What have you always wante to ask someone in the Army?

[firedfns13]

I've been in the US Army for almost two years now, long loved the Escapist forums but never really posted much. I was curious, Escapists, if you were curious about what it's like to be in the armed forces.

MY JOB: (initiate obnoxious Medal of Honor trumpet wail) I am a 19 Delta, otherwise knows as a Cavalry Scout. Yes, we still get the wear the hats you see in Civil War movies, they're called Cavalry Stetsons. No, we don't wear them to battle... as awesome as that would be...

I go in front of the main element of whatever kind of force I roll with in simple HumVees, somewhat rickety Bradly tanks, or the surprisingly comfortable Stryker assault platforms. All of which are fun for me, because I'm the gunner. I either rock the M2 .50 cal machine gun or the mind-blowing penis-expanding Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher. I observe enemy movement, then either move in and take care of the business or call some serious explosions down from heaven that you see on Youtube with creed or ACDC playing in the background. (for the record, I hate those videos)

So Escapists, what would you like to know, if anything, about a soldier's life?

So... you don't know how to belay using 2 caribiners? Damn. I want to know and I haven't met the guy at my gym that does.

Do you call in the air strikes or do you have a USAF forward air controller with you guys?

 

[emeraldrafael]

You mentioned the drill instructors being terrifying. What if you arnt intimidated? I cant say for sure if i wouldnt be after a certain point, but when someone starts to yell, or get upset with me, I always just end up laughing at them (yes, i have found myself in PLENTY of fights for doing so.)

So... I guess I'm just saying is, if the drill instructor is meant to break you down on some level, and if its by fear, what happens when you arent scared? Do they reprimand you for it?

 

[Sporky111]

See, to me that sounds like the type of non-answer I'd hear from a recruiter. "It'll all work out, try it for yourself."

I know I'm not cut out for military life (low tolerance for stress) but I'm still curious about the specifics of training. How many miles, how many pushups, how many hours a day; that type of stuff.

All right, I can help you out there. Which branch do you plan to enlist in to? If you want to enlist in the U.S. Army, the website is http://www.apft-standards.com/. To graduate BCT (Boot Camp) you need a minimum score of 50 pts in each event (a minimum of 60 pts to graduate AIT/OSUT.). I would list the minimum scores for the other branches but I want to call some people (my uncle used to be Navy, I've got a friend of a friend in the Air Force, my bro in law was in the USMC, and I used to be in the U.S. Army). Though, honestly, if you're not up-to-par, the training will get you there. Though I recommend being as physically fit as you can before enlisting before you will be less likely to get injured. I hope that helps.

Um, other info...well, soldiers in BCT rappel off a tower, hike up and down hills while carrying many pounds of weight (distances are 5K, 10K, and 15K). In AIT, they do excercises specific to the MOS. For example, as a Medic, you have to carry a patient. I've heard that mechanics have to carry vehicle parts for long distances. What else would you like to know?

Well, thanks a lot for your time, but I'm afraid it was for naught. First: I'm Canadian. Second: I've already decided on a career path that doesn't involve any armed forces (I doubt they'd have any specialization that would qualify me for a media arts degree).

I was considering it for a long time when I didn't have anything lined up that I wanted, just to give me more time to decide what I wanted to do with my life while getting in shape and making money. But I don't think it's worth the stress on myself. A friend of mine went to a six-week training camp, really tough guy that's seen a lot of hard times in his life; he said it made him break down and cry three times while he was there. I'd be in a lot worse shape by the end of that time.

 

[maturin]

While playing Arma 2 and mucking around with sound mods, I've become oddly fascinated by the phenomenon of the ballistic crack. Or supersonic snap, or whatever you want to call the sonic boom a bullet makes when it goes by your head. Since you say you've been shot and shot at several times, I was wondering how you'd describe the sound. I'm sure you had other things on your mind at the time, but have you ever heard a round pass by very close, so the sound is louder and clearer than the *pop* *pop* you can hear in tons of youtube videos?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AQNWnvhVOQ

Is that a good approximation? A lot of other recreations I've heard have a lot of echo and distortion, and it isn't as crisp or as dry a sound.

