Professional Soldiers ®

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-   Introductions (http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=112)
-   -   Introductions V (http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36757)

sarahm1 09-20-2020 09:05

Hello from North Carolina
 
Thank you to the originators of this site and to all of you who have served, or are serving, in our country’s military forces.

I have a respect and admiration for the men that served in our Special Forces, the sacrifices they have made for our country, and an interest in the history of their missions and deployments. I’m not a wannabe or a groupie.

I’ve always been interested in our country’s military history. Although I never served, someone in my ancestry had served in every major conflict since the Revolutionary War, most recently my brother having retired after 25 years in the Army. Sometime in the early-mid 1990’s I read the book “Green Berets at War”, and soon afterwards ran across a Vietnam War-era Special Forces recon team patch for sale, which I purchased. That got me started with collecting Army Special Operations items.

30 years later I have accumulated a fairly large collection of US Army Special Operations units insignia World War II to the present. My wife thinks I’m a fruitcake for accumulating all of this stuff.

I collect items pertaining to our US Army Special Operations units (Special Forces, Civil Affairs, PSYOPS, 160th SOAR, Rangers, UNPIK, SWCS, Merrill’s Marauders, FSSF, etc.) World War II to the present. I’m primarily interested in ODA team patches, metal insignia, yearbooks, guidons/flags/banners etc. I also collect US Army Parachute/Skydiving club patches.

stridertherange 10-12-2020 09:50

Introduction
 
First of all thank you guys for what you do and your service.

Here because I have the upmost respect for you guys, and like hearing what you guys think about current events.

Have the privilege of being friends with a couple guys “that work for the government” and I’ve learned to appreciate the SF mindset and try to apply it to my everyday life.

Thanks for letting me join.

M

EETCI 11-02-2020 06:44

Average American citizen without any military service. Minor assistance with LE in the past in helping drug enforcement. Just as a concerned citizen that happened to be in a position to help.

I have joined to be able to ask questions for purposes of expanding my own knowledge and curiosity, as well as to input on non-military topics where I have knowledge on.

I do manufacturing of all kinds (metal, plastics, woods, chemicals). Hobbies involving cracking ("hacking") and "social engineering", but not anywhere good at it. I just like learning about it given the increased threats we face in the digital age. I enjoy the talks and competitions at DEF CON when I can make it to Vegas. I also participate in activities like running and exploring abandoned urban territory, playing airsoft, and target shooting. I like volunteering in my home town whenever possible, which I believe is a healthier outlet than only complaining that things are going down the drain. (Although things are going down here in CA as you might imagine) If guys are risking their lives overseas to defend the country, then the least us civilians can do is to make sure the country doesn't collapse inward while they are gone.

I despise socialism/communism/globalism and any other kind of new age societal ideology. A large chunk of my family was executed by communists in Asia. While I didn't know them personally, the surviving members of my family did, and have clearly outlined the horror that happened and what they saw before escaping. Thank you to all who served, doing what needs to be done to preserve our way of life from those who threaten it, foreign or domestic. Keep up the good work.

Also to the moderator(s), people may not be finding the intro thread because the thread organization often sets to "last 10 days" rather than "beginning of time". They can see the sticky, but not the actual intro thread. If it can be set to "beginning of time" by default, that might reduce instance of people starting new threads.

Wade K 11-02-2020 07:57

2 Attachment(s)
Greetings from Australia.

My name is Wade Krawczyk and I am in my late (very late!) 50s. I was a television news cameraman, and was accredited as a military press correspondent in the 1980s. I saw a bit of two way range in Lebanon in the 1980s, and have filmed on many joint exercises with US, Australian and Allied forces. Everything from SF and Seals, to air to air refueling, aircraft carrier operations, marine beach assaults, and submarines.

I have also been a military historian and collector since the mid 1970s. I wrote five reference books on German uniforms but have now returned to studying and collecting Vietnam items. My specialities are SF (of course), Advisors, ARVN and vietnamese made berets.

At present I am lucky to own and are studying three 5th SFG groups. In case anyone has any information or knowledge of:

SFC Larry Mills (A-241 (Polei Kleng) from January, 1967 - June, 1968
dec 1971-dec 1972 Long Hai USARV training Fank

Major Robert Biddle B-32 Tay Ninh 1967 & district advisor Huong Hoa district 1971

Captain later major Simon Ecklund.
B-51 Dong Ba then Nah Trang 1964-64
1968-69 Phoenix program training centre Vung Tau.

