They have pussified basic training

[XXXPhoto]

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).

[RyanLanane]

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...