Weird question, I'm sure.

 

[theycallmemang]

A question related to my other one: How many confirmed kills do you have? Also, how experienced are the afghans?
Edit: I thought of a few more. Have you ever been giving the orders out? If so, then what does that feel like? What rank are you? What do you have to do to get promoted?

I'm but a private. I do the work. Period.

the Afghanis are so dumb that they pick up mortar charges and try to shoulder fire them. Resulting in shatter and torn spine. But they never learn.

I have given orders before, un-officially. I've shouted flanking and charging orders. I've captured enemy machine gun nests and mortars before. I just didn't have solid leadership at the time. So, I did it myself.

 

[theycallmemang]

I've been in the US Army for almost two years now, long loved the Escapist forums but never really posted much. I was curious, Escapists, if you were curious about what it's like to be in the armed forces.

MY JOB: (initiate obnoxious Medal of Honor trumpet wail) I am a 19 Delta, otherwise knows as a Cavalry Scout. Yes, we still get the wear the hats you see in Civil War movies, they're called Cavalry Stetsons. No, we don't wear them to battle... as awesome as that would be...

I go in front of the main element of whatever kind of force I roll with in simple HumVees, somewhat rickety Bradly tanks, or the surprisingly comfortable Stryker assault platforms. All of which are fun for me, because I'm the gunner. I either rock the M2 .50 cal machine gun or the mind-blowing penis-expanding Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher. I observe enemy movement, then either move in and take care of the business or call some serious explosions down from heaven that you see on Youtube with creed or ACDC playing in the background. (for the record, I hate those videos)

So Escapists, what would you like to know, if anything, about a soldier's life?

So... you don't know how to belay using 2 caribiners? Damn. I want to know and I haven't met the guy at my gym that does.

Do you call in the air strikes or do you have a USAF forward air controller with you guys?

We do it. We send in a request and it goes wherever it needs to. That is that, as far as I'm concerned. Missiles, carpet bombs, or mortars. I just call it in, when and where.

You mentioned the drill instructors being terrifying. What if you arnt intimidated? I cant say for sure if i wouldnt be after a certain point, but when someone starts to yell, or get upset with me, I always just end up laughing at them (yes, i have found myself in PLENTY of fights for doing so.)

So... I guess I'm just saying is, if the drill instructor is meant to break you down on some level, and if its by fear, what happens when you arent scared? Do they reprimand you for it?

For real, you will be. They don't fail. They will scare you. I can't even describe what kind of wrath they have. It's astounding.

See, to me that sounds like the type of non-answer I'd hear from a recruiter. "It'll all work out, try it for yourself."

I know I'm not cut out for military life (low tolerance for stress) but I'm still curious about the specifics of training. How many miles, how many pushups, how many hours a day; that type of stuff.

All right, I can help you out there. Which branch do you plan to enlist in to? If you want to enlist in the U.S. Army, the website is http://www.apft-standards.com/. To graduate BCT (Boot Camp) you need a minimum score of 50 pts in each event (a minimum of 60 pts to graduate AIT/OSUT.). I would list the minimum scores for the other branches but I want to call some people (my uncle used to be Navy, I've got a friend of a friend in the Air Force, my bro in law was in the USMC, and I used to be in the U.S. Army). Though, honestly, if you're not up-to-par, the training will get you there. Though I recommend being as physically fit as you can before enlisting before you will be less likely to get injured. I hope that helps.

Um, other info...well, soldiers in BCT rappel off a tower, hike up and down hills while carrying many pounds of weight (distances are 5K, 10K, and 15K). In AIT, they do excercises specific to the MOS. For example, as a Medic, you have to carry a patient. I've heard that mechanics have to carry vehicle parts for long distances. What else would you like to know?

Well, thanks a lot for your time, but I'm afraid it was for naught. First: I'm Canadian. Second: I've already decided on a career path that doesn't involve any armed forces (I doubt they'd have any specialization that would qualify me for a media arts degree).

