The Navy’s policy includes the use/misuse, possession, promotion of all substances recognized as illegal by the federal government and the controlled substance analogues (synthetic/designer drugs), natural substances (e.g., fungi, excretions), chemicals (e.g., chemicals wrongfully used as inhalants), propellants and/or prescribed or over-the-counter drugs or pharmaceutical compound with the intent to induce intoxication, excitement, or stupefaction of the central nervous system – Products that contain synthetic cannabinoid compounds, such as Spice, Genie, Blaze, Dream, Ex-Ses, Spark, Fusion, Dark Knight, Yukatan Fire, and K2. Natural substances such as salvia divinorum and mushrooms. Common items abused by inhaling or huffing, such as dust off, glue, paint thinner and gasoline. Over-the-counter products such as Robitussin and Coricidin HBP.

If you are thinking about joining the Navy, you must understand that this is not a joke – think about it, if you get kicked out for drugs, more than likely your parents won’t want you living in their house (make sure you ask before you join, “hey, Mom and Dad, if I get kicked out of the military for drugs, can I have my old room back? I suggest you stand at more than arms length when you ask), employers won’t hire you, and you won’t even get an unemployment check – your best hope is that somebody left a semi-intact refrigerator box laying around you can live in. Then in a couple of years the box will wear out and you’ll be hungry and cold, you will go to your local recruiting station or come on to sites like this one and ask how you can get back in, and how you shouldn’t be penalized for life because of one stupid mistake, and how you’ll never let it happen again, blah blah blah. Pitiful. Move along.

The crap ain’t worth it. You’ve been warned.

Navy’s YouTube Video Warns Against ‘Spice’ Drug:

A related video produced by ETSN ET3 Geoff Breedwell (congratulations on the promotion!)

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

Eight weeks earlier, the bus pulls into Chicago’s O’Hare airport’s terminal near the baggage claim. Countless numbers of new recruits, including myself, are waiting in civilian clothes. There isn’t any yelling yet, but I know there will be soon. I am ready. We are herded onto the bus in several lines, and we all take one last look around the airport.

The majority of the bus ride is in silence, except for the video and the answering of questions by the petty officer assigned to give us our first brief on what we are about to go about to go through. Through most of my research, I knew all of the information about the subject, but I am willing to learn more.

Amidst the rules and regulations, I immediately notice a sign as the bus ride ends. It is a sign located on a small brick wall located directly underneath the American Flag, which waves proudly in the wind. “Welcome to the US Navy.”

A smile crosses my face as more landmarks of Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, IL fill my vision. The bus stops in front of one that I notice in particular. Building 1405, The Golden Thirteen. Named for the first 13 African American officers, I step off the bus and enter that building for processing.

Immediately as I step through the doors, the orders start flying. Strangely enough, no one is yelling at me as I would’ve thought. They tell me, as well as the other riders of the bus, to form two lines on each side of the flags on the floor, which I now call a deck. We dispose of any and all unauthorized items then immediately make our phone calls to let our family know that we’ve arrived.

This was the start of my life as a Sailor, and the official end of my civilian life. This is the story of the beginning of the end of my transition from fat ass to Sailor.

On the phone, my wife’s voice never sounded so sweet. Her voice, so tender, so tearful, I will remember until the day that I die. As I hung up the phone, thoughts spring throughout my head. She is my heart, and she is now hundreds of miles away. I am alone.

Fast forward to later that night or early tomorrow. Time went by so very fast that no one knew what time it was. By that time, the riders of my bus have already been separated into male and female, and we’ve all changed into what will be called our “Smurfs.” They are sweats, and they are our first official uniform in the U.S. Navy. We’ve had our urine tested, had our pictures for our IDs taken, worked long into the night, and we have all struggled to stay awake. We’ve been weighed, measured, taped, poked, prodded, yelled at, and yet the fearful silence remained stronger than ever.

Within that fearful silence, I drew inside my recruit notebook: “You have to do this,” and “Bobbie loves you!” The ladder brought a smile to my face as I had to constantly remind myself of why I was there, who I was doing this for. Do it for her. You cannot quit now. You just got here.

As I enter a classroom with my full sea bag, a chief petty officer asks me if I’ve ever had any experience with rifle drill, playing in the high school band, or sang in a choir. I tell him immediately and without hesitation that I was the Commanding Officer of my JROTC drill team. He tells me to gather my gear and take myself to the chief petty officer waiting in the hallway. Little did I know, I had just been assigned to one of the most elite divisions in the command, Division 942, a Triple Threat Division assigned to the ship with a tradition of excellence, the USS CONSTITUTION.

My Recruit Division Commanders (RDCs) were ENC Flowers, who as a native of Chicago reminded me of one of the Bears, DC1 Walker, whose wiry frame and red hair had nothing to do with his heart but rather his temper, and AD2 Mezei, who was the toughest out of the three of them. I met them all in different places, but all of them with their own catch phrases made us laugh from time to time. Ironically enough, if we laughed at something DC1 Walker said to a recruit, we would soon be roshamboed or Spartan kicked to the chest. AD2 Mezei walked the fine line of joking and punishment, while ENC Flowers, who was the most patient out of the three of them, did eventually give us his wrath.

