It's one of many ancient Navy/Marine traditional ceremonies ( there are a shit load too ). Before crossing the equator at sea you are a wog ( short for polliwog or slimy tadpole ) but after the ceremony you become a son of King Neptune and are called a trusty shell back. You even get an official certificate so you don't have to go through it again.

All wogs are to report before King Neptune and get shell backed. Its a messy and humbling initiation process that involves a shit load of food, grease, hot sauce, shaving cream, under wear, an obstacle course, and costumes. The whole thing is ridiculous but funny as hell. Doesn't matter if your an Officer, a civilian, are Captain of the ship, or been in the Navy 30 years. No one is safe! If you are at sea then you need the blessings of King Neptune the first time you cross the equator. You can refuse to do it but its just easier to get it over with lol.

Its normally done on board ship so I could only imagine what the people of Peru thought lmao

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5Fn...feature=related

__________________

hahahah that's great!

__________________

Yep pretty much exactly that except we didn't have a fire hose. Lots of singing. Especially i'm a little tea pot. Our Sgt Major hadn't been shellbacked hah. There was a few civilians doing it. One decided not to. He was kind of a weenie about things anyways. He is one of those like... stereotypical Jews Dr. you see on movies or tv. I sneezed in front of him and he got scared he was going to get a cold from me..... it was pretty hilarious..

FLIPPPERRRRRRR!!!! FLIPPERRRRRR!!!!!

__________________

Ahahhhaaa! Calling for Flipper is classic At least you didn't have to entertain Davy Jones with a drag queen fashion show lol.

__________________

hilarious xD

yeah they wouldn't let us do it. Although i must admit i'm still pissed off we didn't get to do our gong show the day before. We ran out of time ot put one on. We definitely would have one. We basically put together a skit of an ultra nerdy college professor giving a sex 101 class to a class of retards.

In the end he makes everyone in the class volunteers and everyone is put into this huge train fucking position. And at the end he calls it a "gaggle fuck" hahah

__________________

You guys had to have a pretty tight schedule. That was your 2 week training deployment this year, correct? I'm amazed you even got a port visit, not to mention becoming shell backs. It seems like a super sweet training run really.

You may have not got the full blown shelling but that might be a good thing for any future Marine, Sailor, or civilian you might bring before the court. Some asshats use an age old tradition to abuse or torture others. Your current SgtMaj may not have been a shell back but when he met King Neptune the only question might have been, "What took you so long?" I wonder who might have asked it first

BTW, you devildogs are gaggle fucks

__________________

well its our "2 week a year" which was a full month. there was alot of fucking sitting around. That shit pissed me off. Had they planned better and stuck to schedule they easily could have cut out a full week of shit.

Basically we flew to El Salvador, hopped a ride on a 46 to the Boxer. Went down to Lima Peru. The squids got their port call. We went north to this beach area. Used the LCUs to land on the beach. Sat around in the desert for about a week. Then got airlifted back on the ship for 1 day. Then we got flown south to this Peruvian Marine Base. We sat around for more days. Got shellbacked. Went on liberty for 2.5 days. Got back then flew out.

__________________

Shippin out to boot camp, finally. Later dudes.

__________________

Talk with you in a few weeks. I hope you have a good time

__________________

Have funnnn in San Antonio where its hot as fuck right now.

__________________

I hear the CS gas training is particularly stimulating this time of the year in Texas

__________________

What's up ladies? I'm finally in a secured class and am allowed to have liberty on the weekends so we can also use the computers for personal use once the regiment is secured (sweepers). Anyway, it's been a while, and I'm finally almost through. Four weeks from yesterday and I'll be a commissioned Ensign in the Navy. Monday is our out-PFA and after that there are no more graded evolutions. On the last mock PFA we did, I managed 93 curl ups, 62 push ups, and 10:47 on the 1.5 mile run. Hopefully I'll have improved since then, but it wasn't that long ago. We did a lot of bear crawling yesterday...it was a lot of fun.

How's everyone doing? Sounds like TM is having some fun. I'll have to go through that crap as well at some point. After graduating, the SWOs get the weekend and then we start SWOS for three weeks..then we're off to our first ship. We don't know where we're going yet though, we should get the list of billets in about two weeks from now.

ugh bad news guys. I ended up getting discharged for not disclosing a history of anxiety of my application. it happened to a shitload of us down there. i guess since i was treated for it like 3 years ago, it was on my medical records and when they did background checks for my job and whatever else they do it showed up. i'm not sure how they found out exactly. I don't have much time to talk right now, but i figured i would update you guys this much. But i'm back now. I get into details later.

