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Congratulations and thank you for enlisting to defend our country!!
before signing on the dotted line, see what you can do to get bumped up a paygrade or at least go for a Marine rating with transferable skills for when you get out.
Recruiters are required to fill slots, and trust me when I tell you that is their #1 priority, not your well being.
I did 4yrs in the Navy, I told my recuriter that I liked boats and navigation and wanted to be around that, he told me to be a boatswains mate. Fast forward to boot camp, the company commander asked "who here is going to be a boatswains mate", I raised my hand and he handed me a broom. I did work my ass off in bootcamp and volunteered to be the educational petty officer for my company, for that I was giventhe choice to be promoted to E-2 or choose the rating of my liking, I chose to be a quatermaster, which was ensuring the safe navagation of the ship, and just what I wanted to begin with (however, it's not a very transferable skill if you don't want to stay at sea).
E-1 / E-2 pay stinks (or did 20yrs ago) and it felt like forever to go from E-1 to E-3. I made it to E-5 before my time was up.
Joining the Navy was without a doubt the best decision I ever made. I wish you the best of luck and again, Thank you for freely enlisting to serve and protect our Great Country!
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