Skip to content

Why get out of the Navy

Introduction

Back in the day, I was in the Navy. I served on two ships and two shore duty stations. Some times were better than others, but I have no regrets and would absolutely do it again.

However, there were definitely times when I was not a happy camper for one reason or another. I made a list of reasons to get out when I was contemplating orders and whether I should stay in. I recently came across the list I made, written by hand on paper, and decided to scan it and put it here.

Keep in mind I was probably 17 or 18 when I started this list. Apologies to ET1 Lian whom I don’t totally remember, but based on the list we didn’t really get along. It seems I was also disappointed quite often about lack of cereal options.

Reasons to get out at EAOS

1. GQ
2. ABANDON SHIP
3. 12 HOUR WATCHES
4. MID WATCHES
5. SWEEPING DOC'S P-WAY
6. STRIP AND WAX DOC’S P-WAY
7. LUNCH SUCKS
8. ET1 LIAN
9. NO OVERTIME
10. PMS
11. DUTY DAYS
12. BELL BOTTOMS
13. UNDERWAY
14. FACIAL HAIR
15. NO EARRINGS ONBOARD
16. 3 TO A RACK
17. 2 SHOWER HEADS BROKEN of 3 SHOWERS
18. HAVE TO WEAR SHOWER SHOES
19. CROSBY SNORES
20. NRT WEEKENDS
21. RETIREMENT CEREMONIES
22. PNA
23. REVEILLE
24. CRYPTO
25. TPI
26. PQS
27. GOT THE RUNS FROM DINNER
28. LAUNDRY - EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF
29. HELMET /VEST / ETC FOR BIKES ON BASE
30. UCMJ
31. DALY NORM $22 - NO MATTER HOURS
32. KHAKIS
33. DARK ON SHIP
34. PAINTING AND PRESERVING
35. BROADCAST
36. SO I MARRIED AN AX MURDERER AGAIN FOR ONLY MOVIE CALL
37. GUARD IN PORT
38. LIAN CAME BACK
39. SOMEONE PUT MY TOWEL ON THE DECK AND STEPPED ON IT
40. PICKING ORDERS
41. STILL UNDERWAY
42. FPO AP ADDRESS
43. NO TELEPHONE UNDERWAY
44. NO OUTGOING MAIL UNDERLAY
45. NO INCOMING MAIL UNDERWAY
46. QUARTERS
47. TURN TO
48. LIBERTY CALL TBD
49. LIBERTY CALL AT DEPT HEAD DISCRETION
50. COLORS
51. FRESHWATER WASHDOWN
52. PRT
53. ORD MOD
54. COFFIN LOCKERS
55. NO RADIOS ALLOWED IN RADIO
56. CUT OFF HAND? DRINK MORE WATER
57. LIBERTY EXPIRES ONBOARD
58. CHIEF’S DRB
59. ENVIRONMENTAL OBSERVATIONS
60. BMC JONES IN CHARGE OF ANYTHING
61. TQL??
62. ALL HANDS HEAVE OUT
63. PANAMA
64. SALTY SEA DAYS
65. NEED SAFETY TAGS ON MY WALKMAN
66. ON WATCH DURING MOVIE CALL AGAIN
67. SEABAG INSPECTION
68. O TOLERANCE
69. SOUNDING AND SECURITY
70. SEXUAL HARASSMENT
71. LIBERTY LOG
72. BREAD SANDWICHES
73. EARLY CHOW FOR WATCH RELIEFS / ESWS
74. COULDN’T HAVE ANOTHER GRILLED CHEESE
75. CHILI FOR MID-RATS AGAIN
76. RESERVISTS
77. COKE MACHINE EMPTY AGAIN
78. NO CHANGE MACHINE
79. CHICKEN FOR LUNCH
80. FISH FOR DINNER
81. PRETENDING TO BE BUSY
82. DUST IN OVERHEAD
83. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO CEILING?
84. SANCHEZ THREW UP IN BERTHING
85. ENDANGERING YOUR LIFE FOR $22 A DAY
86. SPECIAL LIBERTY CHIT DISAPPROVED
87. LEAVE DENIED
88. RADIO CHECKS
89. LOSS OF AC
90. WELCOME NAVY SIGN, BUT COLDN’T GET IN (UNDER 21)
91. DUTY SECTION TRAINING
92. TRAINING P.O.
93. ANYTHING P.O.
94. AWAY FROM CIVILIZATION
95. SPORTS / NEWS ALWAYS 2 DAYS OLD
96. COMMAND PT
97. NAVY CONTRACT
98. NAVY ISSUE
99. SPOT CHECKS
100. ZONE INSPECTIONS
101. ZIDLS
102. SWEEPERS
103. LACK OF SEX
104. DOWNSIZING
105. BERTHING ABOVE AMMO / FUEL TANKS
106. GOING UP TO DECK BERTHING TO PISS
107. MAIL TOOK 1.5 MONTHS TO ARRIVE
108. GOT XMAS CARDS IN FEB
109. LOST BCST/ SAT DROPPED OUT