__________________

I stumbled upon this thread while doing my lurking thing. Good for you for trying man, sucks that they didn't let you through. I've been in for about 2 years now and I'd have to say you were lucky you got out. Depending upon your career field, the Air Force can either be one of the shittiest or one of the best times of your life. Unfortunately, even with my 86 ASVAB score and a pretty much immaculate history file, I got stuck with being a MC-130H Combat Talon II crew chief. I've got to go on some really cool trips, but my time at home station has mostly sucked balls. After reading through most of this thread, it seems alot of you dudes were misinformed about the pay. As and E-3 living in the dorms in england, I make about 900 something every pay check. This is more than you would make in the states due to the inflation of the pound to the dollar. TDY's is were the real money is at. A week in germany will net you about a 1000$, and depending on how many planes go, it can basically be a nice vacation. I'm definetely not sure what I want to do after I leave england, thinking about possibly becoming a combat controller or TAC-P. Anyways, back to the lurkage.

__________________

Anxiety? just like being nervous? I guess there's something I don't know about, cause I thought that would happen to anyone.

__________________

for some people its worse, cant speak for him. but some people get panic/anxiety attacks and shit completly freeze up cant do anything shake uncontrollably(sp) etc i knew a girl in highschool who had that. got up to give a big presentation and completely freaked out. not an attribute you want when bullets start flying.

i was actually going to go into the airforce myself, but couldnt due to high blood pressure. i fought it cause i know/knew shit loads of people with it in the military but they gave some bs on how you cant have it before your in but once your in they dont care as much. in hindsight im glad i didnt go in

__________________

Well i actually don't get them anymore. I had an isolated incident once in college where I had rapid heart beat, palpitations, dizzyness, lightheadedness and trouble breathing, so I went to the emergency room and they said it was anxiety and treated me accordingly. But it was on my medical record and on the air force application it specifically asks if you've ever had anxiety and I didn't disclose that incident. I'm not real upset about it now though, the air force isn't all what I thought it was going to be. All basic training is is folding clothes, making beds and cleaning. Basically they train you to be a house wife. It was a fuckin joke.

__________________

There is this kid I used to know going through air force basic right now, and he has a bunch of pictures on facebook of him in his camo holding a rifle with dirt all over his face. I think they let parents go in and take photos or something, it just looks really gay and probably not too difficult.

__________________

Well since you're not allowed to take pictures during basic, i'm not quite sure how there'd be pics of him in basic.

__________________

On graduation day, your family or whatever gets to tour the dorms. Air force basic is definetely not the most physically demanding, even though we do have the highest fitness standards for basic training. It's definetely alot more of a mind game, and if you don't play, you pretty much get through unscathed. However, going to a special ops unit where my schedule changes 6000 times a day is alot more stressful than basic ever was.

__________________

yeah but on graduation day you're dressed in your blues and whatnot. they're not going to have dirt all over their face with their rifles and everything on graduation day. How exactly do we have the highest fitness standars for basic training?

__________________

i don't know, but there are

and it obviously wasn't graduation. I live in Colorado pretty near the air force base and its easy to tell when important events are going on.

__________________

We aren't allowed to take pictures at Navy OCS unless we have permission to do so. Other than that, they take a lot of pictures of us going through all of the evolutions. At the end of the 12 weeks there is a dinner with your family/friends/staff and there is a slideshow presentation of various pictures that were taken.

Only 13 more days left for me until graduation! Then it's off to the package store to pick up some nice scotch and some cigars.

the only place the air force has basic training is at Lackland, in San Antonio. I'm not sure what you're trying to say about Colorado exactly, but yeah all basic training is in Texas.

__________________

The air force academy is in colorado, and whoever is going to be a student there has to go through Basic Cadet Training.

so I guess slightly different

__________________

Well, we used to before they started going by the points system in basic. The reasoning behind this is the short amount of time to get you in good enough shape to pass the PT test. Before they started going by the points system in basic, 90 plus percent of trainees would cheat their pushups and situps anyway. That plus the amount of PT that you do in basic, it stacks up there right next to marines basic, however marines basic is alot more physically demanding in terms of endurance. Air Force basic is much more of a mind game rather than a physical challenge, of course I was already fit when I came in.

