Military service - help?

[AestheticDeath]

So, been looking into joining the Army, and am just about set on an MOS.

But everyone I know, keeps trying to tell me to go Air Force or something.

Also, my dad keeps trying to tell me some different horror story as often as he can, to try and dissuade me from joining.

So I am looking for some input from any of you who have actually been in the US military. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force. OR even CIA and FBI, etc. Since one of the jobs I am looking at may lead there.

All the pamphlets and recruiters talk the Army up, but none of it talks about the bad aspects.

1a.) What would you say is some of the worst stuff about being in the service you are in?

1b.) Are all the facilities all nice and pretty like they show on goarmy.com? (One of my fathers stories was how seriously nasty some of the army stations are...)

2.) Do you have a good argument why one branch of service would be better than another in any instance?

More questions later I am sure, but just starting this off for now. Discuss, advise!

[Stretch]

I imagine being shot at has to be a pretty big downer.

[Soulpieced]

If you have a college degree (assumption), do NOT allow yourself to be brought in as enlisted. Make SURE you sign up to take whatever Officer courses are necessary to start off as a Commissioned Officer.

If you want to have the lowest chance of being shipped to Iraq, join the Navy (yvan eht nioj).

If you are trying to join the military to get a Government job in the future, you're joining for the wrong reasons.

[Tolwynn]

Any extra benefits that you are promised (MOS bonuses, college loan repayment, etc.), do not consider them a reason or even an incentive for joining. They will try their damnedest to screw you out of as much of it as they can, which is pretty much all of it.

[Daniel]

1a.) What would you say is some of the worst stuff about being in the service you are in?

1b.) Are all the facilities all nice and pretty like they show on goarmy.com? (One of my fathers stories was how seriously nasty some of the army stations are...)

2.) Do you have a good argument why one branch of service would be better than another in any instance?

More questions later I am sure, but just starting this off for now. Discuss, advise!

1. At the end of the day, what service you are in doesn't matter if you're happy with where you're at and what you're doing.

1b. Fuck no. There is nothing nice about living out of the back of the truck with 4 other dudes in 130 degree weather. If you go in the military hoping for the best..you're fucked. Know exactly what you're getting into and expect the worse. That way, it's always better then you expected.

Trust me on this. The guys who get it the worst are those who convince themselves that it won't be so bad. It sucks, hard, but it's so totally worth it.


2. What field\Job are you trying to go into? It depends

[JJBummer]

Branch selection should be based on body type:

Mesomorph - USMC or USA - best suited for humping gear; servicing equipment; and taking long walks in the woods

Ectomorph - USAF - thin people take less fuel to fly around

Endomorph - USN - they float better

You'll find that the official height/weight requirements follow these same lines...

[Durgrimst]

Hey, I am in the Marine Infantry but you already know this because we have already talked about all this before, but I will give you my 2 cents.

1. Every service has a different mission, and are good at what they do, so base your choice of service on the type of job you want.

2. Make sure anything the recruiters tell you, you get in writing.

3. Most bases have shitty housing conditions, but you will make the best friends in your life, and it will not matter for the most part, from my experiences of deployments and shitty living conditions, the worse it is, the better friends you make, and the better memories you will have in the long run.

4. Every MOS has its ups and downs, as an Infantryman, I do not work that hard when we are not training, we spend a lot of time in our rooms, and in the armory cleaning weapons, but in the field we work our asses off. All jobs have pros and cons, so pick what you enjoy, or find interesting to learn about and improve at.

5. Be prepared to deploy.

6. Don't listen to those lying asshole news reporters, both of my deployments I was in Iraq and all the shit they said was way off. Iraq has thousands of troops in it, and not that many people are getting hurt in the scheme of things. Iraq is a good time actually, you will make very good pay, hell, that is why I bought all that shit off you and Tsin during my last deployment, and once again, the friendships you make in a deployment will last a lifetime.

7. Uhh... I had more to say but just forgot it all, IM me if you have any questions though.

Good luck to ya though buddy

[AestheticDeath]

I am expecting the worst already, main reason I haven't signed anything. All I have really learned so far is the sugar coated version the recruiters give me. And they just want their bonus for signing someone up.

