Down the Rabbit Hole

ROTC vs Enlistment Process

2008-05-06T18:05:00.003-05:00

I've been given the opportunity to go through the process ROTC puts its cadets through as well as MEPS for enlisted soldiers, and the two are as different as night and day.

At MEPS I felt like I was a piece of cattle being jostled for one test to the next. We were woken up at 4:30 and crowded onto a bus, driven twenty miles and waited for close to six hours in our massive group, took blood test, were given the ASVAB, eye exams, duck walk, urinalysis, etc until we were given the opportunity to take the oath of service (which I was denied). The whole day was bewildering, rough, and haphazard.

ROTC is much more laid back. I was directed to a DoD (department of defense) website where I filled out my information and scheduled my own exams with local doctors and physicians at their expense. I don't have a recruiter pressuring me to say one thing or the other on my forms, and there isn't the scare tactics used at MEPS by the personnel to get hidden information out of recruits.

The two have completely different forms, and refuse to share information with each other. I requested that they get my forms from MEPS in order to spare myself having to redo everything. Request denied. It's like they're completely separate branches, even the Army and the Marines were more cooperative with one another.

I'm amazed that the officer recruits are treated so well compared to enlisted recruits. I've heard that in active duty it only becomes more apparent. Much better housing, respect, reemploy ability, pay, the works.

I still want to be a grunt.

King Rat

2008-05-03T07:49:00.002-05:00

That night Changi was deserted. By Men. But the insects remained.
And the rats.
They were still there. Beneath the hut. And many had died, for they had been forgotten by their captors. But the strongest were still alive.
Adam was tearing at the wire to get at the food outside his cage, fighting the wire as he had been fighting it for as long as he had been within the cage. And his patience was rewarded. The side of the cage ripped apart and he fell on the food and devoured it. And then he rested and with renewed strength he tore at another cage, and in the course of time devoured the flesh within.
Eve joined him and he has his fill of her and she of him and then they foraged in a consort. Later the whole side of a trench collapsed, and many cages were opened and the living fed on the dead, and the living weak become food for the living strong until all the survivors were equally strong. And then they fought amongst themselves and foraged.
And Adam ruled, for he was the King. Until the day his will to be King deserted him. Then he died, food for a stronger. And the strongest was always the King, not by strength alone, but King by cunning and luck and strength together. Among the rats.

Combat Musings

2008-05-02T12:58:00.004-05:00

I've never experienced it, but I want it so bad. When someone asks me why I'm doing it, I'll tell em "to kick some ass". I know it's supposed to be about patriotism, about doing my part to better the world, or some shit like that, but really I just want to take a few names and have an adventure. What I don't get is how defensive future or present POG's and civilians get when I say it. I think the author belowed described it pretty well.

I read this, it's an old book, completely obscure, never even made paperback, but this section is pretty good.

"Walking back to the transient barracks after visiting Ranks and the quadriplegic Seabee and the Crispy Critter tanker in the recovery ward, I see some Navy hospital orderlies standing in a group, smoking cigarettes, and watching a Marine grunt who won the Congressional Medal of Honor at Con Thien. The grunt has a flesh-colored plastic leg. He's pulling a shit detail, policing up cigarette butts.
The squid orderlies laugh and smoke their cigarettes and make remarks, just loud enough to hear, and they thoroughly enjoy that unexplainable gut-level poisonous hatred that men who have skated being in a shooting war can sometimes feel for less fortunate men who have been forced to meet themselves face to face in battle and have survived.
Like a woman who has never given birth, the man who has not faced death and inflicted death will for all of his life feel somehow not quite complete. Combat veterans are completely puzzled and bemused by the strangers who try to start fistfights with veterans in bars to prove how tough they are. Macho civilians envy the veteran for something the veteran, or at least some veterans, would be only too happy to transfer, or get rid of, like bad memories, or a plastic leg.
The soldier's war comes and goes, and ends. But noncombatants search endlessly for substitutes for war and attach to war that esoteric glamor which always attaches itself to the unattainable. It's like talking to a race of people whose big disappointment in life is that they will never be survivors of the sinking of the Titanic, will never be one of the chosen few who can proudly say that he had his hands burned off in the crash of the Hindenburg.
Veterans quickly learn that the fantasies of aspiring war heroes and the realities of the experience of war, what you gain for a short time and what you lose forever, can never be bridged. As the Spanish say, there is only one man who knows, and that is the man who fights the bull.
I greet the limping Marine policing up cigarette butts and we give each other a thumbs-up. "