After being issued our new NWUs (Navy Working Uniforms), filling out countless paper work, and learning the rules and regulations of our new world, we went to medical, where we received six shots in 10 seconds and received our brand new birth control goggles (BCGs). I felt that I looked like Harry Carey in my new glasses.

Soon after that, we had our official test: Swim. The swim test is located inside of the USS Indianapolis, and after changing into the shorts that we wore everywhere underneath our NWUs, we entered the Olympic size pool area. The air was tense as the orders were strict. If you talked at all, you failed your swim test. You need your swim test to graduate. Failing the swim test due to talking was a guaranteed IT (Intensive Training) session via AD2 Mezei who was often ruthless when she broke out her card she affectingly called, “Old Faithful.” One recruit, SR Whittle (who often was THAT GUY in our division), talked and failed his test. He would later retake it and pass.

After our safety brief, we are told what to do. We have to drop from a 10-15ft platform, and immediately after hitting the water, we have to push ourselves up. We have to swim their way, or face being pulled out and failing. If we cannot do the strokes their way, we have to perform the elementary backstroke. If we cannot do that, we fail. After doing whichever stroke we chose for 50 yards, we have to tread water for five minutes, followed by floating by using a set of coveralls. If we fail to float and we tread water for more than thirty seconds, we fail. In this evolution, we are set up to test everything we have.

The pressure mounting, I took my place in the line for the platform. Most of the division has gone before me, and without my glasses, I see people failing left and right. I don’t know if they’re from our division or another division that is with us. The instructors are yelling, “Face in the water!” repeatedly and more recruits get pulled out of the water by long yellow poles held by the instructors.

Recruit by recruit, they all jump in with a slight push by the instructor located at the top of the dive point. It slowly becomes my turn at the top of the jump, and with my butterflies too terrified to flap, I leap off the platform with my arms crossed. I hit the water with more impact than I realize. Fear and instinct take over. Remember, push yourself out, now. I push myself out of the water and instantly start to swim. I hear the “Face in the water!” directed towards me, and I try to swim like that, but I fail. I feel a pole coming towards me. Instantly, I turn onto my back and I begin to do the elementary back stroke. For fifty yards, I could not see where I was going, but instead of panicking, I focused on a railing in the ceiling and used that as a guide.

As I reached the other side of the pool, exhausted, I pulled myself out. I was surprised at how fast it had taken my endurance out of me. Luckily between tests, I was able to rest. Still, my confidence wasn’t much better when it became my turn for the five minute float.

The float is constructed within a 3ft by 6ft rectangle on the side of the pool. Forty people in my training section within 18 square feet of water is like throwing a hundred fish into a tiny tank. There is nowhere to go as we all float within a tiny box. They tell us to spread out, but we can’t. There is a pattern to our chaos of flapping arms and legs, flap for a few seconds, and float. Repeat.

I would love to say that I passed this with ease. I would love to say that I got out of the pool, fresh as a spring daisy, ready to face another challenge. But alas, while I did pass, it was by the skin of my teeth. I am thankful that I did pass my swim test, which did include the coveralls floating.

Ironically enough, the rest of boot camp consisted of mostly studying, as well as a few PT sessions. The first few weeks went by without incident. The drill on Saturdays quickly became my favorite for the sole reason that I was able to spin a rifle again. It had been a few years since I’ve spun one, but once it was back in my hand, it was like it never left.

I had missed that feeling of spinning a rifle. How freely it sails through the air, sent by the muscles in my arms, and caught by the simple grasp of my hand at the perfect time. It was just one of the things that reminded me of home. I needed to be tied to home.

What a lot of people don’t understand about boot camp in the Navy isn’t the difficulty; it’s the separation from home and the sudden jolt from civilian life into military life. Not to mention the lack of common sense that leaves the moment you enter the base, and it returns the day of graduation. But after the first few weeks, it does get easier. You get used to your surroundings. The rest of the Navy is like that. Life is like that.

You start to live for certain days of the weeks, depending on your interests. Myself, I lived for the weekends. Saturdays, we had drill, and my artistic freedom could be accessed to help my divisional drill team create a routine to perform at the graduations. Sundays, we had holiday routine, which is where we have time to ourselves, and we get to write home.

Mail is like an addictive drug at boot camp. It’s like people handing out food to the hungry people in Uganda. Everyone rushes up to the Recruit Mail Petty Officer, and waits patiently until their name is called. Some are heartbroken by the absence of their name; while others get so much mail that they get alienated and are made to be jealous by the other recruits. I was the ladder.

My lovely wife fortunately gave me so many letters that the RDCs, who initially gave it out, got tired of calling my name constantly. If the letters were too heavy, or looked like that we had something smuggled inside, we would have to open it in front of them. Needless to say, I had to open nearly all of the 58 letters that my wife wrote me during boot camp.

The tests aren’t too hard if you study, and the big thing that everyone wants to know about boot camp is BATTLE STATIONS. Battle stations is something that I cannot say anything about. I will leave it up to the Recruits who go through it, or even who are about to go through it, to tell the tale. The only thing that I can say is that it made me realize that I am much more of a man. I have more courage than I realized. The training I received made me that way. I have no one else to thank other than my instructors and my fellow Shipmates who were that final class in the USS Constitution.

