Whats up, I'm Josh.

(hi josh)

Anyway, I just turned 17 on Christmas, and because of this, I will be able to fufill my dream that I've had since I was a youngin. Today I am giving the National Guard recruiter my ap. Most likely I'll be going to MEPs next wed. and thrus. Basic training will then follow, assuming I pass MEPs, this summer. I've always wanted to do Military, and in thepast couple years I decided on ARMY. Then recently I decided to get a head start and join National Guard. I'll be doing 11B and specializing with SAWs and 240B(?). The recruiter has already got the position that I'll fall in under, and put me under machinegunner, but I'm making him put this in writing and sign because its the best one outta the four he could've gave me. I know most of you don't know me personnaly, but I figured I'd share. I knw turbohcar(sp?) is also in the military, but didn't know the branch.

So thats my story. Wish me luck.

Good luck, stay safe!

I'm going to have to say good luck with getting what you want from the army (military.) Thats great that you want to be a machinegunner, but just because the recruiter puts it in handwriting, that doenst mean jack. Not trying to be a dick, but recruiters are not exactly high on the chain of command and it doesnt matter what he says, if somebody above him says you are going to be washing dishes at the mess hall and will never have the chance to even shoot a pistol, then thats whats going to happen. Either way good luck! I would love to join the military as Ive gorwn up in a military family, but I am color blind, flat footed, have back problems, arthritis, and worst of all was born with a heart murmer. I am glad to see that we have young folks that are willing to freely do their duty for the country that we live in.

Thats ok, ARMY is my thing. I don't want a job in the Air force, nothing agaisnt the because they are still fighting for the country, I'm more of an ARMY guy. What does it translate into? Cop maybe, or heck, even more years in the military. Also this is paying for my college where I can learn a skill, it will pay for a tech school. It's more for the experience that it is for my future. This is always something I've wanted to do. Also your comment about making tons of money: Although everyone would like to be rich, "Matthew [19:23-24] I swear to you, it is very difficult for the rich to enter Heaven’s domain. And again I tell you, it’s easier for a Camel to squeeze through a needle’s eye than for a wealthy person to get into God’s domain." (Yes I'm a religious person, and no I don't want this turning into a "But you have to "kill" people in the ARMY, are you prepared for that" thread.)

But thanks for the advice.

WOW. I wish you the best of luck, it's your life. But as an ARMY brat and the son of a Lt. Colonel, I have to say my piece. The ARMY is not well supported, here or overseas. My pops came back from Iraq needing to have arthroscopic surgery on his knee, and they made him pay for it. He was supposed to be gone for 90BOG (90 days boots-on-ground) and returned after 18+ months. Even as a well-ranked officer his living quarters were horrible, and he was allowed 3 phone call per week, which he often never got. Please understand that my opinions are not based wholly subjectively, that there are many hundreds of peoples' opinions reflected here.

I know there are some military people on here, and I respect the living hell out of them. I just personally feel there are far better ways to accomplish what you want to do. Please be prepared for what you're getting into.

Good luck, stay safe, Godspeed.

Actually, I'm not military related. However, I am looking into a career in local law enforcement. I'll be handing my application into the Livingston County Sheriff's Department tomorrow. I'm more the local type. Jumping out of planes and pretending I'm Private Pyle doesn't thrill me, but I've often thought about it. Good luck with your ventures though and be sure to bring back some stories to tell.

Got the wrong guy. Its the guy with the Invader Bodykitted Eclipse as his avatar.

I think you sent me some PM's before about parts or soemthing, so your name stuck in my head.

I realise they may screw me over in more ways than one, its the government...I kinda expect that, but I'm hoping that most of it works out. My friend is doing EXACTLY what I'm getting mysef into, and loves it.

So Spy, I guess my hat's off to you if you even show up at the track this year!!!

Sorry for the 'jack, I had to...

ouch!


and good luck kid, the military is pretty messy these days

Are you in the National Guard? Or the Military at all? Have you ever been?

My buddys are in, and love it, I've heard of a lot more people who enjoyed Military life than I have who hated it. But I'm not going ot argue, It's my choice, and Ill choose to defend my country.

dans been in the service.... he goes to rifle ranges and pulls out a handgun...

I'm not even going ot argue with you anymore, its pointless, my mind is made up.

Your right, screw the ARMY. I hope nobody joins the ARMY.

