I'm consumed!!

[gh0va]

Hey guys, I signed into the Navy in late January, but am completely torn between the job I signed into, and SWCC. I scored 90+ on the ASVAB and signed into SECF (sub elec. and comp. field). However, even before signing into the Navy, or even talking to my recruiter, I was interested in SWCC! I didn't volunteer for it when I was at MEPS because I knew I couldn't pass the PST at the time, and I'm still not sure that I can. However, I know that it's ultimately what I want. I ship out May 1st, and I was wondering... do you all think that I've got a good chance of passing the PST in my first weeks at RCT with my current PST standings:
Swim: Did a sidestroke (not css): 15:46
Pushups: 47
Situps: 90+
Pullups: 6
Run: run almost every day, last time I did 1.5 in.. 11:27

There was more than 2 minutes rest inbetween my swim and rest of pt because I had to drive from the pool, to the gym.

Another question I have is for you married/dating SWCC guys... can it work?! I'm going to ask my girlfriend to marry me next week, but I'm afraid if I go SWCC, I'll never get to see her, and it would fall apart. I had heard from somebody that SEALs have the highest divorce rate of any rating in the Navy, and I assumed SWCCs were right up there too.

What about jobs *after* being a SWCC, and getting out? Any of you guys retired SWCCs?

And how about deployments? I've got 2 years of college out of the way, and I'm wondering if being a SWCC would limit my ability to take classes online so that I could finish my Bachelor's before getting out (assuming I do haha.) What I'm trying to ask is.. are the deployments *very* often and long? (No exact answers please.. matter of national security :)

Thanks in advance for any answers you guys could offer me. I know I just asked a lot of crap haha. I'm just VERY interested and motivated to be a SWCC. I think it's *got* to be the best job in the Navy, if not in the world. I take pride in my work, and I have a great work ethic. Just wanna be surrounded by you guys that are the same. You guys are awesome. Thanks again.

-G

[waffle5689]

Here's my 2 cents or less. I have no say what you do with your life or personal love life, thats not my business.

This is my own advice tell your girlfriend your future plans first before you ask her to marry you. Thats a huge commitment, you have to think rational here, not emotionally.

Divorce happens for many reason's. Just because the rate is high, doesn't mean you can point, and blame the military/SWCC or SEALS for its high rate. SWCC/SEALS is very demanding jobs.

Simply tell her that your joining the SWCC. If she cannot accept that. Even though you love her, and all. Then you have no other choice to either A) let her go or B) become a SWCC. I hate sounding negative, but this is only my personal opion.

I'm planning on joining the Navy within a year, and taking the SEALS challenge. So experiencing a relationship in the military I have no right to speak on that area.

As for me, when I find a girl worth dating I'll tell her my future plans. If she accepts them thats great. She doesn't I'll do my best to work with her to accept it at least. While I'm gone I want to test her loyalty, and trust.

If she's willing to go through that while I'm gone, she's the girl I would marry. I rather get cheated on, learn the truth the easy way. Than get emotionally detached to her or even worse marry her.

[gh0va]

Good points man. Thanks a ton. Gotta lot to think/talk about haha.

[SilentSnake]

If you work hard you could pass it once at great lakes. Learn the CSS before you go though, and get your time on the swim down. You seem like you like the rate you're in, so what's the worst that could happen, you don't pass the PST and you stay in your current rate. No, actually the worst thing would be to go to basic and pass the PST with the bare minimums and then you show up to Coronado like that...that would definitely not be fun from what i've seen and heard around here. Try to get your swim in the 10's, push-ups/sit-ups 79+, pull-ups 11, run 10:20 or less. If not then you could still make it...just read these forums...it's full of guys with experience telling people not to freak out too much and over analyze about how to get an edge on SWCC/BUD/S, etc.

Read through the SWCC forum completely and you'll find a lot of answers to the questions you're asking.

