I am about to join the Army!!!

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

Monday morning I'll be up bright and early at the MEPS in Fort Lee VA, as I will be sworn into the Army :bounce: Last summer i had actually started processing for the Navy Reserve, but the recruiter was quite flakey, and the Navy didn't have any good job openings at all (not even for OCS applicants).

So why would I want to join the Army? having grown up as a military dependent, it feels very odd not to be moving every few years. Now I am currently working at Best Buy, and honestly I really like the company as a whole (and my co workers even more than that). Plus I just finished my college algebra course, which will allow me to finally complete my undergrad degree in International Studies. So I had several ways to go forward, and I decided that I'd look good in uniform:-)

My contract won't be finalized until the guidance consuelor and I meet Monday, but I am looking at starting as an IT Specialist (25b), then going for becoming an officer. I'm 37, so it'd be easier and quicker to enlist first, then with my degree work towards OCS. I've been working out and running since September--I;m 5 foot 10, 205 :-) My running time is pretty good, and I'll use the time left until I ship to keep improving on ir. So I'm really excited to be serving my country, and no amount of Fox "News" and those stupid ass tea party rednecks will stop me.

[Bluebear]

1. Well, best of luck, glad you're thrilled and keep your head low!

edit spelling

[Brickbat]

2. Congrats and good luck!

[Kingofalldems]

3. More PT drill sergeant!

Good luck.

[msongs]

4. a war machine job is a good bet in a militaristic nation like the US nt

[cliffordu]

150. yawn.

[dionysus]

177. bringin teh bitter into evvvvvverythingggg..... oh yeah.......

sorry selling obama pillowcases (even though you hate him) isn't making ends meet.

:rofl:

[WilliamPitt]

Thank you.

:toast:

Serve well. Be safe. Come home.

:hug:

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

27. Thanks man!!!

I'll make you all proud of me! :-)

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

222. Curious.

Consider an announcement that one is going to become a bus driver. Or a teacher. Or a psychiatrist. Why aren't any of those usually accompanied by such displays of reverence?

To Zech: I sincerely wish you manage to escape the many things along the way that can fuck you up and end up retiring a sane, healthy individual. (A less evil US foreign policy would be of great help for that.) Good luck.

[IsItJustMe]

234. Have to agree with you to some extent. Something wrong in a country where you see a million bumber

stickers supporting troops and not one supporting a teacher or social worker. Me things or emphasis is all wrong in this country.

[PacerLJ35]

257. I don't know where you live...

But I see stickers, etc, supporting education and teachers in general all the time.

[IsItJustMe]

258. The sad fact of the matter is that this would be the exception rather than the rule.

[PacerLJ35]

259. I see as many "Support Education" license plates as I do any military stickers, etc

Of course if you live near a military installation, it's commonplace for family members of military personnel to put a support the troops sticker on their car...my wife had one of those magnet "stickers" until someone stole it (that's a whole other subject right there).

[sufrommich]

5. Good luck. Sounds like a good career move. nt

[mvccd1000]

6. See you over here soon. :) nt

[midnight]

7. Stay safe....

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. You will be in our thoughts and prayers

Best of luck in your new venture.

[msedano]

9. best wishes

now you'll have memories to share with loved ones and friends. keep you head low.

http://readraza.com/ptfield1969.htm

thank you in advance for your service.

mvs

[madokie]

10. I wish you the best

Nothing like making a decision that time takes to make. You'll go far in life.

Oh and remember to keep your ass up and your head down when them bullets start coming at ya.:hi:

[WCGreen]

11. Will beat me to it but Thank You for serving our country...

[Robb]

12. What Will and madokie said.

Thank you, ass up, head down. :toast:

[blondeatlast]

14. What the dingbat said, and do come home.

:toast:

[RKP5637]

13. Sounds like a good idea and opportunity for you. Good Luck!!! n/t

[Lyric]

15. Good luck, and stay safe.

:hug:

[OHdem10]

16. Wish you much luck and happiness. Thank you for serving our Country

[Demoiselle]

17. Be careful, and thank you! Good vibes, prayers and best wishes to you.

[Lint Head]

18. Considering the economy you will have an advantage in banking,

The USAA Bank provides incredible services to military folks. You can actually email a deposit and there are very few if any fees.
https://www.usaa.com/inet/ent_logon/Logon

[jmowreader]

83. He doesn't need to e-mail a deposit

He's required to have direct deposit. But yes, USAA is a VERY good bank for soldiers. They started out as an insurance company, and got into banking when the prohibition against mixing retail and casino banking was repealed.

[11 Bravo]

19. I salute you.

Serve proudly and with honor, stay safe, and come home in one piece.


:patriot:

[brewens]

20. At first opportunity use your military experience to jump ship to Blackwater

or whatever they call themselves now. Gather all the dirt you can and write a tell all book. Rake in million, evade the assassins and buy an Island somewhere!

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

21. I salute you, soldier.

Watch your back and stay safe.

[patrice]

22. I'm sorry. Come home safe and wiser.

[invictus]

39. +1

[Shell Beau]

82. Ugh! I do hope he comes home safe and wiser, but he seems

happy with this choice, so your apology is uneeded I do believe.

[Captain Hilts]

23. The Navy and Air Force have had HUGE cuts in personnel the past 8 years. nt

[Zywiec]

24. Good luck Soldier!

:patriot:

[Captain Hilts]

25. All the very best. nt

[leftofcool]

26. Thank You in advance for your service. Take care.

[druidity33]

28. good luck bro! (or sis!)...

Keep that chin up...

and head down.


Wait a minute... that's not possible.

Anyway, best to you, thank you, and be safe please.


Cheers...


K&R

[elocs]

29. My godson, who turned 21 this week, enlisted in the Army when he was 17.

I talked with him about the possible consequences beforehand so he clearly understood what he was getting into. To enlist was his own personal choice and he did what he thought was best for him (at the time he thought Bush was an idiot).

He did a tour of duty in Afghanistan (in the mountains near the border with Pakistan) and his 3 years were up last August. He reenlisted for another 6 years because he loves being in the Army. For him it is the perfect fit. At 16 he was on his way to becoming a high school dropout because with his ADD/ADHD he just couldn't get it or be motivated to go to school and with a high school kid that is very problematic. He was no good at making his own decisions, but did well with specific direction.

So in the middle of his junior year he dropped out of his high school and enrolled in one of those National Guard challenge camps for troubled youths. He thrived there and that summer he graduated from the challenge academy and got his GED. Not surprisingly he decided in August to enlist in the Army and there he was before his senior class had even taken a chair.

If he stays for 20 years (I told him if he stayed for 9 he may as well go for 20) he will be 37 when he has his time in. Still a relatively young man and he would be ready to start another career. Currently he has been trained to build and keep computers running as well as getting networks up and running. So for him to enlist was a good choice and one that probably saved him.

[Lost-in-FL]

30. Good luck to you.

Stay under the radar and Basic Training will be 'easier'.

[noamnety]

31. What is the maximum age limit for OCS?

How long will you be in training and then with your unit before you can be recommended for OCS?

Enlisting at 37 with a plan to later become an officer sounds highly questionable to me. (This is coming from someone who enlisted with a BA already under their belt.)

[itsrobert]

32. No chance in the Air Force

I don't know about the Army. Unless you're a medical doctor.

[noamnety]

37. Realistically, no chance in the army, imho

I think the OP should do some research on that.

