so im trying to come up with 8 references. How old can they be? I really don't know many people that would be good to use that have know me in last 3-5 years. i have plenty if i go back farther but will this look bad? Can i use any family like cousins or no? Id ask recruiter but its sunday.

 

Originally Posted by ntanygd760

im a moron the test i took was the practice one which is a good thing because i took the real one today and actually got sleep. scored a 98 percentile overall and i think the line scores was 136 for general and between 134 and 149 on the individual ones so i qualify for whatever i want

Nice. I scored a 98 as well. If you sign up you will find out that a ton of people got really shitty scores on that test and it will blow your mind.

 

Originally Posted by OhAaT

Nice. I scored a 98 as well. If you sign up you will find out that a ton of people got really shitty scores on that test and it will blow your mind.

Because the best and the brightest don't turn to military service.

excellent post ohaat, very interesting

 

Originally Posted by ntanygd760

is it looked down upon if people wash out of 18x or ranger school?

No. Only a few of all the applicants make it through 18X, nothing wrong with not making it. Ranger school is much easier, comparably speaking, cause its more of a leadership course than a break you course like the 18X. There are alot of tabb'ed Rangers that are not in a Ranger Regiment. I'm sure OneM or BGX could give you more info tho.

 

Originally Posted by ntanygd760

is it looked down upon if people wash out of 18x or ranger school?

Not really for 18X. Yes for Ranger School.

My bro-in-law just went through the 18 X program and made it through Selection with all first-time go's. He then blew it in MOS phase. He got reverted back to 11B and spent the next year in a Cav unit at Ft. Bragg.

They don't expect most to make it through the 18 X program. They already know they've got you as an 11-series if you don't make it, which works just fine for them.

If you get sent to Ranger Battalion and then shipped to Ranger School after 6 months there and fail, your life would suck. You would leave Ranger BN and definitely have a stigma for not making it. If you enlisted in the regular Army, wanted to go to Ranger School, and then didn't make it because of injury or something, the stigma isn't as bad.

If you are having to lose weight just to enlist, as you say, you really shouldn't be considering these things right now. Ranger School is 2 months of suck. You have to be mentally and physically hard to make it, and it's just not something I'd recommend to someone right out of the gate unless I know that's how they are. Kinda the same with 18 X.

Everyone wants to tell their family and buddies that they're "Going to Ranger School" or "Gonna be SF" or whatever, but the reality is that most don't make it and it takes a special type of person to do it. Just pick an MOS that you think you'd enjoy and go with it, instead of choosing something that just sounds cool but ends up sending you down a different path anyway.

Just my advice.

 

Originally Posted by ntanygd760

The only reason i was even considering 18x or rangers is it might be a few months before i ship to basic which would give me time to get in shape. I have no chance if i had to ship today and i know that. I know my body fairly well and used to be in top shape and if i put 3-4 months of massive effort i think i might have a chance at least for passing ranger school which i heard is easier. I have no illusion of passing s.f. training with the shape i am in now and even given me getting back in shape the odds are still way against it but i would have to decide now since i'm getting close to the maximum age, and i'd hope it is hard to make. If it was easy to pass then they might as well send you off knowing your going to die.

I understand what you're saying, but I'm telling you from experience that getting in shape is not enough. Working out, running, and dropping pounds is great, but it's a lot more than just that.

Also, Ranger School is no easier or harder than going through SF training. I know people who've done both, and they each will tell you something different. One of the best NCO's I ever knew spent 12 years in SF and thought Ranger School was the hardest thing he'd ever done. On the other hand, I know plenty of Rangers who fail out of SF training. It's just different.

There may be a maximum age for going in the 18 x program, but that's just one way to get in. There are plenty of people much older than you who go through SF training. Army installations are constantly recruiting people to go. Also, I know of a few people over 35 years old who went through Ranger School.

Again, my advice is to pick something you really want to do. If you decide you love the Army and want more of a challenge, then by all means, go to Ranger School or SF. I just would almost never recommend enlisting with those things in my contract.

I wouldn't rule out the PGA yet...

yeah im prob dreaming if i want to go str8 in as 18x. although i think i might be good at it mind wise.

yeah i need to either give it 110% or not try at all.

Just got back from USMC boot. It isnt for the faint hearted

dont try and leap a creek with a wall on the other side to look like a badass.

this might be a dumb question but i know army barracks are furnished but do i bring my own t.v., dvd player and all that good stuff or do they already have them

 

Originally Posted by ntanygd760

this might be a dumb question but i know army barracks are furnished but do i bring my own t.v., dvd player and all that good stuff or do they already have them

Are you kidding with this question? Dude, you will not get to watch one single tv show, movie, commerical, etc.. the ENTIRE TIME you are at basic training/AIT. I am an 11b (Infantryman) who has already gone through the exact same thing you are about to go through. If you aren't kidding with this question and actually believe you need this stuff to get by, get out of your contract now because you aren't going to be able to handle it.

Heres a rundown of whats going to happen to you in as close to chronological order as I can possibly get:

Reception:

You are going to fly into Atlanta, GA and get bussed to Fort Benning, GA. You will go to a reception company called (30th AG) that essentially spends the next 8-14 days getting you processed into the Army. This will involve long days of briefs, shots, pictures for IDs, and getting your ACU's issued. Drill sergeants and staff sergeants will be leading you around to all of this, treating you like a piece of shit the entire time. You'll be waking up around 4AM every day and not finishing your day until 8AM most days. You will be so tired you will want to die, but you will rarely be allowed to sit and NEVER be allowed to sleep. Keep in mind this is not even basic training yet, its simply reception. The one positive is that they generally aren't allowed to smoke you (ie. make you do pushups and what not if you screw up). Several of your battle buddies are going to quit during this time, a few more will break down in tears, and a most likely 1 or 2 will try to hurt themselves or commit suicide.

Shipping "down range":

After all your processing is done you will "ship down range". The drill sergeants and sergeants at reception will tell you horror stories to scare you, and it will probably work. Shipping down range will consist of you getting bussed to where you will go through basic training, which is actually only about a mile away, but they will drive you around for 20 minutes so it seems like you are going 10 miles away into the deeps woods. HERES THE FUN PART. You'll have about 60 pounds of gear that you've been issued crammed onto the bus with you. When you get to basic you're gonna be hustled off the bus and go through whats called the "shark attack." Its meant to shock you right off the bat, and it will. This will be pretty horrible, and you'll immediately regret your decision to join.

Red phase:

When you arrive there you will be in red phase. It essentially means you are treated like scum because you know NOTHING yet. You will get smoked several times a day for no good reason. You will hate life. You will get maybe 5 hours a sleep a night and get smoked randomly throughout it. Your days will be long. Most of red phase is classroom instruction throughout the day. If you fall asleep you will be smoked mercilessly until you wake up. Red phase, if you're lucky, lasts 4 weeks. The only cool thing that happens during red phase is you get issued your M4 carbine and also get to shoot a little. You'll hate the M4 soon enough because you'll quickly be introduced to "rifle pt". Enjoy. Oh, and you'll also be hungry ALL THE TIME. You'll get 3 meals a day and MAYBE 4 minutes to eat each one. Some days you'll get kicked out without eating because you happened to look up from your food. YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT, thats for sure.

Alright, I'm tired of typing. I only covered the first 4 weeks, and theres plenty more suck I'm just not thinking of. Let me know if you have any questions.

sorry i didn't mean basic i know you can't bring anything with you. i meant once i get to my duty station