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Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 1:43 pm
by ClakarEQ
Harrison wrote:I'm going to be getting college credits from most of my training anyways. So it's not wasted, plus job experience in the field.
O man, I would never say service to our country is a waste so please don't think I was implying that. I think what you've choosen to do is honorable as I feel anyone towards anyone that's served.
I was just saying it isn't free
I do wish you the best though and hope things work out as planned.
edit
good golly some of my typos are horrendous
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 1:50 pm
by Drem
Harrison wrote:I'm going to be getting college credits from most of my training anyways. So it's not wasted, plus job experience in the field.
Credit for what? physical education and maybe some math or something?
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 2:10 pm
by Foutty
As a Senior NCO with 17+ years of service so far, let me say congrats! A couple things though, take it or leave it, up to you.
- There is going to be plenty of dumb fucks that you have to say "Yes Sir"to and not just during basic. Basic is the easy part, it's the day to day bullshit that you just have to check your ego at the door and give in to the team concept.
- If you get the chance, go overseas. Korea, Japan, Europe..travel on the government's dime. It's awesome.
- Take CLEP's / Dantes constantly -- free college credits, and you're a smart guy, should be easy for you.
- The "new GI Bill" that was approved this year is outstanding. Basically it's 3 paid years at most schools in the country, plus a housing stipend (E5 w/dependent rate BAH ~$1000 a month) if you are going full time. Check into it. Also transferable to dependents with certain restrictions.
Have fun and don't sweat the small stuff.
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 3:16 pm
by leah
my friend chris (nedderman, alex!) is in seoul right now in the army. he just graduated from academy in texas and got shipped out. he also met his now-wife at academy, so that's cool.
also: i wish i could afford to buy gym memberships for some of my friends. i need the company (six workouts a week by myself is kind of lonely) and they need the motivation. but i just can't swing it.
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 3:52 pm
by Harrison
Foutty wrote:As a Senior NCO with 17+ years of service so far, let me say congrats! A couple things though, take it or leave it, up to you.
- There is going to be plenty of dumb fucks that you have to say "Yes Sir"to and not just during basic. Basic is the easy part, it's the day to day bullshit that you just have to check your ego at the door and give in to the team concept.
- If you get the chance, go overseas. Korea, Japan, Europe..travel on the government's dime. It's awesome.
- Take CLEP's / Dantes constantly -- free college credits, and you're a smart guy, should be easy for you.
- The "new GI Bill" that was approved this year is outstanding. Basically it's 3 paid years at most schools in the country, plus a housing stipend (E5 w/dependent rate BAH ~$1000 a month) if you are going full time. Check into it. Also transferable to dependents with certain restrictions.
Have fun and don't sweat the small stuff.
Yeah, I can go to school anywhere and essentially get paid through the G.I. bill to party. Because I won't need to pay for tuition or housing...
I don't have any dependents and don't plan on gaining any.
As far as the traveling, I plan on it. I want to go to Germany.
Drem wrote:Credit for what? physical education and maybe some math or something?
I'll be getting credits through my time during AIT. They almost all directly translate depending on your MOS.(job)
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 5:00 pm
by Harrison
Well, it seems I will be a 25b within a week or so. Information Systems Operator/Analyst.
I'm not 100% sure though. So I'm taking the time to do some reading, talk it over, etc.
It's coincidentally one of their critical needs at the moment so I will get an extra $350/mo on top of my $317/mo while going to college for free.
2 years non-deployed minimum, too.
So, free tuition to state colleges and universities, roughly $700/mo for anything I choose directly into my account, and I can't be deployed during my 2 year commitment.
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 5:18 pm
by Foutty
That's good. Hopefully you'll get a TS/SCI as well. Not sure how Army comm is though, with us it's mandatory.
And totally not trying to rain on your parade, but one thing about the military is, everything can be waived.
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 7:39 pm
by Harrison
I know what you mean. I'm not really too worried about it. I was initially going to go straight to active duty, so being deployed isn't scaring me.
I actually wouldn't mind it. I would like to travel a bit.
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:08 pm
by Foutty
I've spent the last five years working special duty for the CIA, its been an incredible experience. Now it's time to move on so I put in for a 1 year remote. My choices are 1. Diego Garcia, 2. Greece, 3. Korea and 4. Greenland. I should know next month where I'm headed. I'm really hoping for DG, but would be happy with any of them.
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 10:31 pm
by Diekan
Harrison wrote:I know what you mean. I'm not really too worried about it. I was initially going to go straight to active duty, so being deployed isn't scaring me.
I actually wouldn't mind it. I would like to travel a bit.
I just hope you stay away from the combat arms unless it's what you really want to do. If it is, then more power to you and you should indeed go for it. Having 12 years in, I can say that I had met far too many troops who ended up hating life because they chose a combat arms MOS and didn't try to get into something more suited to their interests for their after service life.
