reporting to basic training tomorrow. can't sleep tonight

[THAC0]

hey guys. this will surly be my last thread on here for at least a while.

on March 18th 2011 I enlisted in the US Navy. After 9 long months in the Delayed Entry Program DEP, tomorrow I am to report to the Navy for boot camp. Tomorrow afternoon I will meet with my recruiter who will drive me to a hotel in Nashville TN. I will spend the night there, and then at about 4 AM Wednesday morning I will get on a bus that will take me to MEPS for a quick once over and then i will get on a plane (i have never flown before) to Great Lakes IL for boot camp for the next 8 weeks.

I am a bit nervous about the whole thing, and I can't sleep tonight. If anyone has anything they'd like to ask or tell me that would be cool. I'll probably be up for at least another couple of hours.

 

[eclipsed_chemistry]

So what made you decide to join the Navy? I might be headed that way in a few months myself and I always like hearing stories about what made people decide to join.

Also, good luck buddy. I wish you the best.

 

[Space Spoons]

I haven't got any questions for you, but I would like to thank you in advance for having the courage to stand up and serve your country. Good luck in basic training.

 

[Spider RedNight]

Dude, I would SO give you advice if I had already gone through my basic, but I don't go 'till January.

I guess I can just beat the dead horse and say stuff like "know that the TI's aren't trying to make you feel stupid, they just wanna help" and "form relationships because teamwork is the best way to suffer through basic."

Good luck to you, bro. May the Force be with you and I hope everything goes well!

 

[demoman_chaos]

I'm joining the National Guard, but I think I may switch to the Air Force if possible. I am a nerd, so why not go with the nerd branch. I ship to basic in January, so I should be able to flip flop around.

 

[THAC0]

So what made you decide to join the Navy? I might be headed that way in a few months myself and I always like hearing stories about what made people decide to join.

Also, good luck buddy. I wish you the best.

well, I have always liked the military. I wanted to join the Air Force when i was a kid, but i had a lot of family trouble and stuff when i was a teenager and i just lost focus on stuff for a long time. I became something of a drifter for a the next few years. I had a chance encounter with a Navy recruiter one day while working at a mall and he talked me into joining. But, i was with a girl who talked me out of it real quick. I ended up going to college and getting a degree in history. The girl turned out to be a sort of gold digger that had only wanted me around because of my ability to hold a job and my car. after she finished her degree and got a career going she cheated on me, we broke up and it was a few more years of drifting for me.

I went to grad school but during the second semester i realized i was just tired of it. I remembered the Navy and went down to the recruiting station. I did really well on the ASVAB, then a week or so latter i went to MEPS for my physical, passed all that and singed the contract. that was nine months ago.

 

[THAC0]

I haven't got any questions for you, but I would like to thank you in advance for having the courage to stand up and serve your country. Good luck in basic training.

thank you.

Dude, I would SO give you advice if I had already gone through my basic, but I don't go 'till January.

if you are going to Great Lakes, you will be coming in a couple of weeks before i leave. I may see you at some point. not that there would be any way to tell. good luck.

I'm joining the National Guard, but I think I may switch to the Air Force if possible. I am a nerd, so why not go with the nerd branch. I ship to basic in January, so I should be able to flip flop around.

I have a lot of friends in the Air Force. good luck.

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

Good luck fella! I am in the British Militry! Take it from me, as much as you won't enjoy all of it, you WILL look back and think fondly of your training days!
Remember, as much as it may not feel like it at times, everything you do is for your benifit! The training you will receive is some of the best in the world, and everything they do is for a reason!

Have fun!!

 

[Thaluikhain]

I'm not military, so I'm just going to see how long it takes for a certain Village People song to get posted.

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

In which case, let me wish you luck.

Personally, I considered joining, but my mother talked me out of it. Personally, I don't think I would have done well.

Regardless, thank you for serving your country.

