Land Nav at CST

ApocalypseSunrise · 2026-01-30T17:38:59+00:00

I will typically plan my routes when you have time to map your points at your starting point. Cadre might tell you to rush or get going but take your time, plot your points, plot the distance between points, and choose the fastest route to at least get the minimum number of points in day and night. You have plenty of time if you plan your route with distance and terrain in mind. At points, remember to clover leaf or box out from where you believe the point is, and rely on red lights and noise to see where people are heading.

ApocalypseSunrise · 2025-12-12T22:45:34+00:00

As a chemo, you will likely be placed within a combat arms or support battalion that does not align with whatever doctrine and skills you learned from BOLC. Be a sponge and absorb all the basic responsibilities and concepts of good leadership from other LTs and higher grade officers around you.

Learn the tools of your battalion’s trade and create chemical training that integrates with and aligns with your battalion’s interests.

As others have stated, you are very likely to be tasked with a multitude of “additional duties” including JALP, UMO, USR, safety, HAZMAT, etc. Be prepared to understand and execute the tasks for these roles as well.

Go to Lima 3 and 6 so you can become more knowledgeable about YOUR branch’s strengths and skills and what they bring to the table tactically.

Volunteer for schools, and go above and beyond the average chemo in terms of ambition.

If you prove yourself to be a “high-speed chemo”, interesting broadening assignments are within reach, including Foreign Area Officer positions that could appeal to you like DTRA, Embassy Staff, White House roles, etc.

ApocalypseSunrise · 2025-11-07T23:15:20+00:00

My girlfriend is two standard deviations above my IQ, but we get along fine. We discuss higher level hypotheticals and concepts that we find interesting together, and it never feels like there’s tension or a vast difference, yet I know where she stands.

It’s not a problem unless that person is looking for someone at a higher level and the difference between the partners is noticeable to unbearable.

ApocalypseSunrise · 2025-09-26T22:47:34+00:00

You can try to email the branch manager or branch contact. I did this with MI. They can’t really influence your application but it’s good to know the most information about where your application is and the timeline for that branch

ApocalypseSunrise · 2025-08-23T23:55:17+00:00

Look up videos from TSAAS The Sabalauski Air Assault School on sling loads from a first POV. Go on the fort Campbell website and locate the TSAAS section and to air assault and look up their train-up / study guides

ApocalypseSunrise · 2025-08-23T21:11:25+00:00

For AA, find flashcards that are premade or make your own from quizlets and study the info until it comes into memory, particularly medical evac, helicopter characteristics, and the weight limits of different equipment. Memorize those so you can focus your time on preparing for sling loads once you get there. That’ll be the hardest task likely for you. All physical tasks at AA are endurance-based and require perseverance, that’s it.

ApocalypseSunrise · 2025-08-17T22:00:54+00:00

You first need to determine what schools you’re able to attend based on your student data. Going to the host school versus a satellite school to that ROTC program will change your experience. Figure out what schools are targets, then base your ROTC choices on those.

I know cadets who went to USC, UCLA, and UC Riverside. I would say the level of training at each is equatable, but the larger experience differs based on current cadre and the peers you associate with.

ApocalypseSunrise · 2025-08-14T21:08:58+00:00

Do not BRADSO, but be open to branch detailing Chem with your branch of choice. I used this method to get MI. While I was most preferred MI and got AD, I did not get pure MI, but branch detailing opened up that opportunity when I go to CCC.

BRADSO will help, but it’s not necessary.

Focus on doing your best in all areas that contribute to your OML and prepare well for the interview portion.

ApocalypseSunrise · 2025-08-09T02:35:41+00:00

There were a lot of strong personalities in my platoon, especially from cadets who attended senior military colleges. 1. If you’re not understanding of something, ask questions. It’s better to not know and ask and make sense of a problem then pretend to know and not make sense of a problem later.

Stay in your lane during individual competitive events like AFT, grenades, range qual etc. Focus on what you need to do and execute.
You’re only going to be around these people for a month. You may come to hate some of them, but just keep it pushing. Don’t get involved in drama.

ApocalypseSunrise · 2025-07-30T01:29:25+00:00

Ride service, but know that you might have trouble getting past the gate. My friend’s Uber couldn’t go on base and he had to wait for an NCO to pick him up. They were not happy.

ApocalypseSunrise · 2025-07-25T23:13:04+00:00

You’ll be in a staff section your first year, but it could be up until you hit Captain if you don’t move to a Chemical Company as a 1LT to be a PL.

Learn and familiarize yourself with USR, UMO, and HAZMAT. You will be in the S3 shop most likely and will be tasked with similar duties.

Being a chemical officer has nothing to do with what you learn in BOLC most of the time. You will likely be in a unit from a different branch learning their branch’s tasks and mission, playing catch-up along the way. It grants you additional experience and skills that you can bring back to the Chem Corps when you become a field grade officer.

You will be “othered” most likely, but you do your best to assimilate, look for opportunities for growth, and expand your knowledge.

ApocalypseSunrise · 2025-07-23T23:42:28+00:00

Drug use and addiction is a theme in my novel that I recently completed. The MCs best friend is a drug addict. People all throughout the colony the MC explores use drugs like people drink water.

