Thread: Was 19D,11B,or both worth your time for experience to build a perspective?

Welcome back to the land of the Big PX, LOL & Happy New Year!

What you say about Korea being safer is exactly why I always carry a firearm. I'm waiting for a letter that I'll get telling me I can renew my concealed carry license which isn't due until May. I can renew 120 days before expiration & after I receive that letter. My "professional gun license" for Security & Private Detective also comes due soon but I think I'll let it expire. I 'd have to take the law enforcement firing range test & it's very expensive. My PI agency boss said it was unnecessary & I could still carry my firearm on the job with my state CCW license. He didn't volunteer to pay for the test, LOL. I'm mostly Chairborne now anyhow & that's where he wants me. He'd rather have me sit at a computer than be on a surveillance job.

My son thought RIP was harder than Ranger School. Of course he didn't have daily PT & the experience of a deployment with the 3rd Batt & Pre Ranger before he went to RIP. I'm not sure if RASP is easier or harder. I just know it's longer with more instruction before testing.

I can't believe I've had this "new" computer for 1 year & 9 days already. Got it as a Christmas present last Christmas.

You'll find your time in the Army will be a whole lot easier if you open your ears & close your mouth. When I was an Instructor in (Choose the subject. There are many, LOL) I had a very special program for the know-it-alls, LOL. I even kind of felt sorry for them if their DS was sitting in the back of the classroom or on the range. Recruit Snuffy learned the hard way. It was particularly cruel if their words of wisdom were wrong info. I can remember a few at Airborne School when I was a Black Hat SGT Airborne whose words of wisdom would have resulted in injured or dead Paratroopers. After all - they had all that civilian sky diving experience. It was not fun course for them & they learned real fast how to properly spit shine their Instructor's boots before bedtime among other "useful" duties which usually included running, pushups, situps & pullups. Ahh - I miss it, LOL.

Keep me in the loop when you can & the best of luck to you!

That's great that you got your math grades up so much. I was always pretty good at math but found that in the real world I don't have much of a need for it. If I need to solve a problem I use a calculator. No need for pencil & paper.

I have to get to the range soon. I think the last time was between Christmas & New Year. I have 300 rounds of practice .40 cal (American Eagle) on hand. Maybe 350 rounds. The last time I was at the range I shot 400 rounds of practice ammo & I think about a dozen self defense ammo. At a buck a round for SD I sort of go easy on it. Just enough to make sure it goes through & ejects properly. I love shooting but I'm not as good as I use to be. Good enough to hit the target in a vulnerable spot, though. I've been practicing triple taps & I can get 2 in the heart & 1 in the head rapid fire most times. At least 1 lethal shot when I have a bad day. That's at the standard SD range of 21 feet. Anything farther can be determined that you didn't shoot an actual threat to you by a good prosecutor. Any closer than 21' is dangerous because a man with a knife or club can close that distance very fast.

I'm not sure what a "Broken Ducky" is. I know I heard the term but this isn't one of my sharpest days. Miserable cold. One of my grandsons or my teacher daughter carried it home from one of three schools. Happens every year. Each of those schools has or had colds or flu going around. I suffer because my left nostril only has a pinhole opening due to scar tissue from a shrapnel hit to my face. The added pressure gives me a sinus headache. Got my nose, corner of the mouth & just below the left eye. Could have been a whole lot worse.

I wouldn't worry too much about how you'll react in combat if I were you. Army training is one the best in the world (the Israelis have it over us IMHO). You'll do many effective drills. Your SGTs will get you up to speed.

My son has completed the testing for our PD's Tactical Enforcement Unit. He won't find out if he made the cut until June but he's optimistic. He placed first in most of the events & second in the rest & he was told there are 3 slots to fill at this time. He also finally got his promotion to SFC in the Reserve unit. He's been qualified for almost 2 years but had to wait for a slot to open. If they waited another few months he would have had to redo the Advanced NCO Course.

I'll close for now. I want to get outside to clear my head. The temps are in the mid '30s the last time I looked so I want to take advantage of it. Every day have to clean the street gutters of garbage & debris. People around here have a tendency to throw their McDonald's paper & left overs out of their car windows rather than take it home with them & dispose of it properly. This last summer a guy from the neighborhood noticed someone throwing stuff out of his car. He collected it (he was on his Harley) & at the next stop light he tossed it back in the car, LOL. He said "you lost something". Big biker dude & he wasn't too worried about any retaliation. He was also armed just in case.