On another note, 28 months left until I'm out.

__________________

Well, looks like i'm moving to Norfolk. Was looking like a CG (guided missile cruiser) in Pearl Harbor, but I got shafted by a classmate. Now I'm going to a DDG (guided missile cruiser) in Norfolk, VA. The ship is pretty cool, not too thrilled about Norfolk.

Norfolk isn't bad really and DDG duty is gravy from what I've seen ( no reactors to fuck with ). I was there 4 years. Norfolk is better than it used to be but some people will dislike just because they can ( PETA, Greenpeace, Jijad Joe).

Seriously, I can't stress this enough... buy a house there! Even if you move in 2 years you WILL make a profit if you shop smart. It was the best thing I ever did with my pay while in the Navy. The Navy gives you BAH so you might as well bank it in something you can sell later. Living onboard ship or onbase will get old very fast

__________________

Yea, Norfolk won't be too bad. Not sure about buying property just yet. I might just wait till I have a little more $$ in the bank before making that kind of an investment. It's looking like DDG 61 the USS Ramage. If not, then it will be the USS Vella Gulf, a CG that is also in Norfolk. 10 more days until graduation/commissioning! (Including what is left of today..ie: eating dinner, and having a beer or two.)

Thar she blows! http://www.ramage.navy.mil/default.aspx

Commissioning? Congradulations man! Can't say that I'd be cut out for being an officer, but you'll already be making fuckloads of cash and getting plenty of trim just for having that brass on your collar.

__________________

Thanks. It's getting closer and closer each day. I kinda agree on the cut out for an officer thing.. Though at the same time, I sort of think/hope that will help me be a better officer..instead of one that shows up thinking he is running shit with his shiny new butter-bars.

Thats a good thing though. LT's that don't show the proper respect to experienced NCO's usually get shit on hardcore. Being in the Air Force, I'm not quite sure how Ensigns get treated in the Navy, but LT's in the airforce mainly work around the senior leadership, kept away from the junior enlisted guys for a good bit until the LTJG/1LT. I barely ever see any O's anyway, since I'm in maintenance. Usually working around SSGT's/PO2's and MSGT's/CPO's. Hope I got all those ranks right haha.

__________________

I have done maintenance on the Ramage before while I was at MARMC. If I remember right it's birthed at pier 2 next to the subs. I hope you get it. It will a great place to start your career and I know the crew will take good care of you since it's a smaller command. They'll help you learn everything you need to know.

Congrats on your soon to be commisioning... sir I know you earned it.

__________________

I think it's pretty much the same deal in the Navy also. If you show up thinking you are hot shit because you just got your butter bars, then you're probably setting yourself up to sink.

Thanks Soul. I'm not crazy about the location, but I am looking forward to getting to my first ship. They still haven't told me if I had the option of going to a CG that is also in Norfolk. They are pretty similar though, so it doesn't really matter to me either way.

Well, I am now Ensign xgrafcorex! Graduated/commissioned yesterday and have 3 weeks off before starting SWOS in Newport, RI. After that, I'm moving to Norfolk. For now..I'm off to see relatives and friends, as well as get some of my stuff from their houses.

Here are some pictures from the end of OCS

Our Class DI giving us a hard time at the cocktail party with family and staff the night before graduation.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c...eb570000004.jpg

My Dad giving me the oath.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c...6a600000006.jpg

Me in formation with my class.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c...eb590000006.jpg

Class 20-08 with our class Officer, Chief, and DI. Also a Vice Admiral (Chief of Naval Personnel) that spoke at the ceremony and the CO of the training command.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c...eb5b0000006.jpg

The old man and myself.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c...6a760000007.jpg

Man you look A LOT healthier in those pics. Good going maybe ill see you around ones i complete my OCS over the next 2 summers.

__________________

Holy Crap! Graf looks like a respectable human! haha. Good job man!

__________________

Thanks you guys. I feel a lot healthier too..can run a lot faster, do more push ups/sit ups/pull ups/etc. and am about 40 lbs. lighter than I was in my anti-prime.

