Welcome, and good luck in your quest.
It is the curse of a long career and a good memory that everything reminds me of a story:
I encountered one of your former comrades years ago on Rhein Main. I had flown in as the airland safety (E4 jumpmaster...always the fucking safety) on a C-130 after a Mass TAC somewhere in Bavaria. Because we had failed to get a bundle out (with a mortar tube inside) I had to stay with my aircraft while my fellow safeties left on the bus. So I'm sitting on the ramp smoking and a young SP (he might have been a SrA) rolls up to me in a jeep, carrying a CAR-15.
SP: "Where's your line badge?"
Me: "What the fuck is a line badge?"
SP: "How did you get onto the flight line without a line badge?"
Me (hooking a thumb at the C-130): "See the big ariplane?"
SP: "You're not supposed to be on the flight line without a line badge."
Me: "Yeah, well, nobody was passing them out on the bird."
SP (pointing his CAR-15 at my midsection!): "Sir, get face down and spread eagled."
Me: "Motherfucker, you have got a better chance of seeing the Second Coming of the Almighty right here on this airfield today than you do of seeing me face down and spread eagled, so either shoot me or point that thing somewhere else."
Long pause...after which he got in his jeep and drove away, returning a few minutes later with a much more reasonable sergeant who suggested I stay inside the aircraft, as they had a readiness exercise of some sort going on...then bummed a smoke.
Becoming a Ranger
Moderator: Site Admin
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Hey if you have the will, stamina and guts why not?Ulfhedin wrote:I am 41 years old if it's important. Old, Fat, and bald people aren't allowed to be Rangers? (just kidding).
RS Class 5-82
French Commando 11-83
LRSLC Class 5-87
U.S. Army 1980-1984 and 1987-1990
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“Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.”
George S. Patton
French Commando 11-83
LRSLC Class 5-87
U.S. Army 1980-1984 and 1987-1990
---------
“Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.”
George S. Patton
Ulfhedin wrote:First of all, thank all of you for your support. After my long battle through the recruitment process (and MEPS), the final answer was I am ineligible to enlist into the infantry due to my prior service MOS (whatever the crap that means). My only chance now is to transfer over from within.
In the meantime, it seems the Army has no problem with me playing with tanks. I ship the 27th of September and will be trained as a 19K.
For the young soldiers making fun of the old soldiers: Never underestimate the power of "will."
Through the bludgeonings of life; my head is bloodied, but unbowed.
I think you got screwed. I'm no recruiter, but, why is 19K alright but infantry isn't? That doesn't sound right to me. I hope someone here with more recruitment knowledge can tell you. What would be the difference?
2/75 HHC C/E 89-92
Rio Hato/AO Diaz CCT/Commo
"It is a heavy thing, to see a Father so strong in life, unable to rise."
"A great civilization is not conquered from without
until it has destroyed itself from within." -W. Durant
Rio Hato/AO Diaz CCT/Commo
"It is a heavy thing, to see a Father so strong in life, unable to rise."
"A great civilization is not conquered from without
until it has destroyed itself from within." -W. Durant
Your story sounds alot like what I'm experiencing.Ulfhedin wrote:First of all, thank all of you for your support. After my long battle through the recruitment process (and MEPS), the final answer was I am ineligible to enlist into the infantry due to my prior service MOS (whatever the crap that means). My only chance now is to transfer over from within.
I'm 35, Prior AF, (stationed at Tyndall for all 6 years incidentally!)
And was basically told the same thing, I'll be getting my old MOS (AFSC).
The funny thing is, they were going to bust me down to E1 due to my break in service being so long (I got out in November of 2000), but luckily since I have an Associate's degree, they are bringing me in as an E3. And to think, before I got out, I passed the E5 WAPS test for Staff Sergeant, and then I was going to be joining the Army as an E1 with no stripes!
It's just funny how your rank is no good, but your MOS still is somehow.
My recruiter's boss told me the only way I could get to Ranger school, was if Admin, HR and HRIS are unavailable when I get to the MEPS, and then if there is Infantry, that is my best shot because he said they can always go to Ranger School. (This was before I realized just how fast you have to be able to run 5 miles). Now I'm aiming a tad lower and hoping to get a chance to go to Airborne School. He says I won't have a snowball's chance in hell if I get Admin, but here is to hoping.
PS: Did you do any fishing while at Tyndall? That was a fisherman's paradise!