How has the Navy changed in the last 20 years?

So nice to be home and not have to think about leaving again

I thought when we got to use beepers for duty section recall was something. Of course thst changed to cell phones. Most of all my deployments it was using a landline to connect back home.

I graduated from boot camp Jan. 9, 2015. I was 909- state flags. The reservist back home told me about boot camp and I was ready to be challenged, build character and discipline. Let me tell you, it was an adult day care with strict rules. We don't do the running around base thing for battle stations. There is a thing called "Training Time Out". You call it when someone is passing out, threw up on the track, or you don't feel safe during a training. (Ex. Freaking Out in the gas chamber) They can't PT us everyday cause they don't want to stress us out to much. They want us to balance it out with academics. They can't drop you randomly, you have to do something bad to get IT. They whip out an Orange card with #1-10 and you can either pick a number or RDC picked one. It was stressed the first couple weeks but it got easier. We, both RDC and recruits, can't cuss cause people found it offensive and it isn't quality leadership. Luckly, I had good RDC but I wish it was like tougher. I got almost 5 phone calls throughout boot. I don't know how the Navy was back then, but from what my instructors say, it has definitely changed.... A lot.

Unisex uniforms...... You can't cuss at shitbags...can't knife-hand. Shitbags... No connex-box counselings allowed... They have "slow groups" for people at PT now instead of pushing them to succeed

The eval structure is still the same haha! Horrible!

all I know is that when I entered the navy in houston texas I knew that I wanted to be on the west coast had no desire to be on the east coast. so after OSVET School, RM "A" (graduated early cause I tested out had 6 years of AF Comms) just had to learn ship-shore communications so I tested out and scored a 92 plus typed on fredd, 45 WPM. But had to sit at NTC San Diego waiting 4 weeks so fianlly after sweeping streets. I called my recruiter STGSC(SS) Hunter and told him get me some orders he goes where overseas. Japan. he told me pack your trash so that day got my dress whites cleaned and packed my sea bag. next day at quarters I waited for my name then I hear and I was told go see the YN2, So I go into the admin shack and she goes tell me how does a RMSN get these orders. so I go where she handed me the orders that read "COMSEVENTHFLEET Embarked on USS OKLAHOMA CITY CG-5. I go sweet, I told her my Recruiter STGSC(SS) Hunter got me these orders, so I got me a hotel room out by the airport then went to get something to eat and drink flew to san francisco then took a C-5 cargo lift to Yokota AB. I knew that I was going to like these orders. by the time I Returned to the states for RMC-7, and IMCO I was a RM3 when I flew home to houston when I stepped out of the extension to the air craft my dad who was a RM3 during WWII. I saw the tears in his eyes when he saw me step off the plane.

I was in from 1980 to 2000 and retired as a CTI1. I went from using typewriters and MOD-40's to IBM desktops and finally to something resembling today's computers by my last tour. Internet was only coming into its own in my last 5 years or so and as a CT there was no unclassified Internet at work due to security considerations. As for cell phones, I had one during my final tour but it was for work only and was strictly controlled for work-related comms only. I was never much of a tech junkie during my time in.

As for discipline, you could count on a by-the-book interpretation if you did something seriously wrong. Otherwise you would probably just get an expletive-strewn ass-chewing from your LPO or Chief and maybe some EMI or other administrative punishment. Also, in my junior years and as I became more of a leader in my own right, I liked to handle things at the lowest level possible and not bother the Chiefs or Officers unless the offense was serious (and by serious I mean that the guy killed someone or stole the Hope Diamond or something like that).

As for what the Navy has morphed into today, I can hardly see any of the camaraderie or the espirit-de-corps that was apparent during my time. Society has changed and has led to the entitlement culture which translates into headaches for anyone running any of the military services today. I wish all my brothers and sisters struggling with this problem today the best of luck. Reading this thread I am glad to see that some of the traditions and culture of the Navy I knew are still alive in the sailors of today.

Fair winds and following seas,
Tim

Well I'm unique I suppose with all that happened to me early on in my career. I know that in today's Navy I wouldn't have lasted 6 months...special courts martial, knocked down to a summary, 1 COs mast and probably 6 or 7 DRBs and I can't even count the counseling chits.

It's not that I was a bad guy, I worked hard and played had. In fact one DRB was for a DUI, no one was hurt I was just UA for a few hours. It is my opinion that my good cowboy work ethic caused the CPO mess to squash it right there...don't get me wrong I still stand funny because of that ass chewing. I got another DUI that same year, no excuse but my wife left me on deployment and I didn't know how to cope. That DRB, nobody yelled, it was like they felt sorry for me, but the disappointment they all had in me was terrible. The XO almost cried at XOI, the CO at mast, threw the book at me but suspended it all as long as I got treatment. I squared my ass away and made 1st class in under 10. I dodged a couple bullets there.
I'm not proud of my earky years, but they helped me become a better sailor and leader...even now after being medically retired after only 14, I use that leadership I was taught.
In my opinion the Navy is quick to kick people out nowadays, and had my stuff happened 5 years later, I would have been kicked out. I'm far from perfect, but am a better man having been given those extra chances all those years ago.

