There are much better career paths and ways to becoming a responsible, well-travelled adult than the military.
I guess you could do worse than the navy, but it really isn't your best option.
just out of curiosity, what do you have in mind for, let's say, someone fresh out of high school with absolutely no work experience and a part time job? take out a massive loan and try to work through college? approach a job with a degree and zero work experience in your field and expect to get hired?
the biggest thing the military provides is a stepping stone into your career of choice since you're literally
on the clock 24/7. i got a journeyman's license in audio/visual repair from the department of labor in less than a year
while getting paid. i couldn't have done the same thing in the civilian world.
that's not to say the military doesn't have its ups and downs as the organization is literally a frat house in the way it works. first off, anyone thinking about the army or marines is stupid (brave, but stupid) as there's about 2 rates that pertain to any stable job on the market. the navy and airforce are pretty much 90% technical related jobs. i'm an electrician but i'm doing information technician work i could get a job at microsoft right now making 60K a year and i don't even have a degree in the respective field.
the important thing, evangel, is to keep a good head on your shoulders. the military is first and foremost
A JOB which means it's your responsible to take initiative. even though it'll be drilled into your head at boot camp, you have to forget about the policy "Navy first" and think "ME FIRST, Navy second." if you see an opportunity, mother fucker you better hop on it because there will be 100 other guys clawing at your feet. connections are important; as an ET, you'll be doing a lot of mission critical things like repairing radios and maintaining communications. even as a seaman bitch boy, you hold a lot of sway in how the ship is run. make friends, keep friends, use your friends to get ahead.
just don't lose hope midway through and try to do stupid shit to get out. if you fuck up, the military will take your money. if you try something stupid to get out (like attempting suicide or doing drugs)
the military will take your money before booting you out with an itinerary back home and a black mark on your record. as an ET, you have a pretty slow advancement rate (you'll make 3rd class quick but good luck after that!) but ET's are RARE in reserves. i've seen ET's get 60K sign on bonuses for reenlistment and reserves!
MARCUS' TIPS FOR SUCCESS*SIGN UP FOR THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IMMEDIATELY! I waited a year before signing up and I missed a fucking journeymans certificate because of it. in some civilian technical positions a certificate from the dept of labor carries more weight than a fucking bachelors.
*SIGN UP FOR THE GI BILL. You'll get an option in boot camp to spend 100$ a month on the GI bill. DO THIS. the navy will pay 3/4 of your tuition and give you
MONEY FOR A HOUSE based on the
MOST EXPENSIVE SCHOOL IN THE STATE. i could go to some crappy university in Massachusetts and the navy will pay me as if i'm renting an apartment in boston.
*DON'T FUCK UP IN A SCHOOL. as an ET, you have one of the longest schools. if you jack off and neglect your studies, they'll kick you out and make you a deck seaman. a deck seaman is literally a janitor that handles lines. fuck that.
*USE YOUR TUITION ASSISTANCE! unlike the GI bill, the navy will FULLY PAY YOUR TUITION while you're still enlisted. I also neglected this on my first sea tour and missed out on a fucking associates (I was 7 credits away
SEVEN CREDITS AWAY AND ALL I DID WAS COMPLETE BOOT CAMP AND IC 'A' SCHOOL). now i'm working on my bachelors which i could have had a year ago. fucking stupid.
*DON'T BE A RETARD. there's a clause in the UCMJ that's basically a catch-all meaning "if you fuck up in any way we deem inappropriate we will pinch you by the balls until they turn blue." if you do something stupid and get sent to captain's mast you will lose so much money and hate life. i guarantee this.
*ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE. if you get put on an aircraft carrier or small-boy then fuuuuuuck you will see so many ports. my first cruise we went to dubai, singapore, taiwan, hong kong, osaka, australia... don't be that jackass who sits in his rack playing gameboy. you will see places some people won't in their entire lives.
basically, treat the military as a JOB because it is one. as a sailor, you won't see any action except maybe a drunk loony who thinks he can taunt you while you're standing a gun watch. just do your work, swallow your pride, say "yes sir/chief, no sir/chief" and don't be fucking stupid. take advantage of the fact that you're getting paid 24/7. understand that the reason the navy gives sailors so much fucking money for school is because literally a small percentage actually takes advantage of it. i think i read somewhere that 10% of sailors actually use their GI bill or Tuition Assistance that's fucking 200K in schooling down the drain. 
