One time, at MEPS...

(Military Entrance Processing Station) Do realise that if anyone reads this online, that means they have access to the search engines and are able to look up the meaning of the many military acronyms that are and will be mentioned in this blog.

0500. 4 January 2008. I'm up and ready to head out. I cleaned my ears with peroxide, I wore clean-clean-CLEAN clothes, and I have all my necessary paperwork in an organized, filed manner. I'm actually waiting on time for my recruiter to pick me up, but he's running a minute or two late. Don't worry. I'm not his drill sergeant.

After -0600-and-too-lazy-to-remember-details. Got to MEPS, signed in with 60+ applicants waiting for a full physical exam. For many of those folks, it was the first time experiencing "real" military life. No, it doesn't start with basic training/boot camp. It starts in MEPS. (No, it doesn't start with your recruiter's office either- you know it's nice and pretty to seduce you ;).

MEPS with females can be so...time consuming, at least in my experience. If it's cold and you're standing there in your underwear with 10 other females who like to joke because they're clearly uncomfortable, you will definitely be there waiting for someone to finish unchanging and laughing or doing weird versions of the "chicken dance/squat" and thereby standing by cold and annoyed because you do want to get this uncomfortable event over and done with even if you yourself aren't embarrassed about standing there in your underwear with 10 other females for a pre-enlistment physical exam to make sure all your fingers, toes, and limbs are working, that you're in your right mind, and that you aren't a druggy or some felon trying to take advantage of the System.

We checked our vision, hearing, got our blood drawn and did piss in cups. Man I feel weird writing that out- but it's the truth. As for me, I'm completely healthy and drug-free.

Then we went to pick our jobs. Well, I got mine guaranteed so I didn't have to pick mine, per se, but I did have to spend a lot of time making sure I got my incentives and my pay-grade accordingly.

I waited to see a "counselor" to discuss my benefits, my contracts, and sign more stuff.

Then I "finally waited" for an officer to schedule a swear-in.

Then I swore in.

So now I cut my hair above the shoulders, to symbolise the fact that I'm no longer just a civilian- and to make it easy on myself when I go to BCT.

The Initiation Cut

At least that's what I call the transition of a civilian's anything-goes hair-do to a male's high-and-tight or a female's tight-bun or above-the-shoulders-and-in-regs hairstyle.

I raised my right hand, swore to defend the Constitution of the USA, defend the US from enemies both foreign and domestic, etc. plus signed those papers. 6 years. I'll be about 28 when I have to decide to re-enlist...

Leaving 28 May, shippin' out 6 June; don't graduate from all sorts of training until a whole year later...making that around June-ish '09. I will be an Army Reservist with the 5501st US Army Hospital. (Yes, yes...Weekend Warrior. hooah.)

I'm going to try and keep this blog updated on the goings-on with my Basic Combat Training (BCT), Advanced Individual Training (AIT) and special training for physical therapist technicians. And by a month or two down the road, at least 5% of my compositions will be in acronyms without explanations.

And if you wonder "why the Army?": Air Force didn't guarantee me the job i wanted; Marines don't have medics; I don't want to test my swimming abilities nor go on a Navy/Coast Guard ship; and the Army National Guard didn't attract my attention fast enough. Plus, I did get my $20k cash bonus, my $20k student loan repayment program, my Select Reserve GI Bill and GI Bill Kicker (aka more free money, if you're in the Reserves), a guaranteed foot in the door to a weekday job, and I did actually read all 6 signed contracts of all aforementioned incentives and I have a good reason to join the military besides get an education (and to "shoot guns" as a job).

The expectancy of a Baby Medic

I got it: 68W/N9 contract, with the Army Reserves. Estimated ship out date: 28 May. Hah, my birthday.

Reception should take about 10 days for me. Then it's off to Basic Combat Training (BCT) for about 9 weeks - or 10, with all these new programs for basic coming out. Advanced Individual Training (AIT) is 20ish weeks, and my specialty school for physical therapy specialists/technicians is a whoppin' 22 weeks and 6 days. Altogether, I'll be in training for a good year before I graduate and officially start working as a Weekend Warrior with the 5501st- hooah! Yes, I do lack the pride of active duty personnel.

Physical therapy. I'm happy about this move in my career plan so far. It's guaranteed, it's structured. I'm not new to the military. I should be good to go. Finally, I can get on with my life and stop being in career limbo.

If all goes well, I go in as an E-3, Private First Class (PFC). I visit MEPS this Friday and may sign 6 years of my life away to seal the deal. God willing, things will work out smoothly for the better.

I had hopes of making this blog a travel journal for myself and I think I can carry on with that intention.

However, there won't be stories of exotic places, far-off lands and extraordinary cultures.

Well, maybe the military should be considered a separate culture. Yes, I'll be doing some traveling- but first to Army basic combat training. Happiness and friggin joy.

(No, I haven't signed the contract yet, but I did take the ASVAB, got a decent score of 95, and am pursing an Army Reserves contract of 68W/ N9 (Health Care Specialist with the Physical Therapy Technician- a/k/a PT Assistant- specialty track. And yeah, I will become a Weekend Warrior- but whatever.)

So, more news to come. Someday I'll change the whole "Remey goes to New Zealand" thing, though maybe not. I'll probably keep the kiwi theme going just because I like how it is and even if New Zealand's patriotic colours and logo have nothing to do with the US Army.