I fully expect to be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, pretty quick and more then likely multiple times, from what I am hearing from fathers of guys I know who joined up already. Some are already on third or fourth tours out there after just joining.

And I expect the conditions in another country to be less than fun obviously. But mainly wondering how much the US bases are like the ones they portray.

www.goarmy.com makes everything look just peachy.

[AestheticDeath]

Oh and so far I am kinda trying to narrow it down to 25B or 35F. IT or Intel.

I was told by a recruiter that there are certain star MOS things that you cannot get out of. Like the larger harder to fill roles, that they always need. Infantry or the scouts etc.. If you try that and then try to goto IT or Intel they basically won't let you.

[AestheticDeath]

Any extra benefits that you are promised (MOS bonuses, college loan repayment, etc.), do not consider them a reason or even an incentive for joining. They will try their damnedest to screw you out of as much of it as they can, which is pretty much all of it.

This from personal experience? Why did they try to take it away?

[Daniel]

Not true. You can get out of any MOS on your first enlistment...if you re-enlist.

[AestheticDeath]

Yeah, that's kinda of what the recruiter said. Though he went on to say the recruiters would say something along the lines of - your already trained for this, and we need it, so you will wind up going into it again or something.

Anyways, I have not taken the Asvab yet, just the 30 minute practice asvab thing. He said based on that practice score he could pull any job I wanted in the army. Assuming it was available, or he could MAKE it available. Several of them were talking up how they could probably get me an MOS even if it isn't listed as available.

[Daniel]

Which is not true.

[Durgrimst]

Oh yea, doesn't the Army have 2yr enlistments now? If so that would be your best bet to try a job, see if you like it, and have a possibility of changing jobs after you figure out what it is really like.

[Daniel]

The Army has always had 2 year enlistments. They now have 18 month enlistments.

[Durgrimst]

A recruiter can get you a job that is not currently available, he will put that on your contract, then you will sit around and not go to boot camp until it opens, which could be a while.

[AestheticDeath]

Actually they say you can go as little as like 15 months. But you won't get any kind of bonus or whatnot.

So far, more than likely I am looking at a 3-4 year enlistment.

I was also told there is an 8 year commitment no matter what you sign up for during enlistment. Something about if you get out before 8 years you wind up going into either National Guard, Army Reserve, or IRR.

Said most people wind up going into the IRR, which is something they can call you back up for service if they need to. But it's never been done before or something.

[Durgrimst]

It is IRR

IRR=Inactive Ready Reserve

Those are the guys that get recalled if it comes down to that.

[Durgrimst]

You will be a civilian with a civilian job or whatever you decide to do, but are on a list as the first to be recalled. You do not report to any base or anything like that though.

[AestheticDeath]

I forgot who said it, but they also said there are more Army reserve units over in Iraq now than full time Army guys.

[Durgrimst]

I have not read any studies, but from meeting and talking to people over there, I would have to say that is true.

[Thief]

From living most of my life on one army base or another, and then seeing the MC side of things... I would say join the Air Force. While I don't have any first-hand experience on that facet of service, just looking at their facilities and overall quality of life makes me wish I had seen a different recruiter.

[Gan]

Hey, I am in the Marine Infantry ...

...7. Uhh... I had more to say but just forgot it all...

This just struck me as a funny/stereotypical? combination of what a jarhead would say.

:whistle:


ooohrah

[Krendeli]

The biggest and most important thing to do is get your MOS in writing before you go. I went into the AF with one of the highest computer programming scores my MEPS station had seen but no guarantee to a programming job. The service fucked me and put me into security.

[Kyra231]

From living most of my life on one army base or another, and then seeing the MC side of things... I would say join the Air Force. While I don't have any first-hand experience on that facet of service, just looking at their facilities and overall quality of life makes me wish I had seen a different recruiter.

^^^ That, shorter deployment times, better treatment...the list goes on & I need coffee.

~K.

[Daniel]

Yea, but you can't go into combat in the airforce.

[Kyra231]

Yea, but you can't go into combat in the airforce.

Zomg O Noes!!11!! Oh wait, like that's a bad thing?

~K.

[Thief]

Yea, but you can't go into combat in the airforce.