Outstanding. You guys look like two steely eyed killers from the deep. Your dad has a smile like this day was the high light of his military career. I bet he is proud of you. I'm proud of you. You are the future of the Navy and I'm sure you will make it better. So many people now depend on you and most don't even know it. I don't think I have ever seen that many butter bars in one place before. Throw one roving enlisted into the area and the event would become a ricky salute exchange nightmare lol. I believe you now officially rank over every other military member here. Congrats and fair winds, Shipmate

__________________

Thanks man, I appreciate the kind words. Heh. Yea, would be a saluting fiasco. Of course, my dad was there so technically it should've been anyway, but it was pretty laid back for the most part. Mainly people got their first salute from the Chief and GySgt, then saluted the class Lt. and then got a salute from the Chief DI: MGySgt? Master Gunnery Sergeant, not sure how to abbreviate that one. I saluted my dad after that though.

I'm at some random hotel right now in Pennsylvania off the Turnpike.. heading back to Newport for SWOS. Class starts Monday.

Yeah, its freaky that your dad is a flag officer. Very cool though. I'm not sure if you mentioned it before or I just overlooked that bit of information in the past but I didn't realize how high your dad's rank was until you posted that picture at MEPS.

Only a suggestion. I don't know if you will get more or less BS from others because of your dad's rank but just to be safe I wouldn't say anything about it unless directly asked At least in the beginning but play it by ear. You know one doesn't make Maj. Gen. without hard work and making a few opponents along the way ( just as you will ). I would hate to see you shit listed and given undo grief because someone doesn't agree with your dad or what he is. I know that isn't fair or right but it's inevitably human. Then there are those assheads that constantly look for details to distort in order to further torment the living hell out of people for the sake of their own enjoyment. It's amazing how fast humans develop a pirania like mentality once they smell blood. I've seen it happen dozens of times. Sometimes the less some people know about you the better. You and everyone deserve to be treated according to their own rank, actions and words.

__________________

Pretty sure TM mentioned it here or there. No big deal though. Most people are surprised..not to mention everyone I know being surprised off the bat that I joined the military in general.

As far as mentioning who or what my Dad was, I'm fine with keeping it on the DL. I didn't mention it to anyone for a long time while at OCS. Didn't bring it to our Class DI's attention until a couple weeks before graduation. I've seen people that were known to be the son of a Chief, or an actual RDC themselves... Heh.

You don't live near Norfolk do you?

I moved back to he-ha hell Southern IL almost 2 years ago or else I would be happy to hang out and help get you established in the area. I even had an extra bedroom you could have crashed in if need be. The Norfolk area can be a pain when finding a place off base, dealing with over priced land lords, and getting around without a little help at first. I should have stayed around Norfolk. I had a nice house, shipmates, and a sweet job offer from the shipyard. For that matter I would have been happy to stay Navy but it can be a HUGE strain on the family at times. My Chief made it even more difficult for me to leave. He set me up for early promotion to E6 and assignment as divisional LPO. All I had to do was enlist again lol. I would have had 10 years in by that time so why not finish the other 10 right? Its a pretty smooth way to keep people in and I almost did it.

__________________

Dude, just like labor pains, you're starting to forget why you got out. My hubby did 13 years and they offered him shit so he bailed.

__________________

Yea, that sounds like some of what we are learning at this school..retention. Thinking of ways to get people interested in staying after they have done their initial time. Things like offering them additional schools that would benefit them a lot on the civilian side.

edit..Oh yea, and I still am not sure what exact billet I'm filling on the ship. I'm gonna crank out a letter to the XO tonight and have a Lt at SWOS look it over before emailing it. Then they'll set me up with my sponsor and get the ball rolling on what info I'll need to move down there and get to the ship. I'm HOPING they'll let me go to VBSS school, but that is completely up to them and their particular needs on board.

