Marinebroncoii
Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 8:37 am
What base are you on? How's life on The Rock?
Have you been up north to do the endurance course?
Have you been up north to do the endurance course?
Page 1 of 1
Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 10:15 am
I am on MCAS Futenma, haven't been up north at all, and life on the rock kinda sucks. I can't have a car or liscense and a guy always parks his muddy 4x4 right outside to tease me I think. Cab drivers rape you on fares, we have a midnight curfew and have to sign out and return with a "liberty buddy" when we leave base. They are more anal about every rule possible and like to bust people down in rank for stupid stuff. So all and all I get treated like I am 12.....er wait I bought my first truck at 12 so we'll have to say 11. I work night crew so it is hard to find anyone awake and home while I am home and aloud to go off base - between 5 am and 3 pm - to take with me so I sit around my room and work out and sleep alot. On the weekends that I have off and don't get called in or have duty section I try to go out to the beach and relax, would be nice to be able to talk to a girl from time to time but they all stare with a blank face cause they don't understand. Sorry if this sounds so self-pitying but I just got off work with a horrible headache at 1:30 am and need to get to bed, but if you couldn't tell I really don't like it here and just try to make the next 17 months goes by as quickly as possible.
Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 12:18 pm
How did you end up with a 3 year tour? How long have you been there now? How long is your enlistment?
I was on Futenma too. MASS-2. Damn air wingers anyway.
I was feeling like you the first few months. New to the Corps, new land, didn't know anyone, and the internet didn't exist! Not like today anyway. Your right, it does sound like self pity, but we all go through it. It really eats some guys up. Just remember it could be much worse.
Here's some advice.
Square yourself away. Don't try ironing your own chit. Have mamasan or the dry cleaners do it. It's far less work for you, and the creases last longer, and you look good. Took me a long long time to figure that one out.
Keep your hair high and tight. I have a picture with the Commandant and I look like a piece of shit with a low reg cut. I regret it to this day.
Keep your wall locker nice. Don't hesitate to buy a few extra things that are just for show. Sucks buying the stuff, but it will pay off. Do good on your field days. If you have a piece of shit roommate, kick his ass.
Now study up on your knowledge, and get yourself a meritorious promotion. Sure it's a game, but if for nothing else, do it for the pay raise. However I assure you it will be worth it. I missed Sgt by a couple months, another big regret. Get promoted, life will be better.
Now it's time to get off night shift....how long are you supposed to be on it?.....that promotion should help! The old rule is to never volunteer for anything. Well this is an exception.
A good way to mix up things is to take yourself out of the picture. Get yourself TAD somewhere. Volunteer for mess duty if you have to. At the very least this will get you around some new people. Maybe even a :gasp: woman or two! If all goes well, when you get back to your unit, you'll be on days!, and there will be a new shop bitch.
Take a college class or two. I took a couple classes of Japanese with the university of Maryland. At the very least work on some easy gen ed stuff, math or whatever. That will help you succeed after the Corps. AND again, gets you around some new people(chicks). The university of Maryland should offer classes on base.
Now we need to get you some wheels. What's up with not being able to drive? There's tons off base housing, so people have to be driving. If it's a rank thing now, see above...... get to know someone that lives off base!
Some of the guys in my shop pitched in on a van. We all piled in and went exploring the island. Highly recommended.
We did tons of snorkeling. There a beach somewhere around the sea wall that has a cave you can go in. Then climb up inside and cliff jump inside. Hell outside too! Which reminds me....my warrant officer there was a dive instructor. I wish I would have gotten certified with him, regret #3. Look into it....again gets you around other people.
If you can get wheels, theres a spillway up north that has never ending stairs down to a hidden beach on the pacific side. Down south are the suicide cliffs.
Go have lunch on Kadena. The airforce chow halls are sweet. They even clean your table for you! I don't remember if a bus went there or not.
Eat out in town when you can. There are some cool little places. Ohhh Ohhh, there is some market down south in Naha that was pretty cool.
Curfew....they implemented that after that rape in '95, just before I left. I can't believe they still have it. Shouldn't stop you from getting out though. What's with the buddy system? Not really a bad idea, but certianly inconvenient. Is it a rank thing?
