TOPGUNNER

Well i've done it..... I'm Joining the Army

Leaving for Boot camp in 2-3 weeks

I cant wait, This is gonna be Fun and a very big challenge for me. I have a Wife, 2 Kids, 6 planes, and my R6 i am gonna Miss More than Anything in the world but when this is all done and over with and 20 years from now when i retire "at age 42" its all gonna be worth it. My Wife is afraid ''after watching that Fahrenheit 9-11 movie'' that i might get shipped to Iraq, Ill tell you what, being a HUGE war addict..... I CANT WAIT!!
ill be the first one on the plane and the first One Off.... Knowing more about WWII than my own life i have picked up on some wisdom and courage that i will use to get thou all of this....
Knowing that i'm not gonna be Storming the Beach Heads at Normandy and losing 30'000 solders in one day..
I'm sure Iraq wont be that bad...
Well...I just wanted share this with you all, maybe cause i'm alittle scared/nervous "who would'nt be'
But because i really don't have anyone else to talk to about this..... i'm trying to pretend this really is'nt happening for my Wife but i need to talk about it in order to keep my Moral high, or ill start to believe that this really is'nt happening...

Just wanting to share this with you and talk to some of you that have been in my position....

Thanks

John from St. Louis.....

seanreit

My Feedback: (60)

Thank you in advance for your service to our country.

Sean

ballgunner

My Feedback: (1)

Congratulations. Thanks in advance for what you have done. One word of caution. Unless things have changed in the last few years don't go to "boot camp" or you'll wind up in the Navy. Isn't is still called basic training ?

TOPGUNNER

yeah

basic training / boot camp / hell they're all the same.......

pettit

My Feedback: (23)

Thanks for your voluntary service.

One word of advise:


NEVER VOLUNTEER FOR ANYTHING

PERIOD!

US Army '68 - 71

Avionics 35L2H
Viet Nam Veteran
Bronze Star
Air Medal
(no Purple Hearts, like some prople we all know!)

ZAGNUT

My Feedback: (1)

only 22 and you've already got a wife and two kids???? hope you show more restraint when you have that gun in your hands...



dave

lionheart

Good luck, God Speed and keep you well...... Thank you.

dglick10

Good Luck - I spent 6.5 year in myself and was in the 1st Gulf War. I enjoyed the military very much and wish I was still in. BTW you can now retire in as little as 12 years!! Most go 15. If you want a full pension it's still 20.

71C (Chairborne !!!)
Executive Admin Asst.
VII Corps, Stuttgart Germany (Jayhawks)

GrnBrt

My Feedback: (5)

I find this statement kind of scary! War is not a good thing and after you've been shot at this feeling will change, been there, got the t-shirt.

what you are doing is a good thing and feel that spending time in the service is the best way to grow up and become a mature adult and I wish you luck and God speed.

'Nam 66/67
5Th Group/Special forces
1St Mike force/Project Delta
A-125 special ops/Callsign 'assassin'
Silver Star
(2) Bronze stars
Army commentation medal
(3) Purple Hearts
(2) unit citations/ (1) Presidentail unit citation
CIB

scottrc

Oops, I thought he said he had 2 planes and 6 kids That would be a reason for joining the Army.

Well, Godspeed to you. Eat lots of cheesburgers and enjoy your hair for these last few weeks.

Joe Ortiz

My Feedback: (75)

Good luck, been there for 11 years.
Joe[8D]

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

Why the Army? Couldn't you get into a GOOD branch of the service?

Get used to the rivalry among the other branches. It's all in good fun. 10 years myself - 4 Navy - 6 Air Force.

I'll revise Pettit's advice... Only volunteer if the job sounds bad (they make the bad stuff sound good and the good stuff sound bad) So if they ask for someone with Janitorial experience, he'll probably become a supervisor! (True - It happened when I was in boot camp)

Anyway Thanks, and the best to you and your family (or as you'll soon be calling them, your "dependents")

Flyboy Dave

My Feedback: (21)

John from St. Louis.....