[leftofcool]

40. I believe you have to be only under 40 at the time of commission

I could be wrong but I think this is correct

[noamnety]

46. What I'm really suggesting here

is that the OP himself should do the actual research and find out

a) what the regs say (the documented age limits, documented time requirements for being enlisted and at your unit before leaving), and
b) what the real world experience of actual enlistees trying to get to OCS has been. That might require posing the question at the military.com forums.

The reason for the second part is that enlistees might technically be eligible after a month with their unit but if the unit is about to deploy, they aren't likely to be releasing people prior to deployment. Even without that factor, the chain of command will want to have time to observe and evaluate brand new soldiers before recommending them for OCS.

If the OP's serious about enlisting next week, the OP needs to be equally serious about doing the actual research to find out if their plan is realistic, rather than relying on a recruiter's word. The recruiter is under a tremendous amount of pressure to meet quota and has an unbelievable incentive to stretch the truth at times. That's not intended as an attack against recruiters, just the reality of the impossible situation they are thrust into.

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

65. fyi

Yes i have done my research, and the age limit to become an officer is 40. Everything has been checked and doubled checked, so my paperwork is all set.

[itsrobert]

225. If you have your bachelors

You should really hold out for OTS. Once enlisted, you maybe overwhelmed with training, standing watch, deployments, etc that 3 years could go by very easily There's a huge pay gap between Junior Enlisted and Junior Officer.

[old mark]

33. I can't give you much advice - it's a very different Army from the one I was in over 40 years ago.

But I wish you good luck, and as s new officer, listen to your old Sergeants-they really know how the game is played and if you respect their opinions, they will really help you.

mark

[Lochloosa]

34. Keep us updated on your progress.

Thank you for your future service and keep your head down. :toast:

[arcadian]

35. Don't do it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

48. +1,000,000

[leftstreet]

67. +2,000,000

[4 t 4]

97. Really, what he said x 1,000

[L0oniX]

174. +9999999999999999999999999999

[MissDeeds]

178. +1 zillion

Please reconsider.

[donheld]

187. No don't

[readmoreoften]

256. I've got two friends this week getting discharged due to traumatic brain injury and crippling PTSD.

Best of luck to him.

[Common Sense Party]

260. Why not?

[Rhythm]

36. Keep your head down and your ammo dry...

Good luck to you. :patriot:

:hug:

[BR_Parkway]

38. Congratulations and good luck with it.

Oh, and watch out in the showers. Since the gay folks can't tell you that they are, you have to assume everyone is looking at you in lust. Well, that's the Republicult version these days anyhow.

And much better timing than me, I did my basic at Ft Leonard Wood - in July. Not the most brilliant time to go.

[Odin2005]

41. Good luck, soldier!

:patriot:

[tammywammy]

42. Good luck! n/t

[madmom]

43. Stay safe....and thank you!

[Berry Cool]

44. All the best to you--stay safe, and thanks for serving us. n/t

[Bigmack]

45. I was in the Corps about a thousand years ago...

and as I recall, recruiter promises rank right up there with "I'll respect you in the morning."

I'm not questioning your career choice, but I am saying that you should be prepared to have the military change your course for you.

The best advice I ever gave my HS students was that they should keep foremost in their minds that "service" means just that. They put you where they need you.

A friend's kid was taught to fly a chopper by the Navy. Did it for 8 years, with good evals. They put him in Afghanistan as a Liason Officer. Big change.

If you have a flexible attitude, and accept possible changes, you'll be happier... and a better soldier, too.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

104. "You'll be Sorrreeeeeee" - First words I heard when I got to MCRD.

And, boy we're they right.

[Bigmack]

139. I heard that shit LOTS after that, too.... and was I ever! nt

[shotten99]

47. Go talk to the AF first! I did 10 years in the Navy.

If there's one piece of advice I can give you, it's not to think all branches are the same.
If I had it to do all over again, I would have joined the Air Force without question.
PLEASE! YOU WILL THANK ME LATER!

[underpants]

49. Good luck-but remember it ain't official until you take the second oath

Your choice sounds a hell of a lot better for future real world jobs than my decision to play Cav Scout

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Peacetrain]

51. Stay safe!, take care of yourself!..

Check in to the DU on Nov. 11th, and I will have a salute up just for you.. :patriot:

[Dappleganger]

52. Good luck. Be safe. Come home! nt

[Codeine]

53. Good! :)

I'm proud to know good people are serving their country in uniform. :patriot:

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tabasco]

55. Do your best and the Army will treat you well.

My advice - think carefully about the occifer stuff.

An enlisted career is just as rewarding and a lot less bullcrap.

Good luck!

[Touchdown]

56. HooRAH! And... Never volunteer for ANYTHING!

Unless you like scrubbing drunken vomit off of toilets on your day off.;)

Stand back and let the other idiots in your platoon volunteer for Super High Intensity Training.

[tekisui]

57. It's your choice.

I recommend not doing.

[cherokeeprogressive]

58. Be Safe Bro. Thanks for Serving.

This Vet says Welcome to the Club, and Good Luck to You.

Don't let the naysayers make you feel bad.

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

75. I won;t let them bother me

There's like 2 or 4 here saying don't do it or try the Coast Guard :eyes: one dude even said that my future training will lead me atraight to Afghanistan...boy! But I expected some of this, so it's no big surprise:-)

[rollin74]

59. thank you for serving your country

good luck and please be safe

[upi402]

60. Just never volunteer, as warned above. n/t

[Omaha Steve]

61. Keep your head low

K&R!

[Blue-Jay]

62. Thanks and good luck.

[yawnmaster]

63. Thank you.

[Name removed]

64. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

66. I have no way of controlling that

A couple people have posted on why i would even do this--I did CHOOSE to enlist, no ones making me. and while one even said don't do it, they don't even bother an alternative. :eyes:

But I expected that type of reaction and I do understand. To even reach this point is a great victory for myself:-) And I'll be checkin in on november 11th to be saluted:-)

[arcadian]

70. So you are joining for purely economic reasons?

Join the Coast Guard instead, how about that for an alternative?

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

72. whatever

I'm joining the army because I WANT to. and I would only ask you to respect my decision and not try to make an issue out of it.

[Shell Beau]

84. I am sorry people here don't think you are able to decide

what is best for you. I wish you the best of luck. Stay safe!

[Name removed]

90. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[arcadian]

143. Why do you require the "respect" of somebody you don't know and have never met?

[Jax]

203. GREAT question

still no answer.

Of course.

[PacerLJ35]

240. For the same reason why I'd respect your decision not to have anything to do with the military

It's purely a people thing. He's doing what he wants to do, for his own reasons.

[Greyhound]

189. If you want to avoid "making an issue" don't post it on a message board.

:eyes:

[theHandpuppet]

213. Exactly what I was thinking

This is a discussion board, after all.

[maxsolomon]

246. a lot of decisions don't automatically deserve respect

you posted here - you asked for comments. "i want to" is not an example of rational decision making, but it is something that the military certainly counts on to fill its ranks.

do not delude yourself that you are "protecting our freedom". much of the world wishes it could protect itself from our freedom.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Is_a_Racket

[PacerLJ35]

248. I'm sure you would argue that people should respect your decisions as well

I may disagree with your stance but at least I can respect the fact that you're an independent person with your own ability to decide. "I want to" is a legitimate reason to do something. The motivation behind the "I want to" might be more nuanced than you'd be willing to admit.