[SeaSpectre]

I highly suggest that you continue your workout regimen a while before going. Your times are just not looking all that competitive to me----just an honest analysis.
You obviously have the motivation and the brain-power, lets just get it going! HooYah

[Blenk11]

Guess what? You are in luck. I am a Sonar Technician Second Class Petty Officer who chose SECF (That means you will be a Submarine Sonar Tech, Fire Control Tech, Electronic Tech-Radio or Electronic Tech-Navigation) as my rate. I am now detaching the USS Rhode Island SSBN 740 (G) Friday to go SWCC. I have a lot of the answers for that sort of thing. On the other hand with the actual job, one of the Team guys would be best for that answer. My personal email is Blenk11@tds.net. You can send me an email and if you would like, I will give you my house number or something to make it a little easier. Many of the moderators and ex-team guys can answer the actual boat stuff but I think I can REALLY help you considering you are going into the same job I have been doing for 3 1/2 years.

STS2/SS

[swcc-wife]

Another question I have is for you married/dating SWCC guys... can it work?! I'm going to ask my girlfriend to marry me next week, but I'm afraid if I go SWCC, I'll never get to see her, and it would fall apart. I had heard from somebody that SEALs have the highest divorce rate of any rating in the Navy, and I assumed SWCCs were right up there too.
...
And how about deployments? I've got 2 years of college out of the way, and I'm wondering if being a SWCC would limit my ability to take classes online so that I could finish my Bachelor's before getting out (assuming I do haha.) What I'm trying to ask is.. are the deployments *very* often and long? (No exact answers please.. matter of national security :)

Yes, it can work. But, just as there are many men out there that don't want to be SWCC, there are as many women out there that don't want to be SWCC wives. So, honestly, it depends on her. She has to be willing and able to live a life that will require many days alone. If she can neither handle nor accept that fact, there are going to be a few "issues" between the two of you. However, if she is willing to embrace the lifestyle and welcome it with open arms, she should be ok. Not necessarily perfect and without complaint, hehe, but "OK".
You, on the other hand, are a completely different story. Remember that marriage is a two-way street, and you must be willing to give back to her what she is willing to sacrifice for you (sorry, I had to say it!).

Continuing your education is always a great thing. However, SWCCs spend a lot of time working. Deployments, out-of-area training, and long work hours should all be taken into consideration. But if finishing your degree is what you really want to do, and you are willing to work around (or with) any obstacles to do it, go for it! Your hard work will be paid off in the end :)

[gh0va]

SilentSnake- Although I'm happy with the rating I've been put in thus far.. I'm still extremely motivated to be a SWCC. I'd be forever proud. Thanks for the motivation. I'm definately still plugging away at cutting my times down. I've definately come quite a way since I first started training for SWCC. I bought the Stew Smith SWCC training routine.. I've been holding off on it til March 17th so that I'll finish it right before I ship out for RTC. Been weight lifting to improve upper body strength in the time being...

SeaSpectre- I hear you man, I'm still pushin hard!! Running every nite, at least 1.5- 2.5 when I get off work. (usually at 2-3 am :( ) I guess I'll just use the cold as an early exposure haha

Blenk- I noticed you were STS in your sig in a few of your posts. I'll be emailing you within the next few days with a whole crap load of questions! Please work with me! Thanks in advance :D

SWCC-wife - First and foremost, kudos to you for being a supportive SWCC wife! God knows you must be a rare breed :) I can only imagine how rough a road it is in your shoes. Were you already married for a long time before your husband went out for SWCC or was it a new thing? I'm still single right now.. but I'm definately in love with my significant other :D She's pregnant, and it's still a relevantly new relationship, however, she's a strong individual and I'm pretty sure she could handle me being a way every so often. Not to invade your privacy or anything, but would you mind telling me what's the hardest part of being a SWCC wife?

Thanks a ton ya'll.

-G

[swcc-wife]

SWCC-wife - First and foremost, kudos to you for being a supportive SWCC wife! God knows you must be a rare breed. I can only imagine how rough a road it is in your shoes. Were you already married for a long time before your husband went out for SWCC or was it a new thing? I'm still single right now.. but I'm definately in love with my significant other. She's pregnant, and it's still a relevantly new relationship, however, she's a strong individual and I'm pretty sure she could handle me being a way every so often. Not to invade your privacy or anything, but would you mind telling me what's the hardest part of being a SWCC wife?

**Sorry this is so lengthy. Guess I had a lot to say, lol**

Thank you :) My husband and I have been married for a little over 8 years, and he was 7+ years active duty prior to going SWCC.

