So I finally made the decision to join the army. I sign next Monday as an M1 Abrams Crew member. Any one got any advice on basic and training or even been overseas? Also do you get to pick where you are to be stationed?

All you have to do to pass basic is not quit and pass the PT test.

Don't worry about having the DI's not know your name, they'll learn it. Worry about just getting all the crap done.

Despite what they tell you, you don't even get to choose to be an M1 Abrams Crew member; that's just a ploy to let you feel like you have some control over your life in the military. As long as you don't screw up, they might even let you follow your preference. If you screw up, they place you wherever they think you'll fit in best. I was told this by a family friend about a decade ago that recruited for the Marines.

Know what you're getting into.

Yeah, your contract MOS is basically just them saying, "We'll train you in this."
That doesn't mean you'll stay there, but if it's a critical MOS, yeah, you're stuck!

If the Drill Sergeants don't know you're name by the time you graduate, either you did good but not enough to stand out or they didn't study their files.

As long as you're set on PT, the rest is mental. Stay focused and positive and you'll do ok.

Case in point; my uncle is an Abrams driver. He's been to Iraq three times...and they didn't even take their tanks with them. Two of the tours he was infantry walking foot patrols, and the other one he was protection detail to a civil affairs officer. Definitely not what he had been trained to do.

IF it's done like the Navy and Air Force used to (when my dad was in and when I was in, respectively), you do not get any say in your first station. After that, however, when it comes time for you to transfer, they will basically say, "We've got these bases with an open slot for your MOS. Which one do you want?" (For my dad's last station, his options were Guantanamo, the Aleutians, or Guam. Yeah...Guam was an easy choice there.)

In no particular order:

1) It's a game. If you take it too seriously, you'll go crazy. On the other hand, if you don't play by the rules, you're not going to be able to win.

2) Take the time to learn the rules before you act. That whole "better to ask for forgiveness" thing? Not a great idea in every case. Motivation is good, but blind motivation is just going to get you into trouble. See also: not playing by the rules.

3) The rules can be bent. Most of them, at least. Before bending a rule, find out whether it can be bent first; second, whether you can bend it. Generally, you will need either rank, positive popularity/reputation or both to bend rules. Don't freak out when your E-2 arse can't get around some BS drill duty. See also: it's just a game.

4) Do it with a smile. Especially if it drives you up the wall. Not for your sake, but because it makes everyone else wicked nervous. See, if you believe it's all just a game, then you can't care too much about wasting your time at it. The biggest challenge is patience more than anything else, so if you just figure in that waiting is part of the game, then you're set. And when you're cool and everyone else is POd? It's not only funny and amusing for you, but you look like someone who's got their sh*t squared away. People are going to purposefully waste your time. That's part of the game. Do it with a smile and they'll stop wasting your time. That leads me to my next point...

5) Not every rule is written down. Some things you must fail at first before someone will tell you the rule. Joining the _____ club. Consider it token payment for admission. See also: smiling. Some rules are only going to apply to certain people. Don't be the one to make coffee if MSGT Jones is going to drink it, because he's just going to b*tch about the coffee no matter who makes it or what it is. There will be other rules which aren't codified. It's still part of the same game, though.

6) Learn to pre-empt rules. Basically, bending + smiling. Rather than avoid confrontation, run headlong into it and get it before it gets you. This takes practice and you need to know what the rules are. Example: Rather than avoiding the coffee machine, learn to make a mean cup. Pre-wet the filter, use a special grinding method, use a special additive or something else. So long as it's slightly different from how other people do it and you can logically justify it. People have this weird voodoo ritual with coffee machines. Just have a different ritual. That way, when MSGT Jones walks in, you tell him the coffee sucks but at least it's better than yesterday. Tell him your command needs better beans and offer to take up a collection for fresh beans and a grinder. Run a coffee mess and charge 25 cents a cup. Of course, you must be ready to then be in charge of the coffee. And you will need to have your coffee knowledge squared away for when he challenges you. Note: metaphor applies to more than just coffee. Beat the rules at their own game.

7) Ignore the people who don't play by the rules. It's only going to get you in trouble. Don't snitch or anything and certainly don't tell them you don't want to hang around with them, but don't get caught up in it either. If you're going to beat the game, you just can't be shackled down with people who can't or won't do the same.

8) Speaking of ignoring people, ignore women. This is one of those unwritten rules. Women are dead to you romantically for at least the first 5-6 years. Just because you can get in a relationship doesn't always mean that you should. The most common mistake young guys make is to fall in love with the first uniform chasing piece of tail that comes their way. It's cheap for you to get married and the .gov will pay for your house and all her needs. It will give you only heartache and child support 4 times out of 5. If you've got to sow your oats, wrap your tool. But don't get committed until you're 100% sure you can trust her. If you get married, do it after deployment. You've got time, take it. Better to find out she's a cheating slut while you're away before making a commitment, right? So, unwritten rule: no girlfriends for 5-6 years.

