Enlisted as an army medic today.....

[Major Robert Dump]

In September I made the sober, conscious decision to re-enlist in the armed forces despite being 32 and colorblind. Not much has changed since then, aside from being in a relationship with an incredible woman who, incidentally, is one of the few people who support my decision.

Initially I wanted the Marines because they are, well, the best. After having my age waiver declined twice despite having passing PT scores, my routine annual eye exam revealed I had minor stigmatism in my left eye, at which point my recruiter informed me that I didn't have a chance in hell at a third waiver attempt, he patted me on the back, and told me to try the Army. So I did.

Unfortunately as a handicapped person (dudes, i mean i'm really colorblind, only got 2 correct on the page color test, and scored 3/27 on the falant) my options are severely limited job wise despite having a recent ASVAB score of 93. The only options that would realistically get me in the field were radio operator (been there done that) and medic. And neither one of those happened to be in demand for the Army. In fact, there was a waiting list for medics because the Army is running 150% in that field if you include trainees. And while 68W apparently has an AT fail/doubletap/reassignment rate of sometimes in the 30 percentiles, I didn't want to roll the dice and end up a chaplains assistant, or administrative, or a laundry and linen specialist (could you imagine 6 years of that???). The Army recruiter I was dealing with was very honest and forthcoming, unlike the first one I spoke to, and he was really pushing for me to go paralegal or administrative. If I didn't get a positive result from the waiting list for my top tier choices, I would just be given something. Well, sorry, I'm too old for that and I did it once already.

So I went to the Oklahoma National Guard in November. Why? Because reserves pretty much guarantee your MOS choice since they recruit on a per need basis. In fact, everything that I signed regarding my MOS and ship date was signed in the recruiters office, prior to MEPS, as opposed to the Army where you deal with all of that under pressure with the MEPS liason after processing.

The way I see it, I'll get my training done, then do a lateral transfer to regular Army. I won't lose any auxillary benefits because I'm not getting any from the guard worth mentioning, aside froma waterd down version of the GI BILL I don't even plan on using.

Unfortunately, after my successful health screening today, I had 2 choices of ship dates: September 19 and April 10. No way in hell I could make April 10. I have financial obligations, family obligations, could stand to be in slightly better shape, got a girlfriend I'm about to set up house with, and most importantly, this process hasn't exactly been expedient so pardon the hell out of me for not being ready to jump in feet first after waiting for my Guard waiver for 3 1/2 months, then finding out when the waiver was approved I had only 5 business days to get to MEPS. I'm not some little terd who lives with mommy.

The good news is I will drill with an RSP unit for the next 6 months to acclemate me back into military life and get me ready for bootcamp. Yes, I requested bootcamp. After being out of the service for 10 years, they were happy to oblige. I am, however, being bumped down to E-3 until successful completion of AIT. At this point the worst that could happen is that they run a shortage of 31Cs (or whatever that mos changed to) and decide to shove me back in that specialty. Highly unlikely, and still better than taking the general open option with the army

Fort Leonardwood then Sam Houston, and the best news is that my girl is gonna follow me to AIT.

Whoopeeeee, a 32 yr old repo-man-turned PFC

[Tribesman]

good luck

[Proletariat]

I did more or less the same thing in, but it was called 91W at the time. It may be more difficult than you think to go from the Guard to active, at least it was sort of a pain in the Reserves. Have to have a decent enough unit admin who's willing to let you go.

AIT in Fort Sam was pretty fun, but only in hindsight. They placed alot of rules on us that most likely weren't there the first time you were in (no smoking, drinking, etc). You get let off post eventually and you can do whatever out there. That place was sort of contained bedlam, from what I remember. Hard core studying and exercising during the week, then crazed boozing/sleeping around on the weekends. Had a boyfriend while I was there, so no army orgies for me, but you'll see alot of it, I'd imagine. When do you leave for basic? When I got to Fort Sam it was around August, it really sucked running in that Texan humidity. Think I added two minutes to my two mile run, coming from Fort Jackson.

Anyway, good luck, you picked one of the cooler jobs in the Army, imo, and if you have any medical inclination afterwards, it brances off into many other specialty MOSs that have good civilian side prospects (x-ray tech, LPN, phys or occupation therapy, etc)

[Somebody Else]

Good on you.

