reporting to basic training tomorrow. can't sleep tonight

[Phyaran]

I'm in the process of joining the Aus Army Reserve, gunning for GSO (general service officer). Discovered a few months back that I effectively have a year off uni so I'm trying to get all the training down in the next 12 months so I can go into my last year of uni as a lieutenant.

 

[Craorach]

I want to congratulate you on deciding to serve your country, it is an honourable thing to do.

I also want to beg you to remember that what you are doing is both an honour, and a privilege. You represent your country with every action and word, both on duty and off, and you should be the very best representatives of that nation. Also, I hope that you remember that you serve your country... and that the people are your country. You are a servant of the people, as much as you are of your leaders.

People should respect you for what you are doing, but they should not treat you as better than them unless you actually ARE better than them. You are rewarded by your government for your work, but only deserve the respect that the military demands IF you behave as a model citizen while you are serving.

 

[rednose1]

Well best of luck to ya. Been through it myself. It'll scare you at first, but then it gets routine, just like anything else. When they ask for people for ships company, volunteer for it!

In gerneral, since you haven't posted what your 'A' school is going to be, I assume you are undesignated striker? if so, well...try for the smaller boats. The carriers have so many people, seriously, like a third world slum, both in density, and in hygeine.....Also, LOCK YOUR STUFF!! Again, due to the huge amount of people on the larger ships, theft is a serious problem. Always lock your stuff up, EVERYTHING! ( seen underwear get stolen before...)

Pack more socks and underwear than you think you need, then get more. Also, small plastic containers, and ramen noodles. have folks mail you more. This'll save your life out to sea, unless you wind up being a cook.

Almost forgot, one last thing...don't lock your knees standing at attention. You will pass out, and you will fall face first.

Finally, "shipmate" is a derogatory term, don't let anyone fool you. The only people that use "shipmate" are a-holes and diggits.

 

[Anthony Wells]

...Really? I have to be the first to say this?


WHY?

The way the world is atm, I would rather die than go into any of the armed forces. The idiots in control of them and the politicians that they are following are just....morally retarded.

Don't get me wrong, I have respect for anyone who defends his/her country, and I do mean anyone, friend or foe. But right now I struggle to think of any major conflict that the western world is involved in that is a worthwhile cause to support.

Apologies if I seem like an ass, you have your reasons to join and I respect your choice, I just fail to see how it seems like a good idea?

i was just giving the guy advice but i agree with you here. on the other hand my friend joined the military because it was the only place he felt he could go with how his life was. from what i hear of the person who raised him that treated him like crap and i saw first hand how he treated him...that man is now very proud of my friend that he went into the Marines and i am too. anyways everyone has their reasons my friend because he felt it was all he could do. i will never join a cause i dont beleive in and right now that includes the way america is heading and the wars it is in.

 

[AnotherAvatar]

Just... don't let them totally brain wash you. I'm seeing a lot of posts here to keep your nose down and not get noticed, and that is a good idea as soldiers function better as tight knit groups, however don't let that crush the parts of you that make you an individual and don't let them adjust your morals.

Other than that, good luck sir. I hope you gain a lot of experience and a good amount of money to fund any other dreams you may have when you get back. As you've never even flown I'd suggest this is a great chance to see the world, take it in, and decide what you really want out of life.

 

[Anezay]

The first few weeks suck.
Know your training schedule, and count the weeks, not the days.
Don't worry so much. From what I hear, Navy boot camp is cake compared to the other three services. I wouldn't know how hard it is firsthand, I'm a Marine, not a Sailor.
Prepare yourself mentally. Thick skin and willingness to learn go a long way.
The Drill Instructors like to play games with you. Remember that that's what it is, a game.
Everything is for a reason. Even the games.
Don't be the one. You'll know the one when you see him. Don't be him. They won't fuck you up for no reason, but they will be strict, so be perfect.

Welcome to the brotherhood that is the United States Military. Maybe I'll see you in the fleet.
-Private First Class, United States Marine Corps

 

[Helmholtz Watson]

I do believe this is an appropriate time for a sing along.....


I'm just ribbing you.

As an ex Army man I feel it my duty to to aim light banter at all Air Force and Navy personnel.

You'll see why when you get where you are going, assuming it's the same in the US as it is here in the UK. We have a bit of a rivalry between the 3 forces and have to mock each other.

hey how do you make it that the videos appear? I just keep having a link appear, but I can't figure out how you put the video up. Sorry about it being off topic.

 

[Thaluikhain]

...Really? I have to be the first to say this?


WHY?

The way the world is atm, I would rather die than go into any of the armed forces. The idiots in control of them and the politicians that they are following are just....morally retarded.

Don't get me wrong, I have respect for anyone who defends his/her country, and I do mean anyone, friend or foe. But right now I struggle to think of any major conflict that the western world is involved in that is a worthwhile cause to support.

Apologies if I seem like an ass, you have your reasons to join and I respect your choice, I just fail to see how it seems like a good idea?

Would that not depend on the service?

The US Navy, for example, would seem to be less deeply involved in the more questionable things going on at the moment. Yes, without the Navy, the other services couldn't function and all that, but even so.

Personally, I've always said if I was going to join up, it'd be something nice and safe and unpolitcal like NORFORCE, but even so, I think I'll give it a miss.

 

[Rawne1980]

hey how do you make it that the videos appear? I just keep having a link appear, but I can't figure out how you put the video up. Sorry about it being off topic.

Copy the part of the youtube link that comes after the =.

So for http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7TTk_0XYn4 you would copy the j7TTk_0XYn4 part.

