I get a lot of e-mail from people asking questions about the Navy, being in Japan, or just calling me an asshole. I always have every intention of replying to the e-mail with an honest answer, but I never seem to get around to it. In an attempt to not leave any of these e-mails unanswered, I’m going to start answering them here. The following are two e-mails I received that deal with duty in Japan.
From: Brenda
Subject: Daughter entering Navy IT soon..Hi, found your blog and article on military.com Yup, u guessed it a nervous mom trying to find out anything i can from an insider such as yourself. My daughter is 21 has 3 years of college but couldnt figure out what she wanted to do. So she joined the Navy as an E3.
IT is her mos and she leaves for basic in July. Furthermore, she is thinking of going to Japan either early or later in her enlistment. (she loves everything Japanese) Please dont think i am being an overprotective mom, actually i am the one who encouraged her to take the asvab and find out what her options were. (she made an 88)
Any advice/recommendations from someone who has been there?
The first advice I’d give anyone who might be in this situation is to finish college. You might as well get it out of the way now, instead of trying to string a long a bunch of credits later, while trying to work a full time “job.” That aside, the Navy is one of the best places for a person to really find out what they want to do, as you meet a lot of people with many different experiences, who will ultimately change the way you think about how you want to spend the rest of your life.
I hate to correct people, but the Navy doesn’t have any “MOS” like the Army does. We have Ratings, which are our basic jobs. Your daughter picked the best possible rate, and I’m not just saying that because I’m an IT. We work with a lot of forms of communication, and those lucky enough to learn and be adept in the areas of computer networking and telecommunication have an easy time transitioning out of the Navy into a still expanding and lucrative field.
I know a lot of people who read my site get the impression Japan is a really shitty place to be, but that’s not entirely true. Anyone who is a Japanophile will absolutely love Japan, regardless of what they endure. The only real suggestion I’d make about duty in Japan is to wait until you are at least an E5. Anyone E4 and below is automatically treated like a child who needs constant supervision and accountability. Duty out here in the FDNF is usually described as “challenging duty,” which is Navy slang for “it totally blows.” Because of this, if Japan is your first tour, you have a high chance of getting the wrong impression about the rest of Navy. There’s a saying that’s thrown around a lot out here, “don’t judge the Navy by your first command.” The “challenging” aspect of being out here tends to wear on the morale and spirit of a junior Sailor and, at least in my opinion, is the direct cause of us losing qualified Sailors. However, the best part of being in Japan is the travel. We go to some cool places, like Thailand, Singapore, Australia, etc.
From: Jaime
Subject: Questions regarding being shipped to JapanDid you choose to be shipped to Japan or where you randomly sent? I know IT can’t be the only position they have on base can you tell me what positions see the most foreign travel? I ask because I’ve been considering joining the Navy for awhile now and I feel it can help me get moving and I’ve always wanted to travel myself but never had the opportunity. I hope you can help me out. Hey by the way. I hear Japanese girls aren’t all as hot as TV makes them out to be, is it true?
They randomly sent me here. I get questions like this a lot. They’re not really Navy-related, they’re more like “I want to get to Japan by any means necessary, will the Navy help me get there?!” In short, yes. It doesn’t really matter which rating you pick in the Navy, you’ll most likely be able to get duty out here. (NavyJobs.com) I don’t know what TV shows you watch, but I think Japanese chicks are pretty hot. Although, some times they’re exaggeratedly hot in movies or TV shows, like Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift! They’re not that hot. All in all, if you’re reasoning for joining the Navy is just to go to Japan and marry a Japanese girl, you won’t last very long. Good luck.
You have any questions about life in the Navy, Japan, or anything else? Ask me at jim@fewl.net.
Comments 12
I have first hand experience with coming out to Japan at a low rank, E-2 as a matter of fact. I am now an E-4 with my ESWS, but am still treated like a child because they still see that E-2 coming to his first command. I can say that I am glad I signed up for 6 years vice 4 because I can choose orders after Japan and get a taste of stateside Navy. Will I expect a complete opposite of tempo in the States? Not too sure, but I have high hopes.
Posted 24 Apr 2008 at 5:56 pm ¶From a strictly civilian point of view…I love Japan, I just loathe some of the ignorant people (typically from the US or Philippines) that come here and embarrass themselves and our country through their actions (like littering, kids gone fool, crime, etcetera). Japan is a beautiful place, a lot of interesting things to do and see. If I had a choice, I’d stay here instead of going back to the states…and I mean I’d GLADLY retire here. People that I’ve come across that hate it usually never leave the base or have had poor experiences early in their time off base. If I sat here on this base all day I’d hate it too so make sure if you want to come to Japan, at least try to be a little adventurous.