Hmm, I'm right at the beginning of it all at the moment, just had my AOSB Briefing, got a Cat. 1, so assuming I get through Main Board, I'll be going to Sandhurst in a coupla years when I finish uni.

[Del Arroyo]

Well, you won't be the oldest guy in your basic. You'll get to tell plenty of stories of how it used to be, though-- if you want to. Good luck.

[Blodrast]

Good luck, MRD, both with this, and with the lady.

[CountArach]

Good luck MRD!

[Sjakihata]

Why do you wanna do this when you can make love to your women in the daytime and read Nietzsche in the evenings?

[Vladimir]

Why do you wanna do this when you can make love to your women in the daytime and read Nietzsche in the evenings?

He explained this before and the reasoning is beyond you.

[Lemur]

Congratulations, MRD, and good luck!

[Devastatin Dave]

Don't forget to PM me with the digital pics you take of the sedated chicks you're examining. I prefer the unyeasted ones please.

[Bijo]

Good luck. Very cool. You'll be alright :)

I myself am applying for the army here in Holland, but first I need to get this damn college done.

[Samurai Waki]

I was going to join the Army as a medic, the mos then was 97k. Passed my MEPS and ASVAB with flying colors. Then they had the guts to tell me I couldn't be either a medic, nor could I be Airborne. But they needed Mechanics *bleh* or Mechanized Infantry *Even more bleh* so I walked out the door. MEPS Officers, I have officially concluded are the retarded scum bags that Higher Command determines would not be suited in a Combat Situation.

[Kralizec]

Good luck!

[Adrian II]

Whoopeeeee, a 32 yr old repo-man-turned PFC

They may need you sooner than you think. Stay cool and make Major, Major. Then come back and tell us all about it.

[Major Robert Dump]

Wow, Tribey actually said something nice to me Thanks for the kind (and gross, dave) wishes.

Proleteriat it sounds like you are medical, don't think I'll be joining in any orgies though. But feel free to toss me any advice my way, since I have 6 months I'm going to go get into some EMT and anatomy classes at OU over the summer. Looks like I'll be at Ft Houston just before Xmas break so if I get to partake in the exodus for holiday my AT will morelss last 18 weeks not 16.

I think xferring from Guard to regular is easier than reserves to regular because of the state issue. At the least I know its easy to xfer from one state guard to another state's as I have lots of friends who have done it recently. But what I don't know you can fit in Owen field. Either way, I doubt it will be hard to go active, as my assigned medical detachment will be in Iraq already when I finish AT, as well as a couple of NG infatnrys and a NG mountain back from afhgan and straight to iraq. I figure I'll get stuck in with one of those if I just ask.

All in all I'm very nervous. Promises, like the crap about getting my rank back after AT, don't mean squat to me, and honestly I'm worried about something gay happening during BCT like blowing a kneecap or my liver falling out during a march, but hey I'll take it as it comes, whatever. And if I get too stressed out at AT I know theres a bunch of Texas boys here at the org who will take me out for some beers and boar shooting if I need to get away from the orgies. Who knows, maybe I'll teach Redleg how to Noodle

[KukriKhan]

So, Fort "Lost in the Woods" in autumn, then? At least you won't be freezing your heinie off for Basic.

My son, the infantry PFC, reports a lot of "fold-ins"... guys who started out NG or USAR, folding in with Active Duty units once in-theater. I don't know the mechanics of how that works; probably a matter of swapping an NG enlistment contract for an AD one, but apparently it's not unusual anymore.

Best of luck, Soldier.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Good luck Bobby Dump. You'll do fine. You've been in before, so you know better than to believe promises that are not in writing. Getting medical training will be quite useful after you get out, and the practical experience you'll gain will be priceless.

A friend of mine from work, mid 40's now, joined the Army Reserve before the Iraqi Invasion II, to work toward a degree in nursing. He was deployed to Baqouba, Iraq in 2004 as a surgical nurse, think M*A*S*H. He got a life-time of practical experience during that 1 year deployment, and now has a 2nd career, one he loves, to pursue after Corrections. We kept him going by sending him care packages, chocolate & scotch. Stay crazy and keep that sense of humor.