As boot camp ended, and graduation took place, I can tell you about all of the romantic side about seeing my wife and family again, but I won’t. You’ve read that story time and time again. Instead, I’ll tell you what I was thinking to myself as I walked back from the train station alone.

While my heart sank into the cove of my depths, step by step I took myself back to work. It was time to start the journey again. Although it wouldn’t be long before I would be able to talk with her again, I found myself thinking over boot camp and realizing that this is the end of the first act of my training. I was officially a Sailor, and that my journey from a 260 lb. boy to a 172 lb. Sailor had ended. My journey to the top of the ranks; however, it was just the beginning.

Guest post written and submitted by SN Geoff Breedwell.

Well done, Shipmate.

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

DEP Time Bucket List

A popular movie of 2007, The Bucket List, staring Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, and Sean Hayes, had two terminally ill men escape from a cancer ward and try to complete a list of things they always wanted to do before they “kicked the bucket.”

Lately, I have been hearing the term thrown around more and more. Mostly by my parents, who are still pretty young and energetic. One example is just this last Christmas, my father booked a North Atlantic cruise and they will see such countries as Estonia, Russia and more. The card he used to surprise her had written, “Mark this off the bucket list!” Incidentally, they are on the cruise right now – we haven’t heard anything yet, but I assume they are having the time of their lives.

Just the other day, I received an email from Geoff Breedwell, a future Sailor, who wrote an excellent piece about how to lose weight and get in shape for boot camp that describes the things he wants to accomplish before he goes off to boot camp in late August – he referred to it as his “bucket list.” With his permission, here is the email;

This is the last time I will live in Nashville within the foreseeable future.

There is a fear that lives within the back of my head. It’s the “what if” factor. What if I can’t do everything that I wanted? What if I never see my family again? What if I never see those old friends again? Will I just end up as a picture on facebook?

With a little over 90 days left to spend in within the Nashville area, those thoughts have been on the forefront of my mind.

My sister recently came to town to help with the flood relief, and I got to finally have a beer with her and my family. I loved the time that we all spent with her, and the advice she gave me has inspired me.

She brought up the idea of a bucket list. Most likely taken from the movie of the same name starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, a bucket list is a list of the things that you would like to do before you die, change locations, change clothes, change underwear, etc.

Here is my bucket list of things to do before I leave for RTC. A lot of these things are things that I can do at the same time; example, “going to a pool that isn’t in my apartment complex,” and “jumping off the high dive.”

Other things, I will need some help completing. That is why I have implored you, my friends and family, to help me with this list. Bobbie is taking care of the items that concern her; however, it is with you, that I will need the assistance. It does not have to be immediate, as in I don’t leave until the end of the summer (Aug 25th).

The more people help, the more fun everything will be for everyone. Well, except for the date nights with my wife. Those are just for the two of us. Unless…no, she’ll kill me.

Without any further or adieu, my list:

• Hardcore dance at a show (most likely at the June 13th show)
• See New Found Glory and Paramore (Got Tix)
• Visit Nashville Shores
• Try out 1 new recipe from the Simpsons’ inspired recipes.
• Go to the Cheesecake Factory with my wife
• Have SEVERAL date nights
• Pay off the television
• Perform musically one last time (I need a guitar, or mine fixed. Also a date/stage helps.)
• Perform stand up comedy one last time
• Swim in a pool that is not at my apartment complex.
• Jump off the high dive
• Get drunk
• Visit Mulligan’s with friends (I would like to get drunk here)
• Read to kids (I will accomplish this at my mom’s school)
• Volunteer at a soup kitchen
• Go bowling
• If financially possible, go on a road trip.
• Run 7 miles (regardless of time)
• Eat Indian food
• Visit Centennial Park and have a picnic
• Go to a Sounds Game
• Play Hockey at both A-Game and Centennial Sportsplex
• Dance in the parking lot
• Play putt putt
• Stroll through downtown Nashville
• Go to the Bridgestone Arena one more time
• Watch the Predators Practice
• Eat at Panda Express
• Have a Mohawk for at least a week.
• Watch all 6 Star Wars movies in one sitting. (I have episodes 3 through 6. Anyone have the other 2? Anyone want to do this with me?)

Let’s get to it!! Currently, the countdown is at 80 days and counting. I have 10 weeks left at Cracker Barrel, and even less than that at Taco Bell. This summer is going to be the best ever, and I would like to spend it with each one of you.

A fairly ambitious list, and everything looks to be legal (I’m assuming he is 21) – have fun!

The Navy, in 2011, is projected to ship about 40,000 people on to active duty – a pretty good chunk of those future Sailors have already been identified and are currently members of the Delayed Entry Program awaiting their day. Because the Navy has such a strong DEP posture, you can expect to wait for your ship date, maybe up to a year, and making a “DEP time bucket list” like Geoff has, isn’t a bad idea.

I think it might help weeks pass by like days :)

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

I have been following @GeoffBreedwell on Twitter, and via his Facebook account since his journey to join the United States Navy began. His journey to gain acceptance into the Navy has been full of disappointments and triumphs – I remember days that he wasn’t really sure he would be able to make it, but he always seemed to but a smile on his face (at least as I could see through his comments, we have never met face to face before) and move forward. You see, like many people who want to join the military, Geoff was over the weight limit, quite a bit over as a matter of fact, but no amount of extra cellulose was going to keep him from his dreams of serving. Geoff realized that he is the master of his own destiny; he took charge of his life.