I was considering it for a long time when I didn't have anything lined up that I wanted, just to give me more time to decide what I wanted to do with my life while getting in shape and making money. But I don't think it's worth the stress on myself. A friend of mine went to a six-week training camp, really tough guy that's seen a lot of hard times in his life; he said it made him break down and cry three times while he was there. I'd be in a lot worse shape by the end of that time.

It's a mental thing. He may have been through hard times, but he may not be so prepared for the reality of true stress.

While playing Arma 2 and mucking around with sound mods, I've become oddly fascinated by the phenomenon of the ballistic crack. Or supersonic snap, or whatever you want to call the sonic boom a bullet makes when it goes by your head. Since you say you've been shot and shot at several times, I was wondering how you'd describe the sound. I'm sure you had other things on your mind at the time, but have you ever heard a round pass by very close, so the sound is louder and clearer than the *pop* *pop* you can hear in tons of youtube videos?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AQNWnvhVOQ

Is that a good approximation? A lot of other recreations I've heard have a lot of echo and distortion, and it isn't as crisp or as dry a sound.

Weird question, I'm sure.

I've heard good zings, but that's a nice one. It's a sizzle mixed with a tumble. It's strange to describe. And as much as it scares you, you begin to love that sound.

 

[icyfresh]

what is a slowburning liquid that can be used to make a successfull molotov?

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

So Escapists, what would you like to know, if anything, about a soldier's life?

I have one question:

Have you ever witnessed anything so unimaginably violent and/or senseless that you think about it every time you gear up for the day?

You don't have to tell me what it was if you do have such a memory. I've heard so many f*cked up stories. I can't imagine what it would be like to actually see a bomb go off in a crowd of civilians or something like that. How could you cope with that kind of scene burned into your brain?

 

[RanD00M]

We do not need any more "Ask A...." threads.
This will become like the plague that we had last year.And earlier this year.

And do not try to deny this being an "Ask A...." thread.Because it is.

 

[-=Spy=-]

I have a couple questions.

Was it worth it? I mean, with everything that happened or may happen, is how you come out on the other side worth the risk of death or injury?

The Afghans, the civilians really, how do they feel toward foreign military personnel? Do they seem somewhat tense when interacting with you, or is more of "Oh, another American Soldier, not like I haven't seem a thousand of those already."

Also, do they seem happier now than when you first came? Do they seem to really appreciate the work and danger you put yourself through?

When you signed up, what was your mindset towards returning fire and dispatching others? And how did it change?

Thanks for answering our questions, I really do appreciate what you and others are doing out there, even if I don't quite approve of every action. As I say, "Love the soldier, hate the politics". I really hope I don't sound like an idiot asking dumb questions.

 

[The Warden]

We do not need any more "Ask A...." threads.
This will become like the plague that we had last year.And earlier this year.

And do not try to deny this being an "Ask A...." thread.BecauseE it is.

Yeah, but this one has proved to be useful as well as interesting, so nobody really cares if it's a Ask A thread.
Anyway, I hear you talking about how Drill Sargeants dig into your head and make you terrified of them, but I'm curious - What did your DS do to you to make you scared?
Feel free not to answer if it's too personal.

 

[steevee]

Well it's a lot of things. Vrach made a few good points. I think I laughed mostly because I was just happy as all hell that I was still alive. Best thing in life is laughing, I feel.

Pretty keen on this honey whiskey, too.

I believe a Churchill quote is appropriate here.

"There is nothing more exhilarating than to be shot at without result."

Well, you know almost, kinda sums up the feeling.

 

[Soxafloppin]

Hows the pay?

 

[Captain Pancake]

Another question:

How often are you out in the field? Do they send you out at regular times or do you go out as often in the night as the day?

 

[theycallmemang]

what is a slowburning liquid that can be used to make a successfull molotov?

Can't help you there, I'm no guerrilla. No matter how many times I listen to Pistolero and think of myself as a revolutionary.

Where was I again? Ah, yes.

So Escapists, what would you like to know, if anything, about a soldier's life?

I have one question:

Have you ever witnessed anything so unimaginably violent and/or senseless that you think about it every time you gear up for the day?

