Showing posts with label BCT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BCT. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
9-Line Medevac Request
9 Line Medevac Request:
Line 1.
Location of the pick-up site.
Line 2.
Radio frequency, call sign, and suffix.
Line 3.
Number of patients by precedence:
A - Urgent
B - Urgent Surgical
C - Priority
D - Routine
E - Convenience
Line 4.
Special equipment required:
A - None
B - Hoist
C - Extraction equipment
D - Ventilator
Line 5.
Number of patients:
A - Litter
B - Ambulatory
Line 6.
Security at pick-up site:
N - No enemy troops in area
P - Possible enemy troops in area (approach with caution)
E - Enemy troops in area (approach with caution)
X - Enemy troops in area (armed escort required)
* In peacetime - number and types of wounds, injuries, and illnesses
Line 7.
Method of marking pick-up site:
A - Panels
B - Pyrotechnic signal
C - Smoke signal
D - None
E - Other
Line 8.
Patient nationality and status:
A - US Military
B - US Civilian
C - Non-US Military
D - Non-US Civilian
E - EPW
Line 9.
NBC Contamination:
N - Nuclear
B - Biological
C - Chemical
* In peacetime - terrain description of pick-up site
Monday, September 7, 2009
The Army Song
There are quite a few things you will want to memorize for Army Basic Combat Training, including US Army Rank Structure, The 7 Army Values, The Soldier's Creed, A Soldier's General Orders, Reporting to an Officer indoors, 9-Line Medevac Request, UXO IED Report, and The Army Song, amongst other things.
If you are a Future Soldier preparing for BCT (Basic Combat Training), be sure to return to The US Army Life. Over the next few days, we will cover all of the basics mentioned above that you will want to memorize before entering BCT.
Today we'll cover the official Army Song:
“The Army Goes Rolling Along”
Intro:
March along, sing our song, with the Army of the free
Count the brave, count the true, who have fought to victory
We’re the Army and proud of our name
We’re the Army and proudly proclaim
Verse:
First to fight for the right,
And to build the Nation’s might,
And The Army Goes Rolling Along
Proud of all we have done,
Fighting till the battle’s won,
And the Army Goes Rolling Along.
Refrain:
Then it’s Hi! Hi! Hey!
The Army’s on its way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong (TWO! THREE!)
For where e’er we go,
You will always know
That The Army Goes Rolling Along.
Verse:
Valley Forge, Custer’s ranks,
San Juan Hill and Patton’s tanks,
And the Army went rolling along
Minute men, from the start,
Always fighting from the heart,
And the Army keeps rolling along.
(refrain)
Verse:
Men in rags, men who froze,
Still that Army met its foes,
And the Army went rolling along.
Faith in God, then we’re right,
And we’ll fight with all our might,
As the Army keeps rolling along.
(refrain)
If you are a Future Soldier preparing for BCT (Basic Combat Training), be sure to return to The US Army Life. Over the next few days, we will cover all of the basics mentioned above that you will want to memorize before entering BCT.
Today we'll cover the official Army Song:
“The Army Goes Rolling Along”
Intro:
March along, sing our song, with the Army of the free
Count the brave, count the true, who have fought to victory
We’re the Army and proud of our name
We’re the Army and proudly proclaim
Verse:
First to fight for the right,
And to build the Nation’s might,
And The Army Goes Rolling Along
Proud of all we have done,
Fighting till the battle’s won,
And the Army Goes Rolling Along.
Refrain:
Then it’s Hi! Hi! Hey!
The Army’s on its way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong (TWO! THREE!)
For where e’er we go,
You will always know
That The Army Goes Rolling Along.
Verse:
Valley Forge, Custer’s ranks,
San Juan Hill and Patton’s tanks,
And the Army went rolling along
Minute men, from the start,
Always fighting from the heart,
And the Army keeps rolling along.
(refrain)
Verse:
Men in rags, men who froze,
Still that Army met its foes,
And the Army went rolling along.