Your right. It has become harder to remember all the reasons I decided to leave. The Nuke thing makes it really hard for anyone to stay. No amount of money in the world seemed worth the amount of time and stress involved with that field. Had I enlisted again I would have also gone into a new Rate due to Naval Reactors (NR) breaching my contract. The political PR questions involved with a guy operate a reactor ( my primary NEC ) having been been treated for a panic disorder and depression was a no go for NR. If any little thing ever went wrong while I was on watch my condition could have been taken out of context even if it had nothing to do with the incident. It would just look bad so I was allowed the chance to switch Rates. Its the only time a Nuke is allowed to switch Rates. I couldn't be separated because I had got better with treatment. The decision came right at the end of my 6 years so it also meant I had to enlist again in order to go to new schools. My Chief really wanted me to stay in and do something new. It seems there is life in the Navy after the Nuke program. It would have felt weird going to A-school as E6 lol. After the 10 year mark not much is offered as retirement is in sight.

xgrafcorex: Getting VBSS should be pretty easy for someone aboard a DDG. You guys are the ones that get to do the cool anti pirate/drug missions.

__________________

Yup, that's how walpurgis got out. They wanted him to switch rates and he said no way. So because it would be their breach of contract he got out. I hear it's a pretty typical thing for the Navy to do with their nuke people though. I'm content he had the experience, but, frankly, I'm glad he's out.

__________________

It's hell being a Nuke. Just pure hell. It's pretty cool the first 15 minutes to finally be qualified reactor operator after making it through 2 years of ridiculously difficult schools, but then you realize just how much extra work is expected of you since the job is so undermanned. It's inhuman at first and that can go on for years before you can get a better position in the chain of command and separate yourself from the load and shovel it on others. Sadly before that time most Nukes are so over worked and burned out that they begin to fall apart in some way. Most of the ones that stay Nuke end up pretty deranged making it a personal mission to inflict more suffering than they endured and enjoy every second of it. Those Nukes are just mimicking the leadership once above them instead of forging new skills and improving current methods. It seems to happen unconsciously in a "that just the way things have always been" kind of way and the problem just propagates itself further. Most Nuke Sailors join at a young age and easily accept the wrong behaviors from their leadership as always the right way and carry it on. That's the real problem in the nuclear Navy. The leadership is cut throat and the problem is rampant. Looking back the cracks in the Nuke leadership system were apparent even during school but I didn't fully recognize it until later when I watch it in all its glory destroy some of the brightest and most capable people I have ever known. It's difficult for higher command to see the problems or do anything about it since the Nuke field by nature is such an isolated and secretive community. Most Nukes just keep their heads low and try to hold on until their enlistment ends. The unlucky ones manage to piss someone off above them or are single out to be sacrificed in order to make the rest of the division look better. The system will be used against them and the pressure relentless until A) the Sailor kills themselves, or B) they are separated from the command. Things will remain calm for awhile until the beast has to feed again. That how the Nuke leadership works. There always has to be a scapegoat.

It works like this for example: Everyone is given their due grief and has to do all the jobs that no one else wants when they are new. We all start from the bottom and work our way up in life. Thats pretty common. Then some other Nuke with greater authority for whatever reason decides to do what they have seen done to others in the past. It seems to start off harmless at first without any personal bias but within time becomes a mission to destroy someone in particular. The targeted person will soon find they have the worst of everything. Odd watches, duties, bunk, etc on top of having every thing they do monitored and scrutinized. They are given the jobs with a high risk for common mistakes. Thats when the system starts to be used against them. Once a mistake occurs then that must mean they are deficient in some way and the word gets put out that extra training is needed to correct the problem. Not a real big deal unless every little mistake begins to be blown out of proportion. Others might try to help at first but soon find themselves tasked with random extra duties as well. Eventually so much extra training and duties are assigned that it becomes counter productive and no one dares try to help. The added stress, extra work, and no sleep will eventually brake even the most humble person. So much attention is spent on that person that no one else really gets noticed. Any Job that might have something go wrong is assigned to the scapegoat and if something does go wrong they are pinned to the problem. By this point it is well known that someone enjoys watching this person get dumped on and are normally pretty open about it to. No one else wants it to happen to them next so they stay away. Eventually the target person is isolated and has to live with nothing but more of this in the future. Its hard to prove that they are being singled out ( if anyone in the command cares to listen ) because there is now a paper trail of this person being a screw up. Life really sucks by that point and it seems hopeless. Even waiting for the next command assignment will not help them because the the Nuke community is so small they will be shit listed before they ever get there. If they somehow manage to endure and not kill themselves they will never be allowed to advance past E6 within 20 years. In the case of it happening to an Officer they either resign or transfer out of the Nuke world as soon as they see it coming. I have seen it happen so many times. Its stressful just to know it is happening to someone and you can't do anything about it. Its a sad destructive leadership structure in the Nuke world. I trusted and used the leadership in other divisions before I would use my own.

