fs;jsgljis Scared about leaving in January!

[nightsowindy]

ohhhhhhhh! I've got the worst butterflies from thinking about it! I'm leaving January 10th to go to Ft. Jackson for basic training in the army. Uggggghhhh! I'm so nervous, but I'm still looking forward to it! I just had to get that out of my system.

Incase any of you were wondering, I'm going to be an Intelligence Analyst. Ahhhhh!

(yay!!!)

 

[lorie d.]

NightSoWindy
It sounds very exciting!! How long will you have to go through training before you can work as an Intelligence Analyst?

 

[nightsowindy]

Thanks! I'm excited (tee hee):tounge2: Well, I have to go to boot camp for 2 months then straight to the intelligence training part of it for 4 months. That's AIT --- that's going to be the life. (well, so I hear from everyone who's gone and who hasn't lied to me--meaning non-recruiters)

Wake up early to work out, go to school from 9-5 on weekdays, have weekends off, cable tv (HBO and Cinemax!), carpet in every room, kitchen that two rooms share along with a shared bathroom, all new buildings, swimming pool, lot of stuff to do in free time. And the coolest thing is that we take all open book tests (cuz that's how it is in the field). But basic is a whole other thing - that's the place where the drill seargent will be like "drop and give m 50" if you have like a thread coming out of your uniform. Blah - I'm going to do everything I can to just blend in and not stick out (in a bad way - and in most cases, it's a bad way.)

 

[dawnt91]

Good luck, NightSoWindy! My husband was in the Army when we got married. We were engaged when he was in Basic Training, and it was (and still is) the hardest thing he'd ever done. But once it was over, he had a great feeling of accomplishment. I'm sure you'll do great!

 

[sunlion]

lol! It's true - basic is all about conformity! Be very average. Don't be too good at stuff, don't be too bad at it, just be nice and average. And remember that sometimes it's gonna be your turn to get jumped on.

I don't speak from experience, but both my grandads, my step dad, both my fathers-in-law (mom-in-law is remarried), 3 uncles and my step bro and 4 guys I dated before I got married, all served. So I've sure heard stories.

Did you enlist? You probably said somewhere and I missed it.

 

[mr. cat]

Best wishes to you, as you embark on what will be a big adventure: military service. So, you're going to be in the Army Intelligence Agency? I was in the U.S. Air Force Security Service, now called the Air Intelligence Agency, during the 1960s. I was a Radio Intercept Analysis Specialist, which is probably more or less the kind of work you'll be doing. The Army's "Military Occupational Specialty" was the Air Force's "Air Force Specialty Code," mine having been RI20250-1.

After Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, I stayed in the Lone Star State for Technical School at Goodfellow Air Force Base at San Angelo. Then it was off to Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands and Torii Station, an Army post, with the 6927th Security Group at the Joint Sobe Processing Center. After that tour, I went to Da Nang Air Base in the Republic of Viet Nam with the 6924th Security Squadron. I got my "early out" on April Fool's Day, 1969.

I hope you enjoy your work in the field of military intelligence. I'm sure your neighbors and relatives will wonder, when the Federal Bureau of Investigation comes around during the course of obtaining your Top Secret Crypto (as it was called way back when) security clearance! Good luck!

:tounge2:

=^..^=

 

[nightsowindy]

oh dawn - that makes me feel better. Matt and I are planning to get married on January 3, a week before I leave. You say that it was hard for you guys, but you made it --- that makes me feel good

Thanks for posting!

wow sunlion! the only people who were in the army was my grandfather in world war 2 - he was a first scout (scary!!)

