Let me start off by saying I was released from USAF basic training with an ELS (Entry Level Separation). I was given an adjustment disorder w / depressed mood diagnosis and discharged under service code - JFX personality disorder. I had a breakdown and threaten ed to 'go postal and kill everyone' a big no no under the UCMJ.
My MTI (Military Training Instructor) was actually kicked off my flight for maltraining. Out of respect for those proudly serving I will not discuss brutal details, let's just say that during the first week of basic a trainee sliced himself up so bad with a razor blade that the showering facilities were covered in blood. Long story short, he hated me from day one because I had a college degree but could not adapt to the military. Before you make the mistake of judging me as another screw up consider what it takes for an MTI, DI, or DS -all the same, different branches - to actually get fired for abusive tactics and face court martial.
I will somewhat proudly admit I was not military material. If you have a college degree but cannot enlist as an officer, don't enlist. Why do I say this:
College teaches to ask questions, the military teaches to follow orders without question
Less than 5% of enlisted troops have higher education, meaning your the oddball that has something the others don't and some are jealous
If they don't like you they will try to force you into a physical confrontation either with recruits or MTIs. If you do engage you go to jail (CC) and have to earn the right to be abused more.
An older 23 year old mind is much harder to mold than a younger 17 year old mind. You may be too set in your ways. They try to use 'patriotism' as a guise for systematic reprogramming utilizing 'us vs. Them' logic. The military needs people willing to kill terrorists the enemy.in college you are taught respect for life so you will invariably have a difficult time with this thought process.
If you do not fear them you will hate them which can lead to unpleasantness. It's hard to say 'yes sir, trainee dips^it reports as ordered' when your thinking of smacking someone in the jaw.
Believe me when basic goes wrong its no cakewalk and the pain physical, mental, and emotional is quite real. Nothing quite like running 45 minutes on three days with no sleep because your MTI gave you 5 nights of dorm guard (0000-0200 shift) to 'get you right'. When I talked to my former wingmen (there was a competition with all squadrons, separations-casual company-319th was invited) many said they were surprised I made it up to Warrior Week just because of the bullsh^t I endured.
If you believe theres more to life than drinking, screwing hot chicks, fighting, and being a badass you'll be sorely disappointed. One of the reasons the other recruits wouldn't screw with me was very high physical fitness scores much to the MTIs dismay. It is a very dominating environment, dominate or be dominated.
I would also point out that the persons leaving the military had significantly higher ASVAB scores than the ones staying. This could be disputed, but in the 319th (separations squadron) the average test scores were about 92 out of 99, I was a 95 only because I skipped a couple of questions and knew I had everything else right. The average test score for the normal trainees was about 10 points lower. Still not bad, it was the Air Force after all but worth looking into if the Air Force wishes to retain competent individuals. Bear in mind that was only my experience...
Basically, if your looking for objectivity, good pay, and a chance to expand your horizons get a civilian job. I'm out less than a year and make about $40,000, a lot more than I would've made there. If your looking for a mob mentality, $12-20K per year, and a chance to see every cesspool in the world then Uncle Sam's got a plan. Of course you will also have the honor of defending freedom and the American way of life, which is why I joined. Then again, even our training superintendent said that the only real reason to join the military is to kill people and blow sh^t up.
Despite the bad people (and believe me there are some truly crazy evil SOBs in our military, war will do that to you) all soldiers come with honorable intent. They are fighting for our freedom and what they believe in. It would be easy for me to jump on the hate wagon after all I went through, but I'm better than that and I'm honest.
The honest truth is I feel somewhat privliged to have briefly worked alongside the people defending our freedom. Without them killing people and blowing sh^t up we would not enjoy the liberties we do today.
To the forsakethetroops.com assh^le all I can say is that I hope you mouth off to a Marine or myself and catch a boot in the teeth. Your website is smut written upon the backs of the bruised. I have many friends currently serving in Iraq who need support, not sh^t like this.
For argument's sake I will assume that you are not a shameless overgrown vagina seeking attention and that your intentions as well are noble (you seek an end to death and violence), but you have also missed your mark. If you think the war sucks, thank the government not the military (most of them don't like Bush Jr. Or Darth Cheney either though to say so openly would violate the UCMJ and could constitute an act of treason). Look in the end we elected these f^ck-ups and they issue the orders. Just don't take it out on my friends or people you yourself couldn't aspire to be.
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