I was a soldier locked in an officer's body trying to break out of the everything that I saw was wrong about being an officer, where rank was status, and a "mandatory professional distance" was defined by pomp and circumstance spelled out by arcane traditions and rediculous unwritten rules of conduct that hindered good performance of the soldier and sound leadership by those appointed to ensure that the soldier succeeded.

Wooahh there LK:

Ssssup-wid-dis? "Division Driver of the Month"? Never heard of it and I was in both Light and Mech units. So you drove a Gamma Goat for ten miles without rolling it?

I did have my 577 driver see how fast my 577 could go at Stewart once. Just out of a semi-annual service and during a real road march (the type where you regulate speed by pressure on a gas pedal). A good very gradual downhill for a straight mile or so. He floored the thing and we almost hit 40. Man that 577 was rocking. Tracks and road wheels screaming much like my knees today in fact after weeks of severe cold wet weather combined with years of light Infantry types of activities.

Lord Have Mercy -- Divison Driver of the Month.

Gene

Jack, I grew up in the military. I have never had anyone articulate so clearly why I didn't want to be an officer.

Thanks,

Jim

I was prior service Airborne Infantry, 1-505 for three years. Did my time and ETS'd. Was on the street for two years before I realized I really missed the military. I re-enlisted for SF as a SP4. After being on the street for the last two years I started Phase One just four days after re-enlisting.....

I would not recommend anyone try that, I talked the SF SGM into letting me go. He asked about my PT and I told him I was running about 75 miles a week as a civilian and could do hundreds of pushups and situps. He smiled and said if I could inprocess Bragg in 3 days I could go to the very next class. I did and the rest was history. Phase One still kicked my ass but it was all worth it.

TS

1-505
 

TS,
That's weird...pretty much the same deal, Airborne infantryman in 1-505, ETS'd after 3 yrs and spent more time getting into Mil-related work while I was out until a unit SGM told me to I might as well come back into the fold and do it right. Will never regret it - been one hell of a ride ever since...

Funny the number of 505 guys I see every now and then. The infantry provided a great building block environment prior to going SF.

regards,
1-0

NO SANCTUARY

2-505 here.

That is strange.

TR

I'm in phase III, and came from 1-505.

A bit different. . .
 

Let's see. . . before I finally tightened my shot group and went to Selection I did a few random things, to include:

1. went to college, studied lit.
2. got kicked out of the Navy (I had to see about a girl; dumb move).
3. did Americorps (like a domestic Peace Corps) for a year contract.
4. ran a non-profit, wrote grants. Started climbing mountains.
5. quit the phone company and went to sea for a couple of years as a Deck Seaman. worked the west coast, Alaska mostly.
6. worked as a carpenter for historic registry apartments.
7. got a wife, managed a printing company.
8. got back into the Navy (Reserves) as a PAC clerk.
9. Pre-nursing classes.
10. Bored with typing NAMs for undeserving pilots. Found out about Guard SF. Switched services to WAANG.
11. Managed a Fire Fighters Union. Went to SFAS/Airborne.
12. Went to SFQC (in the middle of phase three).

My first exposure to the Army (other than a few weekend drills) was SFAS and I fell in love. I can't believe it took me until I was 31 to figure that out. . .

Pretty varied. . . I guess the only consistent element to this story is how fast I bore with routine. I like physical challenges, mental challenges, people committed to goals, new experiences. I am interested in just about everything and read more than most people I know (except for a few buddies in the course, my wife and I suspect most of the regular members on PS.com). I was the smart kid in High School who got in a lot of trouble. I've since realized that compared to REALLY smart people, I'm just smart enough to get into trouble. . .

Since coming into this community, I've felt more comfortable with/committed to what I've been doing since before I can remember. It's as though every day I go to work is a step closer to "home."

Something I wish I knew when I was younger is this: just because you are skilled/talented/smart enough to do a job doesn't mean you should. I believe there is a specific vocation/avocation out there in this wide world for each and everyone of us. It is incumbent upon each of us to figure out for ourselves what that job is. So sayeth the t-shirt, "Don't die wondering. "

Books