Special Forces Routine

2008-05-02T12:25:00.000-05:00

If you want to wear the green beret of the Army Special Forces, be warned that it takes more than the ability to do hundreds of push-ups. To make it in the Special Forces of any branch of the U.S. military, you need intelligence, an outstanding record of prior military service (at least three years), and high motivation -- very high. But now, a new program will enable you to go straight to the SFAS after Army bootcamp - skipping the 3 year wait!!! My next few columns are for those of you who think you have what it takes to go Special Forces. I can give you the requirements for each service and a workout that will help you get physically prepared for the advanced training. As for those other qualities, you're on your own.

Getting Into SFAS The first step to becoming a Green Beret is to pass the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course (SFAS). To get into this course, you must meet some basic physical fitness requirements by scoring a minimum of 206 on the Army physical fitness test for the 17-to-21 age group. Remember, that's the minimum score. If you're serious about applying for Special Forces, however, never settle for the minimum score in anything. Since the Green Berets are so selective and competitive, it helps to stand out in as many areas as you can. I recommend that you work toward these goals in your Army PFT: -- Complete the 2-mile run in at least 12 to 14 minutes. -- 100 sit-ups in 2 minutes. -- 100 push-ups in 2 minutes. Accomplishing these goals will bring you close to a perfect score of 300 and increase your chances of being selected for SFAS. The three-week SFAS course, taught at Fort Bragg, N.C., consists of two phases. During the first, the physical phase, you will be expected to PT (running, swimming, sit-ups, pull-ups, push-ups), run an obstacle course, and participate in rucksack marches and orienteering exercises. The second phase measures your leadership and teamwork abilities.

Next Step: The Q Course After completing SFAS, you will be selected by the Green Beret instructors to attend the "Q Course," the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC). Depending on your occupational specialty, this course will last from 6 months to a year; the medical and communications courses last longer. Daily training at the SFQC takes it toll on your body since your day usually starts very early and ends late. While you are training for the Q Course, you should adopt the attitude of a marathon runner. Be ready for the long haul, but take each day one at a time. Most people who quit the course lack the ability to focus through the fatigue and stress that accompanies such training. The Workout If Army Special Forces is your goal, here's a good starter workout that may help you reach it. Swimming: NEVER swim alone. -- Two to three times a week, 1,000 to 2,000 meters each time. -- One day a week, try to swim wearing cammies and boots for 100 meters. Running: -- Four to five times a week, 3 to 5 miles as fast as you can. -- Once a week, do rucksack marches carrying a 50-pound load. PT: Every other day. -- Pull-ups, 75 to 100 repetitions (seven to 10 sets of 10 reps). -- Push-ups, 200 to 300 repetitions (10 to 15 sets of 20 reps). -- Sit-ups, 200 to 300 repetitions (five to 10 sets of 40 to 50 reps). Remember, it's always a good idea to check with your physician before starting a new exercise program, especially if you have been inactive for a long while or if you have certain medical conditions.

Courtesy of Stew Smith.

Random Thoughts

2008-04-29T04:53:00.003-05:00

I just felt like journaling without a real purpose, and right now I'm kind of apprehensive. I have an offer with a company in Texas as a backup in case all this military stuff somehow falls through the floor, and my neuroconsult is on May 11th. College isn't really my thing, it's necessary this day and age, but I don't enjoy it. Maybe I'll transfer to Mizzou or SLU, Truman just doesn't have anything going for it. The town is dull and the professors aren't anything special. It's has a good ROTC program though.

I verified I'd be inheriting close to $117,000.00 in the near future, and along with my savings (around 10k), and a 20k bonus, that's nothing to dismiss. It isn't enough to retire on or even close, but it's a good reserve. My grandmother had also wanted to give me 36K because of my efforts in improving her lot in life, can't count on that 100% though.

Honestly, if I didn't have this to fall back on, I'd probably finish school and become a broker. The idea of going through life and just working in something like that depresses me.