I asked Geoff to put down on paper his journey; there is inspiration in this young Future Sailor’s words;

Geoff Breedwell, Before and After

At the start of April in 2009, I had got engaged to a wonderful woman. She is now my wife, and at that time, I had only some idea of what I wanted to do with my life, being a Sailor in the US Navy. There was one hurdle. I had to lose 65 pounds. I was at 256 when I started, and right now, I am proud to say that I am at 186. I have enlisted within the Navy, and my ship out date is in late August.

Recently, a friend asked me how I lost all of the weight. I told them the truth: Diet and exercise. Now, it’s never just that easy. There’s a lot more to it than that, and it is a hard thing to do. I’m not going to lie to you, but I am going to simplify it. There are a lot of smaller battles. Think in small increments, and you’ll be surprised how far you’ll go.

I’ll show how I did it, and how you can do it too. You can follow these steps, or even find steps that work better for you. However you do it, just know that you can, and that there are people who believe that you can do anything that you set your mind to.

First off, we’ll start with the diet. I log all of the food that I eat at Live Strong. It’s free to register and maintain, and it’s a very easy thing to do. Not to mention, that it, or any other counting calorie website, will help you keep a running tally on how to live your new life with the food you eat and the work outs that you do.

As with any diet, you will need some “Pro Tips” to help you get started. Much like learning anything new, these 8 “Pro Tips” are just to get you started. Once you have started losing the weight in greater amounts, you will know what works for you and what doesn’t.

Here are the 8 “Pro Tips.”

1. NO SODAS. Water replenishes your body faster than anything else. It keeps you hydrated, and it will keep your body going into the tip top shape. The more water you drink, the better. Just make sure you do not go over 120 oz or below 64 oz. (A regular bottle of water is usually about 16 oz.)
2. NO EATING PAST 2000 (8PM). Anything past 8pm will be saved and when you weigh, you’ll be up the next morning.
3. EAT 5 SMALL MEALS A DAY. Your stomach stays fuller this way, but you’ll want to make sure that you keep your snacks smaller than your full meals. It’s all about balance with your calories.
4. EAT AS MUCH FISH AS POSSIBLE. The protein and fiber in the fish will keep your body clean, and it will help turn that muscle into fat. That’s tilapia, salmon, halibut, haddock, etc.
5. DON’T EAT RED MEAT PAST 1800 (6PM) AND CARBOHYDRATES PAST 1900 (7PM). It takes your body longer to digest red meat, and your body needs carbohydrates for energy. When do you need energy at bed time?
6. CUT OUT ALL COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES. That’s fried foods and junk food (even those that say 100 calories) completely. These are not good for your metabolism, and the amount of sodium within these foods will retain water like a balloon. You’ll gain water weight, rather than lose it. Replace these foods with fruits and veggies.
7. READ NUTRITION LABELS VERY CAREFULLY. This is the most important step. Here are some important places to look: Calories, Serving size, Servings per container, fat, carbohydrates, protein, sodium, fiber, and sugars. The lower in fat the better, the higher in protein and fiber the better, and the lower in sugar, carbohydrates, and sodium, the better off you will be. You will be able to understand them quite easily when you know how to read them. Then just go off of what is more important to you. When you input what you ate into The Daily Plate, just match up the closest values for your food and select it. Keep a running total to see how close you really are.
8. SLEEP. Your body burns calories while you sleep. How? Your body repairs the stress and fatigue that you have built up throughout your day. You need at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep a night.

Next up, exercise, working out, or as I like to call it: PT (Physical Training).

This is the most important part of losing weight. You can put good food into your body, but if you don’t burn off the fat, it won’t necessarily come off. This, as in dieting, is different from person to person. These workouts are only what worked for me. You are more than welcome to go by what I did, but if you find something different that works, stick with it.

Now, before I really get into this, I MUST issue this warning. If you have not worked out in a while, I suggest stretching EVERY DAY for at least 15 minutes, three times a day. This includes touching your toes and any basic stretch. Do not worry. If you can’t do them then work as hard as you can to do so. This goes for all your stretches. The more you stretch, the more limber you will become.

The big thing about working out is progression. If you pace yourself when you’re starting out, then you will be better off, rather than just trying to become the PT king right off the bat. It all depends on your physical condition.

I started off by doing a basic Navy PFT (physical fitness test) with a personal trainer. If you don’t have a personal trainer, it’s OK. You can have a friend, family member, or your local recruiter assist you. Recruiters are there to help you get qualified and help you enlist.

The Navy PFT results of my test were: 20 push-ups within 2 minutes, 28 sit-ups within 2 minutes, and a 1.5 mi run in 28:30. I was horrified. At 256 lbs, and I didn’t want to even guess what my body fat percentage was. Now, I am able to do 48 pushups in 2 minutes, 65 sit-ups within 2 minutes, and I am able to run 1.5 mi in 11:59.

I was able to attain my goals due to my progression. Again, it’s just the little goals. I set myself up. I did the work. That’s the most important thing. If you’re going to work out, don’t cheat. You are only cheating yourself. You’re only creating more work for yourself. Stay strong. Hold on. You can do it. I believe in you.