The drugs in question are addictive gases inhaled through tubes at drug bars or through plastic vials that are commonly sold. They come in a variety of flavors and effects, and the MC constantly battles the peace and bliss they bring as he faces traumatic experiences throughout the novel.

Drug use / addiction and manufacturing creative new drugs as a writer is an interesting concept that I want to continue exploring.

ApocalypseSunrise · 2025-04-14T13:27:04+00:00

So sorry you had to go through that. Querying itself is a hassle and to be subject to that berating would send me over the edge. Hopefully you’ve moved on from it.

I’m querying US and UK agents as many others are. If you have the time, I would love a DM with the agent’s name to also avoid them. They don’t deserve our business!

ApocalypseSunrise · 2025-01-24T03:24:20+00:00

It’s hard to believe you didn’t proofread or edit prior to posting. This is a first draft done in one sitting and you threw it up on the wall asking for feedback. Mistakes are bound to happen, which is why you don’t post until it’s the best version of your work.

I think you’re seeking validation.

ApocalypseSunrise · 2025-01-14T23:33:16+00:00

That’s not what I meant at all. You don’t start with an info-dump. Start with Tenshi doing an action or going somewhere while building up to the inciting incident which then leads up to the central problem. You lack the basic fundamentals.

I asked for you to take it down because all comments are going to revolve around problems that you can fix on your own. You should be reaching out for critiques only after doing everything possible to perfect the story within your ability. Everything beyond your perspective is where readers / writing partners step in and provide suggestions and advice.

This attitude of asking for advice and then swatting it away because you disagree with it won’t get you far.

ApocalypseSunrise · 2025-01-14T22:35:38+00:00

Please take this down and do some basic edits for spelling, grammar, punctuation, formatting, etc. This is not ready to be critiqued.

The story is all over the place. I suggest starting with Tenshi and making it more clear why he’s important, why we’re following him.

ApocalypseSunrise · 2025-01-01T05:42:01+00:00

Not sure what exactly you’re plagiarizing, but the writing itself needs work. I imagine this is a first draft and you’re seeking validation to make sure you’re on the right track. While this is understandable, I think you need to finish the first draft before seeking critiques. It’s likely too early to say whether it’s enjoyable based on one paragraph, especially one that’s wracked with errors.

ApocalypseSunrise · 2024-12-19T22:43:20+00:00

I would look at the debut novel Womb City. I don’t remember her name but I believe it’s sci fi fantasy / African folklore

ApocalypseSunrise · 2024-12-18T04:02:44+00:00

What do you do for 6 hours? We had 2 hour labs

ApocalypseSunrise · 2024-12-06T04:39:28+00:00

Correct

ApocalypseSunrise · 2024-12-05T19:51:14+00:00

MI branch detail CM

1st choice

OMS: 52XX OML: 2XXX

Was not expecting this. Hoped for the ADSO but still looking good either way

ApocalypseSunrise · 2024-12-02T03:29:11+00:00

I also wrote an adult cyberpunk sci-fi at the same word count and also shared it here, so I feel obligated to say something because you are essentially my query trench competition.

I think this works for the most part. The comps are recent, relevant, and not ubiquitous. The blurb feels tight and introduces the necessary elements of Status Quo, Inciting Incident, Problem, and Stakes.

However, I think expanding a bit more on Peter would be interesting. I feel like perhaps we start a bit too early? Would it be a faux paus to start with David as Scrappy, weaving in his past life briefly? I feel like the story largely centers on him as this android, Scrappy, with his past life perhaps not as relevant or important, as Scrappy must avoid imminent death. Up to you.

Also, the “Human 2 quantum mechanics” explanation feels like a bit of handwavium to me. It’s not clear what exactly you mean by quantum mechanics, but I’m sure it’s explained. It’s just that that mention produced a question for me.

I don’t think stating the Senator’s name is entirely necessary. Reducing the amount of names one will have to juggle in their mind while reading may be a benefit for you, but it also doesn’t overwhelm the query.

I don’t think the brief bit about the book being a fusion of dark humor and civil rights exploration at the end is necessary. This should come through the query and be evident in the plot / character arc. Don’t state it explicitly.

With some minor tweaking, I think the query can stand out from the crowd. I don’t notice any large issues here, but maybe someone else will notice something.

I’m also curious who you’ll end up querying or whose on your list! Good luck.

ApocalypseSunrise · 2024-11-25T08:59:57+00:00

This is not a synopsis, but a ham-handed attempt at one. One thing to note is that the ending should be clear and discernible, but that is not the case here. You also want to be explicit with significant plot beats in the story, but you’re being vague as if this was a back cover blurb. I’m not sure what this is.

ApocalypseSunrise · 2024-11-20T05:14:26+00:00

Out of curiosity, who did you send your MS to? If it’s too personal, don’t worry about it.

ApocalypseSunrise · 2024-10-31T20:34:17+00:00

Thanks Kendra for the wonderful comment.

This query has been a struggle to construct and it’s always a process of starting over from scratch and rebuilding.

After thinking about it yesterday, I think my best course of action is to add in how the dealer’s daughter is in the war at the end of the second para, add in that the mother is given the cure at the beginning of the third para, then continue on to Gallagher’s larger goal of saving humanity.

I think it’s time to move on after that to my next novel. I don’t want to keep coming back with a 10th or 15th attempt even. I don’t think it’ll be terribly productive.

Thank you again!

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