Faith in God, then we’re right,
And we’ll fight with all our might,
As the Army keeps rolling along.
(refrain)
Friday, August 28, 2009
The Results of the Army PT Test
So yesterday wrote about my impending Army Physical Fitness Exam. Today, I post the results.
But first, a prelude.
A short while back, my Sergeant informed me that I would be taking a Physical Fitness exam as part of my pre-BCT (Basic Combat Training, A.K.A., "Boot Camp") requirements. If I were to complete all of my tasks before my ship-date, I would be promoted to E-2, which equates to some extra pay and the right to wear a cool stripe on my uniform sleeve. I am shipping out alot quicker than most, so I have less time than most new recruits do to complete all of the tasks. I flew through most of them pretty quickly. The only thing left was the dreaded PT Test.
My recruiter gave me some advice to get into tip-top shape: "Do a set of 50 sit-ups at least 3 times a day. Try to do them all in under 2 minutes," he told me. "Also, do sets of 39 pushups every other day. Do alot of sets. Do them when you wake up. Do them every time you eat. Do them every time you need to go to the bathroom. Do them again before you got to bed. And on the days when you're not doing push-ups, run 2 miles. Try to do it in under 17 minutes."
Now my Sergeant is a freakin' animal. This guy is in awesome shape and can run like water downhill. So of course I took his advice.
My first attempt at sit-ups resulted in me only managing to do 32. The next time I managed to do 50, but it took me 3:26 to complete them all. The last time I did them before my Test, I was able to do 50 in 2 minutes and 46 seconds. Still not fast enough, but a vast improvement over where I started.
My first attempt at push-ups went even worse. I only managed to do 9 push-ups like a man, and had to do the rest of them in the modified (girl) style, and it took me 2:03 to complete. The last set I did before my test, I manged to do 28 man push-ups, finished off the rest modified, and did it all in 1 minute and 11 seconds.
And now for the results.
Now keep in mind, for my particular gender and age group (31 year old male), I must perform at the following minimum standards to pass:
Push-ups: 39 push-ups in 2 minutes
Sit-ups: 45 sit-ups in 2 minutes
2-mile run: Run 2 miles in under 17 minutes.
So I'm pumped and ready to go, but knowing full well that the most push-ups have manage to push out at once up til this point has been 28. I push that thought out of my mind. I visualize success. In my mind, I watch myself on the ground, pushing myself up 39 times. Everyone disappears. The world goes silent. I all can see is the ground. All I can hear is the sound of my muscles screaming to PUSH! PUSH! PUSH!
"On your mark," the Sergeant says.
I drop to my hands and knees.
"Get set," he says.
I pop up into the push-up position.
"GO!"
1, 2, 3, I think.
I watch the ground rise and fall beneath me. I breathe in on the way down. I blow out on the way up.
10, 11, 12.
Don't watch the ground. Look at the wall, I remember. I lift my head and keep pushing.
27, 28, 29. I have broken past my barrier. My arms are getting weak but I keep pushing.
36, 37, 38. I'm struggling and shaking with each push.
I get stuck halfway up on 39. My entire body is trembling. My foot slips, and my knee hits the ground.
"You're done!" says the Sergeant.
I dropped the F-bomb... and it was loud.
Failure in any one event is failure of the entire test. Because of my quick ship-time, that was my one and only chance to pass. My chance at an early promotion when swirling right down the crapper.
Although, I didn't pass the Test, I did finish. I did my sit-ups and my 2-mile run, but at that point it was only training, and no longer a test.
When we returned to the office, my Sergeant told me that he would give me a private test at 0800 on September 17th. That gives me 2 more weeks to get it right. I really want to leave for Basic Training as an E-2. Over the course of the next 3 years of my Army career, passing this test and getting promoted early will equate to an extra $7,200 in base pay alone, not to mention the added benefits, and will bring me that much closer to the next rank of E-3, Private First Class.
Time to go train. HOOAH! I love my job!
