DUers who never served in the military: Do you think you could have survived it?

That is, the military?

I know for a fact I could have lasted one hour. Two hours maybe, three hours would have been really pushing it.

It would have been hard for me to suppress that knee-jerk reaction of saying "fuck off" when yelled at. I probably could have survived some of the physical training, but then I also am not a marathon guy - and from what I've seen you need to have good slow-twitch and fast-twitch muscles. The shooting at people - I guess that can be learned. Being shot at - well the times I was shot at resulted in a change of clothing, so not sure how that would have worked out.

The hurry up and wait would have been a a big problem for me, and I don't think they would have liked me going off and getting coffee while waiting.

where to live. I seriously considered AFOTS a couple of years ago but decided I just couldn't do it.

Back when in the AF Basic Training Center headquarters at Lackland, there was a photo a pararescue airman with the Air Medal, Silver Star and Purple Heart and a bunch of other impressive chest salad. He earned them, usually under fire, saving downed pilots from going stateside in a body bag - very tough duty assignment. Under it was a framed short letter signed by the Center's commander saying that this man had been put back in training three times and came within an ace of being discharged. It concluded with "Don't give up on them. That's an order."

One of the stories goes that he was in charge of a tank, so he is doing practice with the tank. Lunch rolls around, and he can't get the tank to move. So he shrugs, gets out of the tank and walks to the mess hall. Later they ask him what happened to his tank, again he shrugs and says "I think it's in a ditch somewhere."

I think he was given a general discharge, whatever that means.

Not a kick in the ass, but not a pat on it either.

emotionally I doubt it.

I doubt I could ever measure up to their physical standards. I have no upper body strength, and I am not sure I could ever even measure up to the women's standards for that (I am a woman, BTW). However, nine years of Catholic schooling, I was used to having to deal with authority figures. Those drill sergeants have nothing on nuns. And, my dad is big on the "hurry up and wait", so I'm used to that.

I was in shape, had been doing high school JROTC stuff for several years (including special summer programs at Ft. Bragg)
My status as an 'out' queer was all that stopped me from signing those papers.

If i could have sucked it up and pretended to be straight, i would have 27 yrs under my belt by now.

And I'm not just talking about the opportunities for gays, but the opportunities for our country

Imagine if everyone who wanted to be a soldier, could?

One of the best junior noncoms I ever knew and a good friend was gay. He kept quiet (had to back then), but someone decided he had "homosexual tendencies" and he was run out. The Air Force and the country was the lesser for it.

The military is an organization and a team. I've never found any group that I ever feel more than marginally comfortable in. I tend to respond passively to yelling, the more they might have yelled, the less responsive I'd have been. Worst case, I'd have wound up like the "Private Pyle" character in FMJ. Though I think they'd have tossed me as useless before that.

I do think I could have done the basic training physical stuff, though. I swam competitively, so was in good shape.
( Coaches can't yell too much when you're swimming, since your head is partly underwater, and you can always claim you didn't hear. )

I think most people could make it through.

I hate leading other people, and the military is all about developing leaders.

I hated the thought of having to kill other people, I was happy that I had a support job.

I wasn't very athletic, most of the time, I barely passed my PT assessments.

I had to get up early every day, I am not a morning person at all.

They sent me to Texas for two years, that almost killed my career. I saved it by going all the way to Korea.

But you… If I had to do it all over again, with a few changes of course, I would.


No doubt about it.

After I decided I was going to see it though, just kept on truckin'

And yeah, I'd probably do it again

I know this thread isn't for me since I have served but I thought the same way you did before I joined.

I remember first morning I shaved and got dressed before half of reception was done so when I came downstairs a Drill Sergeant said "Hurry up!" and I laughed because I had plenty of time. He said, "Don't smile at me, I'm not your girlfriend." Eventually you buy into the BS. The brainwashing is very real, I notice it every time I went on leave. I would redevelop my attitude and when I come back into my unit it would be gone within a couple of days. Very few pushovers in leadership positions.

As far as the shooting at people or getting shot at it depends on the job. If you're 92G(cook) you likely won't have to do both. Now I know people here claim that you don't get the job you promised that is true to an extent that it depends on the needs of the Army(in my case) but the military needs a lot of non-combat support. However, DFACs overseas need 92Gs to supervise TCNs so there is a good chance you won't do any shooting or get shot at. Also every unit needs supply personnel so if you go into supply there is a good chance you'll do your job. A lot of 92Gs are staffed into supply if the unit doesn't need 92Gs.

However, I was 88M-long haul truck driver, and we had maintenance(a necessity in-case a truck breaks down) , supply(rarely) go on the road. One time when we were short on drivers we had one 92G get trained (quickly) and put on the road(his engine was hit by an EFP) but that was in his final 2 months. The rest of the 92Gs stayed at the DFAC to supervise TCNs. I even was used at the DFAC when I broke my hand(couldn't go on the road, couldn't carry a weapon). So it all depends. I was never shot at (even if I was it isn't a big deal with level 3 armored trucks) or struck by an IED though in 2 convoys I was in there was small arms fire(none was directed at my vehicle) and 1 convoy had 2 trucks were hit by IEDs at different times(strangely my first mission) but 95% of the time it was uneventful and very easy to become complacent. The shooting and being shot at really depends on the job. Infantry obviously would happen much more often. Truck driving you have to worry more about IEDs & EFPs, the only time I fired my weapon was at the range.

I have it on good authority that I wouldn't have been the first person to come through there who had a problem with...um...authority.

I'd've done fine.

by a former DI in the 82nd airborne that I would've been a good paratrooper. He said physical strength didn't mean shit. ( I'm not a very big guy). But given an objective I was one tough motherfucker. He was a friend, so take it for what it's worth. A former marine that worked for me for a while (who was about my size) thought mindset and focus were what being a soldier was all about. I've heard the same about navy seal training.

I am unfailingly loyal and lead by example, so as long as the orders make sense I might have been a good soldier. As long as I could keep from fragging somebody. I don't deal well with betrayal, especially if someone I care about gets hurt.

I played football in Florida and that was plenty for me. Buncha power-anxious people yelling at my head.

I've had some physically and mentally demanding jobs in my life; and on occasion, guys right out of the military would come to work for me. They usually quit the next day.

Also I have problems with being ordered around or yelled at. Plus, I probably could not have cut it physically.

I would have been put in the brig!

Were I 18 today, the military would probably take me - but then, I wouldn't be in it now.

But back in my day, they expected recruits to be healthy. We didn't have a war on, and the military wasn't desperate for cannon fodder.

I think I would have made an excellent officer, but a really shitty grunt - both because I've never had the strength or breath to do anything that requires a lot of physical work, and because of my superior intellect, and because I would find it boring (unless I was a mortarman! that would be awesome).

I did take the AASVAB, and scored maximum. I also got yelled at by the flunky whose military career was a pile of shit, because I brought a book (one of the Conan books!), and was "caught" reading after I finished each of the test sections. Made the rest of the test really fucking boring.

Two reasons. One-I'm a fatty. Two-people yell at me, I get pissed. I have a temper.

Two reasons. One-I'm a fatty. Two-people yell at me, I get pissed. I have a temper.

And I'm STILL pissed off. LOL!!

In which case I would say, tough call.

I did have a chance to join the submarine service as an officer. It was a tough offer to turn down. But I was already committed to the space program and the chance to work on shuttle was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

No regrets.