Atlantic vs. Pacific. Which is a better Navy Fleet to join?

AN Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 22:30:22 -0400

I just enlisted in the Navy and want to know what fleet to join. Atlantic or Pacific?

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 17 at 2015 10:33 PM

PO1 John Miller — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 22:33:58 -0400

Pacific/West Coast/California is where it's at!

Response by PO3 Michael James made Jun 17 at 2015 10:48 PM

PO3 Michael James — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 22:48:04 -0400

The Pacific acted as if she was breathing, and (for the most part) gently rock you to sleep at night... LOVED IT !! But you will soon realize just how small we really are !!

Response by CPO Gregory Smith made Jun 17 at 2015 11:05 PM

CPO Gregory Smith — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 23:05:43 -0400

I've done both. East coast is wound pretty tight. Probably has to do with proximity to D.C. and all the brass located there in. Every time an Admiral gets a "good idea" east coast Sailors get to be the guinea pigs. West coast is a lot more laid back. A lot better liberty options on west coast as well.

Response by PO1 Rick Duff made Jun 17 at 2015 11:12 PM

PO1 Rick Duff — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 23:12:02 -0400

Stay in, choose a rate YOU want to do, and hit BOTH WestPac and the Med!

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2015 11:18 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 23:18:20 -0400

Don't worry about which coast you get assigned. Worry about what job you want and which ship sounds the best for your situation. You're going to spend the vast majority of your time dealing with that job and that ship, with no land in sight... and water all looks the same. If you hate your job or your life on the ship, is it really worth it for a better port call or home port? Your call, but I'd put it on the back burner until you know something about specific ships in each port you're given an opportunity to select. E-mail someone on board, or ask around. Try to figure out what the command climate is.

Response by PO1 Jason Taylor made Jun 18 at 2015 6:32 AM

PO1 Jason Taylor — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 06:32:24 -0400

West coast has less political crap :)

Response by SCPO Lee Pradia made Jun 18 at 2015 7:35 AM

SCPO Lee Pradia — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 07:35:51 -0400

The ship is the ship and the seas are the seas. PACFLT is awesome!!! LANFLT is awesome!!! Ports of call for both are incredible. East and West coasts have lots to offer, sight seeing and leisure activities. Do your homework and you decide.

Response by PO1 J R Foster made Jun 18 at 2015 9:40 AM

PO1 J R Foster — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 09:40:35 -0400

During my 20 years, I served both as an "East Coast" Sailor and a "West Coast" sailor. Though there are attributes to both, there is definitely a different mentality between the two. I preferred the west coast myself, but there are those who prefer the east coast. It really is what you make of it though. If you work hard, pay close attention to detail and focus on your job and the military side of it, you can do well no matter where you are serving. The biggest mistake I saw young sailors make, was listening to their peers that had attitudes (bad) and ended up fighting the institution. You never win that way. Try going somewhere that you're not from. Example, if you're from California, try the east coast for a while. There's great things to see there during your free time. If you're from the east coast, try the west coast. Ditto on the things to do on liberty.
Whatever you do or wherever you go, understand that you're in the military. Do your best to work yourself into whatever command you're in. Work hard, be honest, pay attention to detail in everything, stay sharp and you'll do well wherever you are.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jun 18 at 2015 12:32 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 12:32:28 -0400

If you've never been to Hawaii, go for a ship out of Pearl Harbor. I recommend it above all other home ports, although San Diego is pretty amazing too. I've been stationed in a number of ports, and PH was my favorite...

Response by PO2 Stephen Brinkley (Scott) made Jun 18 at 2015 12:58 PM

PO2 Stephen Brinkley (Scott) — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 12:58:33 -0400

I had the opportunity to do both. Depending on the class of ship you are on will depend on how much you get to see. If you are on small boy (Destroyer or smaller) you will see a ton. If you are on a big boy (Carrier or LHD) you will not see as much do to size of ship and ability to moor. I agree with Senior Chief... What suits you best is which side you should choose.

Response by PO1 John Juarez made Jun 18 at 2015 1:15 PM

PO1 John Juarez — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 13:15:47 -0400

WEST PACS Baby!!

Response by PO1 John East made Jun 18 at 2015 2:45 PM

PO1 John East — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 14:45:20 -0400

SCPO PRADIA AND PO1 Foster both give sound advice, I would not worry about the side of fleet, I would worry about doing my job, having fun will come but if you don't work hard and do your best then it will not matter, because your LPO or Chief will have you to busy. If you are worried about liberty two or three months at sea will settle that, then a port of call for three days The party's on just be careful.