But first, a prelude.
A short while back, my Sergeant informed me that I would be taking a Physical Fitness exam as part of my pre-BCT (Basic Combat Training, A.K.A., "Boot Camp") requirements. If I were to complete all of my tasks before my ship-date, I would be promoted to E-2, which equates to some extra pay and the right to wear a cool stripe on my uniform sleeve. I am shipping out alot quicker than most, so I have less time than most new recruits do to complete all of the tasks. I flew through most of them pretty quickly. The only thing left was the dreaded PT Test.
My recruiter gave me some advice to get into tip-top shape: "Do a set of 50 sit-ups at least 3 times a day. Try to do them all in under 2 minutes," he told me. "Also, do sets of 39 pushups every other day. Do alot of sets. Do them when you wake up. Do them every time you eat. Do them every time you need to go to the bathroom. Do them again before you got to bed. And on the days when you're not doing push-ups, run 2 miles. Try to do it in under 17 minutes."
Now my Sergeant is a freakin' animal. This guy is in awesome shape and can run like water downhill. So of course I took his advice.
My first attempt at sit-ups resulted in me only managing to do 32. The next time I managed to do 50, but it took me 3:26 to complete them all. The last time I did them before my Test, I was able to do 50 in 2 minutes and 46 seconds. Still not fast enough, but a vast improvement over where I started.
My first attempt at push-ups went even worse. I only managed to do 9 push-ups like a man, and had to do the rest of them in the modified (girl) style, and it took me 2:03 to complete. The last set I did before my test, I manged to do 28 man push-ups, finished off the rest modified, and did it all in 1 minute and 11 seconds.
And now for the results.
Now keep in mind, for my particular gender and age group (31 year old male), I must perform at the following minimum standards to pass:
Push-ups: 39 push-ups in 2 minutes
Sit-ups: 45 sit-ups in 2 minutes
2-mile run: Run 2 miles in under 17 minutes.
So I'm pumped and ready to go, but knowing full well that the most push-ups have manage to push out at once up til this point has been 28. I push that thought out of my mind. I visualize success. In my mind, I watch myself on the ground, pushing myself up 39 times. Everyone disappears. The world goes silent. I all can see is the ground. All I can hear is the sound of my muscles screaming to PUSH! PUSH! PUSH!
"On your mark," the Sergeant says.
I drop to my hands and knees.
"Get set," he says.
I pop up into the push-up position.
"GO!"
1, 2, 3, I think.
I watch the ground rise and fall beneath me. I breathe in on the way down. I blow out on the way up.
10, 11, 12.
Don't watch the ground. Look at the wall, I remember. I lift my head and keep pushing.
27, 28, 29. I have broken past my barrier. My arms are getting weak but I keep pushing.
36, 37, 38. I'm struggling and shaking with each push.
I get stuck halfway up on 39. My entire body is trembling. My foot slips, and my knee hits the ground.
"You're done!" says the Sergeant.
I dropped the F-bomb... and it was loud.
Failure in any one event is failure of the entire test. Because of my quick ship-time, that was my one and only chance to pass. My chance at an early promotion when swirling right down the crapper.
Although, I didn't pass the Test, I did finish. I did my sit-ups and my 2-mile run, but at that point it was only training, and no longer a test.
When we returned to the office, my Sergeant told me that he would give me a private test at 0800 on September 17th. That gives me 2 more weeks to get it right. I really want to leave for Basic Training as an E-2. Over the course of the next 3 years of my Army career, passing this test and getting promoted early will equate to an extra $7,200 in base pay alone, not to mention the added benefits, and will bring me that much closer to the next rank of E-3, Private First Class.
Time to go train. HOOAH! I love my job!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Fort Jackson Basic Training Packing List
What to Bring to Army BCT (Basic Combat Training) at Fort Jackson
Clothing
Clothing
- One set of casual, comfortable clothing - No halter tops or ragged shorts
- Three sets of underwear (White) - One packing list I have states specifically that they must be "tighty-whities" and NOT boxers or boxer briefs.
