My Constant Headache

[Soulrev]

So, let me start off with this. Some of you may have noticed I've been talking about joining the ARMY for a long time now. Everyone else I know has.

At about this time last year, I tried to join. I've had one problem though. Notice past tense- had.. I couldn't quit smoking marijuana. I've been smoking pot heavily for a few years solid. Became an "addict" before I even knew it. It took me actually reading a chapter out of my friend's Narcotics Anonymous book, to realize I was addicted to pot.

Ridiculous as it may sound to some, pot may not be physically addictive but it is mentally addictive. When you're so used to getting stoned when you're upset or when you're happy or when you need to go to sleep, and then you realize you have to stop, but you don't want to.. Yeah, that's an addict alright.

So yeah, about a year ago I was of course smoking pot, and told my recruiter this. I managed to stop for about a week and he bought some of this shit for me to drink before I went to MEPS. It was some kind of masking agent.. Well anyways, I went up to MEPS, got all of my physical shit done, blood tests, vision tests, hearing tests, physical fitness tests, height, weight, drug tests, prostate tests, hemorrhoid checks, fingerprints taken.. You name it, they did it to me. From 4 o'clock in the morning until 5 o'clock in the evening I sat through that hell. Then I finally got sworn in and went home.

3 days later I get a letter in the mail saying my enlistment was revoked cuz I failed the piss test, and I would have to wait 6 months before I'd be able to re-test and join.

Here we are about 1 year after I first tried joining. Now, I have quit smoking the ganja. It took about all of this time to do it, but I did it.

Since then, the sign-on bonus maximum has been risen from 20,000 dollars to 40,000 dollars, so that's a plus, more money. Also, I won't have to sit through all that bullshit at MEPS again.. This time I just have to go up there, piss in a cup, and leave. Wait a few days for the results, then go back up there to swear in, and leave.

But now it's a different kind of hold-up. Now my personal recruiter has become the station commander. So, he's now in charge of like 7 other recruiters, plus himself. Now he's busy as hell and hardly has time to take a piss let alone work with me on some shit.

I'm trying to get this "pre-basic-training-training" (as I like to call it) done.. Basically, if I complete this before I go to basic, it will give me an extra rank going in. As it stands right now with my 40 college credit hours, I'm already going in at E-2 which is a rank above what most other average-joes would go in at. However, if I complete this extra training, I'll go in as an E-3 (Private First Class).

I've decided I'm not going in unless I'm going to be a PFC.. So, I have to do all kinds of shit. I have to memorize the 3 general orders, I have to memorize all the ranks from Private to President of the United States, I have to memorize the ARMY alphabet (alpha, bravo, charlie..) which I already have.. Then there's parts my recruiter has to actually sit down and work with me on. Things like map reading, how to salute, how to march, this, that, and the other thing. It's a ton of shit, but worth it. It will also help me out a lot in basic because I'll already know how to do most of these things, which will hopefully impress my drill instructors.

So yeah, now my recruiter is so damn busy, he claims it only takes 7 or 8 days of work to get this stuff done.. But with him being so busy, those 7 or 8 days could stretch over the next 2 months at least.

I'm fuckin ready to go. I'm ready to get my fucking training over with and get the FUCK out of Northwest Indiana. It sucks huge balls here. I'd rather be anywhere but here. I'd rather be doing something productive with my life. Making somewhat decent money and going to college for free. Plus, I know I'm going to love the military. I've been thinking about it for so long...

I've wanted to join the Marines since I was 12.. Then, I grew up and knew better than to join that shit. But I mean, I've talked to SOOO many people. Soldiers, sailors, you name it. I've gotten so many perspectives on what it's like, what to expect.. My TV is constantly tuned to the Military channel.. I have Marines and Navy and Army posters all over my room. I have a gigantic American flag that covers an entire wall, floor to ceiling, in my bedroom.. I love my country and I want to serve it. NOW!

But, alas, quitting smoking pot isn't going to get me in as fast as I thought it would.. If it's not one thing, I swear to God, it's another. Now I just await the convenience of my recruiter. And I know some of you are thinking "why not go to another recruiter?" but I can't.. I mean, yeah, I could, but I've been working with SFC Fester for so long now, it would be a slap in the face to go to somebody else. He's helped me out, a lot. He's not just my recruiter, he's my friend, and my counselor.