9) Other unwritten rule: don't be an idiot with your money. Congratulations, you now have a job and a steady income. Take that money and make it disappear before you spend it. Buy bonds, get a bank account, build a 401(k) and otherwise make safe investments. Do not invest like you think you know what you're doing. You don't. There's plenty of time for that later but when you're young, play it safe. You've got 40 years of compound interest in front of you. Take the sure thing. But investing at all is better than what most people do with their money. What is that, you ask? You already know: they buy a car. Military bases have the nicest fleet of personal vehicles you're likely to ever see. Just don't do it. A $1k hooptie might be embarassing, but it keeps your money where it belongs: earning interest for you. And besides, if you're worried about how you look, remember to bend rules and to smile. A $1k car can easily make you popular when you don't care who pukes in it. Which is a good enough segue to my last point...

10) Don't hurt yourself. You're young and invincible, I got that. But don't do stupid stuff. No motorcycles (seriously, just no motorcycles), no drugs, no barfights. Nobody will care if you drink, but don't show up to anything drunk and don't go crazy about it. You've got your whole life to drink, you don't need to get plastered your first night out (which is what everyone else is going to do). Have a few, be sociable, but when it's time to bolt your arse back on, be able to turn the wrench. Don't jump off high things, don't run into traffic, don't engage in hallway boxing, full contact broom hockey or various eating competitions. If it sounds like a dumb idea, don't worry - it is.



The last rule I won't number. This kindof permeates the whole thing. If you must, absolutely must, cannot avoid it and the creature in your brain commands you to break a rule... for goodness' sake, don't tell anybody about it. Don't get caught, don't brag about it, don't let anyone know. In fact, nobody should be able to tell if a rule was even broken. Yes, some rules are more serious than others, but this goes for them all. Learn on the small ones how not to get caught.

If I learned anything, it's how not to get caught. I learned it by getting caught a lot. My best advice to you is to skip that uncomfortable step. Do... not... get... caught.



Oh, and remember rule #1. It's just a game. You'll probably forget all of this, but if you remember any of it, remember that.

I was in the marines and got to pick the job I wanted, was trained in it, and did that most the time, but I did fill other billets, like a mess hall duty and radio operator. Also there was barracks duty.

When I went to Iraq I got to do my job over there.

For my contract when signing up I picked an area of jobs, with the one I wanted at the top being a computer specialist, radio operator coming next, and MAGTF planner being third. What job I got depended on the needs of the marine corps and how many spots were open marine corps wide. I guess I got lucky and ended up where I wanted.

Another guy I knew ended up being a cook. He wasn't happy.

About the only job I know of you can get for sure if you want it is infantry.


As for duty station, when I went to school we got to pick our duty station depending on our grade in the school. I got the next to last spot in the states (of 10) and the guy who got the last spot was forced to switch because they had some policy that married marines couldn't deploy overseas because of the stress that would be caused on the marriage. I then gave my spot to a guy who was getting married right out of school. I liked Japan and had a lot of fun.

After people were in for a while and it was time to change duty stations people would find where someone else was changing stations that they wanted to go and get in touch with the command, basically send them a resume and get people talking and they would get to go wherever they wanted to go. They were real brown nosers, though.

Remember, your contract is for 8 years, so don't get all whiny if you get stop lossed.

Have fun and god bless you for dedicating part of your life for service to our country.

Amen. Agreed. I'm glad I got over my motorcycle fixation and got out of that game before I ever really hurt myself.

I actually decided to change my MOS to a UH-60 Mechanic. And I know that they will put you where they want to but usually when it comes down to overseas you get to do what you trained to do.

don't

dont? explain :huh:

I'm curious, too...since when I tried to get back in last year, I was shooting for helo mechanic.

I'll tell ya one thing for dang sure...you go to Whiting Field or Ft. Rucker as a former-military helo mechanic, and you can make some bank with the contractors. The Sikorsky guys across the base from me are loaded. :wacko:

link

link

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=othPVuzMngw[/YOUTUBE]

I've spoken my peace, and now I'll leave you all alone about this. I'm not out for conflict.

First link: failed

Second link: oh...hai Mike31C

Ungh. I couldn't make it past 15 minutes. Both those guys are wussies.

Mr. Caller needs the Army. He needs someone to tell him to quit whining, STFU and work to improve himself.

