Leaving

[Arcanas]

Alright everyone, it's official. I have my ship date, and job classification for the Navy.

My last day as a free man will be September 7, 2010. Where I'll be shipped off from my MEPS center to Great Lakes IL for basic training.

After that, only the government knows where I'll be.

As for those of you who can't discern discussion topics via the original statement, here you go: Military service and you, what I should do before leaving, what YOU would do before leaving, think it's too soon, not soon enough, and will you all write to me?  

[wakusei]

We must cherish these remaining months with an Arcanas around... gonk  

[xDarkPisces]

For me -not- to post here would be just wrong.

Look, dude. I couldn't persuade you otherwise, so I guess I'll just go for giving you advice.

Basic: It's a mind game. A mind ********, really. You'll feel like you're back in high school... only the teachers yell at you and make you do push-ups. Don't call them by name. They hate that. Just "Petty Officer" or "Chief". Learn your ranks, damn it. Forgetting those is just bad business. It's two months of landmarks. You'll think "Okay, I just have to make it to Sunday." Then, "Make it to the next inspection." And before you know it "Graduation is on Friday... Awesome!" You'll learn a lot about yourself.

PT: Do it. Often. After basic, don't stop. You'll be in the best shape of your life if you've never worked out before. So keep it that way. The physical portion of basic isn't THAT hard, but you have to keep your will about you. It's all about endurance.

DON'T: Volunteer. If you haven't heard already, NAVY stands for Never Again Volunteer Yourself. You've already signed your life away. Don't sign over any of your free time for stupid menial tasks. If somebody asks "Okay, I need this many volunteers" you just sit there and let somebody else get it. The good deals don't come around very often. Don't chance it.

DO: Make friends. The easiest way to make it through this s**t is to have people to talk to. If no other reason than just to pass the time. The entire Navy is a "Hurry up! And wait..." kind of deal. So keep your patience with you too.

ABSOLUTELY DO NOT: Let yourself get depressed. If you fall in one rut, the Navy keeps going. Before long you feel like you're getting behind in everything.

Listen! Briefs are boring as s**t, but some of them contain some good s**t. Learn what to listen to and what not to listen to. Sometimes you just have to tune the bullshit out.

START PTing NOW. Run. If nothing else, just friggin' run. If you're not already in some semblance of shape, you have to start showing your body what it's going to go through. That's the biggest way to dread Basic. The PT. It'll be hard if you don't prepare.

What did I do? I got ready. Ran, did push-ups, sit-ups, that sort of thing. I learned my s**t. Ranks. History. All the crap they put in those little booklets in the Recruiter's office. Learn it and the Chain of Command. If you know that stuff like the back of your hand, you'll have another leg up.

That's all I got for right now. Take it in stride. One step at a time. The military, when looked at as a whole, is huge. Difficult. You -have- to break it down.

Good luck, man.  

[Arcanas]

Thanks DP. But then again, in my defense, you didn't try very hard to dissuade me ^_^.

I'll keep all that in mind. My biggest obstacle right now, would be cardio. But I've got 5 months to kick my a**, and god damnit, I will.

So, I'll see you on the other side man.  

[Thaliat Everwood]

Good luck in the Navy (well, you know...when you leave in September)! I have a lot of respect for the people who are willing to make such a huge sacrifice to help protect our nation.  

[xDarkPisces]

I would have tried harder if I thought it would have done any good. :  

[Arcanas]

Lol. Well, let's look at this way: I've been unemployed since November. My income is negative. I was also denied UI.

Navy gives me a job...a steady job. With a fairly decent income. There are also quite a bit of fringe benefits.  

[xDarkPisces]

I've said it before. The Navy is great if you don't really have strong ties to anyone.  

[Arcanas]

x-Dark-Pisces-x

I've said it before. The Navy is great if you don't really have strong ties to anyone.

perfect for me then.  

[Celestial Burden]

Good luck Arc, that's all I can say. I intend to join the Navy, so tell me how it goes for you man. And I'm with Pisces on the PT. Just... start now. JROTC has us go through basic stuff every week and that's difficult enough, I can't imagine the training you're going to get.  

[Arcanas]

Well, you know Celes, after you get done with the academy, I'll be saluting you...

Don't worry you guys, I'm on top of my PT  

[Saverio C.]

Kick a** and make the most of it man. The Military won't let me in so kick some a** for me too.  

[Arcanas]

Saverio C.

Kick a** and make the most of it man. The Military won't let me in so kick some a** for me too.

lol. Sure thing Sav. I got you  

[Saverio C.]

Arcanas

Saverio C.

Kick a** and make the most of it man. The Military won't let me in so kick some a** for me too.

lol. Sure thing Sav. I got you

GASP! That's a terrorist fist jab!  

[Arcanas]

Saverio C.

Arcanas

Saverio C.

Kick a** and make the most of it man. The Military won't let me in so kick some a** for me too.

lol. Sure thing Sav. I got you

GASP! That's a terrorist fist jab!

Incorrect!~