Joined the Army

[red91]

Only wanted to join the air force to be a pilot. Yall make it seem like I hate the soldiers and am one of those stupid protesting wackos, that is not the case at all. Just dont agree with what our leaders are doing with the armed forces, nothing against the forces themselves.

This is true...your just a run of the mill wacko.

 

[Ramsey]

A run of the mill wacko? I'd like to think I'm a bit more whacked out than the average wacko.

 

[mingo]

Most of the Special Forces guys I knew, were marathon types. The training tempo and often the operations tempo, will tear ya down. Not many guys can keep up the pace there entire carriers. Many get injured in training.
But then you have define Special Forces, Scouts? Division Scouts? Rangers? Armored Cav. Air Cav. even combat engineers. And others. The guys out at the pointy end of the spear.

There's really only one true Special Forces branch in the military. Carrying the designation CMF18. The others should fall under the Spec Ops. As we all were under SOCOM.
I retired in 97 w/17yrs active duty.(Medical retirement) as an 18E4VW8.

As to the original poster. Congrats on your decision and good luck. :cheers:

 

[8Mud]

There's really only one true Special Forces branch in the military. Carrying the designation CMF18. The others should fall under the Spec Ops. As we all were under SOCOM.
I retired in 97 w/17yrs active duty.(Medical retirement) as an 18E4VW8.

As to the original poster. Congrats on your decision and good luck. :cheers:

I worked with the guys at the detachment in Bad Tolz on occasion. A lot of spirit there, not many places you see a group of guys, jump from 500 feet into the quad to go to the messhall.:roflmao:
We called them war tourists in Nam, they would pop in for a week or so then pop out, most all were TDY. No slight intended, TDY pay is good. I did some TDY gigs myself. We did a lot of joint stuff, I schooled with a bunch of guys that took that path, many ended up in Blue Light. My first MOS was 11D (guess now it's 19D).
I had a ball, trying out new toys with the guys. We did a lot of joint stuff with them, the Rangers, Scouts, FACs and others (special Ops).

 

[Billfaceeee]

Thank's for all the encouraging word's and all who differ from the ambition which I have to join the Military. For those who've Enlisted and served I just spent two day's dealing with MAPS (I think that's what it was I've been awake since 4AM). Full physical took the ASVAB test and received my job I really wanted (63B) 'Light Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic', My recruiter told me they condensed the Light/Heavy into one field although I'm not 100% sure on that one. Finally after a long, long day I took the oath to protect our constitution. I ship out Jan9th for 9 week's in Knox then 12 week's at APG in Maryland for AIT. I'm excited I can't wait for the bonus to come in and finally put money into my JEEP's suspension..and buy a nice watch finally.

 

[goodburbon]

I hope you got that job in writing before you swore in. I originally signed up promised I would be a linguist by my recruiter, and ended up a weather observer. Congrats and thank you for your commitment.

It's MEPS.

 

[Tarakian]

Finally after a long, long day I took the oath to protect our constitution.

Thanks, and thanks a day early to all our vets. Without you, there would be no America atriot:atriot:atriot:

 

[RichP]

Thank's for all the encouraging word's and all who differ from the ambition which I have to join the Military. For those who've Enlisted and served I just spent two day's dealing with MAPS (I think that's what it was I've been awake since 4AM). Full physical took the ASVAB test and received my job I really wanted (63B) 'Light Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic', My recruiter told me they condensed the Light/Heavy into one field although I'm not 100% sure on that one. Finally after a long, long day I took the oath to protect our constitution. I ship out Jan9th for 9 week's in Knox then 12 week's at APG in Maryland for AIT. I'm excited I can't wait for the bonus to come in and finally put money into my JEEP's suspension..and buy a nice watch finally.

DONT YOU DARE SPEND THAT BONUS, you'll be moving around the next few months, so don't piss it away, once it's gone it's GONE GONE GONE, almost guaranteed you will be heading for the sandbox in the next 8 months or so at which point you will be parking the XJ somewhere dry, out of the weather and secure. Then consider what you want to do. You are leaving the same day as my son heads for Paris Island, he figures infantry, I figure that with his maxing the ASVAB test in under 45 min and his degree he's not going to be a grunt but I'm not telling him that

 

[RichP]

I hope you got that job in writing before you swore in. I originally signed up promised I would be a linguist by my recruiter, and ended up a weather observer. Congrats and thank you for your commitment.

They did not lie to you, just stretched the truth a bit, your linguistic specialty just happened to be atmospherics is all

 

[8Mud]

DONT YOU DARE SPEND THAT BONUS, you'll be moving around the next few months, so don't piss it away, once it's gone it's GONE GONE GONE, almost guaranteed you will be heading for the sandbox in the next 8 months or so at which point you will be parking the XJ somewhere dry, out of the weather and secure. Then consider what you want to do. You are leaving the same day as my son heads for Paris Island, he figures infantry, I figure that with his maxing the ASVAB test in under 45 min and his degree he's not going to be a grunt but I'm not telling him that

Listen to the man. What is really important to you today, may be less so in a very few months.
A few things I did well in the military, was to stash some money away and not to get into a routine. I kept right one expanding my boundries and training.
The military will give you every chance to stagnate, mess up or learn and advance. Make the right choices. Play the game and then take it a step further, getting with the program is actually easier than just trying to get by.
I spent a lot of time in the motor pool, always showed up in the morning with a clean uniform. Didn't just learn my trade and then stagnate, memeorized the FM's and then learned the next level on my own, way ahead of the curve. In the long run it was easier than just going with the flow. In short order I had a level of autonomy way ahead of my peers.
You got to figure most of the guys around you (your peers) haven't got a clue, but will always have an oppinion. Be your own man.

 

[RichP]

Setup that home bank account like I suggested back in the beginning of this thread, make no plans on vehicles or buying any toys until you know whats what. Stick that bonus in the home bank and leave it there [I did not know they paid it up front], if you bolo out of the school for whatever reason, physical injury, failed, whatever, you may have to pay it back which you can't do if you spent it. I really really really recommend you allot a good amount of money to that home account you won't be able to access on spur of the moment 'things'.
Rule #1 Never put yourself in the positon that allows someone else to grab you by the short hairs.

 

[8Mud]

Setup that home bank account like I suggested back in the beginning of this thread, make no plans on vehicles or buying any toys until you know whats what. Stick that bonus in the home bank and leave it there [I did not know they paid it up front], if you bolo out of the school for whatever reason, physical injury, failed, whatever, you may have to pay it back which you can't do if you spent it. I really really really recommend you allot a good amount of money to that home account you won't be able to access on spur of the moment 'things'.
Rule #1 Never put yourself in the positon that allows someone else to grab you by the short hairs.

The military sponsored savings plans are a good gig. The most recent I've heard about pays 10% interest, on up to $10,000 a year. By the end of your enlistment, you could nearly increase your money by fifty percent.
If you get deployed they likely have even better savings plans.
I always managed to have a good time and still save a bunch. There is more than one way to skin a cat and an enterprising guy can make some cash on the side. Hang out at the auto craft shop, sell your labor and experience. The guys at the shop are likely an OK bunch and the time spent there is actually making money not spending it. I bought a sewing machine and taught mayself to be a tailor. Laugh if you want to, bought a used Porshe in three years, paid cash.