- One pair of white, calf-length athletic socks - No color bands, designs or logos
- One pair of comfortable athletic shoes - Should be running shoes. Do not buy new shoes to take with you. You will be required to purchase a pair of running shoes from the Army while you are in processing.
- Eyeglasses - No faddish/stylish eyewear. Leave your sunglasses at home, folks. People who require prescription glasses will be given a pair of BCG's courtesy of the US Army. BCG means Birth Control Glasses. They are called birth control glasses because they are the ugliest goddamned glasses you have ever seen in your life. You have absolutely zero chance of getting laid with these things on. On the upside, these glasses are nearly indestructible. Though you cannot survive a nuclear blast, your BCG's probably would.
- Athletic supporter (males only) - I've got to clarify here, I've heard people ask, "What's an athletic supporter?" It's a jock-strap, where you would put your "cup" to protect your nuts.
- Luggage should be limited to one small suitcase or gym bag.
- Two locks (combination or padlock with 2 keys) - Don't get the locks with keys. You'll have enough shit to remember and lug around with you for 9 weeks without having to worry about what the hell to do with your keys. Get combo locks. And here's a tip: Buy the 2-pack of combo locks. I got mine at Target. You get two locks, both with the same combination. Now that's one less thing that you've got to remember. With all the shit you've got to remember, you'll thank me and yourself later for the 2-pack of combo locks!
Toiletries
- Disposable / safety razor with blades - Nothing electric, like the battery operated vibrating Mach razors.
- Shaving cream (optional for women) - Non-aerosol
- Toothbrush with clear carrying case - CLEAR carrying case. Shit... mine's yellow. Note to self: find a clear carrying case.
- Hairbrush or 6" black comb
- Shampoo - 3 ounces in a clear bottle will do
- Two washcloths and one brown towel
- Non-aerosol antiperspirant - Now this is what's on the official list, but this is also an area of confusion. Another list states that it must be a deodorant and can NOT contain antiperspirant. The reasoning for this clearly stated that we can NOT wear antiperspirant because it stops us from sweating, and sweating is VITAL in cooling your body and preventing heat related injuries.
- Black shower shoes - Means black flip-flops. MUST BE BLACK!
- Toothpaste
- Dental Floss
- Soap with clear carrying case
- Nail clippers
Money*
- A minimum $10.00 - but No More Than $50.00 in Cash
- Traveler's Checks or Money Orders
- ATM Card or Personal Checks
For Women Only
- Undergarments:
- 8 underwear (cotton recommended, White or Neutral)
- 6 sports bras
- flesh tone nylons
- Hairstyles not appropriate in uniform: ponytail, extreme bouffant styles, exotic upsweeps, and corkscrew or "corn-row" styles.
- You may wear quarter-inch or smaller pearl, gold, silver, or diamond spherical earrings, only with Army "dress" uniforms.
Documents You Need To Bring with You
- Social Security Card
- Driver's License
- Direct Deposit Form - 1199 signed by a bank official, or the name, address and account number and routing number of your financial institution.
- Marriage Certificate
- Divorce Decree
- Separation Order
- Birth Certificates for all children under 18
- Affidavit of Support for Parents
- Court documents
- Direct deposit forms if ordered to pay spousal and/or child support. Ask your recruiter for full details.
- Proof of Citizenship (aliens only).
- The name, Social Security Number, and Military Address of your spouse if you are married to another service member.
- Copies of your lease agreement or rental contract for any dependents residing outside of government quarters.
- Documentation of any ROTC experience.
- College transcripts.
Your Orders
Be sure to have all copies of your orders and documents issued by your unit recruiter or the Military Entrance Processing Station. These orders must be hand-delivered by you. Travel and meal tickets will be provided.
