her.......

NIce--so you do some work for US govt in Sweden then..seeing your flags..or joined the Swedish army

 

[jhungary]

NIce--so you do some work for US govt in Sweden then..seeing your flags..or joined the Swedish army

No, I married my wife and moved to Sweden.......

 

[Azazel]

Only the Greatest Fools of the Family Join the Navy…

AFAIK,the life of people who works in submarines still sucks.

 

[Shinigami]

No, I married my wife and moved to Sweden.......

my cousin married a swede and moved to the US

 

[third eye]

Life in the Services is not meant to be a Bed of Roses and no where close to corporate life.

Everyone trains for that ' One Day' when he / she will be called upon to do what they have always waited for.

Life at remote air maintained posts is quite comparable to that of the Navy - alone , cut off, desolate and all by yourself. Still it is something to look forward to & life has changed unrecognizably in the Services.

All for the better & not at the cost of making ' Soft ' soldiers I hope.

 

[jhungary]

Life in the Services is not meant to be a Bed of Roses and no where close to corporate life.

Everyone trains for that ' One Day' when he / she will be called upon to do what they have always waited for.

Life at remote air maintained posts is quite comparable to that of the Navy - alone , cut off, desolate and all by yourself. Still it is something to look forward to & life has changed unrecognizably in the Services.

All for the better & not at the cost of making ' Soft ' soldiers I hope.

training and conditioning I think is two different thing, you can train hard, that does not mean you have to eat shiite......

It's all about accessibility. You got more simply because you are closer to the supply chain. My friend in the Navy told me they even have supermarket on board an aircraft carrier.....

In war, you are still not being denial of those accessibility, you are on a ship before and you WILL be on a ship at war. But when you are going in a ground Op, you carry what you eat, if you do not have the resupply coming, then you are prepared to eat dirt.

I know, you might say ship can be sunk and aircraft could be shot down, but how often exactly that would happen? But when you are out in the field for 3 days, then you are 100% saying good bye to hot chow for those 3 days.......

Hot chow make a good recruitment. That's why only fools joined the Army, all other people have either gone to the Navy or heaven.

my cousin married a swede and moved to the US

may be your cousin married me lol....

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

training and conditioning I think is two different thing, you can train hard, that does not mean you have to eat shiite......

It's all about accessibility. You got more simply because you are closer to the supply chain. My friend in the Navy told me they even have supermarket on board an aircraft carrier.....

In war, you are still not being denial of those accessibility, you are on a ship before and you WILL be on a ship at war. But when you are going in a ground Op, you carry what you eat, if you do not have the resupply coming, then you are prepared to eat dirt.

I know, you might say ship can be sunk and aircraft could be shot down, but how often exactly that would happen? But when you are out in the field for 3 days, then you are 100% saying good bye to hot chow for those 3 days.......

Hot chow make a good recruitment. That's why only fools joined the Army, all other people have either gone to the Navy or heaven.



may be your cousin married me lol....

Did you command an abrams or what?... And what is/was your rank?