Enlisting and need assistance

SFC BELFORD is my recruiter and I was interested in the 25 series but it seemed the job choices I made (94f,94r,15n,15b,15f) were better suited for me and applicable for what I want to do in the future.

 

Nope don't know him. All I can say is once you're in get out on your own terms, don't get out in a negative way. If you don't like it that's fine the army is not for everyone. If you like it stay in. It's fine to get out and flip the middle finger looking back, It's not ok to flip the finger while still in. My biggest regret was not joining after high school. Anyway like i said OP congrats, hope mep's goes well if you have any questions feel free to Pm me.

 

A god damn 25 series gets the same bonus as an 18 series... fuckin army man.

 

An 18X could initially enlist for 4 years and maybe spend 1 year on an ODA, while the Army gets 3 years of the 25 whatevers career on the same initial enlistment... the reenlistments for a Q’d 3/3 GB are where the money’s at, and IMO for good reason... won’t find that money anywhere else mid-career

 

Bro, native speakers barely get an OPI or DLPT score of a 3/3. That shit is not obtainable especially with a METL that never stops growing. 1SFC really messed up by tying our entire career paths to language. Language training is pointless, and we never use it.

 

I hear ya... Especially with the active AORs being where they are. Spanish and I’m assuming Russian or German being in CO isn’t worth dick in CENTCOM... Haha

 

Exactly. Even if you go to countries where the target language is spoken, the majority of the military partner force probably speak better English.

My ability to speak French has never been used. I'm married so I'm not using it to pick up chicks either. Lol

 

As someone in this field, your statement is 100% false. Just because you or your peers may feel under utilized does not mean your DoD approved training is pointless, and that you’ll never do mission. With that attitude, maybe that’s why you aren’t. Either that, or score better.

Nobody gets a 3 on the OPI, but you only need a 1+ to escape DLI. It has zero bearing on most careers unless directly tied to your MOS. The IC is moving to a 3/3 standard in the future but knows it’s unattainable without major training changes and incentives for serbice components. The first incentive coming down the pipe: letting you stay in for having a passing score. Navy adjust a few years ago and refused advancement or quotas for sub-proficiency. Know what’s at stake now? 75k/6 year SRB. Pointless training if it means your career..

If you’re in this field, please stop giving advice. I’m not a fan of it, but that’s just terrible advice and leadership if that’s what you’re putting out to your soldiers.

I’ve done two languages at DLI. 3/3 is not unobtainable, and I maintain passing scores in both without training in one because you’re only given funding for your primary language once per fiscal year. Maybe you need to study more.

 

I heard you have to be at least 6'2" to join the Coast Guard. So if the boat sinks you can just walk back to shore.


I kid, I kid.

This is the truth. I have some family that served in the coast guard and they have some pretty amazing stories. And a lot of them. Every day they're doing what they're trained to do and they're damn good at it for the most part.

 

You went to DLI, which means you are not an 18 series. Which means you're probably a 35P.

If that is the case, your sole job is to maintain language proficiency and use it regularly. Your job is not the same as mine. Review where I stated our METL is constantly growing.

My opinion on language is not an outlier amongst other GBs. If you are a GB that somehow found a way to go to DLI to study not one, but two language, perhaps your opinion is skewed because your career has taken such a drastic turn from that of a normal GB.

 

@kakwvu just saw you had mentioned previously that you're Navy. Fuck off, bro. You don't know shit about my job. Don't try and be condescending to me.

 

Congrats, OP. Sounds like you got a decent plan.

I don't remember reading it in previous posts but volunteer opportunities were some of the most surprisingly rewarding experiences. Of course you'll get some pretty shitty ones too, on occasion. I don't remember most of the bad ones but the good ones I'll never forget.

 

I’m Navy. Work with many guys that go TIO / SF in all branches, and they all use their training. Being a French linguist (believe you said that earlier), I’ll say I’m not shocked you aren’t using it much. When I was back last, the SEALS we worked with used it as a break between missions. Oddly enough, they wanted to be there because of gaps in ability in the field. I joked with them that if they’re speaking a foreign language, they’re in the wrong side of the table.

Coincidentally, the craziest TDY I’ve heard of was a buddy in the Army, and he only got it because he was a 3/3. Only ones who haven’t used their training much are Marines because it’s secondary to shooting shit, right @El Duderino

I only went back for a second language under the premise of favorable orders. I’ll be the last person to talk up this pipeline, but insinuating training is worthless couldn’t be further from the truth. DoD has standards in place, regardless if you’re SF or not. I don’t agree with all of them, but y’know. Military. Shut up, listen, and patiently await my DD-214.

 

Don’t act like you know what you’re talking about and I won’t. You’re giving shit advice, regardless of what patch you wear on your arm.

If I wanted to be condescending, I’d ask how you couldn’t 3/3 French.

 

This guy gets it. Solid advice. I will only reiterate and add a little.

Seems like you probably understand what to do with the truck now, and how you will most likely have the opportunity to come back for it pending a CONUS assignment.

The recruiter, no matter what, is first and foremost, a salesman. With a mission and quota to meet. If its not in writing, it does not exist. So if he starts talking bonuses or special schools like going to Airborne training, get it in the contract! Don't show up to your first duty station saying " my recruiter said I was going to ____ training, when do I go?"

I retired Army at the end of 2015, and I tell you this in all honesty. Join the Air force or Navy. Hell join the coast guard. lol. I loved my time in the dirt with the Army, but I could see my brethren in those other branches, and they seemed to live life just a bit easier and a bit more comfortable.

Ignore the posts about who is allowed what in which branch at a whatever location. Most of that changes constantly, and a lot of what that well meaning vet thinks they know and is sharing out of the desire to square you away, can very quickly be out dated. Including stuff I'm telling you now.

Never turn down a school. Except perhaps UPL and busdrivers. One guarantees you get to be the "eyes on" every piss test, the other means your day at the range starts well before everyone else's! Other than that, go to whatever they throw your way. The course that I once went kicking and screaming to years ago. Was what opened the door for a fantastic career years later. AND has brought me back to Europe to do it, on what my family considers a five year vacation on the Federal dime!
Best of luck.
AIRBORNE!

 

Oh yes... forgot about that. Don’t ignore schools. Except those, let me add one: Fuel handlers. I mean, it’s alright... you most likely won’t have to stand out at the fuel point ever... but you never know.

 

That joke never gets old. I'm 5'11" LMAO.....

I have a story for just about everything. I actually have a journal that I write in when I have a memory come up about something I did. Like this one time on Grand Isle, I ate a whole plate of Nutrea Rat Jerky, and thought it was the best thing ever, while the locals stared at me and kept buying me beer. Or the time I had some maine lobsters fedex'd to me and snuck them into a crawfish boil......

21 years will do that. I was ecstatic the day I retired, and a week later I was depressed.

 

I keep waiting for new Coast Guard jokes, but the Navy hasn’t handed any down to us in a while.

 

One night, after many adult beverages in the old Depot Cafe in Gloucester (since closed, knocked down and made into a restaurant) during St Peter's festival, while there was a LPD in the harbor (I believe it was the Austin), a Navy JO thought it would be funny to call me a lowly small boat jockey, and that the CG was only good for near harbor work, blah blah blah. Then asked what we were good for. This is when the clearly drunk BM2 named Ron stood up and said, "what is the CG good for? Why, keeping Navy wives company since 1790!"

It was a fun night......

Of course, this was pre- 9/11

 

I haven’t seen much from the crayon eaters.