Mr. Cat - so you were in the Vietnam War? That's one thing I'm looking forward to -- traveling (well, until I get sent to the mid-east with my luck

But for now I'm scheduled to go to Ft. Jackson, SC for basic, then to Ft. Huachuca, AZ for AIT and then back here to do the home recruiting thing for 30 days then I don't know where. I'll find out in basic though

Well, I'll be an Intelligence Analyst (96B) -- I'll be looking at radar, getting info from rangers, getting info from "spies" and all kinds of stuff to find out where the enemy is and where to deploy our troops and how exactly to "get" them. That's only if I am send to a situation that requires that. If I am not, most likely I will be a security manager (making sure people are okay to come on base, making appointments with higher-ups, etc). Either way I will be happy because 1) I will help america 2) I will actually be doing something with my life that I can be proud of

among a bunch of other reasons (like the $50,000 they're giving me for school! - woo hoo! Yay!

 

[sandie]

I am sure you will love it. I almost went into the AF reserves at one point, but decided I would get kicked out because I hate being told what to do.
Hubby and Grandfather on Dad's side are Navy people, Grandpa on Moms side, father in law are Army and my step son is in the AF. My step son just went through boot camp and is now in Ft Huachuca learning (sp?) moris code.
Right now I work for the Army and it seems to be fairly good. I work with 91T's, so I am only exposed to veterinary work and food inspectors. All units are different from what I have been told. We have a Major coming next week and even I have to be on my best behavior..LOL. If you have any ?'s, I would be willing to find out anything I can for ya.

 

[nightsowindy]

Sandie - your step son is in Ft. Huachuca?? That's where I'm going!! Do you know what his MOS is?

Wow - you've got a lot of military connections, too! Thanks for saying I can ask you questions, I just might later on

Well, I must be getting to bed now - I'm practically falling asleep as I type this.

 

[debby]

NightsoWindy, I will be thinking of you, and praying for you on January 10th, (actually I will be praying for you before that, but especially on that day)
What exactly is an intelligence analyst??

If you need to talk, ever, we are all here for you.

We love you, and you are doing something very admorable for your country.

 

[sandie]

LOL, yeah I just can't figure out how I ended up married to someone in the Navy!! Travis, my stepson is going to be a Crypto Tech. Which I guess in the Army it would be a 98H. After his school in Ft Huachuca he is off to Corrie Station for his actual school. After that he will get his permanent duty station. He said there are some really big Grasshoppers there that blend in with the dirt. He also said that the birds there are really stupid. I guess they have the heaters on in the barracks and it is unbearable. He also said that there are no sprinkler systems, so the grass is all dead. I guess to get around base, it's like $4.00 and off base is $7.00.
At any rate, I am sure you will have a great time and meet lots of new people.

 

[nightsowindy]

Debby - I pretty much figure out where the enemy is and how to destroy them . . . and I'm not even a violent person! sheesh . . .

Sandie - wow, sounds like he's in doing some important business -

I wish him luck!

I'm sure I'll have a good time when it comes down to it (after all the crap I have to go through at first - yikes!)

 

[debby]

Originally posted by NightSoWindy

Debby - I pretty much figure out where the enemy is and how to destroy them . . . and I'm not even a violent person! sheesh . . . :

Wow....sounds like we could really use you now, in looking for Bin Laden....:LOL:
Will you have access to a computer there, so you can check in with us and let us know how it is going? If not, maybe one of your family could fill us in from time to time. We will miss you.

 

[blue]

Originally posted by NightSoWindy
I pretty much figure out where the enemy is and how to destroy them . . .
and I'm not even a violent person! sheesh . . .

while you're out there thinking you're protecting your country whilst destroying the enemy
dont forget who you are fighting and why, why - tell me why.

wars are not fought to be won, they are fought to perpetuate a dangerous way of thinking,
like every capitalist idea that dances in the streets of America, brainwashed and dazzled by
the big words and those big people, they are all laughing in their dreams.

laughing in their dreams.

so you're job is strange and sad to me,
energy wasted on that familiar conciousness;
'an eye for an eye' 'a limb for a limb' 'a life for a life till there aint none of us left'

funny, not a 'violent person' ? then what ?

 

[debby]

Well, I have said it before and will say it again, we are all entitled to our own opinions, but not all of us feel the same way, I think what you are going to do is very commendable, NightSoWindy, as do many others.

