How has the Navy changed in the last 20 years?

When I went in, there were no computers and cell phones didn't exist. Everything was done by typewriter and land line. It was the year of the 900 lb chief. That was 1980-ash trays hung on every bulkhead. Beards were common for enlisted and officers. By the time I retired 20 years later, every office had PCs but no internet. I was a PN1 and I still work in the same area for the Navy as a civilian. I always fondly talk about the way it was and how it is now with technology. After I got out things got really different. I heard if a recruit is stressed out today at boot camp, the get to hold up a "time out" card and the Company Commander can't yell at them. You would be surprised my friend at all the changes.

I served aboard the Biddle CG-34 from 75-79 out of Norfolk. Like the other old timers we had snail mail and was grateful to get that. Seems like the entire crew was waiting outside the ships Post Office when it was suppose to be only the Division Mail POs. We had the reel to reel films on the mess decks and we swapped movies with other ships. Made my share of MARS calls back home when authorized for Navy business. Used the heck out of telephone exchanges in foreign ports. And what is up with all the roast beef we ate when we ran out of the meal on the menu? No computers, but did play many a long running board game over a few years and an occasional “sink my ship” game on our NTDS consoles in CIC. Swearing was the rule of the day, no political BS to deal with and oh yeah those crappy coat and tie enlisted uniforms for 4-lousy years until the fleet switched back to the Cracker Jacks.

I later crossed over to the Seabees and had life a bit better ashore, different Navy but just as venturesome.

In 97 I took a commission into the Air Force, man oh man what a totally different life, talk about creature comforts. Still serving but now in even a more comfy service, the Public Health Service, so another 3-years and I will hang it up after serving 38 years. Too bad the military has changed so much to the political leanings. Many old shipmates and fellow officers who are prior Mustangs like myself reminisce about the “old” days and see such a difference. Interesting topic!

I have often wondered the same thing, how much easier it would have been to talk to loved ones back home.

I work with the military now. Got out in 88. I made coffee at the office one day and a crusty old Master Chief comes up to me and says "You must have been a bubblehead cuz that is chest thumping coffee that only a bubblehead would drink." He took me aside at one point and said "this ain't the Navy you remember". He joined in 84 and retired in 14. So when I said about North Korea making threats "Nuke 'em till they glow and shoot 'em in the dark" and all these military types were shocked he reminded me this isn't the Navy I once knew.

I asked "can you still duct tape somebody upside down and naked from the steam pipes and attach a vacuum cleaner to certain portions of his anatomy?" He choked but knew what I was talking about. Then told me about "stress cards". Say what? No training by pain? But if something stresses you out you can take a time out?

Of course the problem where I work is there is only 1 other submariner but I'm the only nuke. I have to keep myself in check at work because they just don't get me. Well, there is a Senior Chief who rode on submarines as a spook once. He sort of gets my humor.

Okay. Have to have a sea story. There was one guy who used the "F" word a LOT. So one day I was bored sitting on watch and I started using a grease pencil to mark every time he used it. After awhile he noticed the marks and asked about them. I told him what they were. I showed him that in 1 hour he had used the F word 386 times. He didn't say anything. A few days later he comes to me all pissed off because "now I can't say it because I think about you counting everytime and it freaks me out". Never heard him use the F word again. :)

I talk often LOL. I was in 75 to 81 on board the greatest ship ever USS Enterprise CVN 65. One huge difference is women on ships. We had none. The crossing the line ceremony has been changed due to that. I'm not saying women onboard is bad just saying that things on the ship where much different before women deployed. To become a Shellback sucked. Wearing your clothes inside out and backyards and crawling the length of the flight deck on your knees while cut off fire hoses are used to move you along wasn't one of the best days however I wouldn't have missed it for love or money. Just saying it was way different.

The Navy is more interested in EEO and affirmative action than they are in winning wars, deterring aggression, and maintaining freedom of the seas. It' sad. More emphasis on promoting unqualified women and minorities than on being a potent fighting force.

Women aboard Combatant ships is a major change from when I was aboard the USS Carl Vinson CVN 70 from 86-90. But the best change today from when I was in is the internet. We learned about news stories a couple of days from when it occurred. I recall learning that Wayne Gretzky was traded from Edmonton to the LA Kings 4 days after it happened. Getting news stories as it happened would have been enjoyable back then.

Outstanding question, PO3 (Join to see)! Thanks!!!!

I'd like to ask one thing, if I may...

Back in the 80's, the primary mission for the Fast Attack submarines was to locate and track ballistic missile subs.

What's the predominant mission now, and are there any "enemy boomers" out there to track?

I havent served in the Navy Yet just waiting on the MEPS to pull their head out of their fourth point of contact, So deffinantly looking to find out the Life of Corpsman in todays Navy specificly the 8404 type

I had internet on my ships, but it was very unreliable. Letters were still very much appreciated while underway. I saw the ship's satellite phone used only once, for a personal emergency. Cell phones were just going mainstream, but my ships were exceptions (CIVMARS) and the rails were lined every time we transited through the Philippines. Our main mission was UNREP with a heavy dose of humanitarian aid. Of course, my experience was 10 years ago, and all my ships have since been scuttled.