I have been considering the military for awhile now and have a few questions. I want to still be able to live my civilian life but still serve my country. To better understand my situation I should probably give you some background info.

I'm twenty one and have a full time job and have some college experience under my belt. I don't need the money nor do I need money for college. So why do I want join as so many people ask? I want to make an impact on this country and serve this country because it feels like the right thing to do. My drive to join? Seeing all of these soldiers my age get deployed going thru heck while I sit at my desk job (Dispatcher for Sheriffs Office) I want to be right there with our boys fighting this war.

I went to my local recruiter which is an Infantry unit and talked with him. He was a no BS recruiter. At the end of the conversation I told him I needed more time to think about it and he said thats fine I won't bother until you decide to join.

Now my question is, even though all of you guys go through hell and back everyday is 11B worth it? To me just wearing the uniform with U.S. Army on it would be fullfilling enough. Also BCT would be in Ft. Benning. Does the NG go through the same training as Active Duty? What I mean by this is do they do all of the training at once? Thank you guys for taking the time to read this and most of all THANK YOU for going through hell and putting your life at risk everyday.

quote:

Originally posted by nomad1508:
So why do I want join as so many people ask?

You won't find many people here who'd ask.

Anybody who would wouldn't understand, anyway.

quote:

Now my question is, even though all of you guys go through hell and back everyday is 11B worth it?

Yes.

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Does the NG go through the same training as Active Duty?

Yes. There's a "split option" where the training is split into two summers, but I'm not sure how it works. I went through OSUT with NG guys who went all the way.

Good luck.

PepeLep thank you for the positive response. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about when I say people ask why do you want to join the military or 11B at that? Glad I found a place where people understand. Also I'm glad its worth it. Makes me even more motivated to join. I'm going to get ahold of my recruiter after the holiday weekend and see what we can work out. I'll keep you guys informed on my journey.

Also I have the same post in Reserve and NG forum, maybe it best fits there so one of them can be deleted if a Mod see's this. Thanks nomad1508

quote:

Originally posted by PepeLep:

Yes. There's a "split option" where the training is split into two summers, but I'm not sure how it works. I went through OSUT with NG guys who went all the way.

Good luck.

Yes, NG and Active guys train together if you go through OSUT (One Station Unit Training). The split option is mostly for highschool students. They attend the first portion (just BCT) while they are still 17, you return to your home, finish highschool, turn 18 then you return for AIT.

My suggestion DO NOT DO SPLIT OPS. I know people that did it and they say it is terrible. You have worse training, and you don't get the whole experience. On top of that you spend 9 months not being MOSQ so you don't get any training with your unit either.

as for the Infantry being worth it...in short? YES

I don't plan on doing the split ops, I'd rather do it all at once and be actually be qualified. Plus with what you are saying I'd rather do it all at once and have good training than waiting and having to go back. Glad Infantry is worth it to you as well...Can't wait to go, can't wait to put in the work and serve.

11 Series Soldiers are wusses. Everyone knows 92As are the backbone of the Army !

quote:

Originally posted by 300_Spartans:
11 Series Soldiers are wusses. Everyone knows 92As are the backbone of the Army !

I'll bet this former 11H can outrun you now.

Pepe,

The reason the run took a lot out of you is probably you were not conditioned for it. In the 1980's I would run every third night on my own around 10:30 - 11:00 p.m. and it did wonders for me on the Company run. Also, after PT in the morning I would shower then sleep for another 30-40 min.....that did wonders for rest of the Duty Day.

With modern technology it is even easier now (as a civilian). You can buy a wrist mount GPS unit and keeps a running status for you of calories burned, distance run, average per mile pace, etc. Makes it a lot easier then the Army runs of the 1980's when you didn't have a clue how far you ran or how you were doing.

You don't know what your missing. It's great to be able to eat desserts when I want and not gain weight. Gives me a good tactical business advantage because I can watch my coworkers grow more obeese while I maintain or drop weight (heh-heh).

quote:

Originally posted by ErichG2:
The reason the run took a lot out of you is probably you were not conditioned for it.

I think it's because running sucks.

It doesn't matter how much I do it. The more I do it, the worse I feel. I ran track and cross country in high school. I loved sprinting/hated running then, too. I just don't like it. I enjoyed humping, and I still like to walk. I feel a lot better since I quit running a long, long time ago.

You don't have to like it to max the PT test, though. You just have to do it.

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In the 1980's I would run every third night on my own around 10:30 - 11:00 p.m.

I ran a lot at night, too. It was usually away from MPs. That was sprinting...and I never got caught.


The only two runs (past a quarter mile) that I ever felt good on in my life were the first PT test at Ft. Carson and my first PT test in the Reserves. I felt great on those. It's not that I felt GOOD...it's just that I didn't feel like I was going to die. They're also the two runs I took when I hadn't run in quite a while. I didn't own a vehicle and was walking five or six miles a day while I was in the Reserves. That's the best shape I've ever been in.

When I was running all the time I felt horrible.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: PepeLep,

Well I called my recruiter today and I'm meeting with him at nine in the morning. I'm pretty impressed with his fast response and no BS attitude. I was just letting you guys know that I did call him like I said I was going to do. I also have another question....What are some pretty important things I should remember before going to BCT? Army alphabet, chain of command, ranks....etc?

quote:

Originally posted by nomad1508:
Well I called my recruiter today and I'm meeting with him at nine in the morning. I'm pretty impressed with his fast response and no BS attitude. I was just letting you guys know that I did call him like I said I was going to do. I also have another question....What are some pretty important things I should remember before going to BCT? Army alphabet, chain of command, ranks....etc?

I am doing your research for you here because I read the WTC forums but these are the two things they say in the WTC forum that are important for prior service at WTC....I'm sure it translates to BCT as well.

1. Soldiers Creed.

2. Seven Army Values.

The above is news to me but I guess they are important now.

The things you mentioned are optional, IMO you really do not need to learn them before hand as they will teach it to you. It is also the Phonetic Alphabet not the Army Alphabet.

Concentrate on the PT scores as well as your body weight before you ship.

I need to use the search button....sorry about that I got a little carried away on the questions. Thank you for the replies though

Ive been to Ft. Benning Georgia for 11B training, I did split ops, I went right after I turned 17 Im in the National Guard and the Soilders Creed is a really big deal also the Seven Army Values, and if you wont to know about the difficult level I give it a 9.5 out 10, you learn fast what to do and what not to do, but people will mess up BAD and everyone gets in trouble for it, just look forward to ALOT of push ups, and for me the hardest things were the road marches because they made us put our IBA along with other stuff to make it more heavier, but good luck!