Notorious718
...
So KB says I should post this thread in the Bar Room so I'm taking his advice. While I understand that the Bar Room shows leniency towards spam, I would greatly appreciate it if I could get some real, genuine thoughts on the matter. Now on to the matter at hand.
I've been asking me this question over and over again: is the military right for me? I've spent a good amount of my last month thinking this over. There was a perk to the military that I've been thinking about most: the concept of comradeship among members of a unit. Whether it be in actual battle or a desk job, I've come to understand that people in the same or even close units for an unusual bond that is unknown to those of us in the civilian world. That "brotherhood" if you will, is incredibly appealing to me. Let me explain:
I played football earlier this year (my senior year) in high school. There was a tight bond that I had with a lot of the other players and the team as a whole. People on that team wanted each other to do well at games and even at each practice after school. The feeling of community among all of us was all too prevalent: we wanted to be there and we loved coming to practice and seeing each other. Although none of us had ever served with each other in combat, I still felt that each one of them was a member of an alternate family that I had at school. I loved that family feeling and I didn't want it to end.
That's a pretty big driving force for me right now. I truly want to feel that family feeling again, no matter what it takes. Now dont get me wrong: I do feel this way about my actual family. But that reason that this felt so unique was because I had never actually known any of the people on the football team. They were not related to me by blood or by marriage, but simply by the activities that we took part in with each other: a competitive team sport.
But I digress There are more important things for me to discuss here. What role would I fulfill in the military? Would I work a desk job, or would I serve in a combat role? These different roles flood my mind for one main reason: because I know that I could fulfill them to the best of my ability. I know that if my weapon of choice were a keyboard, or an M-4 Carbine, I would do it, and I would succeed, no matter what. I have nothing but faith in myself to carry out any task that is assigned to me.
There is also something else that has been getting at me lately. Most of the time when Im at home, I have to be told by my parents to do the dishes, or walk the dogs, or do this or that. Ive come to believe that Im not self-sufficient enough to be able to do these things without being told to do so. This idea of self-insufficiency coupled with the fact that I am an extremely lazy person has made me believe that the military would be a good way to get some discipline in my life. When I think of it this way, it almost sounds like a thats what I need in my life line or something like that.
This also brings on another topic that is bothering me: if I have to be told what to do, what kind of officer would I be? Most likely a bad one I think. Anyone in any leadership role needs to be able to think on his or her feet (which I can do), but also know what is the right decision in any given situation (which Im not too good at). Im sure that some of you tagged here have witnessed this lack of judgment in one way or another while spending time with me. Usually (from what Ive seen), its a lack of common sense on my part. And if I have little common sense and I need to be told what to do, thats a great formula for a bad leader/officer.
Then again, maybe Im just not giving myself credit. Maybe I do have self-sufficiency; I dont really know to be honest. Im just putting my thoughts down at first glance.
Anyway, time for the research part of this note. From what Ive found, a student enrolled in ROTC for the last two years of their college career MUST sign on the dotted line so to speak. Students that enroll in ROTC as a first time freshman have the option of not signing on the dotted line. What does that mean for me? It means that Im nowhere near a conclusion with respect to this subject, so it looks like I wont be taking ROTC in college. Plus, from what Ive seen, San Francisco State (the college I'm currently aiming at) doesnt offer it anyway.
However, there is another program called OCS (Officers Candidate School) which the person in question must be physically fit, possess a college degree and be of a certain age. It is a separate course that is taking after college has ended. Upon graduation from this course, the candidate is donned with the gold bar of second lieutenant and is contracted to serve a designated number of years in the army or reserves.
The bottom line is that I am currently not inclined to join the armed forces, nor do I plan on enlisting after college. This is all just research at the moment and I still plan on a civilian life after college. I'm just trying to find myself.
I've made some great friends on these forums and I would very much appreciate your thoughts (whether I know you or not). And please... Leave the politics out. Thanks in advance.
I've been asking me this question over and over again: is the military right for me? I've spent a good amount of my last month thinking this over. There was a perk to the military that I've been thinking about most: the concept of comradeship among members of a unit. Whether it be in actual battle or a desk job, I've come to understand that people in the same or even close units for an unusual bond that is unknown to those of us in the civilian world. That "brotherhood" if you will, is incredibly appealing to me. Let me explain:
I played football earlier this year (my senior year) in high school. There was a tight bond that I had with a lot of the other players and the team as a whole. People on that team wanted each other to do well at games and even at each practice after school. The feeling of community among all of us was all too prevalent: we wanted to be there and we loved coming to practice and seeing each other. Although none of us had ever served with each other in combat, I still felt that each one of them was a member of an alternate family that I had at school. I loved that family feeling and I didn't want it to end.
That's a pretty big driving force for me right now. I truly want to feel that family feeling again, no matter what it takes. Now dont get me wrong: I do feel this way about my actual family. But that reason that this felt so unique was because I had never actually known any of the people on the football team. They were not related to me by blood or by marriage, but simply by the activities that we took part in with each other: a competitive team sport.
But I digress There are more important things for me to discuss here. What role would I fulfill in the military? Would I work a desk job, or would I serve in a combat role? These different roles flood my mind for one main reason: because I know that I could fulfill them to the best of my ability. I know that if my weapon of choice were a keyboard, or an M-4 Carbine, I would do it, and I would succeed, no matter what. I have nothing but faith in myself to carry out any task that is assigned to me.
There is also something else that has been getting at me lately. Most of the time when Im at home, I have to be told by my parents to do the dishes, or walk the dogs, or do this or that. Ive come to believe that Im not self-sufficient enough to be able to do these things without being told to do so. This idea of self-insufficiency coupled with the fact that I am an extremely lazy person has made me believe that the military would be a good way to get some discipline in my life. When I think of it this way, it almost sounds like a thats what I need in my life line or something like that.
This also brings on another topic that is bothering me: if I have to be told what to do, what kind of officer would I be? Most likely a bad one I think. Anyone in any leadership role needs to be able to think on his or her feet (which I can do), but also know what is the right decision in any given situation (which Im not too good at). Im sure that some of you tagged here have witnessed this lack of judgment in one way or another while spending time with me. Usually (from what Ive seen), its a lack of common sense on my part. And if I have little common sense and I need to be told what to do, thats a great formula for a bad leader/officer.
Then again, maybe Im just not giving myself credit. Maybe I do have self-sufficiency; I dont really know to be honest. Im just putting my thoughts down at first glance.
Anyway, time for the research part of this note. From what Ive found, a student enrolled in ROTC for the last two years of their college career MUST sign on the dotted line so to speak. Students that enroll in ROTC as a first time freshman have the option of not signing on the dotted line. What does that mean for me? It means that Im nowhere near a conclusion with respect to this subject, so it looks like I wont be taking ROTC in college. Plus, from what Ive seen, San Francisco State (the college I'm currently aiming at) doesnt offer it anyway.
However, there is another program called OCS (Officers Candidate School) which the person in question must be physically fit, possess a college degree and be of a certain age. It is a separate course that is taking after college has ended. Upon graduation from this course, the candidate is donned with the gold bar of second lieutenant and is contracted to serve a designated number of years in the army or reserves.
The bottom line is that I am currently not inclined to join the armed forces, nor do I plan on enlisting after college. This is all just research at the moment and I still plan on a civilian life after college. I'm just trying to find myself.
I've made some great friends on these forums and I would very much appreciate your thoughts (whether I know you or not). And please... Leave the politics out. Thanks in advance.
