Re: The Reserves Nope. You won't even get close to that in the reserves when on drilling status. Don't join if you don't want to deploy. You'll just end up being another shitbag who bitches about everything. If you want the full experience of joining the Army and doing something worthwhile, don't half-ass it.
I'm going to be at Quantico for Marine OCS over the summer, and from what the OSO has told me, the boot socks we get issued are pure cotton. Given that there will be vigorous sweating and cotton is terrible with moisture, he recommended that I bring my own socks. Any recommendations other than Thorlos?
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.shoebuy.com/moisture-wicking-socks.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.shoebuy.com/moisture-wicking-socks.htm</a> Have you read "One Bullet Away" by Nathaniel Fick? He was the Marine officer from Generation Kill. The good one. Good chapters on OCS at Quantico.
Smartwool light hikers or REI merino wool light hiker socks. In my experience the Thorlos are too thick for summer usage. The smartwools come in gray and tan while the REIs come in green, so they shouldn't catch your instructors' eyes too much. They cost $17 and $10 respectively. In my opinion it's best to stay away from socks that utilize synthetic materials, YMMV obviously but I feel that wool is the way to go. Also if I may suggest, I'd start spraying your feet with Arrid Extra Dry, it's in the women's deodorant section most of the time. If you spray your feet down with the stuff once or twice a day after a month or two your feet will cease to sweat. I don't know the science behind it but apparently the aluminum chlorohydrate in it does something to your pores or some crap.
Air Force 1A4 Airborne Operations specialist(formerly Airborne Battle Management Systems) here. I just finished up tech school and SERE recently, and I can tell you I'm looking forward to finally becoming permanent party. AETC sucks.
I recommend Smartwool or Wigwam's alternative. The stuff is great, I don't recommend synthetics but some people like them. Hopefully you can bring your own, I know in the Army they can be very anal about having issue stuff and I'd be surprised if the Marines weren't the same but your OSO probably knows better than I. Can't hurt to try.
Hip Hip Hurray! http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/19/prime-minister-leader-of-al-qaeda-in-iraq-killed/
Wow, had no idea there was this many military members on this board. I'm currently an Air Force Reservist as a 3M051...yes, yes I am a cook..or services journeyman as I prefer to be called. I did 4 years active duty and went reserve. I miss the hell out of full time military and haven't adjusted as well as I thought I would to civilian life. I got out right before the economic downturn and have been in and out of work. Trying to go back active but no openings right now in my AFSC.
For any that don't know, this Sunday 25 April is ANZAC day. This is the national day that Australia and New Zealand commemorate the veterans and casualties of various conflicts around the world. The day is the anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli (in Turkey) of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) during World War One. If you know any Aussie or Kiwi servicemen, buy them a beer on Sunday and get them to show you how to play Two Up.
Anybody here know of a good website to get news about the different vehicle programs going on right now? I'm specifically looking for news about the JLTV program, even if it's just rumors and speculation about the different teams and designs. I'm part of a subcontractor working for one of the teams, and I am curious about whether anyone else thinks this particular vehicle is as bad as we think it is. We're doing the best we can on our part of the truck, but we can only make up for so much bad engineering. All I've been able to find on my own is mostly press releases from the different builders, which don't tell me anything I don't already know, and some articles about the designs/companies that have been eliminated. Thanks.
Re: The Reserves Honestly this is what I thought, except I was going to do ROTC and become an officer afterword. This was pre-9/11. I started school in Spring '02 and finished fall of '08. I did school for a total of 12 semester because I was pulled out of school halfway of 2 of them and missed more than a week of 5 more (anyone who can speak the jargon I'll explain in depth why). I also have 2 tours in Iraq and more than 3 years active duty total (1600+ promotion points). I'm not telling you this to brag. I'm trying to make a point that the ARMY COMES FIRST 100% of the time. The recruiters will try to tell you some BS about how your commander "could make an exemption" for your education, if you haven't deployed before you will not be one of these. Do not do the Reserves/Guard for the money, there is a reason they offer so much on paper. Had I not joined I would have begun Grad school/my career in summer '06 instead of now (I was called up in Feb '09 until last month). Look at the lost potential income between extra school and just taking out loans. Basically if you join, join to join and be a Soldier. You will not get one over on uncle same and every dime they give they earn a dollar from you)
So Im thinking of joining the Canadian NAVY. I put alot of thought into the Forces when I graduated highschool, even talked to a recruiter and got the first few steps done to join (criminal record check, fingerprints etc). Ive got a few family members in the NAVY as well, but they have been in it from anywhere between 10 and 30 years depending on who, so there pretty out of touch on what a new recruit goes through. Im not in the best shape a guy could be in (6'3", 285lbs) but Im a hard worker and Im not a quitter. Ive also played football for the past 7 years (in total 11 seasons), before that hockey and before that soccer, so Im not unaccustomed to being physicially active. The recruiter said this wouldnt be a problem,and that the Forces would work with me to get me in better shape for basic, while in basic. Im just wondering if anyone had any experience with this, and could offer any tips.