I now work on motion pictures and television as a specialist researcher, props man & armourer. I tried to make as realistic as possible films like Hacksaw Ridge, Unbroken and the recent Australian Vietnam film 'Danger Close' the battle of Long Tan.

Thanks for your time.

Space Cadet 11-06-2020 08:15

Good Morning QP’s and Lurkers,

I am a prior service guy (11B, OEF) who did a lot of ‘ISR’ type work overseas. Since getting out I’ve been doing research for NASA while progressing my education.

I have a lot of space-related projects I’ve been working on that I think have relevancy and opportunities for ARSOF and the SF Regiment in general. I would be very interested in talking with any dudes who have friends with SWCS (or other players) who would be interested in studying how space technologies can assist the SF mission set.

As for myself, I want to be an ODA Team Leader. Badly. I am considering which commissioning option makes the most sense for continuing my education with grad school and what I can do productively until my ‘year group’ would be eligible for SFAS.

I really would love to spend sometime talking to QPs who are commissioned officers to see what options make the most sense. (AD vs NG, Aviation as a branch prior to SFAS/Captains Career Course, what I can bring to teams)

If anyone ever wants to talk Space, I’m your guy.

Durf 11-09-2020 16:52

Introduction
 
My name's Durf. 19 years old, from Mississippi, big family. I'm a Yearling at West Point, majoring in physical geography. Hoping to branch infantry and looking to learn as much as I can between now and graduation.

Joker 11-09-2020 17:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Durf (Post 663668)
My name's Durf. 19 years old, from Mississippi, big family. I'm a Yearling at West Point, majoring in physical geography. Hoping to branch infantry and looking to learn as much as I can between now and graduation.

Best of luck. Study hard and graduate. Welcome.

ROTM82 11-10-2020 17:01

Former infantryman and air defense artilleryman, currently teaching.

NavalDiplomat 12-08-2020 13:05

FAO in PACOM
 
Hey guys. Glad to be here and looking forward to jumping in.

I started may career in Submarines. God did that suck. However, after serving my first tour on a boomer, I then switched out of the community and became a PACOM FAO specializing in China. However, like most military assignments, I never was sent to China :( Much good my fluency did me in South Asia.

As a FAO, I've been an ODC Chief, Foreign Liaison, and Attaché. While stationed in Maldives and Sri Lanka, I've spent a lot of time working with Special Forces due to the location and the country requirements. I'd have to say that Maldives was my favorite, but you probably don't need convincing of that. I look forward to bringing an international perspective and hoping to learn as well.

Er390 12-15-2020 17:08

Introduction
 
Hey all I’m a Prior service marine, served 08-12, got back into the service this year by joining the army. I’m striving to serve in SF. just finished OSUT and earned an 18 X-Ray contract while here. Hoping to learn as much as possible here throughout the rest of my career.

TheZenMaster 12-23-2020 19:52

Introduction
 
My name is Dean and I am a former US Marine who served 4 years honorably. My purpose for joining this site is to keep quiet, research, and soak up as much knowledge as I can as it pertains to the path of Special Forces. Ideally this will aid greatly in my arduous pursuit of the quiet professional way of life. I wish to thank all those who contribute to running and maintaining this wealth of knowledge and for allowing me to be a fly on the wall within it.

AmbushQP 01-09-2021 16:27

Returning QP
 
I have been a member here since 10/25/2009 when the Team Sergeant welcomed me. But i have been away since sometime in 2010. since then i migrated to FB SF Brothers and our other pages. So now with all the stuff going on many of the Brothers are looking for alternate means of maintaining coms. So i am back and will be around the perimeter visiting the different bunkers.

i will be updating my profile somewhat but cautiously as i haven't caught up on how the member vetting works here.

AmbusQP

Bill Harsey 01-29-2021 11:12

This is a re-introduction.

I first joined here in 2004. It remains an honor to be part of this forum.

My day job since the early 1980's is making knives, this includes the design, engineering and metallurgy of knives for production.

It has been Special Forces Soldiers who have greatly influenced my work, from Al Mar (Al Mar Knives) to Col. Rex Applegate of the OSS and continued with my friendships and guidance from members here.

Some of you may have heard of Spartan Blades, I have been involved with those former Special Forces soldiers since before they were announced as business publically.