I hate to talk trash but I know when I see a major problem. I had hoped I would some day change some things after I was MCPON, but its going to take the whole nuke program falling in on itself before any needed changes are made. It is becoming harder to keep Nukes in the Navy due to being over worked and the unnecessary lynching.

Rant over.

__________________

good god am i not cut out for the military

__________________

me either.....just signed up for the draft today.


living the next 8 years of my life in fear.

__________________

why,last i knew like 98% of congress voted againts putting the draft in action, i wouldnt even worry about it unless some major worldwide shit goes down

__________________

Yeah, if that selective service thing ever gets used you might be dead or fighting for your life already. Its just an out dated system that is kept around for the "what if" situation.

__________________

Interesting post, Soulinsane.

You mentioned briefly about soilders offing themselfs as a way out. How common is suicide in the service?

My father did 4 years in the Navy (mostly stationed in Greece), and he had a handful of surprising stories of people loosing their minds, a few hurting themselves and/or other people. One story inparticular, some guy cracked and just started running around one night with a straight razor and cutting as many people peoples faces as he could.

__________________

I'm just thinking some major world wide shit will be going down, but like soul insane said...if it gets to that, I would already be fighting anyways.

__________________

i operate under the assumption that my medical history, between spinal operation and allergy to anesthesia that actually prevented some family from joining the military, makes me inelligble in the first place.

__________________

yea id agree with ya there

__________________

Yea, I don't think they'd take you with all that going on.

Soul - That sucks man! I know Nukes are supposed to have the worst jobs by far..thus the massive bonuses they can get for signing on for more tours. I sure as hell wouldn't want to do it. In fact, I would say about 98% of the prior enlisted Nukes I met at OCS were all leaving that field. Only one of them I met was staying in that community.

Darko - I'd believe it...even being at OCS for 4 months, I saw two people get mentally disqualified for having panic attacks/mental breakdown. Granted, most people just got very stressed out and decided either it wasn't for them or they wouldn't make it through the program and just quit. You can quit OCS at any time and they'll stop doing whatever they're doing and let you get your things and move out. They don't let you go home right away though..they have to process your DOR (Drop on request) paperwork which takes a long time. Typically, you will watch your class graduate if you DOR; no matter how early you quit.

There are processes in place to help prevent suicides, but its hard to stop anyone that really wants to do it. It's crazy and difficult to understand how suicide becomes an option but it happens outside the military as well. Compound all the added stress with a job you can't quite and suicide might seem valid. I've known at least a dozen people that were seriously close to doing it and sadly four people that did do it ( all military ). I heard of it happening in other commands so it does seem like it was more common in the military. There has to be some statistics somewhere.

__________________

I don't remember if one of my son's old roommates actually did it or they found him near death, but I know he attempted it.
We were talking about him paying back his bonus today and he said if he'd flunked some of his physical exams he would have gotten discharged and not had to pay back the money. He's almost at the $10K mark now.
On a happier note, he was reviewing his resume and found his old landlord's number -who was also a nuke- and decided to see if it still worked. It did and the guy has been working at a nuke plant for about 6 months now. It turns out he's working at the same one my son's trying to get into! So he's got an extra edge in and also reacquainted with an old friend. I thought that was pretty cool. He's a nice guy. He put up with walpurgis long enough!

There's a lot of mental stress in every war. The older I get and the more familiar I get with American history the more common the mental stresses and alcohol and drug abuse due to it become apparent.

__________________

It's really bad during school. It seemed like at least 2-3 people a week quite, got dropped, and/or tried to kill themselves. Most of the people that get into Nuke school have never failed or struggled with anything in life and it crushes their self esteem. They don't call that part of the program the dark side of the tunnel for nothing. Its unforgiving nerdiness at its most intense.

Thats cool about the land lord though. I hope Bob gets that job but I don't ever want to see another reactor lol. I realized lately I'm scared to death other Nukes/ex-Nukes and something like 80% of civilian nuclear plants are run by former Navy Nukes. Bob is ok though. I remember when we used to talk.