What NOT to Bring
- Prohibited Items, Do not bring these items with you to Fort Jackson:
- Weapons
- Drugs or narcotics
- Alcoholic beverages and empty containers
- Counterfeit money
- Tobacco products
- Pornographic items
- Cell phones, pagers, and other electronic communication devices
- CD players and walkman-type devices
- Body jewelry
- Contact lenses
-
- Retained Items, These items should not be brought with you, but may be turned in for safe keeping at the OWNER'S RISK
- Knives
- Gambling devices
- Suggestive items and pictures
- Un-opened over-the-counter drugs
-
- These items should be retained by individual
- Prescription drugs with a written prescription
-
Taking My Army Physical Fitness Test Today
I'll be meeting with my recruiter today to take my Physical Fitness Test. I'll be leaving in about an hour.
Just finished eating, so I am well nourished. I am drinking 0.5 liters per hour of water. This is the prescribed amount to stay hydrated without over hydrating. A boost of potassium (commonly found in bananas) helps your body to retain the water until it is needed for perspiration. It's important to be well hydrated to avoid heat cramps or other heat related injuries such as exhaustion or heat stroke. On the flip side, it's advisable to stop drinking the 0.5 L per hour 1 hour prior to exercise to prevent the water in your stomach from causing cramps.
The PT Test consists of 3 main elements. For my particular gender and age group (31 year old male) the standards are as follows:
To be able to attend BCT, I must be able to perform at the following levels:
- Run 1 mile - 8:30
- Sit-ups - 17 in one minute
- Push-ups - 13 in one minute
- Run 2 miles - 17:54
- Sit-ups - 36 in two minutes
- Push-ups - 30 in two minutes
- Run 2 miles - 17:00
- Sit-ups - 45 in two minutes
- Push-ups - 39 in two minutes
After exercising, it is important to rehydrate. To accomplish this, simply drink cool water until you are no longer thirsty, then drink a little more. Cool water is easier absorbed by the body than cold or warm water.
I'm off. Wish me luck!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The US Army Life Timeline
08/10/2007 - At the age of 29, I got married to my perfect wife.
08/10/2007 - Fired from my job (Turned out they didn't want to give me the night off. Apparently your own wedding isn't a good enough excuse to miss work, no matter how far ahead you requested the time off.) Of course, my wife was totally supportive and understanding.
09/30/2007 - Began receiving unemployment compensation. For the next few months, I looked for work and took whatever odd jobs I could find along the way (run to the grocery store for the neighbor with the broken ankle, mow grandma's lawn, help mom paint her house, stuff like that). Again, my wife was understanding and patient with me through this process.
06/15/2008 - After nearly a year with not so much as a nibble on the job line, but no shortage of free time, I proposed to my wife an idea that I had formulated about starting up my own business. No surprise. She was 100% behind me in support of my idea.
06/15/2009 - Started actually playing with the notion of joining the Army. But as understanding and supportive as my wife had been all along, how understanding and supportive would she really be when I said "Hey honey. I'm going to leave you with a son and a daughter for god knows how long while I go run off to the Army." And still, she was 100% supportive and understanding. I'm a very lucky man.
I get asked alot, "What made you want to join the Army?"
"I'm too old to join the Marine Corps," I tell them. I'm just kidding, I don't seriously say that.
The truth is, I don't usually know quite what to say. It's not like I just woke up on June 15th, 2009, turned on the laptop, poured a bowl of Cap'n Crunch Berries, even sliced up some bananas in there, starting eating, and then halfway through breakfast dropped the spoon and went "HOLY FUCKING SHIT! I WANT TO JOIN THE ARMY! HOOAH!!"
What made me want to join the Army? Life, I guess. Hard to explain why I wanted to join really. As a kid I always loved the good action flicks. The quality of a movie was based on the number of bullets that flew and explosions that went off, size of explosions, etc. Storyline? Yeah, when I wanted a good plot, I read a book... usually books with guns in them. I would run around the house with my plastic guns drawn, leaping over the couches and landing in ninja rolls, destroying the hordes of enemies that had me surrounded. I would creep around corners and tiptoe through the hallways, trying to avoid the being seen by the enemy (mom and sis).