But... you can still get combat pay.

[kheldarin]

I've also been looking into joining the Air Force...where can I take the practice ASVAB test?

[Daniel]

Zomg O Noes!!11!! Oh wait, like that's a bad thing?

~K.


But... you can still get combat pay.

Nice. http://forum.gsplayers.com/images/icons/icon13.gif

[AnticorRifling]

Zomg O Noes!!11!! Oh wait, like that's a bad thing?

~K.

Not everyone likes sitting on the bench to get their varsity letter. Hey look guys I made the team!



1) Branch - Honestly it doesn't matter. Just serve and serve well. Go in for the right reasons and with the right mentality and you'll be fine. Of course I'm bias and say USMC but really I have much respect for every one of my brothers and sisters in arms. Remember you're not going into the military because someone owes you some shit, I could give you all the reaons I joined (and what I consider the right reasons but again I'm biased) but basically remember it's service, you serving your country and not the other way around.

2) MOS - Get it in writing. If your contract doesn't say exactly what MOS you're supposed to get, or any other things the recruiter tells you then you're not going to get it. Make sure it's there. Also understand that the needs of the Marine Corps (or whatever branch) are greater than yours and you still might be filling a B-billet, secondary MOS for the duration. Congrats you're trained as a crypto tech now go learn to fix that 5 ton.

3) Volunteer - For everything! Holy shit you're going into the military, this is your chance to shoot some cool shit, blow some stuff up, do some high speed, low drag, ass in the grass, dick in the mud, off the wall awesome bullshit! Do it! I volunteered for everything I could, I wanted to do/see everything I only had one shot at my military career and this life I'm not missing something because I R scared.

4) Have fun - You're going to work your ass off, grow up fast, get scared, etc. but you're going to have fun doing it, I did. Mental attitude is what it's about, hell the hardest part of boot camp for me was keeping my laughter in check. Feed off the weakness of others.

[Kyra231]

Not everyone likes sitting on the bench to get their varsity letter. Hey look guys I made the team!



1) Branch - Honestly it doesn't matter. Just serve and serve well. Go in for the right reasons and with the right mentality and you'll be fine. Of course I'm bias and say USMC but really I have much respect for every one of my brothers and sisters in arms. Remember you're not going into the military because someone owes you some shit, I could give you all the reaons I joined (and what I consider the right reasons but again I'm biased) but basically remember it's service, you serving your country and not the other way around.

2) MOS - Get it in writing. If your contract doesn't say exactly what MOS you're supposed to get, or any other things the recruiter tells you then you're not going to get it. Make sure it's there. Also understand that the needs of the Marine Corps (or whatever branch) are greater than yours and you still might be filling a B-billet, secondary MOS for the duration. Congrats you're trained as a crypto tech now go learn to fix that 5 ton.

3) Volunteer - For everything! Holy shit you're going into the military, this is your chance to shoot some cool shit, blow some stuff up, do some high speed, low drag, ass in the grass, dick in the mud, off the wall awesome bullshit! Do it! I volunteered for everything I could, I wanted to do/see everything I only had one shot at my military career and this life I'm not missing something because I R scared.

4) Have fun - You're going to work your ass off, grow up fast, get scared, etc. but you're going to have fun doing it, I did. Mental attitude is what it's about, hell the hardest part of boot camp for me was keeping my laughter in check. Feed off the weakness of others.

Yeah that really sounded like some respect Anticor.

Not EVERYONE who goes into a war zone is in a red zone & most aren't going to say 'Hey I don't care if I live or die, sign me up to go ride the bomb/border patrol.' And from the way you're talking, they're all just sitting on the bench doing nothing if they don't. What an ass.

Either way in response to the OP, 4-6 month deployments(opposed to 12-15 month), generally better living conditions & pay rate make the air force a bit more attractive imo.

~K.

[Daniel]

Yeah that really sounded like some respect Anticor.

Not EVERYONE who goes into a war zone is in a red zone & most aren't going to say 'Hey I don't care if I live or die, sign me up to go ride the bomb/border patrol.' And from the way you're talking, they're all just sitting on the bench doing nothing if they don't. What an ass.

