This one actually is a bit tougher than the other services for me to rate and comment on. Most of my interface when I was in the army was with the marines and the air force. What little contact I did have with the navy, however, was generally positive. They had somewhat parochial views in committee settings (but then again, so did each of the other services), but the navy guys generally presented their side of the issue in a logical fashion, and were usually pretty good about educating those of us who normally had our feet on terra firma. I could not have made a career in the navy - too much time away from family, friends (and good restaurants!). Too much monotony while at sea. Too many people looking to rip you off while in liberty ports. There's another aspect to it, too - to paraphrase my grandfather when I told him that I had joined the army, he said (complete with Italian accent): You pretty smart to join the army. If you join the air force and the plane gets shot down, you land on the ground. If you join the navy and the ship sinks, you go underwater, but you still land on the ground. You join the army - this way you save yourself all the trouble because you're already on the ground!. the thought of possibly ending up on the ground, but underwater, does not appeal to me at all, but I salute the men and women who go through the hardships peculiar to shipboard life. All the good food and relatively comfortable duty can't compensate for that.