New DEPper - Introduction

[Ray80]

Hello all,

I would like introduce myself to the people on this board. My name is Ray, screen name Ray80. I am 23 and signed my 11X, Option 40 contact less than two weeks ago (after being a stubborn SOB, waiting for, and fighting for it). I leave September 28, 2004. Until then, I work for my University’s Athletics Department, a local casino, and do roof construction.

These Internet forums (airborneranger.com and this site) were the vehicles by which I completed my own enlistment research before setting foot in a recruiting station. In my initial read-through of this forum, I was pleased to see some of the names that dispensed a lot of the advice that I have heeded at airborneranger.com . I also saw that you had another member named Ray who has already shipped and has probably become a soldier.

I truly appreciate the fact that the Rangers, veterans, and soldiers here take the time to post the invaluable advice. You have my personal thanks and utmost respect for your selfless service. We DEPsh*ts have a great resource available to us in simply lurking, which means that this could very well also be my last post.

Enough. I am clogging up the net. Continue leading the way for our country’s future defenders.

Respectfully,
Ray80

[EggMcMuffin]

Welcome, Ray80.

[shit_can]

WELCOME AND GOOD LUCK

Shit_Can

[Looon]

Welcome to the board.

[Harris]

Welcome , please take a few moments (if you havn't already) and read the forum rules/faq, thankyou very much

[Doc]

Welcome Ray. Nice intro.

Check Six,
Doc

[Steadfast]

Welcome Ray. Nice intro.

Check Six,
Doc

I agree with Doc, nice intro Ray80. I welcome you to this board and hope you garner much more information to help with your enlistment.

P.S. I said the same thing as you to this board but to my mailman. I told her I will never wait for you and I hope to never see you again.

[Spartan]

Welcome Aboard Ray80. How many trips to MEPs did it require. For those who have not been as stubborn, can you explain that process for us? How many times did they try and sell you on something less than an option 40 contract and what did you do in response?

I'm asking on behalf of all those NEWTs who are to skeered to ask and have probably been PMing the shit out of you since you mentioned it.

Thanks.

[Rock Island Ranger]

Very Hoowah intro, Ray. Also glad you work for a living, perservered through the crap recruiters put you and you know what you want. Glad to have you here.

[Earthpig]

I am 23 and signed my 11X, Option 40 contact less than two weeks ago (after being a stubborn SOB, waiting for, and fighting for it). I leave September 28, 2004.

Damned fine introduction, Ray. Welcome aboard! Glad to see that you've started off right...by not being sucked into the used car saleman pitch at MEPS. If you want to be a Ranger, then you have to DO it...and you can't let anyone or anything get in your way. You've successfully jumped the first of many obstacles. Don't let the momentum decline.

We DEPsh*ts have a great resource available to us in simply lurking, which means that this could very well also be my last post.
Enough. I am clogging up the net. Continue leading the way for our country’s future defenders.
Respectfully,
Ray80

Ray, don't misunderstand what the Rangers on these boards are saying. I don't think there is a single Ranger or vet on this site who hopes that none of you DEPs ever post another sentence. Quite the contrary.

One of the main missions of this site is to put out righteous information from Rangers who have "been there, done that" to the young men who are planning to enter the US Army and pursue a life in a Ranger Battalion.
Along with that mission, we add humor, smoke, and stories (lies), mainly for our own amusement. Additionally, our brand of humor, combined with the smoke that we throw down range, is intended to give you DEPs a taste of what to expect in Battalion (if you get there).

The Ranger Road is a long, tough road. RIP is tough, no doubt, but the real challenge begins when your boots hit the 1SG's office that first time in Battalion, as you report for duty as a tabless private. Battalion life is unbelievably tough....but in a good way. If you make it there, you will make blood bonds with warriors that will last for the rest of your life. It will change your life and the way that you go about things. I believe that it will make you a better man.

My point is, don't hide from the boards. It is admirable to see the young hooah who lurks in the background, gleening the useful knowledge from this site, and succeeding in his mission. It is also admirable to see the DEP who is squared away, has a few extra years on his peers, and is already somewhat well-traveled, giving input to the other DEPs.

There is a fine line between being an annoying know-it-all and being a leader. You have many of the qualities already in place to be one of the leaders on this site. Don't muscle your way in, just offer your knowledge and experience to your fellow DEPs. Many of these young men have never even had a job.

I hope to see more of you on the boards. We already have some DEPs who can square you away on the rules/ regs, etc. I urge you to become an active part of the Minor Mayhem. Good luck with your endeavors.

RLTW
EP

[Ray80]

Welcome Aboard Ray80. How many trips to MEPs did it require. For those who have not been as stubborn, can you explain that process for us? How many times did they try and sell you on something less than an option 40 contract and what did you do in response?

I'm asking on behalf of all those NEWTs who are to skeered to ask and have probably been PMing the shit out of you since you mentioned it.

Thanks.

Rangers and board, thank you for the welcome. I was not expecting that!

Ranger Spartan,
What follows is simply an account of what I did and I hope I am not speaking out of turn. I went to MEPS only 3 times. My stubbornness came from never accepting anything but what I wanted from the MEPS job counselor. I only talked with my recruiter 4 times. Because I had this and other sites available as my main research resource, I was able to come into the recruiting station after the physical and ASVAB and say, with meaning:

[b]“Sergeant, in order that I enlist, I will only sign a contract that includes the following: a four year enlistment, ship date in September, unassigned Infantry MOS with Option 40. I will not sign unless we can get all these. Bonuses and school money are secondary. My GT was 127 and my physical profile matched. Please tell me what to do.â€

[Earthpig]

Outstanding!
RLTW
EP

[devilrat35]

Ray, it sounds like you have an extremely good recruiter, I'm glad you were able to get what you wanted without stepping on anyone's toes. I read too many posts where someone pissed off their recruiter by not signing and in some cases their recruiter left them at MEPS without a ride home (albeit this is pretty rare though).

Congratulations on getting your option 40, another great example of sticking to your guns!

[Weidert]

damn... superb intro!

[certiorari]

10 minutes later, I took a look down at my contract in awe, wondering what I did to deserve such an opportunity. Lord knows there are many - some on this board - who deserve it more than I do.


Ray

Ray, thus far you seem to be very squared away and quite deserving. I think you oughta give yourself a little more credit.