Now I would like to pause for a moment and make one thing clear. I'm not a moron. I don't expect to be Rambo and single-handedly destroy the entire Viet-Cong or Fedayeen or whoever the enemy may be with a bow and arrow. I understand that movies are for entertainment. War is not. War is hell. I am simply trying to paint a picture here that may answer the question, "What made you want to join the Army?"
Moving on.
My favorite video games were always the ones that involved combat. Like my movies, I liked my video games with guns, grenades, and big freakin' booms.
As I got older, I began my collection of things that go boom. I had my daughter at a very young age. I spoke with an Armed Forces recruiter and almost joined way back when I was about 18. But I wasn't married and therefore couldn't take my daughter with me. I felt guilty about leaving her behind for years, and in the end, I didn't sign. Later I had a son. As the years passed, I seriously considered time and time again about joining the US Military. Each time, the need to be there for my kids, or maybe the guilt of not being there, won out in the end, and I stayed home, working this job or that, and scraping by a living.
Still the desire to serve my country never left. I'm going to toot my own horn here. I am a very intelligent person. I can whoop your ass at chess or a battle of wits. If you're one of 99 people in a room taking the same test I am, my scores are higher than yours, and I didn't even study. I can also beat you to death in a fight, injure you, break your arm, restrain you, let you live, or stand there, let you beat your aggressions out on me, and take it all with a smile. I shot a pack of cigarettes from 100 yards out with a compact handgun. I shot a bird only slightly larger than a hummingbird from 30 yards out down an embankment from the hip! I can outplay you or outcoach you in any sport. I'm tough as nails - strike that - make it railroad spikes. I'm alot stronger than you might expect. Even at 5'10" 120 lbs I could pick a fucking couch up over my head. The point is, I have tons a qualifications that can make me a tremendous asset to our Armed Forces in any MOS (Military Occupational Specialty).
Another factor that played in my decision to join the Army was, believe it or not, the pay! Plenty of you out there are making $90,000, $120,000, or more a year. If that's your status, you may not think so highly of Army pay as I do. But try living (in Northern California) and supporting 2 children off of $1,404 a month, or $802 a month, or $615 a month. I have. It's hard. But we got by. The Army offers more than that to start off at E-1 (an entry level enlisted soldier starts of at E-1, or Private). But we don't get paid just Base Pay. Here's what's included in your pay and benefits package with the US Army:
So I guess that essentially covers "Why I joined the Army."
July 22, 2009 - I selected my MOS (my job) from the list of available jobs. I am to be trained to be a 13F, Fire Support Specialist. No, not a firefighter as most people think when they hear the title. Here's my understanding of what a 13F does. He remains invisible to the enemy and blows shit up. He uses field or naval artillery, CAS (Combat Air Support), missiles, bombs, helicopters, or whatever is necessary to rain hellfire down upon the heads of the enemy. I'm down with that.
July 28th, 2009 - Processed at MEPS and was sworn in as a Future Soldier in the United States Army.
September 2oth, 2009 - Scheduled to return to MEPS for final processing and head to the hotel for my last night in "the world."
September 21st, 2009 - Scheduled to depart via airplane for Fort Jackson, South Carolina. My first order is to report to Battalion for in-processing.
September 28th, 2009 - Scheduled to begin BCT (Basic Combat Training) at Fort Jackson.
And that's the general rundown, from here to there.
Between now and my ship-date, I will continue to share my experiences. I imagine that once I arrive at Basic, I will have very little time to write, and zero access to a computer. Perhaps my wife and my kids would be kind enough to post my letters I send home to them.
I will also continue to share my experiences after training and all the way through the US Army life. Enjoy the ride. Thanks for tuning in. Till next time.
08/10/2007 - Fired from my job (Turned out they didn't want to give me the night off. Apparently your own wedding isn't a good enough excuse to miss work, no matter how far ahead you requested the time off.) Of course, my wife was totally supportive and understanding.
