Time To Make Decision

by the time i was back to home, my mum was explaining everything to me about these two recruiters. they were both serviced in US Navy. they told my mum how great the Navy was, and it was including the education tuition. of course, i was mad at beginning because i did not want to join any service at all. however, after i heard what my mum told me, i was changed my mind a little bit.

" you know our family is not as rich as other new immigrants. you are 18 years old this year, and going to college soon. the government is cutting the budget, and you know the education fees is very expensive. on the other hand, you mum lost a jobs recently......"

i think that was my first time to think for a long time. yes, we are not rich at all. i don't have money to buy a car, i don't have money to date any girls at schools, and i don't have any extra money to buy the stuff i want, even the basketball shoes. i feel a little bit shame when i am looking into myself from the mirror. all experiences so far in high school i was not happy at all. i don't want to be doing nothing at all and became useless. i want to get a stable income, i want to back to school, and have some extra money to enjoy my life and support to my family.

" may i speak to EM1 Tian?"

i still remember my recruiter's name. at least, we still keep in touch just like an old friend. he was driving to my house, and take me to recruiting station. the first impression about the navy, it was not that bad - nice uniform, professional customer service, and really outstanding military bearings. (of course, although i know that is not all the true about the navy later. i will update in the journal later on) i love the military uniform since i was a kid. somehow it might effect by the hollywood movie. all recruiters were so nice. they tried to explain all the benefits in the navy, and asking me to make a decision. during that moment, all my mind was thinking about was money. i could not explain how excited that moment-- all my thoughts about money. i needed it, i needed to back to college, i did not want to be a loser. and then i was looking around, i just recognized so many new immigrants, they were same situations just liked me. they either could not offer school fees, or needed to support to family. they were from teenager to middle aged. at this moment, i met up one of my best friends in navy, her name was called song. she still remained at active duty nowadays. she was a little bit order than me, and joined the navy almost the same reasons- school and family.

i did remembered the process about the navy was not that funny. woke up so early in the morning, and the recruiter would give me a ride to downtown military station ( MAP) to do the physical and computer examine. one of recruiter was EM1, i forgot his name unfortunately. he was telling me about his story when we were on the way to MAP. he told me that he was the same feeling before he joined the military, and he made a decision to join. he made some money, bought houses,  sport cars and had a beautiful girl friend. i was pretty sure that was almost every man's dream in the world. the power of money was getting stronger and forced me to think more about it.

finally, all the process had been finished, and i was invited to a room to swear to service the country. that was my first time to raise my right hand. i have a different feelings this time. some feelings that my future is completed change. it is full of challenges, and might get lost. when i think about the situation now, i believe that is no more other choice i can do so far.

" now everything is all set. congratulation."

after all process, i forgot how many paper work i had been signed up already. the first time career i choose in navy was HM ( Hospital Corpman). of course, i changed it later because of some reasons.

TO BE CONTIUNED..........

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Thanks for reading my journal, i will keep updating! thanks for everyone's support!

http://veteransfamily.wordpress.com/2013/04/19/military-information/

Computer Reading Glasses

I did not update the blog for a while because I am busy to look for school recently. I am still trying to set up a plan for the future, and achieve to my goal.  One of my goals is finish my military diary. I wrote down every moment when I was serviced in US Navy. I did think about to make a book although I knew that was sound ridiculous.

Instead, I got some ideas about business, and just imported some glasses from the local supplier. It just started although it was not doing fine so far ( I think just start it less than 1 month, I remember). Thanks to my best friends who are trying to help me up, and never let me feel discourage again. We open the eBay store, and hopefully everything will be good to go.

Here is the product is called Computer Reading Glasses. I never wore any glasses in my whole life since I got them.  After I try out for a month, I did love them because I was working in front of the computer for a long time daily. This glasses is specialty design for Computer or Gaming. This Glasses can prevent for your eyes fatigue when you are working or playing computer game for long period. For example, used to be my eyes were easy to feel tired, or "dry" because I used computer too long. By the time I put on this glasses, I am feeling completely different: my eyes got a perfect protection, and don't feel fatigue any more. Moreover, this glasses is 0 description and fits for everyone. It has UV 400 protection,  Anti-reflective coating and Memory Flexible Frame. It is a really good item to protect your eyes although you don't wear glasses at all.

Here is the link to the item listing:

Click Here

This is my first time to try the business. If you have any good recommendation, please leave a comment for me, and I will do my best to keep working on it. Thanks a lot!

http://veteranfamily.blogspot.com/2013/04/computer-reading-glasses.html

BEFORE GRADUATION

during the high school senior, so many things happen before i graduate from high school. for example, my mum lost her jobs because the travel company was closed, gas price was raising, people were getting hard to find a job, and etc. Since i was only 18 years old, i was probably not understand how it would be able to affect me in the future. my mum was always complaint about the gas price.