You don't have to tell me what it was if you do have such a memory. I've heard so many f*cked up stories. I can't imagine what it would be like to actually see a bomb go off in a crowd of civilians or something like that. How could you cope with that kind of scene burned into your brain?

I don't think that I've ever seen anything that I could not absorb. I saw a few very, very, very violent things in my time however. I saw some kids with bombs strapped to them, forced at gunpoint to run at us.

Naturally, we just shot the guy with the gun and the kid stopped running. Their plan sucked. These people that we fight, they really aren't very intelligent. They can't orchestrate something so unimaginable that I'd lose my marbles, they just don't have that kind of imagination I suppose.

Not for lack of trying, I might say.

We do not need any more "Ask A...." threads.
This will become like the plague that we had last year.And earlier this year.

And do not try to deny this being an "Ask A...." thread.Because it is.

Yes. That's exactly what it is. So far it seems to be a pretty decent thread, according to most. Then again, maybe I'm biased.

I have a couple questions.

Was it worth it? I mean, with everything that happened or may happen, is how you come out on the other side worth the risk of death or injury?

The Afghans, the civilians really, how do they feel toward foreign military personnel? Do they seem somewhat tense when interacting with you, or is more of "Oh, another American Soldier, not like I haven't seem a thousand of those already."

Also, do they seem happier now than when you first came? Do they seem to really appreciate the work and danger you put yourself through?

When you signed up, what was your mindset towards returning fire and dispatching others? And how did it change?

Thanks for answering our questions, I really do appreciate what you and others are doing out there, even if I don't quite approve of every action. As I say, "Love the soldier, hate the politics". I really hope I don't sound like an idiot asking dumb questions.

I'd say it was all worth it. I don't regret what I've done, and I haven't met a man who does. In reality, there's something about war that makes me proud. Not the killing, I think. I can quite put my finger on it. I think it's that I did it at all, when so many others couldn't or fell apart. I came back the same me, maybe a little more bold. Lot more tan as well.

The Afghani people are just like the mixed nuts here in the USA. Some wave us off, some get two inches away from your face to say thank you, and some cloister away because their mothers forbid them to marry us. It's odd, but yeah. They're a lot happier I think than when I first arrived, a lot more are beginning to see the humanitarian work that we do, especially as more civilian jobs pour in. But, for some damn reason, they still poop on the side of the road. Even after we give them working toilets.

It remained the same throughout my time. I did it because I was ordered. Simple, black and white. I keep it that way and leave the thinking for when I have the time for it. Otherwise, someone might get hurt if I'm not paying attention.

 

[theycallmemang]

We do not need any more "Ask A...." threads.
This will become like the plague that we had last year.And earlier this year.

And do not try to deny this being an "Ask A...." thread.BecauseE it is.

Yeah, but this one has proved to be useful as well as interesting, so nobody really cares if it's a Ask A thread.
Anyway, I hear you talking about how Drill Sargeants dig into your head and make you terrified of them, but I'm curious - What did your DS do to you to make you scared?
Feel free not to answer if it's too personal.

Alright, this is one of those things that's so hard to describe through text. It's almost like I have to be there, to suddenly shout and make you jump a bit to make my points.

Let's say that while you did well to obey your parents, they never represented a TOTAL authority. You would defy them, and you'd get a grounding or a spanking or whatever your country finds normal. That's all well and good, they still like you at the end of the day. Hell, probably love you.

A Drill Sergeant hates you. He hates you more than he hates the men he shot or blew up. He hates you with such a fiery, burning passion that you can't help but wonder why they don't just kill you in your slee- OH WAIT they will wake you in the night to make you wish they had.

They hold you by your very soul. I can't describe it. They are ultimate authority, you cannot defy them. They are masters of the psychological art of domination. Their very presence fills you with awe, they are masters of whatever craft they are to teach you. Chances are, they could take you out in a matter of seconds. Saw that one happen once when I kid decided to smuggle in live rounds to shoot his platoon guide in basic training. He lasted about as long as it takes a man to gasp.

