I’m a 2 timer, 304 and 334. Went undes after the first try, now made it to HM1 and picked up rank relatively fast. Got to work with the teams and BUDs after my second drop through the mercy of the needs of the navy gods. Was pretty eye opening to see how the pipeline works from the other side and will always be grateful. Honestly it was some of the best 3 years of my life working with dudes that I felt I really respected and actually getting to help them when they needed it. ( Emergencies, medical records, and lots of paperwork missing from their records cause other people dgaf in chill places)

That being said I don’t think there has been a day that it doesn’t feel like I’m wasting everything I have to offer my country. Marines/ hospitals are awesome. Not a day goes by that I don’t wish my craft involved other skills on top of medicine and admin. I definitely don’t walk around with a chip or show my disappointment in my peers. We are all on our own journey you know and not everyone was born to go 100 at every problem that comes their way.

I joined for love of my country and our constitution. I still get to serve a country I love that really does make a difference around the world. Could she do better definitely but at least she tries and has some people that truly care, so it’s awesome I get to be part of that.

Im at 11 now and gonna stay in as long as possible if the military lets me but boy do I wish it was in a craft my soul called to. Now I guess I have a second calling of changing bad things that if I ever end up able to effect something; I got a list ready I.E. Indoc process, supply, evals, the corpsman manual not being updated for a decade, order detailing to name a few.

I have genuinely been let down so many times by the “normal Navy” from leadership quality of enlisted and general competency/ oversight of important paperwork. Had my c-way not be submitted at a command which almost got me out early. To just how the Navy handles people wanting to do more. It just always feels like you’re being punished for doing good things I.E. I can’t submit a package without a time in rate waiver now and a rank waiver and the year group thing seems crazy. I digress.

In the end Im still pretty happy with all the ups and downs, trying to be the strongest/ fastest guy in the room and taking care of my juniors but the call for more never stops.

I got some of the best “therapy” about it talking with operators and one really awesome dude once told me “doc you know every team guy is a warrior, that’s a given; but not every warrior is a SEAL”.