Introduction

[chaebis]

Ranger AU Skullcap,

My motivation is my desire to reach as high as I can. I could achieve anything else and be proud of my accomplishment, but I have chosen something much more challenging then say, owning my own business, or writing a book. That's not to say that those acheivements are not noteworthy, but they do not peak my interest. I have chosen to become a soldier. I have chosen a path that requires more fortitude then others and that's what drives me. The fact that if, by the grace of God and my (slow) two feet, I accomplish this goal I will have succeeded in a task not many can boast.

I promise you have I have no misconceptions as to this course being easy. I fully realize that this training will be the toughest task I have ever undertaken both physically and mentally as well. Again, this is what drives me; success in adversity.

I hope you find this response much more satisfactory then my first.

[chaebis]

Rangers,

At this time, I would like to request permission for entrance into the Minor Mayhem and Mentor forums.

Awaiting Instruction,
Chase

[FIST TEAM LTR]

Ranger Redwing96,

I'm holding off finishing college because I have run out of funding. Until this year I have used money that I saved up in highschool. My parents make too much money for me to recieve grants and I would rather not owe a bank money.

I have had an interest in joining the military since high school but decided on going to college for as long as i could before joining.

I missed the first GI bill by six months, do what I did, work two jobs and take out a loan, best money you will ever spend....
Good Luck.

[FIST TEAM LTR]

Oh yeah, I assume you are running with someone on your back.

[GSXRanger]

Promise... this one shows. Shaken under pressure, he has not. Time will tell only, if he has the fortitude to fight on to the objective... I sense the force is strong in this one, yes. Wrong, I may be...

Good luck young Padawan!

Run, you must...

[T Man]

Ranger Redwing96,

I'm holding off finishing college because I have run out of funding. Until this year I have used money that I saved up in highschool. My parents make too much money for me to recieve grants and I would rather not owe a bank money.

I have had an interest in joining the military since high school but decided on going to college for as long as i could before joining.

So you always planned to be a quitter?

What are you going to do in the pipeline? Go as long as you can? Which is a misnomer in and of itself as you can go much longer, you chose not to get a loan and continue.

You say the right things, but your actions and prior behavior indicate otherwise. And as they say, the best predictor of future behavior is prior behavior.

I don't understand why all of you college kids say that you don't want to owe a bank money for your education. You'll turn to them the instant Ford puts out a new Mustang, or the minute you want a house, but the one thing that no repo man can ever take from you, everyone wants to say, "Nah, fuck it. I don't want to owe The Man."

The interest rates are lower than any other loan on the market, and getting a Subsidized or Unsub loan you can defer payments until six months after you graduate. Hell, if you really wanted to join the Army you could do so the day after you graduated and get the Loan Repayment Program and be debt free before you accumulated more than $20 worth of interest.

You're not the first person to execute this same course of action, but I never understand it.

If you're burned out on school, admit it. If you're saying "I want my degree but can't..." then you're a quitter. Pure and simple. It takes a hell of a lot more effort to go back to school than to stay in school.

I hope I'm wrong for your sake since you've already made your choice, but I don't see you achieving your goal.

For future reference, your interest peaks when it's at its highest, it is piqued when your curiosity is aroused.

Stay in school.

[chaebis]

Ranger T Man,

Yes sir I am burned out on school, but I don't know many in college who can't wait for the next day to listen to another two hour long lecture on micro-economics and it's applications, or write an essay on why the Bhagavad-Gita was an important piece of literature.

I didn't plan on quitting, rather using the money I saved myself first. I went to college because it was the next logical step in my education process. Not because, "Oh man I want to be a Computer Engineer when I grow up!" I just figured I'd go and see if there was a field that interested me more then the military. To date I have switched my major three times and taken advanced classes in 5 different fields. With the possibility of owing over $40k in loans if I wanted to finish a degree I chose to join the military.

The thought of owing that much money scares the shit out of me. Even if it is deferred six months after graduation.

I'm sorry if my logic confuses you Ranger T Man.

[T Man]

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt about this post's tone being a problem of internet communications, because it comes across as thinly veiled sarcasm in the first paragraph.

Ranger T Man,

Yes sir I am burned out on school, but I don't know many in college who can't wait for the next day to listen to another two hour long lecture on micro-economics and it's applications, or write an essay on why the Bhagavad-Gita was an important piece of literature.

Burned out. Fair enough. Just know though, that there are some of us who went to school full time, triple majoring in Finance, Management and Physics, and raised three children while their mother worked 12 hour shifts, 3-6 days a week. So while I understand about being burned out, giving schoolwork as the excuse turns your admission into more of a whine. For future reference, qualifying statements with stuff like that in the Army usually isn't a good thing. Just answer and move out. If more is required, your questioner will ask.

I didn't plan on quitting, rather using the money I saved myself first.

This sentence right here is my point.

"...using the money I saved myself first."

So you intended originally to take out loans? Or you planned to go to a cheaper school? If you had no intention of taking loans, why go to a school that you wouldn't be able to afford and knew you would have to quit?

I went to college because it was the next logical step in my education process. Not because, "Oh man I want to be a Computer Engineer when I grow up!" I just figured I'd go and see if there was a field that interested me more then the military. To date I have switched my major three times and taken advanced classes in 5 different fields. With the possibility of owing over $40k in loans if I wanted to finish a degree I chose to join the military.

Next logical step. Also fair enough. Many people enter college undecided and remain that way for quite some time. But why spend the money to go through parts of three majors with advanced coursework in 5 different fields, and walk away with nothing to show for it? Doesn't that alone qualify you for every Psychology degree out there? I know my school gave them out for just showing up at Graduation. Can't you get a Liberal Arts degree or something? Why put all that effort into it, blow your savings, and just walk away?

That's what you need to understand. Because you will be doing things in the pipeline that you have no desire for or interest in. In much harsher conditions than a classroom with a boring, 2 hour lecture.

The thought of owing that much money scares the shit out of me. Even if it is deferred six months after graduation.

Yeah, I'm not going to touch this one. Especially since the last time I heard, the Army's LRP was at $60-something-K.

I'm sorry if my logic confuses you Ranger T Man.

Don't apologize. I will be the first to admit that college is NOT for everyone. I just can't see why someone would go through three majors and advanced coursework in 5 fields and at least not just walk away with something to show for it.

You don't need to respond to me. Just think about it and heed the warning above about the tone of your posts. A college degree or lack thereof doesn't make someone a good soldier, but the behaviors in a relaxed environment such as school are good indicators for what someone will do in stressful environments as well. Though I fully admit there are those people who surprise you.

I sincerely wish you good luck.

[JMar]

Don't apologize. I will be the first to admit that college is NOT for everyone. I just can't see why someone would go through three majors and advanced coursework in 5 fields and at least not just walk away with something to show for it.

That's exactly what I did, T Man. And although I love this job, I do wish I had either done it right out of high school or (preferably) finished my degree first.

Now here I sit with an ETS date that lets me loose at 30 years old and only a year of courses left in order to earn my bachelor's. Will I go back and finish it? You bet your ass. But it would have been a lot smarter on my part to just finish it in the first place.

Think about this decision, Chaebis. The Regiment will still be there when you finish that degree and the Army will repay you for whatever money you had to work for or borrow. Guys with degrees (as long as you're not a worthless doucebag) are respected around here. They tend to quickly become mentors and leaders to the younger guys coming in out of high school. Plus, you'll be earning that big ol' Specialist scratch when you enlist.