My mom and the rest of my family, excluding my dad, all support it. I think they realize I'm looking for something else, and in their minds it'll give me some time to think things over, and financially I'm secure so I can afford going on an adventure.

My dad...shit, I don't know where to begin with him. He's probably the only person I know that the nicer you are too him, the more of a jerk he is too you. He'll find something wrong with anything anyone does, it doesn't matter what it is. A huge control freak, practically vicariously ran my life in sports, music, academics when I was younger. I don't like him, more or less tried to make things work with him, be friendly but that only made things worse. The real way to get him to be cooperative is to attack him, he respects that and becomes compliant. It'll be nice to free of his influence, now I don't even need him for college tuition as my grandmother said she'd pick up the Tab.

My life otherwise is alright, I have some good friends from St. John's (which deserves it's own book in my mind), no debt, a few good references, and a family who's surprisingly successful, cooperative, and networked. When I step back and see everything at my disposal, I'm impressed.

...When it all comes down to it, I just want some stories to tell.

My War

2008-04-29T03:19:00.005-05:00

I read Colbey Buzzel's My War and the book seems to honestly reflect the experience of being in Iraq and is a favorite among a couple enlisted friends of mine, several who will be going to Iraq. Burt will be there in a few weeks, and Unger in September. I appreciate his candor in writing, and the way with which he handled his B.C. and everyone else who wanted to shut down his work. His blog is at http://cbftw.blogspot.com/

Army ROTC vs. Enlistment

2008-04-29T02:59:00.004-05:00

This has been a tough decision; I've spoken with the ROTC guys on several occasions and they offered me something called the Leadership Training Course at Fort Knox; Five weeks in the summer you go and play Army, they pay you a couple thousand dollars, no obligation, and they offer you a ROTC scholarship after you complete it.

That offer got me thinking more seriously about ROTC, so I weighed the Positives and Negatives:

ROTC Positives: Negatives:
1. Go in as Officer 1.War might be over in 3 years
2. Better Pay 2. Like enlisted culture
3. College Degree/Re-employ ability 3. Long term commitment

My final decision is to go as a grunt, try it for two years, go OCS if I like it and it's available, or join the reserves and become an officer through ROTC. If I don't like it, I can always drop it there.

The other factor I didn't include was that I'm inheriting a fair amount of money soon, and I have more than enough benefactors who are willing to pay for College, so ROTC isn't necessary in that aspect.

Scumminess at Fort Bragg

2008-04-28T17:12:00.003-05:00

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/28/barracks.bragg/index.html

Jesus, I thought I had some horror stories from my military academy, but this is inexcusable. I've seen officer housing and it's quite nice, they need to have the brass living on base, I'm sure this problem would be fixed ASAP. People in jails live better.

Decision

2008-04-28T15:55:00.003-05:00

Overall, weighing the three branches came down to this; (Yeah, I left out the air force)

Marines: Benefits: Negatives:
1. Esprit De Corps 1. No Incentive
2. Physical Fitness 2. Long Terms
3. Boot Camp 3. Bad Budget

Navy: Benefits: Negatives:
1. Good Nuke Program 1. Being on a ship
2. Job Skill after Service Term up 2. No Combat
3. Accelerated Promotion to E-5 in Eight Months. 3. Not my thing.

X Army: Benefits: Negatives:
1. Short terms (down to 15 months+training) 1. ..........
2. Fat bonuses 2. Trying to think...
3. Special Forces Option 3. Hmmm...
4. Good Gear, Stryker 4. Not sure...

In the end, I decided on the army and a two year+training option. Infantry Training, a tour or two in Iraq of Afghanistan, and 20k to save. It'll let me try out the military, and if I enjoy it continue, maybe leave and continue in the reserves while I go to college, or possibly see if OCS will take me at that point.