Does the banana show still exist! It's disgusting, but it's one of those things you just have to see. It also has the highest concentration of good 'ol american college chicks in the audience. The last place you'd expect to find them!
Ask about that endurance course up north. I don't remember what it was actually called. You do everything from night land nav to repelling and fast roping. It's probably something your whole unit has to sign up for, but who knows.
Get off base. Get a couple friends together and take a taxi. Yeah it's expensive, but do what you have to.
Do they still play movies at the pool? That was always fun.
Anyway, there's more, but I'll have dust off some other brain cells. It's all what you make of it. A year was a long time for me. The first half dragged on, but the second half flew. Looking back 10 years, it's a blink of an eye, that seems like a different life. If you're doing 3, I hope you walk away with an education....transfer degree or something.
My advice is free. I hope you'll take it.
I was on Futenma too. MASS-2. Damn air wingers anyway.
I was feeling like you the first few months. New to the Corps, new land, didn't know anyone, and the internet didn't exist! Not like today anyway. Your right, it does sound like self pity, but we all go through it. It really eats some guys up. Just remember it could be much worse.
Here's some advice.
Square yourself away. Don't try ironing your own chit. Have mamasan or the dry cleaners do it. It's far less work for you, and the creases last longer, and you look good. Took me a long long time to figure that one out.
Keep your hair high and tight. I have a picture with the Commandant and I look like a piece of shit with a low reg cut. I regret it to this day.
Keep your wall locker nice. Don't hesitate to buy a few extra things that are just for show. Sucks buying the stuff, but it will pay off. Do good on your field days. If you have a piece of shit roommate, kick his ass.
Now study up on your knowledge, and get yourself a meritorious promotion. Sure it's a game, but if for nothing else, do it for the pay raise. However I assure you it will be worth it. I missed Sgt by a couple months, another big regret. Get promoted, life will be better.
Now it's time to get off night shift....how long are you supposed to be on it?.....that promotion should help! The old rule is to never volunteer for anything. Well this is an exception.
A good way to mix up things is to take yourself out of the picture. Get yourself TAD somewhere. Volunteer for mess duty if you have to. At the very least this will get you around some new people. Maybe even a :gasp: woman or two! If all goes well, when you get back to your unit, you'll be on days!, and there will be a new shop bitch.
Take a college class or two. I took a couple classes of Japanese with the university of Maryland. At the very least work on some easy gen ed stuff, math or whatever. That will help you succeed after the Corps. AND again, gets you around some new people(chicks). The university of Maryland should offer classes on base.
Now we need to get you some wheels. What's up with not being able to drive? There's tons off base housing, so people have to be driving. If it's a rank thing now, see above...... get to know someone that lives off base!
Some of the guys in my shop pitched in on a van. We all piled in and went exploring the island. Highly recommended.
We did tons of snorkeling. There a beach somewhere around the sea wall that has a cave you can go in. Then climb up inside and cliff jump inside. Hell outside too! Which reminds me....my warrant officer there was a dive instructor. I wish I would have gotten certified with him, regret #3. Look into it....again gets you around other people.
If you can get wheels, theres a spillway up north that has never ending stairs down to a hidden beach on the pacific side. Down south are the suicide cliffs.
Go have lunch on Kadena. The airforce chow halls are sweet. They even clean your table for you! I don't remember if a bus went there or not.
Eat out in town when you can. There are some cool little places. Ohhh Ohhh, there is some market down south in Naha that was pretty cool.
Curfew....they implemented that after that rape in '95, just before I left. I can't believe they still have it. Shouldn't stop you from getting out though. What's with the buddy system? Not really a bad idea, but certianly inconvenient. Is it a rank thing?
Does the banana show still exist! It's disgusting, but it's one of those things you just have to see. It also has the highest concentration of good 'ol american college chicks in the audience. The last place you'd expect to find them!
Ask about that endurance course up north. I don't remember what it was actually called. You do everything from night land nav to repelling and fast roping. It's probably something your whole unit has to sign up for, but who knows.
Get off base. Get a couple friends together and take a taxi. Yeah it's expensive, but do what you have to.
Do they still play movies at the pool? That was always fun.