 

[Elijah Ball]

hey guys. this will surly be my last thread on here for at least a while.

on March 18th 2011 I enlisted in the US Navy. After 9 long months in the Delayed Entry Program DEP, tomorrow I am to report to the Navy for boot camp. Tomorrow afternoon I will meet with my recruiter who will drive me to a hotel in Nashville TN. I will spend the night there, and then at about 4 AM Wednesday morning I will get on a bus that will take me to MEPS for a quick once over and then i will get on a plane (i have never flown before) to Great Lakes IL for boot camp for the next 8 weeks.

I am a bit nervous about the whole thing, and I can't sleep tonight. If anyone has anything they'd like to ask or tell me that would be cool. I'll probably be up for at least another couple of hours.

I'm almost in the same boat. I leave for basic dec 27, but for the air force. I'm getting more and more nervous as the days tick by, but i think once i get there itll be fine. Not sure what you'll be doing, but just keep remembering your reasons for joining and you'll do fine. =]

 

[Zen Toombs]

No questions, just my gratitude. You are helping to do something great, and I thank you for your service.

I wish you good luck. I'm sure you won't need it though. ^_^

 

[THAC0]

Good luck fella! I am in the British Militry! Take it from me, as much as you won't enjoy all of it, you WILL look back and think fondly of your training days!
Remember, as much as it may not feel like it at times, everything you do is for your benifit! The training you will receive is some of the best in the world, and everything they do is for a reason!

Have fun!!

thanks. as much as i am dreading it, i am tired of waiting for it. i am ready for this part to start so it can be over.[

quote="thaluikhain" post="18.323112.13233310"]I'm not military, so I'm just going to see how long it takes for a certain Village People song to get posted.[/quote]

i am so aware of that song.

In which case, let me wish you luck.

Personally, I considered joining, but my mother talked me out of it. Personally, I don't think I would have done well.

Regardless, thank you for serving your country.

if you really want to do it, do it. i got talked out of it twice and i kicked myself for it both times.

I'm almost in the same boat. I leave for basic dec 27, but for the air force. I'm getting more and more nervous as the days tick by, but i think once i get there itll be fine. Not sure what you'll be doing, but just keep remembering your reasons for joining and you'll do fine. =]

"same boat" lolz, Navy joke. when i learned i would be in the DEP for 9 months i was like "that is forever" the last couple of weeks have flown by so fast though.

 

[THAC0]

This is the absolute truth. The one thing we were trained to think is you never drop your weapon, so inevitably it happens and after the distinct crash of an M16 hitting the deck you hear "FOLLOW IT!" Which means do push-ups till you're told to recover...

We're on the parade deck practicing drill and *M16 hitting deck crash!* So the battalion commander yells follow it. This recruit is my hero, he snaps to attention and drops forward and never even put his hands out in front of him. Breaks his nose and fractures his orbital, none of the command ever singled him out again.

ouch.

No questions, just my gratitude. You are helping to do something great, and I thank you for your service.

I wish you good luck. I'm sure you won't need it though. ^_^

I haven't got much to say, except for good luck and stay safe mate. You're doing a good thing.

thank you

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

if you really want to do it, do it. i got talked out of it twice and i kicked myself for it both times.

Eh, I'm enrolled in school right now. Were I to join, I'd at least graduate college. I'm not in the best of shape, but I have been getting better.

My friend once joked I'd be perfect because I like guns, and I'm good at following orders. Almost the point of lacking self preservation.

 

[Da Orky Man]

Lucky. I've always wanted to join the RAF, but a spinal operation that essentially fused my spine with titanium stops me. Enjoy it, and good luck.

 

[Anman407]

hey guys. this will surly be my last thread on here for at least a while.

on March 18th 2011 I enlisted in the US Navy. After 9 long months in the Delayed Entry Program DEP, tomorrow I am to report to the Navy for boot camp. Tomorrow afternoon I will meet with my recruiter who will drive me to a hotel in Nashville TN. I will spend the night there, and then at about 4 AM Wednesday morning I will get on a bus that will take me to MEPS for a quick once over and then i will get on a plane (i have never flown before) to Great Lakes IL for boot camp for the next 8 weeks.

I am a bit nervous about the whole thing, and I can't sleep tonight. If anyone has anything they'd like to ask or tell me that would be cool. I'll probably be up for at least another couple of hours.