[maxsolomon]

265. the OP solicited opinions on his decision

when told he should reconsider, he said the reason was 'I WANT TO'. i've heard that from my kids, and i know it's a fallback position - an appeal to emotion not reason. and that's what the OP is - a kid. and that, frankly, is what the military depends on to fill its ranks - kids who make hasty decisions for any number of nuanced reasons.

this is only a discussion board. you ask for opinions, be ready to consider the opinions you're offered. you don't get change your mind about that when the opinions challenge your decision making.

[PacerLJ35]

267. For that matter, I joined because "I wanted to" as well...

"I want to" is a pretty broad explanation that can encompass any and all sorts of motivations. I could tell you that I joined because I wanted to, probably because my reasons were quite varied and didn't stem from one motivating factor. Yes, I wanted to serve my country. Yes, I wanted to fly military aircraft. Yes, I grew up a military kid and enjoyed traveling around...there's a number of reasons. But it all boils down to "yes, I wanted to".

Last I checked, the OP didn't ask for your opinion, he or she was simply sharing what seems to be an important event in their life. Never in the post did I see a "what do you think guys?" or "Any advice or opinions?". All they said was "hey, I joined the Army and I'm excited". No asking of any kind.

You must feel they asked because you clicked on the thread with your mind already made up that you were going to give them your opinion regardless. That's fine, this is a message board and you're welcome to do so. But don't hide the fact that it's your unsolicited opinion by placing that burden on the OP, who quite obviously doesn't care what you think and didn't ask you what you think.

[patrice]

71. I'm not here to change your mind. I ask only that you keep yourself fully informed

in the broadest most honest sense of the word on all of the current issues when you vote.

It is possible that there is so much that military personnel just doesn't need to be concerned about that their participation in our electoral processes is vulnerable to becoming quite narrow and specialized, especially when it comes to matters having to do with the allocation of reduced revenues, which have been near 50% to the military for a couple of decades now.

It is only through fully informed honest and responsible participation in the electoral process that we have any hope of freeing our military, and ourselves, from the governance of the trans-national corporations who run our country and who are a part of what caused these last 2 wars.

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

73. .....

:wtf: are you are talking about?! :eyes:

[Name removed]

76. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[patrice]

78. Let's start with any part of that post that is not WTF to you, okay? We can proceed from there.

[blueamy66]

208. And that is why you are

joining the Army.

I mean...good luck man....but, hey....good luck man...

[Shell Beau]

86. Why would you think you are any more informed than this man?

He is 37 years old, which is a lot different than an 18 year old signing up. I understand people's concern, there are some nasty wars going on right now, but he made this decision and seems content and happy about it. I wouldn't want my husband doing this, no question about that. It is all about choice. This is his.

[patrice]

91. It is not uncommon for people to be uninformed. I merely brought it up as a caution to someone

making a decision that involves taking human life or supports something that does that which we see in The Picture (running on The Greatest Page as we speak).

Probability-wise, why would you assume him as informed as he needs to be?

BTW, check his response, upthread, to mention of the allocation of revenues in this country.

[Shell Beau]

96. He is already signed up, so nothing but support is needed now.

I am not here to lecture. Some people get off lecturing someone. That isn't me. So inform him all you like, it doesn't change what he is going to do. It seems a bit condescending to me. It is condescending.

[patrice]

101. Concescending? to refer to the fact that things are VERY complicated and require ALL

of us to stay well informed.

I'm sorry if you inferred some exclusivity in what I said, but I believe I used the first person plural pronoun, we.

[Shell Beau]

103. yep. right. gotcha

:eyes: Holier than thou! Love it!

[patrice]

106. You are projecting your own issues onto this discussion.

[Shell Beau]

109. Nope, just supporting someone who decided to sign up for the army.

Can't be undone so why throw all kinds of shit in their face. That just isn't the kind of person I am. I am fully aware that there are several assholes at DU though, so go right ahead.

[patrice]

112. Search my username and I'll search yours and we'll see who throws more insults around and you're

starting off with 1, right here, so I'll bet your win.

[Shell Beau]

115. Please go ahead. You'll probably find that I am one

of the nicest people on DU. Go ahead. I actually dare you. Let me know.

[patrice]

124. Actually, I'm not that interested and I expect the feeling is mutual. But I will point out that

you have insulted me at least twice in this thread, which is at least 2 times more than I have insulted you.

[Shell Beau]

128. Did I directly insult you?

If so, please feel free to alert.

[Texasgal]

144. Shell.. this person is deluded

I wouldn't bother... She obviously is a key board commando that things all military folk are killing machines... UGGGG.

[Shell Beau]

147. No joke. Exactly why some people think DU is crazy. Stuff like this.

Embarrassing really.

[Texasgal]

149. Extremely embarrassing

It would be nice if people did some RESEARCH before posting their crap!!!

[patrice]

158. Research this: Would there be ANY military jobs if there were no Killing?

[Shell Beau]

161. Probably would be no cop jobs either. But let me guess, you are

anti-cop too. :rofl:

[patrice]

164. Not the same thing. Cops are not as a matter of routine the cause of the deaths of innocent people.

[Shell Beau]

169. Well let me know how you, the all knowing/God, thinks we should

keep this country protected? Military is a no go with you, so how is your world with rainbows and butterflies protected?

Now, I have never agreed with the Iraqi war, and I never will, BUT you sound so ridiculous that it boggles my mind.

[patrice]

179. You objected to my recommendation that voters know more about issues, the only thing that

will protect us from Wars of Choice, an electoral process that is not owned by the trans-national corporations who CHOOSE our wars and our candidates for us.

I have nothing against military DEFENSE that is staffed by a free well educated people WHO HAVE ECONOMIC ALTERNATIVES FOR THEIR LIVES other than the military.

What we have now is generations of self-fulfilling prophecies that have enslaved the minds, hearts, and economics of the People, a slavery that we have become so habituated to that we no longer perceive it and, hence, do not identify the very very real danger that what we are doing in other countries creates for generations of Americans to come.

[patrice]

165. self delete

[patrice]

168. See my post #164

[CBR]

227. Coast Guard jobs nt

[Dappleganger]

142. It seems more like you are.

You stated your objections already multiple times. The OP isn't a child, he should be respected and accepted not spoken to like a child even if you disagree.

I wouldn't want my kids to join (and one is joining age, another not far behind) but if they do I would respect them and not badger them because it's a done deal.

[Hissyspit]

197. She is not being holier than thou.

And you are attacking her.

[Shell Beau]

214. Wrong.

But thanks for jumping in.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

230. You attacked her and called her an asshole

We who have read this thread know how you are.

[Shell Beau]

235. Ok. I was basically saying that she was acting like an asshole.

I made sure not to directly call her an asshole, but I have to say that I stand by that. There are deleted messages that can't be read now, but something very ugly was said, so I feel no guilt at all for implying that. And let me say this, you have no clue how I am. I am very easy going and rarely come out with hostility, but I couldn't and wouldn't stand for someone shitting on a person just because they chose to join the military. That whole you must be an ignorant idiot, and especially the implications that they were a killer, and then there was the whole Texas "christian" slam. Nope. Not gonna stand for it. Think of me what you will.

[Hissyspit]

196. He said clearly his contract is not finalized and you do not know that he might not change his mind.

[Texasgal]

131. My brother is career Navy

and he never killed anyone... he never supported killing anyone either... In fact he HELPED people in peril in Africa.

So, um... what in the hell are you talking about?

