[I_Like_Plants]

At least MRE's are better than C's, try living out in the field in the winter on C's for a month or so.

Shit, I never turned 'em down!

[jasonraymondson]

I just got back from the recruiting station, I had to retake the asvab and scored a 98, stupid 1 point off. I am happy about the score and they are pushing the Army Intelligence and Psychological Operations. For PO I need to go to Airborne School (I like idea of PO, it would be so fitting)

While I was there another college student from down here was in there and took the asvab and FAILED IT. he got a 24. You should have seen this kids face when they told him his score and that he failed the asvab. Shit, now that was fucking priceless!

[Polemic]

/Braggart Mode Engaged

I took the ASVAB 10 years ago and scored a 99. First one to finish the test, by far, in a room full of about 40 simpletons.

A few months later I realized what a mistake it was to join (the AF) and got the hell out.

/Disengaged

Anyway, the military will use and abuse you and then discard you.

If you're smart enough to score a 98, then you're smart enough to take care of yourself, as a civilian, come what may.

Taking orders is for suckers.

[I_Like_Plants]

You have to be really fuckin' stupid to fail the ASVAB, college student lol - that just means his parents have money.

If you show aptitude for language, you'll really have fun - they'll stick you in a room with the few other freaks, and you actually learn this artificial language. By that I mean, knowing an existing language won't help you. You come out of the room talking to each other in this weird language. Nothing came of it in my case, but these days they're hurtin' for translators.

I looked into going into translating myself, but wow, the dialects are like .... all of europe crammed into one little area, like different languages with similar roots. Even native speakers of the languages often can't understand very well what a guy from a different province is saying. Professional linguists go on about how learning to be a useful translator will kick your ass.

It's got me a bit scared off, but don't let it scare you off, since being able to speak the native language could be very helpful.

[lateStarter]

Just curious. Could anyone post a few sample questions from the ASVAB?

Many, many year ago on a full ROTC scholarship at UVA for the Air Force, when I hit that moment at the start of the 3rd year where you had to sign the 'oath', I balked. I could just not picture myself strafing civilians just because the Commander In Chief 'ordered' me to do so. My father (25 years in the Air Force had a cow). No way I could do it for the current Chimp!

Other than the potential 'killing' part, I'd have to admit that there are lots of good reasons to choose this route (although I would have gone Navy or Air Force). From a practical point of view, it has merits, especially if you can score some additional training that will make you more 'marketable' in the future.

Good luck, stay warm, be friendly...

[Polemic]

If you're really going to go through with this:

Why not join the Air Force? Maybe you can keep a few stripes after AF BMT. The Air Force is a classier joint. Relatively.

With that in mind, if I were you, I would then look into becoming a SERE instructor.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'S')urvival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape

The primary Air Force SERE training location is Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. SERE training for medical aircrew is held at Brooks City-Base, Texas. The Air Force also conducts arctic survival training at Eielson AFB, Alaska and parachute water survival training at NAS Pensacola, Florida.

...

The SERE training curriculum can be divided into three parts: "survival and evasion", "resistance and escape", and "water survival".

Survival and evasion

The majority of SERE focuses on survival and evasion. Skills taught include wilderness survival (encompassing a wide scope of natural climates), emergency first aid (a variant of battlefield first aid), land navigation, camouflage techniques, evasion techniques, communication protocols, and the construction of improvised tools. This list is not comprehensive, and some of the subject matter has been classified by the United States Government.

Resistance and escape

The "Resistance and Escape" component of SERE focuses on resistance and survival in captivity based on experiences of formerly captured Americans at the hands of the enemy. The majority of this portion of the course is classified Secret by the United States government. However several official sites exist to give a general overview of the curricula. The goal of this portion is training the student to survive captivity. The training has been widely reported to provide a realistic simulation of harsh and abusive coercive techniques and to teach the students how to resist them. The SERE students are not taught how to apply coercive techniques or interrogate enemy prisoners of war and, as most are aircrews, would not normally be in duties even involving enemy POWs.

Water survival

The remaining portion of SERE is Water Survival, a separate Professional Military Education (PME) course lasting two days and typically attended after the main SERE course. During the water survival portion, students are taught skills to enhance their ability to survive in an aquatic environment. Academic subjects covered include emergency first aid (tailored to an aquatic environment), communication protocols, ocean ecology, and equipment maintenance. The course also requires students to become familiar with and display proficiency using aquatic survival gear.

[jasonraymondson]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('lateStarter', 'J')ust curious. Could anyone post a few sample questions from the ASVAB?