If it wasn't for the drive and tough mindset of Chris and Anne Reeve of Chris Reeve Knives the Yarborough Knife would never have been made as we know it today.
Anne Reeve now owns and continues run the operation with the help of their son Tim who oversees the production, machines, engineers and machinists.
Chris Reeve is retired from knifemaking. Anne Reeve has been part of the operation since day one back in South Africa.

We have an "Edged Weapons" thread here. I'll try to do a better job of updating content there.

All the best to those who do the hard work.

Bill Harsey

ps. how come this place doesn't have "like" buttons :D

SF_BHT 01-29-2021 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Harsey (Post 666648)
This is a re-introduction.

I first joined here in 2004. It remains an honor to be part of this forum.

My day job since the early 1980's is making knives, this includes the design, engineering and metallurgy of knives for production.

It has been Special Forces Soldiers who have greatly influenced my work, from Al Mar (Al Mar Knives) to Col. Rex Applegate of the OSS and continued with my friendships and guidance from members here.

Some of you may have heard of Spartan Blades, I have been involved with those former Special Forces soldiers since before they were announced as business publically.

If it wasn't for the drive and tough mindset of Chris and Anne Reeve of Chris Reeve Knives the Yarborough Knife would never have been made as we know it today.
Anne Reeve now owns and continues run the operation with the help of their son Tim who oversees the production, machines, engineers and machinists.
Chris Reeve is retired from knifemaking. Anne Reeve has been part of the operation since day one back in South Africa.

We have an "Edged Weapons" thread here. I'll try to do a better job of updating content there.

All the best to those who do the hard work.

Bill Harsey

ps. how come this place doesn't have "like" buttons :D

Bill
Because we are not Facebook :eek::p

PSM 01-29-2021 22:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by SF_BHT (Post 666672)
Bill
Because we are not Facebook :eek::p

I like that! ;)

Gypsy 01-30-2021 12:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Harsey (Post 666648)
ps. how come this place doesn't have "like" buttons :D

:munchin :D

Good to see you Bill!!

GrindBox 01-31-2021 20:04

I’m 16, working full-time under a painting contractor. I’m trying to absorb all the information that I can so that I can succeed on the path to being a green beret.

mark46th 02-01-2021 10:10

Make sure you graduate from High School !!! After that start taking some college courses before you enlist.

Hummer 02-07-2021 15:44

Introduction by Hummer
 
The first person I knew in Group was Capt Lawrence W. Dring Jr formerly 77th. 1st, 5th, 7th, and 46th Co. We met in an airport in Spartanburg, SC We struck up a conversation and he came over to the skydiver hut which was next to main terminal. I gave him a ride home and we hit it off big.
He had been discharged from Walter Reed after he got shot up after being fragged in TET 68 (he was II Corps Mike Force and worked for Col Bob Brown) and since he did not have a degree and needed extensive rehab the Army sent him to Wofford College to get a degree.


He convinced me I should go to college so at 22 I started. He got his degree in 2 1/2 yrs and he tried to extend for another 1 1/2 years and was denied and he got sent to 46th Co.


When he left for 46th he had five Purples and when he got back he had more scars than when he left. One of which he got 3 clicks from Chinese Border.
I had been declared 4F when I turned 18 when signed up for the draft. I tried to get into a MP Co with SC Guard and made a 98 on the ASVAB so I was sent to Ft. Jackson for physical. Some low life retd NG HQ type badmouthed my enlistment.

I had already been competing in the National Smallbore Prone Championships for years and held a Master Rating and in 1973 I started high power competition with my first HP match at Camp Perry with Sgt Earl Waterman who was ARMY MTU and a sniper in Nam. In 1975 I made the 1976 US Palma Team and we won the Palma Trophy Team Match at Camp Perry competing against, England, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and others from West Indies.
I shot competition until 2013 when I got rear ended and had my neck fused which ended my competition. Guess I was fairly good, as when I quit I also held High Master NRA HP, won US Palma Trophy twice, Centenary Trophy once, Distinguished HP rifle #519 and made President's Hundred twice placing 12th and 99th. Also won three NRA National Police Championships and made the US Dewar Team twice and several regional HP rifle championships. In 82 I was on US Dewar and US Palma Team at the same time. To my knowledge no one else has done so.


