In keeping with tradition...



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C
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Level 90 Ginger

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I've joined the United States Army. Granted, not quite in the same way Sandamnit did however many years ago, but I have enlisted. Instead, I opted to join the Missouri National Guard.

For the past couple months it's been weighing heavy on me that I'm really unsatisfied with my life and the direction I've been heading in. For the few of you who talk to me on a regular basis, this probably comes as no surprise and the next couple paragraphs are probably all givens.

I hate school. I have completely devolved from the smart kid in high school to the loser who rarely goes to class and just doesn't give a flying fuck if he passes any of his classes. Why? I don't know. Maybe it's this school, though I doubt it. I'm bored with trying to cram useless crap into my skull in hopes of one day trying to get a job. For a couple semesters I wasted my parents' money, then I moved on to wasting my own, creating a nice pile of debt for myself. In the past 3 semesters I've earned 12 credit hours altogether. That's right, not even a full load for one semester.

At the start of every semester I've told myself "This semester will be different, this time I'll pass, get on the right track and get through school." And every semester I've gradually dropped classes until it's around finals time and everyone is freaking out about their 5 finals while I meander around not studying for the one or two that I might have. School is not where I want to be at this point. There's no point.

As I mentioned, I've created a nice pile of debt for myself, but not only from school loans. See, in my haste to get out of from under my parents' thumbs, I've amassed a nice pile of debt from which there won't be a return any time in the distant future, save joining the military and getting a decent paycheck, since I'm sure as hell not lucky enough to win the lottery.

Speaking of lucky, as I was debating creating this thread this afternoon, I got called into the HR Director of my company's office for a nice chat. See, they're supposed to hold my job for me until I'm out of training since I'll be back and able to work at full capacity in 5 months. However, that's not quite the case. I got laid off today. I don't know if it's because I joined or if it's actually because the company is downsizing, but since I pull down all of 12k a year there and work in the one understaffed department in the company, you would think they'd save the position for me rather than spend 8 months or so training some new guy to do the stuff I already know how to do. I talked to my recruiter a bit and I'm going to bide my time and see what the company's reasons were for laying me off. If it is related to me going away for training, then they'll probably be up shit creek, since it's the law that they hold the position for me.

I didn't just choose the Guard because I thought it was my last option. There were other options, I could have gotten another job, buckled down and waited to get some debt paid off and gain an appreciation for school. I've always got an open room at my parents' house, but I'm in no hurry to move back there.

I chose the Guard because I'll make a handsome sum of money just for training, in addition to my enlistment bonus, and for the lifestyle change. See, I lack discipline. If there's any way that's going to change, it's going to be the Army. The Guard seemed like the choice for me at this point in my life because I'm not ready to pack up and leave all my friends and my entire old life behind. Maybe it's not the smartest decision and maybe I should've gone full time, but I can always decide to go active duty and there will be a slot.

So on Thursday I went to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station, if I recall correctly) and took the ASVAB, scoring a 99 out of 99, so choosing my job wasn't a problem. Friday I went through the physical and met a bunch of the idiots that were going through. Luckily for me, they were all going in the Navy. (That's a joke.) At 1pm on May 5, I was sworn in.

My MOS will be 92A (Automated Logistical Specialist) and I'll be drilling once a month after training in the same unit as two of my best friends. I realize there's a good chance that I'll be spending time in Iraq or Iran or some other nice garden spot, but I don't really care.

So, I ship out June 7 to Basic Training in Ft Jackson, South Carolina. After that, I'll head to Ft Lee, Virginia for AIT, where I'm told things are a bit more lax and I'll have weekend passes to go around the state or maybe visit my family (they live close enough). That should be on or around August 22.

So feel free to ask me questions, comment about how stupid I am or something along those lines. I'll be around and INTL should be in capable hands for times that I can't get to it.

Realize that falling in love with someone is just the results of a series of generic events that can occur between you and basically anyone who meets your standards of attractiveness. It's just an emotional manifestation of a handfull of chemicals bouncing back and forth. It's not the holy grail of living, it's not your reason to exist and it's definitely not something reserved for "that one person". Accept that you are just an animal with a big brain that allows him to fret over what only amounts to a game of hormone pool. What you're feeling is not your soul dying a gurgling, ugly death, but withdrawal. All the happy chemicals that saturated your body when you were with her are kicking out cold turkey, and your body is screaming bloody murder, where are my fucking endorphins? It's just chocolate. Find a new bar.

Sixten Sparre
Épater la bourgeoisie

wears neckerchiefs

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You fool
Your lack of appreciation for school
Has made you a tool
Now all you have to do is follow rule
Like a fucking lemming

Tough, Unique, Bad, Bodacious, and Sassy.

Skye
INTL Premium Member
Droog Queen

I love Skye

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My boys keep leaving the nest for the armed forces. You make me worry so...

I know you can take care of yourself (contrary to what you said in the post about your debts and your educational work ethic); just be careful and <3.

http://forums.interestingnonetheless.net/display.php?tid=4368

Doesn't the manatee kind of look like a guest on the Ricki Lake show? "Uh, Ricki, I'm here because I'm endangered." Then one of those mean people in the audience would offer up the advice, "Yeah, I want to say something to the sea pig!" "That's sea cow." "Whatever. Sea pig, you gotta get yourself an education and a job!" "Uh, I live in the ocean." "It just so happens you live in the ocean 'cuz you ain't got no job!" "I don't know what you're -" "You gotta get in Weight Watchers, some kinda program!" "I have a layer of blubber to keep my body warm in the water..." "Whatever, talk to the hand." "I dont have a hand!"

Dante

cocks in my mouth

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umm what if they ask you to kill innocent people

...because even though we share a "fuck it" attitude, I personally would have major problems with that if it was demanded of me.