Many, many year ago on a full ROTC scholarship at UVA for the Air Force, when I hit that moment at the start of the 3rd year where you had to sign the 'oath', I balked. I could just not picture myself strafing civilians just because the Commander In Chief 'ordered' me to do so. My father (25 years in the Air Force had a cow). No way I could do it for the current Chimp!

Other than the potential 'killing' part, I'd have to admit that there are lots of good reasons to choose this route (although I would have gone Navy or Air Force). From a practical point of view, it has merits, especially if you can score some additional training that will make you more 'marketable' in the future.

Good luck, stay warm, be friendly...

[jasonraymondson]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Polemic', 'I')f you're really going to go through with this: Why not join the Air Force? Maybe you can keep a few stripes after AF BMT. The Air Force is a classier joint. Relatively. With that in mind, if I were you, I would then look into becoming a SERE instructor.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'S')urvival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape
The primary Air Force SERE training location is Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. SERE training for medical aircrew is held at Brooks City-Base, Texas. The Air Force also conducts arctic survival training at Eielson AFB, Alaska and parachute water survival training at NAS Pensacola, Florida. -snip- Academic subjects covered include emergency first aid (tailored to an aquatic environment), communication protocols, ocean ecology, and equipment maintenance. The course also requires students to become familiar with and display proficiency using aquatic survival gear.

[I_Like_Plants]

You can take sample ASVABs online. In fact the US Army has a sort of video game sort of thing, where you go through Basic etc - I've heard it's kind of fun.

www.military.com is sort of a one-source website for those who are, or are hoping to be, Empire troops.

[PrairieMule]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('I_Like_Plants', 'Y')ou can take sample ASVABs online. In fact the US Army has a sort of video game sort of thing, where you go through Basic etc - I've heard it's kind of fun.

[Polemic]

Army has SERE, too.

From Wiki's SERE page:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')rmy

The two US Army SERE Schools are located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Fort Rucker, Alabama.

The SERE School at Fort Bragg is run by the Army’s John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS—which Col. Wendell Fertig helped to found), at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The program was begun in 1981 under the supervision of LTC James "Nick" Rowe, a Special Forces officer who suffered under North Vietnamese captors for 62 months before escaping and evading to freedom (Five Years to Freedom). SERE at USAJFKSWCS is a 19-day intense course of instruction that is also a Phase of the Special Forces Qualification Course (the "Q course") in order for Army Special Forces candidates to receive the coveted Special Forces Tab. The course is taught 25 miles southwest of Ft. Bragg, North Carolina at Camp Mackall.

The SERE School at Fort Rucker is located at the Army Aviation Warfare Center and serves the entire Army. The SERE course at Fort Rucker is designed mostly for student pilots and aircrew members. The course is 21 days long at Fort Rucker. It is one of several pre-requisites for student pilots to actually begin the Initial Entry Rotary Wing courses.

[Angry_Chimp]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jasonraymondson', 'J')ust thought I would let you all my good friends on here know that I have decided to re-enlist. I will be going back in this summer. I am meeting with some recruiters tomorrow.

[Polemic]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '"')Troops Are Demoralized Due To Unequal Pay

Soldiers often find themselves working next to contractors who make ten times more money than the troops. The average enlisted service member makes roughly $25,000 a year compared to a civilian contractor, who can make up to $200,000 a year.

[Polemic]

In fact, why don't we just find an angel investor and launch a new private security firm. I foresee the market for private security growing explosively both at home and abroad.

We can be like a Blackwater but with morals.

[RedStateGreen]

My friend's daughter just finished up in the Army, she was Intelligence too. My cousin is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, he likes it a lot ... I'm not sure what he does ... all this hush-hush stuff.

Glad you won't be infantry or something like that! Keep in touch and take care.

[Blacksmith]

I would be vert careful and make sure that whatever you learn can be applied to civilian life.

[jasonraymondson]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Blacksmith', 'I') would be vert careful and make sure that whatever you learn can be applied to civilian life.

[jasonraymondson]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Shannymara', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Polemic', 'W')e can be like a Blackwater but with morals.

[shakespear1]

Jason, check out the following guy

Grossman

I was never in the military but after listening to him on "Democracy Now" some years ago, he opened my eyes to what the hell happens on the battle field. The consequences are long term and non reversible on the participants.

Highly recommend his book

"On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society"

I think it is good to have this deeper knowledge rather than the Rambo movie representation.

Good Luck Again

[Ayoob]

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

Let us know if you need any supplies. Gloves, socks, boots, ammo, whatever. Nalgene bottles, rolls of dip, anything. I'll send you what I can.