[Hissyspit]

201. He never supported killing anyone?

What are you talking about?

Do you not know how many cruise missiles the Navy lobbed into Iraq?

Is it not possible that he has HELPED people AND supported actions that resulted in the deaths of innocents?

Hell, I'VE supported the killing of innoncents. Everytime I pay my taxes.

The world is complicated, and doing the right thing can be easy AND difficult. If you believe that the poster is oversimplifying the moral situation, then why do you feel the need to do the same in the opposite direction?

[patrice]

94. Are you telling me that people don't pick and choose the information that facilitates their "choices

"? There is a great deal of relatively reliable Psychological research that disagrees with you, so what are your credentials for thinking such a thing?

[Shell Beau]

98. Oh, now I need credentials to think?

:rofl: Gotta love this place. You can take your condescending bullshit somewhere else. This is a 37 year old man who has ALREADY signed up. Done deal. No need to tell him what he needs to know. And no need to lecture me. Thanks, but no thanks.

[patrice]

105. No, you need support to claim that people are not selectively ignorant.

[Shell Beau]

110. Oh ok. Let me go find a link that supports the claim that people

aren't selectively ignorant. See how stupid that sounds? You probably don't.

[patrice]

116. 2 insults and you speak of assholes? Rational support is a good thing, but

if you don't want to be bothered with it, okay. We can proceed on just common sense, e.g. smoking cigarettes is clearly proven to correlate with lung cancer, why do you suppose folks ignore the facts? Because they WANT to smoke.

Getting into debt makes people miserable, so why are they so selective when processing information about a purchasing decision? Because they WANT whatever it is that they are buying.

This is a common trait. I possess it myself. The difference between me and some may be that I am aware that I possess it.

Now your turn, you need to give me some examples that show how much MORE COMMON it is that people pursue ALL of the information that goes into decisions that they make.

[Shell Beau]

119. I commented in this thread for support actually.

This is as far as I am taking this. I am actually sorry I commented on your posts. For real though.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

231. I am sorry I read your comments n/t

[Shell Beau]

236. Ok.

:shrug:

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

114. thank you for the support

what is this guy doing trying to preach to me now? his original posting made no sense whatsoever, but while it's his right, I think he doens't have to be an ass about it.

[Shell Beau]

121. Just look at all the positive in this thread. Best of luck.

[patrice]

122. And where have I insulted you? Making people UNCOMFORTABLE with the truth is not

an insult.

I could more easily, as I have done hundreds of times with others, ignore you. I am calling on your strength in this discussion to look at the whole truth and stand up to it - WHATEVER your decision is.

BTW, what is so "ass"-y about asking people to be fully informed before they vote?

[Texasgal]

166. What is your "truth"

Honestly your "truth" sounds like your "opinion" which honestly dosen't mean much.

[Dappleganger]

146. +1

[Hissyspit]

195. I'm 47. I'm uninformed about a lot of things.

[pinto]

68. All the best & take care.

:hi:

[3324SS]

69. Good Luck

Your Going to Need it.

Have fun in Afghanistan.

Your worth to the military is directly proportional to the amount of money they spend to train you and as a 25B they ain't spending that much.

Enjoy riding in the Cattle Cars, Don't worry you will lean all about them very soon.

[dmr]

74. My best to you, & plenty of mom-hugs to you as well

Just please stay safe, and I hope your dreams will be met.

I hope you tune in to DU when you can to let us know how you're doing; and allay our concerns about your welfare.

Good luck.
:hug:

[laylah]

77. It sounds like a well thought out decision.

Be safe, we want you home safely! :hug:

[Name removed]

79. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Shell Beau]

89. Lovely.

[chrisa]

107. It's time to get off the high horse.

The OP doesn't need you personally attacking him or her.

[Union Yes]

80. Remember, pain is the weakness leaving your body =)

I served from '91-'95 in the Army. That was a slogan in basic training that our DS's repeated a lot while they 'smoked' us. Another term you'll hear a lot.

Judging by your upbeat post, you'll breeze through basic. If you show up in good shape it'll be even easier.

Hat's off to you and good luck. Hopefully we can end these wars so you don't ever get deployed.

:patriot:

[Shell Beau]

81. Best of luck to you, and thank you for your service.

[bridgit]

85. Thank you for your decision to serve

[IndianaGreen]

87. Good luck and stay in touch!

Remember, there is no "I" in the military. It is always "Us"! You will make good and lasting friends. In the basic training, they will first try to demolish your individualism, then build you back up. This is so that you can respond as part of a unit, and it might save your life.

At your age, it will be physically demanding--lack of sleep and the stress of training will really wear you down pretty quick. Do not become discouraged. Once you make it past the bad stuff, it gets a lot better.

Best wishes!

[DawgHouse]

88. Good luck.

[2Design]

92. sorry n/t

[NoPasaran]

93. Thanks and Good Luck!

:patriot:

Not that it matters, but Fort Lee is a place I know, having lived there in the late 60s when my father was stationed there.

[DefenseLawyer]

95. I hope you end up getting to do something remotely close to what the recruiter has promised you.

Best of luck.

[chrisa]

99. I wish you the best of luck out there.

Stay safe and make the most of it.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

100. You decided you'd "look good in a uniform"? UPS pays better and you don't have to shoot anybody.

I'd buy it, if you were 17 and thought the girls would fall all over you. But, 37???

Like I did, when I was stupid enough to join the Marine Crotch at 17.

[CBR]

102. Good Luck and Best Wishes!!! Stay safe. Thanks for your service. nt

[Renew Deal]

108. The Army can always use more smart IT guys!

Have fun and be safe!

[patrice]

111. fun

We are most certainly and absolutely, damned.

[Renew Deal]

120. It must suck to be you.

[patrice]

126. No, not at all. Perhaps that is because I don't consider a job that supports the sort of thing

that we see in The Picture (posted on the Greatest Page now) as "fun".

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

185. I had a great time in the military. Much of it was quite fun.

[patrice]

136. BTW: Trite. Cliche. Un-original. Do you have any idea how lite-headed that reply is?

[proteus_lives]

186. No one is joining your pity-party.

Grow-up.

[Hissyspit]

200. It's not a pity party.

That characterization doesn't make sense.

I'm not quite sure why a poster who is asking that someone be informed about the complex situations that they are getting themselves into should be attacked, when that poster did not personally attack the OP. It is true that there are some deleted messages on this thread, so I may have missed something from the poster, but what I see is reasonable discource on a serious issue.

As I said, I applaud the OP for being willing to serve their country and hope that their experience in the Army will be the optimal one for them individually.

But he should also be aware of the legal and personal potential consequences as best to his ability, and not fall for sloganeering such as "Pain Is The Weakness Leaving Your Body."

[4 t 4]

182. OMG Yea "Have Fun"

[4 t 4]

113. OOOh God , Don't do it

Will you look good in uniform dead ? So sorry to write that but you've got to be kidding. Don't do it. What is the reason you are willing to go fight and get shot at and or killed and shoot at people and or kill them, for what, really for what reason. Someone will die in your experience, don't you think. Please explain what you are willing to give your life for? All of you that are so "Go for it" and good luck and good for you, why don't you sign up?

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

117. and what have you done for your country?

You act like I just want to go blow people up for the hell of it. Well let me set you straight buddy--I want to serve because 1)it's my choice, 2)what's wrong with being an Army IT specialist?, and 3) it's MY choice. Boy...you act like I've offended you or something :eyes:

[Texasgal]

132. Stick with your convictions...

Some people have NO CLUE.