Oh no, nobody will hand me a job. Oh no, I can't afford this expensive school. Oh no, nobody will hand me wads of cash and buckets of praise for me to take pictures of stuff. It's not fair! It's a recession! The Army is my only hope! But oh no, it's immoral! :rolleyes:

Based on the information given, that man has made one single good decision in life. That's it. And he's waffling about even following through on it. I had to quit watching when he got to the part of:
Do you have a job? No
Have you looked for a job? Well, not really...
Have you thought about looking for a job? Well, see, the thing is...

Honestly, the dude needs to grow a pair. You've got no sympathy from me when you're not even trying.

Oh, I understand that in your little fantasy world you think you can pick an art that you kinda like and go to school to "find yourself" and you'll make all these friends and then people will give you money and the rest of your life will be puppies and unicorns and rainbows... but... the real world that your physical body inhabits doesn't work that way, hesse. You must produce something that people want first. Then they will pay you for it. Nobody's going to give it to you for free, dog.

And then he calls the soldiers who volunteer to fight for his security "assholes?!"

Sorry buddy. The care train has left the station.

QFT

T-Slay, congratulations.

In my experience the Army is better than any of the other branches in giving you what you are asking for in the contract.

If it ain't in the contract, it ain't happening.

You may have to choose between "Station of Choice" or job so set an order of precedence on what is more important to you (training, money, location, length of time in service, future monies for college).

I was a Tank Crewman and did my time in Iraq in a HumVee because that job was available. I was more than glad to take it. Wish I could have spent more time outside the wire than what I did. Tried to stay longer than the 12 mos I volunteered for and the 6 month extension they did approve but it wasn't meant to be. They get nervous if you want to stay in country too long.

Machine Gun? Check
Armored plated hatch time? Check
Bags are carried by a vehicle? Check
I don't have to walk in 100+ degree temps? Check
Radio to call for Medivac or "Rain of Fire and Steel"? Check

Sounded good to me.

Take the good times with the bad and never forget to bring FIDO with you wherever you go.

I am getting out on 1 June 2010, you can be my replacement. :lol:

Edited to add that TM's rules are pretty good, you will ignore them though. LOL

No funny thing is I actually read all of TMs advice and I like alot of it I go monday to take the physical and sign up as a blackhawk mechanic

Have you verified that there are slots open for that MOS? When I was trying to enlist, there were no open mechanic slots (aviation or ground) ANYWHERE in the Army. All they were accepting enlistments for was clerks and infantryman. If there's not an opening listed at some base for the MOS you want, they won't sign you up for it.

yeah there is two openings

...right now. But by Monday...

Jeezie Creezie, Murf! Way to give the kid something to fret over for five days. :lol:


T, don't worry, man. If you're modestly intelligent, in good physical shape, under the age of 25 and don't have a history of drugs or run-ins with the law, they want you real bad. Bad enough to give you a job you want, at the least. Don't sweat it.

Enjoy the holiday. Military food sucks. ;)

If you don't want it, walk away. Don't accept second best 'cause they will give you second best and call 'er done.

They used to tell us too though if the Career Counselor gives a guy a job as a Cook and he likes it, you don't tell the guy that being a Cook sux. You just tell him congratulations and shake his hand.

Recruiter= The guy that pulled you off the street and deals with you face to face on a day to day basis.
Career Counselor= Slack Daddy at the MEPs that is just trying to fill slots and you will never see again after you sign the contract.

And yeah, the jobs (actually school slots) available change from minute to minute.

Just make sure you get what you want because “oh 200” in the morning you will be asking yourself “WTF was I thinkin’” if you aren’t happy.

But you know that.

Doesn't Blackhawk mechanic=door gunner? Not that that's a bad thing..... LOL

Looks like someone is going to be a cook. Start sharping those knives

nah my mos is reserved for 7 days already reserved it

Yeah, If its not what you want, dont feel pressured to sign. I went to meps a few times before I finally got what I wanted.

T-Slay I just wnated to say thanks for making the choice to protect me and my family. I've never been in the military, and I appreciate all the people on this board that are.

Thanks!

Why yes it does :lol: :bang: :bang: :bang:

Btw guys I am all signed up today after a loooooong day at MEPS I ship to FT Jackson on the 31 of March Hooah I even I got a t-shirt and backpack! :P

* hua

congrats man. When we were in basic, we were allowed to iron our clothes after lights out, but we werent allowed to open our mail until sunday. We would use an iron to open the letter, read it, then iron it shut. Sunday came, and they would actually check to see if you opened your mail before hand. just a random thing I remembered.

"Git some! Git some! Git some, yeah, yeah, yeah! Anyone who runs, is a VC. Anyone who stands still, is a well-disciplined VC! You guys oughta do a story about me sometime!"

I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself.

Congratulations!