Anyway, there's more, but I'll have dust off some other brain cells. It's all what you make of it. A year was a long time for me. The first half dragged on, but the second half flew. Looking back 10 years, it's a blink of an eye, that seems like a different life. If you're doing 3, I hope you walk away with an education....transfer degree or something.
My advice is free. I hope you'll take it.
Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 2:07 pm
This is good shit!
Jungle Warfare Training Center
http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/Public%20Af ... -jwtc.html
Jungle Warfare Training Center
http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/Public%20Af ... -jwtc.html
Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 2:13 pm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ ... -mcn01.htm
Okinawa's jungle premiere training
Marine Corps News
Release Date: 2/22/2004
Story by Cpl. Ryan D. Libbert
CAMP GONSALVES, Okinawa, Japan -- Marines serving on Okinawa take pride in the fact that they are serving in the home of III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Bases Japan. However, another thing that makes the military community on Okinawa unique is that it is home to the Department of Defense's only jungle warfare training grounds.
The USMC Jungle Warfare Training Center, Camp Gonsalves was established on Okinawa in the late 1950's. Since that time the 20,000 square acre-facility has seen changes in structure, curriculum, area, and name (formally titled Northern Training Area until 1998). The Marines currently serving in this isolated corner of Okinawa carry on the mission that was set for them when the facility opened in 1958, according to Lt. Col. Antonio B. Smith, commanding officer.
"The mission of JWTC is to provide instruction to units and personnel in jungle operations," the Atlanta native said. "We have six training packages to train all military personnel. They are the jungle warfare course, jungle skills course, combat tracking course, medical trauma course, survival evasion resistance and escape course, and we are currently developing a squad leader's course as well."
The jungle warfare course is specifically designed for the ground combat units stationed on Okinawa via the Unit Deployment Program. It consists of 26 days of rough terrain movement, land navigation, jungle survival, patrolling, and engagement.
The jungle skills course, a six-day training package, is a lighter version of the jungle warfare course teaching only land navigation, patrolling and survival. The jungle skills course is available to all units.
The combat tracking course is an 18-day period of instruction where JWTC instructors teach Marines how to track individuals or military units through jungle terrain by looking at signs left behind in the environment.
The medical trauma course is designed for Navy medical corpsmen attached to Fleet Marine Force units. The five-day course teaches Sailors medical operations in the jungle as well as jungle skills and survival.
The survival evasion resistance and escape, or SERE course, teaches Marines what they need to know to survive in the jungle to include evading capture by the enemy and how to adapt to conditions as a prisoner of war.
Some of the packages include JWTC's most demanding and best-loved event, the endurance course. The endurance course is a 3.2 mile journey that tasks Marines to navigate through every obstacle JWTC has to offer to include rope bridges, stream-crossing, and a casualty carry through the famous "peanut butter mud alley."
Throughout all the courses, the JWTC staff stays busy all year supporting the units training there. "We have 10-20 major units that come up here every year that range from the battalion to company level. We train between 7,500 _ 10,000 personnel here annually," Smith said.
Not only do the training packages offer team-building and confidence, but the environment in which they are conducted prepares Marines for any situation.
"The type of environment here is primarily single and double canopy jungle with very steep cliffs and a number of streams," Smith said. "The terrain is very demanding and challenging. You're not going to find anything like this anywhere else in the Marine Corps."
Training at JWTC is very important for any unit because it prepares them for future contingencies.
"When you're training in a very demanding environment, it makes it easier when you operate in a less-demanding environment," Smith added. "Terrain and weather have an impact on a unit's ability to accomplish its mission. Once you get to a certain level of proficiency in the environment here, it's easier to leave here and operate anywhere else."
To make sure units get the full advantage of the JWTC experience, the staff commits itself to the units' training objectives.
"The goal here is to train units to a higher level of expertise in jungle operations so they are capable of fighting in a jungle environment," Smith continued. "We're committed to that. We can tailor our training packages to give units more land navigation or survival instruction if the unit desires."
The instructors who teach the individual courses at JWTC are pulled from other units across Okinawa to serve in either a six-month rotation period or a permanent billet.