[patrice]

137. Exactly right.

[blueamy66]

209. It isn't about the money

or the health care or the housing, no?

on edit: A serious question here....are house payments taken care of when one enlists? I cannot belive that this is true, but a co-worker of mine said that his son's house payments will be taken care of by the Army...I don't want to be that naive, but.....

[4 t 4]

133. I haven't done much.

Oh god no I didn't mean it like that. It is your choice but why? It's wrong because you are going to have to shoot people and you don't really now why? You have offended me because you are willing to join and go somewhere and kill someone and you just have the reason that "it's your choice" You are so being had. It's ok for a life choice and career, But what if you have to kill someone? Is that just part of the job?

[Texasgal]

135. Are you honestly that stupid

to think that all military people "just shoot people"????

Are you that fucking stupid?

[patrice]

138. Are you so naive as to believe that the military would exist if it didn't shoot people?

Talk about not having a clue!

[Texasgal]

141. You obviously

have no clue.

I know plenty of military folk that "shot" no one.

Get educated.

[Name removed]

148. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Hissyspit]

199. You do not have to personally shoot someone to be involved in the killing of innocent people

in the military. As an IT person he could find himself working on systems that aide in actions in combat, systems that can both save people and result in the deaths of innocent persons, as they have. And there is not guarantee he will not end up personally in combat.

[Shell Beau]

145. Did she say no one shot anyone? Really?

Pretty sure that she said it wasn't JUST about shooting people and that not everyone in the military has shot anyone. Put words in people's mouths much? And I hate hate hate that I even responded to you again. But GOOD GOD you are getting pathetic. And yes, I guess that counts as a direct insult. Alert away. :eyes: PULEEZE!

[patrice]

153. She said some military don't shoot anyone, ergo they are innocent of those deaths.

[Shell Beau]

154. Ergo= your opinion.

Got it?

[Texasgal]

167. Can you read?

That is NOT what is said at all...

Jaysus, I hate this shit.

[Shell Beau]

172. Oooooooohhhhhh, you are a Texan, therefore a Christian, and

you used a word that sounds like Jesus. You used His name in Vain!!!! How do you sleep at night?

[Texasgal]

173. Geesh!

I have no idea... I am just an asshole jesus loving TEXAN!!! LOL!!! :rofl:

[patrice]

155. I said their jobs make the killing possible, otherwise there would be no jobs.They help kill people.

[Shell Beau]

156. So basically anyone in the military is a killer or a killer sympathizer?

Got it. So you got on this thread to spew your shit. Get the fuck out. Really. A guy signed up for the military and you came in here to shit on him. Good on you. Sleep well.

[bridgit]

175. Ahhh, yeah, when its cut to the chase that's where the chase ends...

Even people running envelopes past moist sponges in typing pools, and landscapers blowing leaves off from round the entrenches of state-side BX's, etc, are killers too everyone is a killer we're all killers

[patrice]

184. True and that's my personal objection to being involved in it, any of it, except Defense.

[Texasgal]

157. Thank goodness for the

deletion.

This person is obviously misguided!

[Shell Beau]

159. Misguided is a nice way to put it you shitty Texan you!

[Texasgal]

160. My asshole TEXAN heart

thanks you!!! :P

[Shell Beau]

163. Us sane ones gotta stick together!

;)

[patrice]

151. So, only the military does anything for their country? Nurses? nope. Teachers? nope. It just isn't

possible for anyone but the military to do something for their country. :sarcasm:

[Shell Beau]

152. Why don't you go ahead and admit it that you are completely

and utterly anti-military. Anything that has to do with the military, you are against. Just say it, and be done with it, so we can stop listening to this extreme bullshit. Thanks.

[patrice]

180. Because that would be wrong. I believe in Defense. Just not in being made a War Slave by

Foreign nationals, such as those who have more or less hired us to secure Pipelinestan.

[Texasgal]

162. Ummm... who claimed that?

You seem to be making SHIT up as you go?

[L0oniX]

176. What the military does is drain our money for war under the lie that it's defense.

Of course we need to defend the actual country United Corporations of America.

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

118. and what have you done for your country?

You act like I just want to go blow people up for the hell of it. Well let me set you straight buddy--I want to serve because 1)it's my choice, 2)what's wrong with being an Army IT specialist?, and 3) it's MY choice. Boy...you act like I've offended you or something :eyes:

[4 t 4]

140. I haven't done much.

Oh god no I didn't mean it like that. It is your choice but why? It's wrong because you are going to have to shoot people and you don't really now why? You have offended me because you are willing to join and go somewhere and kill someone and you just have the reason that "it's your choice" You are so being had. It's ok for a life choice and career, But what if you have to kill someone? Is that just part of the job?
The only thing we have to fear ...is fear itself.

[chrisa]

125. Actually, he wants to be an IT specialist.

It's highly doubtful he would be near combat (correct?).

Wishing the OP well, despite your personal beliefs, is the tasteful and nice thing to do. :-)

[patrice]

129. You apprently have not been in the military. He would not be anything if it didn't support the

mission, which, lately, is to engage in wars of choice that act out self-fulling prophecies that kill hundreds of thousands of innocent people. There is no expectation that any of that will change - EVER - so . . . what goes around comes around, America.

[Hissyspit]

198. Not true.

[patrice]

219. I'm curious, really. Don't you find it even slightly morally dubious to try to profit from what we

see in The Picture (thread running on the Greatest Page), not to mention the suffering and deaths of millions of people, and NOT REALLY put your own life on the line for whatever it is that you apparently claim is worth the suffering and deaths of others?

I am extremely puzzled by this thinking. This is a no BullShit question. I honestly NEED to understand HOW that works and I'm asking you. Please tell me.

........................................................

From my perspective, Hypothetically:
You go into this situation with others, some of your own will die and many innocents will die too and you are telling me that all of that is acceptable as long as you manage to avoid it.

As much as I HATE what's going on, I HONOR those who FREELY walk into the face of this thing. I may disagree with what I hope is their Choice, but I respect those who are strong enough not to lie about what ALL of it Really is about. I respect those who don't try to double-cross Charon "the ferryman" by saying it's worth human life, even that of my "buddies", but not mine.

I have trained with Marines, in tech school; my step-son was a Marine close-quarters combat instructor and later an artillery-man through 2 tours in Afghanistan. I have a lot of military in my Family. I'm willing to risk a little presumption here to say that I don't think those men and women, in whatever branch, want team-members who get in hoping to avoid combat and pretending that ALL of it doesn't MAKE the sort of thing we see in The Picture happen.

From my perspective, raised as a conservative Catholic, the ONLY thing that can **possibly** resolve the moral questions IS the act of FREELY putting your own life up against the lives of those whom you are trying to kill, who have also made a FREE choice to meet you in mortal combat. I also taught high school seniors; I saw the harvest of America's Oppressed every Spring for 8 years.

Yes, not everyone can be on the front lines, but (having gone to non-com school) I'll tell you there's a great deal of difference in how any duty is performed, depending upon whether your are working with a careerist compared to someone who would/has put their own life on the line for the people s/he is working for/with.

And I find it particularly sad for all of us that what **OTHERS** think is "tasteful and nice" or what some think is "fun" takes precedence over the truth.

[chrisa]

223. I am against the military.

I wish nobody would join, and the entire military could be dismantled, but none of this is going to change the OP's mind.