There are tons of workout plans out there that can help you. Here is what I did starting out: 50 push ups (3x a week), 100 sit-ups (3x a week), and cardio for 20 minutes (3x a week). I didn’t do 50 pushups all at once. I broke it down into doing two sets of 25 (breaking that down doing 15 and then 10). You can break it down as much as you want, just as long as you do the amount.

I then increased it as that workout got easier. The usual amount for it to get easier was 2 weeks. Every 2 weeks, I increased my work out. I challenged my body to do more, and it wanted more.

Once you get your body knowing that you want to work, you’ll most likely discover something the same as I did. Eventually, your body will crave the work. It will crave the pain, the pressure, the tests of its endurance, and the joy of the second win. You notice this once you skip a workout for any reason, and you feel slow, down, dragging. Get your blood pumping again, and watch your mood change.

As you progress, your weight will shed, and your body will change. Don’t look for a change every day. When you’re starting out, it’s not recommended to weigh every day. It will drive you crazy. It drove my wife crazy, who weighed herself every morning until she realized that her mind was better balanced if she didn’t. She has lost over 70 pounds, and she is pushing for more.

Your body, at its core, is a machine made to work. It’s up to you to make it work. If you don’t work it, your body will slowly shut itself down. Heart failure, liver failure, diabetes, kidney failure, as well as several other diseases and disorders can have great affect on your body. The risks of which will slowly creep upon your body if you let it rot while you live. My advice, do the work. You’ll be happier in the long run.

After losing these 70 pounds and finally being called a “Future Sailor,” (which is now the official title for those who are in the DEP program), I feel a sense of pride that not everyone else can feel. I feel equal with the ones that are there with me; standing side by side in the columns and rows of the formation of new Sailors in the parking lot behind the recruiting office. Skinny, fat, built, or muscular, they are all friends, brothers, and sisters in my mind now.

In losing this weight, I have changed myself. I have become a better person with more discipline than the one before him. I have earned a shot at becoming a United States Sailor. Now, it is time for me to retain my focus, and kick myself into a higher gear. It is time for me to work, both mentally and physically. It is time for me to continue my path. It is time for me to become a Sailor in the United States Navy.

More importantly, it’s time for you to become a better person. It’s time for you to attain your goals. You can do it. I believe in you.

Congratulations, Geoff! Remember, your real journey is just beginning; if you attack this journey with the same vigor you displayed just to get to the starting line, you will have an amazing life. I am proud of you.

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

Holiday stand-downs have been part of CNRC’s operating procedure since RADM Voelker implemented it back during the holiday season of 2000, his first year as Commander, Navy Recruiting Command.

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

What student loans qualify? Existing education loans must meet all of the following requirements in order to qualify for repayment:

• Must have been made towards your education.
• Must qualify under part B, D, or E of Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq; 1087a et seq; 1087aa et seq). Unless you are actually listed as the student on Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), this type of loan is ineligible for repayment.
• The loan must have been made after October 1, 1975 and before your active duty service date (date you go to boot camp).

The LRP application is complete when you select the LRP option during the classification process at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). You will provide all items on the LRP checklist your Recruiter will provide. Once all the items from the checklist are obtained MEPS will forward the information to the Commander Navy Recruiting Command LRP Coordinator (CNRC N5312) for final approval and enrollment into LRP. All these items must make it to CNRC N5312 within 60 days after entry into the Delayed Entry Program.

Understand this, you will be automatically disenrolled from LRP and forfeit all future loan repayments if any of the following occur:

• The last payment has been made on loans submitted at initial enlistment (your loans are paid in full).
• You receive a commission or warrant appointment (Your an Officer Now!).
• You are discharged or released from active duty.

So, what is the benefits of LRP? The United States Navy will pay the lesser of the original loan amount or the unpaid principle balance at the time you ship off to Recruit Training Command (not to exceed $65,000). Any accrued interest, fines, penalties, or processing fees cannot be paid for by the Navy. Loan payments will be made directly to lender(s) in payments of 33 1/3 percent of the loan or $1,500 (whichever is greater) for each completed year of service. If the outstanding principle balance becomes less than 33 1/3 percent of the initial balance, the outstanding balance will be paid. The loan(s) must be in good standing to be eligible for repayment. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), loan repayments are subject to federal and state taxes. Taxes will be withheld from your pay for the LRP payment amount and the amounts will be included in your W-2 form. The Navy will not refund any amount of the loan paid by other parties!

Enrollment in the LRP does not exempt you from all obligations associated with the repayment of the loan. Since the first LRP payment cannot be made until you have completed one year of service, you may choose to seek loan deferment or forbearance to prevent defaulting on loans. It is YOUR responsibility to secure deferment or forbearance on your loans and you must communicate such intentions directly to the lender.

Special stuff – If you do not complete your initial term of enlistment, you may qualify for prorated credit if you completed at least one full year of enlisted service. If you do receive a commission or warrant appointment, or are selected to any pre-commissioning programs, you lose your LRP eligibility. The Navy will prorate any eligible payment, the prorated amount is based on the number of years completed at the time of commissioning/appointment.

