Advancement Day

Today was the test for petty officer. It started at seven thirty and it is now 910am and I am in the park in my civilian clothes drinking a soy chai and eating a very hefty breakfast burrito.

I considered reading every question to give the perception that I cared, but it was such a gorgeous day outside and I just did all my laundry so I had a pretty dress that I wanted to wear that allows me to get a nice tan-lines-free tan. So it was either pretend that I was actually trying and waste a perfectly good morning, not to mention the breakfast menu at the American Grill or "christmas tree" the test and enjoy another Great Navy Day in Yokosuka.

I'm not so sure why everyone is so quick to defend the Navy when they find out I'd rather not advance. Perhaps they've forgotten all the times the navy has screwed them over by taking away their freedom or something they've worked hard for to get. Some people must like being told what to wear, and being away from their families, or told that they are not allowed to be with their boyfriend.

Not me!! I am one for destroyed jeans, giving my boyfriend a hug when he needs it and land!!! I'm a huge fan of land and all the great amenities that come along with it. One of my favorites is grass and seeing the sun, also the great affects the sun has on the color of my skin. I do not enjoy being white as a ghost from a 4 month deployment. I also feel so bad for the girls who come here and fall in love and decide that they want to start a family and have a baby. Their options are limited to get pregnant and leave the command, also leaving their boyfriend (who can't be their husband, because you are not allowed to get married to someone in your command) and continuing their pregnancy alone, or wait. Wait till their time in the Navy is complete. Waiting is not fun, let me tell you. Waiting for the part of your life that you care about isn't fun.

Oh advancement day, if I had a dollar for every time someone said "well advance for the money." That is sad. I really don't need the money. Plus if I get a 1300 pay check I will probably loose faith and say 'Oh I'm fine, the Navy isn't that bad. I don't do much and get this nice little check on the 1st and the 15th.' Its important to remember the grass. Having a home, and a family. Being able to see your family daily or weekly or at your free will. Having the ability to make choices for yourself. I'm only 21, but I can't remember the last time someone put a curfew on me and told me "you can't wear that."

Perhaps I am jaded though. I hear my command is horrible compared to other commands in the Navy. Am I really supposed to aspire to be like my first class petty officer LPO who can't even compose a professional/casual email. I understand spelling and grammar isn't everyones strong suit, my sister will tell you I can't spell for crap, but if she saw what this 40 year old man was writing she would laugh. But he is my leader, and although his emails are more like cave paintings where you have to depict what the author is trying to convey (which is difficult when you think he might be trying to tell you to muster at a certain time) I have to follow him.

One of their favorite sayings is "Why wouldn't you like this? We get paid for doing nothing, maybe sweeping once in a while." I am so glad you have such high goals and expectations for yourself. Yes that is EXACTLY what I want for my career and life. I would love nothing more than to look back at my career and say yeah, I achieved so much! I am proud of me!

How people join this organization and stay is beyond me. I don't think I'll ever fully comprehend things like the CO closing the brow come time to get off of work. That would be like your boss seeing the clock hit five, running to the office doors and chaining them shut saying "nope sorry, maybe later when I feel like it." Or how this organization makes you wear your salary on your uniform. Not only that but your get treated with less respect if your lower. I think its in the petty officer handbook that when you make rank you don't have to use your manners and you can treat lower ranked sailors like they aren't human beings. After all they do call us "bodies." Like hey v-5 needs to send two bodies down to help carry on boxes of shit.

So with that said I bid you good day. I SAID GOOD DAY!