Commo is a great field btw. You get to work with the coolest of technology.
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 10:51 pm
by Harrison
Exactly, hence 25b...
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 6:12 am
by Drem
Foutty wrote:I've spent the last five years working special duty for the CIA, its been an incredible experience. Now it's time to move on so I put in for a 1 year remote. My choices are 1. Diego Garcia, 2. Greece, 3. Korea and 4. Greenland. I should know next month where I'm headed. I'm really hoping for DG, but would be happy with any of them.
whoa. for real? i suddenly love you if you're serious
i'd pick Greece
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 6:21 am
by Foutty
Yep, true. It's not as sexy as you think, but it's definitely eye opening. Here in Northern VA, it seems everyone works for the Intelligence Community in one way or the other. That's way having a clearance goes such a long way (preferably with a CI and Lifestyle poly). No degree, minimum experience with a poly can get you around $80k starting off as a contractor--and you never have to worry about outsourcing.
I picked all of them, just waiting to see what I got.
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 9:12 am
by Martrae
Kahar used to have TS/SBI clearance while he was in the Navy. I think he's just got a Secret clearance now. Having that clearance really does help open doors. You just have to avoid visiting certain countries. He was bitterly disappointed that when they visited China he wasn't allowed off the sub so he could see the Great Wall.
Not really sure what my point was...
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 10:34 am
by ClakarEQ
Martrae wrote:Not really sure what my point was...
That security clearance can be a great blessing but also have some unfortunate side effects
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:12 am
by Diekan
Foutty wrote:Yep, true. It's not as sexy as you think, but it's definitely eye opening. Here in Northern VA, it seems everyone works for the Intelligence Community in one way or the other. That's way having a clearance goes such a long way (preferably with a CI and Lifestyle poly). No degree, minimum experience with a poly can get you around $80k starting off as a contractor--and you never have to worry about outsourcing.
I picked all of them, just waiting to see what I got.
It never is as sexy as the adds. All these people flooding the foresnics field because the watched CSI too many times LOL.... not having a clue that real forensics is nothing like that shitty show.
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 6:51 pm
by Gaazy
hahaha got that right. A buddy of mine is in law school and hew as laughin at that shit the other day. On the show they can immediately get fingerprint and dna info and all that shit, but in RL, at least in WV, the State Police is backed up over a year in their forensics cases for that info.
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 7:29 pm
by Diekan
Yep, not to mention in the real world "Forensics" techs don't carry guns, chase down suspects, and conduct independent investigations or interrogations.
In the real world the first person at a crime scene is a uniform (a.k.a patrolman). They evaluate the area to make sure it’s safe for them, then if there is a victim they’ll check them out and provide aid, call an ambulance, etc. If the victim is dead, they’ll tape off the area, sequester the crime scene and call for detectives. Once the detectives get there a CSU (crime scene unit) is called for. You don’t even need a degree for this job, just complete a certification and some courses. They’ll bag and tag the evidence, take photographs and so forth. The ME will determine cause and time of death, usually after an autopsy. Once the evidence has been bagged up it is sent to the state crime lab with a chain of custody form. That’s it… that’s the last time the CSU ever sees the evidence unless they are called by the prosecution to testify on their collection methods. Once the evidence gets to the crime lab the “white coats” will process it and provide a report of their conclusions to the prosecution and defense. They’ll never see it again unless they’re called into court as well.
That’s it. That’s typically how it works. No gun fights, no hostile interrogations, no high speed boat chases.
I hate that fucking show…
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 10:08 pm
by Gaazy
ps: Haha, Harrisons 'off to the army' thread got derailed to bad TV shows
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 11:41 am
by Harrison
I'm getting increasingly more excited by the day as it gets closer.
I can't wait. I also think it's a cruel fucking joke that I find a girlfriend before I'm about to leave.
AIT after basic is going to be at least 25 weeks. She isn't going to wait for me, yeah fucking right.
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 3:04 pm
by Tikker
nope, you're not that much of a catch
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 4:03 pm
by Diekan
HA!
Never fails! There was a chick all through high school I wanted to bang like no tomorrow. FINALLY got date with her... finally got her interested.... two weeks before I shipped off to Basic. I didn't even bother asking her to "wait." When I got back she had already gotten a new man...
Of course you can't blame an 18 year old chick for wanting to go out and have a good time... It's all good.
Never did get to bang her...
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:49 pm
by Harrison
Tikker wrote:nope, you're not that much of a catch
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 7:42 am
by Harrison
So today I finalize some paperwork, references, schedule a physical, etc.
Only a few days left until I'm officially a soldier...
I'm ridiculously excited, nervous, depressed, happy, all at once.
Re: Off to take the ASVAB...
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:07 am
by leah
the big question: are you heading to the army a virgin still????? or has your ladyfriend done her patriotic duty hehe