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Finish the story:<div><br></div><div>"When I first enlisted, I expected.... "</div><div><br></div><div>"And this is what I found out."</div><div><br></div><div>How hard was your basic training, for those who originally enlisted back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth (Just a joke). You could also share your progress, obstacles you came across and how to overcame them. By sharing your story, you would be surprised at how many new soldiers you would be helping. </div>
Army
Navy
Air Force
Marine Corps
Coast Guard
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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I expected to have joined "The Army".
My first duty station told me: "This is not the real Army, wait 'til you go to Germany."
I arrived to Germany, my NCOIC told me: "This is not the real Army, this is the Cav."
I arrived to the 3d ACR: Everybody kept telling me that that was the Cav and not the real Army.
27 years later, I retired and didn't find the Army.
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SPC(P) Delcina Myers
Lmao. Sorry to hear of your misfortune, MSG. But at least you got to see some different soil :). Thank you for your service.
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MSG Jose Colon
<p>It really wasn't misfortune because I wouldn't trade it for the world. I'm glad you like the Army. The Army, just like every other endeavor, is defined by you and your attitude. Everywhere you go, if you think that it is the worst place on Earth, you are right, it will be. If, on the other hand, you think that is the best place or thing that can ever happen to you, you will succeed.</p><p> </p><p>I always say that whether you like it or hate it, you still have to be there, so might as well have fun, and do the best job you possibly can.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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MCPO (Join to see)
Every damned unit I served with in both the Army AND the Coast Guard, told me that "This isn't the REAL XXX! You have to be assigned to YYY to experience that!"
Your post made me laugh!! That's a TOTAL "no shitter"!!
Your post made me laugh!! That's a TOTAL "no shitter"!!
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For me, when i first enlisted I expected what I saw in movies. Went to basic training, and I found out that movies tell lies... But I found something I was good at, so I stuck with it.
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Specialist Gasho, when I first enlisted I expected to breeze through Bootcamp, Electronics School, Nuclear Power School, and report to my first ship, a Boomer, as a qualified Nuclear Power Reactor Operator and at least an E-5 within 2 years. (LOL - that was what my recruiter told me.)
What I found out was that everything was a hell of a lot of work! Nothing was as hard as Navy Boot Camp as far as I was concerned. I was used to working for 8 to 10 hours a day including going to college and studying, but this was real work and included PT, Swimming, Marching, Cleaning the Barracks, and putting a FULL 12 to 16 hours plus watches and school. There was NEVER enough time to get it all done and sleep was a luxury, what little we got. Sure Taps went at 2200, but Reveille came at 0-Dark hundred (0500).
After Bootcamp, ET School, one year of learning everything from Basic Electricity and Electronics to Complex Communications and Radar Systems. Then I was supposed to go to Nuc School, but it was backed up, so off to the Fleet for a year to await school. My first ship was a WWII Attack Troop Transport, USS Cambria (APA-36), with a top speed of around 8 knots and she carried Marines and boats to take them to the Beaches. A far cry from the sleek Submarine I was promised. I learned a new term, "Needs of the Navy." I also discovered that being at sea was fun and that seeing the world was even greater. All kinds of ports in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, most of which I had never even heard of before. I really hated to leave that old ship.
Then it was off to Nuc School at last! When I got there all of us were tested and I scored in the group that was considered to be advanced. I was in the 7th or 8 classes and our top 2 classes were only assigned our regular classes from 0800 to 1600 M-F plus since we were smart, only an additional 40 hours of mandatory study a week! The lower classes had additional Mandatory Study assigned. It took 6 weeks, but I got out of there and reassigned back to the fleet. While waiting for my ship assignment I was assigned to work at Submarine Base, New London. There as an E-4 I was put in charge of running Hull Penetrations; I ran cables through the pressure hull and made sure that they were done safely.
After New London I wound up in Guam at a Radio Transmitter Station, still and E-4 and with almost 3 years in the Navy. I kept hoping to run into that recruiter, but he never showed up. I did get promoted to Second Class on Guam and was actually getting really good at my job when it was time for a transfer. I still had 2 years left on my initial obligation so decided to go back to Great Lakes after reenlisting for Advance Electronics School (AS Equivalent).
This endeth the story of my initial enlistment. For some reason, I kept reenlisting after that and finished a 30 year career in the Navy. Guess I was having to much fun to get out, although I cam close at the 10 years point. BUT that is another story.
What I found out was that everything was a hell of a lot of work! Nothing was as hard as Navy Boot Camp as far as I was concerned. I was used to working for 8 to 10 hours a day including going to college and studying, but this was real work and included PT, Swimming, Marching, Cleaning the Barracks, and putting a FULL 12 to 16 hours plus watches and school. There was NEVER enough time to get it all done and sleep was a luxury, what little we got. Sure Taps went at 2200, but Reveille came at 0-Dark hundred (0500).
After Bootcamp, ET School, one year of learning everything from Basic Electricity and Electronics to Complex Communications and Radar Systems. Then I was supposed to go to Nuc School, but it was backed up, so off to the Fleet for a year to await school. My first ship was a WWII Attack Troop Transport, USS Cambria (APA-36), with a top speed of around 8 knots and she carried Marines and boats to take them to the Beaches. A far cry from the sleek Submarine I was promised. I learned a new term, "Needs of the Navy." I also discovered that being at sea was fun and that seeing the world was even greater. All kinds of ports in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, most of which I had never even heard of before. I really hated to leave that old ship.
Then it was off to Nuc School at last! When I got there all of us were tested and I scored in the group that was considered to be advanced. I was in the 7th or 8 classes and our top 2 classes were only assigned our regular classes from 0800 to 1600 M-F plus since we were smart, only an additional 40 hours of mandatory study a week! The lower classes had additional Mandatory Study assigned. It took 6 weeks, but I got out of there and reassigned back to the fleet. While waiting for my ship assignment I was assigned to work at Submarine Base, New London. There as an E-4 I was put in charge of running Hull Penetrations; I ran cables through the pressure hull and made sure that they were done safely.
After New London I wound up in Guam at a Radio Transmitter Station, still and E-4 and with almost 3 years in the Navy. I kept hoping to run into that recruiter, but he never showed up. I did get promoted to Second Class on Guam and was actually getting really good at my job when it was time for a transfer. I still had 2 years left on my initial obligation so decided to go back to Great Lakes after reenlisting for Advance Electronics School (AS Equivalent).
This endeth the story of my initial enlistment. For some reason, I kept reenlisting after that and finished a 30 year career in the Navy. Guess I was having to much fun to get out, although I cam close at the 10 years point. BUT that is another story.
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