The hardest thing is the time spent apart from him. My husband was stationed with SBT-22 before he decided to go SWCC, so I was given the opportunity to see what the life was like before we decided it was ok for him to try out for the community. Yes, I said WE decided. NSW is no joke, and when you have a family it makes it even harder. So, everyone has to be on the same page with a realistic outlook on the situation. Anyways (sorry I got off subject, lol), he was gone a lot. Make that 20 (total, non-consecutive) out of 32 months. Which, now that I think about it, wasn't the hard part. The hardest thing was having very little notice when he was leaving. Sometimes only a few days. I mean, he would come home from a 3 week trip and say, "baby, we're leaving again in a few days". WTF?!?!?! But, it became less traumatic as time passed; I learned to plan my life as if he wasn't home, and if he was home, it would be more of a "plus" than an expectation (I hope that makes sense). It may sound unfortunate, but it's actually been a good thing. I learned that I can't take his presence for granted, and it makes every moment that I do have with him all the more special.

The best advice that I can give to you is to talk to her and give her the bitter break-down of what the life will mean for her (and I mean HER life, not some of the convoluted "illusions of grandeur"- remember, she could give a **** that SWCC is "the sweetest and most awesome job in the Navy" because she won't be doing it). Let her know that you will be gone A LOT, and that when you are gone, you may only be able to talk to her once a week for 15 mins. Let her know that sometimes you won't even be able to tell her where you are going or give her much notice as to when you are leaving or returning. Don't leave anything out. Be as honest and as open as possible. And remember to take her desires into consideration as well. If she is adamant that she doesn't want you to go SWCC, listen. If you really love her and want to marry her, you would have 2 options- go SWCC and risk forever losing the love of your life, or don't go SWCC, get married, raise your child, and live happily ever after. Ok, so those options were quite exaggerated, but you get my drift. Don't make your decision only about YOU and what YOU want. Some of the young guys here would disagree with that, but I have enough experience to know that being married (and having children) and being selfish mix like oil and water. If you want to have her forever in your life, then you're going to have to learn how to start making decisions as a team. Going SWCC is one big decision to make (especially if you're expecting a marriage AND a child), and it's not a decision that she should be left out of.
(Now, I'm not insinuating at all that you did not consider any of this on your own, but I felt the need to refute the fatuous advice that waffle5689 gave you in his post.)

I hope my rambling helped, even if only a bit. Good luck to you :)

***Btw, SWCC wives aren't really a rare breed...
we just have more opportunities than most to hone in on our superpowers! :D ***

[Blenk11]

Well said SWCC wife. I am married myself and it took a lot of talking and persuading on my part for my wife to LET me try out. Let me tell you how it really works in a relationship. You may tell her that you are going and if she doesn't like it, well then tough you are going to do it anyway. This is a very big decision and unlike most guys I will tell you the truth, it doesn't work that way. If that is how you treat your woman, she won't be there for long. Every relationship you have to give and compromise especially being in the military, probably even more so as SpecWar. In the Trident Sub community my wife is used to sometimes not getting an email from me but once every 2-3 weeks. She doesn't get to hear my voice and doesn't know where I am. When we are alert sometimes she doesn't get an email up to a month. So with that said, it is just not the SpecWar side of the Navy that is hard on relationships but the Navy itself. Last time I checked the Sub force had the highest divorce rate in ALL of the military not just the Navy but I could be wrong. That is not just because it is tough on relationships but a lot of it is because guys rush into a marriage instead of taking time. They end up marrying some broad that he has known for 3 months and as soon as he leaves for sea, spends all of his money and screws every Sailor/Marine she can find. It is awful but I have seen it TOOOOOO many times. After last patrol 9 guys out of a crew of 160 (remember many of the guys aren't married, probably only maybe 80-100 are) came home and got a divorce. That is staggering numbers but the woman you are chosing to be your wife has to be a STRONG and FAITHFUL woman. I thank my wife all the time but in the same breath I remind her that she married a Navy man. Just make the best educated decision you can. I would HIGHLY recommend you to wait until after boot camp to get married. I knew many married men who's wives divorced them during or right after bootcamp... just some food for thought.

STS2/SS

[swcc-wife]

"I am married myself and it took a lot of talking and persuading on my part for my wife to LET me try out."

