My Army waiver got approved

[RogueLeader]

After numerous visits to MEPS and a opthomology consult, I am now able to enlist in the army.  I will be 21e at Fort Lost in the Woods Misery.  Whoo hoo!!!!!

Now I got to start doing PT.

[DNall]

Congrats & welcome!    Another victim, woohahahaha [/evil laugh] 

Your going to drive a backhoe? it's not blowing stuff up, but okay.

I'm gone in a couple hours for DC, but PM me & I'll get back to you Monday. I'll make sure you get on track & squared away before you head down to training.

[CadetProgramGuy]

Good for you!!

Remember Boot Camo is nothing but mind games......

[RogueLeader]

Congrats & welcome!    Another victim, woohahahaha [/evil laugh] 

Your going to drive a backhoe? it's not blowing stuff up, but okay.

I'm gone in a couple hours for DC, but PM me & I'll get back to you Monday. I'll make sure you get on track & squared away before you head down to training.

It's what my degree is good for, and what I want to do.
I will go in as an e-4, but can I wait to pin it on until I grad from basic?

Good for you!!

Remember Boot Camo is nothing but mind games......

Wilco.

[Psicorp]

Good luck to you (you're going to need it). 

Yeah, I would definately wait to pin on anything that would draw unnecessary attention to yourself until graduation.   

The local National Guard recruiters are pestering me to join up as an officer.  One recruiter wants me to go to Basic then OCS, the other wants me to accept a direct commission.   I can just imagine what would happen if the D.I. found out at Basic that I was an officer candidate *shudder*.

[davedove]

I will go in as an e-4, but can I wait to pin it on until I grad from basic?

Yeah, I would definately wait to pin on anything that would draw unnecessary attention to yourself until graduation. 

Avoid pinning it on if you can.  However, if someone finds out you have the rank, they will make you put it on and may chew you out for not having it on already.

Of course, there may be several there who already have rank, so you would not be out of place.

[cnitas]

When I went to basic (1997) it was common for people to have some kind of advanced rank.  They made us wear our rank, and it was a 'problem' if they found you out of uniform (missing rank).

Just make sure that they are paying you at the correct rate.  I was getting paid as E-1 when I enlisted as E-2.  I spent 6 months trying to get that sorted out, but did get a nice big check for the difference eventually.

[RogueLeader]

Just got back from the recruiter, and he said that I had to pin it on.

[Trung Si Ma]

Just got back from the recruiter, and he said that I had to pin it on.

Actually, SPC Seng, with the ACUs you will be sticking it on!

Congrats Aaron, keep me informed of when graduation is and I'll try and come up.

Don

[MIKE]

Still have to pin or sew onto the PC/boonie.

[RogueLeader]

Just got back from the recruiter, and he said that I had to pin it on.

Actually, SPC Seng, with the ACUs you will be sticking it on!

Congrats Aaron, keep me informed of when graduation is and I'll try and come up.

Don

Ship 25 June,  start BT 3 July.  Anticipated graduation from BT is 4 Sept 08 at Ft. Sill.  AIT to start 8 Sept.

[mherrettLtCol]

Congratulations on finally being able to join the Army.  I had a similar problem and had to have a full Colonel at the Pentagon ( I lived in Northern Virginia at the time) sign me off for enlistment.  I too had eye problems, still do.

As far as pinning your E-4 rank on, I came in as an E-3 and was told upon arrival at my training Battery at Ft. Sill, OK to sew on my rank.  The Drill Sgts told me that if I am a PFC that I am to wear the rank of a PFC.  That made me the highest ranking basic trainee in the unit.  I personally felt out of place and would have preferred to put it on after graduation.   

[bosshawk]

Your timing is exquisite: Basic at Ft Leonard Wood in the summer!!!!!!.  You will have experiences to tell, after you survive it.

Congratulations on your perserverance: it usually pays off.  Hope that the Army is all that you want it to be.

[Cecil DP]

Good luck to you (you're going to need it). 

Yeah, I would definately wait to pin on anything that would draw unnecessary attention to yourself until graduation.   

The local National Guard recruiters are pestering me to join up as an officer.  One recruiter wants me to go to Basic then OCS, the other wants me to accept a direct commission.   I can just imagine what would happen if the D.I. found out at Basic that I was an officer candidate *shudder*.

I believe that if you took the Officer option you would have to revisit the whole physical waiver again. Officers may in some MOS's have a different criteria for waivers than enlisted.
Also as an E-4 more will be expected of you in boot camp. Good thing is if you're on a detail you can supervise the other privates. They may tell you SPC means specialist, but when all is said and done it really means Senior Private First Class.
Good Luck

[Trung Si Ma]

Ship 25 June,  start BT 3 July.  Anticipated graduation from BT is 4 Sept 08 at Ft. Sill.  AIT to start 8 Sept.

I've added it to the calendar - I should be back from Korea by then

[davedove]

AIT to start 8 Sept.

Advanced grade in basic can be a pain, but it's kind of nice in AIT.

When I went in, you only got to start as an E-3, even with a degree, but you could get your E-4 after four months, which I did.  It's kind of fun to be walking around AIT and have all the fresh out of basic privates rendering their greetings to you.

"Good morning, specialist."

[Duke Dillio]

I remember summer basic at Ft. Sill.  Doin PT down the road, jumping over the armadillos running across the road.  Ah, fun times.

As for your MOS, you might want to reconsider if you are planning on advancing past E-4.  You have a better chance of promotion if you can change your MOS now.  Just my opinion on the matter.  Of course, I am partial to 13F myself, having gone to basic and AIT at Sill for that.  Great job.  Lots of stuff to blow up.  Lots of options.  Easy promotions.  A great time it was.

[Trung Si Ma]

Of course, I am partial to 13F myself,

Ah, the Army's most perfect MOS - 13 is an unlucky number and "F" is the first the letter of field, felon, and f***ed!!!!

Ex-13F4VX3Q6

[Duke Dillio]

And we all know what FO stands for......

Forward Observer......NOT

Good luck to you there SPC Seng.  Good times to be had in the Army.

Hey Trung, you ever play at the CAS range near Osan?

[Trung Si Ma]

When I was in 2ID, we still had the camps across the river.  I was the 3rd Bde FSNCO and did everything up there.  Was even there when B 1-4 FA tried to take out Freedom Bridge - twice.

After I retired, I went to the BCD at Osan as their ABCS System Administrator (Oct 97 - Jan 00) and have been back for all but one of the UFL's since.

God, I hate that place.