Travel the World for Free with the U.S. Armed Forces

By Karla P. Fears, CDR, USN (ret)

Have you dreamed of traveling the world?  Wondered what cruising the Mediterranean Sea would be like?  Yearning to cross The Tree of Life from your Bucket List?  Well, I’ve done all these things and more.  I’ve been traveling since infancy, first with my father, who was an officer in the United States Army and then myself as an officer in the United States Navy.  I spent 43 of my 53 years on the road (well, not counting my college years) and it was a blast!  Having said that, I know the military isn’t for everyone but for those who are looking for training in a viable skill and a chance to travel, this may be something that works for you.

First things, first.  If you do not like authoritarian environments, the military is not for you; it is not a democracy even though it supports and defends one.  If you do not like living with other people, sometimes in cramped quarters, the military is not for you.  If you can’t get into teamwork, it’s definitely not for you.

If, however, you are able to deal, it’s something to consider.  For most enlistees (both officer and enlisted) it’s a four-year commitment, which, believe me, will fly by.  The experience looks great on a resume; as a veteran, you get special consideration for government jobs (in addition to other vet benefits); the jobs are mostly non-traditional; there are education benefits (https://www.gibill.va.gov/); you get 30 days paid vacation every year (you earn 2.5 days a month) and (worth mentioning again), the travel is amazing.

Since I was in the Regular Navy (on active duty) and worked in a recruiting district for three years, I’m going to address that particular service.  There are several ways to be part of the active duty Navy.  You may apply to be an enlisted member if you have the following qualifications:

~ Must be at least 17 and no more than 34 years of age.  At 17, you must obtain parental consent.

~ Must be a U.S. citizen, have a permanent residence visa or an Alien Registration Green Card.

~ Must have a high school diploma

~ Must have a relatively clean record with no outstanding felonies

~ Must be able to pass a medical physical examination

~ Must pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

There are currently 80+ ratings (job specialties in the Navy), which makes it somewhat easy to find an occupation that’s a fit for you.  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Navy_ratings).

If you choose this path, here are a few tips to make the experience a little smoother:

1.  Go to the library and check out their ASVAB test taking manuals.  If you get a feel for what’s on the test, you’ll do a lot better and expand your choices for jobs.  The higher you score, the more jobs will be available to you.

2.  Enlisted recruiters must reach a monthly goal.  This means some can be desperate and desperation can lead to prevaricating.  Some know they’re doing it and some don’t.  If you go in and ask for a particular job, they will probably tell you it’s available but they really don’t know that.  They may tell you boot camp is a breeze.  It’s not (although there are a lot of things you can do to prepare for it).  They may “trick” you into covering up something in your life just to get you in.  Don’t do it.  Tell the truth from the first and your experience will be much easier.  Some recruiters think they can hide things but the processing staff has ways of finding out (deduction, police reports, etc.).  If the processing staff manages to miss it (they won’t), boot camp will find out and the feces will hit the fan, big time.  The Navy (or any other service) really dislikes prevaricating at their expense.

3.  The physical examination is thorough.  Be straight with the doctor.  If you have pre-existing conditions (asthma, sleepwalking, etc.), these will disqualify you.  If, as a woman, you’ve never had a gynecological examination, you will get one here.  Make sure you tell the doctor you’ve never had one so he/she can prepare correctly.

4.  Make sure you have all your paperwork when you decide to enlist.  Bring, at least, a birth certificate/passport/Green Card, proof of permanent residence, high school diploma, marriage license and any other official papers you deem necessary.

Once you’ve been sworn in, you may go to boot camp immediately or have a delayed entry.  Either way, you have time to prepare yourself by going to this website (https://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/) and by reading the following:

1.  Navy Regulations – https://doni.daps.dla.mil/navyregs.aspx

2.  United States Navy Uniform Regulations – https://navy-uniform-regulations.com/?page_id=315

3.  Punitive Articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice – this is optional but good to know because you are entering a new world order from the normal, every day lifestyle of a civilian.  Things you may be able to get away with in that life are subject to punishment in the military.  The more you know, the less chance you have of ending up at a Captain’s Mast, Office Hours, Article 15 or Court-Martial. (https://usmilitary.about.com/od/punitivearticles/a/mcm.htm)

4.  The Navy Core Values – https://www.navy.mil/navydata/nav_legacy.asp?id=193

5.  Navy Ranks and Recognition – PDF document at the Boot Camp website

6.  Sailor’s Creed – https://www.navy.mil/navydata/nav_legacy.asp?id=257

You can apply to be a Naval officer by meeting these requirements:

~ Must have, at least, a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree

~ Must be no older than 35 and no younger than 19 (waivers may be granted for positions in high demand)

~ Must be a U.S. citizen

~ Must have a squeaky clean record

~ Must be able to pass the physical

~ Must be able to pass the test (it’s easy!)