" did you know? when your mum came to United States, the gas price was only 0.99 per gallon for the premium. but as you see now, the gas price went up to 2 dollars something. my paycheck could not support it too much."

it was fact. as we see the gas price now, it is always 4 dollars at least, and sometimes goes up to 5 dollars. everything in Los Angeles is getting more expensive, and so many people said the economic is going to down side.

somehow, some of my friends were making decision before they graduate. for example, some of friends decided to give up the education, and they were working instead of going to college; some of them were moving to other state, like taxes, las vegas, and even further away; of course, some of them still decided to get the higher education, and finished their degree as priority. i was lost during that time. i did want to go to college, however, my family could not offer it. we needed money to support the single family, and i did not want to make any student loan to pay it back. during this time, one of my friends made a big decision. he joined the US ARMY. when i was asking him why, he just told me that he wanted more experiences and education benefits. he was almost the same situation as me. eventually, he went to bootcamp, training, and went home during the new year. i saw him again and i was not still believe that. i was laughing at him, i would never join the arm forces in my life. he was quiet and did not reply to me. he was changed, was getting more mature than i was. personally did not like the military life, however, i was still falling in love for the military uniform. in china, everyone was talking about the United States arm forces. we knew the US had the strongest military force, and the most technology weapons in the world. i really loved the military uniform since i was a kid. i was always watching the hollywood movie about the military, and of course, sometimes i would be imagined i put on these uniform on one day.

one day, i went to a trip with my church. my mum was calling me urgent and i did not know why.

"today had two recruiters were looking for you, they were navy. "

i felt was annoying, and i told my mum i would never think about military. my mum was told me that came back home and discuss with her. i did not understand why my mum wanted me to join the military, i thought she had something wrong in her mind.

"here was the information they gave to me." my mum said. and she said they were chinese, and told her the benefit in the navy. i should be considered this decision.

"what was navy? and what should i do?

To Be Continued..........

http://veteransfamily.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/military-navy/

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fair and unfair

after i got so many questions in my mind, one of my high school friends took me to church. in the church, i saw so many new immigrants, most of them were chinese. they came from different parts of china, and we started to communicate.

” God is always with you, my sons.”

  this is my first message i got from the church, and of course, somehow i still believe it. it did help me a lot during the military service. for some reasons, i keep attending to the same church before i joined the US Navy. i learned so many things in church. i love people in the church. they are always happy, never worried too much. when they have trouble, they just keep smiling and believe the god will help them, and leave everything to him. as me, i still cannot be able to keep my smile daily because too many things happen to me.

  during the short 2 and half years high school life, i did my best to graduate and get the certificate. the first part time jobs during the high school is wedding set up ( not sure it is a right way to call it). my mum always saved money and tried to got as much pay as she could. i helped my mum to work, and share the money together. i was 17 years old during that time. the schedule was not stable at all. if i was lucky, i could make couple hundred dollars in 6 months. the job was pretty much physical work. i had to lift up so many things, and set up the table before the wedding. after the wedding, i needed to clean it up and then came home. i felt so fatigue after work, and felt asleep immediately. the second part time job was tour guided. i never forgot the the first time to become a tour guide: i had to face 50 people in the bus, and spoke a broken English. the trip was from Los Angeles to Mexico.  i started to do that when i was 18 years old. unfortunately, because the travel company was not good, i did not get too much pay, and the trip was always during the weekend. it was not fun to handle the 50 people every time, especially in Mexico, i got the bad language barrier.

  instead, i always love the stop in San Diego. i saw the USS Midway museum there. i took a lot of pictures, and imagine that i was a sailor. on the other hand, the reason i loved because i loved the ocean. i knew the US Navy had to deploy a lot, and could have a chance to see different marine animals. i wanted to smell the ocean, and tasted it in one day.

  unfortunately, the company was closed, and i became “unemployed” until i graduated from High school. i never forgot these moment in high school: the most classmates in my class are rich, and their parents always gave them the money. i saw the guys drove the BMW, BENZ, and other expensive sport cars to went out with girls and friends. although some of them were not rich, their parents still supported them a lot. when i was looking myself, i was single family, no money, not even had a used car, or so called “many girl friends”.

  “why it is not fair? did i do anything wrong? am i guilty? why thing is always not fair?!”

  i feel a little bit angry, but i have nothing i can do. i don’t know why my classmates’ family are so happy, and they are so successfully in school and other career’s life. i feel upset, and get a little bit lost….

  ” God is always with you, but why is unfair?”

To be continued. …….

http://veteransfamily.wordpress.com/2013/03/13/the-god-is-fair/

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THE LIFE BEFORE MILITARY

 Today is Chinese new year. Happy Chinese new year for everyone!

