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).