Larry Dring got transferred to Bragg after he got back from 46th and I would drive up to see him. His son and me keep in touch. He is now a retired 05.
I graduated USC in 75 and the educational funding I was on required me to stay with my agency for two years after last course completed. In 1977 I started looking at federal positions and decided to try for a federal investigator position and a 05 I was shooting with one weekend gave me advice on how to fill out SF 171 form which was to list as references the three highest ranking people I knew in the government. I knew a weapons engineer for the Army since I was 11 as he and my Dad shot together since the 40s so I tracked him down and called him and asked him if I could list him as a reference.


He told me I could and asked what I was applying for and he stated my skills/knowledge would help the Army far better than I could as a federal investigator and long story short he called the Army Small Cal Weapons Lab at Picatinny Arsenal and recommended me and I got the job. Only then did I find out my friend at Rock Island was not only a wheel but was a Ferris wheel in the Army small arms community.


First off I was assigned to Product Engineering. Once a weapon system is tested and fielded the designers of it are no longer involved in case changes are needed and those changes are brought about by Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs) and or Product Improvement (PIP) and the change is added in the Tech Data Package which consists of all the drawings required to manufacture that weapon along with all the fixtures utilized in their production. Very few weapon systems are "sanitary" which means they are continually changed and each change is listed as a revision on the drawing and issued a letter to designate such thus a changed drawing will have Revision A, B, C. I have seen drawings that revisions were in the AA range.


After my initial training by a guy that was phenomenal and I shall never forget what he told me the first day which was:
1. The latrine is at the end of the hall.
2. The Coffee pot is in bosses office.
3. We don't sign off on anything to make a vendor happy, we are here to get the absolute best we can for the troops and nothing less--IS THAT CLEAR??
Thus that is how i was trained. He was a old bachelor and I was not married so we rented the third floor of a large house in Milford, Pa for three years.
Within about five months I was assigned Product Engineering Responsibility for all rifles, shotguns, sub-machineguns in the Army with the exception of the M16. Subsequently I was assigned catastrophic failure investigation for M16 rifles. We had a blown up M16 come in about every five months.


A presentation was put together for the House Armed Services Committee in order to ask for 1.8 million to build four prototypes for demonstrations to our armed forces and I was one of the ones to help with the effort.


We got the funding which initiated the Dover Devil Special Projects Group and the Chief of the Small Cal Lab asked me to come to the group and I was tasked with making sure we had everything we needed before we needed it thus I was on the road or in the air transporting the materials back to Picatinny Arsenal as needed.
Once the four prototypes were finished a series of presentations to the Army and USMC were conducted. I was re- tasked to presentations at Fort Knox, Ft. Benning , Quantico and the Naval Academy where presentations were made by the two chief designers to General Officers for the first three. I made the presentation at the Naval Academy.


The first presentation was made at Ft Benning as pictured below.
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/thr...project.19011/
That is me firing it in the first thread when site is opened and pictures I added below of the system disassembled.


Then the Chief of the Small Cal Lab got a referral from congress from a mother whose son told her his M16A1 wasn't working in middle eastern dust. The Chief called Aberdeen Proving Ground to run a dust test to ascertain if design revisions had affected the operational characteristics. He was advised that they could get to it in two years. He asked me to drive my 3/4 ton truck down to Aberdeen and pick up 200 lbs of official test dust and I did so.


While at Aberdeen I was introduced to the Branch Chief of the Small Arms and Ammo Test Branch and he offered me a job as Small Arms Test Director and I took it for three reasons. First the Dover Devil program was winding down and our team would be going back to previous duties and the fun would have been over, two the chance of becoming a Certified Small Arms and Ammo Test Director was a once in a lifetime chance and three I would only be 500 miles from home instead of 715 miles so I could take off in the afternoon, drive half way home and sleep in the back of my truck, get up and be home by noon the following day. Last I heard there have only been about 75 people with a small arms and ammo certification bestowed on them since WW2. I accepted the position.
I was certified in about eight months and my first full test was to conduct the technical feasibility testing for the M16A1E1 (adopted as M16A2) in 1983 by USMC and Army. The USMC Project Manager wanted to interview the named test director as he wanted him to possess specific skills and I was directed to go to TECOM HQ for a meeting and went. I walked in and Maj Bruce Wincentsen USMC was the only one there and when we saw each other we both started grinning as we knew each other and had shot together for years. The interview lasted about 30 seconds after he found out I was going to be his test director and he asked me one question: "What's your home phone number?" "Here's mine."