You may utilize the GI-Bill however, the law currently does not allow LRP participants to use GI-Bill benefits unless you enlist for a second term (and have served a minimum of 24 months of that second term). ***If you want the GI-Bill, you will have $100 per month deducted from your pay for the first year of enlistment. This amount is not refundable if you do not reenlist.***

Update: The new Post 911 GI-Bill does NOT have a $1200 ($100 per month) requirement.

Only you can determine if this program is right for you. Weigh your options and do the math! Some enlistment bonuses may bring the loans down to a manageable amount or may even cover the total.

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

Delayed entry is the military status gained by an enlistment in which a service member’s entry on active duty (ACDU) or initial active duty for training (IADT) is postponed for up to 365 days (12 months) with the exception of juniors who will be mid-year graduates. All up and coming new high school seniors (scheduled to graduate at the completion of the next school year) entering DEP during the months of May, June and July are authorized to remain in DEP for a maximum of 455 days (15 months).

When you enlist, your date for leaving to recruit training (boot camp) will hinge on a few factors. First is when would be the first day you would be eligible to leave. Are you still in school? You want to ensure proper notice of current employer or you have entered a program which requires a certain amount of time in the DEP due to additional qualifications you must meet – the number of things to consider are as varied as the people who join. Next is what are you qualified to do? Are there any boot camp vacancies and do those vacancies line up with the class convening date of the job training you wish to select and are qualified for? The DEP is a management tool used to ensure proper boot camp and follow-on school level loading. It provides the ability to place people in “out-months” to help the recruiting commands gauge and monitor the potential to hit in-year accession targets.

The Delayed Entry Program is NOT available for applicants to “try out military life.” If you are not convinced the particular branch is for you, then do not join – seek out more information until you are satisfied with your decision. If you do join a branch of the military, and during your DEP time realize you absolutely do not want to leave for boot camp, then tell your Recruiter. Expect him or her to ask you some questions – it is not uncommon for anyone to have a certain amount of “oh, crap, what I just do” – that’s human, so don’t let the emotion over take the sound logic you used while making the choice in the first place. In the end, if you are convinced the military is not for you – you will be discharged.

Because it is the right thing to do, all the branches of the US military use the time you might have to wait [DEP time] before boot camp to maintain your motivation for the military service. Your Recruiter would enter into a more of a mentor-leadership roll. Taking the time to ensure you are mentally and physically ready for the challenges of boot camp greatly reducing your chance of failing. Attend the DEP meetings, work on your advanced qualifications, and for goodness sake, ask questions!

Your military experience will be what you put into it.

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

It is sometimes mentioned, but rarely accentuated, that your use and abuse of drugs and alcohol can have a profound negative effect on your future – lets take a close look at how it might effect the Navy.

When you go to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) to process for the military, one of the very first things you are going to do (shortly after filling out some forms) is to take a drug and alcohol test. The Military Drug and Alcohol Testing (DAT) Program is actually two tests; The alcohol test will be a breath test which is approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the drug test will be a traditional urinalysis following the procedures set forth by the Secretary of Defense for Health affairs.  The test results are considered final – if you even THINK you may produce a positive result DO NOT go to MEPS!

If you test positive at the MEPS for even a trace of marijuana, opiates, cocaine, or methamphetamine you would be ineligible for enlistment.  If you were preliminarily enlisted pending receipt of drug test results you must be discharged from the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) when the result is annotated in you record.  Keep in mind if you test positive for marijuana, cocaine or methamphetamine on your initial test you are permanently barred from reprocessing for the Navy. Note: Oxycodone/oxymorphone (synthetic opiates) are key ingredients in the drugs Percodan, Percocet, and Tylox, which are commonly prescribed to relieve pain after medical or dental surgery. These drugs are part of the DAT screen panel. [All services have now adopted this policy]

If it was a positive for alcohol on the initial DAT you are ineligible for military service for a period of 45 days from the date of the DAT. You can only retest on or after their 46th day following the initial test. You produce a positive result on your second test you are then permanently ineligible for the Navy.

Also, if you had a previous MEPS positive DAT for drugs, regardless of service processing for, you are permanently ineligible for enlisting in the United States Navy.

Within your first 72 hours at Recruit Training Command (boot camp), you will be given a urinalysis. If you test is positive, you will be immediately discharged based upon fraudulent enlistment.

More and more companies across the U.S. and the world are adopting the zero tolerance position on the use of illegal drugs and the abuse of alcohol – heed this and the other warnings you are hearing and just in case let me say it one more time for the people in the back row – Stay away from drugs; just say NO!

Alcohol abuse or illegal or improper use of drugs during your enlistment could result in possible administrative separation with less than honorable conditions and loss of all veterans benefits. To further illustrate the Navy’s position on drug use and abuse, I highlighted a couple of points from NAVADMIN 108/10, as an applicant for the Navy you had better understand, that was recently sent by the CNO;

R 251705Z MAR 10
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N00//
TO NAVADMIN
BT
UNCLAS N05355//
NAVADMIN 108/10
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO/WASHINGTON DC/N00/MAR//
SUBJ/DRUG ABUSE ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY AND PROHIBITION ON POSSESSION OF CERTAIN SUBSTANCES//

REF/A/DOC/SECNAVINST 5300.28D/5DEC05//
REF/B/DOC/OPNAVINST 5350.4D/4JUN09//
NARR/REF A IS SECNAVINST 5300.28D, MILITARY SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION AND CONTROL. REF B IS OPNAVINST 5350.4D, NAVY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION AND CONTROL.

