Recently enlisted in the United States Army

Much like one of our favorite members here Proj, I, too, have taken the Oath of enlistment and am joining the ranks of the United States Army. You can read Proj's farewell post here, but mine is not a farewell, at least not yet.

I am not leaving any time relatively son, not until this upcoming June, but I wanted to share the news with all of you now. I am actually part of the Reserve corps known as the Future Soldiers Program until I actually ship out to BCT this summer, then will I become active duty.

I will use this thread to update everyone here on the process that I have taken to get this far as of now and what will be upcoming for me as I get close to shipping to training.It will also be interesting to what my progress as a 30-something year old guy training with a bunch of 18-20 year olds as well. I have never felt so old!

So far I have completed the ASVAB, passed the physical, had a psych evaluation, my background checks done, chosen an MOS and signed my contract. During the Future Soldiers program there will be meetings, lessons of basic army knowledge, PT...

I am both humbled and honored to be doing this for myself, my family and my country. i know there will be some here who are not going to be receptive to this, and I am ok with that. This was my decision and it was not an easy decision to make.

Thank you all, but dont think your getting rid of me yet! Like I said, I dont leave until the summer!

Well if anyone asks, "We never saw you."

reply to post by youdidntseeme


I have been told by many people that due to my past psych evaluations, and what they revealed about me, I would be considered invalid for any branch except the Army.

Honestly, I respect any man or woman who joins the army...it is their decision, and their life to do with as they please. However, I do not support the concept of paying for our President's mistakes, nor his greed. When our military is absolutely needed, I respect and support that necessity. But the behind-the-scenes motives for our military involvement as of this past decade or so has been less that savory.

You are showing your pride and support, and I agree with that. But it is not for me. Regardless, I preemptively wish you the best on your ventures into the wild frontier of the military. We will miss your contributions here in the ATS forums. Perhaps, when you return (as I hope you will) you will have even more to bring to the table.

May the wind be at your back, soldier.

Congrats! You'll have a lot of good and bad times in BCT and AIT. Save your money and you'll come home with a good chunk of change. Have any questions about what to expect?

I am both humbled and honored to be doing this for myself, my family and my country.

I take it you didn't do extensive reading and researching about the manipulation of our military during your membership here? How does someone who has been a member here still believe in that "honor to family and country" crap?

It's about pride and honor.... it's what they tell the military men so they have something to believe in while murdering civilians in the name of corporate greed and world market domination.

Click here for more information.

Anyone dumb enough to want to be in the military should be allowed in - Bill Hicks

Originally posted by IkNOwSTuff
future soldiers program does sound like your pulling some legs and this is a wind up, pls tell me this isnt serious?

What about that sounds fake?

Originally posted by wWizard

Originally posted by IkNOwSTuff
future soldiers program does sound like your pulling some legs and this is a wind up, pls tell me this isnt serious?

What about that sounds fake?

The future soldiers program is the new name for what used to be known as the Delayed Entry Program. The days of walking int a recruiter's office and shipping out in less than a month are behind us. Every single enlistee is put into the FSP nowadays.

Jobs in the army are becoming harder to come by as enlistment has been increasing every year for a while now. The first opening in my MOS was not until this summer.

reply to post by JibbyJedi


...Hence, the last decade or so of "unsavory motives". It is less a necessity than it is serving the subconscious instincts of TAKE TAKE TAKE! We are looking out for ourselves and our own greedy ambitions, nothing more.

If we really wanted to, we could thrive off of nothing but our own country, and leave the others to find their way.

But again, I respect this man's decision to do as he wishes. He will, at the very least, do well by his family and himself. At the worst (and by worst, I mean he will have experienced the horrors of duplicity firsthand), he will come back enlightened.

If you can stay in for the long haul (20+ years) you will reap incredible benefits, being able to retire.

The typical compensation package/pension of someone that stays in is valued at around $3 - 6 million dollars.

