Join the army, they said...

[antikristuseke]

Originally Posted by Neptunus Rex

If its the US Army, well, you have your choice.

11B MOS, Infantry
11C MOS, 120mm Mortar Artillery
11H Infantry, Anti-Armor
11M Infantry Mechanized

Somewhere in all your enlistment papers is a MOS slot and assignment to a primary MOS producing school for your AIT (Advanced Individual Training.) You will go through this school after boot camp and before reo]porting to your first duty assignment and unit.

Get used to doing ALLOT of walking.

Good luck to you and when you become a leader, look after your troops.

If it's not the USA, most countries Infantry Branch are arranged about the same.

I'll be serving in the Estonian defence forces, Kuperjanov's independant infantry batalion and i have not enlisted, iv been conspcripted for 8-11 months of national service. After that i have a chanse to enlist with the Scouts batalion to do tours of duty abroad.

[Tchocky]

Best of luck man

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by antikristuseke

I'll be serving in the Estonian defence forces, Kuperjanov's independant infantry batalion and i have not enlisted, iv been conspcripted for 8-11 months of national service. After that i have a chanse to enlist with the Scouts batalion to do tours of duty abroad.

And with Russia right next door

THAT is bravery!

[Happy Times]

We get to express 3 wishes for specialtys that we like after basic training. Were you actually go is based on points gathered in physical, basic skills, psychological and aptitude tests and exsams. In the end your conscript and cader leaders give also points and interwiew you. As you are going to Kupernajov you have the chance to go recon? I could imagine that would suit you well as an independent type, if you have the needed physical condition. But dont question anything during basic, no matter how stupid it seems, you will understand it all after your service. They will make an exsample from someone, you dont want to be the one. We have a saying that dont be the best and not the worst, so you dont get unwanted attention from your superiors or peers. Another is never volunteer for anything.
Im competitive so i took it the way that i did my best in every official test but volunteered only to something that really had a point. You dont want a reputation as an asskisser with your peers or a lazy idiot with your superiors. If you get to NCO course, give all you got, everyone is competing at that point.
There is really nothing to it if you are right in the head, make sure you have all things sorted in the civilian life. If you have a girlfriend be mentally prepared that she wont wait, if she does she could be a keeper. Economic situation is another, some idiots come in with **** loads of debt. I wish you best of luck and im proud of you as i am of all that serve my country, we are cousins after all . If a man gives up his comfort and freedom for the benefit of his country he joins in the band of brothers.

[Blacklight]

when you're older you will only remember the good times you had, and forget the parts that sucked...................

My father who fought in Vietnam never forgot the bad parts. Talk to him and it's almost ALL bad parts and whaterver good parts there were it was about him and his buddies trying to make light of all the crap they were stuck in so they wouldn't go crazy.

[Sailor Steve]

Well, there's a difference between being in the military and being in combat. There are no 'good parts' to combat, but life in the service can be interesting, entertaining and rewarding.

[Hitman]

Quote:
Really? Did it many times in a bathtub. Never got tired of it.
With or without water Steve?

I think he meant being in the military, not having sex :rotfl:

[Task Force]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Really? Did it many times in a bathtub. Never got tired of it.

Alittle more than we needed to know Sailor Steve.

[antikristuseke]

Originally Posted by Flamingboat

I've been in the Infantry. Joining the military is like trying to have sex in a bathtub, it looks like a great idea until you try it.

I would imagine that depends more on the size of the bathtub than anything else, personaly i prefer sex in the shower, but thats another story alltogether.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Hitman

I think he meant being in the military, not having sex :rotfl:

No, I meant sex in the bathtub. But that is like being in the military - you just have to find the right position.

[Polak]

Go for it, you will hate it while you are there, but when you are done with it you will look back at everything with a big smile.

How is the Estonian military? Has it inherited some bad habits from the Soviet military?
I am thinking about abuse of personnel, sending soldiers to work outside units?

[antikristuseke]

As far as I know the influences of the soviet practices in military service are minimal at the most. There is no real harrasment by those who have allready served some time towards newcomers, exept maybe some light hearted messing.
Our service only lasts 8 or 11 months, not two years and we are not sent into combat zones, we are just given training and then released into the reserves, unless you choose to stay on longer or sign up with the Scouts batalion as a professional soldier to do tours abroad.
The real abuse of new conscripts in the soviet army started when the service time was reduced from 3 years to two, the ones who had to serve 3 years took their frustrations out on the 2 year servers and sadly that has become somewhat standard practice.

[Polak]

Have you thought about going for a professional carrier in the military after your service?

Well I voted no but that doesn't mean you couldn't have fun while you are there. I wasn't too keen on the whole thing back then, since then I've sort of grown to like things such as military history etc. but I really don't miss the wintery bush at all and I've got the scars to prove it. Nor do I miss the ***hole personnel, NCO's or CO's.

I think Finland should go toward a professional military with volunteers getting the basic training etc. I don't think this would be as expensive as some fans of the conscription system make it out to be. I'm sure Happy Times disagrees about this with me but I don't really care to argue this issue right now. Anyway antikristuseke, have fun and as someone who has an interest in military I'm sure you'll find it all very interesting and fun.

[Quillan]

I think all militaries, worldwide, are exactly the same in this regard:

HURRY UP AND WAIT!

At least, that was my experience from 4 years of service and it's been echoed by every veteran I've every spoken to. Best of luck to you. It'll have good points and bad points, just make the most of it.