I have always loved the movie Top Gun, and admired those who are pilots and work in aviation... kind of ironic because I am going into aviation aircrew in the Navy.
Hollywood directors give their interpretation of Navy life but few get it quite right. It is nice to dream that this is what it will be like.
Other movies that I have seen that depict a look into the Navy are A Few Good Men, Men of Honor, and GI Jane. There are also a couple of other movies that my family owns either on DVD or VHS: The Rock and Tears of the Sun, but I have seen neither of these two.
They are all fascinating depictions but are the writer's and director's vision of what it is like. I know they have researched and gotten backing from the Navy. They have come close but not close enough. I was on the hunt to learn more.
I learned about boot camp from videos I have seen online called Return to Boot camp, and other movies on Navy.mil.
Also there is this miniseries on PBS that nailed it. It is about life on an aircraft carrier at sea and all of the various jobs and roles therein. It is called Carrier. It was a very informative documentary/melodrama about the USS Nimitz and Operation Iraqi Freedom. (Full episodes can be found by searching on pbs.org)
I am done with my research for now, and relaxing and so I can enjoy my last month at home. Now just to start checking off stuff on my to-do list and exercising, and I can visit with friends and family. Time is going to fly!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Some helpful websites from my Navy research gathering
When I first began looking into the Navy I googled to find information. The best sources are of course Navy.com (the recruiting website) and Navy.mil (the official website of the US Navy). Other websites helped me to gain insight on things that were not explained on the two main websites, and also helped me to get what I want out the of the Navy... a career, an interesting job, and a physical fitness plan... among other benefits. I hope that these websites are also helpful to anyone who may be viewing my blog, especially anyone contemplating joining the Navy. If they are not directly helpful to them, they may be able to pass it along to friends or family. There have also been some helpful forums, chat rooms, and Facebook groups and pages as well. But, the best source for information is a recruiter... and the best place to gain insight is if you talk to someone who either is or was in the Navy.
www.military.com
www.runnersworld.com
www.navyfitness.org
www.navy.mil
www.navy.com
http://usmilitary.about.com
www.navy-prt.com
www.twohundredsitups.com
www.navy-fitness.com
www.cnrc.navy.mil
www.npc.navy.mil
www.bootcamp.navy.mil
www.navytimes.com
www.ocs.navy.mil
http://navybmr.com
www.military.com
www.runnersworld.com
www.navyfitness.org
www.navy.mil
www.navy.com
http://usmilitary.about.com
www.navy-prt.com
www.twohundredsitups.com
www.navy-fitness.com
www.cnrc.navy.mil
www.npc.navy.mil
www.bootcamp.navy.mil
www.navytimes.com
www.ocs.navy.mil
http://navybmr.com
Sailor Songs, Sea Shanties, Anchors Aweigh, Sailor-inspired songs, and Irish Drinking Songs
I kind of got on a kick today where I started searching for Sailor songs, and thought I'd share a few. I am going to be a Sailor, I may as well know some fun sailor songs.
What do you do with a drunken sailor, early in the morning? Way hay and up she rises...
Irish Rovers- Drunken Sailor
BBC a spoof with two guys singing a made up song about sailors.
The Mighty Boosh-Future Sailors
This cracked me up! There are a lot of Titanic movie inferences, funny puppets, light shows, funky dancing sailors... If we all come together, we know what to do...
Toy-Box -The Sailor-Song
The official Navy song... an oldie, but a goodie. Definitely makes me proud to be both an American and a Sailor in the U.S. Navy.
US Navy -Anchors Aweigh
Josh Turner sings a song that is sort of like an old sea song... about a sailor waiting to see his/her dear love again. And, I just love to listen to his voice... so throwing it in here.
Josh Turner - The Longer the Waiting the Sweeter the Kiss
The last shanty... a classic Irish song... reminds me of a drinking song, ha ha. This is great!
Ron and Gerard Walsh - A Sailor Ain't a Sailor Anymore
Another version of this song... more punk rock, and a little more fun... less obnoxious, well an updated version anyway.
Paddy and the Rats - Drunken Sailor
Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly always have good Irish drinking songs... they have a few sailor-inspired songs. Sometimes you have to listen carefully to understand what they're singing, or look up the lyrics, but it's all good fun.
The Dropkick Murphys song that comes to mind was in the movie The Departed with Leonardo Di Caprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson, among others in the great cast.
