Reply Appreciated: US Army and Marines

AMrunner800,

I don't know that you are capable enough to deal with the interrogator at Basic. Everyone who is getting any type of a clearance has to go through the questioning, and if you haven't been through this a few times, they'll work you. At least the guy where I went through was pretty good. Still, it was a long time ago. Being young, away from home, and subject to the will of others makes it hard for many to maintain some story that isn't fully true. The recruiter doesn't care. He can plausibly deny anything you say, and you're the one who is lying...and now you'll be confirming it. The recruiter isn't going to get interrogated, and he isn't going to crack as easily as you are because he's been in long enough and knows the drill.

Depending on what you are lying about, you will still go through Basic Training and do everything else. If you were a drug dealer or did harder drugs, you might have more trouble. For your own peace of mind, I was able to have my situation successfully adjudicated in my favor, but I knew a guy who got downgraded to Secret and another guy who got pulled out of DLI about 90 percent of the way through language training because of something somebody said on his background check. He ended up being a radio repairman, and I don't think he got his College Fund Money.

To the OP,

You will meet some of the dumbest people you'll ever know in the Army, but you'll also meet some of the smartest people you'll ever know. I was in Intel, but I met an Infantry guy who was an aspiring playwright and a lot smarter than my stupid, arrogant ass at the time. Some of the guys I didn't really like in my unit turned out pretty well in the long run. I've also met some really good guys who were officers in the Marines after getting out. Not that it was all intentionally taught to me, but I learned a lot from my service--some of it good, some of it bad. But I don't regret my service at all.

Blizzardo is probably right...

Blizzardo,

The only way I don't give OCS further thought is if I get injured between now and graduation. Your advice early in the thread was valuable. Thanks.

For the guy going into intel,

You should have seen a recruiter that deals with officers. Many recruiters are trying to fill their quota and will say anything for you to sign on the dotted line. Best of luck though.

My grandpa passed away already, was drafted and was a BAR Rifleman in the Korean War. He told us when we were growing up.

"The main weapon of the Navy is the ship. The main weapon of the AirForce is the aeroplane. The main weapon of the Army is the tank. The main weapon of the Marines is the bayonet. You already know at your age if you like going to the beach and saliing boats, or maybe you like cars/trucks and driving, or airplanes and flying, or fighting and wrestling. So join the branch that suits yourself".

You would have to be very weak to fail to obtain a secret, and I'll go so far as including a TS security clearance. If you blatatantly lie about a criminal issue, of course they will find it. Too easy. But everything else is completely refutable. Honestly, what kind of interrogator, CI, NCO, officer, warrant officer, etc., are you going to make if you can't stick to your guns on he-said-she-said background check information? Are you going to urinate yourself when interrogating an actual terrorist? Come on now. And no, they don't bounce you from DLI for not mentioning that you sprained your ankle in high school.

Standards might have changed, but recruiters would tell you you should lie about any marijuana use, shoplifting, etc. Kids would wind up at Basic and spill the beans very quickly. What would work on an 18 year old or 22 year old kid recently arrived at Basic and what would work on someone who had been through Huachuca are two different things. Having learned from being easily broken, someone is much harder to break a second time. Perhaps you were a natural.

When were you at Bravo Company? And what color is the boathouse at Hereford?

BTW, urinating yourself might be an effective technique in finding common ground with the terrorist/freedom fighter. You should try it.

I dont think I would break eaisly if interogated. My asthma is very mild and havent even noticed it in a few years, so i will not be bothered by it.

Isnt the Secruity Clearance all about credit and criminal?

The only thing I have done wrong was grow up near the New Jersey Turnpike and get a breathing issue that has become a non-problem at this stage in my life. I figured I should be fine if I keep up with my running and get back into college shape and give them no reason to think otherwise.

AMrunner800 wrote:

I dont think I would break eaisly if interogated. My asthma is very mild and havent even noticed it in a few years, so i will not be bothered by it.

