RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

Well, I dont know if Im going to be around a computer or not in the next few days, Im hoping I will. However, If Im not, I wanted to make sure that I got to say "goodbye" to everyone here until I get back from Basic Training and AIT for the Army . Im leaving on the 25th for Fort Leonard Wood Missouri (anyone in that area that wants to come visit? ), and I dont expect to be back until June 25th or there abouts. So, Im not leaving forever . I was going to put something like "thanks for all your help" and blah blah blah, but I'll be back, and when I am, Ill still need help when I start my T2 swap with my Army money! So, I guess this isnt actually goodbye, but more or less see ya later

~T.J.

Metallic_rock

Army E-1 pay... heh... that's funny. Maybe E-3 pay after training? Bonus?

If it's just E-1 pay, I'm laughing... and I'm sorry for ya. Can you still switch to the Air Force?

genrex

Hey T.J., stay in touch when you can.

Take care, and don't laugh at the drill instructors.

Missouri ain't called that for nothin.

Cody

BUY SOAP ON A ROPE NOW!

inittab

Best of luck to you TJ!

Rx7carl

Good luck TJ. See ya when you get back.

Pedestrian X

Yup, good luck!

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

Good Luck!

Did you join active duty, or reserves?

Tom

Good luck T.J.! What did you choose as an MOS field?

I'm sure you'll do well. Weeks 1-5 or so in Basic are hell, but after that it gets a little easier. Don't show off, never forget your meal card (trust me on this one!) and try to sleep half dressed (that way you'll make the 2a.m. formations when they pull the barracks alarm!)

Best wishes-
Tom

okanebm

Good Luck T.J.,
You would be surprised at what E-1 pay will get you through some people as soon as you mention your in the military. Course I get E-5 pay, but I'm married and my TII swap went to gutters and a new shed. Some of these bases have auto hobby shops that I would give my left .... ,you get the idea. Not to mention most of the time they concentrate on your stuff 24/7 if its something new or complicated(helping wives change oil all the time gets on their nerves). They love that. There are places in basic where you can get to a computer. Just Dont Get Caught. You have a good time at basic(oxymoron) you'll never experience anything like it. Good Luck you Ground Pounder
Al

timmya2

sex

wwilliam54

U.ncle
S.am

A.int
R.eleased
M.e
Y.et

Sterling

Good luck, T.J.
Come back a man, you little fairy!
(And take that friggin earring outta yer ear, boy!)

RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

Ah yes, I forgot to mention some more specific details .

I joined the reserves, so its the one weekend a month, two weeks a year deal. My MOS (Military Occupational Specialty), or my job, is 31B. Also known as an MP! Im so happy I got that job. Im amazed I passes the security checks and background checks. I hear it can be a pretty boring job with gate duty and all, but it should help a lot trying to get into law enforcement so I can be a cop. Im actually really excited about this, it should be interesting.

As far as pay, when I joined I was an E-1, but one of my friends joined as an A1 tank crewmen (couldnt pass the security for MP, and he never got arrested. Explain that one, lol) shortly after me and listed me as his referrer so I got a promotion to an E-2. On Monday I have my knowledge test to take, and if I pass that, I get promoted again to an E-3. The tests are just meant to give you the chance to get promoted once, but since my friend joined, I already got promoted once. Basically, if I pass the tests, Ill show up at basic as an E-3 aka Private First Class .

As far as pay as an E-1, I will me making at least $1000 a month for four months, plus I ended up with a $2000 quick ship bonus because they had to ship me out to training earlier than I was promised because my class filled the day I was signing up before I got to sign up. I get half that bonus when I get back, plus the $4000 I will have accumulated, which if youre keeping up will be $5000. Now, according to the 2004 Basic Pay chart for an E-1 with less that 4 months of service, I actually get more than $1000 a month, but I like to estimate low so when I get more its a good surprise . So, if they pay me as an E-2 or even an E-3, I will be making even more than that by a few hundred a month.

I dont really care about the money I get paid after basic because they only pay me for what I work, which is only the one weekend a month, two weeks a year whereas in basic I get paid active duty (aka full time) pay in a monthly salary. Anything is cool, but its not like im trying to live off the Army, Im just trying to become a cop . The money for basic is nice though, because its pretty much all going into my turbo swap, which Im hoping will be done SOON after I get back!

I got my paint gun and pressure regulator in the mail the other day, so Im ready when I get back to finally start repainting my engine bay and restoring everything from the theft, then Ill rebuild the electrical again, and yadda yadda yadda. Thats another post .

Anyway, thanks for the advice and good wishes, Im hoping for the best!

~T.J.

EDIT: Boy does THAT sound familiar!!

luiml73

iTrader: (1)

I was there for basic.

Happiest day in my life was when I got on a bus to leave that ******* hell hole.

81Rex6port13b

lol nice words of encuragement.

good luck and god speed

luiml73

iTrader: (1)

Just letting him know what he's in for

Running at 4AM right by a Burger king and wishing you could just have one bite.

Ait: Was'nt so bad.

M-F: Train

Weekends: you get off and you can go bowling, hang out with the few chicks there are, get a hotel room,

This depends on what Company you get, and if the drill SGT. allows it. Our Company(Charlie) was the only ones that got weekend passes. Everyone else hated us for it.

In Basic you only get phone calls once in a while, and you can'tgo to the (PX). to buy ****. In ait however you can.

I have to go, I'll post again later

Good Luck

RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

Well, its good to hear from somebody that was there...I guess, lol.

~T.J.

pratch

My brother was there back in 94/95. Fort Lost-in-the-woods they called it.

He came back a better man for it, although he mistakenly rushed into what turned out to be a very short marriage So don't get so whipped that you come back and tie the knot.

God Speed, young man. God Speed.

RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

Cool! I just found out that my Uncle did his basic there, and my Step Dads friend did AIT there! Its weird how many people I know that have been there.

Well, my ship out date is inching closer and closer by the second. I dont know how many more times Ill get to check this before I run out of time...

~T.J.

EDIT: I also found out that a guy I know that comes over for my 4th of July party every year is going to be my 1st Sergent at the fort Im assigned to, lol. Good thing my Step Dad was in and I know all these people already!

Rex4Life

Good luck TJ, been great reading all your posts--you have a great way with words. Hope you find a good skill in the Army. When I was young I went in the Air Force and learned all about electronics, mechanics, and refrigeration. Oh and my E-1 pay was $501.30 a month hope it has gotten better since then.

I happen to know another fellow going to that same Fort Leonard Wood. He's starting as a Lt around the end of March--small world.

Best of Luck,

Scott

RRTEC

iTrader: (13)

Good luck TJ. Steal some granades if you get a chance...j/k...well kinda...

Wankelguy

Here's a couple of pointers:

Learn your service # (SSN) forwards and backwards, there's always some jerk who'll ask you what your service # is backwards and you'll score a small moral victory if you can recite it backwards quickly.

Also, if they ask you what the first and last words out of your mouth are, the correct answer is "sir, sir, sir."

Tom

Hey- when you get back from Basic and AIT and your all pumped and buff- Pay a visit to the scumbags who raped your car (while in full BDU's with your MP band) and say "Remember me scumwads???". They'll shake a little, no doubt!

Rotofire

Good luck to ya T.J. I know you've help me out a bit from time to time. I'm going to the marines bootcamp at the end of this semester. 12 weeks of agony, ARGH. Anywho, stay strong!

-Mike