The truth is usually quite boring. During my lack-luster career as an Infantry and Field Artillery officer, I did get blow things up, shoot very large boomsticks, fly in helicopters, drive very heavy armored vehicles, and work with some of the best people that ever walked the Earth. Got soaking wet. Freezed at night. Burned in the sun. Learned how to operate a floor buffer (as an enlisted man).
Oh, I got to do some cool stuff as well, I will not argue that – crossing the Line, at the International Date Line, conning a ship through the Panama Canal, piloting a helicopter, riding in an M1A1, shooting some really big guns… But, really, that was about 1% of my time in.
It is that 99% that they do not really tell you about.
When I was an undergraduate, I *really* wanted a Tomcat. Turns out I’m slightly nearsighted in my left eye, so no go. I told the recruiter that I’d settle for an A6; let’s face it, blowing sh*t up is nearly as much fun as shooting down Tupolevs, but they weren’t gonna go for that either.
Their counteroffer was an Engineering officer billet on a boomer, but getting locked up in a giant steel tube for six months at a time was a non-starter.
Sometimes I regret not taking their offer, but today isn’t one of those times, heh.
My eyes disqualified my from combat birds right off, and I always wanted to drive ships anywise, so it was a fairly easy choice for me. Unfortunately, there is a reason why we do not use television shows and movies to train military members, and that reason became pretty apparent pretty quickly. I probably expected too much out of it, or had wrong expectations, or something, and yet I still occasionally regret getting out from time to time.
Only from time to time, though.
random quotes
“No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms.” by Thomas Jefferson
The truth is usually quite boring. During my lack-luster career as an Infantry and Field Artillery officer, I did get blow things up, shoot very large boomsticks, fly in helicopters, drive very heavy armored vehicles, and work with some of the best people that ever walked the Earth. Got soaking wet. Freezed at night. Burned in the sun. Learned how to operate a floor buffer (as an enlisted man).
Good times, good times.
Oh, I got to do some cool stuff as well, I will not argue that – crossing the Line, at the International Date Line, conning a ship through the Panama Canal, piloting a helicopter, riding in an M1A1, shooting some really big guns… But, really, that was about 1% of my time in.
It is that 99% that they do not really tell you about.
OCCUPY THE MILITARY! [/snark]
When I was an undergraduate, I *really* wanted a Tomcat. Turns out I’m slightly nearsighted in my left eye, so no go. I told the recruiter that I’d settle for an A6; let’s face it, blowing sh*t up is nearly as much fun as shooting down Tupolevs, but they weren’t gonna go for that either.
Their counteroffer was an Engineering officer billet on a boomer, but getting locked up in a giant steel tube for six months at a time was a non-starter.
Sometimes I regret not taking their offer, but today isn’t one of those times, heh.
My eyes disqualified my from combat birds right off, and I always wanted to drive ships anywise, so it was a fairly easy choice for me. Unfortunately, there is a reason why we do not use television shows and movies to train military members, and that reason became pretty apparent pretty quickly. I probably expected too much out of it, or had wrong expectations, or something, and yet I still occasionally regret getting out from time to time.
Only from time to time, though.