I moved down to Orlando from New Jersey so that I can get out of
the cold and into the Engineering program; however things have not
worked out in that department, so I am currently busting my ass at
the gym so that I can join the Air Force.
I know that might sound a weird, but the first time I remember
thinking that joining the military would be a good idea was after
watching
Starship Troopers in 1997. I
felt that the film had a sense of
civic virtue that I had not seen
before. The idea that people who sacrificed their time and quite
possibly their bodies in service to the country deserved more than
your average Joe appealed to me. At that point, I had not fully
entertained idea of joining, but I definitely felt respect for
those that had taken the plunge.
In my first year of High School, my class was asked to up what our
resume would look like in the future. I didn't really know any
specifics about military other than I'd be putting my life on the
line for the United States and it's citizens, but in my resume I
put that I'd be a computer programmer in the Marines. I did not
know of any specific MOS, but I was positive that there would be
something along those lines. Why? Well I figured that it would just
look badass on your resume if you could show the dependability that
is required in the
military and that it would give me an
edge over the competition when it came to getting a job.
In my Junior year, I actually went to a Marines recruiting office
and took a paper asvab test because I wanted to compare the
benefits of joining the military versus going into college. My
older sister and a friend of the family went with me when I went to
the recruiter so that they could be assured that I would not
actually sign anything and so that they could help me interpret
what I was being told. My mom and father totally hated the idea of
me joining the military especially the Marines since Marine is a
rifleman, first and foremost. Of course, I did not join. I used to
tell myself that I didn't sign up because it would give my mother a
heart-attack, but I know now that I didn't join because I was
scared of such a big change.
In my Senior year, the attacks in NY made me want to quit school
and go straight into the military, but to get into the military I
would have to finish high school.
I took a trip to UCF and spoke with the
Air Force ROTC recruiters and
honestly, they did not impress me.
About 2 years after graduating high school, I was at the gym and
they had an Air Force recruiter there who informed me about the
opportunities of joining as a Reserve while I went to school. I got
the information and spoke with a recruiter at Patrick AFB. I knew
which job I wanted so he sent me to MEPS and I took the ASVAB again
and got my physical. I qualified for the job, but the only position
available was at Robin AFB, GA. I would have to find my own
transportation there each month, so I declined to sign on.
In April of 2006, I decided that I should look into enlisting into
the Air Force and contact a recruiter. After doing a great deal of
research as to what opportunities there are for me and after coming
to terms with the fact that I know my family doesn't want me join I
finally decided what I feel is right for me. I am 100% sure that I
want to enlist. I want my family to be proud of me even though I am
sure that they believe I am making a mistake. I do not want a
handout. I want to forge ahead and make it on my own merit. I
believe that joining the Air Force will help to bring out the
strength in me to accomplish the goals that I enthusiastically set
for myself. I have retaken the ASVAB and got a 98 AFQT, now all
that is left is to retake the physical and take the EDPT (not the
pregnancy test).
I am excited about this and I cannot wait to begin.
//2012 update: Happily married with a little baby girl. Still in
the military and moving to
Alaska!