09/30/2007 - Began receiving unemployment compensation. For the next few months, I looked for work and took whatever odd jobs I could find along the way (run to the grocery store for the neighbor with the broken ankle, mow grandma's lawn, help mom paint her house, stuff like that). Again, my wife was understanding and patient with me through this process.
06/15/2008 - After nearly a year with not so much as a nibble on the job line, but no shortage of free time, I proposed to my wife an idea that I had formulated about starting up my own business. No surprise. She was 100% behind me in support of my idea.
06/15/2009 - Started actually playing with the notion of joining the Army. But as understanding and supportive as my wife had been all along, how understanding and supportive would she really be when I said "Hey honey. I'm going to leave you with a son and a daughter for god knows how long while I go run off to the Army." And still, she was 100% supportive and understanding. I'm a very lucky man.
I get asked alot, "What made you want to join the Army?"
"I'm too old to join the Marine Corps," I tell them. I'm just kidding, I don't seriously say that.
The truth is, I don't usually know quite what to say. It's not like I just woke up on June 15th, 2009, turned on the laptop, poured a bowl of Cap'n Crunch Berries, even sliced up some bananas in there, starting eating, and then halfway through breakfast dropped the spoon and went "HOLY FUCKING SHIT! I WANT TO JOIN THE ARMY! HOOAH!!"
What made me want to join the Army? Life, I guess. Hard to explain why I wanted to join really. As a kid I always loved the good action flicks. The quality of a movie was based on the number of bullets that flew and explosions that went off, size of explosions, etc. Storyline? Yeah, when I wanted a good plot, I read a book... usually books with guns in them. I would run around the house with my plastic guns drawn, leaping over the couches and landing in ninja rolls, destroying the hordes of enemies that had me surrounded. I would creep around corners and tiptoe through the hallways, trying to avoid the being seen by the enemy (mom and sis).
Now I would like to pause for a moment and make one thing clear. I'm not a moron. I don't expect to be Rambo and single-handedly destroy the entire Viet-Cong or Fedayeen or whoever the enemy may be with a bow and arrow. I understand that movies are for entertainment. War is not. War is hell. I am simply trying to paint a picture here that may answer the question, "What made you want to join the Army?"
Moving on.
My favorite video games were always the ones that involved combat. Like my movies, I liked my video games with guns, grenades, and big freakin' booms.
As I got older, I began my collection of things that go boom. I had my daughter at a very young age. I spoke with an Armed Forces recruiter and almost joined way back when I was about 18. But I wasn't married and therefore couldn't take my daughter with me. I felt guilty about leaving her behind for years, and in the end, I didn't sign. Later I had a son. As the years passed, I seriously considered time and time again about joining the US Military. Each time, the need to be there for my kids, or maybe the guilt of not being there, won out in the end, and I stayed home, working this job or that, and scraping by a living.
Still the desire to serve my country never left. I'm going to toot my own horn here. I am a very intelligent person. I can whoop your ass at chess or a battle of wits. If you're one of 99 people in a room taking the same test I am, my scores are higher than yours, and I didn't even study. I can also beat you to death in a fight, injure you, break your arm, restrain you, let you live, or stand there, let you beat your aggressions out on me, and take it all with a smile. I shot a pack of cigarettes from 100 yards out with a compact handgun. I shot a bird only slightly larger than a hummingbird from 30 yards out down an embankment from the hip! I can outplay you or outcoach you in any sport. I'm tough as nails - strike that - make it railroad spikes. I'm alot stronger than you might expect. Even at 5'10" 120 lbs I could pick a fucking couch up over my head. The point is, I have tons a qualifications that can make me a tremendous asset to our Armed Forces in any MOS (Military Occupational Specialty).