Either way in response to the OP, 4-6 month deployments(opposed to 12-15 month), generally better living conditions & pay rate make the air force a bit more attractive imo.

~K.

Respect is a reciprocal act.

Maybe you shouldn't have been a condescending bitch in your earlier and current posts if you wanted people to respect what it is you do.

[AnticorRifling]

Respect is a reciprocal act.

Maybe you shouldn't have been a condescending bitch in your earlier and current posts if you wanted people to respect what it is you do.


Someone got it.

[Doughboy]

Actually they say you can go as little as like 15 months. But you won't get any kind of bonus or whatnot.

So far, more than likely I am looking at a 3-4 year enlistment.

I was also told there is an 8 year commitment no matter what you sign up for during enlistment. Something about if you get out before 8 years you wind up going into either National Guard, Army Reserve, or IRR.

Said most people wind up going into the IRR, which is something they can call you back up for service if they need to. But it's never been done before or something.

Individual Ready Reserve. EVERYBODY goes into it if they get out of the service before 8 years is up. Unless you are given das boot for some other odd reason. IRR is...nothing. You're on the last person to fucking go anywhere list. Don't worry about it much unless you were in a high demand MOS or in the extreme top one or two percentage of your MOS. You aren't getting paid, you don't get benefits, you don't get jack. You're basically an on call civilian at that point.

You've got a while till you need to worry about that though. Pick an MOS that you think you may enjoy. God knows you don't want to end up with a job that you hate. Don't buy into cool sounding job titles, they usually aren't. Just remember that you're free to say fuck off, but once you sign the contract your ass belongs to Uncle Sam. Just make sure you don't go listening to all the fuck bags that are running around all the bases pissing and moaning about how much it sucks and they want to get out, blah blah. I loved my time in and would do it again in a heartbeat. Shit, I'd re-up again right now if I knew there was somebody here to take care of my kids.


Edited to add: Don't join the Air Force unless you don't mind being called a pussy by everybody else in every other branch for the rest of your life. Marines are fucking dumb, but they're ok in my book. Then you have the New Navy...yeah..






(I've got respect for each branch though)

[Doughboy]

Now that I think about it after reading Anticor's post about getting the MOS put in writing. After you get that done and sign it, don't go getting fucking hurt or something. You may lose the MOS then if it's not available. When I enlisted my first contract was for 11B guaranteed Airborne then getting stationed in Italy. I sliced up my leg enough to need some stitches putting up Hurricane shutters. Had to go get my medical shit redone and my MOS slot was filled at the time.....Don't do stupid shit after you sign your life away.

[Stanley Burrell]

Are you out of your motherfucking mind?

O.K., well, people say the armed forces is a career; and I wholly agree with that. It is also not the only career on this planet. There are at least two:

A) Armed forces.

B) GemStone GameMaster

Choose wisely.

[Martaigne]

You'll probably see less hostiles if you join the Marines and get shipped straight to Iraq than you would as a GS GM. Just sayin'.

[AnticorRifling]

... don't go getting fucking hurt or something.


This.

Turned my plans of 30 years into finishing my first 4yrs and having to get out. You'll have plenty of chances to get hurt doing the good shit, don't get banged up being stupid. (IE falling down a ridge in 29 stumps .... )

[Stanley Burrell]

You'll probably see less hostiles if you join the Marines and get shipped straight to Iraq than you would as a GS GM. Just sayin'.

Hillary Clinton had to dodge Grimswarm sniper fire. Shit is not a joke!

Well, I mean it is. And :lol:, too.

[Doughboy]

This.

Turned my plans of 30 years into finishing my first 4yrs and having to get out. You'll have plenty of chances to get hurt doing the good shit, don't get banged up being stupid. (IE falling down a ridge in 29 stumps .... )

I managed to get hurled off of a rather large horse while I was stationed in the First Cav Horse Detachment while we were doing some training one day. Tore up my rotator cuff something fierce. Surgery wasn't really an option they told me. Would probably have made things worse in the long run. Good old Army solution...800mg Motrin and lots of it.

[Nieninque]

Find out as much as you can about the job you want to do and go do it.
Do whatever you end up doing because it's what you wanted to do. Dont get to 40 and realise that you wish you had followed your own career path, rather than what your dad did.
It's your life. Live it up.