"We have an instructor's training period for six weeks that we have internally designed to teach all the required skills and teaching techniques to become an instructor," Smith said. "They are taught how to tie knots, rappel, patrol, lead a class in survival and we basically show them examples of how lessons are done in each course. The instructors are primarily noncommissioned officers and are usually FAPed (fleet assistance program) here from 3rd Marine Division units."
The Marines who work at JWTC do more than just instruct. The small cadre of devildogs serving there range from cooks and motor transportation operators to engineers and administrators.
"Currently we have 34 Marines serving here," Smith explained. "We are a little understaffed right now because of the high operation tempo of UDP units. Fleet Assistance Program Marines from UDP units make up 80 percent of JWTC's personnel."
After the jungle warfare training grounds in Fort Sherman, Panama closed in 1999, JWTC on Okinawa became the only jungle training grounds in the entire DoD by default. But as Smith claims, he and his Marines still work on becoming the best-run installation in the military.
"Jungle Warfare Training Center will always be viable to both the Marine Corps and the DoD," Smith concluded. "Not only are we committed to giving units the training they deserve, but we continually develop and hone our own basic skills to keep this place strong."
Okinawa's jungle premiere training
Marine Corps News
Release Date: 2/22/2004
Story by Cpl. Ryan D. Libbert
CAMP GONSALVES, Okinawa, Japan -- Marines serving on Okinawa take pride in the fact that they are serving in the home of III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Bases Japan. However, another thing that makes the military community on Okinawa unique is that it is home to the Department of Defense's only jungle warfare training grounds.
The USMC Jungle Warfare Training Center, Camp Gonsalves was established on Okinawa in the late 1950's. Since that time the 20,000 square acre-facility has seen changes in structure, curriculum, area, and name (formally titled Northern Training Area until 1998). The Marines currently serving in this isolated corner of Okinawa carry on the mission that was set for them when the facility opened in 1958, according to Lt. Col. Antonio B. Smith, commanding officer.
"The mission of JWTC is to provide instruction to units and personnel in jungle operations," the Atlanta native said. "We have six training packages to train all military personnel. They are the jungle warfare course, jungle skills course, combat tracking course, medical trauma course, survival evasion resistance and escape course, and we are currently developing a squad leader's course as well."
The jungle warfare course is specifically designed for the ground combat units stationed on Okinawa via the Unit Deployment Program. It consists of 26 days of rough terrain movement, land navigation, jungle survival, patrolling, and engagement.
The jungle skills course, a six-day training package, is a lighter version of the jungle warfare course teaching only land navigation, patrolling and survival. The jungle skills course is available to all units.
The combat tracking course is an 18-day period of instruction where JWTC instructors teach Marines how to track individuals or military units through jungle terrain by looking at signs left behind in the environment.
The medical trauma course is designed for Navy medical corpsmen attached to Fleet Marine Force units. The five-day course teaches Sailors medical operations in the jungle as well as jungle skills and survival.
The survival evasion resistance and escape, or SERE course, teaches Marines what they need to know to survive in the jungle to include evading capture by the enemy and how to adapt to conditions as a prisoner of war.
Some of the packages include JWTC's most demanding and best-loved event, the endurance course. The endurance course is a 3.2 mile journey that tasks Marines to navigate through every obstacle JWTC has to offer to include rope bridges, stream-crossing, and a casualty carry through the famous "peanut butter mud alley."
Throughout all the courses, the JWTC staff stays busy all year supporting the units training there. "We have 10-20 major units that come up here every year that range from the battalion to company level. We train between 7,500 _ 10,000 personnel here annually," Smith said.
Not only do the training packages offer team-building and confidence, but the environment in which they are conducted prepares Marines for any situation.
"The type of environment here is primarily single and double canopy jungle with very steep cliffs and a number of streams," Smith said. "The terrain is very demanding and challenging. You're not going to find anything like this anywhere else in the Marine Corps."
Training at JWTC is very important for any unit because it prepares them for future contingencies.
"When you're training in a very demanding environment, it makes it easier when you operate in a less-demanding environment," Smith added. "Terrain and weather have an impact on a unit's ability to accomplish its mission. Once you get to a certain level of proficiency in the environment here, it's easier to leave here and operate anywhere else."
To make sure units get the full advantage of the JWTC experience, the staff commits itself to the units' training objectives.
