Re: They have pussified basic training
 

My ex wife worked 2 jobs when I was in the military. We got allowances for everything, even extra for being in a high area.

It was extremely hard to make ends meet.

Joining the military is not the answer.

Re: They have pussified basic training
 

Thanks Peaches and Anthony ...

Anthony I hit you up on ICQ earlier, when you have a chance respond if you don't mind ... I would like to ask you a couple questions about some of the financial aspects I would be looking at enlisting.

If this isn't going to be any easier on her then me going to Wal-Mart and pulling in $10 an hour then there is alot less reason to do it. I'll be honest, alot of it is about making sure my daughter is taken care of (financially) and I am going down the right path in my life to be able to continue to take care of her after the 4 years whether I decide to re-enlist or not.

BTW Why don't sigs show up any more here?

Re: They have pussified basic training
 

Ryan you need to go into your UserCP -> Edit Options - scroll down to Thread Display Options and check the Show sigs... yadda yadda :)

Re: They have pussified basic training
 

Ahhh, just got a phone call. Apparently the combination of the DUI in the past, along with being arrested for possesion of .5 grams of marijuana when I was 16, and transportation of alchohol at 19... Along with my 'violent criminal history' despite the fact that 8 of those charges were dropped after the cops arrested me basically to throw me in the drunk tank for a night.

I don't qualify for the U.S. Army the recruiter said... Weird as he told me that past wasn't a problem when I went in there. Reading that forumn you posted a link to Peaches I also wouldn't of been allowed in as there is a no tolerance policy for people who have had addictions in the past on their medical history. 2 days of Detox in my medical history along with records of me admitting to alchoholism and heavy drug abuse... That would of been enough to stop me from qualifying as it is anyways I guess.

Kind of weird, I suppose even if you wanted to put your life back on track and signup for the ARMY you couldn't... I do see there reasoning, but you would think they would make exceptions with restrictions and the understanding you would be closely monitored etc .. But like PD said no time to police everyone in an all volunteer army I guess.

Re: They have pussified basic training
 

That's what I was afraid of. The AF is even stricter (if you have EVER done anything harder than pot you are disqualified) but I wasn't sure about the Army or Marines. Sorry to hear that :(

Re: They have pussified basic training
 

No offence Ryan, but even without the "admitted addictions" and the drug related offence's, the "violent criminal history" rings alarm bells straight away.

You'd think violence would be something the army would want but it's not, as you'd be seen as someone that is "going" to be a problem from the outset.

The army needs people easy to train and guaranteed to follow orders, not people with a tendency to spit back.

Re: They have pussified basic training
 

Peaches, the army is defiantely the most leniant out of all the options...

Trev, I agree bud - and I'll admit it was due to having a problem with authority (when I owned my bar) that I was arrested all those times. Thing that suprised me is it didn't matter that I wasn't convicted the mere fact it is on my 'rap sheet' was enough...

I would really hate to see the FBI file on me, and I'm not kidding ... I probably never would of got below the lowest security clearance. Guess all those years when I said "It doesn't matter if I get a DUI" ... "What's one more arrest on my record, how's that going to affect me" ... "Who cares if the feds are watching me go grab an 8 Ball" ... etc have come back to bite me in the ass ... I always was an extremely arrogant sofb !

Maybe it's gods way of telling me make this internet thing work for me again too.. They say he works in mysterious ways although this isn't exactly mysterious (rather blatantly obvious)

Re: They have pussified basic training
 

Ryan...There are always more than one way to skin a cat. Or get into the military, as it were :)

If you really want in, hit up your congressman's office. They can do a lot of things.

Re: They have pussified basic training
 

Just one little tidbit recruiter might not have mentioned. When you join, you do so for 8 years. You might only be active for 2, 4 or 6 but that little pink contract puts you in the IRR til your 8 years are up. In the recent past, this wasn't an issue. But for certain MOS's, folks are getting called back into service to go visit the middle east. That "Based on the needs of the Army" clause in there has also kept a few in the sand well beyond their DEROS.

Recruiters job is to get you to the local MEPS station. That's where you pick your job, sign contracts, swear in... ect. Anything the recruiter tells you should be taken with grain of salt because it's the guys at MEPS who will be ones doing the real paperwork that determines where you go for basic training and MOS you pick. They are very good about making it seem you don't have a choice in some matters but just like when you are at car dealership, you can walk out anytime you wish. Don't be an asshole but also don't let them roll over you with something you don't fully understand. Ask all the questions you can, because they won't just offer information.

If your ASVAB scores are high, then no need to be an 11 series unless you want that... Here's a list of what's available... http://usmilitary.about.com/od/army/l/blarmos.htm

If you can get clearance and have high ASVAB, I'd recommend doing anything in the MI or EW areas (90s series).

Re: They have pussified basic training
 

Seth, I can't remember exactly what he said my score was but I took a prelim ASVAB test and he said I would qualify very easily to get into the fields I wanted too - which were basically anything in the computing field as that is obviously where the money is.

Sarettah, I wish it was that simple. One thing I don't mention that often and probably very few people know about me is I have been diagnosed as having Bi-Polar Disorder 1

Meaning essentially I am a moody ass, anti-social at many times, (on drugs) delusional, and many other side effects the army does not want out of soldiers. I was hoping if I stayed clean and on my meds the army would let it slide... Should of known better. The recruiter said to stay off meds for one month (at first he said you need to be off them for a year and have psych sign a waiver) which I think I could have handled and been perfectly fine ... But you add all this in with the other problems and I don't think it was meant to be unfortunately. I can honestly tell you it was something I was very very seriously considering despite the fact I knew I would be overseas within 6 months of signing on..

Honestly after the last few weeks and how I have handled the problems that came up in my life alchohol and drug free - I can tell you I probably would of been either a very intense SOFB at boot camp or I would of crossed the line and tested authority at a level it shouldn't of been.... So it is probably for the best, never having had a real 'BOSS' that knew how to be a boss... in my LIFE ... heh ... I either better get to kicking ass or get a real boss and get on the train with everyone else..

Ironically, he said if I came back and re-tested I could have been a 'pharmacist' (oh yeah give that to an ex-druggy ... smart) or anything else in the medical field which I never would of thought I had the 'smarts' for ... Wasn't ever much of a student, more of a 'learn it on my own' type of person...

I would rather have Street Smarts than Book Smarts though honestly... Street Smarts you can apply to every day life. You just have to apply them properly... Book Smarts, you know everything in the world but you are so damn dis-organized when it comes to anything in life that isn't structured that IQ of 150 + does you NO GOOD...

Re: They have pussified basic training
 

Have you thought about joining the The French Foreign Legion:

http://www.ambafrance-us.org/atoz/legion/index.asp

;-)))

You only need too:

to be between the age of 17 and 40 years old (Parental or legal tutor authorization is required for minors),
to hold a valid official identity card,
to be physically fit for duty wherever he may be needed,
knowledge of the French language is not necessary because it will be acquired during the contract.