That test consumed 244,000+ rounds and lasted about a year. As that test wound down I got a call from the Army Materials Systems Analysis Agency (AMSAA) from Lt. Col Buck Weaver (retd) who wanted me to conduct testing on the first AK-74 to come into the US possession. It was a close hold operation and they wanted it tested on the weekends when very few people were around and it was done down range where no one would see what we were doing. Buck took the targets with him every day and placed in their secure area. I did not get released to talk about it until 2016 as the first two reports are still classified and a third one has been released. See below.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=16L...nhtFG8hLfGoDFg


Following that the AMSAA Analyst Weaver called me again and I was asked to lay out what the requirements should be to develop a 50 cal sniper rifle capable of MOA at 1500 yards. I told him immediately there was no Cal 50 ammo capable of such a small dispersion in our inventory and laid out other problems he was going to run into. Ultimately this led to the development of the 338 Lapua Magnum.
About that same time frame I was called by a contact I had in US Secret Service who told me he and another recommended me for a position with another agency who wanted a ordnance type which would only be 300 miles from home and I accepted. I now wish I had never accepted it but I had come to realize certain management at the Proving Ground did not possess what had been instilled in me which is reflected in item No 3 above.


Other friends that were in group are SGM Kaiser Thomas 10th(deceased), SGM William Atkinson 10th who I keep in touch with, SGM Brion Remington 10th who I keep in touch with and M/ Sgt Joe Owens Medic in Group who called me a few days ago.

Finally Lt Col Brown, SOF Magazine recommended me for NRA Board of Directors
https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/...f-355cf36fd43f page 6 Command Guidance

Winnebago 02-28-2021 10:11

21 Y/O Guard Soldier, 13B. Been enlisted for 3 years. Training every day for selection, going to go through SFRE in April. Really glad I found this forum, there's so much info and answers to a lot of the questions I have.

I've wanted to go SOF when I was in BCT and fell in love with the Army. At a point in my career where I believe I'm mature enough to take a shot at selection. My unit has not deployed in 12 years and I'm not eligible for any volunteer deployments (nobody likes Arty I guess), but I have been on my states Full Time Honor Guard team for 2 years.

Thanks for reading.

Bigmarty 03-02-2021 15:08

New User
 
Good afternoon QPs,

probably a little older than most newbies here, at 28. Previously a college athlete and currently pursuing an 18(c) contract. Grateful for the endless knowledge here and looking forward to continuing to learn all I can.

ChristianPA 03-20-2021 17:04

Introduction
 
Pre-Physician Assistant Student (interested in emergency medicine) and current PTA in a rehabilitation hospital, with the intent to serve my country and its protectors in the PA National Guard (Interested in working with an SF 19th/20th unit after a few years of service).

Due to my current status as a student, I'm going to stay out of everyone's way for now until I prove myself through my future career. Appreciate the opportunity to learn from all y'all QP's and Professional Soldiers.

RobGraham 03-27-2021 07:23

Hi I am Rob Graham, director of Savage Game Design Ltd. a United Kingdom based video game studio, working with the Special Operations Association and many ex-MACV SOG veterans and airmen to bring their stories to life.

Here to ask pertinent questions towards our goals.
Open to questions from all SF veterans and people interested in SF.

You are welcome to check my credentials any time via SOA president Doug Godshall, or former SOA president John Stryker Meyer (both MACV SOG RT leaders).

Thanks for allowing me to participate in your community.

wizardofoz 03-31-2021 19:08

Introduction - Oz
 
Hello,

My name is Nate. My friends call me Oz (Never be a kid from kansas and wear read shoes lol). Graduating from Community College in December. Currently in the progress of going into the DEP for the 18X contract. Super stoked to be able to learn from the community! Thank you all for this forum and the opportunity to be apart of it!

- Oz

WarriorDisciple 04-08-2021 10:57

Introduction
 
Hello,
First, I am thankful to be here and learn all I can from the leaders, Men, and Women that are in this community. Thank you for the opportunity and growth.
Second, My name is Adam. I am in the reserves at the moment with aspirations to pursue my military career further. I am thirty years old out of Colorado and have the support of an amazing wife.
Lastly, I look forward to learning from many of you and growing from the wealth of knowledge in this venture.

Adam

Romans 12

Fozzy B. 04-20-2021 20:36

Introduction
 
Hello,

I'm 37 and a husband and father of three in the Midwest. Despite the challenges that come with those realities, I'm considering joining the service. I'm thankful for this forum and site as it has provided invaluable information from very helpful people.