[AnticorRifling]

Don't spell realize without the z.

[Methais]

So, been looking into joining the Army, and am just about set on an MOS.

But everyone I know, keeps trying to tell me to go Air Force or something.

Also, my dad keeps trying to tell me some different horror story as often as he can, to try and dissuade me from joining.

So I am looking for some input from any of you who have actually been in the US military. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force. OR even CIA and FBI, etc. Since one of the jobs I am looking at may lead there.

All the pamphlets and recruiters talk the Army up, but none of it talks about the bad aspects.

1a.) What would you say is some of the worst stuff about being in the service you are in?

1b.) Are all the facilities all nice and pretty like they show on goarmy.com? (One of my fathers stories was how seriously nasty some of the army stations are...)

2.) Do you have a good argument why one branch of service would be better than another in any instance?

More questions later I am sure, but just starting this off for now. Discuss, advise!

Just do the smart thing and not enlist. You can probably make a better living working at McDonald's or selling silvers.

And if you do join, please please PLEASE don't turn into another Dave, reminding everyone about how you're in the military everytime you post.

[Martaigne]

Just do the smart thing and not enlist. You can probably make a better living working at McDonald's or selling silvers.

Flipping burgers and selling silvers generally don't come with 100% medical and dental, free room and board, with a chance to get a $1200 investment turned into 4 years of college support. :)

[Methais]

Flipping burgers and selling silvers doesn't come with death either (usually).

[Warriorbird]

Don't forget Darcknight or whatever his name was.

[Martaigne]

Flipping burgers and selling silvers doesn't come with death either (usually).

I did four years in the service and... oh, right, I'm undead. :wtf:

[Arkans]

Well, selling silvers might get you free room and board. Living in your mom's basement is better than nothing.

- Arkans

[Methais]

I did four years in the service and... oh, right, I'm undead. :wtf:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_casualties_of_war

[Martaigne]

This testimony makes it clear that it's impossible for anyone in the military to be killed in action.

And since we're going to take statements to ridiculous extremes, your statement demonstrates that everyone in the military will be killed in action.

All I'm saying is that there are jobs in the military that don't require you to go to a war zone or get shot at.

[Crazy Bard]

Join the army ..it's a good way to get ahead in life.

[Arkans]

After seeing that, America needs to STFU about how many died in WW2 when you take the USSR into account.

- Arkans

[Some Rogue]

After seeing that, America needs to STFU about how many died in WW2 when you take the USSR into account.

- Arkans

The Russians needed to L2fight obviously.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by Some Rogue
The Russians needed to L2fight obviously.

Russia gave up on fighting and is now following the Brazilian method to get ahead... import 20492492 strippers to soak up American $.

[Warriorbird]

It's a living.

[Methais]

After seeing that, America needs to STFU about how many died in WW2 when you take the USSR into account.

- Arkans

IN SOVIET RUSSIA, WAR FIGHTS YOU!

[Doughboy]

Flipping burgers and selling silvers doesn't come with death either (usually).

No, but it does come with the whole a group of Trannies may get pissed at you and throw hot fry oil all over the restaurant while grabbing their packages..

[Methais]

That would be epic.

[Doughboy]

I forgot, there wasn't any junk grabbing going on. That woulda made it better though.


http://shootingmessengers.blogspot.com/2007/11/when-trannys-attack.html

[Jayvn]

I was army for 4 and a half years out of a 4 year enlistment.. go that route if you want to be a soldier... if you want to be in the military fuckin go air force... I drove by patrick? af base....ON COCOA BEACH... housing literally on the fucking beach....

[Crazy Bard]

I thought 6 years was the minimum now?

[Daniel]

I was army for 4 and a half years out of a 4 year enlistment.. go that route if you want to be a soldier... if you want to be in the military fuckin go air force... I drove by patrick? af base....ON COCOA BEACH... housing literally on the fucking beach....

Lol. Marines are that way too. Oceanside CA is nice.

[AnticorRifling]

Lol. Marines are that way too. Oceanside CA is nice.


You're high as a kite Oceanside is a shit hole....although I did get my buddy a lapdance from hideous stripper there so it wasn't all bad. Best 20 bucks ever spent.

