For the record, officers are commissioned, they don't enlist. :) The easy answer is none. You have a 50/50 chance of being fucked for a long time. If you see combat. The friends I have that didn't kill themselves and have gotten over their substance abuse issues (nearly all of us abused drugs and alcohol for at least a year or two afterward) do feel more able to face the world. More important than strength discipline and character has been our adaptability and perspective. I may have nightmares about my friend trapped and burning alive in an MRAP hit by an EFP. But at least I know I'll never complain about a facebook friend not liking my status. Everything from here on out is going to be cake, and it's going to be fun because it's a zero-sum game compared to a deployment. This attitude pisses a lot of people off, though. People will measure and compare their life's tragedies to it because this belittles their struggles. Yeah, I know suffering, pain, tragedy are relative. Context, please. "but you signed up for it!" -fuck you But like iammyownrushmore's experience, less than half of the people I know have "gotten over it" so far. It's a different story for non-combat jobs. That said, nobody I know regrets it, and we all feel it had a positive impact on our lives. Wouldn't be hard to make an objective argument against that, though. Sorry for the shitpost.
I absolutely should add that I in no way speak for any people who have served, or their perspective, so that is totally valuable, and I would never rob anyone who has been through trauma as you or those you know have experienced of your voice to express that experience. I spoke from my perspective, but yours is the more important one, so if anything I said or projected is not your experience, and isn't accurate/helpful feel free to put me in my place. Not a shitpost at all, I should hope my friends never have to deal with regret on top of everything else, and I am sincerely glad you don't either, buddy.
No worries man. I understand and appreciate this post, although I don't think it's necessary. I know the average hubskier isn't the type to take the kind of posture you describe. Someone considering military service should absolutely begin with your perspective. I think much like an alcoholic talking about alcohol, a veteran isn't always the best person to ask about how the military affected them.
This is part of what I seek to gain from the army. A real fucking experience, let it shake me a little bit and give me perspective on what I should and shouldn't be whining about. I'm aware that what I'm saying may sound stupid but that's just the truth for me, it's what i want to do. Anyway I think we can be honest with ourselves and admit that it takes a few parts foolishness along with everything else to join the army. I know West Point graduates are commissioned officers, i just didn't want to complicate my comment here. From whom I've spoken to at the USMA, it seems like getting into something like comms and even artillery corps is a popular direction for cadets who want to avoid directly coming under fire or being in a Humvee. But I'm going to be even stupider again and say that if I'm going to join i'm going to join and, granted all my ignorance and lack of grasp on the magnitude of what that decisions means etc. etc., I want to be close to the action.
I guess I'll make this a reply to iammyownrushmore as well, I just don't want to be sterile for the rest of my life and die with baby fat so to speak. I want to get dirty and get my ass kicked and know that I passed the most difficult challenges I could impose on myself. I want to be the sort of role model for my kids wherein they can look up at me and see fortitude and stoicism. It seems like this'd be the way to go for that. Even if I come out broken, that's my price to pay.I may have nightmares about my friend trapped and burning alive in an MRAP hit by an EFP. But at least I know I'll never complain about a facebook friend not liking my status. Everything from here on out is going to be cake, and it's going to be fun because it's a zero-sum game compared to a deployment. This attitude pisses a lot of people off, though. People will measure and compare their life's tragedies to it because this belittles their struggles. Yeah, I know suffering, pain, tragedy are relative. Context, please. "but you signed up for it!" -fuck you
...you know that you can do this just by, you know, trying to be a good person on a daily basis? Tell you what. You try and be like thenewgreen and you'll come out just as good, if not better, than if you were to subject yourself to hell.I want to be the sort of role model for my kids wherein they can look up at me and see fortitude and stoicism.
Thank you for the kind words. There are no shortages of good dads on Hubski and I'm not sure any of them have seen active duty. -not trying to dissuade nowaypablo, but just sayin. As far as gaining perspective that will ground you and put things in proper perspective, there are any number of ways to do this that aren't military. Go volunteer for hospice. Done.
A) ButterflyEffect is right, you are definitely a role model for a great dad, take it from me for reasons I may have to write a book about at some point. B) You're right, but there is the foolish element of desire that makes my eyes widen at Fort Bragg but gag a little at the ER. It's what I'm going to defend somehow as I go about responding to the flurry of comments now. B2) I'm doing EMT training this summer anyway! :)
I almost went that route too. I don't know you and I don't know what you really want. All I'll say is there are a lot of options to earn scars in life and while I've never met a soldier I didn't like I also wonder about all the soldiers I'll never meet. Whatever you decide you're in my thoughts.
There are other things out there that can shake you up. I used to be a janitor at a condo complex and that really shook me up and made me appreciate life more. The grind of cleaning crap over and over again, not getting a raise no matter how hard you tried and the constant looks from people looking down upon you can really get to one and make you want to work really hard at your next job. It seemed like I would never get out but I did and I have been working at a medical billing office now for about a year and a half. I know being a janitor is not the same as being in the military but there are other things out there that can really give you perspective.
I like that you're covering your bases here white :D
If you're saying that because a) i'll lose my nuts b) i'll lose my life: Yeah, you're absolutely right. Otherwise I'm not sure what you mean.