Dropkick Murphys -For Boston
Flogging Molly has a song about a salty dog... a sailor.
Flogging Molly- Salty Dog
Okay, I found a song about a female sailor... and it's another Irish drinking song...
Paddy and the Rats - Sailor Sally
Even pirate songs are still about sailors. They're rogue sailors who steal, shoot up things, and run amuck and are generally scallywags. But, still worth mentioning.
Alestorm - Over the Seas
Ahhh, gotta love the Village People and the 1970s... always a riot, especially the outfits... ridiculous, and such tight pants! Ha ha ha ha. Actually I was watching an episode of Carrier, a PBS mini series, and they had a talent show among the sailors where some of them performed this song.
The Village People - In the Navy
Apparently there is a classic story of a lady who joins the British Navy disguised as a man. Also known as "The Handsome Sailor" and "The Fair Maid."
Rambling Sailors -When I was a Fair Maid
There is an Australian Navy recruiting song from the 1980s that I had never heard of.
The Pride of the Fleet is You (Australian Navy)
I guess there was a song on an episode of The Simpsons about joining the Navy. The words are kind of funny too...
Party Posse- Join the Navy
Okay, a sailor in the Navy remade Toby Keith's "American Soldier" and calls it American Sailor.
American Sailor
There is also the classic 1970s/1980s song by Christopher Cross and it was later remade by the 90s pop group 'NSync. I'm sure other people probably remade the song too... good song.
Christopher Cross -Sailing
NSync -Sailing
And, of course, my favorite band, The Beach Boys, did a song about sailing. Their songs always transport me mentally to another place... somewhere warm, and carefree.
The Beach Boys - Sail On Sailor
Jimmy Buffet has the classic song that is always fun...
Jimmy Buffet- Son of a Son of a Sailor
Danny Boy... I forgot about this song. It's a classic Irish tune about a sailor. Written by Frederic Edward Weatherly in 1913 with music adapted from the Irish song "Londonderry Air."
The Irish Tenors- Danny Boy
This is an interesting song... I just found it. It's another song about sailing by an Irish rock band.
Irish Stew of Sindidun- The Sailor's Song
As I search, I just keep finding more sailing songs.
Ireland, I Must Sail
The Pogues- Thousands are Sailing
Rod Stewart- I am Sailing
Crestlers- Irish Sailor Man
The Rambling Sailors- A Sailor's Prayer
Dropkick Murphys- The Irish Rover
Popeye the Sailor song
What do you do with a drunken sailor, early in the morning? Way hay and up she rises...
Irish Rovers- Drunken Sailor
BBC a spoof with two guys singing a made up song about sailors.
The Mighty Boosh-Future Sailors
This cracked me up! There are a lot of Titanic movie inferences, funny puppets, light shows, funky dancing sailors... If we all come together, we know what to do...
Toy-Box -The Sailor-Song
The official Navy song... an oldie, but a goodie. Definitely makes me proud to be both an American and a Sailor in the U.S. Navy.
US Navy -Anchors Aweigh
Josh Turner sings a song that is sort of like an old sea song... about a sailor waiting to see his/her dear love again. And, I just love to listen to his voice... so throwing it in here.
Josh Turner - The Longer the Waiting the Sweeter the Kiss
The last shanty... a classic Irish song... reminds me of a drinking song, ha ha. This is great!
Ron and Gerard Walsh - A Sailor Ain't a Sailor Anymore
Another version of this song... more punk rock, and a little more fun... less obnoxious, well an updated version anyway.
Paddy and the Rats - Drunken Sailor
Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly always have good Irish drinking songs... they have a few sailor-inspired songs. Sometimes you have to listen carefully to understand what they're singing, or look up the lyrics, but it's all good fun.
The Dropkick Murphys song that comes to mind was in the movie The Departed with Leonardo Di Caprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson, among others in the great cast.
Dropkick Murphys -For Boston
Flogging Molly has a song about a salty dog... a sailor.
Flogging Molly- Salty Dog
Okay, I found a song about a female sailor... and it's another Irish drinking song...
Paddy and the Rats - Sailor Sally
Even pirate songs are still about sailors. They're rogue sailors who steal, shoot up things, and run amuck and are generally scallywags. But, still worth mentioning.