 I forgot how many times on sea and missing the most important holidays with family already. I did remember  the last time I celebrate the Chinese new year with family is about 5 years ago before I joined the US Navy.

  As a immigrant, I never forgot the date I immigrated to US. It was 8 years ago to flight to Los Angeles, CA by myself. The last time to celebrate with my family in China, and went to the flight during the next day of Chinese new year. I was here to meet up with my mother, and eventually started the new life.

  Things were not easy for me as the new immigrant. I needed to adopt the new environment, and went to the different schools compare to China. But somehow, the first impression for me was people's face. They were smiling, and I love to talk to them. They were so nice to me and tried their best to help me up. Fortunately, I was able to learn the English quickly during the high school. I started at 10 grade during the high school, and I did celebrate my first birthday in US- 17 years old.

  Some people is probably believe the immigrants are rich people, especially Chinese. I did have a lot of friends in China they were expected to immigrate to US in one day. They might watch too much Hollywood movies and other news. They think their life will be perfect when they were here. For example, one of the questions they would be asking: I heard you just working for one month and you were able to buy a car, and I heard the salary was good out there. It has a lot of opportunities and freedom than other countries! It is true you could be able to buy a car in a month when you had a job, however, depends what kind of car you want to buy, and your life style. I did explain this to my friends but they look like did not understand too much.

  The first year of the new life was gonna to kill me. Since English was my third language, I had to study daily to improve it. Thanks for the teachers and they help me a lot for my English. They were so patient. I almost imagined that I would go back to China soon after school. I was missing the people in China, the family, the food, and everything in China. I think that is normal for my age 17. Sometimes I have arguments with my mother and complaint to back to China's life.

  The life before military was not as good as right now. You can imagine this picture in your mind: I went shopping with my mother. We were shopping once a while. We saw so many beautiful clothes, video games, and shoes. Unfortunately, we could not offer them. We did not have a good paycheck to support our financial situations. I love playing basketball when I was in High School. I only change my basketball shoes once they were worn out. We were always choose the cheapest shoes to wear and save some money.

  " I was very jealous some immigrants. Why they were so rich? Why they got the perfect family? Why they were so smart? Why.............?" That was the famous question I was asking my mum when I got here. Yes, sometimes I was extreme jealous some immigrants. Their family was so rich. They got a nice house, nice shoes, nice cars, and everything. My school has so many immigrants. Most of their families were medium class or above. They changed the shoes and clothes everyday. They got a nice new car when they have license. They were so smart at school, and have a wonderful family. In the bible, and the church, people said the god was fair. Somehow, I never believe that was true. I got nothing when I was in US. My family was broken when I was 5 years old. We did not have a good car, and had to move around since I was immigrated.

  I did not understand all the happen in a sudden. I saw some young people were smiling shopping whatever they wanted. Compare to us, we were like no one else would be noticed. We keep walking, and did not buy anything. I remembered my mind was not happy although just less than half year in US. The famous questions still keep asking myself until nowadays.

  " Does the God fair for everyone? "

TO BE CONTINUED..........

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the navy drugs and other regulations

  I believe so many people, including the active duty members have been known the military drugs regulations already. The military's policy is 0 tolerance. The military has been changed a lot compare about 10 years ago. When I was still on active duty, I heard some sailors were discussing about the old navy. The old navy is lack of regulation. People can be smoking everywhere, and even using the drugs some times. But nowadays, it is totally different. You have to go to the certain area to smoke, and you are not allowed to use drugs at all. At the same time, the military is trying to be caught people DUI on base. The rule on base is different. The DUI is usually 0.08% in CA. But on my last command, if you are higher than 0.05% and you will be DUI and arrested at scene.

  For the New regulations nowadays, I am really love it and at least it can provide a better environment and security on base. However, I did see some people still rely on drugs, and DUI while they were active duty. Here is some conclusions about my opinions.

1. Urinalysis test.  I think everyone should be known this program. We also call it "P" test, or etc. The urinalysis test is randomly. You never know when is your turn to do the test. They will base on the result, and confirm that if you are drug abuser or not.

2. Blood test. I think that is rare happen ( from my experience) if they believe that you are using the drug, or you have some "unusual" signs. I did see one of the shipmate has been forced to use the blood test, and find out that he is using the drug.

3. DUI  on base. I did see some people get caught by DUI on base. They MA, or security use the same way as cops. You will be testing the same way-Catwalk, alcohol test, and etc.  But I did hear the new navy now is trying to use the different policy to control the people DUI on base. Remember, the DUI rate is totally different from civilian world. That is the result so many people get caught by DUI.

