Both ckim and myself are ROTC cadets, so neither of us have been branched yet (no MOS).

ckim, there are NO Air Assault slots open to ROTC this year and very few Airborne slots because of the war and the necessity of training men who are a lot closer to seeing action (timewise) than we are. Which is the reason I'm getting a CTLT slot for S. Korea this summer instead of the Airborne slot I was almost guaranteed a few months ago. So don't take it too hard, there's a good reason behind it, and if you go Combat Arms, you will have a darn good chance to go to both schools while you're waiting for OBC (we've been getting up to 14 month waits between commissioning and ship dates).

Or they aren't willing to try.

I'm a girl.
I'm an Imagery Analyst (MI).
I've got 2 years in...

and I've got a P identifier..

I wish I could chalk it up "logical" reasons, but if there is one thing I've realized, its...That ANYTHING can be done. Don't take NO for an answer. If you don't take care of yourself, you can't expect anyone else to..

That and I'm stubborn.

If you really want to be a paratrooper.. keep trying. Every monthly counseling say something, every time you get a chance.. bring it up. Guaranteed- if you keep putting the bug in their ear... they'll try harder to make it happen for you.

Good luck!

AIRBORNE!

ah.. that explains it.

Why didn't you say you were ROTC before?

Oh, I ain't giving up, just putting it off. Actually CTLT will be a lot more useful right now and like I said before, I have a feeling I'll have plenty of time to get tabs and shinies while I'm waiting to go to AOBC (keepin the fingers crossed for the "A" in there ).

... and no offense ( I love you guys, I really do..) but you are the "THEY", or soon to be anyways..

ahhhh...

Redneck.. what branch are you getting/ hoping for?

Sorry to be , but yeah, we just had our "fraternization" course, and I am not looking to several parts of being an officer. I'm going to be the first one from a town of NCOs (60 people in my hometown and of those there are two ex-Sergeants Major, a retired CPO, and a half dozen more retired or Reserve NCOs, including my Dad), and I am a bit nervous about what they're going think of me when I show up in uniform in the light of every stupid thing I've ever done growing up. Just can't imagine any of them ever calling me "Sir," that's what I've called them my whole life.

You ready to get some advice from a lower enlisted?

I hope so. And I hope you never stop...

I've had some wonderful LTs and some bad ones.. a great CO and some not so good.. and so on.

You know what makes the difference? Realizing we all put our pants on the same way in the morning.. and remembering that. You have a different job, a different slot, different responsibilities... thats the only thing that sets you apart from the enlisted.

It's 100 times better to earn respect then to demand it. I can guarantee that if you earn the respect.. it'll never leave your side.

If you ever get a chance to work with Warrant Officers.. learn from them.

... and have fun. My gosh, have fun!

Oh, and when you get a salute... remember it's your duty to salute back.

It is a little offtopic, eh?

Oh well

FRAGO!

bmacd, if you want, I'll split off this part of the thread, let me know if you do.


Thanks for the advice, nataliemarie, and believe me, I've been getting some great words of wisdom from all the enlisted people in my life (almost 40 from my Church alone, we're very pro-military in Lassen County ), and I am taking every bit of it to heart, and welcome any more that I can get.

About returning salutes and behaving with respect in general, it's a small Army, and I have no doubt that if I mess up in that respect, my hind end is toast once I get home.