Jim, I totally agree with the E6 advice…it’s better when you are a seasoned human being and that would benefit anyone who comes here. With maturity comes grace, integrity and helps to build (in most cases) common sense and social responsibility. As an added bonus, there’s more money for doing cool things while you are in port in all these interesting places…
Posted 24 Apr 2008 at 6:01 pm ¶Anyone that has 3 years of college and joining the Navy should stop. Finish college, get your degree, and find an officer recruiter, not an enlisted. I don’t give a fuck what that recruiter tells you. He may tell you that you can be put into accelerated advancement and make Chief in like 7 years. He may tell you that the Navy will give you the chance to finish, even pay for some of your outstanding tuition. He may even go as far to say that once you join, you can finish your degree and then you can go STA-21 to become an officer. Well, only the most A-J squared away Sailors (people that know someone, have connections with senior enlisted and officers, and have a pair of golden knee pads) get to go STA-21. Very rarely do I see people that actually deserve it get it. I was given that line of bullshit, and god I wish I knew now what I didn’t back then.
I’ve always wanted to come to Japan ever since I was 12, having been fascinated from everything I read online. I came in the Navy in 2001, graduated A school, and lo and behold I got my orders to the USS Kitty Hawk (Voluntold, and now I see why).
My biggest suggestion is that if anyone wants to see Japan, try and do it on your dime, not the Navy’s. If your only intention of joining is to go to Japan, you seriously may want to rethink your intentions. Your recruiter may just be sugar coating everything to get you to join, which wouldn’t be the first time thats happened.
Japan is by far the best Asian country I’ve been too. If you can only get their via the Navy, check your expectations at the airport. I’m sure if you ask any Sailor thats been there, they will tell you that you just can’t be in the Navy to fully appreciate Japan. Not only do liberty restrictions severly hamper your time, but also the base enviroment (CFAY Security being the biggest one, your chain of command, assholes that never want to leave base, the people that still think this is “the ghetto” or “on the block”, people that think Hip-Hop is an actual culture, etc.). I’ve never seen a bigger group of assholes that Yokosuka Naval Base. Its absolutely astounding! I had 3 seabags on me one day, one on my back and 2 in my hands, full of stuff because I was going to my place that me and my girlfriend moved into. Well on the way to a taxi there this group of people behind me like 50 ft bolted in front of me, looked at me laughing, and got in the only cab there. Meanless to say I was severly pissed, I had to wait 20 minutes for the next taxi even after 10 or so phone calls to the taxi company.
Once I seperate this February I’m going back. I absolutely love it their! Tokyo is the bomb! Yokohama isn’t that bad either! You have to see Yamanashi prefecture! Especially Shosenkyo! Don’t even bother with Mt. Fuji unless you want to be like every other Gaijin in Japan.
Posted 24 Apr 2008 at 8:54 pm ¶I did not know the Navy doesn’t have MOS like the Army. Makes sense I guess. I’ve been here five years and I like it.
I’d have the same advice as Frank (though I’d have said it nicer:). I hope that lady’s daughter finds a way to finish up the remaining 15 or 20 credits. You’re so close to the finish line!
Posted 24 Apr 2008 at 10:30 pm ¶I totaly agree with Jim on the fact that this places totaly sucks to come to as a E-4 or below. The restrictions keep you from really enjoying Japan and getting out to see more of it. The rules will just bog you down and make you hate the navy. Personaly unless I’m offered a metric ass ton of cash i ain’t coming back to the FDNF. I don’t like dealing with all the bull crap that goes on from fall out of others actions. Japan in itself is really nice though, the people are nice and the scenery is beautiful in some areas. But don’t use the navy to get here, it will ruin your experience. The navy in of itself ain’t bad and you do some some experience in jobs and cultures that other wise were not an option outside of the navy and you meet a lot of people that can network with outside of the navy to help you along. But I agree with everyone else on finishing your college before you get in, after you join it may take you a lot longer to get that degree than you were told. I personaly was on the road to college and took a wrong turn in Albuquerque.
Posted 24 Apr 2008 at 10:40 pm ¶If she’s really dead set on coming in, finish college first and then check out an officer program. For the rest of us who either didn’t have a dime to spend on higher education or just wanted to leave a piss-ant little town with no stop light, going enlisted wasn’t all that bad. The first time I heard about Japan was from my dad who watched “Shogun” with as a kid. After listening to his Westpac stories and visiting my uncle at China Lake & seeing all the cool Japanese stuff he picked up during his tour in Japan was enough for me to keep my sights on Japan. I was enrolled in the “Push Button” program and was a 3rd Class checking on board my first ship in Yokosuka. Scrubbing the fan room, endless watches, troubleshooting all night without sleep underway did suck. But, the chance to live in a foreign country, sail the high seas, save money was the greatest thing for a 19 year old. (On a side note, I first came to Japan 15 years ago today)
The best advice for anyone that I can give on whether or not to commit yourself to the Navy, “It’s what you make of it”. If you have self confidence, stubborn determination or basically “Alpha Male/Female” personality, you’ll do just fine. A lot of times you’ll have to take the crap job and just suck it up. Instead of whining about or pissing and moaning, turn it around and make it the best you can and turn it over to the next guy. Do those long enough they’ll get the point and move you on to bigger and better things.
