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Joining the Army, taking my life back

#42
alecduncan said:
I know for a fact that when I get out of training and towards the end of my tour that I'm going to come right back to Talkbass and fulfill an unimaginable GAS of basses and amps and effects :bassist:

Thanks!
-Alec
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I don't know how much you'll have to throw around for gear and such. I just got out (of the Air Force, but I was still lower enlisted), and while the party isn't terrible, it's not great, either. If you're smart with your finances, you'll be able to invest in some quality gear. Just don't get too ambitious with it, because you never know what kind of curveball life will throw you.

That being said, a proactive thank you for your imminent service to this great nation. Go make us proud, soldier.
 
#44
Hey all, extreme necro-bump so sorry about that!

Just an update:

I've been living in Michigan since late January and I'm loving it so far. I immediately started my Army enlistment, and starting looking for a job in the meantime. I have a great office job while I wait, and I'm more than likely going to be picking up a new bass soon...

I scored a 94 on my ASVAB and have quickly absorbed all of the training material, but I have been waiting for a childhood asthma waiver for a few months now; with the current political budget nonsense I'm not sure how long if at all this will take. I have been examined by three doctors, two of which have been army, saying I'm medically fine.

Even if I don't make it in, I'm on the right track now to be successful... food/housing is incredibly cheap and mostly better than in Maryland, and my dad constantly tells me how much he appreciates me making things a bit more sane here. I am looking at apartments now just in case things don't work with the Army, and I'm returning to my beloved talkbass now. I had to force myself to stop getting on just so I don't lust over basses/amps in the classifieds, but now that I have a pretty good income I have been eyeing a beautiful fretless jazz bass...

Either way, thank you all for your support and attention and I wish I was able to report that I have already completed training, but this enlistment process has taken way, way longer than I would have thought.
 
#48
My Dad did something similar. His mom bad to the point he joined the Navy as Veitnam was getting pretty hot ('67).

Admittedly, There wasn't whole lot of naval involvement, but considering joining the military at the height of wartime as preferable to living at home anymore kind of says a lot.

Good luck.
 
#49
alecduncan said:
Hey all, extreme necro-bump so sorry about that!

Just an update:

I've been living in Michigan since late January and I'm loving it so far. I immediately started my Army enlistment, and starting looking for a job in the meantime. I have a great office job while I wait, and I'm more than likely going to be picking up a new bass soon...

I scored a 94 on my ASVAB and have quickly absorbed all of the training material, but I have been waiting for a childhood asthma waiver for a few months now; with the current political budget nonsense I'm not sure how long if at all this will take. I have been examined by three doctors, two of which have been army, saying I'm medically fine.

Even if I don't make it in, I'm on the right track now to be successful... food/housing is incredibly cheap and mostly better than in Maryland, and my dad constantly tells me how much he appreciates me making things a bit more sane here. I am looking at apartments now just in case things don't work with the Army, and I'm returning to my beloved talkbass now. I had to force myself to stop getting on just so I don't lust over basses/amps in the classifieds, but now that I have a pretty good income I have been eyeing a beautiful fretless jazz bass...

Either way, thank you all for your support and attention and I wish I was able to report that I have already completed training, but this enlistment process has taken way, way longer than I would have thought.
Click to expand...

Good luck either way. It's great you have a backup plan, and are completely motivated and have a good outlook. One thing I wish I had done when I came in(16yrs Navy), was to enroll in the Thrift Savings Program. Even if you only decide to stay in a couple years, it is totally worth it.

Waivers are a weird thing, it can stop one person but another can totally get in. Either way, its really not the end of the world if you don't get in. It's a big world, and a lot of stuff is out there.

Good luck!
 
#51
IF, for some reason you do not make it in, there is still a lot that an ambitious individual can do with his life.

I aced the ASVAB, passed the physical, then did not go in. The reason was the original Desert Shield war in 1992 ended. I signed up because I believed in the hype. Many of the people here will remember that that "war" only lasted a few weeks. Without a cause to believe in, I had a choice between college or military. I knew that post war, there is less potential for advancement, so I choose college.

At that time, it was the right decision for me. I do not do well with authority figures anyway, so maybe it was for the best
 
#52
Best of luck! You sound like you have a plan!

I was 18 when my mom and step-dad divorced and I was shoved out into the world on my own- after painting the inside of the hose they sold. I managed to put myself through college for a degree in math and get on with my life. That was 32 years ago. Life is very good now! Just do the best you can each day and keep moving forward. Stay close to your sister! Good siblings are wonderful to have!
 
#53
All the best ...however you do realize that "taking my life back" and "joining the army" are oxymoronic.. ;) .. Good luck man. You seem to have your head on your shoulders as opposed to elsewhere and I think you would make a fine soldier. A man wit a plan and the willingness to work that plan is a man on the move. Good advice from will there... and consider keeping the bass and maybe getting a headphone amp.
 

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