Naval Base Life

[krchris]

I am considering joining the Navy. One of the things my recruiter requested I do is give him my wish list of Naval bases in which I would like to live. As I have never had any experiences on any bases, I was curious if any of you could help me know more about the pro's and con's of the different bases listed below (these are the locations of where I would probably end up working)?
One of the primary reasons behind my question is how life will be for my wife and two boys (under 4 yrs of age). If I were single, then I would want to go to Hawaii, Naples, or Japan.

Some things I'm I would like to hear about include: Cost of living, Schools, Crime, etc...

Bethesda, MD National Naval Medical Center
Portsmouth, VA Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
San Diego, CA Naval Medical Center San Diego
Bremerton, WA Naval Hospital Bremerton
Charleston, SC Naval Health Clinic Charleston
Naples, Italy U.S. Naval Hospital Naples Italy
Okinawa, Japan U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa Japan
Kings Bay, GA Naval Ambulatory Care Center Kings Bay
Pearl Harbor, HI Naval Health Clinic Hawaii
Groton, CT Naval Ambulatory Care Center Groton

Camp Pendelton, CA
Naval Hospital Camp Pendelton


Thanks.
​

 

[Uncle Fester]

I think your recruiter may be (intentionally or not) misleading you into thinking that where you want to live matters a whole lot to the Navy. It's not like some company with branches in a bunch of different cities. Since you've listed all medical centers, I'm assuming you are joining in the Medical Corps? Some of those clinics you've listed are very small, and the odds of you going there are pretty low, even if you do have some wide-ranging specialty. There just aren't that many folks there.

Even if you do get a preference for your first assignment, that will just be your first assignment. Depending on your specialty, you're likely to move frequently, plus sea duty at least a couple of times.

What are you joining up to do? Are you a doc, nurse, what? What you do in the Navy makes a big difference in what your life will be like. If the phrase "choose your rate, choose your fate" doesn't mean anything to you now, it will soon enough.

For general base info, the Military Onesource (used to be SITES) website has lots of good info about the nuts-and-bolts of living in different areas.

 

[krchris]

Thanks for the information. I am searching that website for information.

I am applying to become a Radiation Health officer (RHO). There are some assignments on ships as well. However, the bulk of the assignments are land based. The reason why the majority are land based is because they involve the use of medical diagnostic imaging equipment (i.e. CAT, PET, MRI) which I don't think you would typically find on a ship.

Would the number of RHO's in the Navy have an effect on choice? There are currently only 72. I'm sure you are probably right that I am being mislead, but I just wanted to see what you had to say.

 

[HH-60H]

Would the number of RHO's in the Navy have an effect on choice? There are currently only 72. I'm sure you are probably right that I am being mislead, but I just wanted to see what you had to say.

Yes, that would have a huge effect. If there are 72 RHO's, there are only 72 billets, which means there are only 72 jobs you can hold. Some of them are for different paygrades so that means you aren't eligible for them. Practically, this means you have NO choice. One or two billets will be open when it's time for you to PCS, and that's where you will go.

 

[krchris]

That makes sense HH-60H. That's what I would have assumed as well, until he asked me to make that list. One other thing to factor in is they currently have 7 open positions (approx 10%). Maybe this has something to do with it.... I don't know.

I will talk to my recruiter again and see why he made that request.

 

[HeyJoe]

That makes sense HH-60H. That's what I would have assumed as well, until he asked me to make that list. One other thing to factor in is they currently have 7 open positions (approx 10%). Maybe this has something to do with it.... I don't know.

I will talk to my recruiter again and see why he made that request.

Nothing unusual in any community. I don't think you're being misled, just how it works. They will ask for your wish list and then reveal what's available. If where you want to go matches what's available; then you're set, but be prepared to hear that not all of the seven openings to be where you want to go.

 

[feddoc]

Another thing to ask your recruiter...or even better the RHO specialty adviser..... is the promotion rate for RHOs. You will be pitted against all other Medical Service Corp officers for promotional opportunities. Sometimes that can be a problem for those in smaller communities.

