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Comment by rdtwo | Hacker News Reader

Interesting but seems absolutely dismal way to spend a decade

Easy response ... if that's how you feel, don't do it.

I know/knew several ex-submariners. For them it was an absolutely fascinating job. Of course it won't suit everyone, and most people absolutely should not do it, but for them it was a great way to spend a decade or two.

I found that once underway after the first week passes staying out for 6 more months or 6 more days doesn't matter, it feels the same. Normal time stops and is now measured in watch rotations, preventive maintenance schedules and off time. The hardest thing for me was the complete lack of privacy. You are never alone.

I know a current submariner, she's 5 years into a 6-year minimum commitment and hates it. Unfortunately, once you're at the point where you can experience whether it will suit you or not, it's too late to change your mind: the Navy owns you.

I'm a former U.S. submariner. Probably 90% of my shipmates who had served at least 3 years would have said the same thing. They hated the Navy, hated sea duty, hated all of it.

And then towards the end of their commitment, with a several thousand dollar re-enlistment bonus on the table, most of them would sign up for another 6 years. The bonus would usually be blown in a week on a new vehicle.

Huh, looking at [1] and [2] she's looking at a $100k bonus...I can see how that would be tempting in spite of feelings that have dissipated with some shore leave.

Fortunately, I think she's connected enough to find employment worth that much in private industry, disciplined enough to be wise in how she spends the money if she does take it, and rational enough to make a good decision (kinda hard to drive the new Tesla when you're underwater as much as she is), but I can understand how a lot of sailors might look at a number with a lot of zeros and make an impulse decision.

[1] https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.militarytimes.com/assets/pdf...

[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/NavyNukes/comments/d1z8s1/nuke_reen...

My boat used to deploy to the Persian Gulf, and for many years as long as the boat spent at least a little time in certain areas, pay for that month was tax-free. A LOT of re-enlistments (with those 6-figure bonuses) were done to take maximum advantage of those rules.

The stories of an E3 buying a dodge charger on a 24% APR are real. In any branch.

I guess she's hit a new low.

It's one of the reasons that sub duty is a double volunteer system. You volunteer to be in the Navy, then you volunteer to be a submariner. You really need to want to do it.

It was both the best and worst time of my life. Wouldn't trade it for the world.

My dad said that he wouldn't trade his WW2 experience for anything. He also wouldn't do it again for anything.

This is what I always say as well--I really mean it!

Except for the standard 'being in the military' aspect of it, modern submarines seem very comfy to me. I hear they're climate controlled these days, and have pretty good food.

> modern submarines seem very comfy to me.

RAF fast jet pilots have it pretty good, a.k.a. the Chair Force. Why dig in when you can check in?

Ahahahahahahahahahha, that was good.

No, not comfy at all. Too cold, too hot, never just right.

Huh, I thought they kept the temperature in modern subs tightly controlled for the sake of the missiles. Maybe just the missile tubes receive this care?

Not today FBI!

If you’re not joking, that’s a No no topic.

Fair!

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