There are several avenues available to become a Naval officer (NROTC in college, U.S. Naval Academy (https://www.usna.edu/homepage.php), Direct Commission Officers Indoctrination Course (https://www.ocs.navy.mil/dcoic.asp) but I’m going to address those who are eager to join with a Bachelors degree in hand.

The first thing you need to do is to speak to an Officer Recruiter.  Many college grads end up in a recruiting station talking to an Enlisted Recruiter who may be desperate enough to “poach” you from an Officer Recruiter so he/she can make goal.  You may not find out you’ve been had until you get to your first ship out of boot camp and then the road to being an officer is a bit more difficult.  Do not walk in off the street.  Call the recruiting station and make an appointment with the Officer Recruiter.

There are many different designators for Naval Officers.  Most applicants with those Bachelors in hand will be offered a job as an unrestricted line officer.  The other designators are for applicants who want to enter the Navy with special talents (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Naval_Officer_Designators).

Being a Naval officer will be very challenging but rewarding.  Want responsibility and leadership fast?  The Navy expects its officers to be leaders right out of the chute but the training is excellent.  You may be driving a multi-billion dollar ship or learning to fly some of the most sophisticated aircraft.  As a division officer, you may be in charge of 100 people.  The opportunities to push yourself will be endless.

I spent 22 years in the Navy and loved every single minute; these are the top 10 ways in which I benefitted:

1.  I traveled to four out of seven continents and countries too numerous to count, living in the stunning beauty of Hawaii or teaching English, in my spare time, in the Republic of Korea.  I commanded a space launch detachment in Stuttgart, Germany and headed up an intell team in Saudi Arabia.  I was on an aircraft carrier, which allowed me to experience the joy of catapulting off the flight deck in a plane and earning my membership in the Order of the Bluenose (https://www.readyayeready.com/jackspeak/termview.php?id=263) by steaming above the Arctic Circle.  Who does all of this in civilian life?

2.    The Navy paid for my two Masters degrees.  I was chosen to attend the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California (tough duty!) where I studied with professors, ambassadors and Russian generals (we still communicate via email!).  I was also selected to attend the Naval War College, which is the pre-eminent school in the Navy; their status gave me the “street cred” I needed to be requested to work with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and also to work a special assignment with the State Department.

3.  I have the GI Bill, which I will soon be using to start my Ph.D.

4.  I have excellent health insurance.

5.  I have a great pension that started paying out the minute I retired from the Navy.

6.  As mentioned above, I have crossed many things off my Bucket List and some things that weren’t even on it.  I have shaken the hands of two US presidents.  Colin Powell chatted me up.  I have had lunch with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.  Up until Disneyworld opened in Hong Kong, I held a personal record of having been to every Disneyland/World on Earth.

7.  I have friends all over the world with whom I still converse, thanks to Skype and Facebook and I am able to visit them regularly.

8.  I can cook just about any cuisine (and cook it well) because I learned in the country of origin.

9.  I’m in good health due to 22 years of adhering to Navy physical fitness requirements.

10.  I have an astounding curriculum vitae.

I was in Girl Scouts until I graduated from high school and achieved the highest level (senior).  I took the motto of “Be Prepared.” to heart and believe in preparing as thoroughly as possible so:

For more official information: https://www.todaysmilitary.com/

For questions and information (stuff they don’t tell you), please feel free to contact me.

Disclaimer:  I do not claim to speak for every person who is/ has been in the military.  Every person who has served comes away with different opinions and experiences. I am not trying to recruit for any service, merely imparting information and personal observations.  My qualifications for discussing recruiting in the Navy come from three years as an officer-in-charge of a Navy Recruiting Processing Station and certification from the Navy Recruiting School in Orlando, Florida.