Was your post directed at me? I'm against all war. I just hope he stays safe. My opinion on the military hardly matters to the OP, though.

[patrice]

226. I understand your position, because i believe it more often than not creates the need it

fulfills - one of the reasons that I left it right after Desert Shield, about half-way to a retirement, because I couldn't support the very issues that I raise in my last post to you.

The question was to anyone who can answer it. I really do want to know.

[billh58]

130. Maybe because some

of us have already proudly served?

[L0oniX]

244. Don't make the mistake of thinking that Du is an anti war, anti military site.

I have made that mistake a few times. I certainly wish that is was totally anti war and anti military. Some people just love the killing and blowing shit up like some kind of damned video game. I am sure it become real to the soldier as he/she is sliding into the unconsciousness of death.

[renate]

123. thank you!

:patriot:

It sounds like you've put a lot of thought into this and that you feel really good about your decision--I'm happy for you, and very grateful for your service.

:hug:

[billh58]

127. Congratulations, and

the very best to you and yours.

:toast:

[Cid_B]

134. You'll be fine.. it's fun....

*breaks into classic evil muaHAHAHA*

[wysingm]

170. Best of Luck... Stay Safe...

:patriot:

[Arkana]

171. Good luck, soldier!

[GrantDem]

181. Thank you for your service.

Stay safe.

[SoDesuKa]

183. Recruiter Promises

The Army makes decisions it its own interest, not in yours. They'll keep a legal commitment to put you in the MOS you signed up for, but after that you're on your own. If you decide to go to Officer Candidate School you'll end up in the infantry - whether you finish successfully or not.

Your chances of completing OCS at your age are rather dim. If you're joining the Army as a way to get out of working in a Big Box retailer, you don't sound like you have a lot of drive. You need a huge amount of drive to get through OCS even if you were 15 years younger.

The Army does not need IT guys in CONUS. The Army does need lots of foot soldiers in Afghanistan. I'd be very careful of what recruiters tell you. They don't give you all the caveats. You'll get a job that's technically IT, but it may be worse than the one you have now at Best Buy.

It's not too late to back out. I really wouldn't join the Army at your age. This is not a smart career move.

[Fire1]

251. Yours is the best post I've read in this thread. Wish I could rec.

[PacerLJ35]

253. That's not true at all

Of course the Army ultimately makes decisions that benefits the service's mission, but it also tries to balance those needs with individual desires. Your statement that graduating from OCS will result in a guaranteed spot in the infantry is way off the mark. The Army is short of officers in nearly every branch. The OP may not wind up in a computer-related officer career field, but he or she will have plenty of options available. Hell, even the Aviation branch is hurting (although he or she is too old for flight school).

I see people making it through training programs much more difficult than OCS at a much older age. OCS is more of a drill in time management, speaking skills, and leadership than it is about physical fitness. All you are required to do is pass the APFT (Army Physical Fitness Test) to graduate OCS, and that test is broken down into age groups. A 37 year old doesn't have to run or do as many pushups as a 20 year old.

Regardless of what you think, the Army isn't going to automatically stick somebody in the Infantry simply because it needs bodies in that branch...because it needs bodies in most of the branches. There are lots of people who WANT to be in the infantry, so I seriously doubt our OP will have any issues.

That's my take, from somebody who's graduated USAF OTS (2000), Army WOCS (1996) and Army Basic Training (1992). But I'm sure you or someone else will simply state my opinions are "anecdotal".

[proteus_lives]

188. Good luck and stay safe.

You have made your own choice and that makes DU proud of you! We need good men and women manning the watchtowers.

:patriot:

[omega minimo]

190. Don't feed the meat grinder

:hi:

[bluestateguy]

191. I congratulate you

You have a commander in chief that you can be proud of.

[Hissyspit]

192. I applaud your willingness to serve your country. I am also not quite sure why persons who

think you should make an informed decision are being attacked in this thread. I am not sure why people are surprised that there would be people on a website who studied the negative consequences of war, the war machine, and of handing your life, essentially, over to the government and the military-industrial complex, people who might want to give you advice or emphasis the potential negative consequences of your decision, many of these people veterans themselves. I am not sure why you did not understand that you would make this post here on this site and that people would want to discuss the possible negative consequenses of your decision not matter your honest and admirable conviction.

I grew up in a military family. My father did two tours in Vietnam. He was wounded twice. He ultimately died of lung cancer probably caused by exposure to agent orange. My older brother is retired and did well, although a bullet went past his head in Mogadishu. My younger brother joined twice and got out just before 9/11, just in time in his mind. If he had been called back during the Bush years, he probably would have resisted and been prosecuted (my understanding).

I teach students who are in the military. They are in the military to receive educational benefits mostly, in addition to the myriad other reasons to join, including wanting to serve their fellow Americans and others. Many of these students have had very bad exeriences in the military. Many have had very good experiences in the military. When we are all alone in the classroom environment, they are more than willing to speak HONESTLY about what someone who would join the Army would need to be informed about.

I have had one former student killed in Iraq. There may be others I am not aware. One former student, despite my discussions with her, went to Iraq to serve in the international police force. She saw one of her friends brains splattered through a Humvee in front of her, and she was injured less seriously and had to retire.

Your ability to speak up politically will be suppressed. Your vote may not be counted. As an IT person you may end up working on systems that support the unmanned drones that have killed innocent people. You may not, but you may.

Despite the postesr above who have felt the need to personally attack anyone who may have felt the need to be concerned for your decision and wanted to inform you of things you may not be aware of, this is a serious decision with consequences.

I am not going to tell you what to do. You are 37. You have clearly thought about this. The military is for some and not for others and your mileage will vary. The world is a tough and dangerous and nuanced place and there is not necessarily easy answers.

Below I am posting the link to a book/website - 10 Excellent Reasons Not To Join The Military - it is written by activists, journalists, clearly, but it is also well-grounded in reality. The ten reasons you probably have considered. But you may not have, so there is no reason for you not to be aware of them, not matter that President Obama is now commander-in-chief, or that other people think it is inappropriate for you to be made aware of them.

Also you might want to read, "The Untold War: Inside the Hearts, Minds, and Souls of Our Soldiers."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV2HOHC3S0s&feature=youtube_gdata

http://www.amazon.com/Untold-War-Inside-Hearts-Soldiers/dp/0393064816

Good luck and best wishes. Please post from time to time on your experience. As you said in your OP, there are many positives reasons for you to make this move, and I hope that they come to dominate your experience.

http://www.10reasonsbook.com/killed.htm

You May Be Killed

- snip -


You May Kill Others Who Do Not Deserve to Die

- snip -


You May Be Injured

By Robert Acosta and Nina Berman
Nina Berman traveled the country photographing and interviewing soldiers who had been injured in Iraq. Photos like Berman's don't show up in Army pamphlets.

One of the soldiers she met was Robert Acosta, who had his arm blown off when he went to buy sodas in Iraq. Since Robert's return home he has become an antiwar activist and travels the country speaking.

"I met one soldier who was living alone in a trailer, completely blind, without a leg, shrapnel wounds covering his body. He has no parents to take care of him and spends his days with young kids who ride around in circles on ATVs on a dead-end road in one of the poorest counties in the state. On the anniversary of his injury, he was found wandering at night through the woods in what local news reports said was an apparent suicide attempt. Do you think the army recruiting commercial that seduced this soldier into joining ever mentioned anything about blindness, amputation, or brain damage?"