Definitely the best option these days for the average American in regards to compensation and retirement.

reply to post by youdidntseeme


I respect your decision to join the U.S. Army. I am curious...what are some of the (bottom line) reasons you did join? Is one of the reasons economic?

reply to post by IkNOwSTuff


Moron? This coming from the person with a cat wearing a tinfoil hat.

To Youdidntseeme I say good on you kid. You'll have a lot of good memories and and college money when you get out. Be proud of what you are doing, don't let these "never served A**hats" make you feel any other way.

reply to post by youdidntseeme


As a Marine (not active), I'd like to ask why you're joining now? Is it the economy, or an itch you needed to scratch? I'm just curious because of your age.

Either way, best of luck future soldier. Parting advice: Once active, don't volunteer for anything else.

reply to post by DJM8507


My uncle did that. Got his Army commission, then joined the Post Office and 20 years later was living very nicely off and Army and Post Office (Fed) commissions. But, and a big giant BUT here - you've got to come out with civilian skills. Many of my Marine buddies had no other skills but warfighting and are either unemployed, working for the military industrial complex (contractors), or are police officers. Not bad jobs... but no freedom either and always taking orders the rest of their lives. So please, get civilian skills in the Army, not Army skills because they're useless out here in the civilian world.

Originally posted by caladonea
reply to post by youdidntseeme

 

I respect your decision to join the U.S. Army. I am curious...what are some of the (bottom line) reasons you did join? Is one of the reasons economic?

I've been asked this question by many people. Those who have known me my whole life know that this is something I've been wanting to d since I was very young. My grandfather served during WWII, my uncle served during Vietnam, so there is a family connection. My best friend since toddler age joined directly out of HS and has been in 12 years now....

Interesting that you bring up economics, because it certainly did play int my decision. I was out of work for close to a year, finally made it back to work just to be scaled down to basically a part time position in mere months, and again couldnt find something better. I have a college degree, all of my reference are positive, but the job market is just tight.

If the compensation offered to me was not so appealing, I probably still wouldnt have enlisted, just for the fact that I am not an 18 year old kid with no direction, I am 32 and have a life that I have built. This is just going to become another part of it.

The job choice that was offered to me also had a lot to do with it. If I didnt get the MOS I was after, I wouldnt have signed. I will be training as a 68W, aka healthcare specialist, what used to be known as a combat medic. I will receive the EMT-b certification thus giving me something t take back to the civilian world when I finally choice to.

Its not so cut and dry as to what the reasons are, because some of them are simply 'because i want to' or ' because i feel its my place' and those reasons arent always convincing.

Thank you all for your kind words, they are not lost on me.

reply to post by youdidntseeme


"I will be training as a 68W, aka healthcare specialist". Awesome. Plenty of work out here in healthcare when you're done. Good choice.

reply to post by youdidntseeme


Thank you for answering my questions. Your reasons (to me) are very good ones and I can tell that you did not make the decision to join the Army...as a whim. You have thought this decision through...all the pro's and the con's for you and your family...and this is what is right for you and your life right now.

I hope for you and yours...the very best. Please keep in touch with us at ATS and let us know how you are doing!

Is this what motivated you to make the final commitment?



Satire aside, be careful and aware of the vaccinations they are going to try to give you. There is a ton of information on the side effects that last for years from those army vaccines.

I don't agree with your decision, but I don't want to see you or anyone else harmed by those eugenics concoctions.

www.mvrd.org...

www.thinktwice.com...

www.govexec.com...

www.columbiamissourian.com...

Originally posted by JibbyJedi

Satire aside, be careful and aware of the vaccinations they are going to try to give you. There is a ton of information on the side effects that last for years from those army vaccines.

I don't agree with your decision, but I don't want to see you or anyone else harmed by those eugenics concoctions.

Thanks you very much Jibby...I know not everyone will understand, agree or respect my decisions, especially here on the boards at ATS, but I appreciate that you still showed some concern.