In responce to Reinhardt's question I thought an overview of careers worldwide would be fun. People should also remember that sometimes the most humble of skills may take you to interesting places, enhance other avocations and simply pay the bills. A former coworker wanted desperately to live in Alaska. I suggested a trade school and 6 months later he was welding on the pipeline. So,on to what I hope will be some interesting comments. Many nations maintain maritime services distinct from formal naval forces. We have the Coast Guard and little known U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Service. Great Britain has the Volunteer Lifeboat Service, Canada a small branch and many nations have various fisheries, rescue and customs units under various organizational guises. We had just started a new rating when I enlisted; the Marine Science Techs, people with strong degrees in Biology. My friends who pursued this rating went on to careers with the Park Service, Scripps-Miramar Institue and even the Sea Shepherd Society <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> ( some of us Coasties get rather attached to whales.) Traditional navies are not without opportunities. Professional divers make very good money. They also have a shorter worklife due to the physical stress. This is something you may also want to ask hard questions about. What are the physical hazards,health risks,impacts on a future family and career stability? Those exciting adventures @ 20 turn into 40 year old body parts that don't wake up at the same time <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> So in brief, worldwide national service can be a wonderfull chance to learn some skills,travel and meet people in your area of interest. Yes, there is always the messyness of world conflict and your own societies responce. My uniform during the Vietnam era was so rare, somebody actually started speaking to me in german <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Any commitment should go both ways. A few years as a helicopter door gunner doesn't translate well on the job market.