As someone who went through Air Force basic:

IT GETS BETTER

First 2 weeks are hell on earth. After that, it gets better. Never easier, but the TIs knock off the screaming to get their message across, and you get a routine going which really helps.

NUMBER ONE: Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut
The less attention you draw to yourself the easier it will be. Getting singled out is a nightmare from which there is no escape.

NUMBER TWO: SEE NUMBER ONE
Seriously. Do what your told, do things right, and things cannot go smoother.

NUMBER THREE: If you are unsure about a command, ask when they stop talking
Much better to get angrily growled at to clarify then to get screamed at for being wrong.

NUMBER FOUR: DO NOT WATCH FULL METAL JACKET
They only beat you in the Marines. No physical violence happening, so don't scare yourself. Everyone makes this mistake.

NUMBER FIVE: Count down the days after 2 weeks. You'd be amazed how fast things go.

NUMBER SIX: Go to church on Sundays, even if not religious. I'm an Atheist, and tried out all the different churches to help me focus. Wicca was fun, as was Buddhism. And Christianity has enough people that aren't yelling at you to relieve some pressure.

And that's it. Good luck, and thank you for serving.

What he said! If it's anything like Army BCT the first two/three weeks suck but after that, it gets pretty awesome. And he's right about keeping your head down, so very much pain will be avoided.
And yeah, my friends all convinced me to watch Full Metal Jacket like two days before leaving, told me I'd be just like Private Pyle.
I hate my friends...
And he's right about the Church. I'm genuinely Christian but even my non-religious battles would come with me and especially that first week, the relief is palpable I assure you

 

[THAC0]

Eh, I'm enrolled in school right now. Were I to join, I'd at least graduate college. I'm not in the best of shape, but I have been getting better.

My friend once joked I'd be perfect because I like guns, and I'm good at following orders. Almost the point of lacking self preservation.

well, if you graduate, you have a shot at officers school.
I can count on 1 hand, every gun i have ever fired.

Lucky. I've always wanted to join the RAF, but a spinal operation that essentially fused my spine with titanium stops me. Enjoy it, and good luck.

that sucks. My age is my biggest handicap as far as i can tell. I am pushing 30.
thanks

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

Eh, I'm enrolled in school right now. Were I to join, I'd at least graduate college. I'm not in the best of shape, but I have been getting better.

My friend once joked I'd be perfect because I like guns, and I'm good at following orders. Almost the point of lacking self preservation.

well, if you graduate, you have a shot at officers school.
I can count on 1 hand, every gun i have ever fired.

Lucky. I've always wanted to join the RAF, but a spinal operation that essentially fused my spine with titanium stops me. Enjoy it, and good luck.

that sucks. My age is my biggest handicap as far as i can tell. I am pushing 30.
thanks

I'm interested in Law, actually. Law school is my current plan. Specifically, Workmen's comp and Civil Lit.

And as for me, that's true as well. I'm actually looking at getting one soon. I'll first be taking a safety class, however.

 

[THAC0]

What he said! If it's anything like Army BCT the first two/three weeks suck but after that, it gets pretty awesome. And he's right about keeping your head down, so very much pain will be avoided.
And yeah, my friends all convinced me to watch Full Metal Jacket like two days before leaving, told me I'd be just like Private Pyle.
I hate my friends...
And he's right about the Church. I'm genuinely Christian but even my non-religious battles would come with me and especially that first week, the relief is palpable I assure you

I will be happy if i can make it though without the DIs even knowing my name. I am fine with being invisible.

I was baptized today

It will be a major culture shock, takes about a year until it becomes normal. It will become normal and you will fall in just like you'll be trained to.

I am very jealous of you right now, I'm going to have to pass medical screenings on my knee before I get to have medical screenings on the rest of me.

What MOS did you sign up for? I'm shooting for Diver as I already dive and love being in water.

blah, i am not worried about anything other than just getting though basic right now. my biggest fear is getting kicked out of boot camp for something like a medical problem i don't know i have or something like that.

I am a Master at Arms. after basic it is off to Texas for 7 weeks of training to be a Navy cop.