If you're reading this - the moderators are right: Read every post in the forums before asking questions. All of the questions I've had have been so far answered by existing posts, as well as questions I hadn't thought to ask.

Joker 04-20-2021 20:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fozzy B. (Post 668657)
Hello,

I'm 37 and a husband and father of three in the Midwest. Despite the challenges that come with those realities, I'm considering joining the service. I'm thankful for this forum and site as it has provided invaluable information from very helpful people.

If you're reading this - the moderators are right: Read every post in the forums before asking questions. All of the questions I've had have been so far answered by existing posts, as well as questions I hadn't thought to ask.

Welcome and best of luck.

cluster550 04-22-2021 19:21

Hello,

As you all can see I’ve been a lurker for a little while. I first ran across this forum when I was considering enlisting, and while that never happened, this site had a significant impact on my mindset back then. I’ve enjoyed popping in and skimming posts occasionally ever since.

Between using the search button and generally not having much of value to add to threads, I never felt the need to post, but I did find a thread I felt I should chime in on...

oldbandit 04-23-2021 04:37

Hi everyone!

26 years old and preparing for MEPs with hopes of getting an 18x contract. Spent most of my early life in military housing surrounded by personnel (Father served in the Navy for 21 as GM), now I would like to serve my country as well. I have been skulking the boards here for a little over a month before I created an account, just trying to absorb as much as possible from the discussions here. I don't like to talk about myself much so I hope this is intro will suffice.

Yonatan 04-24-2021 19:02

Introduction
 
Hello everyone,

I'm 20 and from the Pacific Northwest. I'm on this forum to learn more about the lifestyle of a quiet professional, and to prepare as best I can for selection.

I'm a licensed private pilot and qualified as an Incident Commander, mainly for water rescue, diving, and salvage operations. I currently speak English and Hebrew, although I'm working on my Arabic.

My interest in joining the teams comes from two great men I had to learn from, one who served in the teams in Vietnam, and the second who worked as a contractor for State in East Africa. Hearing the few stories they could tell me sparked my interest in that kind of work and the extraordinary people who perform it.

Thanks for reading, and I hope to learn a lot being here.

Little Muddy 05-05-2021 14:57

Intro
 
I enlisted a few years ago in hopes of serving my country, but my old unit didn't get that opportunity, so I went to selection. One step down, one thousand to go.

I want to contribute as much as possible wherever I get assigned. But with America shifting focus to the East, I'm having a hard time moving on with the sense of guilt from not doing my part in GWOT. So I'm here searching for wisdom and direction.

Thank you.

7624U 05-05-2021 19:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little Muddy (Post 668933)
I enlisted a few years ago in hopes of serving my country, but my old unit didn't get that opportunity, so I went to selection. One step down, one thousand to go.

I want to contribute as much as possible wherever I get assigned. But with America shifting focus to the East, I'm having a hard time moving on with the sense of guilt from not doing my part in GWOT. So I'm here searching for wisdom and direction.

Thank you.

The GWOT is old news figure out how to fight a real Army without getting fixed with self guided munitions, (Hint) your radio is not your friend use it sparingly for all you new recruits.

(Wisdom) someone did it many times before you joined the military so it can be done ;).
(Direction) strait in front of you one foot in front of the other !

NoInterestInJAG 05-17-2021 14:38

Introduction
 
Hello All,
I just turned 29 and am a foreign-born naturalized citizen. I am currently working in a city government position in Monterey County, after getting an English degree, as well as two law degrees (JD and LLM). I have been wanting to join the Army (specifically SF) for almost my entire adult life, but my son was born during my final year in college. At the time, I was informed that the Army did not offer single parents FCP's (family care plan), and that reserves or guard was the only option. They also kept pushing me to try JAG since I had been accepted to law school. I opted instead to go to law school, but ultimately knew it would not make me happy. I ended up playing college tennis in the states, and then played college basketball during my LLM in Scotland, so it wasn't a total loss. The money I make now is great, but I do not feel fulfilled by the work, and I hate the sedentary nature of the work involved. I went down to the recruiter earlier this year and he informed me that the Army was offering FCP's and I took the ASVAB just last week. I scored in the 99th percentile with a GT score of 136 or 138 (there were a bunch of numbers that came up and these were two of them that had G and T, sorry for not being specific). I was offered the 18x and will be accepting soon, I just don't like the July ship date due to a wedding I must attend in August and my son's birthday early September, so I will be waiting for the next ship date. Reading all of these posts has been very helpful in crafting a running program, and I love reading the success stories as well. I am hoping to make it through and be a part of this remarkable brotherhood.
Thank you,
Not Interested in JAG

Joker 05-17-2021 19:56

Welcome and the best of luck.