"They end up marrying some broad that he has known for 3 months and as soon as he leaves for sea, spends all of his money and screws every Sailor/Marine she can find."

Yeah, it was almost 2 years of his "persuasion" before I finally approved his request to go SWCC :)

About the other part- don't act like all men walk around wearing halos. I'm not saying that there aren't those conniving, cheating wives out there giving the faithful and supporting one's a bad name. But, I will say that I personally know many more men that cheated on their wives than the other way around. The difference is, most men will deny it (till they are caught with their hands in it) and their wives won't talk about it, because if they choose to forgive him and stay with him anyway, they think it will make them look weak. And how many women do YOU know want to look weak? So, yeah, I know what you are talking about, and I agree that it does happen that way sometimes. But, come on, don't be so quick to overlook the sleazy men and their nasty doings! Cheating is equal opportunity- both women AND men are guilty of participating :)

[swcc-wife]

I would HIGHLY recommend you to wait until after boot camp to get married. I knew many married men who's wives divorced them during or right after bootcamp...

I forgot to touch on this in my previous post.

In gh0va's case, what would it matter if he waited? If she would divorce him in boot, what would make his time at the Schoolhouse any different? And if he waited till after SWCC School, what would make her stay through a deployment?

The way I look at it, the marriages that didn't work, that you are speaking of, had nothing to do with the guy going off to boot camp. It was just an unstable relationship to begin with. If they had really wanted it to work, and they BOTH put in the honest effort to make it work, then it probably would've worked. Conversely, time apart can easily give an already doubtful and unstable spouse time to "re-evaluate" their situation and say, "hey, I don't want to be married", which, in some cases, is actually a good decision. But, sometimes, it is just a case of someone thinking the "grass is greener", and the separation makes it too easy to walk across the yard.

[joshdupre]

I forgot to touch on this in my previous post.

In gh0va's case, what would it matter if he waited? If she would divorce him in boot, what would make his time at the Schoolhouse any different? And if he waited till after SWCC School, what would make her stay through a deployment?

The way I look at it, the marriages that didn't work, that you are speaking of, had nothing to do with the guy going off to boot camp. It was just an unstable relationship to begin with. If they had really wanted it to work, and they BOTH put in the honest effort to make it work, then it probably would've worked. Conversely, time apart can easily give an already doubtful and unstable spouse time to "re-evaluate" their situation and say, "hey, I don't want to be married", which, in some cases, is actually a good decision. But, sometimes, it is just a case of someone thinking the "grass is greener", and the separation makes it too easy to walk across the yard.

I do agree with this post no matter what the time apart is if the couple put all there effort into there marriage then it will work out for them and to many times highschool marriages don't work out because when the time is apart regardless length of time because of the above mentioned they get a tast of walking on the otherside the yard. Marriage is kind of like training a 100 people start out but only few make it to the end, alot drop out during indoc and phase 1.

MR2

[gh0va]

Wow, had a lot of good stuff in there yall. I definately see where you're all coming from. I DO believe my gf would be faithful to me no matter what rating I went into, and I guess either way I'll be forced to be away from her and my child for at least some time. Oh the sleepless nights all this thinking has given me :D

[Blenk11]

Wow ok, yeah SWCC-wife you make some good points. The reason I talked soo bad about the Navy Wives' cheating was because in the Trident Sub force they are almost ALWAYS the guilty party. The reason mainly is because we do not go to any other port other than our home port and we are all male. Unless the guy is screwing someone else on the boat (trust me, being a homosexual on a sub is a REALLY bad thing). I know their are MANY, MANY good women out there that support us Sailors through thick and thin. Yall are the most special women in the world to love us enough to put up with what we do. I am lucky enough to have found one of those women and have been happily married for almost 2 years.

Now the main reason I told him to wait is things MAY change before he graduates bootcamp. I will agree with you 1 million percent that if she cannot stay with him through bootcamp then the relationship is going down the ****ter faster than a greasy turd once he starts going out to sea. I always recommend to my junior guys on the boat this...if you want to get married that is great but make one patrol (that's what we call a deployment) and see if both of you feel the same way. It is a test of your relationship so both of you know what kind of commitment you will be making. That is why I say wait. Trust me I have seen one to many good, motivated Sailors get distracted by a nasty divorce. I hope this helps...

