• In Less Than A Week I Leave For Naval Boot camp
    27 replies, posted
I'm not sure why I'm writing this or if anyone will read it. I'm not as popular as "Big Dumb American" (That was his name right?) but I dont see the harm in sharing my story with you Facepunch. It's not a real interesting one so luckily it'll be short. I graduated high school by the skin of my teeth, was no one special and I enjoyed my time off in the summer while I sorta lazily looked at going to college. I was looking at some grants or whatever means I could get of funding but at the last minute decided "Fuck it, I'll take a break and work for a year then come back" but my town is a literal shit hole and I couldn't get a job. Maybe it can be blamed on me for not trying hard enough, but whatever. I dont know how it came about but I had been thinking of joining the military for some time but wasn't sure. Finally one day I guess out of the blue my moms boyfriend suggested looking into the Navy. My Moms ex-boyfriend was in the Navy and we still kept in touch with him since he was a great guy and plus: If you do 20 years you can retire with half of your paycheck. Retiring at age 38 sounds pretty swell to me. Not to mention the GI bill and all the benefits. So I looked into it, got some information, stopped by a recruiting station and after a few minor hurdles I got my contract and was sworn in on March 9th, 2010. Fast forward to now and it's almost time for me to leave and I'm nervous but determined. Since I've left high school I've lost nearly 40 pounds but I'm still not exactly fit or physically capable of things most people can do just fine, but I'm hoping boot camp will whip me into shape. The biggest thing I've had with joining is how everyone reacted. My Mom was proud of me but I know shes gonna cry when she sees me go. Her ex I mentioned earlier is really proud of me, so is my Dad. My friends are pretty impressed and one female companion of mine who I've known for three years pretty much resents me now and doesn't really want to talk to me, she thinks the whole idea is suicide. But I know she cares about me and just doesn't want to see me leave. Heck, shes probably the one person I'll be most sad about leaving. I like some time away from the same family and people I see every day, but leaving a close friend you talk to just about every day is a bit of a downer. I'm hoping things will work out. I WAS told I would be leaving September 9th. They take me in a day earlier and have me sleep in a hotel and take me down to the MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) where I get on a bus, go to an airport, fly to the place, go to the USO office and then they drive me to the actual boot camp. It's 9 weeks longer, maybe longer if I screw up and need extra training. I get out four days AFTER my birthday when I thought I'd be getting out two days BEFORE then. Not sure how thats gonna go. After graduation I'm hoping I get some leave time since it'll be near the holidays and the school in Florida shuts down around the time. Hoping to get at least 2 weeks, time I hope to use the money I got in boot camp for a small vacation. If bad luck turns it's ugly head and I dont get any leave time I'll be shipped to Pensacola, Florida for schooling which can be anywhere from 6-8 weeks. From then I guess I get assigned/to pick a ship and get to live pretty close to home since I live near a big Naval base. (San Diego). Even though it IS the military I don't exactly see it as a big deal as far as "serving my country" goes. I'm not joining the Navy SEALs, the army or the marines. My job is basically going to be one of 3 possible jobs but they're all pretty normal stuff having to do with the aviation deck on carriers. I'll be maintaining fuels, launching the planes off or directing them around the deck. I wont know until before or after boot camp. I haven't even left yet and I got a good sense of how the military is with their timing, haha. First I was told I was leaving on the 9th and now it can be between the 7th and 9th. Whatever day it is, the day BEFORE they take me to the hotel. Military isn't exactly all that punctual I guess. :v: Luckily I'm not going in too unprepared. Like I said, I've lost nearly 40 pounds since I left high school, nearly 20 since I was sworn in (My recruiter even noticed and said I was wasting away, hah) and over the months I've been studying ranks, the phonetic alphabet, military time, naval history and having mentoring sessions with my recruiter. So I'm already a little bit ahead as far as the mental aspect goes, not so much the physical aspect. I still feel like theres some loose strings I want to tie up before I go, still so much I wanted to do. But I can't expect to do it all now, gotta get focused and ready for the start of my life. Thanks for reading if you made it this far!
This wasn't short :colbert: [editline]07:42PM[/editline] Nah man, Thats pretty cool though
Pix of the hot uniforms if possible. :buddy:
I thought you'd have to pass a physical test before they let you in, or is that just ROTC?
-snip-
Be careful around the planes. It's not uncommon for people to get injured by them while on deck. Also: Bootcamp will grind you down, try to keep your head up.
[QUOTE=Sottalytober;24547197]Be careful around the planes. It's not uncommon for people to get injured by them while on deck. Also: Bootcamp will grind you down, try to keep your head up.[/QUOTE]Haha, every single time I mention my job SOMEONE has to bring up that video where the guy gets sucked into that jet engine. I plan to live though, fuels may be the safest job and my Moms ex has said I should try to get into it. [QUOTE=Canuhearme?;24547166]I thought you'd have to pass a physical test before they let you in, or is that just ROTC?[/QUOTE] You do. I just ehhh, lets just say I didn't do so well, heh. But I'm still going and my recruiter believes I'll do just fine.