I think drinking to much makes it a lot easier for people to do things they normally wouldn't and binge drinking is definitely common in the military. I'm sure thats also a factor in the amount of suicides. I've quite drinking because of that. I just couldn't enjoy it like I used to and I wasn't happy. Bad combo.

__________________

Thanks and I'll tell him that. He was fine in school, but after that they started playing the headgames with him. Like wanting him to go out to sea on a new boat the next morning without any notice prior. That was after he'd been on the shore for awhile for medical, but wasn't going back to the same boat. He got really discouraged and angry during those times. I'm sure you can relate to the disappointments.

I think that the drinking problem is just like the beer goggles. It makes things or people look better or hardens the heart to what reality is. The bad is bad enough and a normal sober person wouldn't do some of the stuff. The collective military is just a big group to pinpoint.

I don't know if my dad drank after WW2 or during because he didn't when I was growing up or after, but when his ship got hit by the Japanese he had to go to r-n-r for pts before he got out.

I had dinner last night with a local minister and his wife. One of the ladies from their church had a brother who was 44 and hung himself within the past couple days. The minister said he gets angry when people say they're cowards when they do it. He has a philosophy that their lives have so many problems that they just want to get rid of and it seems the only relief is in suicide. They don't really want to die, but don't see any alternative. I think a lot of military have that feeling. And that's pretty sad.

__________________

Found out that I'm going to be the CICO onboard..that's pronounced sicko. Combat Information Center Officer. We keep track of all points of contact..friend, foe, unknown..and we use IFF systems (Identification Friend or Foe) to determine who people are when we first find someone out there with various radar and other detection devices. Nav(igation) consults with us on driving the ship from time to time because we are also keeping constant status of where we are, how fast we are going, and where everyone else around us is. Also we are in contact with other ships and aircraft in the area should we need to attack something. Overall, it sounds like it's going to be pretty fun. Working with a bunch of OS's and the OSC as well as CICWO and OOD. For you nasty civie's thats Operations Specialist, Operations Specialist Chief, Combat Info Center Watch Officer, and Officer of the Deck.

speaking of nuke school and shit i ran into a buddy of mine from highschool the other day and he just joined the navy and will be going to nuke school in feb

__________________

Oh, that's why you moved to Newport.

__________________

Is that the same base they closed down years ago and the town fell to such crap financially that they let the Navy back in? I'm pretty sure it was the one in Rhode Island. I'm assuming that's the Newport Chris is talking about.

Hey, good luck with all that. But why am I scared you'll be protecting us 'mericans? lol j/k

__________________

He might not see daylight until Feb 2011 and only briefly sometimes after that, but at least the money and education are good

__________________

Tell him no matter how tough it gets never lose his sense of humor.

__________________

This is fucking stupid.

__________________

Well, I thought I'd say see you all later for a bit. I moved into my new place but don't have the internet yet. Planning on checking in at TPU on Monday and after that, they could decide to send me over to the Mid East as soon as the same day I guess. We won't have internet in our apt. until after I'm gone. I probably won't be back until February or so.. and I'm not sure what the internet access will be like on the ship, so I figure I'd say adios for now. Adios for now.

edit..I might hit up another one of these Panera Breads for their wifi again once before I leave.

I'm strongly re-considering doing army rotc. However its pretty risky to go to parties and drink if I join

__________________

Yeah the Navy ROTC would be better.

__________________

I don't think they have that here in Colorado. They have an Air Force program though

eitherway underage=no drinking

__________________

Newport is a fancy, colonial-new england tourist trap. It's all 'old money' as they say. I highly doubt it's the place you are thinking of. But I'm sure if the Navy left there that would hurt the local economy to some extent.

Most places that are kind of off the map where there is a military base of some kind become largely dependent on it economically, so I'm sure there are many examples of what you just described not only in the US but across the world.

__________________

It apparently didn't close, but it was considered. I remember the sailors at the house talking about it. Our house was like Boys' Town for Sailors. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/...ETRY=1&SRETRY=0

Don't groan, guys, but I was watching Dr. Phil and he was interviewing a man from Veterans Affairs about the neglect of veterans. Deliberate loss of records, being told not to diagnose PTSD because of case overload, and soldiers having to wait months for help even in suicidal situations. He interviewed a few others as well as some vets. http://www.drphil.com/shows/show/1193 At the end a man from this organization said said if any vets need help to contact them. I thought of you guys here. http://communityofveterans.org/

And I'll have to plug the American Legion since my husband works for them locally. I know they do a lot here to help vets just from all he does as a finance officer.
I hope none of you need it, but even if you don't you may know someone you can offer help to.