"The goal here is to train units to a higher level of expertise in jungle operations so they are capable of fighting in a jungle environment," Smith continued. "We're committed to that. We can tailor our training packages to give units more land navigation or survival instruction if the unit desires."
The instructors who teach the individual courses at JWTC are pulled from other units across Okinawa to serve in either a six-month rotation period or a permanent billet.
"We have an instructor's training period for six weeks that we have internally designed to teach all the required skills and teaching techniques to become an instructor," Smith said. "They are taught how to tie knots, rappel, patrol, lead a class in survival and we basically show them examples of how lessons are done in each course. The instructors are primarily noncommissioned officers and are usually FAPed (fleet assistance program) here from 3rd Marine Division units."
The Marines who work at JWTC do more than just instruct. The small cadre of devildogs serving there range from cooks and motor transportation operators to engineers and administrators.
"Currently we have 34 Marines serving here," Smith explained. "We are a little understaffed right now because of the high operation tempo of UDP units. Fleet Assistance Program Marines from UDP units make up 80 percent of JWTC's personnel."
After the jungle warfare training grounds in Fort Sherman, Panama closed in 1999, JWTC on Okinawa became the only jungle training grounds in the entire DoD by default. But as Smith claims, he and his Marines still work on becoming the best-run installation in the military.
"Jungle Warfare Training Center will always be viable to both the Marine Corps and the DoD," Smith concluded. "Not only are we committed to giving units the training they deserve, but we continually develop and hone our own basic skills to keep this place strong."
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 4:15 am
Thanks for all the info and advice. I am only here for 2 years and have been here for a little over 7 months now. My enlistment is 5 years.
I am very squared away as far as my room and uniforms and all that, I have never failed any kind of inspection here or anywhere else that I've been. We don't iron these digital cammies and you can actually get in trouble if you use starch, but I still have the tightest and smoothest sleeves that I've ever seen and get compliments all the time. I keep a very high fade and hate low regs, I think they look nasty. I have all the extra stuff in my locker just for show that I never touch. My roomate is cool as hell, probably a life long friend and I have known him for about a year and a half since A-school. I got promoted to LCPL meritoriously out of A school by having the most leadership and being the most squared away and having one of the highest grade averages they had ever seen. I was a few months from getting Corporal from having such a high composite score from my PFT and rifle and MCIs and all that. Then my roomate got back from a 2 month trip to Thailand for tsunami relief and we went out for some drinks, he and I got in trouble for drinking underage and got meritorious PFC, half months pay for 2 months and 45 days restriction and EPD. That still hasn't discouraged me and I am still just as squared away; my Gunny almost sent me up on a meritorious Corporal board on accident because he forgot all about it. He has talked to me about getting LCPL back meritoriously when the next board comes up and I still have the high composite to pick CPL up afterwards. I was working on an application to get into an officer program like MECEP before I got in trouble but am no longer eligible so I am really kicking my own ass over that one.
Right now I am TAD to Production Control and the reason I work night crew is because I know my job better than anyone else here even though they have been here like 10 months. Nightcrew itself is much better, there is no one looking over my shoulder trying to tell me what to do when they are a SSGT and don't have a clue how to do their job let alone mine. I like nightcrew it is just the curfew and liberty buddy thing that make it a pain to get out and do much. And being the "go to guy" is great for your image but it can kill your weekend when people know that you can be depended upon to show up and get the job done without help. I was here everyday of my holiday weekend because of this. This is supposed to be a 6 month TAD but they are going to extend it to a year cause they don't want to lose their best and smartest worker, and I don't mind because below and above the dumb SSGT the leadership here is great.
I plan on getting into some college this coming semester and have already talked to my education advisor about it. University of Maryland is still here along with another community college, and I might take some online classes too. I need to go take CLEP test to test out of a bunch of stuff before I start cause I was in alot of college level classes in High School. As far as wheels over here they won't let you get them until you've been here for at least a year with no problems unless you are a SGT when you get here and they try to use it as incintive to get you to extend your on-island tour another year (mostly for the guys that had 1 year tours which has quit), sorry but for me that doesn't appeal to me since I already have a stateside liscense and keys to my truck in my pocket. Hardly anyone lives off base anymore because they built a bunch of new barracks on base. The airforce still has some off base housing though. All the married marines here live in either apartments or on base housing over on Foster. The only people in my shop that can drive are married and don't want to hang out with junior marines that are underage. The civilian (retired Master Guns) that works in my shop is a dive instructor and I would love to get certifid but the only time before my curfew he is off work I am at work so that hasn't worked out yet. There isn't a bus to Kadena, but I have taken the bus to Foster and caught a cab or walked to Kadena when I can find a "buddy" who wants to do the same thing. I eat out in town every now and then and enjoy it.