Response by PO1 Scott Cottrell made Jun 18 at 2015 3:03 PM

PO1 Scott Cottrell — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 15:03:15 -0400

Did both, prefer the West coast, less Political, and I love Asia.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 18 at 2015 4:11 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 16:11:17 -0400

They're both good if you make them good. Good comments about east coast PentaCrap. If you can get away from "Los Honolulu" and "Nor#$%" you'll see and do the real work with fewer layers getting in your way.

Seek out opportunities to be part of a Detachment sent in somewhere to do something. If you get a chance to work with locals, you'll find there are many good people on this Earth and some truly horrible ones. Seeing it real time will make you understand more how great of a country we have here and how important it is to love it and defend it.

Response by CWO3 Jeff Metcalf made Jun 18 at 2015 4:41 PM

CWO3 Jeff Metcalf — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 16:41:59 -0400

If you are trying to get to Europe, go east coast. Asia, west. Saves the Detailer money moving you around.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2015 5:04 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 17:04:02 -0400

If you pick and get the NORTH Atlantic and your ship is a Destroyer, you will become an elite Tin Can Man, for sure, but also the sickest person on the High Seas, or both!!!

Response by PO1 Peggy Weldon Perales made Jun 19 at 2015 12:34 AM

PO1 Peggy Weldon Perales — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 00:34:14 -0400

It has to be WestPac ;)

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2015 7:50 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 07:50:52 -0400

I loved serving in Mayport, Fl. Lots of good people and it's a smaller base so you will meet a lot of people.

Response by PO3 Doug Standlee made Jun 19 at 2015 10:10 AM

PO3 Doug Standlee — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 10:10:22 -0400

I was in Pacific fleet was good employment. USS Cayuga... No longer in commission.

Response by SGT John Wesley made Jun 20 at 2015 9:03 PM

SGT John Wesley — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 21:03:51 -0400

PACFleet. San Diego, Honolulu.... Need I say more?

Response by SGT John Wesley made Jun 20 at 2015 9:06 PM

SGT John Wesley — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 21:06:22 -0400

Btw, Good luck and hope you find the Navy life to your liking!

My Dad was a squid, explains why I joined the Army... Lol

Response by PO3 Joseph Fields Jr made Jun 21 at 2015 6:05 PM

PO3 Joseph Fields Jr — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 18:05:34 -0400

I've only sailed the Pacific, but it depends on if you want to get close to your ancestors land, let that be your deciding factor!

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jun 21 at 2015 6:34 PM

SN Greg Wright — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 18:34:51 -0400

Erm, I'm pretty sure you don't get to choose -- the navy will assign you where they need you. Unless you're a top performer in A school (AND they still do it this way -- it was '88 for me, so they might not do this anymore), and they let you pick out of the pool of assignments that your class gets.

Response by PO1 John Meyer, CPC made Jun 21 at 2015 10:10 PM

PO1 John Meyer, CPC — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 22:10:01 -0400

I had more party fun in the Pacific as a young single sailor.

I had more tourist fun in the Atlantic as an old married man.

Response by SN Robert Walker made Jun 22 at 2015 7:24 PM

SN Robert Walker — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 19:24:06 -0400

Atlantic by far is the best Fleet in the Navy!!! DES10

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2015 12:20 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Jun 2015 12:20:19 -0400

I've spent the last 7 years west coast and in Japan. So I may be biased, but if have to say Pacific...

Response by PO3 Jody Wangen made Jul 2 at 2015 9:35 PM

PO3 Jody Wangen — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 21:35:56 -0400

my ex spent most of his time between JAX, Mayport, and Cecil field. did lots of Westpac.

Response by PO3 Benjamin Long made Jul 8 at 2015 7:31 PM

PO3 Benjamin Long — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 19:31:57 -0400

You really haven't been in long enough to make a conscious decision. When you get to experienced E-3 or pick up third class, then you'll better be able to decide what fleet you want, if by then the Navy hasn't burned you out and you're looking forward to the day you can walk away, then strip off and burn your uniforms. The irrefutable facts are that nearly 80% of sailors say "no mas" after their first hitch. Right now your priority should be to get trained in your rating skills, and become proficient with them, keep in mind you most likely WON'T get to pick your first orders out of A school and will end up wherever. Make your fleet decision in about 3, maybe four years, after you've been at your first command and gotten a good experience of Navy life, and then if you decide to stick around, make your fleet choice.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2017 5:08 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 17:08:41 -0500

Choose your own Adventure.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2019 7:08 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 19:08:14 -0500

Either one.