Enlisted on the board, what has been your experience with prior-enlisted-officers/"mustangs"? How do they compare to a new-to-service officer? Officers on the board, what has been your experience with prior-enlisted officers/"mustangs"? How do they compare to a new-to-service officer? I'm looking at different options and would appreciate a bit of perspective from those actually serving.
I've only had one and he turned out to be an average officer. Guy had been an E-4 when he went to OCS, overall I'd say he had better knowledge of the platoon's capabilities than most O's I've met. Leadership capability was average though. My best experience has been with pointers, they're arrogant and tend to micromanage but those guys led from the front and were damn good PL's.
Anyone have the discussion about knives that used to be on the old board? The way back machine can't help because it was on a private section of the board. I was having a discussion regarding quality knives and there was some good recommendations. If not, can anyone recommend quality knives?
Chris Reeve Sebenza. You will never need another folding knife for the rest of your life... Unless you lose it.
I worked with a lot of Warrant Officers in the Navy, and they were always very good. Technically proficient and always willing to go to bat for their guys. But the best officers (and the worst, as well) come from the Academy.
I was wondering if anyone has experience with Emerson knives? I know that Chris Reeve knives are top notch but have also heard a lot of good things about Emerson.
Some of the best officers I've worked for have been Mustangs. They understand how it is to be the lowest guy on the totem pole and realize that just because it looks good on paper, it doesn't always translate well into the workcenter. I would much rather work for a Mustang or Warrant Officer than a ring tapper, just because they can relate to you much better.
Asking which is better is between an OCS/ROTC/Academy grad is a loaded question In my opinion there is really no way to say that one way better prepares someone to lead then others. They all have there pluses and minus. OCS- There is a big difference btween the E-4 who earns the butter bar and the E-6 who also goes through OCS to be honest the higher enlisted often have trouble being on O-1 as they often just keep being an E-6 who gets paid more. There is a difference between the jobs that NCO's and officers have to do. There are two different types of lower enlisted who become officers, those who sucked as an enlisted person but were smart enough to complete college they typically have a bit of a chip on their shoulder. The other high speed E-4 who knows and respects a good NCO but has been through the trenches is my opinion of the best officer. ROTC- Have great social skills for the most part and can deal with things in a different manner as they were a civilian until they graduated at 22 from college. Can think "out side the box", but they are not the best at using their NCO's to the best of there ability and takes a year or so to come into there own outside the TRADOC army and college. Academy- These guys and gals have been high speed foot on the gas since high school. It's not easy to get into one of the academy's. They know what they are doing but to the common solider they can come off as standoffish. Don't cross them these people are mostly the career solider and are always looking at the next higher rank. Two little sub-sections that often even those in the military people don't know about.... Senior Military College (VMI,Citadel,Norwich,Texas A&M)- These ones also wear those huge fucking rings but went to a private military college. VMI & Citadel are all military Norwich & Texas A&M have civilian students that also attended there campus. They blend what I think is the best Attributes of ROTC & Academy grads. They also have far far far far lower standards of attending so you can get some pretty dumb people who just coasted through into that active army. Jr. Military College (Valley Forge, some place in Texas)- STAY AWAY FROM THESE PEOPLE basically these places are Jr. College 2 year places that give them there butter bar after only 2 years. Have never ever seen or met or heard of one of these people being good at anything little let alone led a group of men and women. Maybe others on this bored have had a better experience....