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Sat Jun 29, 2013 2:43 pm

It's cool to think that even just with BCT and AIT that I'll be going to places I don't think I ever would have gone to otherwise. I have no idea what they have in store for me afterwards, but a 6 year contract, I'm sure I'll be seeing plenty. As far as the height and weight requirements go, I weighed in at 172 lbs and ~ 5' 9". So I'm "over weight" for my height, but after taping, I'm ~15% body fat..BCT's maximum is 26% and then it drops down to 20% after BCT. I'm no longer concerned with my weight and what chub I have left, the Army will get rid of. And yesterdays 1 mile time was 6:36..So I'm on par with running too. I'm very excited to go and become a soldier!

Sun Mar 16, 2014 7:13 am

Figured I'd report now that I'm in. I did my 10 weeks of basic at Fort Jackson, and will forever remember that experience! Graduated in mid February and am currently in week 5 of AIT here at Fort Eustis, VA. It's been a good experience and the best choice I could have made for myself. I'm waiting for my orders to my first duty station, hoping for Fort Carson, Colorado. With all the combat aviation brigades pulling out of A'stan, I'll likely be going at the end of the year to see that the rest of the Chinooks are ready to go home. My MOS wound up being 15U - Chinook helicopter repairer. I'm glad to be part of that instead of a Blackhawk repairer. No helicopter holds a candle to the Chinook! I'm also preparing to go in front of a pre-NCO board this winter as a PFC so I can fast track to E-5 and crew on a bird when the time comes. Thank you for anyone else who has served and happens across this thread. I'm proud to say I now serve with you and am no longer talking the talk, but walking the walk!

Sun Mar 16, 2014 7:56 am

Congrats and I hope you get Ft. Carson. Co. Springs is a great town, I lived there 14 years.

Sun Mar 16, 2014 8:25 am

Patterbon - take advantage of every opportunity you get. Network and keep your ears open - that is often the way I have found out about opportunities that the military don't often tell you. Everyone is your friend but it doesn't mean you have to hang around them. People have joined for different reasons - stay away from those that joined for the wrong reason. Hooah!

Sun Mar 16, 2014 11:55 am

PatterBon wrote: Figured I'd report now that I'm in. I did my 10 weeks of basic at Fort Jackson, and will forever remember that experience! Graduated in mid February and am currently in week 5 of AIT here at Fort Eustis, VA. It's been a good experience and the best choice I could have made for myself. I'm waiting for my orders to my first duty station, hoping for Fort Carson, Colorado. With all the combat aviation brigades pulling out of A'stan, I'll likely be going at the end of the year to see that the rest of the Chinooks are ready to go home. My MOS wound up being 15U - Chinook helicopter repairer. I'm glad to be part of that instead of a Blackhawk repairer. No helicopter holds a candle to the Chinook! I'm also preparing to go in front of a pre-NCO board this winter as a PFC so I can fast track to E-5 and crew on a bird when the time comes. Thank you for anyone else who has served and happens across this thread. I'm proud to say I now serve with you and am no longer talking the talk, but walking the walk!

Congrats, now get a combat patch....

Sun Mar 16, 2014 12:46 pm

One of the prior service members here crewed on a chinook and was telling us about how he earned his CAB. It's some crazy stuff that goes down in Afghanistan. But being part of a flight crew is what I want to do and am setting myself up for! Thank you for the support, guys!

Sun Mar 16, 2014 12:49 pm

PatterBon wrote: One of the prior service members here crewed on a chinook and was telling us about how he earned his CAB. It's some crazy stuff that goes down in Afghanistan. But being part of a flight crew is what I want to do and am setting myself up for! Thank you for the support, guys!

right on, that's the attitude. Just be wary of the "war" stories you hear. If they know you haven't been it tends to be exaggerated. Ive been to Iraq and Afghanistan and the only thing I tell people is that it sucked.

Sun Mar 16, 2014 5:37 pm

Congratulations! I wish I could rewind the clock and do what you are.

I was 2% off body fat for basic when the towers fell. I scored ridiculously high on asvab and was due to hit a boat after 2 years of school as an electronics tech. I had a hiring bonus for being a technician already and was to begin service with e4 pay and baq.

All that disappeared because times of high patriotic call fill quotas,as my recruiter said.

When bodies become more important than brains you don't want to be one of the bodies. My favorite captain quoted me this. Not wanting to be a body kept me out.

Sun Mar 16, 2014 8:21 pm

Low_Slow wrote:
right on, that's the attitude. Just be wary of the "war" stories you hear. If they know you haven't been it tends to be exaggerated. Ive been to Iraq and Afghanistan and the only thing I tell people is that it sucked.

This for sure...

CAB's are given out if you hear an IED, the pogs give them away like candy. If you're in a bird and deploy you'll get one right away. They love to shoot at the birds with small arms for some reason and you'll hear the rounds plinking off the bottom. The deployments are getting few and far between now so go if you can. I got injured in Iraq this last time around and I just got medically retired. Congrats on finishing basic, the board you are going to sounds like the soldier of the month board, go to it. Try to get an AAM or two while you're a private it looks good. When you get to your first duty station stand at parade rest for specialists until they tell you not to, cover your battle buddy's ass and they'll cover you. You have any questions ask a buddy first and don't do dumb shit they are chaptering fools left and right because of the budget cuts.

P.S. Any NCO worth a shit has had an Article 15. Don't be the douchebag dick suck.

Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:53 pm

I left basic as an APS and I'm a squad leader here at AIT. We have an E5 into class and he's awesome for information on becoming an NCO. I always give NCOs their respect. We even have a corporal in are class and my XO is a CW2. I'm getting a lot of good experience. I'm also shooting for an AAM here. I have the highest GPA in my class and getting out of here without a negative counseling will be easy. I also am in the top 10 in the platoon for PT score too. So once my remaining 12 weeks are up, I should be leaving here with 3 ribbons and my aviation wings. The SPC here who has his CAB has go pro videos of some of the flights where their helicopter was being shot at and it's intense as all hell. Happy he's here and safe. Sounds like we won't be in Afghanistan much longer and who knows what Russia is doing, but I'm as ready as I can be for when the day comes and I may go. Looking and getting my duty station this week. If all goes well and I work hard, I can crew as a PFC. And that's the goal! I'm knocking out SSD1 right now too, the more, the better!

Mon Mar 17, 2014 10:29 pm

Getting plinked at while flying isn't as intense as you might think. The bottoms are armored and they have to get pretty lucky to put a good one through the door opening. I was an 11B so I used to ride in them on occasion but didn't spend my life with one like you will.

Mon Mar 17, 2014 10:52 pm

You guys are the back bone. I'll forever envy the infantry and what they do. Only interaction I've had with an infantry man was my senior drill sergeant who came in near the end of are cycle. You get a really strong appreciation for some one when your first interaction with them is them sitting on a desk jangling around the 4 bullets pulled from their body and yet they're still here and volunteering to train you. I chose aviation since it's something I've been into for awhile, being a pilot and ex mechanic. And if I do everything right, I can make it in the civilian world as a technical inspector as a contractor or go on to Boeing. I am excited for these next 6 years and perhaps further if I do well in climbing the ladder.

Tue Mar 18, 2014 1:08 am

lawn ninja wrote:
P.S. Any NCO worth a shit has had an Article 15. Don't be the douchebag dick suck.

Ha! not true.

15 yrs in, every crew who has worked for me knows that I am not one to be fucked with. I may be a hard ass some times but they reap the benefits in the end. Something goes sour, I'm right there busting my knuckles and working my ass off--right next to them. I actually give a shit about my people and don't use them as a stepping stone to move up.

Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:52 am

We just had some of the power of the NCOIC at the hangar exercised some of his power on us. Latrine was neglected, we spend the last week during break time and class intermission standing at parade rest not saying a word. It got extended a few days because not everyone's feet were areas right dress at one of the accountability formations. And people liked to talk despite being warned not to. Amazing how many shitbags have made it this far.

Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:15 am

Can't tell you anything about the Army as I served 20 years in the Navy. But I do have one piece of advice........

Do your best at everything you do. Even if it is cleaning out the head - you call it the latrine - excel at it. Superiors love a hard charger.

And I'm down here in Norfolk if you want to get together and compare VW's.

Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:53 pm

I'll be down in Norfolk 2 weeks from now. Being in TRADOC, I'm not allowed to have my car here, but I'd love to see a vw!

Sun Mar 23, 2014 8:42 am

Well thank you for your service. That goes for everyone here too that have already served.

I was USAF -coz I could not do the running. Would have prefered the marines but...

My younger bro was ARmy ...and USMC later on. Complicated story for him but my brother had the worst luck. He was a sniper in both services. Happy we do not have to do that anymore.

My piece of advice to you is most important - YOU SERVE HONORABLY! The military is the perfect place for making easy felons.

There will be jobs you will not like. There will be people over you that you will not like. The dick-wad NCOs..or XOs. Some are just born that way I suppose. Oh..you will have plenty of friends, and they will help you get by the tough times. But you always do the job to the best of your ability.

If you are looking for medals or glory, there will be plenty of that. But don't get your buddy's head blown off trying to be gung-ho..or go-getter...or "hard-charger"..whathaveya. Use your common-sense! I had told this to my brother when he went to war. Now I am telling you.

YOu be careful, and think about what you are doing. WE are expected to follow lawful orders. But we are also expected to exercise good judgment. I hope you don't end up w/ a moron for NCO.

My NCOs were from the old-school Vietnam vets. Our mission is a little different from yours (ARMY), but we all chew some of the same bullshit sometimes.

Good luck, shoot straight, and always cover your ass!

Fri Mar 28, 2014 2:28 pm

After 21 years of service I found out that volunteering will get you 2 things. Either many other opportunities to volunteer or dead if there happens to be any combat going on anywhere.

Oh by the way, Fort Leonard Wood is a breeze compared to some of the duty.

Forget about getting the job you wanted. The MOS doesn't mean squat when they decide to use you for you least favorite job. Your ass belongs to Uncle Sam.

Sat Mar 29, 2014 5:53 pm

Right now being in school, I'm having a blast learning my job. Last week I tested out of airframe and environmental systems with a 100% and plan to do the same with my current block of instruction, fuel and electrical. This was my first weekend as phase 5, so I got to wear civilian clothes and go off post, it was an absolute blast! Most of our instructors told us if you keep your nose clean and do your job well, you'll have no problems getting into a flight platoon. Still don't know my duty station yet, but I have plenty of time still to worry about that. I hold the classes highest gpa with a 95.63% and am student leadership too. So I'm doing well here. Working on these helicopters is a privilege and I'm very happy that 15U ended up being my MOS. I'm almost half way there! Next week will be week 7 of 16 and it's flying by! I also hold the 13th highest PT score in the company too, so I'm recognized for how well I'm doing by the platoon sergeants! Things have been up and down this past week, but as you all have said, welcome to the military!

Thu Apr 03, 2014 10:29 am

Tested out of Fuel and Electrical yesterday. Got a 100% on the hands on portion and a 97.14% on the written. Only missed one question! I've ran away with the highest GPA in the class! We move into hydraulics these next two weeks!