STS2/SS

[ddssdv]

Wow ok, yeah SWCC-wife you make some good points. The reason I talked soo bad about the Navy Wives' cheating was because in the Trident Sub force they are almost ALWAYS the guilty party. The reason mainly is because we do not go to any other port other than our home port and we are all male. Unless the guy is screwing someone else on the boat (trust me, being a homosexual on a sub is a REALLY bad thing). I know their are MANY, MANY good women out there that support us Sailors through thick and thin. Yall are the most special women in the world to love us enough to put up with what we do. I am lucky enough to have found one of those women and have been happily married for almost 2 years.

Now the main reason I told him to wait is things MAY change before he graduates bootcamp. I will agree with you 1 million percent that if she cannot stay with him through bootcamp then the relationship is going down the ****ter faster than a greasy turd once he starts going out to sea. I always recommend to my junior guys on the boat this...if you want to get married that is great but make one patrol (that's what we call a deployment) and see if both of you feel the same way. It is a test of your relationship so both of you know what kind of commitment you will be making. That is why I say wait. Trust me I have seen one to many good, motivated Sailors get distracted by a nasty divorce. I hope this helps...

STS2/SS

Trophy Lounge SD...

[swcc-wife]

The reason I talked soo bad about the Navy Wives' cheating was because in the Trident Sub force they are almost ALWAYS the guilty party. The reason mainly is because we do not go to any other port other than our home port and we are all male. Unless the guy is screwing someone else on the boat (trust me, being a homosexual on a sub is a REALLY bad thing).

Now the main reason I told him to wait is things MAY change before he graduates bootcamp. I will agree with you 1 million percent that if she cannot stay with him through bootcamp then the relationship is going down the ****ter faster than a greasy turd once he starts going out to sea. I always recommend to my junior guys on the boat this...if you want to get married that is great but make one patrol (that's what we call a deployment) and see if both of you feel the same way. It is a test of your relationship so both of you know what kind of commitment you will be making. That is why I say wait. Trust me I have seen one to many good, motivated Sailors get distracted by a nasty divorce. I hope this helps...

STS2/SS

HAHAHA... I completely forgot you were on a Sub. I guess in your case you WOULD know more ****ty women than men. Understandable :)

And, I do wanna say that my posts were not meant to be vicious in any way. In fact, I was smiling as I was writing them. Your advice wasn't bad at all, I was just trying to be objective. I know the divorce rate is high, and I agree with you 100% that it's partly because people rush into marriage before the relationship has had enough time truly develop. But I wanted to point out that that's not always the case. In fact, my husband and I are the antithesis of what the statistics say. We met in high school, were married at 19, THEN he went to boot camp, then "A" School, then deployments, etc. etc., and here we are, 8 years later and still in love :) I'm not saying it's been all butterflies and rainbows; we have had our fair share of difficulties. But the difference is we wanted to be together, where, as you've seen, too many realize they either don't or never really did.

I see where you are coming from when you say make a deployment first to see what the separation would be like for the relationship. It WOULD be a lot easier (and cheaper) to have a bad break-up than a bad divorce. So, I can't say that I disagree with that. In a lot of cases, that would be quite helpful :)

Anyways, I'm sorry if I seemed a little caustic in my previous posts. I didn't mean for it to come across that way. I thought your advice was good, I just wanted to show a different side to give him more to think about. No hard feelings? I mean I know you're a guy and guys aren't supposed to have feelings and all, lol, but I do, and I truly didn't mean to offend.

**btw, "down the ****ter faster than a greasy turd"- I'm gonna have to use that!

[Blenk11]

Swcc-wife,
O no hard feelings at all! Trust me, it would take a lot more than a couple of objective points to offend me. I understood what you were saying completely and you made some points that I should have made. Then again you are a woman so you can provide some insight that most of us Alpha males that frequent this site cannot provide.

Me and my wife also married at a young age, she was 19 and i was 21 so we were relatively young as well. But again no hard feelings whatsoever, I am actually really glad you show so much support to get on here and help some of us out.

STS2/SS

PS I am glad you like my comment :)