Identity crisis?

[floridacyclist]

Just doing some research for my 18yo who is at the MEPS and unable to access a computer....are all of our potential recruits this confused?

https://forums.goarmy.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1044&tstart=0

[mikeylikey]

So.....he wants to be in combat and not go to the middle east?  Great!  I don't think anyone wants to be in any type of combative situation.  I would seriously check the motives for this person joining the Army.  He is the guy who will most likely blow up the Officers Chow tent, and shoot his NCO leadership in a "friendly fire" accident. 

YES....YES......I am referring to the poster on the Army forum, not Floridacyclist's Son.

[Stonewall]

I've type and erased 6 times because I just don't know what to say.

I think, what he wants, is the glamour of being a war hero but not wanting to risk getting hurt.  Almost like a PX Ranger.  No?

[O-Rex]

Let's keep things in perspective: the kid's 18 years old, we have Cadets that are that age.

When you're 18, you think you'll live forever, and worst-case scenario, that body appendages grow back.  You also think that war comes complete with background music, and that somewhere, babes are watching your heroics in awe.

Many will attest to the fact that reality is somewhat different, but try telling that to an 18 year-old.

Being in the military has appeal on many different levels, but the basic premise is doing what others want to do, in places they wouldn't want to go. 

I would tell any kid to go into it with that in mind: have fun, enjoy, but always remember why you are there, and what the potential risks are.

[Flying Pig]

Wow...Thats scary. 
But someone can tell the kid that being in the Infantry has nothing to do with him eventually getting on a police SWAT team.

[floridacyclist]

You have to read the last post on the page to put it all in perspective

Flynn08  

Posts: 26
From: Indianapolis
Registered: 1/22/07

Re: I want to be in combat, but I don't want to patrol in the middle east.
Posted: May 3, 2007 10:15 AM    in response to: Flynn08

for everyone that posted on these, I thank you. You helped me grow up and realize what I want to do. I was a girl, and needed to grow up, now I understand what it's all about. I'm doing MP during my first enlistment (reserves). Then my reclass is going to be Officer in Infantry. But if anyone can help me get some things straight about Infantry, that'd be great.

Apparently she doesn't want to patrol, but she wants to be an infantry officer?

[ddelaney103]

No, I think she's been hearing a lot about how the war is going and what may or may not be accomplished and is wondering what the war will demand of her and will it be worthwhile.

I think a lot of people (myself included) have that push/pull about combat - that desire to prove to yourself and to others that you can do it vs. the knowledge that you may be rolling the dice with your health, sanity, even your life.  This is something that was happening way before The Red Badge of Courage.

Add to that the average recruit probably has no one to ask about the military or warfare and you can end up pretty confused.

Remember this kid has had no training or indoc, do it's a little early to write her off as a potential whack job.

[mikeylikey]

I've type and erased 6 times because I just don't know what to say.

I think, what he wants, is the glamour of being a war hero but not wanting to risk getting hurt.  Almost like a PX Ranger.  No?

Ahh...yes!  Spotlight ON!

[mikeylikey]

You have to read the last post on the page to put it all in perspective

Flynn08  

Posts: 26
From: Indianapolis
Registered: 1/22/07

Re: I want to be in combat, but I don't want to patrol in the middle east.
Posted: May 3, 2007 10:15 AM    in response to: Flynn08

for everyone that posted on these, I thank you. You helped me grow up and realize what I want to do. I was a girl, and needed to grow up, now I understand what it's all about. I'm doing MP during my first enlistment (reserves). Then my reclass is going to be Officer in Infantry. But if anyone can help me get some things straight about Infantry, that'd be great.

Apparently she doesn't want to patrol, but she wants to be an infantry officer?

CRAP......More attention to detail on my part.  Sorry! 

As far as combat, she can always go Field Artillery.  Not so much Infantry.

[PHall]

You have to read the last post on the page to put it all in perspective

Flynn08  

Posts: 26
From: Indianapolis
Registered: 1/22/07

Re: I want to be in combat, but I don't want to patrol in the middle east.
Posted: May 3, 2007 10:15 AM    in response to: Flynn08

for everyone that posted on these, I thank you. You helped me grow up and realize what I want to do. I was a girl, and needed to grow up, now I understand what it's all about. I'm doing MP during my first enlistment (reserves). Then my reclass is going to be Officer in Infantry. But if anyone can help me get some things straight about Infantry, that'd be great.

Apparently she doesn't want to patrol, but she wants to be an infantry officer?

CRAP......More attention to detail on my part.  Sorry! 

As far as combat, she can always go Field Artillery.  Not so much Infantry.

She can't go Field Artillery or Armor either. No women allowed in Combat Arms.
But if she goes MP she might as well be in Combat Arms. They're on the street where the IEDs are!

[Stonewall]

Yeah, I stupidly assumed it was a male.  Heck, she needs to stay MP, officer or enlisted, if she wants combat.  Seeing that there was a Silver Star awarded to a female MP NCO in Iraq, I'd say they see as much combat as any Infantry guy out there.