Plan;
Enter as E-3 (from a year of senior ROTC)
Take a 20k bonus
Figure out the rest of my life

Special Forces

2008-04-27T08:36:00.004-05:00

I've heard a few things, mostly odds and ends about the special forces after several people suggested I take a look at the 18X Program. The basic requirements were surprisingly low, basically scoring a a 77 in each category on the PT test as well as a few other easy things. I'll post a link before I continue.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjobs/a/18x.htm

(1) physical demands rating,--N/A.
(2) A physical profile, of 111221.
(3) Minimum scores, of 110 in aptitude area GT, and 100 in aptitude area CO.
(4) A Security Clearance, of SECRET.
(5) Must complete Special Forces Qualification Course formal training course.
(6) Must meet requirements listed in AR 614-200.
(7) A U.S. citizen.

With that it didn't sound too unreasonable, but since I've heard a few things that peaked my curiosity. The first came after I mentioned to the senior officer at our ROTC department about the program and he said, "You need to be an animal to succeed there" while another ex-soldier of 22 years said, "If you think you can do it and will try your hardest, you won't make it. You have to know you'll get the tab beforehand." A friend of mine who just completed sniper school said, "I've spoken to Rangers who've said SF was the hardest thing they'd ever done in their lives".

This seems like a monumental undertaking, and I'm looking forward to achieving it. Working out with ROTC guys every morning, on my own, preparing by hiking and navigating with a 90 pound pack, this is my preparation for being one of these people. The little bit I've read said they're different from regular soldiers, more mentally mature, quiet, older, and infinitely more capable. I'll get it.

The War Prayer

2008-04-22T05:12:00.005-05:00

I'm sure this is supposed to be anti-war, but it sounds badass regardless. I'm sure CNN would go nuts over it, but I'd love to roll into some zone with this blasting from loudspeakers in Arabic.

"O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle -- be Thou near them! With them -- in spirit -- we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it -- for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.

Commonalities

2008-04-21T06:47:00.004-05:00

All of the recruiters I've met have one thing in common; they hate their jobs. Recruiting assignments are seemingly random, as Sgt. Wilson described it, "they take a whole lot of names, put em in a hat, and draw a couple".

Several of them weren't even from Missouri, this just happened to be where they needed recruiters. Apparently the small dying towns around here are ripe territory for young guys and gals aiming to make more than minimum wage for the rest of their lives. The Marines stake out Macon, a small town about fifty miles south of my University, while the Army hits LaPlata, Adair, and other places pretty heavily.

Marine Sgt. Corbett turned down a spot as a Drill Instructor because a buddy of his said the D.I. school was hell, but then later said it was the greatest job on the planet.

Army Sgt. Wilson apparently resented the job and said that it would take an act of god to get him out of this spot.

It's hard work; many of them get into their office at 7:00 A.M. and leave around 8:00 P.M. They have to drive all over, make thousands of cold calls, and realize that more than half of the people coming into their office wanting to join the military will fail out. Above all this, they have quotas in wartime. And on top of that, they have to manage the Delayed Entry Program and get the kids who want to join the military and are fit for service ready for Recruit Training, Basic Training, etc. It's thankless work, and the cherry on top is that the media vilifies you.

If the military ever sends me a letter congratulating me on my new position ushering new recruits into the armed services, I'll break out "Dancing Queen", get a stash of nose candy, proclaim my lifelong love of Boy George all while protesting the unconstitutional nature of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Beer and Pussy

2008-04-21T06:37:00.004-05:00

I decided to drop in late on a weekend to the Army recruiting office but they'd already packed up. I turned around to leave and saw this smiling, heavyset older guy (maybe mid 30's) who was wearing Chief rank in the Navy and immediately introduced himself and asked if I wanted to take a seat and hear about the Navy. Chief is a really gregarious guy, the kind of person I can only describe as being very comfortable speaking.
Chief asked me what I thought about the Army and what appealed to me, asked me to take a practice ASVAB before I told him that I'd already been to MEPS and scored a 98. He asked me what job I wanted in the Army and when I said infantry he kind of scoffed and said, "Listen, you're too smart to be a bullet target somewhere, and when you leave what are you gonna do? Be a cop?" Then he went into his pitch about how the Navy Nuclear Program was putting guys in and then they were receiving 90k+ for reactor positions when they left, and how that would be great for me.
I said that sounded interesting (honestly, it kind of did and I wanted to humor the guy) and he went into his tirade about how I'd travel, party, get drunk and laid, etc. He had some real gems and really got into it, I was trying not to laugh but he really got into it...