 

[sandie]

I also commend you for doing something to better yourself and most important, to help to protect our freedom and our lives.

 

[imagyne]

NotSoWindy..

I'm pretty sure that my son will still be in Az when you get there, although it's possible that you just might miss him. If you get the chance when you get there look him up, Airman Travis Taylor. I also want to thank you for what you are about to do for your country, the sacrifices you are about to make, and the hardships you are about to endure. When it gets tough, just remember all those that have gone before, and made it.... You'll do fine. As for not being violent, well, not to worry, in 22 years, I have yet to meet anyone who was violent as part of thier nature, thankfully it is not a prerequisite for service to ones country.


Thank you...

Ken

 

[kittyfoot]

As the armed forces began integrating women into combat forces they found a few pockets of resistance. One such unit of recruits was being inspected by a crusty old sergeant. In the middle of the line was a tall statuesque red-head who would make anyones centerfold. The sergeant paced back and forth along the line and every time he passed the lady in question his face got more crimson. Finally he jerked to a halt in front of her and thundered... "This is a COMBAT troop..we fight..we hurt our enemy!!!!!" He pushed his face close to hers,his eyes shooting flame..."And what about you MISS..could you kill a man!!!!"he roared. Red eyed the sergeant cooly,then smiled and said.."Eventually."

 

[ghostuser]

Night.... Congratulations and I know you will do great.

I have been and always will be very proud of the young men and women that serve in our military.

In fact 2 of my sons have been in the service. The oldest son for just one tour of duty and the next son for 10 years. I also have a wonderful son-in-law that is a Major in the army and is making a career out of it. He is now stationed in Germany but has been in Kosovo and Gambia in just the last year.

So good luck and God Bless you!!!

Meme

 

[Anne]

Christina! Best of luck to you! and don't worry too much about basic training. If you take it all in the right spirit it's actually a lot of fun! I was scared when I went out to basic training and eneded up crying when it was all over and I had to say goodbye to all the wonderful friends I had made there.

Blue, I used to be a pacifict as a teenager. I used to say that nothing justifies joining in the military and put it off as long as I could. Military service is compulsory in Israel so after I graduated university I had to join anyway. As someone with academic education I was sent off directly to officers course (we did the basic training earlier, in between semesters). I dropped out as soon as I could (3 days), as I didn't want to be in the military in the first place, let alone an officer.

Then I was posted in the Planning Branch. The time was September 1993. What a shock! Everyone around me was doing one thing only - working on the peace agreements with the Palestinians! I never imagined I could get so close to actual real peace making! All around me were senior officers that were doing all they could to bring peace. My image of military people was totally wrong! These were the most peace seeking people you'd find anywhere. I remember having a talk with one of the senior colonels days after I arrives and telling him how surprised I was to see that. He explained to me that when you see first-hand how horrible war is you realize how good peace is and you seize any chance to get it. He said that was the reson was military people were more level headed and peace seeking then the average civilian.

My point is, you don't have to be blood thirsty or violent to be in the military. Quite the opposite is usually true. I'm not out here to justify every military act on this planet - far from it. I'm just saying that to defend your country you don't have to be a violent person.

Everyone has something they'd be willing to kill for. I believe you would to under some circumstances. I had a pacifict as a guide in my youth movement. I remember him telling us pretty much what you said or quoted in your post - that there's no point in fighting "eye for an eye". He used to say that he wouldn't fight for anything because nothing is worth killing another human being. Even if his property or his own life were taken. Later on he became a father and was totally crazy about his new baby boy. We then asked him if he wouldn't fight someone who came to hurt his baby. Well... guess what he said

I am definitely not a violent person, but if someone was to hurt my cats or my baby... By the same token, if someone threatens my existence here in Israel I can make the analogy and see why we have to fight them.

Is anyone still awake?

By the way, I enjoyed my military service so much, I signed up for more and I did go on to become an officer too

I don't regret a minute of it! I worked with wonderful people and learned a lot about the world and about myself.