Congrats. You say you didn't do well, but how bad did you actually do? I kinda want to know since I've been thinking of joining the armed services. [editline]11:49AM[/editline] I'm skinny but in bad shape.
Bye bye, kill people, fuck shit up, etc. etc. /thread But seriously, why do so many people post about going in the army/navy/whatever? Do they think that means they are automatically heroes and everyone will praise them?
[QUOTE=MiniManz;24547247]Haha, every single time I mention my job SOMEONE has to bring up that video where the guy gets sucked into that jet engine. I plan to live though, fuels may be the safest job and my Moms ex has said I should try to get into it. You do. I just ehhh, lets just say I didn't do so well, heh. But I'm still going and my recruiter believes I'll do just fine.[/QUOTE] Fuel's fine and all, just make sure if it leaks run the fuck away.
[QUOTE=>VLN<;24547279]Congrats. You say you didn't do well, but how bad did you actually do? I kinda want to know since I've been thinking of joining the armed services. [editline]11:49AM[/editline] I'm skinny but in bad shape.[/QUOTE]If you can do a mile and a half run in 12:30 (Least thats the requirement for my age group, 18) then you should be fine. I did great on my pushups, sorta killed myself on the situps and I've never been a runner. [QUOTE=xStizzy;24547295]But seriously, why do so many people post about going in the army/navy/whatever? Do they think that means they are automatically heroes and everyone will praise them?[/QUOTE] If you read just one of the last couple paragraphs you'd know thats not what I think.
Good for you, man. I'm leaving for Air Force basic training next Tuesday. I might see you one day. If you're leaving out of the Sacramento MEPS I'll probably run into you if you end up leaving that morning.
let me know if they still do cookie runs
[QUOTE=Strider_07;24547513]Good for you, man. I'm leaving for Air Force basic training next Tuesday. I might see you one day. If you're leaving out of the Sacramento MEPS I'll probably run into you if you end up leaving that morning.[/QUOTE] sac meps is a cluster fuck, i hate that fucking place it's even worse if you get a creepy ass roommate [editline]07:06PM[/editline] oh but on the bright side the captain lady who runs it is pretty cute
[QUOTE=Strider_07;24547513]Good for you, man. I'm leaving for Air Force basic training next Tuesday. I might see you one day. If you're leaving out of the Sacramento MEPS I'll probably run into you if you end up leaving that morning.[/QUOTE] Theres a MEPS here in San Diego I think, so I'm not sure. But if I do leave on Tuesday maybe we'll see each other at the airport? Although I think Air Force training is somewhere much farther away than where Navy training is.
depending on where you live you'll either go to sac, jose or diego
Ramirez, clog this plane engine up with your body.
[QUOTE=siberpredaht;24547741]depending on where you live you'll either go to sac, jose or diego[/QUOTE]I actually live in El Cajon, which is just east of San Diego, just a short drive away.
good luck man, dont die etc
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InBXu-iY7cw[/media] Good luck bro.
Dont forget the dont tell policy. Nah, im kidding. Well good luck in the Navy. It wont be the same without you here.
[QUOTE=siberpredaht;24547608]sac meps is a cluster fuck, i hate that fucking place it's even worse if you get a creepy ass roommate [editline]07:06PM[/editline] oh but on the bright side the captain lady who runs it is pretty cute[/QUOTE] haha yeah, I got stuck in the medical wing for like an hour because they forgot about my physical last time I was up [editline]01:14PM[/editline] [QUOTE=MiniManz;24547708]Theres a MEPS here in San Diego I think, so I'm not sure. But if I do leave on Tuesday maybe we'll see each other at the airport? Although I think Air Force training is somewhere much farther away than where Navy training is.[/QUOTE] yeah it's at Lackland AFB (outside of San Antonio, I think)
Good luck in the navy, don't fall of the boat or something.
[QUOTE=Strider_07;24549367]haha yeah, I got stuck in the medical wing for like an hour because they forgot about my physical last time I was up [editline]01:14PM[/editline] yeah it's at Lackland AFB (outside of San Antonio, I think)[/QUOTE]Yeha thats a ways away from where I'll being going which is somewhere around Chicago if i recall correctly.
[QUOTE=MiniManz;24549559]Yeha thats a ways away from where I'll being going which is somewhere around Chicago if i recall correctly.[/QUOTE] Well good luck with that, I'd be more than happy to trade the weather in Texas for the weather in Chicago shit's going to be hot when I get there
you're growing up so fast miniman
[QUOTE=Strider_07;24549587]Well good luck with that, I'd be more than happy to trade the weather in Texas for the weather in Chicago shit's going to be hot when I get there[/QUOTE]While shit is going to be cold, haha. Hopefully it wont snow, if it does I guess I'll be shoveling.
Read as nasal boob camp
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