[Daniel]

You're high as a kite Oceanside is a shit hole....although I did get my buddy a lapdance from hideous stripper there so it wasn't all bad. Best 20 bucks ever spent.

Oh yea. Living in Southern California right on the beach is so fucking horrible. You ever been to Ft Polk Louisiana?

[Stanley Burrell]

Well, selling silvers might get you free room and board. Living in your mom's basement is better than nothing.

Yeah, good thing there hasn't been a single Purple Heart to return from duty and also live in their parents home. Not having eyes or fingers from shrapnel sort of interferes with immediate text-based gaming though.

This fucking war. I swear to God I almost feel retarded enough to join its pointless cause sometimes.

[Sean of the Thread]

I'm too tired and have a multitude of suggestions so I'll just leave you with some important basics.

Do everything fast as shit.

Start physically training way before you ship to boot. Not weights and shit... do lunges, situps and pull ups. That's what you'll be doing there ... not lifting weights.

Start running at least 3 miles a day.

Prepare by memorizing basics like general orders and chain of command... shit like that to get you ahead of the tards. And there will be plenty of tards trust me.

If you have good hand writing don't let the DI find out or see it. You don't want to be the fucking scribe.

plan your ship date out of meps to ensure you're not spending 12 weeks in the fucking summer busting balls. You want to goto camp when it's cool out.




My bias is the USMC of course but if you want a buffet for breakfast at bootcamp go air force.

[landy]

Just got out of the Air Force last year, no complaints aside from the standard breed, and you will realize that you are just a number when in the military (your social security number to be exact). From what I've been told from those in other branches, the Air Force has the best housing, chow, and jobs. It's also run more like a company than a military outfit.

[Tisket]

Start emphasizing and reemphasizing to your family and friends now how very, very much you would appreciate letters from them during basic. Because you will. Homesickness sucks. Also, make sure they know not to decorate the envelope or in any way draw the attention of the DI during mail call. That would be bad. Letters = good, unnecessary attention = bad.

[AestheticDeath]

Yeah on the exercise things, I was told more situps, push ups and running. Are you sure about lunges? bleh

And are you serious on 3 miles? Argh... I haven't run in a while but that sounds like a lot.

How many sit ups and push ups should I be looking at doing in a typical day in Basic? I know the entrance is only like 13 push ups and 17 sit ups in one minute.. But that seems really really low.

[thefarmer]

Yeah on the exercise things, I was told more situps, push ups and running.

And are you serious on 3 miles? Argh... I haven't run in a while but that sounds like a lot.

If 3miles sounds like a lot.. you're going to be in for a whole slew of suffering in basic.

[landy]

In the physical fitness tests we had to take every few months, 1.5 miles in under 12 minutes (that's like a brisk walk), 50 push ups and 50 sit ups. I'm sure it's harder for other branches.

[AestheticDeath]

If 3miles sounds like a lot.. you're going to be in for a whole slew of suffering in basic.

Yeah... I'm not much of a running person. But I plan on getting into better shape before signing up. If I do.

Lots of things to think about.

[Methais]

Roll an empath and 3x in physical fitness. That'll do the trick.

[AestheticDeath]

Roll an empath and 3x in physical fitness. That'll do the trick.

Already tried that one, didn't work as planned out. Thanks for trying though!

[Arkans]

Don't go into basic training being a sensitive little girl.

So many people took what the Drill Sergeants yelled at them extremely personally.

When I was going through it, I could barely keep the laughter.

I mean, seriously, when you have a Drill Sergeant informing you on your first day that basic training is not Burger King and we cannot have it our way, you just aren't ready for that shit.

- Arkans

[Daniel]

How many sit ups and push ups should I be looking at doing in a typical day in Basic? I know the entrance is only like 13 push ups and 17 sit ups in one minute.. But that seems really really low.

Like 2000. At a minimum.

[Arkans]

You basically need to be able to do push-ups until your Drill Sergeant gets tired. Once you get to that point, you should be pretty solid.

- Arkans

[Martaigne]

Unless you're in the Air Force... the requirements were 30 pushups in 2 mins, 45 situps in 2 mins, and 2 miles in under 16 mins. That may have changed since 1997, tho.