4. Don't use drug- The new drug I heard before I got discharged was "bad salt". People are using drug in military because of stressful environment. But remember, if you are using the drug, you will lose all the benefit in while you are in service. For example, if you get caught by using drug, you will be going to Captain's mast for sure. You will get demoted for 1 or 2 ranks, get half pay check for 1 or 2 months, restrictions, and force separate from military. At the same time, you won't get the honorable discharged, that means you will get a hard time to find a job, and even use the VA benefits to go to school, and etc. The DUI is the same thing. The military is trying to be punished people hard for DUI cases. If you get caught by DUI, you will face almost the same result but you might still able to stay in military. However, if that is related to car accident, and etc. You will face the military course martial and civilian's world's  course martial.  That is not worthy to do all the stupid thing when you are still on active duty.

  As a result, like the most captain said :" think about your family, think about your future, and never do the stupid things! If you drunk, call 511 or using the cab! Never ever to try the DUI, or any drugs in your whole life!"

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Veteran Blog: Steps To Join The Military

 Recently, I have so many friends join the military. Most of them are joined the US Army, US Navy, and a few to join the US Marine Corps. They join the military for different reasons. Some of them want to get some education assistant for college, and some of them want to support their family and financial situations.

  If you have been made a decision to join the military service, I would say thank you for your service, and you make an excellent choice for yourself. However, since people never think too much when they sign up the contract. Here is some tips:

1.  I did hear so many complaints about the military. 90% people is complaining about Recruiter. I did see some college student to join the military after they graduate. They said the recruiter is laying all the benefit, and they are not true. For example, the recruiter might tell you that you can get a stable paycheck when you stay in military, and you are entitle all these benefits while you are in service. Remember, the recruiter is not all laying to you. First of all, Recruiter's job is recruiting people to join the military service. They carry the mission from the chain of command. They have to finish their job to get a better promotion. If not, they will lose their position, and probably get a really bad look from his boss. For the benefit section, some of the benefit is really up to you chain of command. Here is an example from my military service: When I join the military, it is called the OVERMAN Navy. The barracks are not enough, and sometimes we are hard to get a room to stay. I am lucky to get a room for myself when I am off duty. However, some of the sailors are not even able to get a room, and their chain of command approve these sailors to entitle the BAH to rent a room outside the base; for the advancement, my rate is going down side when I joined the Navy, and even some people cannot advance at all in certain rates in Navy. Therefore, not all the recruiters are laying to you about the benefits and advancement. The military has a lot of new policies every year. It is really depending on your chain of command, and the currently situations.

2. Do some research before you sign up the contract. This is my mistake before I join the Navy. I did not research seriously enough to make sure I understanding all the jobs in military. Some people are regretting when they choose this job. They don't like it, but they have no choice at all. Make sure you are asking your friend, recruiter, or some people who are servicing in military. Do some research by yourself, and make a better choice.

3.  Make a plan for yourself. I can tell you that military is not easy as you think sometimes. For example, people think to join the Navy can see the world. Yes, you can see the world, but most time you will be spending on ship. You will have homesick, and etc. Don't be some sailors join the military without plan. They join the service just want to make some money to have fun. They are spending the money everywhere, and eventually have to face a seriously financial problems. Here is my advise when I am on sea: The TA is free in Navy college. Take one class ( don't take 2 at the same time, it is hard to manage your time) and doing some self study on internet. The Navy college is offer so many programs for sailors who want to attend college. They are all military friendly school unless you decide to choose another school outside the program. They will assist sailors to finish their education as soon as possible. This is one of the great benefits to join the military service. At the same time, bring some books, or hit the gym often to relieve stress.

4. Make a good financial plan. This is one of the important things for service members when they are on active duty. A lot of people spending money around to party, drinking, and shopping. Some people are surviving pay check by pay check. The military offer so many financial and investment program to support sailors. Don't be fool to waste your money and time.

5.  Make sure you understand the contract. The contract is variously sometimes depending on the military situations. Some contract are required you to go to some certain schools. For example, some engineering program are offer the C school after they compete all the training in A school. When I was in boot camp. some recruit are medical crews, and they don't know they required to follow the marine troops. Make sure you ask your recruiter and do research by yourself if you don't know the contract, and also make a copy in case some people lost your service record.

6. Using the benefits while you are in military. The military has so many benefits, like different programs in Navy college, spouse program, and fleet and family support center. People don't know their benefit because they don't ask. Always asking if you are really want to know your entitle benefit.

7. Don't waste your time, and educate yourself. School is boring, and I believe not everyone love going to school. But remember, the military is encouraging service members to go to college to get a better educations. Nowadays, the military is getting focused on service members education. If you do have a degree, it will help you to get promote easier. Although you don't want to stay in military in the future life, the education still can assist you to become successful in the civilian's life.

  if you have any questions, please leave a comment, and I will be happy to assist you. Thanks for reading.

http://veteransfamily.wordpress.com/2013/02/02/military-service/

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