yes one enlists on their own, and are compensated, but the pay isnt comparable to what one gets in a real world job. I worked 60-84 hours a week (shore duty/sea duty) not counting watches which would add and extra 24 hours or more to that total.

These hours do not accrue overtime wages. I think we figured it out and we were getting less than minimum wage. Police officers at least get overtime pay, and cant get threatened with jail time if you refuse to work the extra hours.


Do a google search and look to see what the actual pay is for an E-5 Sargent is. Pensions, you only get one if you do 20 years or get discharged because of a disability. I did 4 years 9 months, and have an honorable discharge, no pension for me.

VA benefits, sorry, but I dont get them either. I was in the Navy during a time of relative peace in the world, so I wasnt involved in any combat exempts me fro getting any help from a VA hospital.

Contrary to what people think, members arent getting rich from working in the military. People do it for many different reasons of their own personal nature, comparing them to a police office or a social worker and the compensation doesnt quite add up the same.