This reply was last edited on 05-09-06 06:13:55 PM by Dante.

IF0
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Hey, I was with Mary Magdalene last night....smell my finger lol

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I don't think the Missouri National Guard supply unit is going to be called into combat too often. Unless there's a very bad turn of events.

Adopt a

.
[01:19] witty tirade: wait wait wait
[01:19] witty tirade: let me get this straight
[01:19] witty tirade: I'm the thin attractive one
[01:19] witty tirade: and you, the fat one, are making fun of me?
[01:19] witty tirade: no sir I do not believe it.

C
Administrator

Level 90 Ginger

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Quoted from IF0:
I don't think the Missouri National Guard supply unit is going to be called into combat too often. Unless there's a very bad turn of events.

The unit just got back from Iraq.

Dante, if the order is illegal, you don't have to follow it.

IF0
Administrator

Hey, I was with Mary Magdalene last night....smell my finger lol

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Being in Iraq doesn't necessarily mean combat, lucky for you.

Adopt a

Wandering Idiot
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Surely something dumber has come up since my apparent forgetfulness for STDs and doctor visits.

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92A? What were you thinking? I work with two of them every day. You're going into an MOS that is something like 90% female. Also, it's boring as shit. You're going to do nothing but run an ULLS-Ground or maybe an ULLS-S4 box when you drill, and if you deploy, be prepared to do an hour of work a day, then absolutely nothing and being bored off your ass the entire time. You're going to be surrounded by mechanics, or possibly the occasional supply clerk or two, asking you for everything in the world that is class nine.

What unit are you going to wind up with, 289th Ordnance Company? I know they're out of Missouri, they fell under my batallion when I was deployed, and had some crazy fucking Halo 2 players. I know a few guys from that unit, can't think of names, but they work in munitions and spend their days in ammo bunkers.

Okay, back to your chosen MOS. Seriously, be prepared to do a lot of sitting on your ass, especially when you deploy (which is going to happen). This is not a good thing, as it makes time pass at such a slower rate. Don't expect to be able to watch TV or something while sitting around at work, as mechanics are going to harass the shit out of you. Also, your promotion points, while you won't care about it now or for your first year in the guard, are extremely high, almost always maxxed out, making it nearly impossible to get promoted to SGT. Expect to be a Specialist for a very long time.

There's a distinct advantage to taking your MOS though, as there will be plenty of ladies in you AIT class to practice the "rest" position with. Besides that, you'll be busy learning how to run paperwork, print off more paperwork, and tracking down people to sign said paperwork.

Aside from that, congrats on signing your life away. The army is one hell of an experience. You'll love it, you'll hate it, then occasionally you'll wish you never joined, but it's an experience nonetheless. You're going to miss being able to have hair longer than 2 inches on top of your head, and being able to grow a bitchin' goatee if wanted. It's not all it's cracked up to be, but it's better than being stuck with grunts in the Marines, who have next to nothing as far as supplies go (or so I've heard).

Oh, and basic training isn't as bad as you think. Especially now that they've recently adjusted the training standards, making it quite a bit easier, and with a shit-ton less screaming and yelling every three seconds (according to an Army Times article two months or so ago). Best of luck and welcome to the military club, private.

"In the past year, over 800,000 millions have died. Despite millions of dollars of research, death continues to be our nation's number one killer.

Although, so far there's no known treatment for death's crippling effects, still everyone can acquaint himself with the three early warning signs of death: one, rigor mortis; two, a rotting smell; three, occasional drowsiness.

It is also important to know what to do you when you die. 1) Don't try to drive a car. 2) Do not operate heavy machinery. 3) Do not talk."

IF0
Administrator

Hey, I was with Mary Magdalene last night....smell my finger lol

Ballkicks: (+621 / -173)
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Reg. Date: Jul 2003
Location: Springfield, MO
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He can't grow a goatee. i'm a serial-killer :)

Adopt a

C
Administrator

Level 90 Ginger

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The unit I'm going into used to be the Alpha Company 735MSB, but just got changed to something like the 311BDE. They have some pretty crazy Halo players too. My roommate left not knowing a damn thing about the game and came back pretty well able to kick my ass.

I chose 92A in part for the sign on bonus and also because the unit is only made up of 92 MOS's. So it was that or Unit Supply. I wanted to be there so if I do get deployed, there's a much, much better chance I'd be over there with some of my good friends.

Coincidentally, they were working something like 14 hour days running warehouses in... Taleel? That's how it's spelled phoenetically anyway. I'll probably reclass later if I decide to stay in, though I really don't know if that's going to happen. (How could I?)

swiss
Alcoholics Anonymous

And I tip my hat to YOU, Swiss.

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From what I know, the American budget is half spent on the armed forces...

...I'm sure they're doing a good job with it if they're spending that much on keeping it going.

Good luck, by the way. You'll do well.

Computer games don't affect kids! I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music

ExtraKryspi
I WHINE ABOUT ASININE SHIT
i like your style kryspi

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Joining the army has never been a good way to rebel. You should think long and hard about this.

e io etterna duro

C
Administrator

Level 90 Ginger

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Rebel against what exactly? The life I don't like?

Tyr

I cybered with Kayte

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Quote:
The Guard seemed like the choice for me at this point in my life because I'm not ready to pack up and leave all my friends and my entire old life behind.

Just be careful that after you get into the Guard a bit more, you may be willing to leave your entire old life behind. New routines and schedules and such may change the context in which you view your life now, so you should be prepared for the possibility of wanting to just leave it.

Good luck with everything, man.

Mr Excitable
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My girlfriend is the Michelin Man

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Keep protecting me from terrorists!

Good Luck, maybe this time will clear your head.