__________________

Army ROTC
Air Force AA
Marine OTC

These are my options right now, I'm leaning towards the Army. I'm pretty sure I'm actually gonna join if the recruiter or whoever actually emails me back with info on how to sign up.

__________________

I'm going Marines...or it least I'm still debating, just some branches can offer so much more than others.

If you're in need of Money definitely go Army sign on bonus is the number 1.

__________________

Being in the air force, I can reccomend it as long as don't go Cop, Maintenance or CE. Any other job is awesomely easy and give you plenty of time to do school and such. In addition, our living conditions are better.

__________________

Are you going to try OCS?

I talked with the Army ROTC person and since I'm a freshman I can't really do anything until the end of sophomore year since I didn't start out with it. Now I'm kind of leaning towards the Marines, all the schooling is over the summer so I wouldn't have to double on courses or anything like that. Hopefully I can talk to one of them soon and know my options.

__________________

Haha you're fretting over visiting Ireland but are going to join the Marines? Is this place really scarier than Iraq?

After reading parts of yours and Bunny's conversation I think it is.

__________________

Yea summer OCS in Virginia...I'm very afraid of the Army(They hand out asvab waivers.)


@Paddy - I was mostly just poking fun about the whole Ireland thing(I'm really going there tho). Trust me its no worse than where I'm from, people kill people over religion there, people kill people here over drugs & money.

__________________

Haha I'm sure it was just as scary in the 70s, but nowadays it's not much worse than anywhere else (as far as I know )

Word!

Do you know if they require a certain grade (like sophomore for example) to sign up?

About the Ireland thing, I'd still rather travel there than Africa. Well actually I woulden't really mind at all

__________________

I have recurring dreams about Africa...not sure why They usually take place at an early time in our evolution, it's all very strange and profound!

Pr0az, you should check out that PBS video they made about USMC boot camp and OCS. It's pretty interesting to watch..and a bit more humorous having gone through Navy OCS..which is run by Marines.

Just remember that attitude has a lot to do with making it through there. It is going to suck no doubt, you just have to suck it up and push through. Some of the tasks you'll be asked to complete are meant to be impossible, they just want to see who keeps trying and who curls up into the fetal position to suck on their thumbs.

Either way, you'll never forget that place!

I watched that PBS video, it makes it look really brutal.

__________________

Well, it's been 5 months..but I'm finally back home! Too bad I have duty today so I can't leave the ship until my section turns over tomorrow.. Oh well, I'm just glad to be back and know that tomorrow I will be off the ship and back at my place to unpack and have some beers!!

Welcome back aboard.

I'm taking MS202 or something like that next semester then next summer going to a camp for the Army...Finally decided I'd just be an ROTC brat after all, pretty sure a lot of people will hate me for going this way but whatever.

__________________

Just starting to get my paperwork done finally for the Army. Then I can spend one month of my summer PTing and other fun shit

__________________

THANK YOU for your service. It's appreciated!

__________________

Well there's still a lot I have to do before I am fully contracted. As long as I get approved for a slot and the physicals go well I'll be in. Its still only ROTC, but I do want to be on active duty after college.

__________________

If you don't stay in as a lifer when you're done with it all you still should be in good shape to find a decent job. If you stay in for the duration you'll have a heck of a retirement, but I know that's a long ways away now. Best of luck.

__________________

Howdy strangers! We're out in Limassol, Cyprus for a bit, doing some maintenance and roaming through the town. We got extended, so it will be a while until I get home, but I can't wait.

Haven't been on here in a while, and since I have some free time right now, I figured I'd stop by and say hi. Hello.

How've you all been doing?

It's been pretty dead here. You haven't missed much.


I just got qualified for LTC (a month of army camp) for this summer. Pretty much raped the PT test.

__________________

leaving tomorrow around 5 am to catch my flight for a month of officer training. after that perhaps airborne or air assault, depending on how much of a pussy I will be feeling like

__________________

Officer Training? Sweet, do you have a degree/diploma? Good luck.

__________________

Best of luck to ya and don't fly over Ohio, please.

__________________