"A handsome guy like you, man, you'd be rolling in the pussy, and as much as you'd travel, you'd be able to sample all the pussy in the world...you'd be a pussy connoisseur, able to tell which was which blindfolded...and after all that's done, land a job in a reactor anywhere in the country, make a lot of money, and do whatever you want."

I'll give him credit, he met with me again later that week and went out to get some lunch. The guy even brought in a former Nuke Tech to tell me how great it was, and this other guy who ran the recruiting station in town. I enjoyed talking to him at first but then he started calling me all the time, once at 6:38 in the morning and up to six or seven times a day...I told him to back off at that point and haven't spoken to him since.

We Want You!

2008-04-21T03:44:00.003-05:00

I picked up card for Sgt. Wilson whose office is right across the hall from the Marine Recruiter. This has the potential for some drama...I gave him a call later that day and mentioned my story, and he informed me that he had been a Marine prior to joining the Army. I scheduled an appointment with him for the next day, and the guy was half an hour late so I chatted up with flunkie working at the station who had some interesting stories from Iraq. I specifically asked him what the difference between the Marines and the Army was, and he told me a story about his time there...

"So we're rolling out, and these Marines are in the sector we're patrolling (he said that didn't make sense) and they saw these three big brown bags on the road and naturally wanted to check whether they were IEDS and partially blocked the road with their vehicles. These Marines roll right next to the IEDS and ask what's going on, to which this guy said, "Well, you practically just drove over them, so they probably aren't IED's, but we'll have EOD check it out. The Marines don't want to wait, so they grab some Iraqi guy and tell him to run up and kick all three of the bags, which he does and nothing happens. Crazy huh?"

The Army, for all it's faults, is infinetly more flexible than the Marine Corps. They offer incredibly short terms (15 months +training at the lowest) and were very up front about their special forces and army ranger schools after I stated that I wanted to be Infantry.

Sgt. Wilson "And I can guarantee that you won't be deployed"
Me "You don't get it, I want to go to Afghanistan"
Sgt. Wilson "Oh, well, don't worry. If you join a ranger or SF group, you'll get sent somewhere."

All in all, I'm starting to like what they're selling. The Marines basically wanted to tell you how to do everything, but left you hanging when you were in a fix. These people are willing to work with me, and seem to have less of a "sales" atmosphere than the Corps. I'm definetly interested.

Prospects in the Army:
15 Month Deployment as a groundpounder
5 Year 18X Special Forces Contract

Job Hunting

2008-04-21T03:41:00.003-05:00

I failed to say this before, but many of these posts are older and have already happened. I'm merely posting journal entries in the order I wrote them.

The Marines have refused to pay for a neuro-exam and aren't being very cooperative. This wouldn't be an issue, but insurance typically won't cover this sort of thing unless it's for a medical emergency or prevention. I'm possibly looking at a bill over $1000.00.

The recruiter went as far to suggest that I borrow money from my parents or take out a loan, and I simply will not do that.

This prompted me to check out the Army and the Navy to see if their programs are more generous.

Temporary Disqualification

2008-04-20T23:24:00.007-05:00

I'll post the MEPS letter when I get a chance to get home, but in essence they gave me a DQ due to my sports injury that happened eight years ago until I can get a neuro-examination to prove I'm A-OK. Already have one scheduled. Otherwise I checked out and back into it, it shouldn't be an issue.

PULHES
111121

ASVAB: 98

YouTube Criticisms

2008-04-19T05:57:00.002-05:00

Despite the fact that the Armed Forces are strictly volunteer, apparently some people are offended by our patriotism. A simple "God Bless the Corps." on my part, posted on a youtube Marine Commercial video warranted me the following message in my inbox;

From KobeisKing89:
"u think the world cares about american soilders in Iraq....or whereever u bastards are.....we pray to see death reports with u fuckers in it i hope u all die over their and i hope karma finds a hole for ur cold heart and ur soul...... everyone knows american soilders are pussys that go threw the mill and just fuckin get tossed over there dont pretend ur something ur just a puppet that ur goverment uses u peice of worthless trsh i hope ur life is filled with death and dissapointment"

I don't get it, this guy is obviously American and benefiting from our servicemen and women whether he likes it or not, and still finds time in his busy schedule to write stuff like this. Kids these days.