Alestorm - Over the Seas
Ahhh, gotta love the Village People and the 1970s... always a riot, especially the outfits... ridiculous, and such tight pants! Ha ha ha ha. Actually I was watching an episode of Carrier, a PBS mini series, and they had a talent show among the sailors where some of them performed this song.
The Village People - In the Navy
Apparently there is a classic story of a lady who joins the British Navy disguised as a man. Also known as "The Handsome Sailor" and "The Fair Maid."
Rambling Sailors -When I was a Fair Maid
There is an Australian Navy recruiting song from the 1980s that I had never heard of.
The Pride of the Fleet is You (Australian Navy)
I guess there was a song on an episode of The Simpsons about joining the Navy. The words are kind of funny too...
Party Posse- Join the Navy
Okay, a sailor in the Navy remade Toby Keith's "American Soldier" and calls it American Sailor.
American Sailor
There is also the classic 1970s/1980s song by Christopher Cross and it was later remade by the 90s pop group 'NSync. I'm sure other people probably remade the song too... good song.
Christopher Cross -Sailing
NSync -Sailing
And, of course, my favorite band, The Beach Boys, did a song about sailing. Their songs always transport me mentally to another place... somewhere warm, and carefree.
The Beach Boys - Sail On Sailor
Jimmy Buffet has the classic song that is always fun...
Jimmy Buffet- Son of a Son of a Sailor
Danny Boy... I forgot about this song. It's a classic Irish tune about a sailor. Written by Frederic Edward Weatherly in 1913 with music adapted from the Irish song "Londonderry Air."
The Irish Tenors- Danny Boy
This is an interesting song... I just found it. It's another song about sailing by an Irish rock band.
Irish Stew of Sindidun- The Sailor's Song
As I search, I just keep finding more sailing songs.
Ireland, I Must Sail
The Pogues- Thousands are Sailing
Rod Stewart- I am Sailing
Crestlers- Irish Sailor Man
The Rambling Sailors- A Sailor's Prayer
Dropkick Murphys- The Irish Rover
Popeye the Sailor song
I Love that Disney has a take on How to Be a Sailor
Goofy explains to all how to be a sailor in this 7 minute video. It's cute, funny, and classic Disney! I love Goofy :) There is a little on the history of sailing too.
Goofy: How to be a Sailor
Goofy: How to be a Sailor
My DEP group brought me some good news
Had a DEP meeting on Monday. My recruiter called an emergency meeting... we usually have them the second Tuesday of each month, but there were some things she wanted to make sure we are doing because she has been getting complaints from her superiors. Apparently not as many people are coming to the meetings as they should and are not retaining information. I can totally understand that. We went over what we should be memorizing and what we should be doing for PT.
And... we found out that we start PT sessions next week! So exciting!!! They made up a schedule for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and we are required to be there for as many as we can, but at least once a week. I am going to try and make it twice a week if I can swing it.
Time to get my run times down, increase the number of push-ups and sit-ups I can do, start weight training, and work on my swimming strokes and distance.
I am so happy that I can actually do some PT with my DEP group before I ship out. Last I had heard it wasn't going to happen until after I was scheduled to leave... so glad it changed.
I need to stop waiting for motivation to kick in, and just do it. And I think the DEP meetings will help kick my butt into gear.
And... we found out that we start PT sessions next week! So exciting!!! They made up a schedule for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and we are required to be there for as many as we can, but at least once a week. I am going to try and make it twice a week if I can swing it.
Time to get my run times down, increase the number of push-ups and sit-ups I can do, start weight training, and work on my swimming strokes and distance.
I am so happy that I can actually do some PT with my DEP group before I ship out. Last I had heard it wasn't going to happen until after I was scheduled to leave... so glad it changed.
I need to stop waiting for motivation to kick in, and just do it. And I think the DEP meetings will help kick my butt into gear.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
I May Look Healthy, But I Am So Out of Shape... Thus Grows My To-Do List
I have always eaten right... healthy. I don't eat a lot of junk food or anything greasy, and I don't drink a lot of alcohol. Also I have never done drugs, so I have all of that going for me.
I have hardly ever enjoyed exercise. Therein lies my problem. I go for long runs and am totally exhausted after a short distance. I also noticed this weekend when I went to help a friend move into her house that my upper body strength is not what it should be.
Sometimes I wish I lived in a city or town with close access to a facility or gym where I could go daily to work out... the closest one is a half hour away. And it makes things difficult when I don't have reliable transportation at the moment. I have about 2 months (59 days) until I ship out for Basic and I have all of this PT work to do.
