If I may, this is the same advice I give everybody...
Go look in a mirror. See that girl looking back at you? Parents, relatives, spouses, kids, kibitzers like those of us on YA... we come and go in your life. The girl in the mirror isn't going anywhere. Don't try to live your life to please anybody but her. She's there for the duration. Oh, she might get older, maybe grow a few wrinkles... even some gray hair, but you're stuck with her.
Do your research. Check out
http://www.Navy.mil ... check with a recruiter... make your decision. If you're afraid you might make the wrong decision, I can almost guarantee you'll make some... it's part of the human thing. But, by making the best decision you can, even if it's wrong, you can learn from it and take the loss with a grain of salt.
“The time to take counsel of your fears is before you make an important battle decision. That's the time to listen to every fear you can imagine! When you have collected all the facts and fears and made your decision, turn off all your fears and go ahead!” (General George S. Patton)
Just replace "battle decision" with "life decision" and you'll have it.
Every once in a while take a look in the mirror, if the girl looking back at you is smiling... most of the time... you're doing ok.
As for the critics... I enlisted with a BA in Math. I was told that was a waste of a degree... that I should have gotten a civilian job or at least gone in as an officer. My rating (Navy specialty) picked me in Boot Camp. The critics told me it was too dangerous. Then Vietnam started. I really got hammered by the critics then. When it came time for me to reenllist for my E-6, somebody dusted off my degree and recommended for OCS. I took advantage of the offer. The critics pounded me for making the Navy a career and for not going out and getting a real (I suppose they meant "civilian") job. After a quarter of a century in, I decided to retire. They hammered me again for not staying in for a Flag rank.
I went back to school, got a couple more degrees, and then started my second career managing government contracts for a management consulting firm. I got the job because of my exposure to the military (25 years), my management experience (20 year as a Navy officer), my recent security clearance (courtesy of the Navy), and my education (GI Bill). I retired again after twelve years, did a little traveling, and eventually about two years ago, moved into a Veterans Home. While doing the consulting, I purchased a house and paid it off in ten years. So, when I moved into the Veterans Home, I rented the place out. The income more than pays for my fees here at the Home. That leaves my pension and retirement practically net spendable. And, since just about everything's covered here at the Home, it's effective "net savable."
Those guys who decided not to join, or who decided that it's better to get out quick and get a "real" job... some of them probably made it up their respective corporate ladders into those 500 square foot, glassed in, corner offices way up in those tall office buildings. They're working 50-60 hours a week trying to make ends meet... I know, because some of those were the guys who got themselves into trouble and I, in my second career, had to bail them out. Some of them dream about travel and adventure... maybe driving one right down the fairway at some exotic golf course. Some think about learn to SCUBA dive... or maybe even sky dive... if they ever have the time and money.
I did all that stuff when I was young enough to enjoy it. I still travel a little (it's free if you're retired military). Although I don't jump out of planes anymore, I still SCUBA dive on occasion. I still putter around at golf once in a while... there's a nine-hole course here at the Home.
I'm 70 years old. I still look in the mirror on occasion. It's a habit now. The old coot looking back at me doesn't smile much anymore. He has this big, stupid grin...