Posted on 04/21/2010 9:14:27 AM PDT by thefactor
Last month I signed my contract for the New York State National Guard. I leave in mid-July for Ft. Benning, GA. Will it be hot? Haha...
Seriously, I am doing Basic and then flipping right over to Federal OCS. All at Benning. I should be done, G-d willing, around Christmas.
Those of you who know me from my postings around here know I am a New York City Police Officer. The Nat'l Guard, of course, allows me to remain in my current position.
People have been asking me why I joined at my relatively advanced age (33). There are a number of reasons. I have always wanted to serve, but something always seemed to get in the way. College, work, a girl, grad school, etc... But I finally realized that I do not want to have any regrets so I called a recruiter, went through the process, and joined.
It was not a decision I came to lightly, however. I talked to a lot of informed people. I FReepmailed a number of people on this forum and asked their advice as well. It was overwhelmingly positive.
I'm not sure if this warrants a vanity, but I just wanted to say thanks to FR and its members for the help, either direct or indirect. In my nine years here, I have realized a new level of patriotism and that played a huge role in my decision. A special thank you, of course, to Jim Robinson and everyone who works at keeping this site the best there is.
If anyone has ANY advice (no matter how small) for me during my impending trip to Benning, please tell me! I know to keep my mouth shut and my head down. If the drill instructors know my name, I messed up.
Thanks again, FReepers. I leave in a little under three months, and I look forward to hearing from you.
tf...
Ha! I know there are a LOT of Navy folks around here. Feel free to give me some insight as well. I will use all of it.
Way to go! Thanks!
God bless you. I appreciate your upcoming service to keep me & my family free.
D*mn right this is worthy of posting a vanity for!
I can’t offer any advice, but I can offer a salute and my utmost respect. FR is honored to have people like you frequenting and contributing to it.
Train hard and take care, FRiend. You’ll be on all our minds.
Good luck!!! My brother just retired last year after 20 yrs. in the 17th precinct and my son leaves for Ft. Benning on Sunday!! Please keep us posted! You will be in our prayers!
There are a lot of internet sites on the B.S. games they play in basic (e.g., fire drills, dead cockroach, etc.). Forearmed is forewarned. Read these.
Get the army manual and start drilling the stupid stuff (alpha-numeric letters, ranks, soldier’s creed, etc).
Get a pedicure so you don’t f-k up your feet.
Do lots of bodyweight exercise. Cross-fit would be a good choice 4-5 times a week.
Sleep without your A/C.
Sleep on your sheets.
Get a buzz cut and then sunburn the top of your head.
See if the local NG unit will let you drill with them as a civilian.
Tell the kids your manslaughter conviction was overturned on a technicality.
Godspeed, shipmate. OBTW you only WISH you could beat Navy.
:-)
Good for you man! I’m an Army vet myself...what MOS are you doing?
If your son has any advice when he gets back I'm all ears! Ha. Congrats and good luck to him!
Congratulations on your decision. You’ll get memories that will last a lifetime— some good, some not, but cherished memories nonetheless.
Bootcamp advice? Yeah: Don’t be first, last, or volunteer for anything. :-)
BTW...start doing pushups now ;)
Cough drops. Forgot about cought drops.
You’ll know why.
My A/C has yet to come on this season. I will begin sleeping on my sheets. The haircut is gonna have to wait, but it's something I never thought of. Thanks!
Thank you. God Bless You and Keep You Safe. P.S. Keep your powder dry and always wear clean socks.
Well, Army DID just beat Navy in lacrosse last weekend. That’s the sport I played in HS and college. Football is another story...
Flex and stretch. You muscles will/do respond, grow faster than the clear, less blood supply, slower growing tendons. So get on a good, twice a day, stretch and flex program. Don’t ‘force it’, or do quick, radical swinging type maneuvers. Warm up first for twenty minutes with a jog. You blow a tendon, you’re done for months.
After that an exercise program and weight loss will help.
Chin ups and pull ups are rarely practiced, try to get ahead of that curve.
Up your nutrition, weight loss, and work on the cardio.
Good luck and thanks. The life you save or lead some day will be some other American or alli.
“No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for HIS country.”
—Gen. George S. Patton
Stay safe.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.