My form for my push-ups needs some major work, as does my endurance in my running and the rest of my PT. I need to figure out something for my strength training and need to start swimming again.
I have to do something and fast... no more procrastination.
So grows my to-do list for things to do before I leave for Basic:
- Call NIU Alum center for membership
- Get a work-out buddy... probably Manda :)
- Go a few times per week to the rec center for strength training and swimming
- Finish memorizing my creeds and all of the information in the START guide I received from the Navy
- Do my taxes
- Go through my bedroom, unclutter, and pack up boxes
- Consolidate my clothes, donate the ones I don't wear, and pack only what will fit in my luggage set
- Set up payments for my few bills I have while I am in the Navy (loans, car payment, pay off rest of credit card)
- Go through my books and donate or give away the ones I don't want to keep, and pack the rest
- Make sure I have all of my addresses
- Spend time with my friends and family
- Attend all of my necessary DEP meetings, mentor meetings, 1 month check-up, 1 week check-up, etc.
- Cancel my private health insurance policy
- Check on loan deferments and forbearances
- Make digital copies of all of my important documents
I'm sure there's more that I am missing on this list... it's a lot of stuff to remember and do before I leave. The days are monotonous and all seem to run together.
I have hardly ever enjoyed exercise. Therein lies my problem. I go for long runs and am totally exhausted after a short distance. I also noticed this weekend when I went to help a friend move into her house that my upper body strength is not what it should be.
Sometimes I wish I lived in a city or town with close access to a facility or gym where I could go daily to work out... the closest one is a half hour away. And it makes things difficult when I don't have reliable transportation at the moment. I have about 2 months (59 days) until I ship out for Basic and I have all of this PT work to do.
My form for my push-ups needs some major work, as does my endurance in my running and the rest of my PT. I need to figure out something for my strength training and need to start swimming again.
I have to do something and fast... no more procrastination.
So grows my to-do list for things to do before I leave for Basic:
- Call NIU Alum center for membership
- Get a work-out buddy... probably Manda :)
- Go a few times per week to the rec center for strength training and swimming
- Finish memorizing my creeds and all of the information in the START guide I received from the Navy
- Do my taxes
- Go through my bedroom, unclutter, and pack up boxes
- Consolidate my clothes, donate the ones I don't wear, and pack only what will fit in my luggage set
- Set up payments for my few bills I have while I am in the Navy (loans, car payment, pay off rest of credit card)
- Go through my books and donate or give away the ones I don't want to keep, and pack the rest
- Make sure I have all of my addresses
- Spend time with my friends and family
- Attend all of my necessary DEP meetings, mentor meetings, 1 month check-up, 1 week check-up, etc.
- Cancel my private health insurance policy
- Check on loan deferments and forbearances
- Make digital copies of all of my important documents
I'm sure there's more that I am missing on this list... it's a lot of stuff to remember and do before I leave. The days are monotonous and all seem to run together.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Things I Will Miss While I am at Basic Training
Family
Friends
Pets
Reading novels
Writing
Drawing
Photography aka my camera
Listening to music
Singing
Sleeping in... not that I do that much!
My computer
The Internet... possibly social networking too.
Painting my toenails
Flowers
Cooking and baking
Mom's cooking and good food
Civilian clothes
My own bed
My long hair
Enjoying a nice glass of wine or a pint of beer
Watching movies
Driving
Freedom to do what I want
I can certainly live without most of the material things, but that doesn't mean that I want to. I know that I can probably expand on this list if I think harder about it. A lot of things will be so different in Basic.
And, friends and family will be hard to be away from, but writing and receiving handwritten letters from them will definitely help!
Friends
Pets
Reading novels
Writing
Drawing
Photography aka my camera
Listening to music
Singing
Sleeping in... not that I do that much!
My computer
The Internet... possibly social networking too.
Painting my toenails
Flowers
Cooking and baking
Mom's cooking and good food
Civilian clothes
My own bed
My long hair
Enjoying a nice glass of wine or a pint of beer
Watching movies
Driving
Freedom to do what I want
I can certainly live without most of the material things, but that doesn't mean that I want to. I know that I can probably expand on this list if I think harder about it. A lot of things will be so different in Basic.
And, friends and family will be hard to be away from, but writing and receiving handwritten letters from them will definitely help!
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