Another factor that played in my decision to join the Army was, believe it or not, the pay! Plenty of you out there are making $90,000, $120,000, or more a year. If that's your status, you may not think so highly of Army pay as I do. But try living (in Northern California) and supporting 2 children off of $1,404 a month, or $802 a month, or $615 a month. I have. It's hard. But we got by. The Army offers more than that to start off at E-1 (an entry level enlisted soldier starts of at E-1, or Private). But we don't get paid just Base Pay. Here's what's included in your pay and benefits package with the US Army:
- Base Pay - Yes, it's a job, and it comes with a salary. Each promotion in rank (E-1 to E-2, Private to Private First Class, PFC to Corporal, Corporal to Sergeant, etc.) also comes with a raise in your base pay and other allowances.
- Housing Allowance (AKA: BAH or Basic Allowance for Housing) - Now this isn't some sort of coupon you give your landlord. This is cash money direct deposited into your checking account every month if you choose to live off base or if there is no Army base housing available. An example of a Housing Allowance: Sacramento, CA, 2009 Housing Allowance for an E-1 = $1,498. That's $1,498 + my Base Pay!
- Separation Pay - Additional monies deposited into your account for separation from family members during training (such as BCT [Basic Combat Training] or AIT [Advanced Individual Training]) or deployment.
- Hazardous Duty / Imminent Danger Pay - HDID Pay is some more cash thrown in every payday for soldiers who are deployed to combat zones. Base Pay + Housing + Separation Pay + HDID Pay... we're rakcing them up here, and we ain't done yet!
- Food Allowance - Like the BAH, more cash in your bank account every payday.
- Clothing Allowance - Yep, you got it. More cash!
- Signing Bonus - Amount varies depending on your MOS, contract length, and ship status, but can be worth up to $40,000... yes, cash.
- Medical, check.
- Dental, check.
- Psych, check.
- VA Loans - 4% Locked interest rate on a mortgage.
- Montgomery GI Bill - Money for College (up to another $40,000 I believe).
- Tuition Assistance.
- Student Loan Repayments.
- ConAP - Schedule college enrollment to coincide with the end of your enlistment.
- The Commissary - Very cheap food (which you can buy with your food allowance, don't forget!), usually at just a shade above cost.
- The PX (Post Exchange) - Everything else you need to shop for... uber-cheap.
- Retire after only 20 years! Most people will start working around the age of 18 and retire around the age of 65 if they're lucky. A soldier who starts working at 18 can retire when he's 38. Imagine that. Retired at only 38 years old! That's a shitload of free time.
- Moving Expenses are covered. That's not the beautiful part for me. The sweet piece of this deal is that they will pay to have someone pack, move, and unpack your entire house, all the way down to putting your food back in the cupboards. Awesome!
So I guess that essentially covers "Why I joined the Army."
July 22, 2009 - I selected my MOS (my job) from the list of available jobs. I am to be trained to be a 13F, Fire Support Specialist. No, not a firefighter as most people think when they hear the title. Here's my understanding of what a 13F does. He remains invisible to the enemy and blows shit up. He uses field or naval artillery, CAS (Combat Air Support), missiles, bombs, helicopters, or whatever is necessary to rain hellfire down upon the heads of the enemy. I'm down with that.
July 28th, 2009 - Processed at MEPS and was sworn in as a Future Soldier in the United States Army.
September 2oth, 2009 - Scheduled to return to MEPS for final processing and head to the hotel for my last night in "the world."
September 21st, 2009 - Scheduled to depart via airplane for Fort Jackson, South Carolina. My first order is to report to Battalion for in-processing.
September 28th, 2009 - Scheduled to begin BCT (Basic Combat Training) at Fort Jackson.
And that's the general rundown, from here to there.
Between now and my ship-date, I will continue to share my experiences. I imagine that once I arrive at Basic, I will have very little time to write, and zero access to a computer. Perhaps my wife and my kids would be kind enough to post my letters I send home to them.
I will also continue to share my experiences after training and all the way through the US Army life. Enjoy the ride. Thanks for tuning in. Till next time.
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