I'm sorry I can't appropriately answer the question, I guess it's one of those things you just have to see and experience. It's truly something else. The weird part is that after it's all over and done with, you'll laugh about it. I never understood why I did.

Hows the pay?

Base pay is crap, but then again you don't spend much money on every day things. In country? You make SERIOUS money. The kind of money you can run an establishment with. Or buy ridiculous vehicles, like most of us do.

Not me, I still have the same Pontiac Grand Prix. I must be crazy.

Another question:

How often are you out in the field? Do they send you out at regular times or do you go out as often in the night as the day?

There were times when I spend week after week in the field, I'd come back for a few days to a FOB (basically a "base" with all the modern tech one needs to live day to day, showers, phones, all that) and rest up. Have a few drinks and laugh away our problems. Then we'd roll out again to make sure X doesn't get into Y, or to keep X from escaping from Z. It's not very structured, it's all dependent on the state of things.

 

[swolf]

You mentioned the drill instructors being terrifying. What if you arnt intimidated? I cant say for sure if i wouldnt be after a certain point, but when someone starts to yell, or get upset with me, I always just end up laughing at them (yes, i have found myself in PLENTY of fights for doing so.)

So... I guess I'm just saying is, if the drill instructor is meant to break you down on some level, and if its by fear, what happens when you arent scared? Do they reprimand you for it?

Well, they have quite a few tricks to break people down (the logic being that they need to see that you can function under stress). This ranges from the "shark attack" where multiple ones are in your face screaming at you while another gives orders. Another way that they break people is by you never being "good enough". There is no such thing as "good enough", you are still failing and an embarassment to your company, family, and everyone who ever knew you...know wonder your girl left you for Jody. I remember one who would check the bay for dirt with white gloves. One time, we had the bay COMPLETELY spotless. He couldn't get dirt from the door frames, air vents, corners, floor, or even from inside the bars of the bunks. So, he took the glove and rubbed the bottom of his boot. Then we got "smoked" because his boots are always clean and that dirt must have come from the floor. That must mean that we've been sitting around being lazy, which means we lack discipline...so on and so forth. Another way is the low quiet talks...I hated those. That is when they don't yell. Instead they say the above things like "your an embarassment" along with "you can't make it...you should just give up. You're just a waste of my time. I should be training real soldiers not you stupid want-to-bes." Things like that...they have a few more but that's a short list to give you an idea. Also, they will study you and they're d*mn good at figuring out what method works best (is most stressful to each person.) That isn't too say that they are always mean. They're not and, when they're not, it's amazing. I remember that, towards the end of BCT, finally earning the respect of the meanest DS. He was an Airborne Ranger...the one from above who said most of the above and more. Well, it was NOT easy to get him to not YELL, much less earn his respect so, when it happened...it was a big deal...I can't even describe it. He even went so far as to quote the "We Merry Band of Brothers" poem (interesting hearing him quote Shakesphere....)

OT: DON'T laugh at them. They see that as disrespectful, like you're not taking them seriously. They don't like that...at all. I remember in Reception. This young female was laughing. The DS walked up and, even though he had always seemed the calm and levelheaded one...he began SCREAMING!!! Then he demanded that she say where she was on 9/11! (Notice: I didn't say "ask". DS's don't "ask", they demand answers.) She admitted to having been in history class when the planes hit. That Drill Sarge was in combat, getting shot at, and trying to keep his friends alive.

 

[maturin]

Wait, where the heck did we have troops in combat in 2001?

 

[ArchAngelKira]

Are we still fighting these guys?

 

[Koeryn]

I don't really have any questions for you, just to say thanks for doing what you do.

That said, curse you for making this thread!

I'm stuck in a dead-end job in a failing coffee shop, and every time I think about enlisting, I talk myself, or get talked out of it. I'm 22 and I've been thinking about it off an on since Highschool (Where I just about aced the ASVAB my senior year).

Oh, nevermind found a question: Why'd you pick CavScout? Or did you go in for something else, and get shuffled into CavScout? I keep hearing that happening to people, but never from actual members of the Army.