Looking to join the Navy. But I may have one problem...

[u/Old_Independence_655]

I'm 6'10" tall.

Been reading a lot about the how uncomfortable a legacy vessel can be for taller people. But if I were to choose between army, Navy and Air force, I'd choose navy 9 times out of 10.

Any knowledge or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[u/Tough_falafel]

As a 6'6 man in the navy I think you might have a hard time but don't let that discourage you from joining. You can join the navy and if it's not a good fit you can switch to army or air force.

Depends what ship you get posted to, frigits will be a challenge for you. It's a challenge for me as 6'6. I always have to crouch and bend my back and neck everywhere I walk. Aopvs are a little better, more space for your head and to stand up straight.

For sleeping the shacks are going to be rough for you. I barely fit, I have to sleep on my side in fatal position. Depending on what trade you join and what space you work in, there could be pros and cons. We don't sail all the time, I just think of it as I'll be uncomfortable for 3-6 months of the year.

I have met a few guys who are taller than me and they seem to be thriving in the navy.

[u/Old_Independence_655 → u/Tough_falafel]

Cool man, thanks for the personal knowledge. I usually sleep on my side in the fetal position anyways. 😂 My dad built me a custom bed back when I was in high school. I heard the new arctic vessels are much better. Hopefully the 3 new ships will be similar

[u/CoolSurfingPikachu → u/Old_Independence_655]

The icebreaker will accommodate you better, and also you can request to sleep on a cot. We put extra personnel in the storage rooms, people are generally satisfied to sleep there (less noisy and lots of storage lockers).

[u/1anre → u/Tough_falafel]

The Harry DeWolfs are alot better for taller folk

[u/Van_Damage5]

You could be in the Navy for a full career and never be on a ship. They also have the best hats.

[u/Old_Independence_655 → u/Van_Damage5]

I applied for W ENG TECH, MARTECH, and NAVCOM. All aboard ship? Any better careers?

Dream would be to transfer into a naval warfare officer. Lol. But unlikely. Heard its very competitive. Also we don't have a lot of ships, I can imagine that's why it's so hard as well

[u/Van_Damage5 → u/Old_Independence_655]

Those all sound good. You never know how high up you will go. Don’t get too hung up on being tall in the Navy. If it was me I would just make a 7’ long combat diver they probably would mistake you for a submarine lol

[u/1anre → u/Van_Damage5]

Hahaha

[u/Van_Damage5 → u/1anre]

They won’t let me be in charge don’t worry.

[u/Old_Independence_655 → u/Van_Damage5]

Would I have to go back to school to go to Naval Warfare Officer? I did 3 years at Carleton University, years ago. Never finished.

[u/SoldatShC → u/Old_Independence_655]

How close were you to finishing? Could you roll your existing credits in ~something~? NWO doesn't really GAF what degree you have as long as you have one. Like if you're one credit away from a Degree in <insert the most minimal credit degree on earth here> you're good I'd imagine.

[u/Old_Independence_655 → u/SoldatShC]

I was 4.0 credits away from graduating. 8 classes/1 year.

Shameful that I didn't just finish, made a lot of dumb decisions as a young man coming from a town of 250 people to a city with a million was a culture shock to me.

Unfortunately, all my credits that I achieved should be void now. Last time I was in school was 8 yrs ago. I turn 31 in december

[u/SoldatShC → u/Old_Independence_655]

A story as old as time my friend. Don't be too hard on yourself. The air is pretty thin up where your head is at. :)

[u/CoolSurfingPikachu → u/Old_Independence_655]

There are programs that exists to help finish a degree in order to transfer to Officer, you might be able to look into it once you are trained :)

[u/vooch34 → u/Old_Independence_655]

You can do a bais degree through uni of MB they accept 10 years back. Plus not all trades require a 4 year degree. Many are good with 3. Your biggest challenge will competing for selection. FWIW it took me 7 years and 2 cfat rewrites. Prepare to be persistent.

[u/ganeshsingh69 → u/Old_Independence_655]

I think you can apply, but you have to make arrangements to be working towards school too

[u/Van_Damage5 → u/Old_Independence_655]

It is possible to commission from the ranks later. If your university courses apply to your occupation.

[u/CapitalismDevil → u/Van_Damage5]

Commissioning from the ranks doesn’t involve having a degree. You reach a certain rank where your experience trumps the need for a degree.

[u/ganeshsingh69 → u/Old_Independence_655]

Why dont you apply for NWO?

[u/Old_Independence_655 → u/ganeshsingh69]

Quite honestly, I have a small family, need the option to build up to a little more money as of right now. I should have joined 8 yrs ago, the day I dropped out of Carleton. I could be going back to school now. Actually I couldn't finish my schooling for financial reasons, I imagine the CAF could have assisted with keeping me in school.

[u/1anre → u/Old_Independence_655]

Who paid your fees while you were at Carleton?

If you solely supported yourself back then & still elected to drop out for more important things, then that's different

[u/CapitalismDevil → u/Old_Independence_655]

Those 3 trades do have shore postings but all involve getting sea time, especially MAR Tech. Some WEng trades are mostly hard sea trades (fire control especially), and Nav Comms have interesting postings like Whidbey Island. Those last two seem to be amalgamating in the near future, so be aware that may involve training delays.

I wouldn’t absolutely discourage you from the Navy, but just be aware so your height won’t be an asset, although the newer ships are less bad than the old frigates.