By the way, the courts martial ended up being a bunch of BS....he said/she said,and she didn't even show up for the prey risk interview, so I was stil put on report for making bad decisions...like I said, work hard, play hard.
Probably not the kind of answer you're looking for, but today if a sailor made a small percentage of my mistakes he'd be out faster than shit. I just hoe people can learn from guys like me and not have to go through the same mistakes I made.

I was aboard ship from1955 to 1958, I served on the USS Bennington CVA 20, an Essex Class Aircraft Carrier, and the USS Gardiners Bay AVP39,.a Seaplane Tender. My tour of duty ended 57 years ago. The Bennington was always underway, and it seemed as though the routine never changed, standing watch in the Fire room, 4 hours on 8 hours off. The one change was when we were under battle conditions, then the watches were, 4 hours on and 4 hours off, with General Quarters mixed in. For example, upon being relieved from watch with 4 hours free to take a shower, eat, if it is chow time and try to get some sleep. If General Quarters sounds you run to your Battle Station. When General quarters is over it may be time to go back on watch, this quickly becomes very exhausting. I remember going to the ships Post Office to buy some stamps and mail a letter home. The Postal clerk told me that we were in a combat zone and I did not need a stamp. I thought, OH BOY! I just saved five cents.
At sea was much different from what I hear of the present Navy. We had a locker for our cloths and personnel belongings approximately 2.5x2.5. Sleeping was in a bunk, a piece of canvas laced into a steel frame with a thin mattress laid on the canvas. The uniform of the day was required to board or leave the ship, no civilian clothes. There was no Telephone, cell or hard wired. No TV but we did have Movies at night in the hanger bay. Communication with home was by the US Mail, Mail call was always popular but less frequent. Most of the Mail came on the high line, from the AK supply ship or the Tanker refueling us.
I would get my turn to stand smoke watch and this involved going up to the 07 level on the super structure. From this point I could observe the smoke stack for all eight Boilers. If a boiler was smoking I would call down on the phone and tell the fire room that a boiler was smoking and to clear it up. The smoke could be seen over the horizon and alert the enemy to our position, and could also interfere with the landing of aircraft. One afternoon our new Division Officer came ep to the 07 level. We were taking on supplies over the High Line from an AK. He told me to watch for Mr. Dennis, our departing Division Officer, who will be going over to the AK on the High Line. When he is on the Highline call down to the fire rooms to send up a puff of smoke to say farewell. I passed the message to the fire rooms and that I would tell them when he was on the Highline. When Mr. Dennis was on the highline I called the fire rooms to send up a puff of smoke. The smoke came gushing out of the stack so fast that in a moment the AK was engulfed in smoke and could not be seen. Mr. Dennis was suspended between two ships in zero visibility of black smoke. I was franticly Yelling into the phone, clear up the smoke. I don’t know what happened to Mr. Dennis, I assume he made it to the AK. For two ships to be running that close to each other with, 0 visibility, is very dangerous, especially with a Man suspended between them. I was surprised that I never heard anything more about the incident.

I retired from the navy on april 30th 1993. as I sit on the beach it has changed completely. it was not the same navy I joined in 1978. prior to that I spent 6 years in the Air Force. but after being on my first sea duty as a RMSN. After arriving to COMSEVENTHFLT Embarked on USS OKLAHOMA CITY CG-5 My RMC took me under his wing and showed me what it meant to be a RM at sea A petty Officer, so coming in on my off time getting my PQS Done so in 1 year after coming in as a RMSN I made RM3 First time up. yes they tacked on my crow. we were getting ready to pull in subic bay the admirals semi annual conference. but for enlisted it was a time to party lay down with some fine filipina. but after my 2 years in the navy were up I cancelled the next year and reenlisted for 6 years and RM C-7 School and follow on to IMCO Morse code school and my next assignment to USNS PASSUMPSIC-T-AO-107. While on deployment I was on watch and across the broadcast came the promotion list from out battle group and under my name was selectee. at the time my wife was pregnant with our first child when I pulled back into subic bay I showed here the message I had been promoted to RM2.

I joined back in 1981, no internet, no cell phones. It was the most freedom I have ever had.
We did get movies on the cruises and we used ham radio to make calls back home. Letters were weeks or more old and the care packages were a welcome site. I would do it all over again.