The banana show does still exist and I have gone to see it but there was only one AF chick in the crowd, and the banana lady is getting pretty old.
The endurance course does have to be a unit thing and being straight up air wing (helo engine mech) there isn't much of a chance they will sign up. I read that article in Okinawa Marine newspaper a few months ago and found it interesting. That last post was after a long night at work and a holiday weekend that I worked through so it was pretty negative, I get off base every now and then and have gotten into building computers for people to keep myself busy so the time is going by decently fast.
I am very squared away as far as my room and uniforms and all that, I have never failed any kind of inspection here or anywhere else that I've been. We don't iron these digital cammies and you can actually get in trouble if you use starch, but I still have the tightest and smoothest sleeves that I've ever seen and get compliments all the time. I keep a very high fade and hate low regs, I think they look nasty. I have all the extra stuff in my locker just for show that I never touch. My roomate is cool as hell, probably a life long friend and I have known him for about a year and a half since A-school. I got promoted to LCPL meritoriously out of A school by having the most leadership and being the most squared away and having one of the highest grade averages they had ever seen. I was a few months from getting Corporal from having such a high composite score from my PFT and rifle and MCIs and all that. Then my roomate got back from a 2 month trip to Thailand for tsunami relief and we went out for some drinks, he and I got in trouble for drinking underage and got meritorious PFC, half months pay for 2 months and 45 days restriction and EPD. That still hasn't discouraged me and I am still just as squared away; my Gunny almost sent me up on a meritorious Corporal board on accident because he forgot all about it. He has talked to me about getting LCPL back meritoriously when the next board comes up and I still have the high composite to pick CPL up afterwards. I was working on an application to get into an officer program like MECEP before I got in trouble but am no longer eligible so I am really kicking my own ass over that one.
Right now I am TAD to Production Control and the reason I work night crew is because I know my job better than anyone else here even though they have been here like 10 months. Nightcrew itself is much better, there is no one looking over my shoulder trying to tell me what to do when they are a SSGT and don't have a clue how to do their job let alone mine. I like nightcrew it is just the curfew and liberty buddy thing that make it a pain to get out and do much. And being the "go to guy" is great for your image but it can kill your weekend when people know that you can be depended upon to show up and get the job done without help. I was here everyday of my holiday weekend because of this. This is supposed to be a 6 month TAD but they are going to extend it to a year cause they don't want to lose their best and smartest worker, and I don't mind because below and above the dumb SSGT the leadership here is great.
I plan on getting into some college this coming semester and have already talked to my education advisor about it. University of Maryland is still here along with another community college, and I might take some online classes too. I need to go take CLEP test to test out of a bunch of stuff before I start cause I was in alot of college level classes in High School. As far as wheels over here they won't let you get them until you've been here for at least a year with no problems unless you are a SGT when you get here and they try to use it as incintive to get you to extend your on-island tour another year (mostly for the guys that had 1 year tours which has quit), sorry but for me that doesn't appeal to me since I already have a stateside liscense and keys to my truck in my pocket. Hardly anyone lives off base anymore because they built a bunch of new barracks on base. The airforce still has some off base housing though. All the married marines here live in either apartments or on base housing over on Foster. The only people in my shop that can drive are married and don't want to hang out with junior marines that are underage. The civilian (retired Master Guns) that works in my shop is a dive instructor and I would love to get certifid but the only time before my curfew he is off work I am at work so that hasn't worked out yet. There isn't a bus to Kadena, but I have taken the bus to Foster and caught a cab or walked to Kadena when I can find a "buddy" who wants to do the same thing. I eat out in town every now and then and enjoy it.
The banana show does still exist and I have gone to see it but there was only one AF chick in the crowd, and the banana lady is getting pretty old.