I'm 6'3" 160lbs with a slight build and managed to crank out 40 pushups, 60 situps, and my 2 mile time was 10.5 mins... and I was a wuss when I went in.

[AnticorRifling]

Unless you're in the Air Force... the requirements were 30 pushups in 2 mins, 45 situps in 2 mins, and 2 miles in under 16 mins. That may have changed since 1997, tho.

I'm 6'3" 160lbs with a slight build and managed to crank out 40 pushups, 60 situps, and my 2 mile time was 10.5 mins... and I was a wuss when I went in.


You know each branch has it's on PT Test (all called different things) and the requirements are all different right? You can't just say unless you're Air Force this is what it's going to be.

Really the PT isn't that hard, train for endurance. Were I you I'd go buy a pair of new boots and walk a shit ton in them. This will get you used to humping as well as start putting the callouses on the backs and heels of your feet.

[Martaigne]

You know each branch has it's on PT Test (all called different things) and the requirements are all different right? You can't just say unless you're Air Force this is what it's going to be.

Yes, I do, which is why I specified the AF. I could be retarded though and failed to notice that he's decided on a branch other than the AF to enter... just trying to give him all the details I can.

[Doughboy]

How many sit ups and push ups should I be looking at doing in a typical day in Basic?

That all depends on how many fucking idiots you have in your company/squad/barracks/etc etc etc.....You'll eventually learn to love the front leaning rest position.

[Doughboy]

btw...you will need to pass a PT test to get out of basic, otherwise you get sent to the fat body program. We had people fucking crying when they found out they weren't graduating because they couldn't do the two mile walk.....I call it a walk simply because it's hard to not pass it if you try even a little...

Fresh from an APFT card (60 points is the minimum passing score)
http://www.apft-standards.com/pushup.html
http://www.apft-standards.com/situp.html
http://www.apft-standards.com/run.html

How to determine if you're a little to "beefy" for the Army
http://www.apft-standards.com/maleheightandweight.html
http://www.apft-standards.com/malebodyfat.html
http://www.apft-standards.com/femaleheightandweight.html
http://www.apft-standards.com/femalebodyfat.html

Honestly, if you can't meet those standards..you shouldn't think about enlisting at all. You'll be in a world of pain.

[AnticorRifling]

Yes, I do, which is why I specified the AF. I could be retarded though and failed to notice that he's decided on a branch other than the AF to enter... just trying to give him all the details I can.

I misread your other post then, I took it as "unless you're in the AF the requirements (for the other remaining branches are) X Y Z."

[Daniel]

btw...you will need to pass a PT test to get out of basic, otherwise you get sent to the fat body program. We had people fucking crying when they found out they weren't graduating because they couldn't do the two mile walk.....I call it a walk simply because it's hard to not pass it if you try even a little...


Honestly, if you can't meet those standards..you shouldn't think about enlisting at all. You'll be in a world of pain.

I think it depends. I've always been athletic but I wasn't fundamentally capable of doing a lot of this stuff when I enlisted. I think on my first diagnostic I did something like 19 push ups, 60+ situps and maybe ran my two miles in like 20 minutes and thought I was going to die.

Within the first year I was doing 120, 120 and 13 and was fine.

[Sean of the Thread]

Yeah on the exercise things, I was told more situps, push ups and running. Are you sure about lunges? bleh

And are you serious on 3 miles? Argh... I haven't run in a while but that sounds like a lot.

How many sit ups and push ups should I be looking at doing in a typical day in Basic? I know the entrance is only like 13 push ups and 17 sit ups in one minute.. But that seems really really low.

I could do 90-110 situps and pushups in 2 minutes and 90-100 pull ups at the time.

Yes 3 miles. Start out by walking if you want. Learn to do the shuffle as I call it... let your momentum (of your legs etc) carry you to your next step while running. Saves a lot of energy.

[AnticorRifling]

I could do 90-110 situps and pushups in 2 minutes and 90-100 pull ups at the time.

Yes 3 miles. Start out by walking if you want. Learn to do the shuffle as I call it... let your momentum (of your legs etc) carry you to your next step while running. Saves a lot of energy.