....good luck to you young man. I hope the Lord will keep you and you family
safe throughout the years. I did some Military myself....Marines, Army, and
Air Force....mostly Reserve....but I did get my "twenty" in.

Some advice from an Old Soldier....

....start doing push-ups now....and try to get into the Warrant Officers program.

FBD.

DBCherry

My Feedback: (4)

My best to you and many thanks!

I'll also extend my appreciation to your wife and kids for the sacrifices they'll have to make.
Dennis-

TOPGUNNER

ill tell you what.... i have been working out "running/walking/push ups/sit ups", I just went to the grocery store and could barely make it i'm so sore.... I almost wanted to faint i'm in so much pain I'm so glad that I'm working out now instead of waiting for the Army to give me a work out... i probley would have died .. after having Kids i've gotten REEAAALLY lazy.... went from around 135lbs to 200lbs in 4 years, Might not seem much but i have been one of them type of guys that could eat a extra Large Pizza and Lose Weight.. Once the wife got pregnant it was like i got pregnant Simpathly Weight yea thats it...

Well.. Time to go run 2+ miles ....................... "mommy!!!..."

Thanks For all the Goodlucks Guys.........

Tigger N. Bennie

If you joined the Army, you better get used to running more than 2 miles and probably should start climbing a rope and doing pull-ups to help build your upper body strength. In addition to the 100s of sit-ups and 100s of push ups, do some flutter kicks (lay on your back and kick your legs). I'd also get a ruck sack (back pack) and start hoofing it with at least 40-50 lbs in it and I do mean at a fast pace. If you also have access to a swimming pool, use it. Hard work now should only pay off by the time you hit basic since you will also be deprived of sleep.

rayb

My Feedback: (13)

Why not the good ol' USMC if you think you love war?
Good luck and Godspeed.
Ray
USMC 63-66

GrnBrt

My Feedback: (5)

When I decided to go special forces I knew I would be put through some of the worse physical training a person could go through. You do a lot of running and 2 miles ain't squat!!! I bought some 5# wrap around weights and when I ran I put them on my ankles as it really helped build up the leg muscles, also if you can find one get the book put out by the Special forces with all their training exercises and use that as a guide. If you want some extra money a month go airborne as they pay extra as long as you stay jump qualified. It's great training and a rush when you got out that door!!!![X(][&:]

Ptarmigan

Thank you for serving our great country. God bless you and your family.

Roll On 60

As an army retiree, I too want to say thank you. Here are a couple tips.
Try and get in good shape before you raise your hand, you will still have a hard time in basic but not as bad and you will be sore.
NEVER volunteer for anything.
Get as much education as possible. A misconception today is, not much education is required to join or advance thorough the ranks, when just the opposite is true.
Learn to eat fast, unless the rules have changed, it is necessary.
Don't volunteer information unless asked. D.I.'s love show off's.
Good luck and god speed.

Vietnam Vet
25 medals

BTW I earned all of mine unlike someone we know.

TOPGUNNER

My Mom was in the Army.. She Joined at age 30, So i'm sure if her FAT ***** could make it
though Basic... i can

I have not just been running 2 miles,
Thats 2 miles in the Morning , Around Noon , and late at nite "trust me, i feel the burn"......

Thanks For All the Support Guys.........


p.s. Just Jokeing Mom....

Deadeye

Good luck, and give the *******s hell. Prayers as always.

Tigger N. Bennie

2 miles here and there is not the same as 6 miles at once. Regarding the gender issue, I don't know if things have changed that much or not but the "female" standards were a lot lower than the male standards despite what feminist try to preach about equality. Particular units also had higher standards than others too. Just ask GrnBrt about Camp McCall. Basic was a walk in the park.

Senfschneider55

Congratulations TOPGUNNER

ROLL ON 60 said it best, get all the education you can it´s almost free.You´ll
go higher faster if you treat your subordinates well.

73-93 Army ret

DBCherry

My Feedback: (4)

Tigger,
My wife joined the army in '76 and went through an "experimental" basic training. It was the first time they'd put women through men's basic training. not sure about today, but they trained side by side with men at Fort Jackson in South Carolina.
Dennis-