Quote of the Day; “Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.”

Military Entrance Processing Station

2008-04-19T03:25:00.001-05:00

I got up around 4:30 A.M. at the Hotel in Kansas City to get dressed and showered; breakfast was at 4:45, checkout was 5:15, and the shuttle departed at 5:30. In the morning I met a fine crew of assholes and it reminded me of the first day at St. John’s; a collection of shitbag gloaters who’ll end up as losers, scared kids that’ll probably be fine, and some returning servicemen. The army guys in particular seem like trash mentally and physically; the Marines were alright, except for one fat body (who scored a 91 on his AFQT, and planned on entering intelligence field) and this other kid who stuck close to me around but almost never said anything (a 17 year old high school senior in remarkable shape) . I guess I’m the unelected leader of our troupe. Overall there were about ninety people that went to processing that day.
The station itself is a complex where you’ll spend most of your time being shuffled from one station to the next. Various tests, such as a breathalyzer, drug test, vision, hearing, etc are administered.
The ASVAB is an intelligence test that measures general knowledge as well as technical proficiency in several fields. I scored well with my AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test) at a 98. My line scores were good (scores in areas like technical, science, anatomy, etc) With this, no job, as long as it’s open, is refused to me. I even qualified (in the intellectual component) for the famed Marine Recon (GT 105). I can dream I guess. I scored the highest of anything taking the test that day.
I performed exceptionally well on hearing test (perfect score, which is rare vs, perfect sight which is fairly common) as well. The gentleman administering the test was a colored clerk who saw my AFQT and said, “Boy, they’ll have a fun time finding an MOS for you.” I mentioned I was a Marine Combat Machine Gunner and he laughed, “Yeah, that’s where they need brains, and all those boys are deaf as hell. You might want to reconsider that.” I spoke with him and he mentioned his divorce, and how he didn’t pay any settlement to his ex, and that his lawyer was a lesbian.
The eye guy was a real character; this old bastard with a black eye patch and a salty personality. After the test, he commented that my vision was so bad that if I went out on a Friday night without them, I’d be liable to end up taking a man home by mistake. The guy had his shit together, and the test was done soon. If I qualify for Lasik Surgery, I’ll take advantage of it.
The only real tie up was at the medical interview with the doc; I decided to be open with all of my past medical demons, and my prior head injury was the center piece of my confession. He said they’d need a file from the Hospital before I could sign my contract and swear in. After the good old “turn your head and cough” bit, he reviewed my portfolio. Noticing my AFQT, he asked which branch I was going into and whether or not I was going to college anywhere. “With a score like this, you need to be.” I said I was a Machine Gunner in the Corps. And he seemed taken aback by it.

ADD Note; I’m the only professed combat MOS here of all the branches. I’ve spoken with just about everyone, and I’ve spoken to future counselors, technicians, MP’s, and nurses, but no dick swinging 03XX’s. Why the hell do you join the military if you can do the same thing in the private sector and make 2x, 3x, 4x as much?

I took a break to get lunch and saw that my parents had showed up in the waiting room. I invited them in the cafeteria and had some food while my dad badgered me about other MOS’s that I should do because I’m “More qualified and it would be better for my future”. He threw out being a linguist or an intelligence officer, and even was trying to sell the idea of being an interrogator. Great, like I want to bother some helpless guy in a small room for information about his friends and co-conspirators. He even wanted to go into the contract signing with me, and I blew him off. He got to live through me twice with Music and Sports; I’m not giving him this to dictate his ideas. Fuck off.

I needed a social security card, and was sent out with a Marine Corporal who struck me as anything but disciplined. Wearing a perversion of the high and tight haircut, this guy had tattoos’ all over his arms and neck (exposed skin) an interesting guy, he was my age and had a trashed pickup. Apparently he was heading back to California. I asked him about Iraq, and whether it was as boring as the media made it out to be for soldiers, and he enthusiastically said, “Fuck no, man, it’s great. You’ll kill all sorts of fuckers there, especially as a 0331. (He was the same job I wanted). Infantry is great man, it’s like a big fucking fraternity in the barracks. We killed over 300 Hajji’s and lost 22, I’d say we won.” Apparently he came from a trailer park in the bad park of Kansas City before enlisting. Had good taste in Music, lots of gentle acoustic tunes and Jack Johnson. Apparently he’d been a big weed and mushrooms hippie before he joined up, and he bragged how he’d received $70,000.00 for reenlisting.