RMKS/1. THIS NAVADMIN REEMPHASIZES NAVY POLICY ON DRUG ABUSE AND PROHIBITS POSSESSION OF THE SUBSTANCES DESIGNATED IN PARA 5. THIS MESSAGE CONSTITUTES A LAWFUL GENERAL ORDER APPLICABLE TO ALL UNIFORMED PERSONNEL IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. THE PROHIBITION CONTAINED IN PARA 5 WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE NEXT REVISION OF REF B.

2. THE NAVY SEPARATED 1,374 SAILORS AS A RESULT OF DRUG ABUSE IN FY09 AND 303 SAILORS DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF FY10. DRUG ABUSE PUTS LIVES AND MISSIONS AT RISK, UNDERCUTS UNIT READINESS AND MORALE, AND IS INCONSISTENT WITH OUR NAVY ETHOS AND CORE VALUES OF HONOR, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT.

3. NAVY POLICY ON DRUG ABUSE IS SIMPLE AND CLEAR – ZERO TOLERANCE. NAVY PERSONNEL DETERMINED TO BE UNLAWFULLY USING, POSSESSING, PROMOTING, MANUFACTURING, OR DISTRIBUTING DRUGS AND/OR DRUG ABUSE PARAPHERNALIA SHALL BE DISCIPLINED, AS APPROPRIATE, AND PROCESSED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATION.

4. PER REFS A AND B, DRUG ABUSE INCLUDES THE WRONGFUL USE, POSSESSION, MANUFACTURE, OR DISTRIBUTION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. DRUG ABUSE ALSO INCLUDES THE UNLAWFUL USE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ANALOGUES (DESIGNER DRUGS), NATURAL SUBSTANCES (E.G., FUNGI, EXCRETIONS), CHEMICALS (E.G., CHEMICALS WRONGFULLY USED AS INHALANTS), PROPELLANTS AND/OR PRESCRIBED OR OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS OR PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOUNDS WITH THE INTENT TO INDUCE INTOXICATION, EXCITEMENT, OR STUPEFACTION OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, AND WILL SUBJECT THE VIOLATOR TO PUNITIVE ACTION UNDER THE UCMJ AND/OR ADVERSE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION. EXAMPLES OF OTHER SUBSTANCES, THE WRONGFUL USE OF WHICH CONSTITUTES DRUG ABUSE, INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
A. PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID COMPOUNDS, SUCH AS SPICE, GENIE, BLAZE, DREAM, EX-SES, SPARK, FUSION, DARK KNIGHT, YUKATAN FIRE, AND K2.
B. NATURAL SUBSTANCES SUCH AS SALVIA DIVINORUM AND MUSHROOMS.
C. COMMON ITEMS ABUSED BY INHALING OR HUFFING, SUCH AS DUST OFF, GLUE, PAINT THINNER AND GASOLINE.
D. OVER-THE-COUNTER PRODUCTS SUCH AS ROBITUSSIN AND CORICIDIN HBP.
E. PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS SUCH AS OXYCODONE, VICODIN, ADDERAL, AND VALIUM.

5. POSSESSION PROHIBITED. NAVY PERSONNEL WHO WRONGFULLY POSSESS CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ANALOGUES (DESIGNER DRUGS), SALVIA DIVINORUM, OR PRODUCTS CONTAINING SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID COMPOUNDS (INCLUDING THE PRODUCTS IN PARA 4.A ABOVE) MAY BE SUBJECT TO PUNITIVE ACTION UNDER THE UCMJ, ADVERSE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION, OR BOTH.

6. DETERRENCE. TO DETER DRUG ABUSE, WE MUST ELIMINATE ANY PERCEPTION AMONG POTENTIAL DRUG USERS THAT THEIR USE MAY GO UNDETECTED. THIS REQUIRES A RIGOROUS URINALYSIS PROGRAM WITH FREQUENT, RANDOM, OBSERVED, AND UNANNOUNCED URINALYSIS TESTS. REF B REQUIRES THAT ALL COMMANDS HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE URINALYSIS TESTING
PROGRAM THAT RANDOMLY TESTS AT LEAST FOUR TIMES PER MONTH. A MINIMUM OF 15 PERCENT OF ASSIGNED PERSONNEL MUST BE TESTED EACH MONTH.

7. CONSULT YOUR STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATE OR REGION LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE FOR ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE ON SPECIFIC CASES.

8. ALCOHOL AND DRUG CONTROL OFFICERS (ADCOS) CAN PROVIDE COMMAND LEADERSHIP WITH INFORMATION ON CURRENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE TRENDS. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING SPICE AND SALVIA DIVINORUM CAN BE FOUND AT HTTP://WWW.NPC.NAVY.MIL/COMMANDSUPPORT/NADAP/WHATSNEW.HTM.

9. CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION OF THE NAVY’S ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY, EDUCATION OF SAILORS AND COMMAND LEADERS, EFFECTIVE EXECUTION AND COMPLIANCE WITH URINALYSIS TESTING, AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO ABUSE DRUGS WILL DETER DRUG ABUSE. DETERRING DRUG ABUSE IS EVERY SAILOR’S RESPONSIBILITY. JUST AS SHIPMATES DON’T LET SHIPMATES
DRINK AND DRIVE, SHIPMATES DON’T LET SHIPMATES DO DRUGS.

10. RELEASED BY ADMIRAL G. ROUGHEAD, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS.//
BT
#0000
NNNN

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

Here is a list of stuff you can bring to Navy boot camp:

• One pair of prescription glasses (most recent pair) and reading glasses. You will not be allowed to wear contact lenses during recruit training. If only contact lenses are worn (e.g., a recent pair of glasses is not available), you may wear the contact lenses to RTC and bring a contact lens case with a small bottle of solution for cleaning, disinfecting, and storage. Military glasses will be issued during the first few days of in-processing and contact lens wear will then no longer be permitted.
• Money – maximum of $50 (you won’t need more than that)
• Light sweater/jacket for winter months
• Completed Direct Deposit Sign-Up (Standard Form 1199A).
• Check book and ATM card
• Photo Identification/ Drivers license
• Two pairs of clean socks
• Prescription drugs with identifying prescription labels
• Small Bible
• According to RTC (Jan. 30, 2012), bringing your own running shoes for use during training, no matter what size, is no longer authorized. All footwear required will be supplied. One pair of athletic footwear (running shoes) if size 5 or smaller or 17 or larger or greater than EE in width. (No high top running shoes!) 
• Social Security Card
• Two pair clean underwear (males)
• Six white cotton panties (females)
• One full cup bra (females)
• One sports bra if 40 DD or larger (females)
• One pre-paid calling card
• Conservative nightwear/lingerie (females) – Note: Female lingerie will be inspected upon reporting, and if within specifications, will be authorized for wear.
• Basic makeup: Female/one of each: face powder, blush, lipstick, eye shadow and mascara (non-aerosol or glass). Make-up will be authorized for division photographs, family night, and on graduation liberty only.

Note: At a designated time, you will be sent to the dispensary at RTC for medical evaluation.
Additional Items to Bring, if Applicable;

• Immunization Record
• Small address book
• Jewelry (limit to Wedding Ring, Watch, Religious Medallion)
• Retainer case
• Passport
• Credit Cards
• Family Papers. If you’re married, bring copies of your marriage certificate and the birth certificates of all your dependent children. These certificates are necessary to register allotments. You must also bring copies of court decrees pertaining to alimony and child support. Additionally, if either your wife or husband has been previously divorced, a certified copy of divorce documents is required.
• Alien Papers. You must bring a copy of your certificate of entry.

Females in-processing at Navy boot-camp

Females – To expedite your medical processing, if you have had a PAP smear/pelvic examination during the six months prior to leaving for RTC bring the test results with you. Additionally, if you’re currently using birth control pills, bring copies of exam records (in addition to the pills) specifying type(s) of birth control pills both presently and previously prescribed. You will receive a pregnancy test within three days of arrival at Recruit Training. If the test results are positive, you will be discharged.

Your hair – Female new recruits may travel to RTC with their hair styled as desired. The standard hair length for females may touch but not fall below a horizontal line level with the lower edge of the back of the uniform collar. Females will have their hair cut (styled) to military standards after reporting to RTC for a nominal fee.

Males will have their head shaved to a stubble length.

Items that will be sent home:

• All alcohol based health and comfort items
• All electronic items
• Curling irons
• All books and magazines
• Cards, dice, or other gambling paraphernalia
• Large and bulky stationary
• Large plastic picks, rakes, etc., or any made of metal
• Anything made of glass, including mirrors
• Double-edged razor blades
• Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, tobacco (smoking, chewing, or dipping)
• Large deodorants (larger than three ounces)
• Miscellaneous items that are large, of significant value, or unnecessary will be sent home or donated to charity, at the recruit’s discretion.

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.

So, let me be clear, before you head off to boot camp you must be physically prepared for the rigors recruit training will offer. Too much training time is lost because prospective Sailors arrive at RTC without the minimum level of strength and endurance. The answer is a conscientious pursuit of the recommended Initial Fitness Assessment (IFA) prior to leaving for RTC. Placing a greater emphasis on your fitness will result in improving your physical status.

• You should be advised of the Navy’s physical readiness program and the height/weight or body fat standards.

• If weight maintenance tends to be a problem adopt a healthy lifestyle including an exercise plan and a healthy eating program. If you do not meet the Navy height/weight or body fat standards you cannot be shipped to recruit training.

Note: Your Recruiter is discouraged from promoting specific diet plans. Your Recruiter and the Navy want to reduce the possibility of the Navy becoming liable for any ill effects various diet plans may cause. You should seek the advice of health care professionals before starting any diet plan. Here is one testimonial from a Future Sailor on how he got himself in shape for RTC.

Hopefully you read and heed, it is a sad day when you, your family and friends thought you were off to start your career only to return home the same night potentially having to reinvent yourself. Now, get off your computer and get to work!!

The approved 2012 Military Pay Chart for basic pay, effective January 1, 2012.
The 2013 Military Pay raise estimation based on ECI - Title 37, US Code.