[floridacyclist]

Incidentally, C/MSgt Stefan Floyd was sworn in tonight at the Jacksonville MEPS as a Food Services Specialist. I asked him what happened to his dream of being a Combat Medic and he said that they could not get him in and out of AIT in time for our bike ride in May..which he has volunteered to pay for out of his enlistment bonus. He did say that he would consider cross-training after his first enlistment and I would have protested harder except that I know how much he has always enjoyed cooking. Pardon me while I have a good bawl down a few shots at the thought of my babies growing up.

[Stonewall]

Incidentally, C/MSgt Stefan Floyd was sworn in tonight at the Jacksonville MEPS as a Food Services Specialist.

Wow!  Just, wow!  First, I will admit that I offer all respect to each and every MOS, from cook to wrench turner.  But no, you would never find me slinging chow, regardless of bonus.  Usually, you find young motivated CAP cadets who go into the military doing more exciting things.  I'm guessing food service can be exciting, and of course, if he has the goal of being a Chef one day, I suppose it could help, but not so sure how much it can help being a reservist.

I wish I could stand right there with every enlistee when they say "that MOS isn't available" and all the other excuses they use to get people to sign the dotted line for jobs they will regret signing up for.

I had an E-6 Infantry Squad Leader in my ARNG company that got so fed up with the battalion's mess section that he left his rifle to be in charge of the spoons at the battalion level.  Those guys were known as the least motivated folks in the battalion.  A year or two later he turned them around to win some Army wide cooking competition.

Good luck to your son, but as I've always said about MOS's like that, I'm glad someone else is doing it so I don't have to.

[floridacyclist]

Oh he's motivated alright...you can see several pics of him under http://photos.tallahasseecap.org - Personal Galleries - Captain Floyd - Mississippi.

He was also the comm officer for this past year's wing encampment and the upcoming region encampment.

It will help him in the sense that he found out after he had signed up for NGYCP that the Marines do not accept their diplomas without 15 college credits or if he's prior service; even if he does not go that route, he does enjoy cooking as do all my boys...I taught them from an early age to not rely on women to take care of them. Time will tell.

He has an overwhelming sense of duty and will simply do whatever it takes to git 'r dun. I think he will do just fine in whatever career he chooses.

[AlphaSigOU]

From one ex-Air Force cook to a future Army cook... DEATH FROM WITHIN!!!!! 

[mikeylikey]

You have to read the last post on the page to put it all in perspective

Flynn08  

Posts: 26
From: Indianapolis
Registered: 1/22/07

Re: I want to be in combat, but I don't want to patrol in the middle east.
Posted: May 3, 2007 10:15 AM    in response to: Flynn08

for everyone that posted on these, I thank you. You helped me grow up and realize what I want to do. I was a girl, and needed to grow up, now I understand what it's all about. I'm doing MP during my first enlistment (reserves). Then my reclass is going to be Officer in Infantry. But if anyone can help me get some things straight about Infantry, that'd be great.

Apparently she doesn't want to patrol, but she wants to be an infantry officer?

CRAP......More attention to detail on my part.  Sorry! 

As far as combat, she can always go Field Artillery.  Not so much Infantry.

She can't go Field Artillery or Armor either. No women allowed in Combat Arms.
But if she goes MP she might as well be in Combat Arms. They're on the street where the IEDs are!

Ummmm......INCORECET.  She absolutely can go FA, I had female officers in almost every unit I have been assigned to since 2002.  In fact my OBC was the first class to allow females in.  Granted they usually would go to a Training Battalion after OBC to work, but they are still branched FA.

[floridacyclist]

LOLOL

We just talked to his new 1st Sgt...he said that there shouldn't be a problem with Stefan attending his first 4 months of drill at other units as we work our way across the country on our bike ride. This could work out very well especially since he plans to go active-duty after the ride anyway, possibly in a different branch.

Even if he does stay in Food Services, he's already talking about how this can lead to him being certified as a Sous Chef, which was one of his goals before he started thinking about the military. I think there is a difference between those who look at it as being a cook or a spoon vs those who refer to it as a "cullinary specialist"....it's like the difference between cooking at McDonald's vs Chez Pierre.

Interestingly, my 17yo stepson Tony has a goal of wanting to be a chef and own his own restaurant. I've suggested that he join the military (either Navy or Air Force since most of their dining is in large centralized chowhalls) for some excellent training and hands-on experience on how to run a large dining facility plus funding for his Cullinary Arts degree afterward. I think he's going to be watching Stefan very closely while he considers this.

No wonder I wear BBDUs.

[Fifinella]

"She" is a HE: first name Nathan.  He was using the phrase "just a girl" pejoratively.  Grrrr.

[floridacyclist]

Now I have to go look up this Pejo-whatever word. Can't folks just say what they mean and vice-versa? Not referring to you Judy, but this he-she-he character.

I told you there was an identity crisis in progress here!

[star1151]

The oddest thing I saw about that post was that he assumed he'd have a patrol position in the first place.  My brother wasn't allowed off base when he deployed.  Granted, he's not an infantry officer, but really, I don't think MOST people in the military are running around on patrol.