On the ride back after all this with my parents, they didn’t say anything. Part of me wanted a Kodak Moment, for them to say they were proud of me, but I know that isn’t going to happen. I’ll be glad to be on my own, and with the Reserves to pay most if not all of my college tuition, I’ll have that much less of a link to them.

Quote of the Day; Initiative is doing the right things without being told.

Tell It To The Marines

2008-04-19T03:16:00.001-05:00

After arriving back in early January, I stopped by the local recruiting office after setting up an appointment with a guard recruiter, but the bastard hadn't even shown up. Must have had a good month or something.

A Marine Recruiter, Sgt. Corbett, had seen me go down the hall and stepped out of his office to talk to me. I told him that I was thinking about the Guard or Reserves in the Army, and he went on a tirade about how they didn't train well, how they were being deployed all the time, and that if I wanted to be an infantryman (which I did) the Corps. was the way to go. We spoke for nearly two hours, and afterwards he told me to get back to him about it, and take it from there.

The Marine Reserves offered nothing in the way of bonuses, compared to the $20,000.00 basically assured to you if you joined the Guard. What appealed to me was the training, sleek uniform, and the ability to call myself a Marine. Money wasn't a big issue, and even saying that you rejected the bonus had it's own sort of Spartan appeal to me. I came back and met with him several times before signing everything and heading down to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) in Kansas City.

Quote of the Day; The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!

That has potential...

2008-04-19T03:13:00.001-05:00

I'd thought about joining during my time in Japan, first I thought more about the National Guard, but with the prospect of immediate deployment (most guard units are on a rotating schedule) I figured I should look into either a more secure reserve unit or active duty...not much happened other than me looking into the Marine Reserves and the National Guard and sending them an email while I finished out my vacation overseas and explored Kyoto, The Japanese Alps, and Hokkaido.

Odd Note

2008-04-19T02:12:00.001-05:00

I received a friend notice from a girl on facebook that had been a jerk to me in a student organization, politically cut me out of it, and we hadn't communicated in over a year. I guess she figured we were still friends. The correspondence was pretty rich, if anyone has any advice on it feel free to post.

Me
I'm not trying to be a jerk, but what do you want?

Girl X
12:28pm Apr 17th
Well I didn't know we weren't facebook friends anymore. I don't have an agenda.

Me
8:07pm Apr 17th
I'll pass. I didn't exactly leave on a good note with you, and I really can't consider you a friend of mine.

Girl X
10:52am Apr 18th
Wow, I don't really know what I did to you personally. But that's your call.

Me
7:03pm Apr 18th
It's more professional than personal. I just don't want to associate with someone like you

Quote of the Day; 'Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.

Weird Memories

2008-04-19T01:35:00.001-05:00

While the entire experience of being abroad was rewarding, I had a few choice moments that really stood out and made it all the more surreal.

There was guy in the course with me and we hit it off. After class got out around 5:45, I'd usually get a beer in the Shinjuku area, which was really reasonable because the country is in a recession and a drink costs a few bucks and you don't tip the bartenders. I'd stay there until 6:30 or so when people starting getting off work and explore the city until the last train at 12:15 A.M. or so. I'll call this guy "Calvin".

I'd met Calvin in school, although we were in different course levels, he seemed pretty straight and I met him at random out in the Akihabara area and we travelled around, got a few drinks, raised some hell at the bars with the locals, all that jazz. He reminded me a lot of my best friend Eric, so we were good pals.

One weekend, we were chilling out in the Shibuya area looking for a good bar, and after trying a few and the local GasPanic (cheap club that attracts high school and college kids) and stopping into a local "Condomania" and laughing at the packages ( some which were indiscreetly shown with pictures of horses and black men) and agreeing that the "tight fit" was meant for guys with little pricks, we picked up a few and he suggested that we go to this place in Shinjuku Nichome where he knew the owner of the club who'd spot us free drinks.