The endurance course does have to be a unit thing and being straight up air wing (helo engine mech) there isn't much of a chance they will sign up. I read that article in Okinawa Marine newspaper a few months ago and found it interesting. That last post was after a long night at work and a holiday weekend that I worked through so it was pretty negative, I get off base every now and then and have gotten into building computers for people to keep myself busy so the time is going by decently fast.
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 8:45 am
Well, it sounds like you've already got things under control.
That sucks getting busted. I can't believe they would bust you down just for underage drinking. You must have been repelling out the barracks with bed sheets or something!
Heck when I was there we were allowed to drink under 21.
Fortunatley, it happened early on in your enlistment, and shouldn't really hold you back.
If you've alread been TAD, maybe it's time you get back to your unit. You don't want to make yourself so depended on. I was pretty much in your same shoes. When the 50year reenactment of the landing at Iwo Jima came along, I couldn't go, because I was the only guy that could be depened on to hold down the fort.
Don't get me wrong, do your job and do it well, just understand that you have the ability to steer yourself in a different direction. If you're doing the work of four successfully, your unit isn't going to be crying for help, and you'll continue being over worked till your EAS. All the while missing some great life experiences.
If you're TAD, it's probably unlikely that you would go to JWTC. I believe your unit is required to give a certain amount of training. I see no reason you can't get up in your 2 years. Ask around and see if anyone has been there. 2nd best training I had.
By your second year, you should know a few people with some wheels. Hopefully you'll be able to get out on a few road trips before you go. Stupid that you have to be there for year before you can drive. I wonder if that had anyting to do with a girl in my unit that ran over some people just after I left.
Have you been through a typhoon yet?
That sucks getting busted. I can't believe they would bust you down just for underage drinking. You must have been repelling out the barracks with bed sheets or something!
Heck when I was there we were allowed to drink under 21. Fortunatley, it happened early on in your enlistment, and shouldn't really hold you back.
If you've alread been TAD, maybe it's time you get back to your unit. You don't want to make yourself so depended on. I was pretty much in your same shoes. When the 50year reenactment of the landing at Iwo Jima came along, I couldn't go, because I was the only guy that could be depened on to hold down the fort.
Don't get me wrong, do your job and do it well, just understand that you have the ability to steer yourself in a different direction. If you're doing the work of four successfully, your unit isn't going to be crying for help, and you'll continue being over worked till your EAS. All the while missing some great life experiences.
If you're TAD, it's probably unlikely that you would go to JWTC. I believe your unit is required to give a certain amount of training. I see no reason you can't get up in your 2 years. Ask around and see if anyone has been there. 2nd best training I had.
By your second year, you should know a few people with some wheels. Hopefully you'll be able to get out on a few road trips before you go. Stupid that you have to be there for year before you can drive. I wonder if that had anyting to do with a girl in my unit that ran over some people just after I left.
Have you been through a typhoon yet?
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 5:09 am
It's not always that you have to wait a year to get a car, but in my unit unless you can show them why you need it and get everyone and their mother to recommend you and you are good at working on your knees their is no way to get it before that. The actual order says 90 days. As far as when I got in trouble I was on my way back over to the barracks on the Habu trail and PMO rolled up. 2 of my buddies just got the same punishment and they were out at a restaurant having a beer with their dinner when our OIC walked up to say hi and saw that they were drinking. The division that I am TAD from right now has no clue what taking care of each other is, and don't know how to keep things in shop so they ended up in front of the CO, pretty much sent by our OIC. One of them had drank half of his glass of beer and lost rank, pay, and liberty because no one here want to step up and just chew ass, they just send you up for office hours.
While I am TAD to PC I want to look good and don't mind working for these supervisors (besides the previously mentioned immature SSGT who is dumb as a brick), because they'll do anything for me and send me up for boards and stuff, high pros and cons and all that. I have been through a few typhoons last year and it is getting into the season again this year too.
While I am TAD to PC I want to look good and don't mind working for these supervisors (besides the previously mentioned immature SSGT who is dumb as a brick), because they'll do anything for me and send me up for boards and stuff, high pros and cons and all that. I have been through a few typhoons last year and it is getting into the season again this year too.