NoInterestInJAG 05-17-2021 22:17

Thank you, it is humbling to hear the support

ArmyBrat1980 05-20-2021 19:48

Hello
 
Hello, I'm a 41 year old grocery store manager. Married with two kids. I grew up at Fort Bragg until 1987 when my father was killed in action. I joined to search for others that may have served with him, since I never got the chance to know him that well. Thanks.

CowboyMedicine 06-06-2021 07:24

Tight 360
 
Retired Physician Assistant. Spent time as an 18D student before going to the dark side, commissioning. Back as a PA with 528th Resuscitation Teams and as a Company Commander at JSOMTC (SWMG). Now consulting with a SOCOM project requiring former 18D and SOCMs to instruct prolonged field care (now prolonged casualty care) in the SOCMSSC / SFMSSSC.

Appreciate this forum and all of those within.

TheRookie64 06-07-2021 19:54

Intro
 
Hello everyone. I'd first like to thank everyone who contributes to the info on this site, as it helps those who come upon this site with open minds make the correct decision.

I am currently an Aeronautical Engineer in Texas, a little over a year out of college. While I am mostly happy with the job (sitting indoors with no windows for 11-14 hrs per day NOT included), I am constantly aware of my desire to serve and that the "right" time to join will never come. I "tried" to join a local NG unit in college, but my recruiter was injured and was no-contact for months. When he later contacted me to resume the process, I had already accepted my current job offer.

I am drawn towards trying out for SF because I have always volunteered for the harder tasks, as by doing so I knew I would come out the other side a more capable individual. I forced myself to finish college a year early by taking more than the full load of courses and not taking any summer or winter off, all while putting 30+ hrs/wk into my extracurricular design team. These efforts were rewarded in my job interview where I had to distinguish myself from the hundreds who had already interviewed that day for the same position. Additionally, I am interested by the wide range of skills that each team member must bring to the table. Back in high school, I spread my experiences across the whole spectrum; there was a period in time where after school I'd go to football practice, then theater, then work on robotics, and I might be home by midnight. Being a well-rounded individual has always and will continue to be important to me.

I also see trying out for the more difficult jobs to be a responsibility of those who feel they could do the profession justice. I take national security very seriously, and would deeply regret letting the teams have an inadequate supply of good members just so that I could remain in my comparably cushy job. Simply put: If not me, then who?

I am currently focusing on improving my PT, as I did the "wrong" sports and played the "wrong" positions in HS (Football... DT, Track & Field... throwing), and didn't devote enough time in college to getting better physically. Once I hit those goals, I plan on contacting B Co 3/20th to start the process, as they are the closest unit to where I grew up and where I plan on moving my civilian job back to after my attempt at the pipeline is made. Being away from family for extended periods of time is fine, but permanently leaving is something I'd like to avoid. Appreciation for being around family/friends was something that moving halfway across the country alone during COVID taught me the hard way.

Lastly, I'd like to thank all the QP's. Your conduct and actions I have seen and read about both on this forum and in many other places is what inspires young guys like me to follow in your footsteps and do the profession proud.

Now I will return to reading and listening, as I have no questions at the moment, and lots of PT to do.

zuck 06-15-2021 17:29

Intro
 
Hello everyone, I am a 26 y/o joining the PA guard as a 11b. My plan is to attend a SFRE in WV or Ohio down the road. I am excited to get the process rolling and to serve with great people. Ready to learn.

Roguish Lawyer 06-16-2021 18:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowboyMedicine (Post 669462)
Retired Physician Assistant. Spent time as an 18D student before going to the dark side, commissioning. Back as a PA with 528th Resuscitation Teams and as a Company Commander at JSOMTC (SWMG). Now consulting with a SOCOM project requiring former 18D and SOCMs to instruct prolonged field care (now prolonged casualty care) in the SOCMSSC / SFMSSSC.

Appreciate this forum and all of those within.

Welcome, Cowboy!


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