Now, if you have an image of where this goes, you're probably dead on. I'm always oblivious to this sort shit, so just bear with me for the rest of it.

On the train over, he casually mentions that this is a gay club, and that he went there with several of the other students but that it's cool I'm straight. I'm a pretty libertine guy, and agreed to check it out. When we got there, the club was actually pretty nice, had a good dance floor, and a surprising amount of straight girls. I was enjoying myself, we got a few drinks, and headed out to the floor. When we arrived, a regular DJ was playing, but a few minutes after we got on the floor some European bigshot DJ in the gay scene came on the place became totally packed, I've seen moshpits that were less crowded.

So we're going on, and as we get drunker, this guy gets more obvious. He informs me that he's gay and has bisexual tendencies, and that's he's really into me, and that he liked masculine guys. Apparently he was a bottom sexually, and stated that to him, giving people pleasure was important to him. I didn't want too offend this guy, and we'd already been past the last train, so I said that was alright but that I was straight. I was trying to be nice to the guy, I've had gay friends in the past and tried to keep it as normal as possible. We messed around some more, enjoyed the music, got a burger, and talked about everything from him being christian and homosexual to how women were too needy in relationships, and what a "top" and "bottom" were in the gay scene as well as more conservative topics. Overall I kind of hoped this would work out on a friendship basis. I didn't pick anyone up that night for obvious reasons.

After we waited for the first train to start and got on board, I told him, "Hey man, that was a lot of fun. I'm getting off in a few stops, but we should get the guys and gals from our classes to head out, I know some of the Koreans would have a great time dancing there". This is where shit really got bad...

He looked up at me, and said, "I'm not a girl, so I'll just say it. You'd get your cock sucked from a man wouldn't you?" Take into account this is on a crowded train, and Japanese people don't talk on trains, so everyone heard it and looked over at us. I kind of stammered and said something to the extent of, "uh, what?" He then said, "You wouldn't refuse head right?" and I was just fucking knocked cold, I didn't want to offend him or make a scene, so told him, "Look man, I'm straight and joining the military, that's a liability to my job, you're a lot of fun, but I can't do that." He got pissed and basically said he wouldn't offer it again, but somehow in the time between that and me getting off at my stop, we were on a cordial basis again.

I wonder how many people have a story like that to tell.

Quote of the Day; Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night.

Silver Bullets

2008-04-19T00:46:00.001-05:00

I spent some time in Tokyo late in 2007. I've heard people describe it as a utopia where crime is low, laws are followed, and people know their place. I'd disagree.
It's an orderly country, utterly governed by rules and not conscience. The kind of place where people all wait in line, but beggar's don't ask for money because they know no one will help them. I spent a lot of time in the KabukiCho area, which ironically contains both the federal governing buildings as well as the most notorious red light district. They're literally one block away from each other, and the area is full of young schoolgirls parading on old men's arms.
My life there was alright, I spent time in the city, goofed off in class, made friends and blew an unreasonable amount of Yen with the Koreans on weekends. I'd saved quite a bit for this excursion financially, and it was some time to let off some steam from the previous schoolyear. The partying bit was fun, but it was here that I found something out about myself.
I'd always assumed that I'd go to school, get a job, save money, and do this sort of thing. That materialistic mindset was my model for life; I'm not particularly religious and having a family isn't something I'm planning on. I'm twenty one, and other than pursuing a better cigar, nicer suit, or an older port, I had no real reason to get up in the morning. While I had a blast over there, it also forced me to reexamine myself, and what I found wasn't particularly comforting; I was doing the wrong things with my life.
I spent a lot of time thinking about this. Before I came, I always thought money would satisfy me and enable me to do anything I wanted; my dad puts money on a pedestal, but then again he doesn't have any friends, and spends all his time reading self help books who's advice he never implements. I had to figure something out that might make me proud of myself.

Quote of the Day; "When you're a little kid, you're a little bit of everything. Artist, scientist, athlete, scholar... Sometimes it seems like growing up is the process of giving those things up. One by one. I guess we all have one thing we regret giving up. One thing we really miss. That we gave up because we were too lazy or, we couldn't stick it out or, because we were afraid. "