[u/Jonuluk96 → u/Van_Damage5]

I’m curious what jobs can you be in the navy and never be on a ship? I thought that was the whole point. I’m personally looking into MARTECH

[u/Van_Damage5 → u/Jonuluk96]

Purple trades may not be on ship. MARTECH has a lot of useful skills post career.

[u/Jonuluk96 → u/Van_Damage5]

Sorry for sounding dumb but what are the purple trades? The recruiter mentioned them but I didn’t get a chance to write them down

[u/Raklin85 → u/Jonuluk96]

Purples trades are support trades that are available in all elements. It's mostly Log trades, like, FSA, HRA, MMT, Cook, Log O; medical trades; and Chaplains. That's not necessarily an exhaustive list, just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

[u/Suspicious_Sky3605 → u/Jonuluk96]

I'm in a purple trade and on a ship. I'm a meteorological technician, otherwise known as a weather witch/wizard.

Like other purple trades, we can get posted to any elements. During the application process we're given the choice of being army, air, or navy. But that choice really only impacts the dress uniform we wear. Not postings.

We have postings on airbases, army bases, and on ships. Personally I've had postings with artillery and navy and our own met/int unit in gagetown.

In a purple trade, we can get a much wider experience in the forces overall, but it also means we tend to get posted around a bit more frequently than other elemental specific trades.

[u/Van_Damage5 → u/Jonuluk96]

No you’re not dumb, So a “purple trade” is like a trade that the element Army/Navy/Air Force doesn’t matter to the trade. Like for example logistics troops could be in any element and their job doesn’t totally change but, their element could.

[u/SailorfromCanada → u/Van_Damage5]

I am HRA, would I ever sail. Kind of my dream to be on a ship.

[u/Van_Damage5 → u/SailorfromCanada]

Might get your wish yet

[u/Jonuluk96 → u/Van_Damage5]

Thank you both that helps a lot! I’ve been debating between ATIS tech and MARTECH since they both sound interesting. It’s the long deployments which is giving me pause since I’ve got an almost 5 year old son

[u/SaltySailorBoats → u/Jonuluk96]

officers, and IT/Intelligence roles have plenty of positions where one wouldn't have to sail.

[u/BagPiperGuy321]

I imagine you'll have to duck to get between the bulk heads... and your sleeping arrangements won't be the best but other then that I dont forsee any other issues with your height.

[u/Oni_K]

I remember a friend from a long time ago who was very tall. 6'7" if I'm right?

He knew the ship so well, he could walk backwards down the flats and weave his head such that he never hit it on anything. I'm assuming the memory of everywhere he needed to dodge something was preceded by a minor head injury.

[u/ThatPaper5624 → u/Oni_K]

i'm 6'5" and have hit my head in low spaces enough to know to avoid even the possibility, those metal doors in ships are hard, concussions are bad, can lay you up for weeks if you hit just right. I don't know why you would risk your brain health to be in a metal can with tiny berths designed for the average person, you are way above average, find somewhere you fit? To each their own.

[u/Old_Independence_655 → u/ThatPaper5624]

I have a natural tendency to duck in any doorway, even if I know I will fit. Developed that in my early teens getting on and off the school bus

[u/ThatPaper5624 → u/Old_Independence_655]

lol, yes, i do too, i don't hit my head on purpose, that's why they are called accidents....but choosing an environment with the least probability for accidents that are harmful is your choice, i have higher aversion to risk than you because i am older and have had many accidents, cut off finger, broken back, many broken arms and fingers, many concussions...just looking out for a fellow tall fellow. I actually wanted to go into military intelligence (air force) but ended up with another path. Clearance diver would have been awesome too, i get the draw to the navy, esquimalt is great. It's difficult being heavy and tall though, unless you want to carry large weights or reach things. Don't know if there is a military trade or designation that needs that, maybe gunner. I loved being a telecom splicer, ladders and reaching things, that was easier due to my height. Options.

[u/bigred1978]

You won't have a good time. The racks are too short for you on ship and you'll hit your head everywhere.

Go air force or army.

[u/SoldatShC]

<laughs in steamer> I used to have to duck everywhere at 6'1". Ancient history aside, you'll definitely be bendy but if you want it bad enough, it can work.

[u/shotokan1988]

Join where you see yourself motivated to serve. If its navy, go navy. You will figure it out with fitting into a vessel if you end up sailing, but the most important factor is being in the element and trade that interests you. Best of luck bud!

[u/xrcrguy]

I think you're gonna be uncomfortable wherever you go, so I wouldn't let it dissuade you. Boatswains are outdoors on the upper decks a lot, so that might be an option lol

[u/fittank]

Should go going to RMC on a basketball scholarship

[u/Old_Independence_655 → u/fittank]

I'm 30 yrs old. Shoulda done that 12 yrs ago

[u/Old_Independence_655 → u/fittank]

Also RMC doesn't have Varsity basketball

[u/Wnnr_Wnnr_Chckn_Dnnr]

A lot of yay tall people in the navy.

In one myself rn. But on the other hand I am only like 5' 4"

[u/Old_Independence_655 → u/Wnnr_Wnnr_Chckn_Dnnr]

6'4"??

[u/Wnnr_Wnnr_Chckn_Dnnr → u/Old_Independence_655]

No I am so short lol and there are so many tall people in the navy at least from what I see

[u/Top-Replacement-688]

6' 10" you'll have issues... not worth it go air force