But then what? The guys who are in right now are forced to rotate in and out of Iraq, going back for two, three, four times because people like me decided not to do the ARMY. If me going to Iraq meens another guy gets to come home for three years and spend time with his family instead of comeing home for a couple months and having to go back...then I'd be glad to go and take his spot.


I realise Air Force people are treated like kings/queens. I realise they have the best food/housing/easiest training/etc. But I still want ot do ARMY, somebody has to.

Thanks for wishing me luck though . I hope I have a good time. MEPS is Wed/Thurs.

Like I said, thanks for the good luck.

DSM5 - I'm not hating here. You've made your decision. I'll support you, and be glad for the sacrifice you're willing pay for guys like me.

but... just to clarify for you... the statement of yours in quotes is incorrect. Your going is giving anyone a break. My cousin, who's in the army, was there at the beggining of the war. He got back late this summer, august, for the first time, and is already being deployed back again.

before the war he was in afghanistan for about a year. had a couple months of break, then went to iraq...

no one's getting any real breaks that are grunts...

like i said, go and be happy going, but i wanted to point out that no grunts getting a break.

my cousin loves it... and my cousin is crazy.

Then why do people buy 2G DSMs?



I really can't think of the words to tell you. I realise im going to get screwed sometime...that's life. I realise everything you tell me, so why am I still doing it? I've been wanting to do this since I was a kid. My dad was an air force guy, g-pa was a SEAL, and my dads best friend just got his "crow" in NAVY. I want to serve my country. People say they love this country, I do too. But I want to protect my country also, and the way I want to do this is National Guard.

Your little acronym for ARMY...cute, but it meens nothing. I'm 17, and my dad, at first, had a hard time deciding if he wanted to sign the waver form. His words were, "If this was Air force, I'd sign in a heartbeat...but this is the ARMY, you guys are actually fighting the war." Air Force isn't doing much that they're going to get killed. So am I saying I want to go ARMY so that I can die...no, but obvoiusly more people are dieing in ARMY and Marines and so they need more. I don't want to do Marines btw.

I was put on this Earth to know Christ and to make him known. I know there are so many people who need to know Christ in the Armed forces, but how many people are taking the step to tell them about him, well besides my pastor? If I joined up, and brought just one person to Christ while in the ARMY...It would all be worth it. I have brought one of my friends to know Jesus, and that was the happiest day of my life.

Yes, I'm religious. No I'm not perfect. And No this is not a religious debate, so don't turn it into one. The second someone starts bashing my religioun, im out of here...and you guys seem cool, so I'm hoping it doesn't come to that.

Spy you are an intelligent man, I'll give you that. But do you think missionaries over in China who are getting killed every day are saying, "it's great here, you should come over!". Probobly not. Yet people still go, why? Because even people in China need to know Jesus. I'm joing to serve my country, to have a nice part-time job, and to show a little bit of Jesus to people who may not know him. If I get shipped out and die, I've still brought my old best friend(we've parted our ways, but hes still an awesome Christian) to Christ. And that day in Heaven when he walks over to me, shakes my hand, gives me a hug and says "Thank you", I'll know that my life was worth it.

lol. Gotcha. But if we had double as many people as we do now, don't you think he would've gotten to stay home longer?

Also, sry for the double post.

I'm not sure if that was supposed to be a joke or not. But I've been through this many times, and I will go through it again.

Thou shall not murder is the commandment.

Murder and Killing are two different things. When you murder someone it is "unjustified". When someone holds a gun to my head and I have one chance to kill him before he kills me, that is killing, not murder. Self-defense is not murder. Protecting yourself from others is not murder. When your in a war, you "have" to kill, and, in a way, it's allowed by the government. This makes it justified, in a way.

My parent's, and my old, (I go to a different church now) pastor just got Corporal in ARMY National Guard. I'm going to talk to him soon about this, but from my understanding this has always been the correct way to put it to other people.

Forgiveness being divine, I would think that even under life-threatening circumstances, you would turn the other cheek. Jesus forgave those that murdered him, and as such we should all follow his example. That is, if you're into details.

Alright guys, you've had your fun. This has gone on long enough already. We don't need to turn it into a philosophical or religious discussion.

Its his choice. We don't have to understand it and he doesn't have to explain it to us. Good luck, DSM5! We all appreciate those who serve to protect our country no matter what branch of the military they choose.