Military Sevice Without Basic Training?

tuica

tuica

Gold Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2013
Messages
2,835
Greetings. I work with a navy submarine veteran who claims he never attended boot camp. Was accepted into an active reserve unit, and from there, attended Sub School. Went on to serve on two submarines. I have never heard of this, and asking if anyone else has. I know sometimes folks slip through the cracks in any bureaucracy. Have known this guy for quite some time, and nearly 100% sure his story is not B.S.

Please comment accordingly.

Thanks in advance...;-)
 
There are very often direct entry programs for the right candidate; especially if it's in a time period when the particular organization is experiencing low enrollment or other staffing issues.

The real trick to it though is that since any military is a bureaucracy after a unit has selected you and made an offer making sure you don't get sidetracked on the way to that job. Some other trade may have an urgent need that you'd fill perfectly.
 
Thanks Danke. Which is repetitive. I did my service 35 years ago - including boot. It shouldn't be missed..;-)
 
I have never heard of anyone, in any service, skipping boot camp. Think about it, it makes absolutely no sense. I think he's joking with you.
 
It doesn't happen much anymore but during WWI II and Korea educated people where placed in an officers program and never went to boot. Doctors, nurses, translates, civilian pilots and others. Lessons learned from those wars put a stop to such things.
 
David Stifle said:
I have never heard of anyone, in any service, skipping boot camp. Think about it, it makes absolutely no sense. I think he's joking with you.
Click to expand...

This +10!

Like codycash said, they did skip boot camp for some very few specialized fields during WW2, but they found out the mistake and stopped that stuff. I spent 10 years in, and never heard of such stuff. I wonder if he's even really been in the navy??
 
David Stifle said:
I have never heard of anyone, in any service, skipping boot camp. Think about it, it makes absolutely no sense. I think he's joking with you.
Click to expand...
There is one group....The Marine Corps Band. From the pdf here:
Members of “The President’s Own” are not required to undergo recruit training. The mission of “The President’s Own” is “to provide music and perform such other functions as are directed by the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps.” Unlike other Marine Corps musical units, “The President’s Own” has no secondary combat role, and its members are exempt from all such training. “The President’s Own” musicians report to Washington fully trained to perform their primary duties in the accomplishment of the band’s unique musical mission. Therefore, there is no requirement for “The President’s Own” musicians to undergo recruit training.
Click to expand...
 
There used to be a common factor that if you were prior service, you would only have to go through an initial phase of orientation in the respective service if one was crossing over to another service.. I had several individuals through my military career that did that..
 
I find it hard to believe that someone could serve as a sailor on a sub without basic training. Where else would he learn to say "Yes Sir, No Sir and Aye Aye, Sir? He would also have to learn how to properly roll his skivvies and shine his shoes, among other useful stuff. I don't buy it.

When I was in USAF basic in 1963, we had a former Marine in our training flight. He was out of the Marines for over a year, so he had to do basic again. He was not unhappy about it. Air Force basic was a walk in the park for him.
 
Yes. We all had similar questions as above. But we work, and volunteer on the museum submarine USS Blueback at OMSI in Portland, OR. This fellow has served on a sub. He knows too much detail not to have. Believe me, I would know. And, he's an Elder in the LDS church, so probably as truthful a person as you would meet. So there you go. Stranger than fiction...;-)
 
I talked to a recruiter years ago an being I was an RN and a little older at the time he told me they would likely wave my boot camp if I wanted to join the army,because they needed RN nurses so bad at the time with a enlistment rank of lieutenant,I did ask about that because at 40+ years old I was fairly certain I would not be able to keep up with the kids half my age.I never found out if they would wave basic for me because I never enlisted,thats about all I know.
 
Most officers don't go to boot camp. I went to the Naval Academy and we had what is called "Plebe Summer" which was a boot-camp like program. There is also Officer Candidate School (OCS) that is boot-camp like. So yes, it is quite common to serve and not go to one of the "Boot Camps"
 
I know an MD drafted about '66, and he had to do 3–4 weeks basic training before entering the army as a captain. He was in his early 30's at the time.
 
This sailor was enlisted. Perhaps his rate was enough in demand to waive boot, figuring he could pick up needed info in Sub School. He was just out of High School at the time, and was "put into the system" sans boot camp. Was not knowledgeable enough (nor stupid enough), to remind anyone he needed to go to basic training. I have seen enough liars in my life. This guy is not one of them...;-)
 
[video=youtube;2TnkJ8_BmSI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TnkJ8_BmSI[/video]

DC
 
If he was prior service in another branch, or ROTC all the way through college he might not have had to go (of course he would be an officer).
 
Nope. Enlisted. I work with many other veterans, from all services, on this museum ship. None have ever heard of this before. But as I have stated, this guy's reputation is solid. Not a boaster, nor an embellisher of the facts...;-)
 
tuica said:
Nope. Enlisted. I work with many other veterans, from all services, on this museum ship. None have ever heard of this before. But as I have stated, this guy's reputation is solid. Not a boaster, nor an embellisher of the facts...;-)
Click to expand...

Maybe he just hasn't been caught out yet.

I just can't buy it. The subs are the most trained and screened personal in the navy. This story just doesn't ring true on some many levels.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top