Your Initial Enlistment

SPC(P) Delcina Myers — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 23:03:13 -0400

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>

Response by MSG Jose Colon made Mar 21 at 2014 11:09 PM

MSG Jose Colon — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 23:09:40 -0400

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.

Response by SPC Michael Hunt made Mar 22 at 2014 12:59 AM

SPC Michael Hunt — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 00:59:09 -0400

When I first enlisted, I expected three square meals a day. On day one we went through the chow line and I piled on the breakfast food for a king. About a minute after I sat down one of the DI's came up to me screamin' in my face, "YOU GOT ONE MINUTE TO CHOW DOWN"... lol Then he was all "WHAT YOU THINK THIS IS, BURGER KING, HAVE IT YOUR WAY!!!" Never will forget that... lmao

Response by SPC(P) Delcina Myers made Mar 22 at 2014 1:03 AM

SPC(P) Delcina Myers — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 01:03:44 -0400

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.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2014 7:48 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 19:48:54 -0400

When I first joined I wasn't really sure what to expect. I struggled whenI first came in because at almost 27 I'd been living by my rules for over 8 years and hated that I couldn't do as much of what I want when I want. Once I got settled in I found it was pretty good but I had to get what I wanted for myself. There were plenty of people around to help me when I asked for it but not a lot spoon feeding it me. THis is one of the things that hate seeing lots of people bitch about with the military. "No one there to help me, everyone is out for number one!" They are there you just need to go looking for them just like inthe real world, if you want the gold go get it for yourself don't expect someone to walk up to you and say "You look like a good person here is a prize"

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Jun 27 at 2014 12:47 AM

CMDCM Gene Treants — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 00:47:14 -0400

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.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2014 8:39 PM

MCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 20:39:54 -0400

"When I first enlisted, I expected.... " exactly what I got... at least when I went to Basic in the Army. My recruiter (mark your calendars for this one), was GREAT and told me everything I could expect. The heat of Georgia in the summer kicked my butt, but it was cool.
"And this is what I found out." Everything he said after that was totally off. Nearly my entire Basic Training company went to Germany - and only three people came back at the same rank or higher. Everyone else got busted for smoking dope in the first big sweep they had in 1983.

"When I first enlisted, I expected.... " ALMOST exactly what I got from the Coast Guard. I did NOT expect the pressure and stress we went through. The physical stuff was a joke (as a recovering Infantryman), but the stress almost killed us all. Again, I had a GREAT Recruiter who prepped me for everything.

"And this is what I found out." Actually, this time it was good. When I was enlisting, the Recruiter said, "Okay, this is the final signature." I put the pen down and asked him to tell me everything bad about the Coast Guard and talk me out of enlisting. BMC Randy Fielding put his boots up on the desk and told me every horror story he'd seen in 25 years in the Coast Guard, and talked for about 15 minutes.

Slack-jawed, when he was done, I grabbed the pen and signed my life away. EVERYTHING he told me, I saw... and was prepared. It made for a great career.

Response by PO3 Shaun Taylor made Oct 7 at 2014 3:18 AM

PO3 Shaun Taylor — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 03:18:55 -0400

When I enlisted I expected boot camp to be scarier than it was. However, I was upset when I found out that I would be required to go to FMSS which was basically another boot camp. And what I found out was that I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would and ended up spending most of my career green side because of it.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2016 12:33 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 May 2016 00:33:27 -0400

SPC(P) Delcina Myers There were dinosaurs walking the earth when I started Boot Camp in June 1968. After three days of terror, I discovered that Boot Camp is all about listening and learning the lessons that were being force fed to us. I listened and did what I was told. By being ready to take in the information that was being provide to us, I did not have any major obstacles in Boot Camp, and yes, it was hard. In Vietnam, I lost some close friends that hit me hard. I also was unprepared for the hostility when I returned to the States. My initial four year enlistment was my only enlistment. My service provided me with discipline, and an "overcome all challenges attitude," This carried over to a successful civilian career.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made May 1 at 2016 10:46 AM

SrA Matthew Knight — Sun, 01 May 2016 10:46:50 -0400

When I first enlisted I expected to be joining the military, a professional organization of disciplined and well trained individuals dedicated to a military lifestyle regardless of their past or what job they would be getting.

What I found out was that it was basically the opposite. As an 18 year old I was more mature and took things far more seriously at the start than many of the people who were older than me. It was the mid to late 20 year olds that came off as the most entitled group feeling that because of their age they deserved more than anyone else despite have the same or less experience. Many couldn't leave their past behind and although I won't point fingers at any particular group some acted like they still lived in the hoods. Unsurprisingly they received the most negative attention. Overall I found out that the AF isn't what I expected it to be and any effort to bring that fact up is usually met with criticism. I hate to say it but as a result I have gotten to the point where I take it less seriously myself and see it more as just a uniformed corporation than a branch of the military.

Basic training wasn't overly difficult I would say. I came in back in 2012 right before they really started pushing changes to AF basic so we still only had one MTI assigned to our flight and he wasn't afraid to curse, yell, and make us push (which happened frequently with my flight). It was right after all of the MTI sexual assault cases started coming to light though and most from the squadron across the street none-the-less so we did have plenty of briefings on that and making sure we reported any TRUE misconduct. I struggled with PT to an extent but that was because I didn't really prepare ahead of time like I should have. I was in decent enough shape by the end of BMT though. Just tried my hardest to not get noticed and by the end I had accomplished that goal. My MTI knew my name but not for anything bad, it was just because two months with our flight had given him time to learn all of our names.

Obstacles that I faced were mainly fitness related. I had never really been a runner and grew up with both parents and a brother that smoked so I think second hand smoke has played a part negatively in my aerobic performance. Luckily I avoided smoking otherwise I probably would have never made it. I also didn't get my dad's large bones/muscle genes so I am a rather small person. I was 5/7" and not even 120lbs when I joined so I had some weight gain to do. Since then I have and I am what big blue would consider healthy now (although it doesn't really matter anymore). So yea, fitness for me has been the largest obstacle but I overcame it. Otherwise the only other real obstacle I have faced is staying motivated enough to keep pressing through my enlistment, in particular pressing through without losing my cool to people with more rank than me. My line wears thin every day but luckily the light is at the end of the tunnel with only about 1 year left on my enlistment.