You May Not Receive Proper Medical Care

- snip -


You May Suffer Long-term Health Problems

By Tod Ensign
Tod Ensign documents the ways that American soldiers have been exposed to poisonous chemicals since World War II. He details today's risks of depleted uranium to soldiers in Iraq.

Many also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and drug and alcohol abuse. Ensign uses data, interviews with veterans and government officials to show that these invisible injuries can be as deadly as a gunshot.

"Iraq vet Matthew Sepi fired on two strangers in Las Vegas, killing one of them. Sepi told police that his Iraq experiences influenced his response to what he thought was an ambush. Sepi's family said that he seemed different after Iraq. He talked about the 'weird noises' children make when they're dying. His request for psychiatric help from the VA had not yet been granted at the time of the shooting."


You May Be Lied To

By Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg
Recruiters promise college tuition, success and adventure. They say you'll never see combat and can choose any job you want. But these promises evaporate as soon as a young recruit signs her contract. Weill-Greenberg writes about her own experience with recruiters as an undercover journalist, and interviews military parents and students. Through testimony and statistics she shows that if a recruiter's pitch sounds too good to be true that's because it is.

"'You could get shot -- God forbid -- in front of your apartment. More people were killed in New York last week than Iraq,' the Sergeant told me repeating one of the recruiters' favorite mantras.

Recruiters will do or say just about anything to convince young people that the Army is not about war. No, the military isn't all guns and tears and pain. It's hip, cool, rebellious even. (My recruiter told me to 'cut the umbilical cord' when I said I didn't think my mom would approve.)"

You May Face Discrimination

- snip -


You May Be Asked to Do Things Against Your Beliefs

By Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg
A majority of Americans say the Iraq war was a mistake and more and more people are demanding the US immediately withdraw troops. But deployed soldiers must fight no matter what their personal beliefs -- or risk imprisonment. What's so honorable about participating in something you know is wrong?

"Shortly after Chas joined, he realized the army was not the noble profession he had imagined. He found that the military was about dehumanization of the enemy and the soldiers themselves. Chas explained that this process started in boot camp with 'sick, twisted' drills, like Sniper Wonderland:

'See the little girl with the puppy; Lock and load a hollow pointed round ... Take the shot and maybe if you're lucky; You'll watch their lifeless bodies hit the ground ...'

'You're singing these things and you know they're wrong,' Chas said. 'But if you don't say it, you'll catch so much hell. You're scared to death and you have to say it.'"


You May Find It Difficult to Leave the Military

By Louis and Marti Hiken
The stop-loss policy, or back door draft, has forced about 15,000 soldiers to stay beyond their separation date. Some soldiers have been duped into the "Try One" program. When they're on their way out, recruiters say, 'Sign up for just one more year and go to college. If you don't like it -- well it's only a year.'

Sergeant Emiliano Santiago joined the "Try One" program. He was stop-lossed and his current discharge date is 2031.


You Have Other Choices

Rae Abileah wanted to join the military when she was in high school. After her abusive father left her family, she didn't know how she could ever afford college without enlisting. But Rae found alternatives. In this chapter she discusses other ways to get college money, adventure and travel without risking life and limb.

"Given the state of the economy at the moment, it is unsurprising that 33 percent of male recruits and 39 percent of female recruits report that they enter the military to get money for college. Unfortunately, the military is often so desperate to meet quotas and is itself so strapped for cash that these are empty promises; most recruits never see any of this money. Rather than take a gamble on a lot of hot air from military recruiters, it's possible to find tuition money from a reputable source."

[Richard Steele]

193. Good luck to you, soldier! *salute* nm

[dysfunctional press]

194. another sad day for humanity.

they couldn't have wars if nobody volunteered to fight them.

[L0oniX]

243. They'd just hire Blackwater ...hell ...they're getting 700+ billion a year from us all for it.

[Raine]

202. Best of luck to you! nt

[OneBlueSky]

204. another brat here . . . my dad was a career Army officer, and I must say . . .

there are worse ways to spend one's life . . . the only glitch in the system, of course, it the constant possibility of being sent to war . . . if that's an acceptable risk, then you can have a great career (short or long) in the military . . .

whatever you choose, best of luck . . .:)

[Vattel]

205. It's not easy to serve in the military

and avoid complicity in murder. Good luck.

[PhD]

206. Good luck to you in your career

My husband and I have been in the National Guard for over 15 years and love the opportunities we've been given.

[Dorian Gray]

207. Best of luck to you

You are taking a huge and brave step. I hope you enjoy your time in the military, and I hope you remain safe!

[Mudoria]

210. Best of luck to you and thank you for serving our country

:patriot:

[unhappycamper]

211. Stay safe, keep your head down when the shit starts flying and

NEVER volunteer for anything.

[howard112211]

212. Yawn.

[MadHound]

215. Are you OK, in the moral and ethical sense, that your actions will result in the death of innocents?

There is the fact that you will be serving your country. A noble sentiment, but one that can be filled in a multitude of ways.

But even if you aren't on the front lines, your actions will be killing and injuring innocents in an illegal, immoral war. Can you square your conscience with that?

Something to think about.

[GCP]

216. Good luck, and stay safe!

:thumbsup:

[cherokeeprogressive]

217. I'm pretty shocked that this thread isn't locked yet.

It certainly seems to have turned into a fingerpointing flamefest wherein someone who has made a decision to serve his country is now being called a killer of innocents, even if he's not involved in any direct action against said innocents.

[patrice]

228. How very "progressive" of you AND despite the fact that you missed the point entirely. wow.

[cherokeeprogressive]

232. "your actions will be killing and injuring innocents in an illegal, immoral war."

Is that the point I missed?

[MadHound]

247. No, the point that you missed is my asking if he is OK with that

If the OP can square his conscience with the fact that his/her actions will lead to the death of innocents, even if only indirectly.

But nice try at taking things out of context and deliberately missing the point of my post altogether in order to slide in the ad hominem attack. If you're going to try and call me out, reply to my post and do it face to face so to speak rather than beating around the bush and trying to get the whole board involved. That's a chickeshit way of doing things.

Anything else you want to discuss with me?

[alarimer]

218. I hope you know you are nothing but cannon fodder to them.

I hope you stay alive, that is the most important thing.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

220. You're enlisting

at the age of 37? Wow.....

[Statistical]

221. One word of caution. READ YOUR CONTRACT.

If it isn't in writing in your contract it didn't happen.

I don't care what the MEPS crew tells you about how this is how it is done or they will amend you contract later.

If it isn't in your contract (bonus, MOS, duty station of choice, special schools, advance rank) is DID NOT HAPPEN.

When I was in the Army (Sgt) I can't tell you how many "greens" we would get straight from AIT with something that wasn't in their contract (Sgt I am "suppose" to be getting a bonus, Sgt I told my wife we would be stationed in TX, Sgt when do I go to air assault school).

READ EVERY SINGLE WORD IN YOUR CONTRACT. If something you were promised isn't in there you will NEVER get it.

Other than that, good luck and thanks for your future service.

[kestrel91316]

224. Congrats from a former military brat (my dad was a career USAF officer)!!

[Orsino]

229. Enjoy Ft. Gordon!

In 20 weeks, you will come to know the taste of Barton Field: http://www.gordon.army.mil/sigbde15/signal_battalions/447/info.htm

Go Army! Go Signal! Push-ups, sit-ups and runnin' 'til your ears bleed now will make Basic a less-unpleasant experience. With the right attitude, you could even laugh (to yourself) your way through it.