 

[sickboy]

I am considering joining the Navy. One of the things my recruiter requested I do is give him my wish list of Naval bases in which I would like to live. As I have never had any experiences on any bases, I was curious if any of you could help me know more about the pro's and con's of the different bases listed below (these are the locations of where I would probably end up working)?
One of the primary reasons behind my question is how life will be for my wife and two boys (under 4 yrs of age). If I were single, then I would want to go to Hawaii, Naples, or Japan.

Some things I'm I would like to hear about include: Cost of living, Schools, Crime, etc...

Bethesda, MD National Naval Medical Center
Portsmouth, VA Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
San Diego, CA Naval Medical Center San Diego
Bremerton, WA Naval Hospital Bremerton
Charleston, SC Naval Health Clinic Charleston
Naples, Italy U.S. Naval Hospital Naples Italy
Okinawa, Japan U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa Japan
Kings Bay, GA Naval Ambulatory Care Center Kings Bay
Pearl Harbor, HI Naval Health Clinic Hawaii
Groton, CT Naval Ambulatory Care Center Groton

Camp Pendelton, CA
Naval Hospital Camp Pendelton


Thanks.
​

I have only been to a few of those bases, so I will share my impressions.

Kings Bay: seemed like a high security small town in the middle of a swamp. Over all it's a nice base, MWR seemed to do an excellant job there. My stay there was in BEQ so I can't speak about the on base houses, but they looked pretty nice. The golf course was pretty good. Crime didn't seem to be too much of a problem due to the fact that there are MA's and Marines everywhere. Don't know about schools.

Camp Pendleton/Lejeune: Nice big bases, full of jarheads. The housing areas have a "suburban feel" to them. Not sure about crime and schools.

Other:
Norfolk: The armpit of the Navy (if you're single that is), the on base housing that I saw was very nice. There are MA's everywhere so I don't think crime is that much of a problem. The worst part about Norfolk is that there isn't anything to do on Liberty...

 

[The Chief]

.... I will talk to my recruiter again and see why he made that request.

Recruiter request/mo sounds familiar. When showing real estate, I would find some clients that had no interest in any of the houses that I showed to them. While all met their stated requirements, they were unhappy. I would then tell them to drive around the area they wanted and to select houses they would be interested in, if they were for sale. We then, together, retraced their route and viewed the houses they selected. In most all instances, the probable selling costs were three to ten times their budget. That is, their expectations far exceeded reality.

In this case, if you already have a long list of credentials in the RHO community, that path may be reasonable. However, if you really want to be an Intel Off, the list makes no sense at all.

 

[HeyJoe]

Norfolk: The armpit of the Navy (if you're single that is), the on base housing that I saw was very nice. There are MA's everywhere so I don't think crime is that much of a problem. The worst part about Norfolk is that there isn't anything to do on Liberty...

Say what? You need to get out more. There's plenty to do on liberty in Tidewater area. Used to be slim pickings in early 80s, but there's plenty of attractions in area and beach area doesn't close in the winter anymore.

 

[SnipeDude]

Norfolk: The armpit of the Navy (if you're single that is), the on base housing that I saw was very nice. There are MA's everywhere so I don't think crime is that much of a problem. The worst part about Norfolk is that there isn't anything to do on Liberty...

Oh, to be in Norfolk instead of Pensacola...

 

[Goober]

Oh, to be in Norfolk instead of Pensacola...

Hey, don't knock P'cola. Let me assure you, there are far worse places to be young, single, and carrying disposable cash.

 

[jus2mch]

Hey, don't knock P'cola. Let me assure you, there are far worse places to be young, single, and carrying disposable cash.

Yeah, like China Lake.

 

[S.O.B.]

I would ask the recruiter for a RHO junior officer's email and get your info from him.

 

[Nose]

The worst part about Norfolk is that there isn't anything to do on Liberty...

...unless you like bars, concerts, girls/boys, good chow, movies, beaches, dancing, baseball, hockey, bars, boys/girls, bars, and bars. Oh yeah, Virginia Beach is 20 minutes away and it is 10X better!


You are smoking crack.