In the Escapist reply section, type youtube=add the bit you copied here .... but put it in [ ]. So it should look like [*youtube=j7TTk_0XYn4*] (obviously minus the 2 *).

And you end up with...

 

[Burs]

Buy a pair of flip-flops for the showers

Also, LOCK YOUR STUFF!! Again, due to the huge amount of people on the larger ships, theft is a serious problem. Always lock your stuff up, EVERYTHING! ( seen underwear get stolen before...)

Almost forgot, one last thing...don't lock your knees standing at attention. You will pass out, and you will fall face first.

Finally, "shipmate" is a derogatory term, don't let anyone fool you. The only people that use "shipmate" are a-holes and diggits.

First paragraph Really? whatever happened to looking after your oppo's kit when they were out of the mess, surely the Leading hands would've stopped that?

Second para, Another bit of advice wiggle your toes and tense your abs occasionally, it keeps the blood flowing and again stops you from going over.

Third, =( on a RN vessel everyone calls each other "shippers"

 

[Wolf-AUS]

Basically what the second guy said. Basic can be summed up pretty easily; it's crap, it will end, be gray, do what you're told, go to church, get mail from family, pay attention, stay reasonably fit. Be. Gray.

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!

Fuvk off you will, which rainbowcamp of happiness did you go to for basic? I can think of absolutely 0 people who enjoyed basic training.

 

[Chris Sandford]

i just got out of bootcamp a few weeks ago, its not that bad. As long as you can pass your runs and swim youll graduate. Unless you break your leg like i did. i was ther an extra 10 weeks...stuff sucked. but time will fly by and the food isnt...that bad actually. Good luck, future shipmate.

 

[inFAMOUSCowZ]

Nothing much to ask, just good luck, and I respect you for what you're doing.

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

Well lets see, All my Auzzie friends in the RAAF enjoyed it, I enjoyed it, all my fellow colleagues enjoyed it and all my American colleagues enjoyed it! We all think the better of it now! Thats guys from all over the world, and at Officer and Enlisted levels! Personally I am RAF, so I went to Cranwell... Yeah, parts were shit, i'll admit that, but the good I got from it far outweighs the crap. And the mates I made have got my back for life!

I guess you just had a different experience.

 

[JMeganSnow]

Northern Illinois is effing cold, and it's coming up on winter very fast now. Bundle up. Especially if you're from a southern latitude and you've never heard the words "lake effect snow" before.

 

[Kathinka]

czech armed forces here, light infantry (our equivalent of the rangers).
i realize things here in eastern european armies are handled differently (beating subortinates into a bloody pulp is not too unusual, and there have been a few deaths and suicides. strong strikes with a fist or kicks to the head are not too uncommon for even minor infractions, like bad shooting scores. so yeah, former soviet zone of influence is a different world.) but there are some things that will help you.

as guys said before: don't stick out. any kind of attention is bad. even if it doesn't get you into direct trouble, positive attention can be just as harmfull. it will usually end with you being the go-to guy or gal for all kinds of stupid shit (i got volunteered into being responsible for the heavy weapon for example. fun time lugging that shit arround).
don't ever be the first guy. don't ever be the last. do not, ever, under any circumstances, volunteer for anything. don't be "that one idiot" you will know him when you see him. if you become that guy, it's over.
if your service is anything like mine you will constantly wonder why you were so stupid in the first place to do this nonsense to you. you are right to ask that question.

 

[Khada]

Have you really looked into military activity, the people at the top of the chain who you will ultimately be serving and the benefits/downsides of a military as massive as the US's?

The military is not something you should willfully join. Violence begets violence and it's not like you're country is being invaded. In fact, it's the other way around. I Suggest you start Googling recent military activity (you might also want to take a look at Wiki leaks, a lot of enlightening information on the military).

Fail the training friend or lose part of your soul in the end.

 

[Khada]

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.

I feel like this should really be raising some red flags for anyone intending to join.

 

[Khada]

...Really? I have to be the first to say this?


WHY?

The way the world is atm, I would rather die than go into any of the armed forces. The idiots in control of them and the politicians that they are following are just....morally retarded.

Don't get me wrong, I have respect for anyone who defends his/her country, and I do mean anyone, friend or foe. But right now I struggle to think of any major conflict that the western world is involved in that is a worthwhile cause to support.

Apologies if I seem like an ass, you have your reasons to join and I respect your choice, I just fail to see how it seems like a good idea?

Amen.

 

[Phyaran]

You are lucky that you dont live in australia, they only WANT navy at the moment.
i tried to join the army... BIG MISTAKE. first they wanted to put me back in school( i was expelled from 2 schools but didnt tell them that) because they wanted officers and i passed their iq test with flying colors. i told them no.

then i applied for combat engineering and passed that test with flying colors, so i progressed to the next stage.

i took a physical and passed with flying colors, 20 pushups? to easy. 45 sit ups, i can do 100 straight a 7.5 on the beep test? i have NEVER got under 10 when actually trying.

i also passed the psychological test and the personal interview without incident.

then the army recruiter sat me down and told me that they weren't going to accept me because...
THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO.

they wasted 7 months of my time to say, sorry but we don't need soldiers, fuck off. join the navy.

it happened to 2 of my friends. as well.

I'm going through that process at the moment. I made sure to find out beforehand that they currently have spaces available for the job I'm after, since that's what it effectively comes down to. It's all good and well to be found suitable for a job but if the job isn't available you aren't going anywhere. Does kind of suck for the availability to change on you so late in the process and after so long.