110. ORDERS GOT BUSTED OUT
111. TOW OPS
112. OTAT
113. $5 PER MIN FOR PHONE CALL U/W
114. WAITING IN LINE
115. SLASHING ZEROS
116. SMOKING LAMP OUT
117. SOMEONE STOLE MY PINK FLOYD TAPE
118. LUCKY BAG
119. HOMESICK
120. SEASICK
121. PERMISSION TO GO ASHORE
122. LISTENING TO CRASHTEST DUMMIES AGAIN
123. LISTENING TO METALLICA AGAN
124. MESS LINES SECURED AT 12:30
125. SHOWER HOURS
126. GRAHAM FARTED
127. CCC IN GENERAL
128. TTYS
129. MUSTER E-3 AND BELOW, MADE E4, MUSTER E-4 AND BELOW
130. FIVE MAN WORKING PARTY
131. SAID GOTTA GO TO THE HEAD WHILE OUT IN TOWN
132. SEPERATEING GARBARGE
133. TRASH P.0.
134. MOTTER WAS ADVANCED
135. ONLY 8 RM2'S ADVANCED
136. MESS CRANKING
137. SOMEONE BEAT UP THE MILK MACHINE
138. BROW SECURED
139. LIAN CAME BACK INTO RADIO
140. HAD TO SIGN CAR ON BASE
141. NOT SPEAKING ENGLISH ON HICOM
142. NO PETS ONBOARD
143. UP TO 143 REASONS ALREADY
144. BERTHING SMELLED LIKE FEET
145. PEOPLE FUCKING WITH YOU WHEN YOU JUST GET UP
146. EVALS
147. COUNTRY MUSIC ONBOARD
148. HORNER SINGING
149. WATCH BILLS
150. PAPERWORK
151. SECURE FOR SEA
152. RAN OUT OF NAPKINS + HAD TOUGH BBQ RIBS
153. NO HOT WATER
154. SHITTERS CLOGGED AGAIN
15S. ABBREVIATIONS
156. SHORE PATROL
157. LOST ID CARD AGAIN AND HAD TO DO MORE PAPERWORK
158. PORK ADOBOE AGAIN
159. NO STEEL BOOTS AT F/F SCHOOL
160. VERTREP
161. UNREP
162. REVEILLE AT 0400 FOR AMMO OFFLOAD
163. GROWLERS
164. LACK oF SEX
165. MWR
166. VESTING HOURS
167. STAINED UNIFORMS
168. BIRTHDAY UNDERWAY
169. SECURED UP AND OVER
170. VALENTINES DAY UNDERWAY
171. LOGS
172. XO MEETING & BERTHING INSPECTIONS
173. 3 SECTION DUTY
174. PORT & STARBOARD 
175. MEAL HOURS
176. CAN’T GO “OUT TO LUNCH " UNDERWAY
177. INSPECTIONS
178. ALARM CLOCKS THAT ACTUALLY SAY "ITS 2 AM"
179. NO TV RECEPTION UNDERWAY
180. UP AT 0500 TO MAKE MSG RUN
181. CHAIN OF COMMAND
182. NO CARPET ON THE FLOOR
183. PQS QUALS NEVER MAKE IT TO SERVICE RECORD IST TiME
184. NO ONE HAS ANY RECORD OF ME GOING TO GUN SHOOT IN PANAMA
185. COULD’VE MADE IT TO LB TUES, BUT SLOWED DOWN TO WEDS
186. MIDRATS ARE USUALLY LEFTOVERS THAT WERENT THAT GOOD THE 1ST TIME
187. FIELD DAY (DIFFERENT FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL)
188. NO PERSONAL BLANKETS
189. DIDN’T HAVE A HAT WHILE ON THE BRIDGE, GOT YELLED AT
190. SOMEONE STOLE MY NEW JACK CITY TAPE
191. MISSING 8 PAIRS OF SOCKS
192. HAVE 3 ODD SOCKS
193. MY WHITE SOCKS ARE TURNING BLACK FM MY BOOTS
194. TIRED OF USING PLASTIC SILVERWARE / PAPER CUPS
195. WANT TO MAKE MY OWN BREAKFAST
196. ONLY CHOICE OF CEREAL WAS COUNTRY CORN FLAKES
197. SMOKING OUTSIDE SUCKS (COLD & RAINY)
198. AFTER BREAKFAST THAT SUCKED (SEE # 196) EN SMITH WAS EATING, A BOX OF FRUIT LOOPS
199. GOT THE RUNS FM MIDRATS (SHOULD HAVE REFERRED TO * 186)
200. DRY PANCAKES ARE GETTING REALLY OLD
201. PAGES OF THIS LIST FELL OUT OF THE PAD OF PAPER
202. I CANT BRAID MY HAIR
203. "SOME CD'S JUST DONT GET VERY LOUD"
204. NO SOUND AT MOVIES ON THE MESS DECKS
205. CERTAIN HN FSA WAS FINISHING HIS 3RD BOX OF RICE CRISPIES AND MY ONLY CHOICE Of CERERAL
WAS COUNTRY CORN FLAKES AGAIN
206. COULDNT SPREAD BUTTER ON MY WAFFLES BECAUSE THEY WERE COLD
207. WAFFLES ARE GETTING REAL OLD TOO
208. SWEEPERS
209. SETTING MATERIAL CONDITIONS
210. RAN OUT OF KETCHUP
211. NAVY HAS PROVEN TO CAUSE PREMATURE BALDING/GREY HAIR
212. PISSERS CLOGGED AGAIN
213. SOMEONE BUSTED LAST WORKING SHOWER HEAD