Sorry to have written a book here, but this is a pretty big chapter of my life you've just read. The quitting smoking pot thing especially.. It's plagued me for a long time now.

-Brian

[Soulrev]

oh yeah, and in the mean time before I leave for training (who knows when that will be.. Maybe before or after Christmas).. I'm getting a job working for UPS.. I worked there last Christmas season as a Driver Helper, and liked it.. It's a good physically challenging job, too, which is what I need. And it's just temporary, too, the position I applied for..

[kellygrrrrrl]

Patience is a virtue my friend.

Congrats on the quitting smoking Pot thing too!

I am working on that.....slowly....it is tough...esp when it is a emotional crutch....sad I know.

How noble of you to want to save us, this country.

I could never.

I am a wimp.

I would get killed out there.

Do not be in a hurry....I know you hate where you are at, but use this time to make ammends with people in the past, visiting old family and friends.

Make your peace.

Use your time wisely.

Make some extra $$, use it to do some thing you may have wanted to do but didn't!

It will come fast enough!! Time flies.....

Before you know it, you'll be in!!

Good Luck Brain....

oops...Brian!

(I left is spelled like that cause it is funny!!)

(<I'm SUCH a geek AND easily amuzed...>)

[BrassFusion]

Keep at it man, you're a credit to all us goth types.

[Onyx]

Wow. You've worked really hard for this.

Would he be offended if you went to another recruiter? Otherwise sounds like you'll be on hold for a bit.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Damnit

I could help with that stuff... come spend some time with me.

[Soulrev]

Damnit

I could help with that stuff... come spend some time with me.

I would if I could believe me. It would probably keep my ass out of trouble, too. Lol

As far as him being offended, I think so.. I mean he's spent so much time working with me for one little tally mark on his recruitment list, it's ridiculous.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Hey.. see if your Recruiter can get you a M1 Manual. Most of the stuff you need to learn is in that.

[Msterbeau]

For most addicts... it's rarely about the physical substance. The mental stuff is really what "addicts" you. Granted... the chemicals may be internal ones. Anyways... good luck. I know jack shit about basic military stuff even though I was in Civil Air Patrol. I'm probably of no help there.

[Steven]

Dude.....

1st, Good Luck and keep your head straight.

Next - fair warnign from someone who's been there - you do NOT want to get busted on the piss test after your allready in the Army as a regular enlisted soldier - so kick this shit allready - its holding you back.

Next - if you can go in as an E-3 it WILL make a big difference in how quickly you get rank and move ahead during your tour. Bear in mind this also depepnds on your MOS. Hate to say it but if you want to move ahead quickly (and this includes $$$) the infantry is the way to go. Check out your MOS choice and see how saturated it is. The more soldiers in that particular MOS, the longer it takes to be promoted. But if you start as an E3 allready - you'll quickly make SPEC 4 and then Seargent - its worth it.

But - you get more rank - you get more responsibility. Make it count.

And finnaly - the stuff you have to learn to make your rank is not a big deal. Honestly. Facing movements will probably be your biggest challenge. But if you go in with rank and you;ve allready got your facing movements down - you'll end up as a Platoon Leader, which is a good thing, especially in Basic Training. Quit smoking pot, learn your shit, get it down, stop thinking that its hard, jsut do what yo have to do. Your going in during wartime. My tour was during peacetime. Your tour will be more dangerous. So I will simply tell you this as has been told to me by my NCO's back in the day:

If your shit's weak, your going to die.

That is a very basic truth. So have your shit togethor.

PS - find a vet. Go to the VFW or other vet halls, and find someone who will teach you some basic facing movements. You'll learn it fast.

[CandyQuackenbush]

DO NOT walk into Basic Training like a know-it-all. You will get the shit kicked out of you.

Walk in there like you know very little of the Army. The drill SGT's will show you the right way to do everything from eating to sleeping. So don't you worry.

If you want to work on your PT before you go, then wonderful. Do it, you can get promoted faster. You won't be promoted in Basic or AIT, but if you can pass a PT Test before you go to basic, you can get promoted. Talk to your recruiter.