Isnt the Secruity Clearance all about credit and criminal?

The only thing I have done wrong was grow up near the New Jersey Turnpike and get a breathing issue that has become a non-problem at this stage in my life. I figured I should be fine if I keep up with my running and get back into college shape and give them no reason to think otherwise.

"d. Asthma (493), including reactive airway disease, exercise-induced bronchospasm or asthmatic bronchitis, reliably diagnosed and symptomatic after the 13th birthday, is disqualifying. Reliable diagnostic criteria may include any of the following elements: substantiated history of cough, wheeze, chest tightness, and/or dyspnea that persists or recurs over a prolonged period of time, generally more than 12 months."

I talked to my one friend and the person I mentioned before was sent home from Air Force Basic. Not sure if Army handles things differently. He wasn't charged with anything and just sent home.

I talked to my one friend and the person I mentioned before was sent home from Air Force Basic.

I should be fine as long as they dont look at my records. I have run 80 miles a week for several months throughout all types of weather, while also lifting, and never had an attack. So as long as I dont show signs and show I am in good shape, I should be fine

The Army is good for young folks with level headed sane personalities who seek duty and responsibility. Good luck and thank you for your service.

I am not a troll.

I am an openly gay 18 year old who would like to join the Marines.

What would I be looking at if I were to join now instead of after college? I'd like to not closet myself as I am proud of my sexuality.

Easy as pie dude, it's technology fights Pentagon wars.

That's so humiliating. Isn't AF, CG, NV Basic a piece of cake ? They make it easy so girls can pass it. Which one is the easiest. Not AR that's for sure.

Never forget the U.S. Army soldiers who died saving America from the coward militants and insurgents of the southern states. The barbaric and primitive white chimps of the South were destroyed and civilized by the U.S. Army. It was the greatest war ever by the United States of America. You must uphold the honor of the United States Army of the Civil War. God Bless America.

That video is worst case scenario. Like any vocation, there are pros and cons. I vividly remember my recruiter giving me the "3 hots and a cot" and free health care forever speeches, as if that would gloss over the rest. For some, it might work.

Of course you should do your homework. Those in the video apparently did not. You can get anything you want in your contract, if you are smart, fit, and score well on their tests. Student loan repayment, bonuses, GI-bill, airborne, ranger, sfas, specific language, etc., just need to play hardball and be prepared to walk.

And to the guy above, I was Delta Co. at DLI, if that is what you mean. I went through in the days before everything got strict, basically it was a 15 month language vacation in Monterey. As an Airborne interrogator, I was an Alpha Co. type, at your friendly neighborhood life-long airborne installation.

Bravo Company? You mean when we deployed under CI? I can't get into that too much, Opsec.

Ha ha on the Hereford boathouse. Grey, I believe. I did work with SAS and JSIO, also got some Australian jump wings after a few joint operation jumps with Australian SAS in Kuwait.

The Army is the best. There's plenty of opportunities for young people. The Army is not used for suicidal attacks and are police oriented nowadays. You'll do well with the finest Army in the world.

97 echo arabic wrote:

That video is worst case scenario. Like any vocation, there are pros and cons.

I think I'll take "not meeting with the professional success I want" over having my legs blown off or suffering 3rd degree burns over 80% of my body.

Or having to live with having done that to a 3-year old girl.

But that's just me.

You are still going to the far end of the fear mongering spectrum. I still run 60 miles a week, never accidentally killed anyone, and now have a j.d. and a career as an attorney.

Come on now, it's late, stop watching the videos, they're scaring you. If you don't want to have any potential risk in your life, or career, then rap youself in bubble rap and work at the library or something.

If you join the military, just like if you become a CIA, FBI, ATF, secret service agent, or a police officer, firefighter, etc., you might get injured, or killed. Everyone knows that.

Stay as far away from the effin military as you possibly can.