I call bullshit to 100 pullups. :) My personal best was 35....

[Sean of the Thread]

Oh and what Anticor said. Goto the flea market or surplus and get a pair of combat boots and hump around in them. It's a big adjustment.

I'm not sure if they let use them in basic but get yourself a pair of sock suspenders asap as well.

Might be a good idea to get some cotton balls and shoe shine and start practicing on a real pair of shoes. All sorts of techniques but I used cold water etc etc. For all I know they give out patent leather shoes now days but I had to mirror mine by hand.

[Sean of the Thread]

I call bullshit to 100 pullups. :) My personal best was 35....

113 was my best :) but you prolly spent 6 weeks in the PCP (pork chop platoon for the non informed readers) anyways hehehehe. I was pure athlete back then.

[Clove]

Yes, I do, which is why I specified the AF. I could be retarded though and failed to notice that he's decided on a branch other than the AF to enter... just trying to give him all the details I can.Apparently it isn't enlisted that are dumb, only the civilians that talk about them.

[Doughboy]

Picking up a pair of boots is probably some of the best advice you can possibly get. You don't know pain until you know humping on torn up feet.


Unless you go into the Air Force. Rumor has it they do everything in sneakers now.....

[Clove]

Unless you go into the Air Force. Rumor has it they do everything in sneakers now.....I heard it was mocassins and Dockers.

[Martaigne]

Actually it's flip-flops and Bermuda shorts. Didn't you know we have housing on the beach?

[Clove]

Actually it's flip-flops and Bermuda shorts. Didn't you know we have housing on the beach?AF has the best chow too!

[Doughboy]

Christ this thread is bringing back memories now...

Nothing beat those after pay day weekend runs on Monday morning. You could tell who boozed it up for a couple of days. Nothing better than waking up to a fuckload of alcohol stank and sweaty ball smell...

[Clove]

...Nothing better than waking up to a fuckload of alcohol stank and sweaty ball smell...Don't ask, don't tell. Waking up next to a sweaty hottie beats that by a large margin.

[Daniel]

YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND MAN!!

[Doughboy]

Don't ask, don't tell. Waking up next to a sweaty hottie beats that by a large margin.

Trust me when I say that very few women in the Army looks "hot" after a five or six mile jog.

[Clove]

Trust me when I say that very few women in the Army looks "hot" after a five or six mile jog.You're not required to fuck Army women, just because you're in the Army. Didn't they cover that in orientation?

[Doughboy]

You're not required to fuck Army women, just because you're in the Army. Didn't they cover that in orientation?

Orientation? Wtf...I missed something..

I just showed up one day and was handed a rifle and was told to shoot in the same direction as everybody else...

[AnticorRifling]

113 was my best :) but you prolly spent 6 weeks in the PCP (pork chop platoon for the non informed readers) anyways hehehehe. I was pure athlete back then.

LOL PCP they got stripes on their shirts so the chow hall knew they were getting half rats.

Yeah I thought I was doing good with 35 pullups...but I was 275 so that's alot of beef to pull over the bar, man I wish I could get back up to that weight again.

[AnticorRifling]

I just showed up one day and was handed a rifle and was told to shoot in the same direction as everybody else...

That's advanced infantry training :)

[Doughboy]

That's advanced infantry training :)

I R SPAYSHUL....


113 was my best but you prolly spent 6 weeks in the PCP (pork chop platoon for the non informed readers) anyways hehehehe. I was pure athlete back then.

The best I ever did on pullups was in the mid 70's...I fucking hated pullups...

[Lucas]

If you got any kind of 4 yr degree go through the officer training and become a 2nd lieut. Else join the Navy. Being a USMC grunt is hard work, and you gotta love that type of lifestyle and be willing to commit A LOT.

[Sean of the Thread]

OCS

[Lucas]

Or failing the above somehow get lots and lots of $$ and retire and visit strip clubs and have essentially think of your life as one big orgy.

[Lucas]

Yeah that Officer candidate school.... go for that. Your life as an officer is like a complete 180 from being a grunt. It's fucking airconditioned offices in Baghdad and buffet meals and not the MRE shit.

And you don't have to shit yourself everytime a car comes to your post doing over 80 mphs.