Anyways, for anyone signing up – it’s not a college campus and yes, there is a lot of crap to deal with just like any other organization. I dislike the buffoonery just as much as the next squid but after four tours in Japan, guess I like it more than I thought.
Posted 25 Apr 2008 at 3:20 am ¶I believe Brenda should take a closer look at her daughter. The Navy isn’t the place to run if you are trying to hide from yourself.
Many Sailors have recently cited the overseas screening process as being flawed — and by extension — being culpable in the many off-base incidents making headlines.
Brenda’s daughter is already exhibiting an inability to follow through on commitments and seems to be emotionally immature. Add to that the stressors of a lack of rank, a meager income and a drastic change in scenery.
Coupled with the grind of shipboard life, the scrutiny of a chain of command and a weary host nation and have ourselves a bucket of bad news requesting permission to go ashore.
I would strongly suggest that now is the time to “screen” Brenda’s daughter for overseas suitability – before she gets anywhere near Japan.
Posted 25 Apr 2008 at 5:47 am ¶Frankdaatank24, I feel a little resentment towards recruiters. Being a former recruiter let me break down the process when someone is joining with ANY college education behind them, first off an education verification has to be run through the NRD’s education specialist who is a civilian, next the appliant is given a education code 12L, 14K etc… anyone with a education code of 14 anything or higer WILL be interviewed by the officer programs recruiter, who then detrmines if they are qualified, key word here “qualified” to enlist as an officer. Either they do or the dont qualify, no in between. So it is that individual persons choice no one else’s to either A. get your foot in the door, join enlisted and go officer later, or B. go join the fucking Army (they take anyone, and hell you dont even need a degree to be an officer in the Army lol). Remember YOU need the NAVY clown we dont need you. Everyone seems to think that simply because a sailor had a Bachelors degree prior to enlisting and did’nt go officer they got screwed by their recruiter. I am tired of all these got damn sea lawyers thinking they know everything talking out the side of their neck giving recruiters a bad rep. So go ahead finish college, get your degree in Liberal Arts only to have some freaking 20 year old ensign tell you sorry, but you dont have what the navy is looking for “degree wise” at this time, have you thought about going enlisted first! LOL, haha LMAO..
Posted 25 Apr 2008 at 10:33 am ¶BigCuz, yea maybe I have a little resentment towards recuiters, but not the way your portraying it. You forget that those same people eventually go to ships, and what my statement is based upon is what they told me OUTSIDE of the recruitment office. And if the Navy didn’t NEED me, then there wouldn’t be recruitment offices all across the country soaking up kids from High School filling undesig billets. I was fortunate to get into a good rate. And please, leave personal attacks at the keyboard. And another thing, yea I didn’t have my bachelors at the time, but guess what? About 1/4 of the credits from my degree didn’t transfer to the colleges offered by the Navy, so I had to work harder to get my degree, something that failed to be addressed at the time I joined.
Posted 25 Apr 2008 at 2:32 pm ¶Alright then, here’s a question:
What if you have a four year degree, get rejected for OCS.
And for whatever reason (i.e. your degree is essentially worthless, you have massive amounts of student debt, and you have nothing to fall back on) you decide to enlist.
You still have to serve at least 4 years and make E-5 before you can even think about applying to OCS again, correct?
I feel more comfortable asking you guys instead of recruiters.
Posted 26 Apr 2008 at 11:16 am ¶Alright just a thought on my side seeing as im an STG. For most rates i dont know how it works but being in Japan has given me more experience then many of my counter parts in different parts of the world. For an FDNF sailor i feel i get more hands on training as well i actually learn my rate. I dont know about many other rates nor can i quote for them. But as for me i have many STG friends who all now seem retarded and lacking in the knowledge field and i feel there way behind the power curve as compared to myself. I have heard of FDNF STG’s going back stateside and having 3 to 4 times the amount of quals that the stateside sailors have as well they have about twice as much knowledge. All in all i think Japan for my rate is a good place to start off and then go stateside to show it off. But thats just me = p
Posted 27 Apr 2008 at 9:56 am ¶I’d highly suggest finishing college. Then go to graduate school.
Hey Jim, you should do a post on the “Apple Test” for Japanese girls. An FDNF classic.
And all of those “hot” Japanese girls in the Fast and Furious and Memoirs of a Geshia…they’re all Chinese.
Posted 22 May 2008 at 9:24 pm ¶Post a Comment
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