[Zhade]

233. Don't kill any innocent people.

NT!

[Kaleva]

237. Good luck!

[jdp349]

238. As Freddie Mercury would say ...

Keep yourself alive!

do what you gotta do, I salute you and wish you good luck!

[jdp349]

239. As Freddie Mercury would say ...

Keep yourself alive!

do what you gotta do, I salute you and wish you good luck!

[PacerLJ35]

241. Two cents worth of advice from someone in the military

Trying to go officer is a good way to go. I've been enlisted, warrant officer and now officer. Pay is much better, although these days enlisted pay isn't terrible. When I joined the Army as an E-1 in 1992, I think my first month's paycheck was something like $670. These days, single enlisted guys make well over $1000/mo with free food and housing...not too bad. Married enlisted get a much better housing pay (or free housing), plus subsistence pay. Altogether a junior enlisted guy with a family makes better than $2,000/mo typically.

Officer pay is much better...at least double that as a junior officer. The only problem is you don't get the free food or housing (usually...base housing for officers is very limited). The Army is having a manning crisis of sorts these days. It's easier to make rank now because of the revolving door. If you can stay flexible with where you live, serve, etc, you'll make rank and actually enjoy your job. Don't expect it to be anything like a normal job in the sense of staying put in one spot, etc. However, at the same time, once you're done with basic training and advanced training, it becomes much more like a "normal" job. Many people don't understand this, but Hollywood doesn't provide an accurate portrayal of military life...at all. I've brought civilian friends and family onto the Air Force Base I work at and they are utterly surprised at what they see. They expect rows of barracks-style buildings, people marching all over, and guys driving Humvees around. But what they find are corporate-style office buildings, college-style dorms for the single enlisted folks, rarely any marching formations (unless there's a parade or a basic training unit there), and people drive their own cars 99% of the time. Even more so, they see spouses and kids all over...the bases are like mini cities and if it wasn't for the uniforms and military equipment, you'd be hard pressed to know it was a military base.

Don't worry about the folks on here that are being hypercritical about what you are about to do. No, you aren't going to be a killer. No, the US doesn't run around trying to exterminate civilians. Most of those people on this forum simply don't know much about what they are talking about. They read blogs or some other second-hand internet source that was written by someone who knew someone who knew someone, and then come up with their own reality based on that. Take the airstrikes in Afghanistan, for example. We don't simply go "ah, who cares about civilians, just bomb the hell out of them!". The targets are carefully chosen, and there are many levels of approval before a single bomb leaves the rail. Unfortunately warfare is very complex and it's impossible to know everything on the battlefield, thus civilians are often caught in the middle as they have during every major war in history. It's very unfortunate and the US is one of the few countries out there that actually goes to any length to AVOID civilian deaths, contrary to what you might read on this forum.

How do I know? Because I've been there, done that. No, I don't drop bombs, but I've been in the CAOC, I've got great friends who fly fighters and bombers and "drones" (UAVs), and I've studied and learned the way we do things in warfare. It's utterly mind-boggling and complex, but necessary because if we didn't try and do the right thing, civilian deaths would be off the charts and we'd be completely losing the two counter-insurgencies we're engaged in right now.

Keep in mind that those in the military are professional and try to do the right thing 99% of the time. Those that aren't professional and either fuck up or fail to do the right thing are typically shown the door, not promoted or prosecuted as the situation dictates. Keep your head level, do your best, and keep your oath and mission in mind all the time and you'll do fine. Don't get bitter if you get an assignment you don't like, because if you do, your job performance will suffer...I've seen guys get sent to crap jobs and they held their head high and did well, and then voila, they get an assignment to Hawaii. If they had been bitter, they would have probably been given another bad assignment. Be that soldier that your commander WANTS to take care of...and they will take care of you the best they can. But realize the Army is a large organization with lots of red tape...understand that and you'll keep your sanity.

I've done this for 18 years...4 years of being an enlisted Army engineer...4 years of flying Army helicopters as a warrant officer, and now 10 years of flying airplanes for the Air Force...there are things about my job I'd change. There are things about it I don't like. I've had my share of so-so or bad assignments. But in general, I love my job and I've enjoyed my 18 years of service thus far. 8 more years I'll hang up my hat and retire, and I'm sure it'll be bittersweet.

Take care, and PM me if you have any questions.

[sixmile]

242. I couldn't have done it at 37!

Best of luck to you and your family. The Army needs goods people who post on DU!

[PacerLJ35]

249. Exactly...

Many on DU gripe and groan about how the military is full of right-wingers, misguided leadership and worse. Yet none of them want to get off their asses to actually be a part of the organization and perhaps change it from within. It's much easier to sit on the sideline and snipe at people who do choose to give it a try. Perhaps the OP can do something positive within the military as a liberal-minded individual.

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

252. I'm now in !!!

At about 5:15pm this afternoon, I rose my right hand in the ceremony room at MEPS and took the oath for the very first time :Bounce: And I have to tell you, every single military person at MEPS I encountered today said,"thank you for your service, and welcome to the family" :-) I can't be a flamethrowing liberal in the service, but i can set a good example by doing the very best I can each day, do things right the first time, and basically stay true to myself. I'm already an E-3 (soon to be E-4 when my college algebra grade is final), and naturally the much younger recruits will be looking at me to lead the way. That's how I can help be a positive role model and show what a liberal thinker can do for his country!

[PacerLJ35]

254. Good luck

Finish your degree (if you haven't already) and put in for OCS as soon as you can. The Army needs officers...try to get your CO/XO to support your desire to become a commissioned officer.

[cherokeeprogressive]

255. Good for you!

Like I said before, Welcome to the Club, Bro.

It seems as though you're (probably due to your age) approaching this great adventure with the right attitude.

You'll do well, I can tell.

Best of Luck to You.

[Common Sense Party]

263. Congratulations. I thank you for serving your country.

We need more good people like you.

[county worker]

245. FTA, fun travel and adventure.

Or is it something else? It's been over 40 years since I left the Army. I hear they want to get rid of civilians who do what the Army use to do. Hello KP!

Here's wishing you a great career!

[NeedleCast]

250. Good Luck!

While I don't support the current wars in general, I think serving in the military is an honorable thing to do. Best of luck.

[tjwash]

261. Don't do it.

You will kicking yourself in the ass in a year and a half wondering what the fuck you were thinking.

[Common Sense Party]

262. Or not.

[PacerLJ35]

268. I've been in for 18 years...still no signs of regretting my decision.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

264. Funny thing, the Army has "socialized medicine"

Or at least it used to. You get sick or hurt, you go get fixed up, no money changes hands.

That's the way to do it.

I even got free eyeglasses, but they were practical ugly things.

37 years old? You'll be in basic training with a bunch of kids. Good luck running, pull-ups, rope-climbing, and lounging in the front-leaning-rest position.

:hi:

[PacerLJ35]

266. It's not socialized medicine

The military has it's own medical system for military personnel for one reason...sick troops can't get the mission done. It's not done as a social favor. It's done for readiness. Free or cheap medical insurance is available to family members for one other reason: the military family often finds itself alone, and having a bunch of deployed troops with sick families at home only increases the problems.

Additionally, BCT (basic combat training) breaks down into age groups and ability groups. If you run slow, they won't put you in the group that can run marathons. Basic training was easy, IMO. Granted I was much younger, but I wasn't exactly in the best shape when I arrived either. The OP will do fine.