Though this is another problem with the Navy, I won’t categorize it with that group of posts, at least not without supporting statistics.

I applied for the FY11 Limited Duty Officer program but I was not selected. Honestly, I don’t know what it takes to be picked up. The requirements for civilians to become an officer are pretty low (http://www.navy.org/officer_requirements/) but the requirements for enlisted to become an officer are crazy. > more <

Continuing with my series, I will now talk about the problems I see with the enlisted people in the Navy. Since I’ve been enlisted for more than 13 years, I’ve seen a definite change in the quality of people coming in the Navy and I’m not the only one to notice it. > more <

As expected, I’m starting to get some flak about my previous post about Navy Chiefs. Honestly, I don’t care if people hate my opinion. I get enough hate from my “Hawaii Sucks” post. I wrote about my experiences with them during my time in the Navy. Not everyone will have the same experiences as myself; some people probably have great Chiefs who do their jobs. But I haven’t. > more <

I’m interested in writing a book about my time in the Navy, especially the problems I see. This, and future, blog posts are mostly my thoughts and ramblings as I think of things to write about (if I ever get the opportunity). So, if you are so inclined, feel free to post comments with your ideas and experiences. Or, if you think I’m a whining bastard, you can tell me that too, though I would appreciate some counter-arguments or good rationalization for why I’m wrong. > more <

Now that I’m on another ship, I don’t have much time off anymore. I’ve been planning on rewriting my Python programming book, writing the sequel for GUI development, and some programming projects I’d like to do. But the way my command runs things, I have less time off now than I did when I was in engineering. Not to mention, I’ll be starting my Ph.D. schooling in October in addition to being underway for 2-3 months.

So, if anyone was expecting some new material from me regarding my books or anything, it’s just not going to happen right now. What little time off I have I want to spend with my family. Heck, I barely get a chance to go off base and see Yokosuka, much less any more of Japan.

Needless to say, I am not satisified with my “career” but those posts will be written at a later date, when I don’t need to fear any repercussions. I know of people who have gone to mast or at least been talked to about what they put on their blogs, MySpace, Facebook, etc. I may hate my job and want to get out, but there are better ways to do it.

I’ve been watching a lot of the History Channel’s Gangland series and Investigation Discovery’s Gang Nation lately. One thing I’ve noticed is that much of the gang violence is due, directly or indirectly, to drugs. Well, no duh.

When Prohibition was enacted, the outlaws had a ready source of easy money. Bootlegging, moonshining, the speakeasies, et al. were extremely profitable to gangsters. The associated violence that the gangsters used was almost a natural side effect; turf wars, robbing each other, fighting law enforcement, etc. were just standard business practices for many criminals. People were willing to pay big money for their illicit hooch. Criminals who were limited to small-time crimes previously found big money bootlegging alcohol. > more <