How was basic?
Orchestrated hell !
Back then it was not only accepted, but promoted to treat recruits like trash & they did !
All for a purpose I see now - back then the screaming & ridicule only served to make me push myself harder.
Modern basic is more classroom time & less physical.
What kind of shape were you in before compared to after?
I was in much better than average shape when I enlisted, upon graduation veins in my shoulders easily stood out when doing another round of push-ups and I am still able to tick off 100 military push-ups, altho it takes me a bit more time now.
Why did you decide to join the military?
A sense of honor & duty - my father was career Air Force & I felt as though I had a debit to society that I needed to pay.
Serving my country/fellow citizens was how I accomplished that.
What kind of training did you receive, weapons, swimming, life saving, medical, etc.?
All of the above - but heavy on drown proofing, underwater escape from trainers, damage control (fire/flooding).
What did your average day look like as a Machinery Tech?
I was deployed on ships for 14 of those years, so much daily life in that environment is a grind. When the ships are involved in immigrant/drug interdiction untold hours are spent "Digging trenches in the ocean" looking for contacts to investigate/board.
Are there any significant differences that you noticed between civilians and military personnel, attitude, goals, intelligence, etc.?
Honestly the military is full of people just like you & me - all different, all interesting.
What was your single best experience and your single worst experience while serving?
Worst? Pulling the floaters, some of whom have been out in the elements so long the stokes litter becomes a strainer.
Best? Cuban boat lift - I managed to get a little 4 year old boy breathing & crying again after he was pulled from a boat that sank. His mother was screaming at me whilst trying to pull him away as I was performing CPR.
Such a powerful scene I get choked up just rethinking it (30 years later !).
Did you do a lot of traveling?
I did get to see some fantastic places in the Caribbean and the South Pacific - Haiti, Dom Rep, Bahamas, Jamaica, Hawaii, etc....
What sort of living arrangements did you have, live on/off base, roommates, etc.?
You will undoubtedly have to live the barracks life for a while as a Non-rate/Junior petty officer. Don't let it get you down, respect/perks come with the job, but not all at once.
Steady promotions?
Promotions are driven by the individual - your first step is to try to get your recruiter to "Lock you into" an "A" school. If you don't get locked in, you may have to wait a bit for this first training but upon completion of that school providing you have the time in grade, you will be promoted to E-4. The sky is the limit from there and completely up to you - the process is one enrolls in a course, studies the shit out of the material & then you take the Service Wide Examination to compete with all others in your rank and rate. One caveat I would give is to pick your "Rate" carefully, as that will be what you will do for your remaining time.
Should you wish to advance even further (beyond enlisted) you can compete to become a Warrant officer, or even for a coveted spot in Officer Candidate School.
The limitations are up to the individual as to how far you go.
Good luck Pad, I wish you well.
